# Nuclear Hotseat — Full Content Index > The weekly international news magazine on all things nuclear, hosted by Libbe HaLevy since June 14, 2011. Listened to in over 132 countries and syndicated on Pacifica Radio. Host: Libbe HaLevy. Publishing weekly since June 14, 2011. 817+ episodes. This file lists every published episode with its show notes in plain text for AI ingestion. ## Featured guests ### Arnie Gundersen Chief Engineer, Fairewinds Energy Education Former nuclear power industry executive turned safety advocate. Gundersen has provided expert analysis on Three Mile Island, Fukushima, and dozens of US reactor sites, and has testified before the NRC and state legislatures on nuclear safety failures. ### Dr. Helen Caldicott Co-Founder, Physician, Physicians for Social Responsibility Physician and one of the world's foremost anti-nuclear advocates. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and recipient of the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize, Dr. Caldicott has spent five decades educating the public on the medical and environmental hazards of nuclear power and weapons. ### Dr. Gordon Edwards President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility Nuclear consultant and educator who has served as an expert witness before regulatory bodies across Canada and the United States. Dr. Edwards has spent over four decades challenging the nuclear industry on radioactive waste management and reactor safety. ### Dr. Alex Rosen Board Member, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Physician and board member of IPPNW, the Nobel Peace Prize–winning organization. Dr. Rosen specializes in the health impacts of nuclear weapons and nuclear power, and has published research on radiation exposure and its consequences for human populations. ### Dr. Ian Fairlie Independent Consultant, Radioactivity in the Environment Former chair of the UK government's Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE). Dr. Fairlie has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers on the health risks of low-level radiation and has been a leading critic of official radiation risk models. ### Joseph Mangano Epidemiologist & Executive Director, Radiation and Public Health Project Epidemiologist whose research documents the health effects of nuclear operations on surrounding communities. Mangano has published studies linking nuclear plant emissions to elevated childhood cancer rates and tracked fallout patterns from atmospheric weapons testing. ### Karl Grossman Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Veteran environmental journalist, professor of journalism at SUNY College Old Westbury, and host of EnviroVideo. Grossman has covered the nuclear industry for over 50 years and is the author of several books exposing the risks of nuclear power and space-based nuclear technology. ### Mary Olson Founder, Gender and Radiation Impact Project Researcher and advocate who has demonstrated that women and girls face significantly greater harm from ionizing radiation than the models used by regulators assume. Olson's work has influenced discussions at the UN and before nuclear regulatory bodies worldwide. ### Tim Deere-Jones Marine Biologist & Independent Researcher Marine pollution specialist with decades of experience documenting radioactive contamination of ocean environments near nuclear facilities. Deere-Jones has investigated discharges from Sellafield, La Hague, and other nuclear sites and their impact on marine ecosystems. ## Episodes ### NH #798: Marshall Islands Nuclear Waste in Deteriorating Runit Dome – “No Clean-Up Possible” – Radiochemist Paul Griego URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/marshall-islands-nuclear-waste-runit-dome/ Published: 2026-10-14 This Week's Featured Interview: Runit Dome, Marshall Islands – not a lot of clearance above sea level. As a civilian, Paul Griego worked on Runit Dome, the attempted cleanup of radioactive materials left behind after US nuclear bomb tests on the Marshall Islands. Now, 50 years later, the Dome is at risk from global warming, ocean level rise, and decaying containment materials. Here, Paul provides a sobering update on the current conditions at Runit Dome and the dangers catching up with that attempt at nuclear remediation. Paul Griego (center) at work clearing radioactive materials from Marshall islands, late 1970's. Note his elaborate safety gear… The ICAN UPDATE on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with Alistair Burnett: Alistair updates us on progress on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), then interviews Alicia Sanders-Zakre, Head of Policy for ICAN. The Nuclear Resister: At the height of the Cold War, the prayers of the faithful, brought into a dark place, moved their spiritual leaders into action for a nuclear free future. Here's Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister with this month's story of nuclear resistance to help power your actions today. Felice and Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister ### NH #797: IDAHO! It’s NOT a “Nuclear Lifestyle Innovation Campus” – it’s a RADIOACTIVE NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP! – Leigh Ford, Heidi Henderson of Snake River Alliance + BREAKING NEWS on Santa Susana Field Lab “Clean-up” URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/idaho-radioactive-nuclear-waste-campus/ Published: 2026-10-07 Barrels of nuclear waste being dumped at Idaho National Lab site, 1969. BREAKING: Boeing trying to get away with more radiological unsafe practices at Santa Susana Field Lab – Melissa Bumstead on What Parents Against SSFL are Doing About It. Protest, follow-up, and attempts to force accountability and safer practices on Boeing underway as this episode is being recorded and posted. PLEASE SIGN: Change.Org Petition – Parents Against SSFL https://www.change.org/p/boeing-s-socal-demolition-could-release-radioactive-dust?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=94ef0880-ce2d-012f-b90d-404067ca6a7a&share_id=mWvSbDXs Melissa Bumstead and daughter – just one of the reasons she does this work. This Week's Featured Interview – IDAHO: While Idaho has not generated a lot of visibility in the national nuclear conversation, it and we need to be paying attention because it’s one of five states currently vying to be the host of a massive nuclear waste dump… though the DOE and the state’s pro-nuclear interests are calling a “Nuclear Lifestyle Innovation Campus.” (How’s that for a focus-group’ed rebranding obfuscation?) This week, to find out what’s really going on, we talk with Leigh Ford, Executive director of Idaho’s nuclear watchdog, the Snake River Alliance, and the group’s Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, Heidi Henderson. Together, they bring us up to date on the pressures being brought to bear on Idaho to become the dump site for massive amounts of the nation’s highly radioactive nuclear waste. 

 I spoke with Leigh Ford and Heidi Henderson on October 2, 2026. Barrels of plutonium-contaminated radioactive waste from Rocky Flats in Colorado that were dumped and buried at Idaho National Labs, 1969. But flooding from the spring thaw caused them all to float up to the surface. In response, INL employees shot guns at the barrels to get them to sink. (Picture here and above taken at the Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA) within the Radioactive Waste Management Complex at Idaho National Laboratory.) LINKS from Interview: Leigh and Heidi referenced Mary Olson and Cindy Folkers of Generational Radiation Impact Project, or GRIP (RadiationProject.org). They were interviewed on the disproportionate impact of nuclear radiation on women, little girls, and pregnancy just two weeks ago, for NH #795. Truly a cornerstone interview. Joseph Mangano is the Founder and Executive Director of Radiation and Public Health Project (Radiation.org). He is an epidemiologist — someone who investigates the patterns, causes, and effects of diseases and injuries in groups of people. They are often called "disease detectives” and Joe specializes in breaking nuclear cases wide open. You can find our interview on Cancer Rates near US Nuclear Reactors at NH #754. Richard L. Miller book, Under the Cloud: The Decades of Nuclear Testing. We’ve linked to a non-Amazon source where you can consider his many nuclear-themed books. ### NH #796: Utah Nuclear Madness: Out-of-State RadWaste + New Small Reactors + AI Data Centers?!? – Carmen Valdez of HEAL Utah URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/utah-nuclear-madness/ Published: 2026-09-30 This Week's Featured Interview: Carmen Valdez, HEAL Utah Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, or HEAL Utah, has been a grassroots advocacy organization based in Utah for over 26 years. Carmen Valdez, HEAL’s Radioactive and Toxic Program Manager, focuses on the legacy radioactive issues to the present and future threats to our health. While supporting the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and fighting to expand the program to include all of Utah and other previously excluded communities, HEAL also actively monitors and fights against nuclear threats such as proposed reactors, test sites, uranium mining, milling, and processing, and the dumping of high-level radioactive waste in the state. Radioactive Warning welcome to Olympic Winter Games visitors, 2002 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): No, Senate – DON'T DO IT! $50-billion U.S. taxpayer dollars for three nuclear "hubs," uh, no, "campuses," uh, no, " (truth in advertising:) FUTURE RADIOACTIVE WASTE TOXIC SUPERFUND SITES!!! (SEE: Piketon/Portsmouth, OH for the kind of mess we're talking about.) LINK to the full Numnutz article: Senate considers establishing $50B nuclear energy campuses ### NH #795: Atoms & Eve – New Program on Radiation Impacts on Women, Children & Pregnancy – Mary Olson, Cindy Folkers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/atoms-eve-radiation-impacts-women-girls/ Published: 2026-09-24 This Week's Featured Interview: The first three stages of radiation exposure in females. From Atoms & Eve. Radiation is a problem is that most people – especially those who grew up after the Cold War era – don’t understand. So how to inform them in a way that makes sense and inspires action?Two top experts on the impact of radiation on health have come together to create a new program to do just that – Atoms & Eve: Mary Olson is the Founder and CEO of Generational Radiation Impact Project (GRIP). Olson's degree is in evolutionary biology and her work since the early 1980's has been centered on better protection for people from the destructive impacts of ionizing radiation exposure, with a specific focus on the disproportionate dangers to women and little girls. Cindy Folkers is Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist for Beyond Nuclear. Since joining the group at its founding in 2007, she has focused on ionizing radiation and its impact on health and the environment, from both a scientific and historical perspective. Her most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Ian Fairlie, is The Scientists Who Alerted Us to the Dangers of Radiation. Their new program, Atoms & Eve, is a science-driven educational resource that explores how radiation harms female bodies more than male bodies, children more than adults, and pregnancy most of all. Numnutz of the Week Ahhh, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission keeps drinking that radioactive Kool-Aid, finding ever-more reasons to favor the nuclear industry over people and/or the environment. Remember: "cheaper" and "faster" are two words you never want to hear in connection with nuclear safety! LINKS: News from Don't Waste Michigan – Refueling SNAFU revealed at Palisades Atomic Reactor Risks Worker and Public Safety NRC Continues Overhauling New Reactor Regulations September 25-26 Global Online Event for Nuclear Abolition Day. LINK TO REGISTER FOR FOUR SESSIONS Clamshell Alliance Alert – September 30 protest of New England Governor's pro-nuclear summit at UMass-Lowell. REGISTRATION LINK Article: Exposing the Atomic Age: An Interview with Norbert Suchanek of the International Uranium Film Festival Video – 1961 Nuclear Accident that Left a Man Too Radioactive to Bury – Idaho National Reactor Testing Station: ### NH #794: Nuclear Humor?!? Foreign Policy Expert Bill Hartung Relieves Ugly Nuke Facts w/Stand-Up Comedy + Reactor Radiation Mutations URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-794-nuclear-humor-hartung/ Published: 2026-09-15 This Week’s Featured Interview: William D. (Bill) Hartung William D. Hartung is a Foreign Policy Advisor with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and his work focuses on the arms industry and US military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Bill is the co-author, with Ben Freeman, of the recently released book: The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. But as Bill Hartung, he performs stand-up comedy on foreign affairs and nuclear issues at comedy clubs and for special events. Contradiction in terms? We think not… Bill Hartung at West Side Comedy Club in New York, February, 2025 Tina Cordova at San Onofre Symposium One of the pleasures of attending major events is that I run into friends from the movement to abolish nukes who I otherwise don't get to see unless it's on Zoom. At the recent Samuel Lawrence Foundation San Onofre Symposium, one speaker was Tina Cordova. She is a Downwinder from the Trinity test and the Nevada Test Site radiation, and founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. She spoke about her personal experiences being a Downwinder, how the radiation exposure harmed her and decimated her family, and her then-upcoming presentation at the United Nations. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) A different kind of Numnutz this week, on mutations in proximity to the nuclear reactor disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima. Kids, worms, and pigs — can the rest of us be far behind? 3D render of a medical background with DNA strands ### NH #793: NRC Trick Wording in Proposed Radiation Levels Changes – What Does It Really Mean to Women, Girls? Mary Olson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nrc-trick-wording-radiation-exposure/ Published: 2026-09-09 This Week's Featured Interview: Mary Olson of Generational Radiation Impact Project (l) w/Libbe HaLevy Mary Olson is the Founder and head of Generational Radiation Impact Project (GRIP). She holds a degree in Evolutionary Biology and has been an educator on radiation health impacts while serving nuclear-impacted communities. Her research uncovered serious discrepancies between the standards of how radiation exposure is measured against an adult male model, versus how much more damage is actually caused to women and children; that young girls suffer the greatest radiation damage; and that this damage persists across their lifespan. Mary founded GRIP, in 2017 to support and promote this information, and has presented her findings internationally at the 2014 Vienna Conference on Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, in 2015; at the United Nations during the review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and at conferences and symposia in Japan, Russia, Europe, and across the U.S.. I spoke with Mary Olson on September 7, 2026. Downwinder Mary Dickson at the United Nations Marry Dickson at the United Nations. CLICK on picture to access video of her speech At the United Nations International Meetng on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation on September 2, 2026. Utah Downwinder Mary Dickson spoke movingly about how radiation from atomic bomb tests impacted her, her family, and her lifes CLICK on picture to access video of Mary Dickson at UN. The Nuke Resister w/Jack Cohen-Joppa DID YOU KNOW? — In 1981, the Hawaii County Council declared the Big Island to be a nuclear free zone. Nonviolent direct action by a trio of aquatic activists revealed that the politicians didn’t really mean it. Here with another story from our shared history of resisting nukes – is Jack Cohen-Joppa, co-coordinator of the Nuclear Resister. Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister, in his Native Habitat. ### NH #792: THE MOTH – Award-Winning Post-Nuclear-Apocalypse Film from First Nations Perspective – Michelle Derosier, Zoe Gordon URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/the-moth-award-winning-first-nations/ Published: 2026-09-02 THE MOTH filmmakers Michelle DeRosier (l) and Zoe Gordon This Week's Featured Interview: Filmmakers Michelle DeRosier and Zoe Gordon collaborated on THE MOTH, a cautionary story resonating with this current moment in Northern Ontario. It’s 2039 in Omagakii First Nation. The land has been consumed by lithium mines and the Nuclear Waste Corporation has buried 100,000 tonnes of Canada’s nuclear waste in the ground. Few were prepared for the disaster. An Ogichidaa-Kwe woman who refused to evacuate survives in isolation, continuing to love and resist as the world sickens around her. Winner, 15th Rio de Janeiro International Uranium Film Festival 2026 Native Spirit Award. FACT: In Canada, all used nuclear fuel is currently stored at the site where it was produced. However, this may change. In 2025 the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) proposed transportation of radioactive waste to a new deep geologic burial site in the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area, in proximity to numerous Indigenous and northern communities.  THE MOTH dramatizes what life could be like in the wake of an unnamed disaster in the area. Mural by Shelby Gagnon Michelle Derosier is Anishinaabe from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory in Northern Ontario, Canada. She has been living in Thunder Bay, Ontario for 35 years. Michelle has been making films for 18 years. Her work has screened nationally and internationally at the Sundance Film Festival, MaoriLand in New Zealand, the New York Museum of Arts and Design, INDIANER INUIT in Germany, LA Skins Film Festival and ImagineNATIVE, to name a few. Her work has aired on APTN, TVO, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Prime. Zoe Gordon is a media artist focused on sound, and has a sound studio, Cricket Cave, in Thunder Bay.  She collaborates on media projects for independent release and broadcasters.  She’s also a community arts producer.  Her personal practice is focused on listening, embodiment and storytelling. Michelle and Zoe are both members of Zhaaboshkaa Collective, a performance based collective whose focus is on healing settler colonial and trauma through art, ceremony and movement. To arrange for a screening of the MOTH, contact the filmmakers at: cricketcave@gmail.com. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter That hissing sound you're hearing is all the air going out of the new reactor hot air hype balloon. Linda Pentz Gunter brings her insights and sarcasm to bear against SMNRs for this week's Hot Story. Links: Karl Grossman article: Op-Ed: Explosive Play Ignites Discussion – on the Bellport, Long Island August 6 Hiroshima anniversary staged reading of Libbe HaLevy's play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE. ### NH #791: SPECIAL: San Onofre Symposium – Is Full Decommissioning An Impossible Dream? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-symposium/ Published: 2026-08-27 Duration: 01:01:01 The euphoria of victory in achieving the San Onofre shut-down before the reality of the battle of the radioactive waste had a chance to sink in. THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL FEATURED INTERVIEWS: The Samuel Lawrence Foundation produced the August 20 2026 San Onofre Symposium: Nuclear Waste to Clean Energy. Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy was there to cover it for the show Here, she shares interviews with two presenters and an attendee who walked in thinking nuclear energy is a good thing, and afterwards… well, listen and you'll find out. Kim McCoy is a physical oceanographer with expertise in coastal processes and instrumentation design. He has completed 40+ science projects including nine to Polar regions, and is a NATO Scientific Achievement Award recipient for his pioneering work in underwater communications, and author of the third edition of Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamics of Sea and Coast. McCoy spoke about how coastal structures, watersheds, and ocean dynamics intersect with the nuclear waste sitting only 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean at San Onofre. He also made the point that there are no separate oceans; they are all one body of water, illustrated by the graphic below: The Global Ocean Ocean-forward graphic of the interconnected oceans. Nuclear contamination to one is nuclear contamination to them all. Are you paying attention, TEPCO, as we acknowledge the 22nd release of Fukushima radioactivelly contaminated water into "the sea?" David Jay Weisman is recently retired from the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility after co-founding and working with the group for 21 years, the last three as its Chair. Here, he offers insights into strategies that worked to move the decommissioning and safety conversation from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington to the California Coastal Commission and California Public Utilities Commissions – both of which have jurisdiction over California nuclear reactors. It's a strategy that deserves to be emulated, and Weisman offers to share his files and insights with those interested in pursuing this route. You can contact him at: davidjayweisman@gmail.com. The Samuel Lawrence Foundation will be posting a video of the entire symposium in the near future on their website. Check in, check often to see when it posts. This Month's ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett Alistair Burnett, head of Media for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, reports from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with the latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW. Alistair's interviewee is Céline Nehory, ICAN's Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. The ICAN UPDATE is a monthly feature of Nuclear Hotseat. ### NH #790: Diablo Canyon Nuclear Extension Dangers Exposed as Gov. Newsom Kicks Can Down the Road – Linda Seeley URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/diablo-canyon-nuclear-extension-nonsense/ Published: 2026-08-20 Duration: 01:18:45 Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, showing off the latest family member and another reason why she fights against Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors This Week's Featured Interview: California's Diablo Canyon nuclear power reactors are built atop an earthquake fault, have been cited for multiple safety issues, and leak tritium-contaminated water into the Pacific ocean (as all nukes leak tritiated water). But the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended its license until 2045 and now California must approve its continued operation past 2030. California Governor and Presidential hopeful Gavin Newsom has kicked the hot potato of an extension of the license down the road to whoever his successor might be (slick political move!), but the industry has ramped up to push for its operation until at least 2045. What's to stop it? Activists like Linda Seeley, Vice President and Spokesperson for San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace. Linda has personally opposed Diablo Canyon since before ground was broken for it, and she continues to fight on behalf of the children, grandchildren, and all future generations. She is fighting for Life itself. Here, fresh off the Mothers for Peace Legislative Briefing on Diablo Canyon, she clearly spells out the problems with the site, the manipulations going on around it, and why it must not be allowed to continue operation. I spoke with Linda Seeley on August 14, 2026 LINKS from the Interview: Websites mentioned: StopDiabloCanyon.com MothersforPeace.org LA TIMES ARTICLE resulting from the legislative briefing: California planned a nuclear exit. Now it’s reconsidering Full August 14, 2026 Legislative Briefing on Diablo Canyon by Mothers for Peace: Video of Dr. Mark Jacobson‘s comments on renewables being enough to supply California's eneergy needs. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter You'd think dynamiting the Danube, raging wildfires and dropping river and lake levels would deter future nuclear power plans. And you'd be wrong. Activist Shout-Out: COMMENTS TO THE NRC NEEDED BY AUGUST 31 – Oppose the Nuclear Regulatory Commission loosening and degrading its longstanding radiation safety standards. COMMENT HERE: ### NH #789: AI and Nukes to Power Them? An Unholy Alliance – Physicist M.V. Ramana URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ai-and-nukes-to-power-them-ramana/ Published: 2026-08-12 Duration: 01:02:57 This Week's Featured Interview: Physicist and author M. V. Ramana Physicist M.V. Ramana has been featured numerous times on Nuclear Hotseat and his input is highly prized here not only for his understanding of nuclear power’s failures, shortcomings, and dangers, but the clarity with which he can explain it. He is the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security and a professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, at the University of British Columbia. Ramana is the author of The Power of Promise: Examining Nuclear Energy in India (Penguin Books, 2012) and 2024’s Nuclear is not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim  Fellowship, a Leo Szilard Award from the American Physical Society, and the 2026 Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days award. Here, he spells out what’s wrong with the push to make nuclear reactors the energy engine of AI data centers. I spoke with Ramana on July 25, 2026. Links: Data centers powered by next-gen nuclear? Don’t fall for Big Tech’s PR hype – Ramana article in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Nuclear Is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change by M. V. Ramana NH # 771: HEADS UP, MICHIGAN, CHICAGO! Palisades Reactor Restart Risks Nuclear Catastrophe – Nulear Hotseat interview with Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education. NH #762: Nuclear Waste Specialist Kevin Kamps w/Palisades “Zombie Nuke” Restart UPDATE ### NH #788: 2 Bombs, 200,000 Dead – Hiroshima/Nagasaki 81 Years Ago – Yuki Miyamoto on Legacy, Commemoration, Aftermath URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/2-bombs-200000-dead-hiroshima-nagasaki/ Published: 2026-08-04 Duration: 01:00:51 Hiroshima before and after – One bomb did all this. FYI – Modern U.S. nuclear weapons are 20-80 times more powerful. This Week’s SPECIAL Featured Interview: Prof. Yuki Miyamoto On the anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a look at what this meant for further generations’ health and psychology. Yuki Miyamoto is Nisei Hibakusha, second generation daughter of an atomic bomb survivor, and brings a personal perspective to her powerful work. She is a Professor in the department of Religious Studies and Director / Humanities Center at DePaul University in Chicago. Since earning her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, she has been teaching nuclear ethics and environmental justice at DePaul. In addition to leading a biannual study abroad program bringing DePaul students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki for two weeks, her team project, TEAACH Nuclear History — is an initiative focused on teaching nuclear issues to inner-city middle school students. We spoke on July 11, 2025. This is special ENCORE presentation from Nuclear Hotseat #736. LINKS from interview: Monograph by Yuki Miyamoto: Unbearable light/ness of the bombing: normalizing violence and banalizing the horror of the atomic bomb experience The very “graphic” graphic novel, Barefoot Gen in English. A harrowing story of Hiroshima that was one of the original Japanese manga series. This all-new translation of the author’s first-person experiences of Hiroshima and its aftermath is a reminder of the suffering war brings to innocent people. Its emotions and experiences speak to children and adults everywhere. Volume one of a ten-part series. TEAACH nuclear history project homepage with the curriculum Prof. Miramoto has developed to teach about atomic Here’s a LINK to the NH #589 interview on the curriculum: “Cool” Nuclear History Education for Kids – Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Aiko Kojima Hibino ATOMIC DOCTOR: Conscience and Complicity at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age by James L. Nolan Jr. He cared for the scientists on the Manhattan Project, organized safety and evacuation plans for the Trinity test at Alamogordo, escorted the “Little Boy” bomb from Los Alamos to the Pacific Islands, and was one of the first Americans to enter the irradiated ruins of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Most Grotesque Numnutz Ever: As referenced in our interview, this is the episode of the live TV program THIS IS YOUR LIFE, which aired in 1955. In it, Hiroshima survivor (Hibakusha) Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto is surprised – some might say blindsided — by a forced meeting with Capt. Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This segment begins at 14:45. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9cdzg01Gp9Y%3Ffeature%3Doembed Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto on This Is Your Life. Segment with Capt. Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, starts at 14:45. ICAN UPDATE from Hiroshima with Alistair Burnett The ICAN UPDATE is a monthly feature from the International Campaign on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons on progress being made on the passage of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW. In August, 2025, ICAN was in Japan and participating in the commemoration ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Here with his report from Japan is our regular correspondent, ICAN’s Head of mMedia, Alistair Burnett. Links: Hiroshima, 8:15: The Lost Memoir – Kiyoshi Tanimoto. The newly published memoir of a man featured in John Hersey's groundbreaking article and book, Hiroshima. Unedited memoir, in his own words. A deeply moving testiment to the aftermath of an atomic bombing. Brief video on How Every Scientist Involved in the Manhattan Project Died. Not to give too much away, but can you spell "cancer"…? ### NH #787: CALLS NEEDED: Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Survivors in line for RECA Compensation – Vina Colley + Mangano on PORTS Cancer Rate Spike URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/portsmouth-gaseous-diffusion-reca/ Published: 2026-07-29 Duration: 01:02:57 This Week's Featured Interview: Vina Colley Vina Colley is President and Director of Piketon/Portsmouth Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS), and co-founder of National Nuclear Workers National Nuclear Workers for Justice. For more than 40 years, she has fought for the rights of workers at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, or PORTS, and for members of the community contaminated with radiation and other toxins released from that site. Now, with the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) listing the Piketon area as potentially being included in RECA, Vina is calling for help in contacting Congress members to support the bill. In this interview, she shares the background of the facility, where she worked for seven years; her own story of battling for health and against a nuclear infrastructure that didn't care; and the current final push to include Piketon-Portsmouth in RECA. TO CONTACT VINA COLLEY: PRESS/NNWJ PO Box 136 Portsmouth, Ohio, 45662 VColley888@gmail.com Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano on Elevated Cancer Rates Around Piketon: Joseph Mangano Joseph Mangano is a health researcher who has served as head of Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP, Radiation.org) since 1989. Mangano managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, as well as the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He is featured in the documentary: “Silent Fallout: Baby Teeth Speak,” which covers the Cold War era study of atomic bomb radiation in 320,000 baby teeth by St. Louis scientists. As you will hear, Joe has been crunching the health statistics on cancer in Piketon and surrounding counties since 2021. He has published three reports on cancer rates in the areas adjacent to the defunct-but-being-resurrected Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. This is an excerpt from our interview from Nuclear Hotseat #700 from November 19, 2024. I spoke with him on November 15, 2024 Links: RPHP Reports Finds Soaring Death Rate Near Ohio Uranium Plant – Piketon/Portsmouth Diffusion Plant reports by RPHP on cancer and other illnesses for 2021, 2022, 2023 The Nuke Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa Here for another nuclear “milk and cookies” storytelling time is Jack Cohen-Joppa of the Nuke Resister with another story from our shared history of activist resistance to nuclear reactors and weapons. This week: In the wake of the first U.S. war on Iraq, a quartet of nuclear abolitionists faced hostility from a federal judge and prosecutors in North Carolina as they spoke truth to power. ### NH #786: Protecting Navajo Nation from New Uranium Rush – Dr. Tommy Rock + Trinity Blast Nuclear Downwinders Tina Cordova, Bernice Guttierez URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trinity-atom-bomb-navajo-nation-downwinders/ Published: 2026-07-23 Duration: 00:58:54 Trinity atomic bomb blast – .025 seconds into the Atomic Age – July 16, 1945 This Week's Featured Interviews: Dr. Tommy Rock Dr. Tommy Rock is a member of the Navajo Nation from Monument Valley, Utah. He got his Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Environmental Geography and Recreational Management in 2002, received his Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in 2008, and returned to Northern Arizona University, to receive his Ph.D. in Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability in 2017. His particular interest is pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to solving complicated issues such as sustainability in the Southwest from a Native American perspective. LINKS from interview: Protecting the Navajo Nation from the New Uranium Rush Bernice Guttierez Bernice Guttierez was born only eight days before the Trinity blast and only 35 miles from ground zero. She explains the legacy of the bomb on the health of five generations of her family and her activism and research into resulting infant mortality. Tina Cordova Tina Cordova, demonstrating outside the Trinity Site, which she does every July 16 – the anniversary of the Trinity test – the first atomic bomb blast. Tina Cordova is a sixth generation native New Mexican born and raised in the small town of Tularosa in south central New Mexico, less than 50 miles from the Trinity site. In 2005 Tina co-founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) with the late Fred Tyler. Since then, she has been an unstoppable campaigner for the rights of those harmed by radiation downwind of the Trinity atomic bomb blast and an internationally honored leader. 

 I spoke with Tina Cordova on July 14, 2025. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear radiation accident at South Africa's only nuclear reactor and they’re still using Three Mile Island talking points about "no more radiation than you'd get from a dental xray" – lying misdirection! – to get off the hook! Even in this 1913 xray machine, the subject is wearing a lead apron – more protection than the workers in South Africa got! ### NH #785: HOW Many New Nukes?!?!? Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Demands & Other Insanities – Greg Mello, Los Alamos Study Group URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-nukes-los-alamos-plutonium-pit-greg-mello/ Published: 2026-07-16 Duration: 00:59:15 This Week's Featured Interview: Greg Mello, co-founder and Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, cites recent issues, historic pressures, and insane demands being placed on the site for production of mass quantities of plutonium pits – the core and trigger of nuclear weapons. Why do we "need" so many when we already have 5,000 bombs? And what is the stress doing to those who work on site? Fascinating insights and shared overwhelm in this week's featured interview. Los Alamos Study Group – Sign up for their newsletter. ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett: Report from the headquarters of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and their work to pass the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This week, the focus is on NATO. ICAN's Head of Media, Alistair Burnett, reports. Libbe's Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE – Staged Reading for Hiroshima Commemoration on Long Island! Libbe's play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, will be presented in a special staged reading on August 6 to commemorate the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is being produced by the South Country Peace Group and will take place in Bellport on Long Island, New York at the Bellport Community Center, 29 Bellport Lane, Bellport, NY 11713. 6 PM SHARP start time. What is ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE about? An Oppenheimer-adjacent true story, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE follows a woman podcaster whose investigation into the New York Times reporter who chronicled the Manhattan Project becomes an obsession with uncovering the truth behind America’s atomic origin story – an investigative journey forcing her to confront how truth, ambition, journalism, and power shaped the public story of the Atomic Age. The play asks and answers the question: How do you hide an atomic bomb blast in plain sight? It won the 2026 International Uranium Film Festival — Special Script Award. Robert J. Oppenheimer (l), William L. Laurence of the New York Times (c), Gen. Leslie Groves (r) at the Trinity site, ground zero. For this presentation only, Libbe will perform the role of the podcaster (some stretch, right?), and award-winning environmental journalist Karl Grossman will play the role… of Karl Grossman. Both are doing it to support this staged reading, and want it to be known that neither one has any desire to act the role in future productions. Admission is free, but space is limited and no reservations will be taken. We hope to see you there! For more information, contact Libbe at: AtomicBillPlay@gmail.com. ### NH #784: France’s Deadly Nuclear Test Legacy in French Polynesia: Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross + 100th Country Signs TPNW – UN Treaty to Abolish Nuclear Weapons URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/frances-deadly-nuclear-tlegacy-french-polynesia/ Published: 2026-07-08 Duration: 01:00:41 This Week's Featured Interview: Between 1966 and 1996, France conducted 193 nuclear weapons tests at the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia. This included 46 atmospheric tests that caused widespread radioactive fallout across the Pacific, contaminating an estimated 110,000 people —nearly the entire population of the territory at the time. Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross at the 2023 Nuclear Free Future Awards Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross is from French Polynesia. In her mid-thirties, she became an activist when she realized that her leukemia was a legacy of the 193 French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. She conquered her blood cancer and became a collector of unheard stories of suffering and ignored medical records from the Polynesian people. In doing so, she put pressure on the French government, which to this day lacks accountability for its actions. Hinamoera fights for recognition, medical care and financial compensation for victims, and in 2023 was awarded the Nuclear Free Future Award. In May 2023, seeking a wider base of authority for her actions, she moved into politics and was elected to the Polynesian Assembly of Representatives. I spoke with Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross for Nuclear Hotseat #678 on June 18, 2024. Special ICAN Feature – Tonga 100th Signatory to Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: H.E. Viliami Va'inga Tönē, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations (center) deposits their instrument of accession with David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section at the United Nations (right) and Seth Shelden, ICAN (left) The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) marked the landmark 100th signatory to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) – the Kingdom of Tonga. To mark this benchmark event, we present excerpts from an ICAN video: WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO ACT. Participants include: Susi Snyder, who was then with PAX Netherlands and now is ICAN’s Director of Programmes, including Don’t Bank on the Bomb Tilman Ruff of Australia, one of ICAN's co-founders. Linnet Ngayu from Kenya is on the Council of Religious Leaders, which convenes faith leaders across 14 traditions in support of peace and the work of the United Nations. She is also a member of Religions for Peace, the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace among the world's religious Akira Kawasaki, a member of the Executive Committee of the Tokyo-based NGO Peace Boat. Setsuko Thurlow, from Japan and Canada – a hibakusha, atomic bomb survivor originally from Hiroshima, who is notably one of ICAN’s foremost campaigners for the TPNW. Dr. Ira Helfand, a member of the International Steering Group of ICAN.. Ray Acheson. At the time of this recording, THEY were Director of Reaching Critical Will, the disarmament programme of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Cristian Wittmann, an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pampa in Brazil, specializing in international law and humanitarian disarmament. He works with SEHLAC, which translates as the Latin American Human Secular Network. You can learn more about what you can do to help by signing up at: nuclearban.org/signup ### NH #783: Setting the Record Straight! Ketterer on RECA Radiation Testing in Colorado & NM, Gundersen Testifies to NRC Against Palisades Restart URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reca-radiation-test-co-nm-palisades-restart/ Published: 2026-07-02 Duration: 01:00:10 Dr. Michael Ketterer (l) and Brian M. Wilcox (r), collaborators and co-developers of the Arthur S. Ratcliffe Mobile Community Laboratory (Ratcliffe Lab). Michael is the Lab Manager and chemist, and Brian is the Chief Engineer and Physical Plant Manager. Seen here on location in Colorado. This Week's Featured Interviews: Dr. Michael Ketterer is an analytical chemist and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University (NAU). He specializes in understanding the sources, transport, and environmental fates of long-lived radioactive contaminants (such as uranium and plutonium) near former and active nuclear sites – and he’s been doing some important testing in radioactive hot-spots that have not yet been included in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. Gundersen's NRC Testimony on Palisades Restart Nuclear Engineer and whistleblower Arnie Gundersen testifies to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the problems posed by the proposed restart of the Palisades Nuclear facility on Lake Michigan. Arnie Gundersen White Paper mentioned in interview: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Double Standard: A Historical Overview of NRC’s Inspection Requirements at Millstone 1, Turkey Point and Holtec’s Palisades, Prepared by Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer, Fairewinds,Expert Witness for Don’t Waste Michigan, et al. – April 2, 2026. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Hurry hurry hurry! Speed more important than safety and accuracy! Gotta make that deadline so the optics line up… but at what possible ultimate cost when you rush the building of new untried nuclear reactor designs? Activist Shoutout LINKS: Vina Colley and PRESS on Facebook Contact Ohio Congressman Dave Taylor and demand that the Piketon/Portsmouth files relating to radiation exposure and RECA be released to PRESS: (202) 225-3164, https://taylor.house.gov/ Nuked: once a paradise, now a nuclear wasteland – New film on the Marshall Islands nuclear testing ### NH #782: Mic Reversal! Nuclear Hotseat’s Libbe HaLevy Interviewed by Physics Chanteuse Lynda Williams on Start of Year 16 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/lynda-williams-interviews-libbe-halevy/ Published: 2026-06-25 Duration: 00:58:59 This Week's Featured Interview: International Uranium Film Festival Executive Director Marcia Gomes de Oliviera and Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy, who was given a Special Script Award by the IUFF For the first time in the 15+ years of Nuclear Hotseat, producer/host Libbe HaLevy is the interviewee. What did Libbe do before her nuclear work and what prepared her for it? How and why did the show start? How has she kept it going every week? What inspired her to write her play Atomic Bill and the Payment Due? And what's on the horizon for Nuclear Hotseat as it evolves into a more wide-ranging set of platforms? Libbe answers all this and more. Lynda Williams, aka The Physics Chanteusse, asks the questions and shares some laughs with long-time associate/activist friend Libbe in this unique interview. It celebrates both the start of Nuclear Hotseat's 16th year and Libbe's play, Atomic Bill and the Payment Due, receiving the Special Script Award from the International Uranium Film Festival. Lynda Williams' not-so-subtle logo for her upcoming podcast, Nuke Puke Lynda Williams is a physicist, investigative journalist, activist, and performance artist known as The Physics Chanteuse. She has performed for scientists and general audiences around the world, touring her one-woman show Atomic Cabaret most recently in the UK and Europe. Currently, she is working on analyzing and writing about NRC and DOE deregulation, a video blog/podcast called Nuke Puke, and a memoir, The Physics Bitch. Song – Depleted Uranium – Words, Music, and Vocal by Lynda Williams: Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): When is a nuclear facility not a nuclear facility? When is the resulting nuclear waste product not a nuclear waste product? You might have to learn Swedish to get the full story! Activist Shout-Out: Updates coming to Nuclear Hotseat website, launching of a new Youtube channel, social media programs, and more! LINKS: The US Is Laying Groundwork to Test Nuclear Weapons Again – ICAN's Seth Shelden. ### NH #781: Nuclear Hotseat 15th Anniversary SPECIAL! Caldicott, Jaczko, Starr, Graff, Church Rock, Rainbow Warrior, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-15th-anniversary/ Published: 2026-06-18 ### NH #781: Nuclear Hotseat 15th Anniversary SPECIAL! Caldicott, Jaczko, Starr, Graff, Church Rock, Rainbow Warrior, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-15th-anniversary/ Published: 2026-06-18 Duration: 01:07:32 Back to where it all began – Three Mile Island This Week's 15th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL A Look Back at a Decade-and-a-Half of Nuclear Hotseat! Nuclear Hotseat started as a conference call (I didn't know how to do a podcast) on June 14, 2011, only three months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster began. In the 15 years/780 episodes since, the show has covered a complete range of nuclear issues "from a different perspective," the information geared towards people who know nothing and want to know something about nuclear, and those who already know something who'd like to know just a little bit more. In this retrospective, hear snippets from just a few from a range of interviews: Dr. Helen Caldicott on how she almost got Pres. Ronald Reagan to get rid of nukes completely. (He didn't want to give up Star Wars.) Dr. Helen Caldicott (r) being interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy Gregory Jaczko, former Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on how he first learned about Fukushima, how he got his information, and what actions he took as a result. Greg Jacsko, former Chair, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), in Nagasaki for the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings, on why "deterrence" is a false concept and will not make us safe. ICAN's Melissa Parke Garrett Graff, author of RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the US Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die, on U.S. plans to save the mucky-mucks and ditch the rest of us. Linda Pentz Gunter with her Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story anniversary offering. Former uranium miner Larry J. King (center behind yellow banner) at the site of the 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond spill, telling the story. Former Dine uranium miner Larry J. King on his experience witnessing the July 16, 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond spill on Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The Rainbow Warrior in Marsden Wharf in Auckland Harbour after the bombing by French secret service agents. New Zealand's Kevin Hester, who witnessed the immediate aftermath of the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior bombing that killed photographer Fernando Pereira. Spotlight on Monthly contributors: Alistair Burnett of ICAN with the ICAN UPDATE, focusing on the latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Jack Cohen-Joppa of Nuclear Resister with stories from our shared history of non-violent direct action for a nuclear-free future to help inspire our activism today. John LaForge with the NukeWatch Report, which was cut short when he "walked the walk" to protest U.S. nukes on Germany's Buchel Air Base and ended up in German jail. And much more information on films, books, in memorium for those we have lost – all of it covered on 780 previous episodes. Libbe's Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE Receives Special Script Award from the Int'l Uranium Film Festival! Libbe HaLevy's play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, received a Special Script Award from the 2026 International Uranium film Festival. IUFF Executive Director Marcia Gomes de Oliviera on awarding the 2026 Special Script Award: 
 “A future piece of great importance. This is a story that needs to be seen.” – Marcia Gomes de Oliviera For full story on the Award, CLICK HERE. ### NH #780: Nuclear Russian Roulette in Ukraine – Nuke Reactors in a War Zone – Joseph DeMare URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-russian-roulette-ukraine/ Published: 2026-06-11 ### NH #780: Nuclear Russian Roulette in Ukraine - Nuke Reactors in a War Zone - Joseph DeMare URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-russian-roulette-ukraine/ Published: 2026-06-11 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Joseph DeMare Joseph DeMare is producer and host of the podcast/broadcast For A Green Future, as well as a long time anti-nuclear and environmental activist. I read a passionate post from him on Facebook about the threats posed by Russian attacks on Ukrainian nuclear reactors, attacks which are coming ever-closer to triggering an irreversible radiological disaster, and knew we had to talk about it for this show. It gave us a chance to discuss other actions he is taking on behalf of people and the environment to combat the never-ending list of nightmares that we face. LINKS from the interview: For a Green Future Podcast link: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/foragreenfuture Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@foragreenfuture6030?si=4dJkGsMDRzq9NINa Website: joedemareforagreenfuture.org To Contact the International Atomic Energy Agency: General list of IAEA contacts: https://www.iaea.org/contact IAEA Office at the United Nations: NYoffice@iaea.org 1 United Nations Plaza, Room DC-1-880 New York, NY 10017, USA, T el: (001) 212-963-6010 or 6011 IAEA – Vienna International Centre Email: Official Mail PO Box 100 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+43-1) 2600-0 Email: Official Mail Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The White House plans to let private companies use surplus plutonium in their experimental startup reactors. More insanity! The Nuclear Resister: Jack Cohen-Joppa How one man's persistence first stigmatized, then sparked resistence, then stopped shipments of radioactive waste into Idaho. Former NRC Chair Runs for Congress ### NH #779: Women, Children At Greatest Risk from Nuclear Radiation – UN Report by Mary Olson, Dr. Amanda M. Nichols URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/women-kids-at-greatest-nuclear-radiation-risk/ Published: 2026-06-02 ### NH #779: Women, Children At Greatest Risk from Nuclear Radiation - UN Report by Mary Olson, Dr. Amanda M. Nichols URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/women-kids-at-greatest-nuclear-radiation-risk/ Published: 2026-06-02 Duration: 01:02:11 This Week’s SPECIAL Featured Interview: United Nations report on the generational impact of nuclear radiation on women and children, written by Mary Olson of Generational Radiation Impact Project and Dr. Amanda M. Nichols. We all accept as proven scientific and medical fact that human exposure to ionizing radiation from nuclear weapons and their production is damaging to human health. But how do we know that? Who figures out how bad it can be? How much radiation we can be exposed to without risking our health? And how valid are those measurements? We learn the alarming truth behind how those numbers were generated and what needs to be done instead from today’s guests, co-authors of the new report for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm: Mary Olson holds a degree in Evolutionary Biology and has been an educator on radiation health impacts while serving nuclear-impacted communities… and so much more. Her website is RadiationProject.org Amanda M. Nichols, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nichols research focuses on illuminating the role of women in the North American anti-nuclear movement. Email contact: Dr.Amanda.M.Nichols@gmail.com Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm is cornerstone information in the movement to rid our planet of nukes. It is available for free downloa or pdf HERE. Co-author Amanda Nichols holds up copy of the report to Mary Olson (lower picture) and Libbe HaLevy Further References mentioned in the interview and additional Resources: Nichols, Amanda M. Women on the Edge of Time: Grief and Power in the Nuclear Age. PhD Dissertation. University of Florida (2021). https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UFE0057378/00001. Nichols, Amanda M. “Nuclear Energy,” in Chad Seales (ed.) The Handbook of Religion and American Culture. 2025. Nichols, Amanda M. “Uranium and Religion: Toward a Decolonial Temporality of Extraction,” Religions, 16(1). 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16010016. Olson, Mary. “Atomic Radiation Is More Harmful to Women,” Nuclear Information Resource Services, 2011. https://www.nirs.org/wp-content/uploads/radiation/radhealth/radiationwomen.pdf. Olson, Mary. “Disproportionate Impact of Radiation and Radiation Regulation,” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 44, no. 2 (2019): 131–39.https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2019.1603864. Gender and Radiation Impact Project Website: https://www.genderandradiation.org/. For BEIR VII Reports NAS-NRC. “Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR VII – Phase 2,” Committee to Assess Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation, Board on Radiation Effects Research, National Research Council of the National Academies. National Academies Press, 2006. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030909156X. NAS-NRC. “National Research Council – Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations: Health Effects of Exposures to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR V.” National Academy Press, 1990. http:// www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309039959. On International Radiological Protections and Reference Man ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. 2002. Basic Anatomical and Physiological Data for Use in Radiological Protection Reference Values (2002). http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=icrp%20publication%2089. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 103: The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (2007). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/ANIB_37_2-4. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 147: Use of Dose Quantities in Radiological Protection. 50, no. 1 (2021): 9–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146645320911864. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. “Official Definition of Reference Man.” Report of the Task Group on Reference Man. [ICRP Publication] No. 23. Oxford: Pergamon Press (1975). Adopted October 1974. Page 4. https://ieer.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/definition-of-reference-man.pdf. The ICAN UPDATE w/Alistair Burnett on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons A recap of the United Nations meetings on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapon's (ICAN) Head of Media Alistair Burnett and guest Alicia Sanders-Zakre, Head of Policy. ### NH #778: NEW NUCLEAR BOOK – EnviroVideo Book 1 – Handbook for Action and Change – Karl Grossman, Frank Melli URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/envirovideo-handbook-for-action-change/ Published: 2026-05-27 ### NH #778: NEW NUCLEAR BOOK - EnviroVideo Book 1 - Handbook for Action and Change - Karl Grossman, Frank Melli URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/envirovideo-handbook-for-action-change/ Published: 2026-05-27 Duration: 00:58:57 This Week's Featured Interview: Karl Grossman (above) and Frank Melli, with book Award-winning environmental journalist Karl Grossman and producer/media activist and strategist Frank Melli, the team behind the long-running program Enviro Close-Up, on their new book which is based on the interviews from that show: EnviroVideo Book 1: Repurposing the TV series into a handbook for action and change. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The NRC has thrown in the towel to the White House, ceding its safety oversight mandate for risky new reactors to the promotion-oriented Department of Energy. Here's Linda Pentz Gunter with this week's Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): AI in charge of nuclear? Well, here's one example of what it might do that it really ought NOT to do… ### NH #777: Arctic Ice Melt & Nuclear Radiation Dangers: UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arctic-ice-melt-nuclear-radiation/ Published: 2026-05-20 ### NH #777: Arctic Ice Melt & Nuclear Radiation Dangers: UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arctic-ice-melt-nuclear-radiation/ Published: 2026-05-20 Duration: 00:59:14 Massive icebergs from Jakobshavn Glacier melting in Disko Bay on sunny summer evening, Ilulissat, Greenland. This Week’s Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a marine biologist – a radiation researcher and consultant – who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here he provides a SPECIAL report produced exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat on the Nuclear Arctic radiation dangers. We spoke on Monday, January 24, 2022, just as the United Nations COP 27 conference was winding down. LINKS from interview: PDF DOWNLOAD of the text of this presentation – CLICK HERE CONTACT for Tim Deere-Jones: timdeerejones@outlook.com Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Heads up on drone dangers! Whether it’s hitting nuclear power plants or going rogue, autonomous drones are our latest lethal threat. Here’s Linda Pentz Gunter with this week’s Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story. ### NH #776: Deadly Irony & Blind Spots at UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference – John LaForge of Nukewatch URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty/ Published: 2026-05-14 ### NH #776: Deadly Irony & Blind Spots at UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference - John LaForge of Nukewatch URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty/ Published: 2026-05-14 Duration: 00:59:26 This Week's Featured Interview: John LaForge of Nukewatch – mid-interview with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy The United Nations Review Conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is in its third of four weeks, and while one can hope that the nations of the world come together to condemn nuclear weapons and move us down the road to their complete elimination, there's a lot standing in its way. That's why we talk with John LaForge. He is the co-founder of Nukewatch, a Wisconsin-based environmental and peace action group, dedicated to the abolition of nuclear power, weapons and continued radioactive waste production. John is just back from New York, where he attended the first four days of the NPT meetings at the United Nations. Here, he casts his keen and often skeptical eye on what took place there – information not necessarily covered in mainstream media or even the more hope-tinted reports from anti-nuclear NGOs. Eye opening insights from a man who has done prison time for his peaceful protests of nuclear weapons. Links from Interview: Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will. NPT Article Collection Nukewatch Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Languaging counts! So when is a "renaissance" not a Renaissance? When nuclear hijacks the word! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you get 'em while they're young, you've got 'em! That's the adage followed by the nuclear industry with their propaganda, uh. outreach to young high school students and even the Scouts! ### NH #775: Infant Mortality Rates Soar Near Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactors – New RPHP Report – Joseph Mangano, Christie Brinkley URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/infant-mortality-rates-soar-diablo-cyn/ Published: 2026-05-07 ### NH #775: Infant Mortality Rates Soar Near Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactors - New RPHP Report - Joseph Mangano, Christie Brinkley URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/infant-mortality-rates-soar-diablo-cyn/ Published: 2026-05-07 Duration: 00:57:01 This Week's Featured Story: Screenshot of chart showing increase in infant mortality in San Luis Obspo county since the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors began operation. From the April 28, 2026 press conference by Radiation and Public Health Project (see full press conference below) Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) just released a new study on infant mortality rates in San Luis Obispo County in proximity to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, comparing the levels in infant deaths and premature births from before the nuclear reactors were built to today. Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, founder of RPHP, narrates the presentation along with long time RPHP spokesperson and current Vice President Christie Brinkley. The press conference announcing the spike in child health problems for those who live within 30 miles of the reactors took place on April 28, 2026. LINK to Full Press Conference: Full press conference by RPHP on Infant Mortality rates near the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Why so many state governors seem to have taken leave of their senses and are all scrambling to get their nuclear Labubus: Nuclear Labubu, inspired by Linda Pentz Gunter, created by Charles Langley of PublicWatchdogs.org. Linda's book, NO TO NUCLEAR: Why nuclear power destroys lives, derails climate progress and provokes war, is available everywhere responsible books are sold – and if you local bookstore doesn't have it in stock, have them order several copies – one for you and one for the people you tell about it. You can order directly from the publisher at: https://www.plutobooks.com/product/no-to-nuclear Or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/No-Nuclear-Destroys-Progress-Provokes/dp/0745352103/ ### NH #774: Nuke Tax Costs You HOW MUCH?!? Annual Nuclear Weapons Programs Tax Calculator – PSR’s Dr. Robt. Dodge + NRC Comments NOW – Lynda Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-tax-calculator-psr/ Published: 2026-04-29 ### NH #774: Nuke Tax Costs You HOW MUCH?!? Annual Nuclear Weapons Programs Tax Calculator - PSR's Dr. Robt. Dodge + NRC Comments NOW - Lynda Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-tax-calculator-psr/ Published: 2026-04-29 Duration: 01:01:10 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Robert Dodge of PSR-LA The 37th annual 2026 Nuclear Weapons Programs Tax Calculator, released by Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), demonstrates exactly how much every woman, man, child and even infant in the United States pays in annual tax dollars to support nuclear weapons – whether we want it to or not. PSR-LA's Dr. Robert Dodge (Bob) has authored this report since its inception. He is a family physician practicing in Ventura, California who serves on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles, and as co-chair of the Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons of National Physicians for Social Responsibility. Physicians for Social Responsibility is the US Affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War which received the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, and is a partner organization of ICAN, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He also serves on the Back from the Brink (www.preventnuclearwar.org) steering committee. As Bob Dodge says: "Learn how ‘your tax dollars at work' really means ‘your tax dollars usurped to line the pockets of the nuclear industry, AI, and the war machine while giving you nothing that sustains and supports your life.' Then – get to work to change it!" (For how to do this SEE: LYNDA WILLIAMS REPORT BELOW.) LINKS from interview: PSR – 2026 Nuclear Weapons Programs Tax Calculator BACK FROM THE BRINK Nukemap PSR Nuclear Famine Report NH #596: Nuclear Reactor Radiation Health Impact on Kids – New Baby Tooth Study – Joseph Mangano – More on the baby tooth study that revealed Strontium 90 in baby teeth and led to the founding of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). Physicist Lynda Williams: NRC COMMENTS DUE NOW! Physicist Lynda Williams goes over pending NRC regulations changes and the tiny window of opportunity to respond, why each response is so important, and suggested language you can copy and past is at: nuclearfreehawaii.substack.com. Lynda Williams substack w/all her articles. NuclearFreeHawaii Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): On Lawrence O'Donnell's cable show The Last Word, former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz states that Iran already has uranium enrichment levels that could be used to make a bomb (info Nuclear Hotseat presented on Episode #732 from July 3, 3025 in an interview with Dr. Gordon Edwards of Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibililty) — but O'Donnell's segment disappears when the show is posted! Censorship, clumsiness, sabotage, or ??? ### NH #773: NE Ohio Nuclear Waste Superfund Site Exposes EPA Collusion + Nuke Industry “Playbook” to Avoid Clean-up – Reporter Greg Schwartz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ne-ohio-nuclear-waste-superfund-site-epa/ Published: 2026-04-22 ### NH #773: NE Ohio Nuclear Waste Superfund Site Exposes EPA Collusion + Nuke Industry "Playbook" to Avoid Clean-up - Reporter Greg Schwartz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ne-ohio-nuclear-waste-superfund-site-epa/ Published: 2026-04-22 Duration: 01:00:34 A 1988 political cartoon in the Akron Beacon Journal touches on the controversy at the Industrial Excess Landfill. This Week's Featured Interview Northeast Ohio superfund site Industrial Excess Landfill (IEL) has been shown to use questionable methodology, which enables the EPA to avoid observing levels of radioactivity that it prefers not to have to deal with at the IEL – despite flaws pointed out by the agency’s own Science Advisory Board. And the EPA rehires Tetra Tech for remediation despite numerous mistakes spotlighted by the Project on Government Oversight. Reporter Greg Schwartz has covered this situation and others demonstrating EPA collusion with nuclear polluters. He is a freelance journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in covering environmental justice issues. He has a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Kent State University in his native region of Northeast Ohio. He won a Lone Star Award for investigative reporting from the Houston Press Club in 2010, for his San Antonio Current story on the city’s “toxic triangle” area, and is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists. LINKS from interview: Articles by Greg Schwartz: 2006 – Cleveland Free Times – Buried Secrets 2020 – SF Bayview series 2020 – Hindsight brings corrupted radiation testing into focus at the EPA – Part 3 2024 – Counterpunch story on the IEL 2025 – Counterpunch story on Diablo Canyon Activist Shoutout: From Physicist Lynda Williams: URGENT Action Alert – COMMENT BY MAY 4: The @NRCgov wants to replace its independent safety review with secret DOE & DOW approvals, letting companies use a small test nuclear reactor’s safety permit to license a full commercial scale one — possibly dozens clustered at a data center coming to a community near you. This will exclude public oversight and legal action. Thismust be stopped. SUGGESTED WORDING: “I oppose Docket NRC-2025-1503. Independent NRC safety review cannot be replaced by secret DOE or DOW authorizations the public cannot access or challenge.” Comment by May 4:

 Access site for comments here: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NRC-2025-1503 ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett Alistair Burnett, Head of Media for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), reports from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with the latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Alistair includes brief interviews with: Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists Grethe Ostern of Norwegian People’s Aid and lead author of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor. ### NH #772: SPECIAL: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster at 40 – New Safe Confinement UN-SAFE; Bulgarian Survivor Kouneva; Gundersen on Fukushima Comparison URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster/ Published: 2026-04-15 ### NH #772: SPECIAL: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster at 40 - New Safe Confinement UN-SAFE; Bulgarian Survivor Kouneva; Gundersen on Fukushima Comparison URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster/ Published: 2026-04-15 Duration: 00:59:02 The Elephant's Foot – Chernobyl's melted radioactive core Arnie Gundersen on New Safe Confinement Problems, Fukushima Comparison Russian drone attack punches hole in New Safe Confinement structure; $2 billion minimum to fix! Nuclear engineer and whistleblower Arnie Gundersen explains the nature of the damage created by the February 14, 2025 drone attack on Chernobyl, which blew a hole in the New Safe Confinement structure and set the insulation on fire. Then he compares the severity of Chernobyl with Fukushima – which one was a worse nuclear disaster? The answer may surprise you! Bulgarian Chernobyl Survivor Bonnie Kouneva Bonnie Kouneva was a 15-year-old living in Communist Bulgaria when the Chernobyl disaster began, but no one knew about it because the Soviet Union said nothing to its people.  On May 1, May Day, only five days after it began, Bulgarian citizens were “encouraged” by the Soviet hierarchy to attend all-day celebrations of the communist state – outdoors, in the rain – at the exact time the worst of Chernobyl’s radiation was directly overhead. Here, she paints the picture of the impact of that radiation rainout and lets us know the result of this devastating experienc on her health and on her children. The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa The longest war tax protest in U.S. history began with one couple’s conscientious refusal to pay for nuclear weapons or war, a commitment that inspired supporters nationwide and built community through the power of nonviolent direct action. Here with another story from our shared history of resisting nukes – is Jack Cohen-Joppa, co-coordinator of the Nuclear Resister. National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee ### NH #771: HEADS UP, MICHIGAN, CHICAGO! Palisades Reactor Restart Risks Nuclear Catastrophe – Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/palisades-risks-nuclear-catastrophe/ Published: 2026-04-08 ### NH #771: HEADS UP, MICHIGAN, CHICAGO! Palisades Reactor Restart Risks Nuclear Catastrophe - Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/palisades-risks-nuclear-catastrophe/ Published: 2026-04-08 Duration: 01:01:05 This Week's Featured Interview #1: A growing body of technical evidence is raising urgent concerns about a potential double standard in nuclear safety enforcement by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Drawing on decades of regulatory precedent, nuclear engineer and expert witness Arnie Gundersen warns that the NRC is failing to apply the same rigorous inspection and root-cause analysis standards at the Palisades reactor that were historically required at facilities such as Millstone Unit 1 and Turkey Point. The result, he argues, is a dangerous erosion of safeguards designed to prevent predictable, high-consequence failures. Arnie Gundersen Gundersen is a nuclear engineer, whistleblower, and green energy advocate who has been a consulting expert on many nuclear reactor issues, most specifically to me the shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear power station in southern California. I spoke with Arnie Gundersen on April 3, 2026 LINKS from interview: Peter Thiel, Nuclear Power, and Weapons-Usable Uranium Enrichment: A Billionaire’s Power Play Washington Post Promotes Nuclear Agenda Tied to Bezos’ Investments Don’t Waste Michigan contacts: Michael Keegan (734) 770-1441 Kevin Kamps (269) 217-6326 Featured Interview #2: Susi Snyder of ICAN, Don't Bank on the Bomb Susi Snyder of ICAN How do we stop nuclear weapons from being manufactured in the first place? Follow the money — and then stop it. And there’s something easy that any one of us can do to dry up nuclear’s financial pipeline, at no cost to you and requiring very little time. To learn more, Susi Snyder explains. She is the Director of Programmes at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, where her responsibilities include facilitating the development and execution of ICAN's key programmes. This includes management of ICAN's divestment work and engagement with the financial sector.
 For more than a decade, Susi coordinated the Don’t Bank on the Bomb divestment project. She is an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. LINK to 2025 DBOTB Report on Nuclear Weapons Producing Companies: At Great Cost ### NH #770: NO TO NUCLEAR – Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story’s Linda Pentz Gunter’s HOT New Book URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/no-to-nuclear-book-linda-pentz-gunter/ Published: 2026-04-01 ### NH #770: NO TO NUCLEAR - Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story's Linda Pentz Gunter's HOT New Book URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/no-to-nuclear-book-linda-pentz-gunter/ Published: 2026-04-01 Duration: 01:00:04 This Week's Featured Interview: I have the privilege of working with some tremendously skilled, knowledgeable, big-hearted people for this show, but we’re usually so focused on the work at hand that we don’t get to engage in longer, more wide-ranging conversations. Linda Pentz Gunter That’s why this week’s featured interview is a particular joy for me. It is with Linda Pentz Gunter. She is a former journalist with Reuters, USA Network, The Times (UK) and other outlets; founder and Executive Director of Beyond Nuclear; and the head of the Beyond Nuclear International newsletter, which she curates and writes for – a great source of reliable nuclear information. She’s also the brains and voice behind the Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story, a regular feature on the show since 2022. Her new book, No To Nuclear. Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War was published in March 2026 by Pluto Press, and that's what we talk about while finding the time for sarcasm, jokes, and several good laughs. I spoke with Linda Pentz Gunter on March 27, 2026 Linda can be reached at: linda@beyondnuclear.org Links: Pluto Press, which published NO TO NUCLEAR, is running a special on the book – 40% off until April 8, 2026. Linda cited M. V. Ramana's book, NUCLEAR IS NOT THE SOLUTION: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change. Another good one to add to your bookshelf. LINK to Nuclear Hotseat #742 interview with M. V. Ramana on his book, NUCLEAR IS NOT THE SOLUTION: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change. ### NH #769: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 47: Restart? Radwaste? Bill Gates/Microsoft AI? TMI Alert’s Eric Epstein Explains the Bad Ideas URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-nuclear-meltdown-47/ Published: 2026-03-25 ### NH #769: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 47: Restart? Radwaste? Bill Gates/Microsoft AI? TMI Alert's Eric Epstein Explains the Bad Ideas URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-nuclear-meltdown-47/ Published: 2026-03-25 Duration: 00:58:07 This Week's Featured Interview: TMI Alert's Eric Epstein and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the 40th anniversary of the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown. Eric Epstein is the Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., a safe-energy organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and founded in 1977. TMIA monitors the Peach Bottom, Susquehanna, and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations. He is also coordinator of the EFMR Monitoring, Inc., a nonpartisan community based organization established in 1992. EFMR monitors radiation levels at Peach Bottom and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations, invests in community development, and sponsors remote robotics research. For more than 45 years, Mr. Epstein has specialized in research, litigation and providing expert testimony on the decommissioning, decontamination, environmental safety, rate recovery and waste isolation at nuclear reactors. No one knows the ins and outs of legalities surrounding Three Mile Island better than him. We spoke on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Second Feature: Audio History of Meltdown As It Happened PLUS: Mary Stamos-Osborn and the Three Mile Island Mutated Plants Mary Stamos-Osborn Mary Stamos-Osborn (r) and helper showing gigantic mutated dandelion leaves found growing shortly after the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown. Mary Stamos, also known as Mary Osborn, was a long time Middletown resident, TMI survivor, and Three Mile Island Alert member. Mary, who had no previous history as an activist, became involved in issues immediately after the accident when she noticed gigantic plant mutations – known as fasciation – that can be traced to radiation exposure. Her collection of mutated plants and flowers was accepted by the Smithsonian Institution in 2019 to be preserved, digitized, and made available to the public. Mary Stamos-Osborn passed away on February 19, 2024. This interview is from the 40th anniversary of the TMI accident as first reported on Nuclear Hotseat #405, March 25, 2019. Our thanks to filmmaker Robert (Robbie) Leppzer, producer of the two-hour audio documentary Voices from Three Mile Island, for permission to use excerpts from that work in this program. 
 Links: Three Mile Island Alert TMIA Newsletter Nuclear Hotseat #405 – 40th Anniversary of Three Mile Island Meltdown It includes information from: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education. Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Three Mile Island Alert. Peter Bradford, who was a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner during the TMI accident. Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert at TMIA.org.Three Mile Island Alert’s Radiation monitoring at EFMR.org Mary Stamos (Osborn), long time Middletown resident, TMI survivor, and TMIA member, whose collection of mutated plants and flowers has just been accepted by the Smithsonian Institution. Walter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as “the most trusted newsman in America. Libbe's Book: YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat A Nuclear Memoir and an Activist Chronicle Available through your local independent book dealer or through Amazon A leaking, out-of-control nuclear reactor only one mile away No available transportation Even the phones have stopped working. What would you do? What would it do TO you? That's what Libbe HaLevy faced during the 1979 Three Mile Island radiation-spewing meltdown near Harrisburg, PA. Now, the full atomic story is told, from 1950's Duck-and-Cover nuclear bomb exercises and Disney's "Our Friend the Atom" through the harrowing nuclear accident and decades of denial before Fukushima snapped her into action> YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! tells the story of the making of an activist — how one victim of TMI learned to fight back against nuclear perpetrators with facts, sarcasm… and a podcast. HaLevy's colorful life gets its due, with side trips through Broadway, Hollywood, network TV and "Bozo's Circus;" recovery from childhood sexual abuse; and her successful media work in three national movements. Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Helen Caldicott says of YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK!: "Absolutely fascinating. This book must be read by all people who care about the future of the planet and their children." ### NH #768: Records of Veteran’s Depleted Uranium Exposure Disappear – DOD Incompetence or Cover-Up? Iraqi War Vet Nate Teach URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/veterans-depleted-uranium-exposure-iraq/ Published: 2026-03-18 ### NH #768: Records of Veteran's Depleted Uranium Exposure Disappear - DOD Incompetence or Cover-Up? Iraqi War Vet Nate Teach URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/veterans-depleted-uranium-exposure-iraq/ Published: 2026-03-18 Duration: 01:04:24 This Week's Featured Interview: Nate Teach Nate Teach is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class and an advocate for veterans affected by toxic exposures, including depleted uranium (DU). A combat veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Teach reports how he was exposed to radioactive DU contamination in 2003 while participating in cleanup operations near Tikrit, Iraq. That exposure led to an ongoing history of physical problems associated with radiation exposure, including severe gastrointestinal distress, skin irritation, and chronic fatigue. These were complicated by the response – or lack thereof – from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. For nearly two decades, Teach has sought recognition and medical accountability from the DOD and VA regarding the long-term health impacts of his DU exposure. His experiences, including documented radiation testing and reported gaps in follow-up care, has informed his advocacy on behalf of other exposed service members. I spoke with Nate Teach on March 13, 2026. Links: Nate Teach article: ANOTHER DOD COVER-UP? THE LONG SHADOW OF DEPLETED URANIUM EXPOSURE ON U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS PETITION demanding that our leaders in Congress change the DoD’s unjust administrative investigatory system  Walk the Talk Foundation Nuclear Hotseat #654: Dr. Chris Busby, Damacio Lopez on Depleted Uranium Plume from Ukraine Hits UK ### NH #767: Fukushima at 15 – Danger from Nuclear Triple Meltdown is Far From Over – Nancy Foust of Simply Info URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-at-15-nuclear-triple-meltdown/ Published: 2026-03-12 ### NH #767: Fukushima at 15 - Danger from Nuclear Triple Meltdown is Far From Over - Nancy Foust of Simply Info URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-at-15-nuclear-triple-meltdown/ Published: 2026-03-12 Duration: 01:00:16 Fukushima Daiichi, Explosion in Reactor 1 on March 12, 2011 This Week's Featured Interview: Nancy Foust March 11 marks the 15th anniversary of the start of the Fukushima Daiichi triple nuclear reactor meltdown disaster. To find out how Japan and TEPCO’s attempt to stabilize and clean up the radiologically contaminated site is progressing, we talk with Nancy Foust of SimplyInfo.org, which publishes an annual report: 15th Anniversary Report Fukushima Daiichi. You don't have to be a science nerd to understand the content. It’s a clearly written, scientific, fact-based, footnoted, fully vetted analysis on the current situation with the clean-up and its ongoing problems . We also discuss the Japanese “nuclear amnesia,” the attempts to downplay Fukushima as the country pushes nuclear expansionism and aims to build new reactors without having cleaned up its existing nuclear reactor mess. Simply Info 15th Anniverary Report Fukushima Daiichi: Simply Info Fukushima 15th Aniversary Report (CLICK on image to download PDF) LINKS to other Fukushima Anniversary Materials: Fukushima at 15 – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Comprehensive article by Thomas Bass. The nuclear nightmare at the heart of the Trump-Anthropic fight How Fukushima’s radioactive fallout in Tokyo was concealed from the public Trailer for HBO Documentary on Fukushima: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko – Voices from Japan Beverly Findlay-Kaneko at The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum in Futuba, standing next to her "buddy," the "mascot" <!> of Fukusihima Daiichi. Propaganda at its most blatant. From Nuclear Hotseat #611 Excerpt from 2023 Voices from Japan with Writer/Co-Producer Beverly Findlay Kaneko. She priovides an “on-the-ground in Japan” report on the then-current situation faced by people living with the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Beverly lived in Yokohama, Japan, for 20 years until March 2011, leaving for the United States after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in 2011 and the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. She relocated back to Japan in 2025. Activist Shoutout: NUCLEAR POETRY CONTEST – Hanford "Get It While It's Hot" poetry contest Deadline March 31 You must be a student enrolled in a school in the United States to participate. Poetry must be on the topic of nuclear weapons waste More information here and here. Libbe HaLevy's play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE is now in conversation with theatre people in Hawaii and Oregon. If you have any theatrical contacts – producers, directors, actors, musicians, school theatre departments – who might be interested in deeply emotional play that takes on how we got tricked into supporting nuclear by media manipulation, have them contact Libbe at: info@nuclearhotseat.com The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa Two generations ago, tens of thousands of people from coast to coast organized to resist the "Atom State” by putting their liberty on the line. Here with another story from our shared history of resisting nukes is Jack Cohen-Joppa, co-coordinator of the Nuclear Resister. ### NH #766: Iran War – Is the Nuclear Threat Real? Col. Ann Wright (Retired), 29 Year Military Vet & Diplomat, Now a Peace Activist, Parses the Issues URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iran-war-inuclear-threat-ann-wright/ Published: 2026-03-05 ### NH #766: Iran War - Is the Nuclear Threat Real? Col. Ann Wright (Retired), 29 Year Military Vet & Diplomat, Now a Peace Activist, Parses the Issues URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iran-war-inuclear-threat-ann-wright/ Published: 2026-03-05 Duration: 00:59:36 Retired Colonel Ann Wright This Week's Featured Interview: The United States, in conjunction with its ally Israel, has launched a war against Iran. There is no stated justification for it, no approval from the US Congress as required by the constitution before starting a war, not even an attempt by our current president to gain Congressional approval – the president just went ahead and did it. One of the issues he has cited is Iran’s alleged nearly-achieved enrichment of uranium to the weapons-grade level of 80% or 90% – but is that what they have done? What is the likelihood that they have created uranium enriched to weapons grade? And what are the military implications of this drastic, rapid escalation of attacks on world tension? To learn more, I spoke with Ann Wright. She is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former diplomat with 29 years of service. Ann resigned in 2003 in protest when George W. Bush announced the start of the Iraq War — something she could not support. Now an outspoken peace activist for more than two decades, Wright advocates against nuclear weapons, U.S. militarism, and drone warfare, notably working with groups like Veterans For Peace and CODEPINK. She has been arrested for protests at nuclear test sites.  
I spoke with retired Colonel Ann Wright about our current situation in Iran on March 1, 2026. LINK: Dr. Gordon Edwards, head of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, spoke to us about uranium enrichment levels and why the oft-touted 80%-90% enrichment is not necessary to make a nuclear bomb. NH #731, July 1, 2025 ### NH #765: Nuclear Humor?! Foreign Policy Expert Bill Hartung Relieves Ugly Nuke Facts w/Stand-Up Comedy + Reactor Radiation Mutations URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-humor-foreign-policy-hartung/ Published: 2026-02-26 ### NH #765: Nuclear Humor?! Foreign Policy Expert Bill Hartung Relieves Ugly Nuke Facts w/Stand-Up Comedy + Reactor Radiation Mutations URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-humor-foreign-policy-hartung/ Published: 2026-02-26 Duration: 00:59:06 This Week's Featured Interview: William L. Hartung William G. Hartung is a Foreign Policy Advisor with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and his work focuses on the arms industry and US military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Bill is the co-author, with Ben Freeman, of the recently released book: The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. But as Bill Hartung, he performs stand-up comedy on foreign affairs and nuclear issues at comedy clubs and for special events. Contradiction in terms? We think not… Bill Hartung at West Side Comedy Club, February, 2025 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A different kind of Numnutz this week, on mutations in proximity to the nuclear reactor disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima. Kids, worms, and pigs — can people be far behind? 3D render of a medical background with DNA strands Links: Karl Grossman's Enviro Close-Up: Saving Nuclear Power Plants to Cost $33 Billion Harvard Study: Proximity to nuclear power plants associated with increased cancer mortality Global spending on nuclear weapons topped $100 billion in 2024 Forever Chemicals and Nukes: PFAS were originally used to contain nuclear chemicals, new book finds M.V. Ramana article: The Innate and Inseparable Ties Between Nuclear Weapons and Energy ### NH #764: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Omits Victims in California, Piketon Ohio, Palomares Spain <!> - Dr. Michael Ketterer Has the Tests, Data URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reca-omits-victims-palomares-piket/ Published: 2026-02-19 Duration: 01:00:01 Radiation warning sign in Palomares, Spain, where a U.S. bomber plane crashed in 1966, releasing four hydrogen bombs, two of which scattered radioactive plutonium over 200 hectares (@2-1/2 acres each) of farmland and residential areas. It's still not cleaned up. This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Michael Ketterer has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, at University of Denver, and he is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Since 2000, Michael has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment and has analyzed samples from locations worldwide, including in soils near the former Rocky Flats facility in Colorado and fingerprinting off-site contaminants near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. He has also uncovered previous unknown areas of radiation contamination by U.S. weapons in Palomares, Spain, and two counties in California. Here, he goes over which areas have been excluded, including Piketon, Ohio; two counties in California; and Palomares, Spain. He explains why they need to be included and what is being done to push for additional compensation for the victims. I spoke with Dr. Michael Ketterer on February 9, 2026. CONTACT FOR DR. MICHAEL KETTERER: Michael.e.Ketterer@gmail.com. Veterans for Peace – Uranium Weapons Working Group – Arthur S. Ratcliffe Mobile Community Laboratory. It may only look like a trailer to you, but this is the Mobile Community Laboratory Dr. Ketterer referenced, where he's testing for radiation in water and soil. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuking the moon?! No, no, it's gonna be safe — really! (The "experts" say so!) <g> Links: IPPNW Global Classroom Sign-up ### NH #763: Anti-Nuke Activist in the Belly of the Beast: LASG's Greg Mello at DC Nuclear Deterrence Summit URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuke-activist-nuclear-deterrence-summit/ Published: 2026-02-11 Duration: 01:00:25 This Week's Featured Interview: Los Alamos Study Group's Executive Director Greg Mello holding the group's medal (l) and sticker to promote its message. Greg Mello is Executive Director and one of the founders of the Los Alamos Study Group, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The group has worked for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, social justice, and economic sustainability, with actions including policy research, environmental analysis, congressional education and lobbying, community organizing, and litigation. Recently, Greg took himself to the belly of the beast – the DC Nuclear Deterrence Summit 2026, where front-line purveyors of nuclear weapons components, self-serving justifications, and lobbying opportunities lay plans and made alliances to grab mountains of taxpayer money while preparing the means to obliterate the world. To even walk into such an environment, Greg Mello shows himself to be a braver soul than I. We spoke on Feb. 16, 2024. Links from the Interview: Link to sign up for Los Alamos Study Group email Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nucler Weapons on why there's no such thing as nuclear "deterrence" – Nuclear Hotseat #37 from August 12, 2025 Steven Starr's Nuclear Hotseat interview: Nukes in Space and the EMP Threat Steven Starr's book: Nuclear High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse: A Mortal Threat to the U.S. Power Grid and U.S. Nuclear Power Plants – This is a non-Amazon link for purchase. Additional Resources: W80-5 “just came up,” will go on SLCM-N, weapons directors say, Sarah Salem, Jan 30, 2026 https://www.exchangemonitor.com/nnsa-no-2-committed-to-a-two-site-solution-for-pits-needs-srs-support-2/, Jan 30, 2026 (paywall) NNSA shifting to a “culture of urgency” and “production mindset”, Exchange Monitor, Jan 30, 2026 With study done, Wyka says Los Alamos working with tribes, Exchange Monitor, Jan 30, 2026 Director says LANL exceeds pit production objectives, Exchange Monitor, Jan 29, 2026  USAF considers modular missile silos for Sentinel, Cramer says new silos “well settled”, Exchange Monitor, Jan 28, 2026 Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Linda Pentz Gunter Nuclear nations should disarm first before telling other countries such as Iran they can't have the bomb. ### NH #762: Navajo Nation Uranium Mine "Remediation" Con Job - Anna Rondon + Kevin Kamps w/Palisades "Zombie Nuke" Restart UPDATE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/navajo-nation-uranium-palisades/ Published: 2026-02-04 Duration: 00:59:24 Navajo Nation children make their wants and needs clear. This Week's Featured Interview #1: Anna Rondon on government's push for uranium extraction disguised as a "clean up": Anna Rondon is a dedicated lifetime advocate for the rights of Navajo Nation and all Indigenous people. For the past 40 years, she has worked in various leadership positions, including for the Navajo Nation government, the Eastern Navajo Agency-Local Government Office, the Navajo Nation Chichiltah Chapter, and the Navajo Nation Department of Health. She is currently with the New Mexico Social Justice Equity Institute.Here, she explains the current push that calls itself a "clean-up" of abandoned uranium mines, but is really a scheme to extract commercially-viable uranium to be sold for corporate profit. It’s a money-grab for extractive resources that will leave the Navajo people stuck with more waste, no clean-up, and all the responsibility.I spoke with Anna Rondon on January 31, 2026. Links: Anna Rondon – Contact LINK to John Trudell song Anna uses for inspiration: Featured Interview #2: Kevin Kamps and Holtec's Planned Palisades Nuclear Restart in Michigan: Kevin Kamps is the Radioactive Waste Watchdog with Beyond Nuclear and our go-to source on a wide range of radioactive waste issues. Here, he brings us up to date on the problems with Holtec’s planned restart of the shuttered Palisades nuclear reactor in southern Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan. I spoke with Kevin Kamps on January 16, 2026 ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett: Alistair Burnett, Head of Media for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) provides a look back at issues from 2025 and a summary of where we are now, including the latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW. He reports directly from ICAN's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It includes an interview w/Florian Eblenkamp, ICAN’s Advocacy Coordinator. The Nuclear Resister w/Jack Cohen-Joppa Jack Cohen-Joppa, co-coordinator of the Nuclear Resister, presents another story about activists who stood their ground, taken out of our shared nuclear past – with this one still active in our present: the ongoing and still current tale of Mordechai Vanunu in Israel. ### NH #761: NUKED Film - US Cruelty in Nuclear Bombing of Marshall Islands + DOOMSDAY CLOCK: 85 Seconds to Midnight URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nhnuked-marshall-islands-doomsday-clock/ Published: 2026-01-28 Duration: 01:00:10 This Week's Featured Interview: The 2024 film NUKED presents the story of the US nuclear betrayal of the people of the Marshall Islands after WWII. The film won several awards, including Best Documentary at 2024 International Uranium Film Festival and has been picked up for international distribution by the Al Jazeera Media Network. March 1 marks Marshallese Remembrance Day, formally known as Nuclear Victims' Day and Nuclear Survivors' Day. It’s a national holiday in the Marshall Islands which honors the victims and survivors of nuclear testing done in the area in the 1950s. With March 1 just around the corner, we thought the timing was appropriate to bring your attention to the issues as told through this film. I interviewed NUKED director Andrew Nisker and Rhea Moss-Christian, a Marshallese Islander interviewed in the film who is executive director and former chair of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) She previously chaired the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission and advised the Marshall Islands Government on oceans and trade. I spoke with Andrew Nisker and RHEA MOSS-CHRISTIAN on January 16, 2026. LINK to view NUKED Doomsday Clock Jumps Down to 85 Seconds to Midnight Doomsday Clock jumps four seconds to 85 seconds to Midnight and planetary annihilation. Atomic scientists set their "Doomsday Clock" closer than ever to midnight, citing aggressive behavior by nuclear powers Russia, China and the United States, fraying nuclear arms control, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and AI worries among factors driving risks for global disaster.
 The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the clock to 85 seconds before midnight, the theoretical point of annihilation. That is four seconds closer than it was set last year. The Chicago-based nonprofit created the clock in 1947 during the Cold War tensions that followed World War Two to warn the public about how close humankind was to destroying the world. Links: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock Statement Video of the January 27, 2026 announcement and speakers Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter: In trying to focus on nuclear issues, we need to melt ICE… but not reactors! ### NH #760: Supreme Court Nukes Petition Opposing NM Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump - Kevin Kamps + Why Greenland? Award-winning Film Explains the Background URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/supreme-court-nukes-petition-csif-greenland/ Published: 2026-01-22 Duration: 00:59:51 Demonstration in New Mexico against the High Level Radioactive Waste Dump This Week's Featured Interview: Last week, we learned that the US Supreme Court has refused to hear a petition by Beyond Nuclear to block the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) license approval for construction and operation of Holtec International’s highly radioactive waste consolidated interim storage facility (CISFs) targeting southeastern New Mexico. Despite the federal court rulings, hard-won state laws in both New Mexico and Texas block the opening of these environmentally unjust CISFs, by prohibiting the issuance of state permits needed to break ground, unless the state consents. Still, the way to maintain this block to creating these nuclear waste dumps has been made more difficult, and an outcome that supports and maintains the current situation is not guaranteed. To learn more, we spoke with Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog – some of us think its more like bulldog – with Beyond Nuclear. He’s a veteran of this battle, knows where all the nuclear bodies are buried, and keeps trying to bury more of them… metaphorically speaking, of course. We spoke with Kevin Kamps on January 16, 2026 Award-Winning Greenland Film on Uranium Mining/Rare Earth Battle – Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld Screen shot from the film Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld, on mining in Greenland. Local resident shown in front of Kvanefjeld mountain; site of one of the richest rare earth mineral resources deposits in the world. Professor Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway made the 2017 film Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld, exploring the divisive debate over a proposed uranium and rare earth mine at Kvanefjeld mountain in Narsaq, Greenland, highlighting the conflict between potential economic independence and threats to traditional farming and culture, with the film acting as part of a larger art project to encourage dialogue on nuclear and mining impacts in the indigenous community. Narsaq is located next to the pristine Kvanefjeld mountain (above0; site of one of the richest rare earth mineral resources deposits in the world, and one of the largest sources of uranium. For generations the farming near Kvanefjeld has been Greenland’s only agricultural industry. At the time the film was made, this way of life was in danger of being threatened, as Greenland considered foreign investments in an open pit mine that could become the fifth-largest uranium mine and second-biggest rare earth extraction operation in the world. Autogena and Portway’s film portrays a community divided on the issue of uranium mining. It explores the difficult decisions and trade-offs faced by a culture seeking to escape a colonial past and define its own identity in a globalised wdorld. While this film was released ten years ago, it is one of the few resources we have for actually hearing from the residents of that country, what they valuem and the threats their mineral resources have already put them through. While the dangers expressed specificallty in this film have passed, current events are bringing it back into play. Audio is from the 2018 International Uranium Film Festival, with co-director Lise Autogena reading a letter from a Greenlander. Pardon the sound quality.) Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Even worse news at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as environmental oversight is set to be weakened. Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Military personnel at an Army base in Alaska responsible for protecting the U.S. homeland from nuclear missile attack has struggled to feed its soldiers in recent months. Troops at Alaska's Fort Greely – which controls 40 of this country's 44 specialized missiles designed to shoot down nuclear missiles targetting the United States. – are getting shorted on food! Why? Because of the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the federal workforce,. Nuclear deterrance on an empty stomach/. low blood sugar? The Grumpies/. Sheesh! LINKS; ### NH #759: States & Nukes: Hawaii Report Nixes Nuclear Energy - Lynda Williams; Court Sides w/ Boeing on Superfund Clean-up at CA's SSFL - Melissa Bumstead URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hawaii-nixes-reactor-ca-bails-boeing-ssfl/ Published: 2026-01-15 Duration: 01:00:09 This Week's Featured Interviews: Lynda Williams Lynda Williams is a physicist, educator, and lifelong anti-nuclear activist who writes and performs songs as the “Physics Chanteuse,” a “science entertainer.” She battles against nuclear greenwashing (aka lying) with public presentations, lectures, theatre, and a ferocious activist spirit, as well as serving on official panels and committees considering nuclear issues in her home state of Hawaii. Here, she discusses the latest developments in Hawaii’s consideration of nuclear power. Melissa Bumstead is Founder and Co-Director of Parents Against the Santa Susana Field Lab. Here, she provides us with a brief rundown on the history – and the recent shocking development – in the fight for Boeing to provide a full clean-up of the toxic, radioactive Superfund site. SIGN THE PETITION: No More Kids with Cancer – CleanUp the Santa Susana Field Lab Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter Are Trump's "yes men" poised to license a dangerous new reactor? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Sambal goreng udang (Indonesian sambal shrimp) – radioactive??? More radioactive food warnings from the FDA. You really don't want to have any Indonesian shrimp dishes! Activist Shoutout: Come join us as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces the 2026 setting for thesDoomsday Clock, the symbolic masure of how close the world is to nuclear annihilation. It will be announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, during a live news conference at 10 am Eastern Time/1500 Greenwich Mean Time. You can access the Bulletin's livestream HERE. John Barnard, the inventive pianist heard on the Nuclear Hotseat theme, has passed away after a long illness. We'll think of him every time we hear that jaunty memory. ### NH #758: BOMBSHELL! - Explosive New PBS Documentary on Atomic Bomb Media Manipulation + Parallels to Libbe's Play! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/bombshell-documentary-atomic-bomb-media/ Published: 2026-01-07 Duration: 00:56:29 Logo for BOMBSHELL on PBS American Experience KEYSTONE COVER PHOTO: NYTimes science reporter William L. Laurence – aka "Atomic Bill" – with Gen. Leslie Groves at the Trinity site. Credit: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers This Week's Special Featured Interview: Atomic bomb "bedtime story" sold to Americans and the media manipulation it took to create it. Having spent more than 13 years researching and writing my play about William L. Laurence, the NYTimes science reporter who was embedded in the Manhattan Project and who is a central source of the disinformation about the bomb from its earliest days, I was astonished to meet two people as obsessed with this obscure journalist as I was. Together, they have made a brilliant documentary film that covers not just Laurence, but the entire story of how the atomic aka nuclear story has been manipulated and how what we accept as gospel about the bomb and its use in WWII is a carefully constructed lie. Ben Loeterman directed and Gaia de Simoni produced BOMBSHELL, which carries the tag line: “They created the bomb; then created its story.” It tells of not just Laurence, but other journalists, including John Hersey, whose work fed into or contradicted the government-approved atomic bomb narrative at the end of WWII. It’s an astonishing piece of filmmaking that premiered January 6, 2026, on PBS American Experience. 
 I first met Ben and Gaia last September at the Westheimer Peace Symposium at Wilmington College in Ohio, where we shared a panel discussion and a lot of energetic side conversation. In this full-length interview, I was able to ask them all the questions I wanted to know about the film, its content, their process, and even how it relates to my play. You can access the full film HERE. Or go to their WEBSITE. Devastation at the west end of Miyuki Bridge, Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. People suffering burns received dabs of transformer oil brought from the nearby Hiroshima Electric Railway. (Distance from hypocenter 2200 meters.) Photo taken August 6, 1945, by Yoshito Matsushige, Chugoku Shimbun. Credit: Chugoku Shimbun/Kyodo News Images Libbe's Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE Featured at the ATHENA PROJECT "READ AND RANT" January 19 Libbe HaLevy's Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, dealing with William L Laurence and issues of media manipulation raised in BOMBSHELL, will be offered free of charge to the general public on Monday, January 19, 2026, 8:30 pm Eastern/5:30 pm Pacific time. REGISTER HERE to access PDF of the script and to participate in the online feedback session. Once registered, you will receive an email with links to the scripts – we ask that these by read in advance of the event. As the Athena Project explains: Athena Project’s Read & Rant program seeks to combine the sharing of theatrical work with the wider public and the new play development aspects of our former Plays In Progress Series while also fostering collaboration between playwrights and dramaturgs. Think book club for plays! Learn what makes a good script, discuss how it affects us, and explore the ways it links to the larger world. January 19, 2026: Atomic Bill and the Payment Due by Libbe HaLevy SYNOPSIS: The Oppenheimer-adjacent true story of media manipulation at the dawn of the Atomic Age and William L. Laurence, the New York Times reporter who sold his soul to get the story. While researching another story for her anti-nuclear podcast, Jessie stumbles across mention of a reporter embedded in the Manhattan Project who was the source for all the earliest public information about the bomb. Through her search for long-suppressed information, interactions on the spiritual plane with dead journalists, and her own time-limited future, she embarks on a secret, deadly plan to raise visibility for nuclear issues. BOMBSHELL director Ben Loeterman on ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE: "In the work Gaia and I do as documentary filmmakers, we feel we’re working with handcuffs. We can only use a picture we find. And we can only use it if we find it. We can only use the written words we find. We don’t have the creative license, we don’t have the creative spirit to think about what could have been or how to break this down more psychologically. And that (your play) is astounding to me and it’s astounding to me that you did it. So I would say the same word, “audacity,” today. It was really terrific.” – Ben Loeterman ### NH #757: SPECIAL - Uplifting Stories of Nuclear Resisters, Heroes, Success! - Jack Cohen-Joppa URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-resister-jack-cohen-joppa/ Published: 2025-12-31 Duration: 01:00:28 Felice and Jack Cohen-Joppa, founders of The Nuclear Resister, staying on-brand for their shared June 26 birthday. This Week's Year-End SPECIAL: Uplifting Stories of Nuclear Resisters, Heroes, Success! with Jack Cohen-Joppa Yes, fighting nuclear is an uphill battle – but sometimes we win! Here, for a year-end boost of optimism, hope and community is Jack Cohen-Joppa. He and his wife, Felice Cohen-Joppa, are co-founders and co-coordinators of The Nuclear Resister, a 45 year-old newsletter reporting on anti-nuclear and anti-war civil resistance actions, with a focus on supporting activists imprisoned for their acts of conscience. The Nuclear Resister has become a monthly feature on Nuclear Hotseat, with Jack providing stories from our history that most of us – myself included – have never heard. So come, let's end 2025 on a hopeful note, with visions of successful actions to stop the nukesters dancing in our heads, hearts, and minds. We start with the inaugural report, on NH #695 from October 15, 2024. – In a new monthly feature.  Jack Cohen–Joppa, who along with his wife, Felice Cohen–Joppa, publish The Nuclear Resister newsletter and have since 1980.  Here, Jack shares stories from their archive, bringing our shared activists history to life.  https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nobel-peace-prize-small-modular-reactor-weapon/ Fifty years ago, in a classic case of civil disobedience, a young anti-nuclear activist toppled a tower and blazed a trail through the courtroom that nuclear resisters have followed ever since. https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/combating-nuclear-greenwashing/ From NH #702 – Dec 3 2024.

 BTW, that farm in Western Massachusetts had among its members a very young Harvey Wasserman, who coined the term “NO NUKES!” and used what he learned from this action to fuel his activism for decades since then. 717 – March 25, 2025 – 35 years ago, rural communities in Western New York took nonviolent direct action to Bump the Dump, stopping the state and the nuclear industry from trashing their countryside with ‘low-level’ nuclear waste.” Jack Cohen-Joppa tells the true tale of two counties that stood up and shut the door when the nuclear industry came knocking. https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-reactor-restart/ 713 – February 25, 2025 – In 1980, the Plowshares Eight hammered on nuclear warhead nosecones and sparked a global movement of direct action for nuclear disarmament. https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/united-nations-tpnw-nuclear-weapons-ican/ And here is a link to a film starring Martin Sheen and the Plowshares 8, just prior to their sentencing. Activism against nukes was hardly limited to the United States. In a legendary anti-nuclear victory, British women came together at the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, and succeeded in kicking U.S. nuclear missiles out of England. Here’s The Nuclear Resister from NH #709 – January 28, 2025. Links: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuke-eco-broadcast-network/ 722 – April 29, 2025 – Missouri is the “Show Me!” state, and the Missouri Peace Planters did just that when they repeatedly occupied multiple nuclear missile silos in the summer of 1988, causing a furor that helped raise awareness of this hidden danger at the height of the Cold War. Here’s Jack-Cohen-Joppa with this month’s Nuclear Resister. https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hb-305-new-nukes-stealth-legislation/ 739 – August 26, 2025 – Milk and cookies time! Here’s another story of heroism in the fight against nuclear weapons with Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister. This week, focus on the protest events surrounding 1985’s 40th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 750 – November 11, 2025 – This month’s contribution to our understanding the history of nuclear resistance: A big ELF that menaced the North Woods and threatened the world for thirty years was finally chased out by the teach-ins, petitions, lawsuits, and hand saws of popular resistance.  https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/savannah-river-site-nuclear-weapons/ And from the final thought: Ways of Knowing: A Navajo Nuclear History https://www.waysofknowing.us/ ### NH #756: Holiday Special - 83-Year Old Peace Hero Nun, Sr. Megan Rice, on her Y12/US “Uranium Fort Knox" Break-in URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/peace-nun-megan-rice-y12-break-in/ Published: 2025-12-23 Duration: 00:59:11 Sister Megan Rice getting a well-earned hug upon her release from prison for her non-violent break-in to the Y12 "U.S. Uranium Fort Knox" to protest nuclear weapons. She served more than two years in prison. This Week’s Peace Special Year-End Interviews: Sister Megan Rice Sr. Megan Rice was a Roman Catholic nun who was arrested more than 40 times for protesting America’s military industrial complex and nuclear weapons -. She’s best known for breaking into Y-12, one of the world’s largest and most highly guarded uranium storage sites – the “Fort Knox” of the US uranium stockpile. But on July 28, 2012, this diminutive octogenarian nun and two other senior antinuclear activists used simple bolt cutters and their beliefs to walk into Y-12 – and not be noticed for more than 30 minutes! Our extremely embarrassed government threw the book at these three activists, charging them with “sabotage” – a felony with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. She and the others served just over two years before being released. Sr. Megan passed away on Oct 17, 2021 at the age of 91, and there is no better commemoration of her life and work than her own words, recorded for Nuclear Hotseat on May 25, 2012, just after her release from prison (pictured above). Susi Snyder: What You CAN Do to Help De-Fund Nuclear Weapons ICAN's Susi Snyder, holding the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Susi Snyder is Director of Programmes at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Her responsibilities include facilitating the development and execution of ICAN's key programmes, including the management of ICAN's divestment work and engagement with the financial sector. For more than a decade, Susi headed the Don’t Bank on the Bomb project, which was her position when we spoke for this interview on May 10, 2019. Her information is as relevant now as it was then. The report on nuclear bomb producing companies that she references is updated every year. The 2025 report, "At Great Cost: The Companies Building Nuclear Weapons and their Financiers" is a joint publication of ICAN and PAX. Susi has contributed to a number of recent books, including Forbidden (2023), A World Free from Nuclear Weapons (2020),  Sleepwalking to Armageddon: The Threat of Nuclear Annihilation ### NH #755: Japan's 7.6 Quake & Fukushima Radioactive Water Releases - Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones + Emmy Winning Journalist Helen Young on Activist Media Strategies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japan-quake-fukushima-radioactive-water/ Published: 2025-12-18 Duration: 01:02:37 This Week's Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a marine biologist – a radioactivity researcher and consultant, and a regular contributor to Nuclear Hotseat. He specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here, he looks at the impact that the December 8 7/6 earthquake off the northeast coast of Japan may have had on the tritium-contaminated radioactive water being released from Fukushima. I spoke with Tim Deere-Jones on December 14, 2025. CONTACT for Tim Deere-Jones:  timdj@talktalk.net Here's This Week's Second Featured Interview: Helen Young is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist who has forged a career as a filmmaker and writer by blending a passion for investigative reporting with a commitment to illuminating critical issues of the day.  She was a staff writer and producer for CBS News and NBC News for twenty years and has also produced for MSNBC and Al Roker Productions. Our original interview focused on her award-winning film, The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs, which focused on the Plowshares movement and specifically the actions of Sister Megan Rice, who will be featured on next week’s show. Having such an experienced journalist on the other end of my Zoom, I asked her about strategies for activists trying to get more nuclear coverage and her suggestions are cornerstone in their importance. Here are Helen Young's media suggestions for activists working on the media. I spoke with her on Thursday, November 11, 2021 Poster for Helen Young's film, The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs: nunspriestsbombsthefilm.com LINK to NH #543 – Full Nuclear Hortseat interview with Helen Young. WEBSITE:  nunspriestsbombsthefilm.com ### NH #754: Nukes in Space? Just One Explosion = Massive Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) = Buh-bye Grid! – Prof. Steven Starr + Cancer Rates near US Nuclear Reactors - Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nukes-in-space-emp-grid/ Published: 2025-12-11 Duration: 01:01:20 This Week's Featured Interview: Zoomathon interview with Prof. Steven Starr Professor Steven Starr directed the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at the University of Missouri in Columbia for 11 years until his retirement in 2021. He is an Associate of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and has been a Board Member and Senior Scientist with Physicians for Social Responsibility. Starr also teaches a class for the MU Peace Studies Program entitled Nuclear Weapons: Environmental, Health, and Social Effects. Starr began making presentations at side panels at the United Nations in 2007, sometimes working as an expert witness for Switzerland, New Zealand, and Chile at the UN offices in NYC and Geneva. In 2010, Starr addressed the UN First Committee, discussing the environmental consequences of nuclear war, including nuclear winter and nuclear famine. I spoke with Steven Starr on June 19, 2023. Steven Starr LINKS: BOOK – Nuclear High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse: A Mortal Threat to the U.S. Power Grid and U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Website – Nuclear Famine. Be sure to scroll down on home page to see all the articles available on a wide range of nuclear issues. Short version of talking points covered in today’s interview. Contact Steven Starr This Week's Second Featured Interview: Joseph Mangano Last week, we featured an interview with UK Radiation researcher Dr. Ian Fairlie about childhood leukemia rates for children living within 5 kilometers/3 miles of a nuclear reactor. Now, we take a look at U.S. cancer rates for infants, children, and adults living in the same county as a nuclear reactor and into adjacent counties, up to 50 miles away. It's an excerpt from an interview we did in 2018 with Joseph Mangano, the epidemiologist who is head of Radiation and Public Health Project – RPHP. His studies are based in the U.S. and he crunches the numbers based on publicly available data. Here, he explains about how the work was done on Oyster Creek, a New Jersey nuclear power facility that was shut down shortly after we spoke. (No causality implied.) Joseph Mangano and RPHP LINKS: Elevated Childhood Cancer Incidence Proximate to U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Counterpunch article: Closing Nuclear Reactors Means Big Improvements in Local Infant Health Direct link to RPHP Journal Articles and Studies Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Will a Supreme Court ruling mean the end of Democratic commissioners at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Chernobyl‘s New Safe Containment building is no longer New or Safe – but that doesn't stop the sale of 22 tons of so-called "safe" "formerly" radioactive metal that's been reclaimed from the site. Radioactive belt buckles, anyone…? ### NH #753: Childhood Leukemia Rates Soar for Kids Living Near Nuclear Reactors: UK Researcher Dr. Ian Fairlie Exposes Industry Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/childhood-leukemia-rates/ Published: 2025-12-04 Duration: 01:01:23 Dr. Ian Fairlie speaking at Dr. Helen Caldicott's Symposium: Fukushima Two Years Later: NYC – March 11-12, 2013 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Ian Fairlie, UK-based radiation expert, compiled statistics from 60 international studies done on leukemia rates for children living within 5 kilometers/3 miles of a nuclear reactor. His shocking results – all supported by the data – clearly demonstrate the lie of nuclear industry claims of nuclear reactor safety… especially when it comes to children. He also exposes how the industry intentionally kept that information from the public until it was forced to reveal the data. Dr. Fairlie is an independent consultant on radioactivity in the environment living in London UK and has studied radiation and radioactivity since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. He has a degree in radiation biology from Bart’s Hospital in London and his doctoral studies at Imperial College in London and (briefly) Princeton University in the US concerned the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing. Fairlie formerly worked as a civil servant on the regulation of radiation risks from nuclear power stations. From 2000 to 2004, he was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. Since retiring from Government service, he has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals. His areas of interest are the radiation doses and risks arising from the radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. The Scientists Who Alerted Us To The Dangers of Radiation by Dr. Ian Fairlie and Cindy Folkers LINK to Dr. Fairlie’s article, “Childhood Leukemia Near Nuclear Power Stations” LINK to U.S. statistics on Thyroid Cancer Rates near NYC-area nuclear reactors from Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project. Other articles available on that site as well. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter What's throttling nuclear power development is actually, surprise, the nuclear industry itself! Linda Pentz Gunter Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) POETIC INJUSTICE? Poems can trick AI into helping you make a nuclear weapon if the prompts are made in the form of poetry! Where is that iambic pentameter when you need it? Links: The nuclear arms race is back, and it’s testing US power Post-truth disasters: We’re not ready for nuclear war on social media How Holtec International became an expanding (and controversial) nuclear power Two nuclear engineers with nearly a century of combined relevant experience have warned U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, and the agency’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), that one or more degraded steam generator tubes at the Palisades atomic reactor on southwest Michigan’s Lake Michigan shoreline are at high-risk of failure within a short period of time after the previously closed nuclear power plant undergoes an impending, unprecedented restart. ### NH #752: In Memorium - Jim Heddle, Director, SOS: San Onofre Syndrome - Nuclear Film's Fierce, Gentle Warrior URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-syndrome-jim-heddle/ Published: 2025-11-26 Duration: 01:00:38 Filmmakers and life partners Mary Beth Brangan and Jim Heddle, who along with Morgan Peterson directed the award-winning film SOS: The San Onofre Syndrome This Week’s Feature: Some weeks, it’s personal. It is with great sadness that this week's Nuclear Hotseat commemorates and memorializes a fierce, gentle anti-nuclear warrior who spent decades filming protests, meetings, interviewing, and documenting the work of activists – James Heddle. He and Mary Beth Brangan were life and work partners since 1983, and worked together as documentary video and radio producers, educators, community and international organizers. They co-directed EON, the Ecological Options Network,  producing video reports and blogs on activists and organizations working at local, national, and international levels for solutions to planetary challenges. Jim died suddenly and unexpectedly two weeks ago, leaving so many of us behind mourning his loss. To commemorate his life and activism, we present an interview from 2023 with Jim and Mary Beth, just prior to the premiere of their film SOS: The San Onofre Syndrome. We spoke on September 22, 2023 Links: TRAILER for SOS: The San Onofre Syndrome Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter: It was a totally nutty week in DC, including — and especially — in the nuclear sector. Linda Pentz Gunter explains it all in this week’s Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story. ICAN Update w/Alistair Burnett Alistair Burnett of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), provides the latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW, direct from the headquarters of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in Geneva, Switzerland ### NH #751: SPECIAL: Powerful Navajo Nation Nuclear Films - Int'l Uranium Film Festival at Window Rock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/navajo-nation-nuclear-films/ Published: 2025-11-21 Duration: 01:00:06 This Week's SPECIAL Episode on the International Uranium Film Festival in Navajo Nation The International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) came to Window Rock, the capital of Navajo Nation, for the fourth time to present films focusing on all dangers of the nuclear fuel chain, with a special emphasis on uranium mining. Fourteen films over two days, plus live performances and Navajo drumming, singing, ceremonial dancing. For the full program, CLICK HERE. Two Honorary Lifetime Achievement Awards 2025 Window Rock were given to: Honorary Lifetime Achievement Awards 2025 Window Rock: At left, Jan Boudart, board member of Nuclear Education and Information Service (NEIS) in Chicago for her decades of tireless activism as she is about to turn 90 years old. Norman Patrick Brown or his lifetime of indigenous activism, with special focus on uranium issues and the impact on the Navajo people. At right, Marcia Gomes de Olviera, co-Founder and co-Director of the International Uranium Film Festival. Photo of the winners is the Keystone image for this episode. Norman Patrick Brown (l) and Anna Rondon (r) – two powerful activists making an important difference for their people and the world. Toni Pinedo, who responded so powerfully and meaningfully to the film The River that Harms. Swiftbird Drum from Taos, NM, presented Native drumming, singing, and led us in a circle dance in the lobby of the Navajo Nation Museum Damacio Lopez, a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and decades of activism against depleted uranium, with his newly published book: MY LAST BATTLE: BAN URANIUM WEAPONS. We'll have a full interview with him near the book's official release date. Outside the hogan preparing for the pre-Festival sacred ceremony. (l-r) Front: Jan Boudart, Norbert Suchanek, Marcia Gomes de Oliviera, Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, CA activist Darryl. Back: Damacio Lopez, director Guy Morgan. Note the clouds seeming to radiate from the sacred space. Libbe HaLevy with director Jeff Gipe (Half-Life of Memory: America's Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory) Libbe HaLevy and Haul No!'s Leona Morgan Lynda Williams, "The Physics Chanteusse," straight from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, knocked our socks off performing excerpts from her show ATOMIC CABARET. Then she rocked the house with the world premiere of her new song – finished just that afternoon! – HAUL NO!, in honor of Leona Morgan and Haul No's fight against uranium transport via truck through Navajo lands. The Awards ceremony. (l-r) Norman Patrick Brown, Jan Boudart, IUFF co-Executive Directors Norbert /suchanek and Marcia Gomes de Oliviera ### NH #750!: SC's Savannah River Site & the Dept of Nuclear Weapons, uh, Energy - Tom Clements, SRS Watch + 750 NH Episodes! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/savannah-river-site-nuclear-weapons/ Published: 2025-11-11 Duration: 00:59:11 Mid-Zoom – Tom Clements of SRS Watch being interviewed by Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interview: Tom Clements has been the director of Savannah River Site Watch, a public interest organization in Columbia, South Carolina, since 2014. SRS Watch monitors US Department of Energy management of weapon-usable materials, nuclear weapons production, and clean-up of high-level nuclear waste, with a focus on the Savannah River Site. While in senior positions at Greenpeace International, the Nuclear Control Institute, the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, and Friends of the Earth, Clements concentrated on international nuclear nonproliferation issues. Now, he’s watching the planned production of plutonium pits – the explosive triggers for nuclear weapons – and ever-increasing amounts of radioactive waste, with no intervention by the DOE to make anything better. I spoke with Tom Clements on November 7, 2025. Links from the interview: Savannah River Site Watch LINK to Report: Unleashing Plutonium Proliferation For more on Nuclear Deterrence check out Nuclear Hotseat #737: The Lie of Nuclear Deterrence, with ICAN's Melissa Parke: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ican-hiroshima-atomic-bomb/ Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: US priorities:  Military spending  — especially nuclear weapons and the Golden Dome — versus SNAP benefits and other basic human needs. Linda Pentz Gunter parses it out. Milk and Cookies Story Time with the Nuclear Resister – Jack Cohen-Joppa This month's contribution to our understanding the history of nuclear resistance: A big ELF that menaced the North Woods and threatened the world for thirty years was finally chased out by the teach-ins, petitions, lawsuits, and hand saws of popular resistance.  Nukewatch founder Bonnie Urfer and Mike Sprong, as part of the Silence Trident Plowshares action, cutting an ELF pole, June 24, 2000. Note the peace sign carved into the pole. Links: Kat Kramer Films that Change the World – ON THE BEACH and Judgment at Nuremberg– Sunday, November 23, 1 pm, Fine Arts Theatre, Los Angeles. TICKETS: https://fineartstheatrebh.com/ ### NH #749: How Anti-Nuclear Icon Dr. Helen Caldicott Almost Saved the World from Nuclear Weapons URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-icon-dr-helen-caldicott/ Published: 2025-11-06 Duration: 01:07:11 NOTE: I needed to go in for a medical procedure this week (don't worry; I'm fine) and was unable to produce a new episode. Given that President Trump has threatened to resume nuclear testing – with no specifics of whether that's atmospheric or underground explosions – I think this is a good opportunity to look back at the time Dr. Helen Caldicott almost convinced the United States and Russia to get rid of their nukes. The following is a compilation taken from the full interview, which appeared in two parts on Nuclear Hotseat #568 and #569, May 11 and May 18, 2022. This Week's Special Featured Interview: Nuclear Icon Dr. Helen Caldicott (r) interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat’s Libbe HaLevy next to the Bridgeton landfill in N. St. Louis. This was during a symposium she spoke at, “The Atoms Next Door.” Back row: (l-r) unknown photographer, Mali Martha Lightfoot, Brian DeLear, Kay Dray, Dr. Caldicott, Karen Nickel Nuclear icon Dr. Helen Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and for six decades has been one of the world’s most important anti-nuclear advocates. She revived or founded several associations that oppose nuclear, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Caldicott is a dedicated opponent to the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, and military action in general. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel-winner Linus Pauling, she is at the root of much of the anti-nuclear work being done today. We spoke on Monday, April 25, 2022. LINK: Dr. Helen Caldicott Foundation Nuclear Hotseat episodes with the full interview, broken into two parts: Nuclear Hotseat NH #568 and NH #569, May 11 and May 18, 2022. Books by Dr. Caldicott: Sleepwalking to Armageddon Edited by: Helen Caldicott A frightening but necessary assessment of the threat posed by nuclear weapons in the twenty-first century, edited by the world's leading antinuclear activist "Dr. Helen Caldicott has the rare ability to combine science with passion, logic with love, and urgency with humor." —Naomi Klein Nuclear Madness In this completely revised, updated, and expanded edition of her classic book, Caldicott defines the dangers of nuclear power, discusses the insidious influence of the nuclear power industry and the American government's complicity in medical "experiments" using nuclear material, and calls on us to accept the moral challenge to fight against all things nuclear. Nuclear Power is Not The Answer Of all her books, this may be Caldicott's most powerful yet — Publishers Weekly, 17 July 2006: Caldicott's latest antinuke book searingly debunks the claim that the impending "nuclear power renaissance", purported by some to be the only answer to global warming, is "clean and green." Crisis Without End A project of the Helen Caldicott Foundation and co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility, this gathering was a response to widespread concerns that the media and policy makers had been far too eager to move past what are clearly deep and lasting impacts for the Japanese people and for the world. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Hurry hurry, step right up and claim your free plutonium! ### NH #748: HOUSE OF DYNAMITE - Film Explodes Nuclear "Protection" Myth of US Safety - Activists Get Active - Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/house-of-dynamite-activists-respond/ Published: 2025-10-30 Duration: 00:59:35 A House of Dynamite by Katherine Bigelow This Week's Featured Interview: Greg Mello, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Los Alamos Study Group A new film, A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, by Oscar-winning director Katherine Bigelow, follows what would happen in the 18 minutes following discovery of a nuclear missile aimed at the United States. It exposes vulnerabilities to our purportedly 100% protection from incoming nukes and creates nail-bting tension as the sequence plays out in three venues: SAC headquarters, the Situation Room at the White House, and the President. This creates a unique moment of public awareness on nuclear that activist groups are already jumping on to take advantage of the media moment. Greg Mello is Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group (LASG), an NGO located in Albuquerque, NM that focuses on Los Alamos – the birthplace of the atomic bomb. Since 1989, LASG has worked on nuclear and energy policy research, environmental analysis, congressional education and lobbying, community organizing, litigation, advertising, and the nuts and bolts of running a small nonprofit. Here, Greg explains actions LASG has already taken to take advantage of the film and its massive publicity campaign to put forth the activist position and raise consciousness about the weaknesses and vulnerabilities inherent in nukes. He also reveals a not-generally-understood problem that underlies the entire nuclear enterprise in America, making us even more vulnerable on the ground than has been known. I spoke with Greg Mello on Monday, October 27 2025. LINKS from the interview: Santa Fe Reporter two-page ad by Los Alamos Study Group – 2-page ad written by LASG ‘Our world is combustible’: Kathryn Bigelow on AI, Andy Warhol and nuclear Armageddon Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Bonbheadedness): Free Plutonium! Huzzah! Links: Trucks with uranium cross Navajo Nation, reviving long-standing fears Sag Harbor Journalist Karl Grossman to Be Honored JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG And ON THE BEACH To Screen At KAT KRAMER’S FILMS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD – includes link to purchase tickets. ### NH #747: Nat'l Cancer Study of Residents Near Nuclear Reactors MUST take place BEFORE New Ones Built - Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/cancer-study-residents-near-nuclear-reactors/ Published: 2025-10-22 Duration: 01:00:28 Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, head of Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) This Week's Featured Interview: Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano reveals how the nuclear industry has hidden the health impact of low level radiation emissions from the public and why there MUST be health studies on populations near reactors BEFORE any new ones get built. 
 Such a national study of the health risks posed by existing reactors should: At a minimum, update the findings from the 1990 National Cancer Institute study; Estimate the time and resources needed to produce the first findings in less than two years. Maximize the use of existing publicly available datasets; for instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website includes county-specific mortality data from 1968 to 2024. Make results available to independent reviewers so they can reproduce the study; Be funded by the federal government, which regulates nuclear power reactors; Include only researchers who have no ties with the nuclear industry or the federal government, and are experts on the health effects of reactor emissions, having published in peer-reviewed journals already; Make the results public by publishing them in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them in public events alongside proposed plans for the expansion of nuclear power in the United States. LINK: Why a national cancer study near US reactors must be conducted before any new expansion of nuclear power – original article by Joseph Mangano and the late Bob Alvarez LINK: Chernobyl's true death toll, World Health Organization manipulation of data and health studies: Alison Katz of Independent WHO. The WHO says 31 people died at Chernobyl; Russian researchers found studies indicating approximately ONE MILLION EXCESS CANCERS resulted from the explosion and meltdown. Libbe HaLevy: Her Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE Subject of Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman The Enviro Close-Up – a 35-year program on environmental issues – features Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy talking about her podcast, her play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, her book YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! and media manipulation at the dawn of the atomic age. Shot while on location at Wilmington College Peace Resource Center/Westheimer Peace Symposium, with clips from the PRC's World Premiere Staged Reading of the play. The episode airs Saturday October 25th at 4 PM on Free Speech TV, which is on Dish network and DIRECTV. It’s simulcast on their website you can watch live and that’s worldwide and then they’re also on additionally over 200 cable TV channels nationwide and on digital platforms as well such as Apple TV and Roku amongst others.  To watch Enviro Close-up with Karl Grossman Episode on Libbe HaLevy and her play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, play it here or CLICK to watch on Youtube. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter: We won one! Holtec has abandoned its New Mexico nuclear waste dump scheme! The ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett The latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) direct from the headquarters of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in Geneva, Switzerland, ICAN ‘s Head of Media, Alistair Burnett, reporting. Activist Shoutouts Dr. Gordon Edwards provides an introduction to Radioactivity, with a special emphasis on uranium: ### NH #746: PEACE! How do we get there? Artists, Activists, Academics Oppose Nuclear at the Westheimer Peace Symposium at 35th Wilmington College Peace Resource Center URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/peace-westheimer-peace-symposium/ Published: 2025-10-15 Duration: 00:59:23 A-Bomb survivor Senji Yaaguchi , the first hibakusha to address the United Nations, holding up photo of him shaving. Photo courtesy Wilmington College Peace Resource Center and Claude Baillargeon. Original photo posted at NH #743. This Week's SPECIAL Feature: This year’s 35th annual Westheimer Peace Symposium was based on the theme “Practicing Art, Practicing Nuclear Abolition” It was presented in conjunction with the Wilmington College Peace Resource Center Academic conference: Archives as Witness from Monday, September 29 through Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. I attended for multiple purposes: to cover the event for Nuclear Hotseat, as an instructor for two classes on Activist Podcasting, on a panel examining media manipulation by journalists in the telling of the story of the atomic bombs at the dawn of the Atomic Age. Academics, artists and activists from around the world – Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, U.S. and more – to present work inspired by archival research related to nuclear histories as a reflection of the Peace Resource Center’s mission and vision over the past 50 years. Among the presenters: Prof. Claude Baillargeon leading us through the art exhibit he curated, "Memorializing the Hibakusha Experience." An example of a 1950's Manga comic book – censored and probably burned – dealing with the atomic bombings. This is an example used in Prof. Yuki Miyamoto's presentation: Stewards of the Archives: Legal, Literary and Popular Culture Approaches to Nuclear Witnessing. Hibakusha Mr Yukihiro Ishikawa, carrying the message of peace from Hiroshima to the Westheimer Peace Symposium. Second generation Hibakusha, Masae Shoda, w/Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy "Witnessing and Photographing Atomic Bomb Sufferers" – a zoom Conversation with 92-year-old Murasato Sakae in Japan (lower right), interpreter and researcher Yoshiko Tanigawa (lower left) Peace Resource Center Director Tanya Maus handling the tech (upper right), and Prof. Claude Baillargeon, Curator of the exhibit providing a guided online tour (upper left.) And the obligatory multi-selfie of three great anti-nuclear warrior/friends: (l-r) Norma Field, Libbe HaLevy, Yuki Miyamoto. ### NH #745: Nuclear Funeral for LA's Santa Susana Field Lab Radiation Clean-up + Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Nightmare Continues URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-funeral-santa-susana/ Published: 2025-10-09 Duration: 00:59:39 Tombstone for Protest "Funeral" for Santa Susana Field Lab clean-up. (Photo Credit, Melissa Bumstead) Keystone (cover) photo credit: Sean Muniz via Snappr This Week's Featured Interview: The long-promised clean-up of radioactive Santa Susana Field Lab site near downtown Los Angeles is being killed by Boeing & CA's Department of Toxic Substances Control. Mothers from Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab hold a funeral for their clean-up expectations, voice anger and disappointment. We talked with Parents Against SSFL founder and co-Director Melissa Bumstead, and co-Director Jeni Knack on Friday, October 3, 2025. Funeral for soon-to-be-killed clean-uo agreement for the Santa Susana Field Lab. Here, Parents Against SSFL gather to mourn outside the headquarters of the "killer," Boeing. NOTE: Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) LIES when it says "there's no possibility for off-site migration of radioactive particles" when we already know, through the citizen science testing in the wake of the 2018 Wolsey fire, that there was verifiable migration of radioactive particles to as far as 9 miles away from the site, in Sherman Oaks. Check out this report from Nuclear Hotseat #541, November 3, 2021. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: High tensions continue at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, still in long power outage. NOTE: As of this posting on October 8, 2025, Zaporizhzhia's six nuclear reactors are still without external power. One back-up generator is already out of operation. LINK to Linda's story with more information on Beyond Nuclear International. The Nuclear Resister – Jack Cohen-Joppa Before the U.S. stopped underground nuclear testing in 1992, activists were hiking into ground zero at the Nevada Test Site, forcing expensive delays and arrests while magnifying public support for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. LINKS: Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is launching a new training program for health professionals interested in learning about the health impacts of nuclear weapons and radiation. This eleven-week online course will bring together leading experts, frontline community voices, and health advocates to explore the medical, environmental, and social consequences of nuclear weapons production, testing, and military use, plus health risks related to nuclear energy. Participants will also develop advocacy and communications skills to bring the health perspective into policy debates, media conversations, and community action. LINK to register – fees on a sliding scale, some scholarships available. Democrats alarmed as Trump eyes weapons material to fuel nuclear reactors. From Zaporizhzhiato Natan,nuclear piracy is equally dangerous – and illegal The “Golden Age of Nuclear” is all a veneer U.S. to gift Pu-239 to private nuclear industry The dangerous new Washington consensus for more nuclear weapons It’s past time to start protecting US nuclear power reactors from drones ### NH #744: The Deadly Nuclear Weapons/Nuclear Energy Connection – Alfred Meyer of PSR, Dr. Gordon Edwards + Halloween Preview URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-nuclear-energy-connect/ Published: 2025-09-30 Duration: 00:58:59 This Week's First Featured Interview: Alfred Meyer of Physicians for Social Responsibility, mid-Zoom interview Alfred Meyer is a long-time member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and has served variously as Executive Director of the PSR Wisconsin chapter, Board Member of PSR National, and President of PSR New York. He co-authored a PSR/IPPNW critique of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) report on the health effects of the radioactive releases from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. He has also founded, co-founded and/or served as an executive for half a dozen other major organizations dedicated to nuclear issues relating to Fukushima, Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the connection between proposed fusion weapons w/nuclear reactor infrastructure. I spoke with Alfred Meyer on December 23, 2022. LINK to Alfred Meyer’s article in The Progressive: It’s All About the Bomb: Why civilian nuclear power is merely a cover for producing more nuclear weapons. This Week’s Second Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards, addressing the United Nations Dr. Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, as well as president and co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, a not-for-profit corporation established in 1975. He has served as a consultant on nuclear issues for governmental and non-governmental bodies for over 45 years, and been accepted as an expert witness by US and Canadian courts and tribunals. He is frequently invited to testify before provincial and federal bodies, and to give major addresses in various countries. He also explains complex nuclear matters in a way that is easy to understand, for which I am deeply grateful. I spoke with Dr. Edwards on February 12, 2024. What Scares Me Most about Nuclear: Excerpts from last year’s Halloween feature: “What Scares Me Most about Nuclear.” I spoke with more than 30 activists and concerned citizens about what they found most frightening about nuclear. Here are just a few, from: Jan Boudart – Nuclear Energy Information Service, Chicago (NEIS.org) Kevin Hester – Veteran activist, New Zealand Dr. Michael Ketterer – chemist, professor, researcher Leona Morgan – Haul No (HaulNo.com) Brian Morrison – space scientist You can access the full Halloween special, with more than 30 different speakers on what scares people most about nuclear, by going to: Nuclear Hotseat #645 ### NH #743: SPECIAL! Libbe's play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE a Smash at the Wilmington College Peace Resource Center URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/atomic-bill-and-the-payment-due-wilmington/ Published: 2025-09-24 Duration: 01:05:27 Ollie Basta, playing the lead role of podcaster/activist Jessie Keever, addresses a rally at the United Nations at the climax of ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE This Week's Two-Part Very Special Feature – The Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College and the Play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE: Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy‘s new play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, received its world premiere staged reading at the Wilmington College 400-seat Heiland Theatre on September 9, 2025. Produced by the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College, an internationally honored archive of materials on the human effect of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the staged reading played like a full production, even on a minimal-budget, book-in-hand staged reading. Audiences cheered, yelled "BRAVO!" laughed, cried, and held the silence as the two-hour reading played out. Ollie Basta as podcaster/activist Jessie Keever in ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE. Behind her, projection of the logo painted on the side of Bockscar, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. (Photo credit: Randall Sarvis, Wilmington College) (r-l) Otto Cipollini as Gen. Leslie Groves, Kevin Wall as William L. Laurence ("Atomic Bill") and behind him, Gary Sheldon as NYTimes editor Edwin James – the moment when Groves co-opts Bill into the Manhattan Project. (Photo credit: Randall Sarvis, Wilmington College) (below) Ecstatic author in the immediate aftermath of watching the successful staged reading of her play. (Sorry for the ginormous size, but I haven't figure out how to resize a video): Wilmington College Peace Resource Center: A Little-Known Treasure of an Archive on the Human Impact of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The Wilmington College Peace Resource Center (PRC) celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding this year with a series of events and exhibits, of which ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE was one. The PRC was founded in 1975 by the Quaker peace activist Barbara Reynolds (1915-1990) who worked ceaselessly toward creating a world free of nuclear weaponry and war and to helping atomic bombing survivors share their stories of the tragedy of military conflict. Currently, the PRC develops events and programming that encourages dialogue on the Wilmington College campus about how to resolve conflict from the personal to the global level. The PRC assists faculty and students in creating student-led projects, internships, and local/global collaborations so that Wilmington College and its local region can become an even greater part of a global community of peace. The PRC and its director, Tanya Maus, have long held that art in all its many forms is an important way to communicate atomic and nuclear truths. ATOMIC BILL director Tara Lydy (l) and author Libbe HaLevy, seen at entry to the art exhibit "Memorializing the Hibakusha Experience." (Photo Credit: Tanya Maus) Photo wall installation of 108 close-ups of the eyes of Hibakusha and Downwinders who witnessed the atomic bombings of Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Photo Credit: Tanya Maus) Display case showing 1947 New Yorker magazine that was completely given over to the original John Hersey report on Hiroshima, and Japanese magazine with similarly innocuous cover that contains the first published photos of Hiroshima survivors, 1952. (Photo credit: Libbe HaLevy) Hibakusha Yamaguchi Senjihi shaving. Original photo by Tomotsu Shohei Author/Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy (l) and Peace Resource Center Director Tanya Maus (r) in front of the PRC. Articles on ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE: Atomic Bill and the Payment Due by award-winning veteran environmental journalist Karl Grossman in Counterpunch. "Atomic Bill": The Bomb Publicist and the New Play by award-winning filmmaker, author, and nuclear gadfly Greg Mitchell A more personal take on the play by Karl Grossman: I’m a character in Libbe HaLevy’s new play “Atomic Bill and the Payment Due” TO PRODUCE READING/STAGED READING/FULL PRODUCTION OF ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, CONTACT LIBBE HaLEVY: Email: info@nuclearhotseat.com Or use the CONTACT link on this website: https://nuclearhotseat.com/contact/ ### NH #742: SPECIAL: Nuclear NOT the Solution to Climate Change – Physicist M. V. RAMANA URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-not-solution-climate-change/ Published: 2025-09-16 Duration: 01:03:28 This Week’s Featured Interview: M. V. Ramana w/book, Libbe HaLevy w/Podcast. We discuss the acclaimed new book by reknowned physicist M. V. Ramana: Nuclear Is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change. Ramana is professor and Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the University of British Columbia. He previously worked at the Nuclear Futures Laboratory and the Program on Science and Global Security, both at Princeton University. Ramana is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials, the Canadian Pugwash Group, the International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group, and the team that produces the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report. CLICK on book cover to purchase from Amazon. Beyond Nuclear Article on M.V. Ramana's Book: Read this book! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) WESTINGHOUSE LIES. The TOTALLY FICTITIOUS 2014 WESTINGHOUSE ANIMATION of a 116 WEEK BUILD SCHEDULE for the AP 1000 NUCLEAR REACTOR. Westinghouse has long since taken it down from their website, but Ramana downloaded and saved it. NO WONDER they took it down! This is a LINK to that video, or CLICK BELOW. THIS ANIMATION IS A TOTAL LIE. ### NH #741: We Are All Nuclear Radiation Downwinders - Prof. Robert Jacobs book The Global Hibakusha URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-radiation-global-hibakusha/ Published: 2025-09-09 Duration: 01:08:15 PERSONAL NOTE: Portrait of a playwright/podcaster in Peak Happiness with the stage of her new play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE. Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy here. I’m in Ohio at the Wilmington College Peace Resource Center (PRC) for the world premiere staged reading of my play, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE. It's a featured presentation for the PRC's 50th Anniversary Celebration. While here, my commitments are such that I’m unable to produce the Nuclear Hotseat that I planned to on the PRC and the play, as well as my experience seeing the airplane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. All that will be on next week’s show. Here, an important full-length interview with Prof. Bo Jacobs on how we, all of us, are Global Hibakusha – atomic bomb radiation survivors. Thanks for understanding. – Libbe. This Week's Featured Interview: This is a SPECIAL full-length interview with Prof. Robert “Bo” Jacobs on his book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. Professor Robert "Bo" Jacobs HIBAKUSHA is the term for those who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But in recent years, it has come to be applied more widely to all who have been exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb testing and other sources of contamination from manufacturing, uranium mining, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste. As today’s guest will explain, that means just about all of us. Prof. Robert “Bo” Jacobs is an American historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. He moved to Japan in 2006 after being hired by the Hiroshima Peace Institute. and is currently a professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University. He’s the author of the 2022 book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. Bo Jacobs retired from the Hiroshima Peace Institute and returned to the United States, where he continues to write, leacture, and teaxh on nuclear issues. I spoke with Robert "Bo" Jacobs on Friday, July 21, 2023. LINK: To purchase the book, go to Amazon, Ebay, or order through your local independent bookstore. ### NH #740: Walmart Radioactive Shrimp Recall - FFAN's Kimberly Roberson + San Onofre RadWaste Storage Battle Heats Up - Gary Headrick URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-shrimp-recall-san-onofre/ Published: 2025-09-04 Duration: 00:59:45 William L. Laurence – "Atomic Bill" (l) – and J. Robert Oppenheimer (r) at the Trinity Site, one month after detonation of the first atomic bomb. Libbe's Play: ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE Premieres Sept. 9 at Wilmington Peace Resource Center Next Tuesday, September 9, my play on media manipulation at the dawn of the Atomic Age receives its premiere staged reading presentation as a feature at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Wilmington College Peace Resource Center. If you can get to Wilmington, the performance starts at 7:30 pm and admission is free. If you can't get to Ohio, you can still learn more about the show because media coverage has already been off the hook: Greg Mitchell: "Atomic Bill": The Bomb Publicist and the New Play Karl Grossman: Atomic Bill and the Payment Due. – Counterpunch Karl Grossman: Atomic Bill – shorter, more personal version of the article – Southampton Press Harvey Wasserman's KPFK show Solartopia If you can get to south central Ohio next Tuesday, September 9, the performance starts at 7:30 pm and admission is free. This Week's Featured Interviews: Kimberly Roberson is Director of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN), a project of the National Institute for Science, Law, and Public Policy. Formerly a campaigner with Greenpeace USA, Kimberly worked as a certified Diet Counselor and Nutrition Educator while serving on the board of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. In March 2011 she petitioned for better food regulations due to Fukushima, which led to the formation of the Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network. I spoke with Kimberly Roberson on August 29, 2025. LINKS from interview: The FDA has a list of states, brands and lot numbers for the shrimp recall HERE. Please sign and share this Change.org petition Please sign and share this MoveOn petition, which is the signature companion petition to the FDA Citizen Petition on the radioactive food issue. You can also leave a comment on the FDA petition. CONTACT: Kimberly Roberson, Executive Director, FFAN: FFAN0311@gmail.com. LINK to interview with Mary Olson of Generational Radiation Impact Project on disproportional health damage of radiation on women and children compared to the adult Reference Man used as the model to set food safety levels. Steven Colbert Provides Humorous Look at Radioactive Shrimp: San Onofre Radioactive Waste, Damaged Canisters, Recent Meetings w/Government Officials – Gary Headrick, San Clemente Green Gary Headrick is co-founder of San Clemente Green , a southern California grassroots organization working to address safety problems at the San Onofre nuclear reactors and other environmental issues in the area. Gary has been leading the charge for safe storage or removal of the high level nuclear waste currently sitting at the SanO site, 123 canisters each containing a Chernobyl’s-worth of radioactivity, sited only 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Now there are community meetings happening to try to handle that deadly waste in a more responsible, transparent, safe way – and the public is getting involved in ever-increasing ways. I talked with Gary Headrick about the latest developments on August 29, 2025. LINKS from Interview : Archival of newsletters on the website under News tab, then click on BLOG. Other Links: Guest columnists Robert Weiner and Jenny Zhao: The world needs another nuclear freeze movement BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – Beyond the Brink ### NH #739: Executive Order: NRC Now Tasked w/"ENABLING" New Nukes?!? Stupid/Dangerous Nuclear Languaging Tricks w/LNT - Cindy Folkers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nrc-enabling-new-nukes/ Published: 2025-08-28 Duration: 01:00:16 Cindy Folkers This Week's Featured Interview: Cindy Folkers is Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist at Beyond Nuclear, with close to 20 years experience. She co-authored with Dr. Ian Fairlie the book, THE SCIENTISTS WHO ALERTED US TO THE DANGERS OF RADIATION. Here, she breaks down what's wrong with the recent nuclear Executive Orders, including the mandate to "enable" the building of new, untried Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, and why even the current Linear No Threshold model for setting nuclear "safety" standards is not perfect, but it's much better than where we seem to be heading. LINK: Dr. Gordon Edwards on uranium enrichment levels required to make nuclear bombs, and how the 11-20% enrichment of HALEU fuel required for small modular nuclear reactors can be turned into a bomb. – Nuclear Hotseat #731. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Trump will get his Russian yellowcake. If only he would eat it, too… The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa Milk and cookies time! Here's another story of heroism in the fight against nuclear weapons with Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister. This week, focus on the protest events surrounding 1985's 40th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In New Hampshire, the Pease Air Force Base Monument (described in the Nuclear Resister report) that honors the Air Force unit that dropped the bombs on Japan. it was dismantled and removed when the base was shut down in 1988. ### NH #738: Women and Children Worst! Generational Nuclear Radiation Risks Revealed in New UN Report by Mary Olson, Dr. Amanda M. Nichols URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/generational-nuclear-radiation-risk/ Published: 2025-08-20 Duration: 01:00:30 United Nations report on the generational impact of nuclear radiation on women and children, written by Mary Olson of Generational Radiation Impact Project and Dr. Amanda M. Nichols. This Week’s SPECIAL Featured Interview: We all accept as proven scientific and medical fact that human exposure to ionizing radiation from nuclear weapons and their production is damaging to human health. But how do we know that? Who figures out how bad it can be? How much radiation we can be exposed to without risking our health? And how valid are those measurements? We learn the alarming truth behind how those numbers were generated and what needs to be done instead from today’s guests, co-authors of the new report for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm: Mary Olson holds a degree in Evolutionary Biology and has been an educator on radiation health impacts while serving nuclear-impacted communities… and so much more. Her website is RadiationProject.org Amanda M. Nichols, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nichols research focuses on illuminating the role of women in the North American anti-nuclear movement. Email contact: Dr.Amanda.M.Nichols@gmail.com Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm is cornerstone information in the movement to rid our planet of nukes. It is available for free downloa or pdf HERE. Co-author Amanda Nichols holds up copy of the report Further References mentioned in the interview and additional Resources: Nichols, Amanda M. Women on the Edge of Time: Grief and Power in the Nuclear Age. PhD Dissertation. University of Florida (2021). https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UFE0057378/00001. Nichols, Amanda M. “Nuclear Energy,” in Chad Seales (ed.) The Handbook of Religion and American Culture. 2025. Nichols, Amanda M. “Uranium and Religion: Toward a Decolonial Temporality of Extraction,” Religions, 16(1). 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16010016. Olson, Mary. “Atomic Radiation Is More Harmful to Women,” Nuclear Information Resource Services, 2011. https://www.nirs.org/wp-content/uploads/radiation/radhealth/radiationwomen.pdf. Olson, Mary. “Disproportionate Impact of Radiation and Radiation Regulation,” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 44, no. 2 (2019): 131–39.https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2019.1603864. Gender and Radiation Impact Project Website: https://www.genderandradiation.org/. For BEIR VII Reports NAS-NRC. “Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR VII – Phase 2,” Committee to Assess Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation, Board on Radiation Effects Research, National Research Council of the National Academies. National Academies Press, 2006. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030909156X. NAS-NRC. “National Research Council – Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations: Health Effects of Exposures to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR V.” National Academy Press, 1990. http:// www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309039959. On International Radiological Protections and Reference Man ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. 2002. Basic Anatomical and Physiological Data for Use in Radiological Protection Reference Values (2002). http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=icrp%20publication%2089. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 103: The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (2007). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/ANIB_37_2-4. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 147: Use of Dose Quantities in Radiological Protection. 50, no. 1 (2021): 9–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146645320911864. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. “Official Definition of Reference Man.” Report of the Task Group on Reference Man. [ICRP Publication] No. 23. Oxford: Pergamon Press (1975). Adopted October 1974. Page 4. https://ieer.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/definition-of-reference-man.pdf. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Nuclear is in hot water of its own making – and if spineless jellyfish can shut down a nuclear reactor, why can't we? Ever notice now much jellyfish resemble the nuclear mushroom cloud…? ### NH #737: The Lie of Nuclear Deterrence - ICAN's Melissa Parke in Hiroshima, Nagasaki & Korea for Atomic Bomb 80th Commemorations, Hibakusha URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ican-hiroshima-atomic-bomb/ Published: 2025-08-14 Duration: 00:59:24 This Week's Featured Interview: ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke in Hiroshima. Photo: ICAN / Takeo Nakaoku Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, traveled to Japan for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She is a former Australian Minister for International Development and former Member of Parliament for the Australian Labor Party. As an MP, she regularly voiced support for nuclear disarmament, including as a member of a cross-party parliamentary group dedicated to the cause. She has been the head of ICAN for almost two years. 
 We caught up with Melissa while she was in Nagasaki the day after the Hiroshima 80th anniversary ceremony. Her tour of the far east included the Nagasaki commemoration on August 9 and then travel to South Korea to talk with Korean hibakusha – Korean citizens who were in Japan as forced labor when the bombs were exploded. We discussed the ceremonies, the dilemma of the Korean hibakusha, why "deterrence" is a false hope that leaves the door open for disaster, and why the only way to end the nuclear threat is to abolish nuclear weapons. I spoke with Melissa Parke on August 7, 2025. LINKS from the interview: Deterrence article cited during interview Children's Peace Memorial Cranes of Memory Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Linda Pentz Gunter returns following a sabbatical to complete her book, which will be published in March. For her first new Hot Story: The power of words and images serve as a lesson from Hiroshima. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Put a nuke on the moon or on the back of a trailer or in the middle of a busy airport – what could go wrong? (Steven Colbert has some ideas…) And yes, Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's – when it comes to nuclear it IS a Small World After All! "Remember Hiroshima" doll added to "It's a Small World" ride at Disneyland. See video below. LINKS: A global call to action – Trades unions and peace groups demand democracy that delivers peace and prosperity for all These nuclear reactors fit on a flatbed truck. How safe are they? Nuclear winter would bring mass starvation and death for years post-war, startling new study reveals: ‘We must be prepared’ August 8, 2025 – No Nukes for Power, Posturing or Destruction
 by Karl Grossman ### NH #736: SPECIAL - Hiroshima/Nagasaki at 80 - How Our Nuclear Narrative Was Manipulated - 2nd Generation Hibakusha Prof. Yuki Miyamoto URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-80-hibakusha/ Published: 2025-08-06 Duration: 01:00:46 Prof. Yuki Miyamoto on Narrative Manipulation of Hiroshima, Nagasaki This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interview: On the anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a look at what this meant for further generations' health and psychology. Yuki Miyamoto is Nisei Hibakusha, second generation daughter of an atomic bomb survivor, and brings a personal perspective to her powerful work. She is a Professor in the department of Religious Studies and Director / Humanities Center at DePaul University in Chicago. Since earning her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, she has been teaching nuclear ethics and environmental justice at DePaul. In addition to leading a biannual study abroad program bringing DePaul students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki for two weeks, her team project, TEAACH Nuclear History — is an initiative focused on teaching nuclear issues to inner-city middle school students. We spoke on July 11, 2025. LINKS from interview: Monograph by Yuki Miyamoto: Unbearable light/ness of the bombing: normalizing violence and banalizing the horror of the atomic bomb experience The very "graphic" graphic novel, Barefoot Gen in English. A harrowing story of Hiroshima that was one of the original Japanese manga series. This all-new translation of the author's first-person experiences of Hiroshima and its aftermath is a reminder of the suffering war brings to innocent people. Its emotions and experiences speak to children and adults everywhere. Volume one of a ten-part series. TEAACH nuclear history project homepage with the curriculum Prof. Miramoto has developed to teach about atomic Here's a LINK to the NH #589 interview on the curriculum: “Cool” Nuclear History Education for Kids – Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Aiko Kojima Hibino ATOMIC DOCTOR: Conscience and Complicity at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age by James L. Nolan Jr. He cared for the scientists on the Manhattan Project, organized safety and evacuation plans for the Trinity test at Alamogordo, escorted the “Little Boy” bomb from Los Alamos to the Pacific Islands, and was one of the first Americans to enter the irradiated ruins of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Most Grotesque Numnutz Ever: As referenced in our interview, this is the episode of the live TV program THIS IS YOUR LIFE, which aired in 1955. In it, Hiroshima survivor (Hibakusha) Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto is surprised – some might say blindsided — by a forced meeting with Capt. Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This segment begins at 14:45. Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto on This Is Your Life. Segment with Capt. Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, starts at 14:45. The artist who was commissioned by the city of Hiroshima in 2008 and by the University of Chicago in 2017 for his pyrotechnic is Cai Guo-Qiang. But are fireworks the appropriate way to commemorate nuclear milestones and atrocities? University of Chicago commemoration of the first sustained chain reaction – 2017 Not even close. "Representation" of atomic bombing of Hiroshima – 2008. ICAN UPDATE from Hiroshima with Alistair Burnett The ICAN UPDATE is a monthly feature from the International Campaign on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons on progress being made on the passage of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW. But this month is a little different, because ICAN is in Japan and participating in the commemoration ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Here with his report from Japan is our regular correspondent, ICAN’s head of media, Alistair Burnett. Activist Shoutout: The International Uranium Film Festival is hosting a free worldwide online screening of three films to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The screenings will be available through THIS LINK August 6-15, 2025. The Films are: Atomic Cover-Up by Greg Mitchell Nagasaki Journey by Chris Beaver and Judy Irving Quote the Raven, Nevermore by Ari Besser and Regis Hirwa HIROSHIMA – Lino cut 18×24 by Sam Kerson from the artist's book, Hiroshima to Fukushima, produced by Dragon Dance Theatre HIROSHIMA by Sam Kerson ### NH #735: Lies of Fukushima Radioactive Tritium Water Release Report w/Tim Deere-Jones + Palisades Restart Dangers - Arnie Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-tritium-palisades-restart/ Published: 2025-07-30 Duration: 00:59:15 A South Korean man holds a placard in front of a building housing the Japanese embassy in Seoul on August 24, 2023, as South Korean protesters gather to demonstrate against Japan's discharge of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. This Week's Featured Interviews: Japan's False Narrative of Fukushima Tritium-Contaminated Water Release: Tim Deere-Jones is marine biologist, marine radioactivity researcher and consultant, and a regular commentator on Nuclear Hotseat. Here, clarifies how a recent report out of Japan touting the so-called "safety" of tritium levels in radioactive water released from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean is false, really just another example of nuclear propaganda. Planned Restart of Palisades Zombie Reactor in Michigan: Palisades Nuclear on Lake Michigan – only 74 miles from Chicago Arnie Gundersen is a nuclear engineer, whistleblower, and green energy advocate who has been a consulting expert on many nuclear reactor issues, including the shut down of the San Onofre nuclear facility in southern California. Here, he explains the problems with the planned restart of the shuttered Palisades nuclear reactor in southern Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan. ACTIVIST SHOUT-OUT It is with deep sadness that we report on the passing of Daniel Hirsch. He was founder and president of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, and a tireless opponent of the nuclear industry. His lectures to students at UCLA led to them uncovering the 20-year cover-up of the nuclear accident at the Santa Susana Field Lab in Los Angeles. He was a tireless, articulate, and accessible source of information on nuclear and we deeply mourn his loss. Nuclear Hotseat #47 – 2012 interview with Dan Hirsch on Hidden LA Nuke Accident – Santa Susana Field Labs, 1959 – how the truth was uncovered after 20 years of cover-up. Tom Lehrer – https://youtu.be/rkbkXbtQrNs?si=oA-fOMmVlv7N65O https://youtube.com/watch?v=yJDX-YD5dB4%3Fsi%3DPYdfhx6KOq5ebFoI ### NH #734: Atomic Cabaret with Physics Chanteuse Lynda Williams at Edinburgh Fringe + Remembering Church Rock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/atomic-cabaret-edinburgh-physics/ Published: 2025-07-24 Duration: 00:59:02 Posters for ATOMIC CABARET at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival This Week's Featured Interview: Lynda Williams is a physicist and educator who writes and performs songs as the “Physics Chanteuse.” This “science entertainer” has performed all over the physics conference circuit where she presents a customized cabaret show of songs and repartee to fit with each group’s specialty. Now, she is touring her latest show, ATOMIC CABARET, around Europe. The show combines science, story, satire, and song that explores the existential risks of the nuclear age. With video projections of scientific visualizations, archival footage, and original music, Atomic Cabaret offers a powerful and immersive experience that brings complex scientific ideas to life while addressing the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and global peace. There’s an audience sing-along, too. Each performance on her 2025 European tour is a benefit for local chapters of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament or community peace organizations. Now halfway through her tour, the show opens at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland for a 9-performance run. I spoke with Lynda Williams on July 19, 2025. LINKS from the interview: Website and Contact: AtomicCabaret.com Youtube channel: Lynda Lovon – This is where you'll find recordings of the songs from the show. To contact Lynda about booking the show: LyndaLovon@gmail.com Remembering Church Rock: Last week, we noted the dual nuclear nightmare anniversaries of July 16, focusing on the Trinity atomic test blast 80 years ago. There was no time on that show to go into the second July 16 anniversary, 1979’s Church Rock uranium tailings spill on Navajo Nation land. It happened only four months after Three Mile Island and was basically ignored by US media, a condition that continues to this day. In 2019, I traveled to Navajo Nation to report on Church Rock and the ongoing contamination from that accident and the abandoned uranium mines. My trip was timed so I could attend the 40th anniversary commemoration of the Church Rock disaster. While there, I spoke with many who had grown up with these dangers and were still suffering from what it did to them, their families, their livestock, the land, and the water. Here are three brief interviews with members of Navajo Nation: Uranium miner Larry J. King Edith Hood Terracita Keyana These are from a full-length SPECIAL on Church Rock that was originally presented in two parts, on NH #421 and 423, from July, 2019. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Prime Minister of Japan accepts a delivery of radioactive soil from Fukushima, trying to "prove" it's "safe" by putting it in flower beds in front of his office… just in time for him to be ousted and someone else move in! LINKS: Nuclear power is a parasite on AI’s credibility Nuclear Power’s Hot Streak by Karl Grossman and Harvey Wasserman The first US atomic rush was a bust. Will Trump’s big nuclear-for-AI plans fare any better? Report: Lack of Marshall Islands Birth Studies Hinder Understanding of Nuclear Testing Impacts ### NH #733: SPECIAL: Trinity Atomic Bomb at 80 - NM Downwinder Radiation Victims Set the Record Straight URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trinity-atomic-bomb-at-80/ Published: 2025-07-16 Duration: 00:59:08 The new commemorative plaque at the entrance to the Trinity site of the world's first atomic bomb explosion finally acknowledges and commemorates Downwinders. (l-r) Seth Shelden, General Counsel and United Nations Liaison of ICAN; Tina Cordova of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN SPECIAL: Trinity Atomic Bomb at 80 – New Mexico Downwinder Radiation Victims Set the Record Straight On the 80th anniversary of the first atomic bomb blast, the test at the Trinity site near Almogordo in New Mexico, Nuclear Hotseat gives voice to the Downwinders – victims of the radiation released from the bomb. Featured Interviews: Award-winning author Myrriah Gomez Myrriah Gomez is from northern New Mexico and author of the 2022 book Nuclear Nuevo Mexico: Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos, which was awarded a Southwest Book Award and an International Latino Book Award. I spoke with Myrriah Gomez on July 15, 2025. Beatrice Gutierrez, Downwinder and Board Member, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Bernice Gutierrez is a native New Mexican. She received her degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from the University of New Mexico, and has worked as a Probation-Parole Officer, Paralegal and Social Worker. She is also a board member of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. I spoke with Berniece Gutierrez on July 14, 2025. LINK to research on infant mortality in the immediate aftermath of Trinity by Kitty Tucker that was cited in the interview: Trinity: “The most significant hazard of the entire Manhattan Project” Downwinder Tina Cordova, doing what she does so well: speaking Truth to Power. Tina Cordova is a sixth generation native New Mexican born and raised in the small town of Tularosa in south central New Mexico. In 2005 Tina co-founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) with the late Fred Tyler. Tina has been an unstoppable campaigner for the rights of those harmed by radiation downwind of the Trinity atomic bomb blast and an honored leader for us all. I spoke with Tina Cordova on July 14, 2025. Links – Other Resources for Trinity: First We Bombed New Mexico – a film by Award-winning director Lois Lipman. The Trinity Downwinders’ nuclear legacy was exploded into public awareness by this film. Nuclear Hotseat interviewed Director Lois Lipman about how she first learned about the plight of Downwinders — those who lived downwind of the Trinity test of the first atomic bomb. FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO, tracks not just Trinity’s history of radiation impact, but the timelines of Downwinder illness through five generations. CHURCH ROCK Uranium Tailings Pond Breach Disaster in Navajo Nation – Elders, Activists Speak Out Former UNC Church Rock uranium miner Larry J. King (center). He stands on land which faces the site of the 1979 uranium tailings pond breach and spill. He explains what happened to an audience of supporters during the 40th anniversary commemorative walk in 2019. The other nuclear disaster that took place on July 16 – this one in 1979 – was the Church Rock uranium tailings pond breach and spill. This under-reported nuclear disaster dumped more than 94 million gallons of highly acidic radioactive water into the adjacent Puerco River. The contamination reached Sanders, Arizona, more than 80 miles away. The spill has never been cleaned up. On July 13 and 14, 2019, Nuclear Hotseat’s Libbe HaLevy attended commemorative events in Navajo Nation for the 40th anniversary of the 1979 disaster. This is the LINK to the resulting Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL report. NH #473: Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Breach Disaster in Navajo Nation – 40th Anniversary SPECIAL ENCORE: Elders, Activists Speak Out ### NH #732: UK's Sellafield Leaks Orange Acid Mine Waste & Radioactive Water into Irish Sea - Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones + ICAN Children's Peace Memorial URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/sellafield-leaks-radioactive-water/ Published: 2025-07-09 Duration: 00:59:11 This Week's Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a UK-based marine biologist, researcher and consultant. He specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here, he explains the radioactive orange water leak from Sellafield in the UK and the harebrained proposed scheme for excavating a radioactive waste storage facility UNDER the Irish Sea. Contact for Tim Deere-Jones on Facebook To find his writing, google: Tim Deere-Jones Nuclear The ICAN UPDATE: Alistair Burnett With the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki only a month away, here’s Alistair Burnett of ICAN interviewing project lead Tim Wright an a new program, the Childrens Peace Memorial, commemorating those killed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. ICAN Children's Peace Memorial video interview with one child survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing: Robert "Bob" Alvarez Passing: Robert "Bob" Alvarez It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Robert (Bob) Alvarez. He was one of the bedrock founders of the national movement to unmask the human and environmental carnage that resulted directly from the US production of a massive nuclear arsenal. Bob helped found the Environmental Policy Institute in the mid-1970’s. He is an intrepid researcher, author, investigator, professor, and an unflagging resource to dozens of organizations around the nation. Bob always was an ally (and sometimes an accomplice) of grassroots efforts to hold the nuclear power and weapons establishment accountable. He and his wife Kitty Tucker worked tirelessly to reveal the story behind the killing of Karen Silkwood, and to seek justice for Karen and her family. He served for five years as a Senior Investigator for the U. S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator John Glenn, and as one of the Senate’s primary staff experts on the U.S. nuclear programs. There’s so much more. We will link to the recording of an Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility/NIRS event presenting Bob Alvarez with a lifetime achievement award that took place in 2022. He will be sorely missed. LINKS: Greg Mitchell‘s latest award-winning film, The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero — and Nuclear Peril Today will start streaming via PBS and screening on PBS stations as of July 12. Last week, the companion e-book with the same title was published. Congratulations Greg! Listen to the Nuclear Hotseat interview with Greg Mitchell on his film and ebook: Nuclear Hotseat #726 from May 28, 2025. Yes, they really did play a football game at Nagasaki barely five months after the US dropped the bomb. Write Before Midnight, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists‘ writing competition, is calling for submissions of short fiction. According to their shout-out: "Submitted stories can be about any of the existential threats the Bulletin covers: nuclear weapons, climate change, biological and chemical weapons, artificial intelligence, killer robots, doomsday drone submarines, bioengineered zombies, the gray goo of nanotechnology gone wild, and so, so much more. The stories can be dystopian or utopian; pre-, post-, or non-apocalyptic. They can be optimistic as Sesame Street or dark as Edgar Allan Poe’s basement. Entries can be of any genre: high literature and potboiler noir will vie on a level playing field; scifi, fantasy, spy, detective, horror, and even romance tales will be not just allowed, but celebrated. The tales can be comic, tragic, ironic, satiric, or any kind of -ic at all, and they can be of any length—up to 7,000 words. (And not a single word more.) CLICK HERE for more information – and good luck! Pathways To Peace is organizing another conference: "Nuclear Disarmament for Humanitarian Needs: Empowering Individuals and Cities" on August 4th, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET. To register, CLICK HERE. ### NH #731: Iran Can Still Make Nuclear Bombs - Uranium Enrichment Dangers: Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iran-can-still-make-nuclear-bombs/ Published: 2025-07-03 Duration: 00:59:36 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards Dr. Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, and president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. He is one of our most cogent thinkers on nuclear issues and he regularly puts together the pieces to give us a clear picture of exactly what is going on, why we should be alarmed, and what we can do about it. Here, we discuss uranium enrichment – a “hot topic” in the wake of the US bombing of nuclear facilities in Iran. He reveals how ineffective the bombings really were – far from the “total obliteration” claimed by the Trump and echo’ed by his followers — and what level of uranium enrichment"is necessary to make a nuclear bomb. (HINT: It's a lot less than you've been led to believe.). Dr. Edwards also includes a vision of how we could work create a lasting international nuclear peace and an elimination of even the possibility of creating any more nuclear weapons. https://www.ccnr.org/GE_Iran_and_Uranium_Enrichment_2025.pdf – Iran and Uranium Enrichment – by Dr. Gordon Edwards, June 20 2025 Iran’s uranium enrichment: myths, realities, and what Canada should understand – The world needs to understand it, too. By Dr. Gordon Edwards and Erika Simpson. The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa Blockading the trains at Rocky Flats to protest plutonium pit production Blocking the nuclear trains at Rocky Flats — and Jack Cohen-Joppa should know because he was there! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The secret provocateurs putting the nuclear triad at risk at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota: Enemy commando at Minot AFB, North Dakota, looking to take down the nuclear triad.. Links: Libbe HaLevy's play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE will be presented in a World Premiere staged reading at the Wilmington (Ohio) Peace Resource Center on September 9, 2025 at 7:30 pm. It is an Oppenheimer-adjacent true story of media manipulation at the dawn of the Atomic Age and the New York Times reporter who sold his soul to get the story. ATOMIC BILL will be presented as part of the PRC's 50th Anniversary celebration. Attendance is free and Libbe will be there for a post-show conversation with the audience. All are welcome! Trump’s Attack on Iran May Have Made the Nuclear Crisis Worse Trump Should Abolish This Nuclear Agency (Numnutz-adjacent) ### NH #730: US Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites + Supreme Court Reversal - "Interim" Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dumps in NM, TX Now Approved - Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iran-nuclear-supreme-court-nuke-waste-dump/ Published: 2025-06-26 Duration: 00:59:02 US BOMBS IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES – WE ARE UNOFFICIALLY AT WAR A roundup of what is currently known about last Saturday's bombing attack by the United States on Iran nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Next week will feeature an extensive interview on what level of uranium enrichment Iran has achieved and how close it would put them to being able to build a nuclear bomb in an interview with Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. This Week's Featured Interview: Kevin Kamps is Radioactive Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear. He specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; environmental and public health risks associated with government and industry efforts to dump commercial irradiated fuel rods on Native American lands in the western United States. Here, Kevin talks about the ongoing battle in Texas and New Mexico over the two proposed so-called "interim" dumps for highly radioactive nuclear reactor waste – and what the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing them to move forward really means. Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear I spoke with Kevin Kamps on June 20, 2025. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): New York Governor Katie Hochul thinks that a whirlwind build of new nuclear will solve the state's energy needs. So what'll it be, Guv – a big reactor the same make as Vogtle, which took 15 years and $34 BILLION to build? Or non-existent Small Modular Nuclear Reactors that don't exist except on powerpoint presentations, have never been built let alone tested, and are just major money pits with no end in sight? Decisions decisions… Don't Bank on the Bomb! Susi Snyder, Programme Coordinator for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), gives a short lesson on how to make certain your money doesn't inadvertantly go to support companies that produce parts for nuclear weapons. For those who want to dive into the numbers behind the report “At Great Cost: The companies building nuclear weapons and their financiers” for 2022-2024, here's a LINK. Home ### NH #729: 14th ANNIVERSARY! + Illinois Nuclear Moratorium Saga w/Dave Kraft of NEIS + Israel/Iran Analysis by Susi Snyder, ICAN URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/illinois-nuclear-moratorium-israel-iran/ Published: 2025-06-18 Duration: 00:59:36 Yup – 14 years and 729 episodes down. What's the half-life of a nuclear podcast? This Week's Featured Interview: Dave Kraft is Co-Founder and Director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), headquartered in Chicago. Prior to becoming a full-time energy activist, Dave’s academic background and training was in astronomy and psychology at Northwestern University and Northeastern University in Chicago. Kraft’s interest in the environment moved him to found NEIS with seven other people, to provide the public with credible information about the hazards and effects of nuclear power and waste, and the viable means to replace them. Here, he takes on the recent manipulations on the Illinois nuclear front that almost repealed a 1987 ban on building new nuclear reactors. He also provides deep background on unexamined national security risks associated with a proliferation of these new nuclear reactors. I spoke with Dave Kraft on Friday, Jun 13, 2025. Links from Featured Interview: SMNRS AND NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS – Powerpoint by NEIS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcPHAjzOY0k&t=28s From NEIS Powerpoint SMNRs and National Security Risks PACIFICA RADIO CLIMATE HOUR DEBATE on “Nuclear Energy” Uranium Uses and Dangers – webinar with Dr. Gordon Edwards: https://youtu.be/5OmoJ0duP4E Israel/Iran Bombings – Susi Snyder of ICAN Susi Snyder of ICAN Susi Snyder of ICAN parses the meanings and history of the current Israel/Iran escalating exchange of drone and missile attacks. Given the recent and almost daily intensification of Israel’s bombings on Iran’s Natanz Enrichment Facility and the Iran’s retaliations, we’re presenting an interview with Susi Snyder of ICAN analyzing the situation. This was originally broadcast by Al Jazeera and she is interviewed by Robin Matheson. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness: Tulsi Gabbard????? Nuclear video: Full 3:31 length (Get it while you can; it's being scrubbed.). Tulsi Gabbard Links: Gordon Edwards webinar on Uranium: Its Uses and its Dangers: How Nuclear War could Start – Federation of American Scientists Op-Ed in Washington Post Hidden Costs: Nuclear Weapons Spending in 2024 – annual report from ICAN ### NH #728: WANTED: Writers, Filmmakers for Nuclear Issues Media Database - TMI Survivor Jill Murphy Long URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-issues-media-database/ Published: 2025-06-12 Duration: 00:59:32 This Week's Featured Interview: Jill Murphy Long Jill Murphy Long writes, directs and produces films based on the ethics of Justice, Mercy and Love – the initials of her company, JML Films. She is the force behind nine completed feature film screenplays and more than forty short films that spotlight current-day environmental and societal injustices. Jill’s anti-nuclear perspective originated with her personal experience living near the 1979 meltdown at Three Mile Island, and her resulting brain tumor in 2012 and thyroid cancer in 2023. Fortunately, her health is currently good. Now, she is creating a database of content creators who oppose nuclear – writers and filmmakers – for distribution to media, podcasts, broadcasts, and the entertainment industry to promote our stories and the perspective that nuclear is definitely not clean, green and renewable energy. I spoke with Jill Murphy Long on May 16, 2025. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear product rep claims to represents a process to "kill" radiation, tries to get Nuclear Hotseat host to endorse it. This does not end well for him… THE ICAN UPDATE – The Latest on the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear War with ICAN's Alistair Burnett The latest on progress on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). LINKS: International Atomic Energy Agency's head Raphael Grossi Central Ohio: "CALL FOR READERS: 80 Years After: Hibakusha Call us to Remember": The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil

 on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 50th anniversary of the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. The PRC’s quinquennial twelve-hour Hiroshima and Nagasaki vigil, on the 80th commemoration of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, consists of the communal reading of 80 hibakusha [atomic bombing sufferer] testimonials curated from the Peace Resource Center Barbara Reynolds Memorial Archives. Seeking 80 readers to read in person on August 6, 2025 between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil. The typical time commitment for readers upon arrival to the Wilmington College campus is between 30-45 minutes. Readers are asked to rehearse their reading in advance of the vigil. (Please see detailed information by clicking this link.). For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE. WEBINAR – June 23, 2025 10:00 AM – “Golden Dome”: A Costly, Destabilizing, and Ineffective Missile Defense System. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Trump’s Nuclear Power Obsession by Karl Grossman and Harvey Wasserman IAEA’s Grossi Warns of Severe Nuclear Safety Risks in Ukraine: Chernobyl Drone Attacks ### NH #727: Life in Japan's Ongoing Radiation Disaster Zone - Good Idea? (NO!) "Return to Fukushima" Author Thomas Bass URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/return-to-fukushima-thomas-bass/ Published: 2025-06-04 Duration: 00:59:20 This Week's Featured Interview: Piles of bags containing radioactive topsoil scraped from all over Fukushima, still awaiting removal. Is it possible to live in a nuclear exclusion zone? Thomas Bass‘ just-published book Return to Fukushima captures the aftermath of the 2011 nuclear disaster, chronicling the resilience of people navigating life amid radioactivity. The book is based upon his visits to Fukushima in 2018 and again four and a half years later – and the difference was dramatic. 14 years after the triple nuclear meltdown began, Return to Fukushima chronicles the problems and deceptions by Japan, TEPCO, and the nuclear industry as they attempt to continue to cover up the true nature of this ongoing disaster. Thomas Bass is the author of eight books; a contributor to the New Yorker, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Smithsonian, Wired, and other publications; and Professor of English and journalism at the State University of New York in Albany. I spoke with Thomas Bass on Monday, June 2, 2025. Links from Interview: To purchase Return to Fukushima, go to: https://orbooks.com/catalog/return-to-fukushima/ https://www.mcnallyjackson.com/book/9781682195109 Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Why the Golden Dome is another "insane" Trump obsession that won't work. LINKS to Linda's other work this week: Donald Trump's Fool's Gold A Superhighway to Nuclear Hell And There Is Hope – A Solar Benchmark: LINKS: International Uranium Film Festival Winners – full list Veterans for Peace "Splashiversary" – June 14, 2-5 pm, Humbolt Bay, CA. The Terrible 13: The Worst Safety and Security Violators in the US Nuclear Power Fleet by Edwin S. Lyman, Director, Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists The NRC’s new Mission Impossible: Making Atoms Great Again Nuclear weapons woes: Understaffed nuke agency hit by DOGE and safety worries ### NH #726: Nuclear Football in Nagasaki Killing Field - Greg Mitchell's new film THE ATOMIC BOWL + Linda Pentz Gunter Parses the President's Nuclear Onslaught URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-football-nagasaki/ Published: 2025-05-28 Duration: 00:59:02 Greg Mitchell (l) and Libbe HaLevy (r) This Week's Featured Interview: Director Greg Mitchell is an award-winning journalist and author of a dozen books on United States politics and history of the 20th and 21st centuries, including 2020’s “The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” His previous books on the atomic bombings were “Hiroshima in America“ (with Robert Jay Lifton) and “Atomic Cover-up.” His film, ATOMIC COVER-UP, released in 2021, won multiple awards, including the Best Archival Documentary award from the International Uranium Film Festival. His latest film, THE ATOMIC BOWL: Football at Ground Zero — and Nuclear Peril Today, is about a football game played in Nagasaki in front of a bombed out middle school, where US military members tossed the pigskin only five months after the atomic bombing that killed more than 70,000 people. It’s currently being screened at the IUFF in Rio and will be released on PBS in July. I spoke with Greg Mitchell on April 18, 2025. Links from Interview: Link to Greg Mitchell's award-winning film ATOMIC COVER-UP, free on PBS Greg Mitchell on Substack The Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Trump "unleashes" five nuclear executive orders that while reckless and dangerous are also total fantasy. The Nuclear Resister w/Jack Joppa-Cohen There's something about a train… and in the early 1980s, anti-nuclear activists from coast-to-coast turned that truth into a successful campaign that literally drove the bombs off the rails. Links: Tune in for the next Scholar Series webinar: Cute Drawings of Terrible Things: Nuclear History through Comics 
When: Friday, June 6th at noon PT
 Who: B. Erin Cole, historian and artist
 Where: Zoom, register here New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Major Nuclear Power Push by Karl Grossman Nuclear War Avoided, Again. But Next Time? – By W.J. Hennigan for the NYTimes Protest against Chalk River (Canada) nuclear waste disposal project from Dr. Gordon Edwards – (in French, with English translation available below: NH #726 – Gordon Edwards – Chalk River – Translation fron French ArticleDownload ### NH #725: AI & Nuclear Launch Codes - Former Commander of SAC Gen. Kehler, Ret. + How To Keep Your Money Out of Nukes! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ai-nuclear-launch-codes/ Published: 2025-05-20 Duration: 00:59:26 One of the many sessions held at the Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit, December This Week’s Featured Interview: Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Ret. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Ret., former Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, explains (he's retired so it's from his personal perspective) the issues of AI and nuclear weapons, and the nature of debate about it taking place inside the military. This is Part 2 of an interview conducted at the 2024 Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit. Gen Kehler was interviewed in front of an audience of 130 reporters by W.J. (Bill) Hennigan, Correspondent, New York Times Opinion. Part 1 of this interview appeared on NH #723. The interview took place on December 6, 2024, after Donald Trump was elected president but before he took office. Our thanks to the Outrider Foundation for having held this event and for permission to use this recording on Nuclear Hotseat. This Week's Second Featured Interview: Mary Beth Gallagher Want to know how to stop nukes? Follow the money – and then take it away from the nuclear industry. Mary Beth Gallagher is Director of Engagements for Domini Impact Investments, a mutual fund firm that’s women-led and, among other ethical choices, does not invest in any company that manufactures any part of nuclear weapons. After hearing her speak at the United Nations Second Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons in December, 2023, I knew the conscientious listeners of Nuclear Hotseat deserved to hear what she had to say. I spoke with Mary Beth Gallagher on January 26, 2024. Links mentioned during the interview: Domini Impact Investments: https://domini.com/invest/ Investors Open Statement to States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW):  https://divest.icanw.org/investors_open_statement_to_states_parties_on_the_treaty_on_the_prohibition_of_nuclear_weapons_tpnw, (signed by 111 investors representing at least $1,007 billion assets under management as of 1 December 2023) As You Sow Weapons Free Funds: https://weaponfreefunds.org/ US Sustainable Investment Forum (USSIF) chart of Sustainable Investment Mutual funds and ETFs:  https://charts.ussif.org/mfpc/ ### NH #724: Dangers Grow in Nuclear Radiation Cancer Zone: Piketon Ohio's Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant - Journalist Jason Salley URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/piketon-nuclear-radiation-cancer/ Published: 2025-05-14 Duration: 00:58:44 One portion of the clean-up site at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Investigative Journalist Jason Salley This Week's Featured Interview: Jason Salley is an investigative journalist known for his hard-hitting reporting on environmental contamination and government oversight. With a focus on uncovering the hidden truths of Appalachia, his work has exposed decades of radioactive pollution and corporate negligence at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio. Salley’s fearless storytelling and relentless pursuit of the facts have made him a powerful voice for the communities impacted by America’s nuclear legacy. I spoke with Jason Salley on May 9, 2025. Jason Salley LINKS: https://linktr.ee/JasonSalley?utm_source=linktree_admin_share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EfEsDBGha/?mibextid=wwXIfr   (l-r) Vina Colley, Gina Doyle, Jason Salley A quote on the women in the photo, from Jason Salley: "There are two inspiring women pictured from left to right in the photo. The woman on the left is Vina Colley, who has been referred to as the Erin Brockovich of Appalachia. She was one of the original whistleblowers who brought attention to the contamination from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The woman on the right is Gina Doyle, who is a lifelong resident of Piketon and the leader of the online advocacy group called “Don’t Dump On Us”. Both of these women are remarkable and have dedicated themselves to promoting justice for their community." Vina Colley and PRESS: https://www.facebook.com/vina.colley Gina Doyle and Don't Dump on Us – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1687510908847082 Ohio Nuclear Free Network Youtube series on Piketon's Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Episode 1 of 4 by The APPA Report – Appalachia's Environmental Watchdog . @TheAPPAReport The Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz. Gunter Reopen Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant? Ukraine should do renewables instead. LINKS: CALL FOR PAPERS: Archives as Witness: Preserving History, Memory, and Art at the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College (September 30-October 1, 2025, Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio) – The Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College invites conference proposals from scholars, artists, and nuclear activists to present work inspired by archival research related to nuclear histories at their upcoming 50th Anniversary Conference.  For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE. FUKUSHIMA FALLOUT AWARENESS NETWORK (FFAN)’s Mayday Campaign Needs Your Signature Now. The FDA continues to stonewall a 2013 Citizen Petition to lower the current allowable levels of cancer-causing cesium 134, and 137 in food. Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network, a project of the National Institute for Science, Law, and Public Policy, is asking for everyone to put HHS (which oversees FDA) on notice. Please sign the MoveOn petition now – CLICK HERE! The petition will be delivered along with others next week to HHS, FDA, and leaders of the Make America Healthy Again Caucus and Commission. ### NH #723: HOT! India/Pakistan Escalation of Hostilities Risks Nukes +cInside Nuclear Launch Command Chain w/Former Head of U.S. Strategic Command + IPPNW's Ira Helfand at UN for NPT URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/india-pakistan-nuclear-launc/ Published: 2025-05-08 Duration: 00:59:42 HOT! India/Pakistan Escalation of Hostilities Risks Nukes + Inside Nuclear Launch Command Chain w/Former Head of U.S. Strategic Command + IPPNW's Ira Helfand at UN for NPT What you never want to see in your neighborhood… This Week's Featured Interview: Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Ret. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Ret., former Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, explains from inside the process how an order from the Commander in Chief to launch nuclear weapons would unfold down the chain of command. Excerpts from an interview conducted at the 2024 Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit. He was interviewed on stage in front of an audience of 130 reporters by W.J. (Bill) Hennigan, Correspondent, New York Times Opinion. A nuanced military insider's take on what the nuclear launch process looks like once an Executive Order to launch takes place. The interview took place on December 6, 2024, after Donald Trump was elected president but before he took office. NOTE: This episode was ready to go with the full-length interview with Gen. Kehler, including a 20-minute section with his observations on nukes, deterrence, and AI. With the news of India's attack on Pakistan and the downing of five Indian jets, the second half of the interview has been delayed to make room for this other story. We hope to be able to have it for you in a few weeks. Our thanks to the Outrider Foundation for having held this event and for permission to use this recording on Nuclear Hotseat. W. L. Hennigan (l) and Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Ret r) Ira Helfand of IPPNW at the United Nations for the NPT: Dr. Ira Helfand at the United Nations, April 30, 2025 Dr. Ira Helfand, a board member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), addressing the Third Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, on April 30, 2025. Watch the speech by clicking on the image above or go to: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1h/k1hse9op1q?kalturaStartTime=3685. To read a copy of the speech or download a pdf, go to: https://peaceandhealthblog.com/2025/04/30/do-not-let-the-nuclear-armed-states-lead-us-down-the-path-to-death/ ICAN: The Five Myths of Nuclear Deterrence: A two-page brochure/fact sheet that spells out why "deterrence" is a flawed defense of nuclear weapons. You can DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE. LINKS: 5 things to know as Trump rolls out Golden Dome missile defense shield Trump wants denuclearization and a ‘Golden Dome.’ He can’t have both International Responses to the Fukushima Water Release: Science and Politicss ### NH #722: CA AB 305 Tricks Public Out of Comments on Nuclear Legislation - Public Watchdogs Charles Langley, Nina Babiarz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hb-305-new-nukes-stealth-legislation/ Published: 2025-05-01 Duration: 00:59:24 Pubic Watchdogs' Nina Babiarz (l) and Charles Langley (r) This Week's Featured Interview: Since 1976, California law has banned the building of any new nuclear reactors until there is a solution to the problem of where to bury the deadly radioactive nuclear waste. But proposed new nuclear legislation, AB 305, has been called a “stealth attack” that subverts this 49-year old ban to allow for untold numbers of small modular nuclear reactors to be built around the state. As bad as the bill itself is the manipulation by highly paid lobbyists and political hacks to prevent the public from being able to comment on the nuclear legislation.Carefully following and challenging these machinations are the watchdogs at Public Watchdogs, Executive Director Charles Langley and Director of Development Nina Babiarz. Here they explain not ony whats wrong with HB 305, but the machinations and manipulations that have prevented the public from having input to the legislative process. Public Watchdogs Petition on AB 305: PETITION: Demand a “No Vote” on AB 305 – STOP more New Nuclear plants in California! FILM SCREENING: SOS: San Onofre Syndrome, the award-winning documentary on the activist battle to close the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and have the radioactive waste responsibly handled, will receive a special showing on June 1, 5 pm, at the beautiful Lido theatre in Newport Beach. The screening is sponsored by Public Watchdogs, San Clemente Green, and the Samuel Lawrence Foundation. Discussion with the films directors and activist leaders will follow. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): DANCES WITH OPPENHEIMER – A pro-nuclear rave with Oppenheimer's grandson to brainwash Gen- Z-ers into loving nuclear energy. They see absolutely no irony in dancing to the Britany Spears' song TOXIC. The ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett ICAN's Head of Media Alistair Burnett interviews Ithe group's Advocacy Officer Florian Eblenkamp on the meetings on the NPT – Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nuclear Rave to convince GenXers that nukes are WHEEEEEEE!!!!!! The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa Missouri is the "Show Me!" state, and the Missouri Peace Planters did just that when they repeatedly occupied multiple nuclear missile silos in the summer of 1988, causing a furor that helped raise awareness of this hidden danger at the height of the Cold War. Here’s Jack-Cohen-Joppa with this month’s Nuclear Resister. Activist Shoutout, Links: Congratulations to Nora Schroeder, junior at Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, for her C-SPAN Classroom's StudentCam award-winning documentary about the radioactive contamination of North St. Louis and Coldwater Creek: LINK TO VIDEO HERE: – COPY AND PASTE: https://www.c-span.org/program/vignette/the-radioactive-waste-crisis-a-hidden-hazard/657522 Lakenheath Alliance for Peace – Report on Peace Camp, April 14-26, 2025 ### NH #721: SPECIAL - NEW: Russian Drone Strike Damage to Containment + Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster at 39, Pt 2 - Survivor Kouneva, Dr. Janette Sherman, Mousseau, Yablokov URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster-anniversary/ Published: 2025-04-23 Duration: 01:00:19 The "Elephant's Foot" – corium (molten core) of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster The Chernobyl nuclear disaster began on April 26, 1986 – another of those dates that will live in infamy. Here is the second SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat that paints the picture of what happened then, what it did to the people who lived through it, and what we still face. It includes an UPDATE on the damage caused by the February 16, 2025 Russian drone strike on the New Safe Containment Structure. Historic interviews originally produced for Nuclear Hotseat #357, April 20, 2018. This Week's Featured Interviews: Bonnie Kouneva was a 15-year-old living in Communist Bulgaria when the Chernobyl disaster began, but no one knew about it because the Soviet Union said nothing to its people. On May 1, May Day, only five days after it began, Bulgarian citizens were “encouraged” by the Soviet hierarchy to attend all-day celebrations of the communist state – outdoors, in the rain – at the exact time the worst of Chernobyl’s radiation was directly overhead. Here, she paints the picture of the impact of that radiation rainout and lets us know the result of this devastating experience. Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. Dr. Timothy Mousseau The late Dr. Janette Sherman edited the the English translation of the groundbreaking work, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko. Dr. Sherman was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we spoke about this book and how it came about for NH #97 on April 23, 2013. She passed away on November 20, 2019. The late Dr. Janette Sherman Dr. Alexei Yablokov was environmental advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace, Russia.  His book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl that completely contradict the World Health Organization’s report, which undermined the seriousness of the accident.  Dr. Yablokov died in January, 2017. The late Dr. Alexei Yablokov Link: CLICK HERE for a free PDF of the classic book Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko, edited by Janette D. Sherman. Article: How a Cheap Drone Punctured Chernobyl’s 40,000-Ton Shield by Kim Barker for the New York Times ### NH #720: SPECIAL: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Lies, Health Cover-Up by World Health Organization (WHO) Continues - Alison Katz, Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster-health/ Published: 2025-04-16 Duration: 00:59:49 (KEYSTONE COVER IMAGE). The wreckage of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine, shortly after the explosion and meltdown on April 26, 1986. (ABOVE) Color shot of Chernobyl in the immediate aftermath of the explosion and meltdown. The fuzziness of the picture is due to radiation hitting the film and creating spots. NOTE: I have recently experienced a major computer setback that is requiring excessive time and mental capacity to recover from. (I'll explain once it's in the past tense.) As we are hard upon the 39th anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine on April 26, 1986, I believe it's an appropriate time to revisit some hard truths about that nuclear reactor explosion and the long-denied, ongoing health impacts of that event. Here, in a truly classic episode of Nuclear Hotseat, we bring you a full-length interview with Alison Katz, head of Independent WHO. Next week will feature a narrative recounting of the disaster, what it was like for people who experienced it, and a range of perspectives that continue to make Chernobyl an ongoing danger to people and the environment. Hopefully I'll have recovered from my computer meltdown by then. This Week’s Featured Interview: Alison Katz, head of Independent WHO, outside World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Chernobyl Lies, Health Cover-Up by World Health Organization (WHO) Revealed Interview with Alison Katz, a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. This international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations that are victims of radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and, later, Fukushima. The group held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster – and continuing until its 31st anniversary on April 26, 2017. Every working day, between 8am and 6pm, a relay of members of the IndependentWHO – Health and Nuclear collective demanded that WHO should assume its responsibilities, independent of the nuclear establishment. These silent demonstrators were also demanding that the truth be told about the short-term and long-term health damage suffered by all the victims of radioactivity, including those resulting from atmospheric military nuclear Scenes from Independent WHO’s Chernobyl vigil in front of the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Given the visibility and popularity of the 2019 HBO series on Chernobyl – it now ranks as the most seen television program in the world, ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of the devastating impacts of the nuclear disaster refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered has in no way gone out of date. Chernobyl Lies, Cover-Up by WHO – Other Excellent Information Sources: Video produced by Independent WHO: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of this nuclear disaster, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you put your tongue firmly in your cheek for that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure exceeds the power of the visuals provided in the HBO series. ### NH #719: US Nukes in England?!? 10-Day Lakenheath Peace Camp Opposes US Nuclear Weapons on UK RAF Base - Angie Zelter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/us-nukes-england-lakenheath-peace-camp/ Published: 2025-04-10 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Featured Interview: Veteran UK peace activist Angie Zelter, zooming with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy Angie Zelter is a British peace activist and the founder of a number of international campaign groups, including Trident Ploughshares and the International Women's Peace Service. Zelter is known for non-violent direct action campaigns and has been arrested more than 100 times in Belgium, Canada, England, Malaysia, Norway, Poland and Scotland, serving 16 prison sentences for her beliefs. Angie is a member of the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, a coalition of groups that is dedicated to preventing the return of US Nuclear weapons to Royal Air Force Lakenheath. She is also one of the organizers of the Lakenheath Peace Camp, which starts next Monday, April 14, 2025 and runs through the 26th, 2025. The 10-day event is cast in the image of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, which ran for 20 years to protest against nuclear weapons being placed at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire, England, and was ultimately successful in having the nuclear weapons removed. Photo from Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, 1981 – 2000, the model for the upcoming Lakenheath Peace Camp. LINKS from Interview: For people in the USA or other countries wanting to get involved or send a statement of support to the Lakenheath Peace Camp, you can write to: info@lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk or use this link: https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/front-page/about-us/contact-us/. To help you get and stay motivated, here is a link to Angie Zelter’s book, Activism for Life: A whistle stop tour of the last 45 years of nonviolent direct action in the UK and abroad. Second Featured Interview: Mary Stamos-Osborn, Three Mile Island Mutated Plants March 28 marked the 46th anniversary of the nuclear meltdown at the Unit 2 reactor Three Mile Island in Middletown near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I always like to include historical material from that time during the anniversary period. The timing didn’t work out for last week’s show. So I’m happy to this week be able to present my interview with Mary Stamos, also known as Mary Osborn, a long time Middletown resident, TMI survivor, and Three Mile Island Alert member. Mary, who had no previous history as an activist, became involved in issues immediately after the accident when she noticed plant mutations – known as fasciation – that can be traced to radiation exposure. Her collection of mutated plants and flowers was accepted by the Smithsonian Institution in 2019 to be preserved, digitized, and made available to the public.  Mary Stamos-Osborn passed away on February 19, 2024. This interview is from the 40th anniversary of the TMI accident as reported on Nuclear Hotseat #405, March 25, 2019. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter All these Holtec claims about small modular nuclear reactors – a Sputnik moment, or a sputtering senior moment? Linda Pentz Gunter has the hot story. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Why fool around with major corporations, government agencies, and billion dollar contracts? A 12 year old boy from Tennessee built a fusion reactor in his bedroom with parts from ebay. We are all doomed… (ps – Elon Musk is rumored to have offered him an upper management post at DOGE.) LINKS: Webinar based on materials presented at the United Nations 3rd Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – GENDER AND RADIATION: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm. Presented by Mary Olson, founder, Gender and Radiation Impact Project; Dr. Amanda Nichols, University of California, Santa Barbara; and Cindy Folkers, Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist for Beyond Nuclear. THE WEBINAR IS FREE BUT YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/K0lCXWlLRRCTYF0W3898fg#/registration Nuclear power is officially a clean energy source in Colorado. Not everyone is pleased. Should Canada explore developing a nuclear weapons program? ### NH #718: US Tariffs + Ontario's Nuclear Blind Spot (4 New US Nukes!) = Irreversible Canadian Vulnerability! - Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ontario-nuclear-blind-spot/ Published: 2025-04-03 Duration: 00:58:36 Dr. Gordon Edwards, speaking at the United Nations This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, and president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. He is one of our most cogent thinkers on nuclear issues and regularly puts together the pieces to give us a clear picture of exactly what is going on, why we should be alarmed, and what we can do about it. Here, in light of Trump’s tariff tantrum and threats to annex Canada as our 51st state, Edwards spells out the problems with Ontario’s planned importation of four US-made nuclear reactors, along with the safety issues created in these units by elimination of multiple safety systems in order to be able to label them “small.” I can honestly call this one of the most important interviews I’ve conducted in almost 14 years of producing Nuclear Hotseat every week. I spoke with Gordon Edwards on Tuesday, April 1 – and I swear, this is not an April Fools joke. Links from Interview: Video of Dr. Edwards' oral testimony on the BWRX-300 licence application. News story on the surcharge on electricity exports to the US. The ICAN UPDATE with Lucero Oyarzun Lucero Oyarzun, Digital Campaign Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, steps in for Alistair Burnett for this month's ICAN UPDATE. LINKS: Three Mile Island – On anniversary of 1979 nuclear meltdown, Groups Protest Restart of Unit 1 at Pennsylvania State House How a Cheap Drone Punctured Chernobyl’s 40,000-Ton Shield Nuclear Weapons Issues are Women’s Issues ### NH #717: Three Mile Island Accident 46th Anniversary - Unit 1 Reactor to Restart to Power Bill Gates' Microsoft Data Center? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-reactor-restart/ Published: 2025-03-26 Duration: 01:00:00 At the 40th anniversary of the TMI accident in 2019. Unit 1 in background was still in operation. This Week's Featured Interview: Eric Epstein is the Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., a safe-energy organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1977. TMIA monitors the Peach Bottom, Susquehanna, and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations. For more than 40 years, Mr. Epstein has specialized in research, litigation and providing expert testimony on the decommissioning, decontamination, environmental safety, rate recovery, and waste isolation at nuclear reactors. We spoke on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter During the United Nations Third Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, one of the most significant events was the annual awarding of the Nuclear Free Future Award on Wednesday, March 5. There was a special magic in the air as the 2025 laureates were honored in the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. With the fabulous Linda Penta Gunter at the 2025 Nuclear Free Future Awards ceremony. Me between the 2025 Nuclear Free Future Award winners in Education, Marcia Gomes de Olviera and Norbert Suchanek, founders of the International Uranium Film Festival. The Nuclear Resister – Jack Cohen-Joppa 35 years ago, rural communities in Western New York took nonviolent direct action to Bump the Dump, stopping the state and the nuclear industry from trashing their countryside with ‘low-level' nuclear waste.” Jack Cohen-Joppa of the Nuclear Resister Newsletter with the story the true tale of two counties that stood up and shut the door when the nuclear industry came knocking. LINKS: Got anti-nuclear Catholic Bishops? The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) wants to talk with them! Contact Susi Snyder at susi@icanw.org. Great webinar! CLICK ON IMAGE TO ACCESS RECORDING In a letter to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., watchdog group Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network calls on FDA and other Health and Human Services agencies to confront growing radioactive contamination of U.S. food. Read the letter HERE. Libbe HaLevy's Three Mile Island Story: Available on Amazon (sorry; I don't know any other way to make it available!). ### NH #716: SPECIAL: UN Meetings on Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons Condemns "Deterrence" as a Dangerous Myth URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-treaty-to-prohibit-nuclear-weapons/ Published: 2025-03-20 Duration: 01:00:01 ICAN Campaigner Forum at Riverside Church, March 2, 2025 (Libbe HaLevy front row, third from left behind red/blue banner) Photo credit: ICAN | Darren Ornitz This Week's SPECIAL on the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – Third Meeting of States Parties March 2-7, 2025 Posing with the iconic gun sculpture in front of UN headquarteers in New York. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) held its Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) at the United Nations March 3-7, 2025, with a preparatory Campaigners Forum on March 2. Almost 1,000 representatives from 53 States Parties (countries that have signed and ratified), 31 Observer states, and 163 Civil Society organizations from around the world attended. 350 Campaigners (another term for "activists" but with less of a knee-jerk reaction to it) attended the Campaigner Forum on Sunday in advance of the official UN meetings. . I attended on full press credentials (a rare accomplishment for a podcaster) and collected more than 60 interviews. No matter who I spoke with, each individual offered many insightful if not profound observations on the nature of nukes, why we need to rid ourselves of them, and what we’re all doing in our individual spheres to bring that about. The power and importance of this gathering cannot be over-stated. This episode covers the Campaigners, who ranged in age from high schoolers in their teens to veterans in their 80's. It also shares information on programs that anyone can participate in that will help build the case against nuclear, including: From Dimity Hawkins, the Nuclear Truth Project, which created Protocols for working with affected communites, focusing on Rights, Respect and Reciprocity. Essential guidance for those working with Hibakusha, First Nations and Indigenous people, and anyone working towards nuclear truth and remedy within, alongside, or in relation to victims/survivors and their communities. To learn the specifics and download a copy of these Protocols, visit their website: nucleartruthproject.org/protocols UN breakout panel on the Nuclear Truth Panel. Dimity Hawkins, second from left. From Rachel Clark, we learn of Project 1030, a plan to test and map actual radiation contamination levels across the U.S. They are looking for people who use wood stoves or burn wood in fireplaces to share the ashes for testsing by radiation laboratories in Japan. The 2025 campaign deadline is May 31. Learn more by visiting Project 1030 on Facebook and if you decide to learn more and participate (there is a fee of $50 per sample tested to cover the lab expenses), go to: PROJECT 1030 Richard Miller map of areas crossed by two or more radioactive clouds from fallout during the era of nuclear testing in the American southwest. ICAN has produced an excellent pamphlet that breaks down Five Myths of Nuclear Deterrence in easy-to-understand arguments. Great for the next time you run into a relative or friend who claims that "we need nukes for deterrence!" (HINT: We don't.) Access the information and download at the ICAN site: 5 MYTHS OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE. Essential reading for anyone who opposes nuclear weapons! (PDF link not working; use this url instead: https://www.icanw.org/deterrence_myths ) A Look Back at 2MSP, November-December, 2023 I was privileged to cover the Second Meeting of States Parties at the UN, held November 27 to December 1, 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York City. Two Nuclear Hotseat episodes resulted, with several additional drop-ins of interview in various others. The main ones are: NH #648: TPNW SPECIAL: UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear Hotseat Looks Back NH #650: EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Int’l Activists Gather in NYC for UN 2nd Meeting of States Parties on Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (TPNW) NH #651: TPNW SPECIAL, Pt. 2: US Congressman, Int’l Gov’t Reps Support Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty at UN ### NH #715: VOICES FROM JAPAN - FUKUSHIMA at 14 - Clean-up or Cover-up?" True State of Disaster Site from Citizens' Nuclear Information Center URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-715-voices-from-japan-fukushima-at-14-clean-up-or-cover-up-true-state-of-disaster-site-from-citizens-nuclear-information-center/ Published: 2025-03-12 Duration: 00:57:02 Fukushima disaster site, shortly after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. This Week's Featured Interview: We get all kinds of overly optimistic reports about the clean-up of radioactive water and debris from Fukushima, with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Japanese government, and their political enablers all claiming that things are going well! Clean-up is not only possible, it's on schedule! Everything is A-OK… but is it? There are so many inconsistencies and contradictions in the information from so-called "official" sources that it takes a report by a citizen's non-profit group, the Japanese Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, to provide us with a more accurate, less optimistic picture than the nuclear industry would rather we not know about. This report was written by Mayu Takakuwa, editor of the CNIC newsletter Nuke Info Tokyo, and her team. It is delivered on this program by veteran anti-nuclear activist Tsukuru Fors. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So many choices, but whittled it down to two: vacation options in Chernobyl-adjacent Pripyat, Ukraine would be the top numnutz in any other week, but here, it must take a back seat to Trump's ongoing assault on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) extending to language in the most un-nuclear, counter-historical ways: Politically "NO DEI WORDING!" correct, historically incorrect re-naming of the infamous plane that carried the men who dropped the A-bomb on Hiroshima. (They couldn't fit "heterosexual" on the nose…) The ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett Alistair talks with Susi Snyder for background information on Don't Bank on the Bomb's new report, At Great Cost: The companies building nuclear weapons and their financiers, a joint publication of ICAN and PAX. NOTE that this report was recorded the week before the UN 3rd Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. LINKS: Fukushima Pollution Solution: Spread Radioactivity Far and Wide by John LaForge “Difficult-to-Return” zones Life as a "Displaced" person Big Tech's big bet on nuclear power to fuel artificial intelligence Alice Slater: New Report Warns of Increasing Nuclear Dangers Karl Grossman: The nuclear testing revival: Global fallout with deadly consequences ### NH #714 - SPECIAL: Physicist M. V. Ramana Book: Nuclear Not the Solution to Climate Change - Full Interview URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ramanas-book-nuclear-not-the-solution/ Published: 2025-03-05 Duration: 01:03:41 NOTE TO ALL CAMPAIGNERS AT THE UN TPNW/2MSP MEETINGS: THANKS OR COMING HERE! PLEASE, SUBSCRIBE, SHARE, LISTEN, AND RESEARCH FROM OUR PREVIOUS 700+ EPISODES! AND SEND YOUR STORIES TO: INFO@NUCLEARHOTSEAT.COM THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL FULL-LENGTH INTERVIEW: Physicist M.V .Ramana being zoom interviewed by Libbe HaLevy A full-program interview with reknowned physicist M. V. Ramana on his new book, Nuclear Is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change,. Ramana is professor and Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the University of British Columbia. He previously worked at the Nuclear Futures Laboratory and the Program on Science and Global Security, both at Princeton University. Ramana is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials, the Canadian Pugwash Group, the International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group, and the team that produces the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report. Available on Amazon or better yet, order it from your favorite local bookstore. Animation from Westinghouse – A Total Lie! Referenced by Ramana in the interview is this TOTALLY FICTITIOUS WESTINGHOUSE ANIMATION OF A 116 WEEK BUILD SCHEDULE FOR THE AP 1000 NUCLEAR REACTOR. Ain't no such thing possible! This video was posted on the Westinghouse website in 2014. The company has long since taken it down, but Ramana archived a copy. which he shares with us here. This is a LINK to the video. Westinghouse Propaganda video opening shot – LINK ### NH #713: United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) Media Prep - ICAN's Lucero Oyarzun + Politicians Against Nukes URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/united-nations-tpnw-nuclear-weapons-ican/ Published: 2025-02-26 Duration: 00:59:02 ICAN Digital Campaign Coordinator Lucrero Oyarzun THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEW: Next week's UN meetings on the TPNW will be accessible online in large part through the work ICAN's of Digital Campaign Coordinator Lucero Oyarzun. She is in charge of coordinating that coverage, which includes livestreaming regular updates on the day's highlights, so you can stay in touch with all the developments no matter where you are. LINKS to Access TPNW Coverage: nuclearbanweek.org – This is where people can find the calendar, resources, easy posts to share on social media, and more. MSP-TV – the ICAN "channel" on the meetings with regular recaps for people at home – live at noon EST on Monday 3 March, Wednesday 5 March and Friday 7 March. You can watch episodes on your favourite ICAN social media, or catch them at https://www.icanw.org/msp_tv UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/schedule/2025-03-03 – for full length real time presentation of the meetings. Recap of 2023 interviews at 2MSP with International Politicians Against Nukes Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern. He has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997. A Democrat, he is the ranking member of the House Rules Committee. Here’s our interview, done at the UN on December 2, 2023: Frank Cownie served as mayor of Des Moines, Iowa from 2004 to 2024. He was also the Mayors for Peace U.S. Vice President. He was still in office when we spoke at 2MSP in December, 2023. Kazumi Matsui, mayor of Hiroshima. We spoke through his interpreter:
 State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa of Massachusetts Bill Kidd of Scottish Parliament. JAPAN'S FUKUSHIMA STUPID DEBRIS TRICKS Photo of the fabled Fukushima debris particle removed from Reactor 1. Note the lack of comparison for scale – it's not a boulder; it's only 0.7 grams, or the equivalent in weight of 1/3 of a U.S. penny. Still to be removed from the site: 880 tons of radioactive material. The Nuclear Resister with Jack Cohen-Joppa In 1980, the Plowshares Eight hammered on nuclear warhead nosecones and sparked a global movement of direct action for nuclear disarmament. The Plowshares 8 LINKS: In the King Of Prussia: The Trial of the Plowshares 8 – A Film by Emile de Antonio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUph8GWFupE&t=671s A Plowshares Movement History and Chronology https://kingsbayplowshares7.org/plowshares-history/ ### NH #712: Project 2025, Atmospheric Nuclear Testing, Musk & DOGE - Journalist KARL GROSSMAN's Nuclear Warnings URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/project-2025-nukes-musk-doge-grossman/ Published: 2025-02-20 Duration: 00:59:09 Keystone Photo: President John F. Kennedy signing the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. We haven't had an atmospheric nuclear test since 1962. BUT – under current threats, atmospheric tests may soon resume. Journalist Karl Grossman spells it out. Project 2025 fan and implementer Elon "Nuke Mars" Musk making his pro-nuclear bias – and ignorance – painfully obvious. This Week's Featured Interview: Project 2025, Musk & DOGE, resumption of atmospheric bomb testing – nuclear dangers dominate our current bad news cycle. To help us understand what this means, we talk with veteran environmental journalist Karl Grossman. He breaks down the threats this current moment holds, gives it an historic context, and walks us through thoughts on how to survive – both as people and a planet. LINK: Nuclear Hotseat #596 interview with Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project on the baby tooth study that proved the impact of nuclear test fallout radiation on children's teeth and led to the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Membership card which was sent, along with a lapel button with the gap-tooth child logo, to all children who donated their baby teeth to "Operation Baby Tooth." Better than the tooth fairy! Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: It's a mad, mad, mad, mad nuclear world! Numnutz of the Week: Oops! Maybe DOGE's Digital Muskrats should check employment files and job descriptions before firing NNSA's guardians of nuclear safety. And while they're at it, make certain they have home email addresses for everyone so they can be contacted to come back in to work ASAP when it's – HA HA! Just kidding! – shown that their work is essential to US nuclear safety. International News: Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead crashed into the Chernobyl containment vessel, blowing a hole in the roof and putting the safety of the entire complex at risk. Bright yellow-white light coming from the curve of the Chernobyl "New Safe Containment" vessel was damage caused by a Russian drone. ### NH #711: Plowshares Peace Activist Susan Crane Out of German Prison + Libbe's Nuclear Play ATOMIC BILL Heads for Production! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plowshares-peace-activist-susan-crane/ Published: 2025-02-13 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Featured Interview Activists from around the world gathering to demonstrate against U.S. nuclear weapons housed at the Buchel Air Force Base in Germany (Susan Crane far right, Nukewatch's John LaForge behind Nukewatch banner in red hat) Peace activist Susan Crane, 81, is a member of the California Catholic Worker movement and the Plowshares anti-nuclear-weapons and Christian pacifist movement. After decades of civil disobedience to bring attention to the need to rid our planet of nuclear weapons, she was arrested in Germany for protesting US nuclear weapons stored and maintained at Germany’s Buchel Air Force Base. She was sentenced to jail time in German prison in 2024. She was released last month, on January 17, 2025 and we spoke with Susan Crane just four weeks later, on Friday, February 7, 2025. Libbe's Play ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE Coming to Wilmington Peace Resource Center in Ohio! Regular listeners to Nuclear Hotseat will have heard me mention a play I've been working on, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, centered around the Trinity test blast in New Mexico on July 15, 1945. Theatre being at best a slow motion endeavor, I didn't put much emphasis on it because you never know what will or will not happen in the arts, and I hate to feed false hopes – yours or mine. . That is why I am thrilled to tell you that ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE has been selected by the internationally respected Wilmington College Peace Resource Center as one of the events of their 50th anniversary celebration. It will be presented as a staged reading on September 9, 2025, produced in cooperation with the Wilmington College Theatre Arts Department. ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE is the Oppenheimer-adjacent true story of media manipulation at the dawn of the Atomic Age and the New York Times reporter who sold his soul to get the story. It asks and answers the question: How do you hide an atomic bomb blast in plain sight? For the record, I spent 35 years in theatre – 50 productions internationally, many awards, one show on incest survivors that ran 2-1/2 years in Santa Monica. I co-founded a musical theatre development lab and interviewed dozens of musical theatre legends in front of live audiences. When my last musical production deal fell apart – after 12 years of writing and too many dashed hopes – I gave up on theatre. Shortly thereafter, Fukushima happened, I started Nuclear Hotseat, and that's been the "theatre" with which I've been involved ever since. ATOMIC BILL tells a story I stumbled across while doing research for the show on the Trinity blast, the first nuclear bomb explosion on, July 16, 1945. It took me more than eight years of digging to find the play hidden within the history, and another 4+ years to get it to the current draft. As this continues to move forward, I'll keep you informed. Meanwhile, even in these desperately difficult times, in my little corner I am dancing the Happy Dance. I hope you are, too. Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Leave it to DOE to hand-hold nukesters and boost them up by providing grants to underwrite their applications for funding from… DOE! LINKS: John LaForge on his protest and imprisonment in Germany for protesting Buchel Air Base, from Nuclear Hotseat #602, January 4, 2023. Video promoting the Lakenheath Peace Camp in the UK, April 14 – 26, 2025) featuring the Nuclear Hotseat #709 audio of Jack Cohen-Joppa giving the history of the successful Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MK_JWT0aVM https://youtube.com/watch?v=3MK_JWT0aVM%3Fsi%3Dv_zG865kHo4NwsJN ### NH #710: Change Doomsday Clock to Peace Clock - Alice Slater + Big Win for Cleanup at Boeing's Santa Susana Field Lab - Melissa Bumstead URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/doomsday-clock-peace-clock-ssfl/ Published: 2025-02-06 Duration: 00:59:23 Melissa Bumstead of Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab This Week's Featured Interview: Great news: A recent critical hearing was held before the Los Angeles Water Board regarding the clean-up of Boeing’s Santa Susana Field Lab site, which sits at the base of the hills only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. And lo and behold – sanity prevailed and we won one! Melissa Bumstead, Founder and Co-chair of Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab fills us in. Veteran Peace activist Alice Slater proposes that we replace the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock with a Peace Clock. Audio problems on our interview prevented the use of the recording, but we have Alice's thoughts and concepts from her recent article, Stop Imagining Doomsday and Start Imagining Peace, read by Libbe HaLevy. Doomsday Clock reveal, 2025 – 89 seconds to midnight Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) A trifecta! From the Onion… and then unfortunately, NOT the Onion: New Orleans has a National Nucleaer Security Administration helicopter scanning the city for nuclear weapons (say what? In Mardi Gras beads?); and NRC's updated mission statement turns the already captured regulator into a full-on pro-nuclear enabler. Sheesh! Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Trump could launch a nuclear first strike all on his own. But there's a bill that could stop him. The ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett Preparing for the United Nations Third Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Includes interview with ICAN's Susi Snyder. LINKS: How Fukushima’s radioactive fallout in Tokyo was concealed from the public New U.S. Hydrogen Bombs May Have Arrived at NATO Bases – John LaForge Beyond the visitor entrance: A newcomer’s guide to the TPNW 3MSP – A zoom call on Tuesday 11 February, 8:00 & 20:00 GMT Registration required:: Call 1 → 08:00 GMT (convert your time zone here): Register Call 2→ 20:00 GMT (convert your time zone here): Register Mayors for Peace – an international "Peace Education Webinar" to promote youth-led peace activities – February 18 (Tue.), 2025, from 7:00am to 8:30 am (UTC) / 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (JST) Register A New Generation of Nuclear Lies: Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Plant Relicensing – Webinar with Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear; M.V. Ramama, Simmons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security, University of British Columbia; moderated by Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear and Nuclear Hotseat. Mon March 24 @ 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm EDT REGISTER ### NH #709: Anti-Nuke Veteran Harvey Wasserman Spearheads Exciting New Eco Broadcast Network URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuke-eco-broadcast-network/ Published: 2025-01-30 Duration: 00:59:02 Harvey Wasserman showing off his iconic Solartopia tee shirt THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEW: Anti-nuke icon Harvey Wasserman is a veteran of five decades of activism against nuclear reactors. He has authored books, organized demonstrations that deeply impacted the movement, helped successive generations of activists to learn the issues, the talking points, and the actions they can take. In recent years, he has included a major outreach on alternative energy issues, especially solar, in the battle to eliminate nukes and reverse climate change. Now, he has a new project – to create our own coordinated media platform – the Eco Broadcast Network, or EBN – an ingathering of existing nuclear and eco-podcasts, youtube channels, substacks, and the like – to make this information available to the public. so they can learn the truths we know to contradict the enormously subsidized nuclear industry media propaganda platform. This network began organizing on January 27, 2025, and I spoke with Harvey Wasserman the next day, January 28, 2025. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A right-wing "think tank" associate of Trump proposing open air nuclear bomb testing over Nevada, the Pacific, or (choking on this one!) "uninhabited atoll"?!?!??? WTF?!?!??? THE NUCLEAR RESISTER with Jack Cohen-Joppa In a legendary anti-nuclear victory, British women came together at the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, and succeeded in kicking U.S. nuclear missiles out of England. Links: https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/ ### NH #708: Gender & Ionizing Radiation - New UN Report - Co-authors Mary Olson, Amanda Nichols URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/gender-ionizing-radiation-un-report/ Published: 2025-01-23 Duration: 00:59:18 This Week's Featured Interview: We all accept as proven scientific and medical fact that human exposure to ionizing radiation from nuclear weapons and their production is damaging to human health. But how do we know that? Who figures out how bad it can be? How much radiation we can be exposed to without risking our health? And how valid are those measurements? We learn the alarming truth behind how those numbers were generated and what needs to be done instead from today’s guests, co-authors of the new report for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm: Mary Olson holds a degree in Evolutionary Biology and has been an educator on radiation health impacts while serving nuclear-impacted communities… and so much more. Her website is http://GenderandRadiation.org Amanda M. Nichols, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nichols research focuses on illuminating the role of women in the North American anti-nuclear movement. Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm is cornerstone information in the movement to rid our planet of nukes. It is available for free downloa or pdf HERE. Co-author Amanda Nichols holds up copy of the report Further References mentioned in the interview and additional Resources: Nichols, Amanda M. Women on the Edge of Time: Grief and Power in the Nuclear Age. PhD Dissertation. University of Florida (2021). https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UFE0057378/00001. Nichols, Amanda M. “Nuclear Energy,” in Chad Seales (ed.) The Handbook of Religion and American Culture. 2025. Nichols, Amanda M. “Uranium and Religion: Toward a Decolonial Temporality of Extraction,” Religions, 16(1). 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16010016. Olson, Mary. “Atomic Radiation Is More Harmful to Women,” Nuclear Information Resource Services, 2011. https://www.nirs.org/wp-content/uploads/radiation/radhealth/radiationwomen.pdf. Olson, Mary. “Disproportionate Impact of Radiation and Radiation Regulation,” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 44, no. 2 (2019): 131–39.https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2019.1603864. Gender and Radiation Impact Project Website: https://www.genderandradiation.org/. For BEIR VII Reports NAS-NRC. “Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR VII – Phase 2,” Committee to Assess Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation, Board on Radiation Effects Research, National Research Council of the National Academies. National Academies Press, 2006. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030909156X. NAS-NRC. “National Research Council – Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations: Health Effects of Exposures to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR V.” National Academy Press, 1990. http:// www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309039959. On International Radiological Protections and Reference Man ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. 2002. Basic Anatomical and Physiological Data for Use in Radiological Protection Reference Values (2002). http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=icrp%20publication%2089. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 103: The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (2007). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/ANIB_37_2-4. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Publication 147: Use of Dose Quantities in Radiological Protection. 50, no. 1 (2021): 9–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146645320911864. ICRP. International Commission on Radiological Protection. “Official Definition of Reference Man.” Report of the Task Group on Reference Man. [ICRP Publication] No. 23. Oxford: Pergamon Press (1975). Adopted October 1974. Page 4. https://ieer.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/definition-of-reference-man.pdf. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Announcing the 2025 laureates of the Nuclear-Free Future Awards! TO ATTEND THE MARCH 4, 2025 AWARDS RECEPTION AND CEREMONY: The Nuclear-Free Future Awards will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York City (7 E 7th St. NY NY.) A reception at 6pm will be followed by the awards ceremony starting at 7pm. Both events are free admission and open to the public. Media are welcome. The Laureates are: S.P. Udayakumar is the convenor of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy in India and a committed advocate for environmental and social justice, with a focus on protecting vulnerable communities from the adverse impacts of nuclear energy. In particular, he helped galvanize and lead a grassroots movement in 2011 that involved thousands of local residents, fisherfolk and farmers, who challenged the construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, India. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to raise awareness within communities all over southern India about the dangers of nuclear power, including radiation risks and ecological degradation. Márcia Gomes de Oliveira and Norbert Suchanek are the co-founders of the International Uranium Film Festival which began in Rio de Janeiro in 2010 and has to date presented more than 300 films in over 40 cities around the world covering a wide range of nuclear-related issues including uranium mining, nuclear waste, nuclear war and nuclear accidents. The festival offers prizes and serves to connect filmmakers with each other and to other activists. Norbert Suchanek is a German-born journalist on human rights and environmental issues, a writer and filmmaker. Márcia Gomes de Oliviera is a Brazilian-born social scientist, educator and filmmaker. Edwick Madzimure of Zimbabwe campaigns for the voices of women to be heard, especially in areas of militarism, nuclear weapons and climate change, given that women are disproportionately harmed by wars and colonialist practices. Emerging from poverty and a family of artisanal miners, she became in 2016 the founding director of the Zimbabwe chapter of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, a feminist centered organization now more than 100 years old. She participated in the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW in Vienna in 2022 and has also spoken and led workshops at the COP conferences. Klee Benally was a Navajo activist and musician and member of the Navajo Tódich'ii'nii Clan and the Nakai Diné Clan. In addition to a musical career with his siblings in the band Blackfire, Klee was a passionate campaigner and filmmaker exposing the colonialist legacy of uranium mines and working for the cleanup of the more than 500 abandoned uranium mines that continue to contaminate the Navajo reservation. A month before his death on December 30, 2023, Klee published his book, “No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred.” Klee’s award will be accepted on his behalf by his mother, Berta Benally. Joanna Macy, a deep ecologist and Buddhist scholar, began her anti-nuclear activism in the 1960s, leading to her hopeful 1983 book, Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age — published at the height of the Cold War. More recently, she has written, “The most remarkable feature of this historical moment on Earth is not that we are on the way to destroying the world—we’ve actually been on the way for quite a while. It is that we are beginning to wake up, as from a millennia-long sleep, to a whole new relationship with our world, with ourselves and each other.” ### NH #707: SPECIAL: NUKES AND FIRE - California Wildfires and Nuclear Dangers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nukes-and-fire-california-wildfire/ Published: 2025-01-16 Duration: 00:59:02 Image from Eaton Fire, Altadena/Pasadena, January 9, 2025 This Week's SPECIAL: NUKES AND FIRE – California Wildfires and Nuclear Dangers Libbe's Story: I live in Los Angeles in the foothills less than a mile away from what became the Eaton (Altadena/Pasadena) fire Evacuation Warning zone. There was no new Nuclear Hotseat last week because after the Eaton fire broke out on Tuesday, I lost power and internet for more than 32 hours – as well as being under the stress of possibly needing to evacuate at a moment's notice (and in the middle of the worst toothache of my life!). The winds were gusting up to 100 MPH, and only a few miles away from where I live, embers were being blown sideways, simultaneously setting whole neighborhoods afire. I packed my car, made arrangements with friends who had space for Munchkin and me to evacuate, and tried to stay in the moment instead of catastrophizing the worst. Munchkin HaLevy After a very intense several days, the danger receded, as did the border of the evacuation zone, and it seemed that I had escaped with my home and life intact. Only the shadows of PTSD – which everyone in Los Angeles is suffering from, whether they lost their homes or not – remained, motivating me to check disaster maps and evacuation updates multiple times every day and throughout the night, sleeping with my clothes on… and not unpacking the car. Many of you reached out to me, and I'm deeply grateful for your concern and support. As you might imagine, during this time I received numerous email, texts, and Facebook questions on whether any nukes have been at risk. San Onofre is 70 miles from where I live and Diablo Canyon a good 160 miles away, so there didn't seem to be any immediate danger to them. But what are the dangers in general of fire and nukes? What are we up against? To find out, I spoke with several experts to gain their insights. Our topics ranged more widely than I had anticipated, including: the difference between a line fire and a mass fire why reporters must NEVER evoke Hiroshima or Nagasaki as a comparison to the fire devastation here fire hazards posed by exposed spent fuel pools and fuel storage canisters how Southern California Edison retains a flawed power transmission tower system that may have contributed to the start of the Altadena/Pasadena Eaton fire radiation releases from fire in a radioactive materials dump zone such as the Santa Susana Field Lab (only 30 miles away) …and other nuclear dangers created by wildfires at nuclear sites. I learned more than I expected, information I'd not encountered before and that you probably haven't, either. I will try to get this program into the hands and ears of reporters who can do a more thorough, focused job of following up. There are important aspects to nuclear's vulnerability to fire, and given the nature of this current wildfire catastrophe – with maybe worse to come – we can't assume safety when it's clear that no one can. In the meantime… I'm not unpacking the car. Featured Interviews: Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group and Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy Greg Mello is Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, which works for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, social justice, and economic sustainability. He gives a thorough overview of the difference between a line fire such as we see in the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, and a mass fire such as would result from a nuclear weapon. A definite reproof to those reporters who, trying to donvey the devastation in Los Angeles, as looking like the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. Not to in any way minimize how bad it is here in LA, but the analogy is not even close. We spoke on Friday, January 11, 2025. To learn more about general nuclear reactor safety problems in the face of fire — and some specifics on how negligence by Southern California Edison may have possibly contributed if not caused the Eaton fire in Altadena/Pasadena – (DISCLAIMER: speculation only at this point, but it does involve some very new information that needs to be investigated thoroughly) – I spoke with Donna Gilmore. She is founder of San Onofre Safety, a public resource for factual information about the serious safety issues with the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the tons of stored nuclear waste just a few miles south of San Clemente, California. Most of the information on that site is from official government and scientific documents. I spoke with Donna Gilmore on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Nuclear Hotseat HOT!!!! Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Linda asks: What if there'd be a nuclear power plant caught up in the LA fires? ### NH #706: SPECIAL - NUCLEAR NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR 2024! Plus ICAN Report from Geneva on Nobel Peace Prize and Nuclear Weapons Ban URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/numnutz-of-the-year-nobel-peace-prize/ Published: 2025-01-01 Duration: 00:59:12 This Week's SPECIAL Year-End Feature: Numnutz of the Year! It's been a year, all right, with plenty of Numnutzery to go around. We look back on 2024 through the lens of Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) – the nuclear stories that made no sense, defied logic, infuriated me, touched my "Despair" button, or just got me mad enough to go on a rant. Among the snippets from the past 52 weeks: Tucker Carlson blames "demons" for creating nuclear weapons. Scallops from Japan too radioactive to sell in that country? Sell 'em to the U.S.A.! US Environmental Protection Agency promotes nuclear to school children with a comic book! Russian Prime Minister Putin consults with shamans about nuclear and builds plywood mock-ups of the White House and Big Ben in Siberia to use as nuclear targets. The many ways in which nuclear and its radioactive dangers hide in plain sight by getting its minions to simply "forget" to mention them! And of course, several instances of nuclear ignorance (aka "numnutzery") from members of the U.S. Congress. Dishonorable Mention for the Numnutz Story of the Year: Not mentioned on the show, but definitely worth a visit: NH #677: OBSCENE Atomic Museum in Las Vegas Shows No Bomb Victims, No Downwinders, Just Nuclear “FUN”<!!!> – More numnutzery per square inch than even I anticipated. Banner promising all kinds of "nuclear fun" displayed outside the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Linda Pentz Gunter chooses her own numnutz, and it's Elon Musk! The other Muskrat. ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett from Geneva, Switzerland Nobel Peace Prize ceremony report and interview with ICAN's Digital Campaign Coordinator Lucero Oyarzun. She was at the events in Oslo when the prize was awarded to Nihon Hindankyo, the Japanese Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, and provides a deeply moving eyewitness report. Photo credit: ICAN | Darren Ornitz ### NH #705: Holiday Special - Peace Hero Sr. Megan Rice on Y12/US “Uranium Fort Knox” Protest Break-In - A Nuclear Hotseat Classic URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/holiday-peace-special-sr-megan-rice/ Published: 2024-12-24 Duration: 00:58:59 The late, great, Sr. Megan Rice. This Week’s Peace Special Year-End Interviews: Sister Megan Rice Sr. Megan Rice was a Roman Catholic nun who was arrested more than 40 times for protesting America’s military industrial complex and nuclear weapons-. She’s best known for breaking into Y-12, one of the world’s largest and most highly guarded uranium storage sites – the “Fort Knox” of the US uranium stockpile. But on July 28, 2012, this diminutive octogenarian nun and two other senior antinuclear activists used simple bolt cutters and their beliefs to walk into Y-12 – and not be noticed for more than 30 minutes! Our extremely embarrassed government threw the book at these three activists, charging them with “sabotage” – a felony with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. She and the others served just over two years before being released. Sr. Megan passed away on Oct 17, 2021 at the age of 91, and there is no better commemoration of her life and work than her own words, recorded for Nuclear Hotseat on May 25, 2012, just after her release from prison. Susi Snyder: What You Can Do to Help De-Fund Nuclear Weapons Susi Snyder, posing with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Nobel Peace Prize for 2017. Susi Snyder is Programme Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. For more than a decade, Susi headed the Don’t Bank on the Bomb project, which was her position when we spoke for this interview on May 10, 2019. Her information is as relevant now as it was then. The report on nuclear bomb producing companies that she references is updated every year. The 2025 report, "At Great Cost: The Companies Building Nuclear Weapons and their Financiers" is a joint publication of ICAN and PAX. ### NH #704: The Scientists Who Alerted Us to the Dangers of Radiation - New Book by Cindy Folkers, Ian Fairlie URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/scientists-radiation-dangers/ Published: 2024-12-19 Duration: 00:59:14 This Week's Featured Interview: A new book, THE SCIENTISTS WHO ALERTED US TO THE DANGERS OF RADIATION, is a devastating look into the history of radiation harms and the scientists who attempted to reveal the truth by defying political and institutional pressures. It explains how those who tried to warn us were censored and discredited by nuclear interests, leading to our current institutionalized ignorance about radiation. Authors are: Ian Fairlie, PhD, a UK-based scientist who has served as chief scientific advisor to the British Governnment’s Committee on the Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, and Cindy Folkers, Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist for Beyond Nuclear. He has degrees in chemistryand radiation biology and his doctorate at Imperial College in London was on nuclear waste policies. He was chief scientific advisor to the British Government’s Committee on the Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters and continues as a consultant to many NGOs and nuclear activists both in Europe and North America. Cindy Folkers, MS, focuses on ionizing radiation and its impact on health and the environment, from a scientific as well as a historical perspective. Her work in this area advocates for fully protecting the health of females and early life stages in the face of uncertain health outcomes. She earned an MS in Environmental Science from The Johns Hopkins University and has been published in additional books as well as The BMJ and Journal of the History of Biology. Technical difficulties prevented Ian Fairlie from joining us from his home in London. I spoke with Cindy Folkers on December 13, 2024. LINK to purchase THE SCIENTISTS WHO ALERTED US TO THE DANGERS OF RADIATION: Ethics Press – Hardback, paperback, or ebook Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter A Woods Hole report contradicts "A Woods Hole report contradicts decommissioning company Holtec's claim that radioactive wastewater dumped from the closed Pilgrim reactor into Cape Cod Bay would quickly disperse.” Here’s. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Andy Borowitz at BorowitzReport.com nails the utter numnutzery of possibly having Pete Hegseth, currently the nominee for Secretary of Defense, anywhere near the nuclear arsenal. LINKS: Radioactive Leaks, Fires, and Contamination: DOE Report Exposes Alarming Failures at Piketon ### NH #703: Nobel Peace Prize to Japanese A-Bomb Survivors + SPECIAL: Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit w/Beatrice Fihn, Dawn Chapman, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nobel-peace-prize-nuclear-reporting/ Published: 2024-12-12 Duration: 00:57:02 Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. Three Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors) were in Oslo, Norway to accept the award. Three members of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2024. Link: Full broadcast, of 2024 ceremony (CLICK here or on screen shot above.) This Week's SPECIAL Feature: The first ever Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit drew together more than 100 reporters, editors, nuclear experts, activists and NGOs from around the country to Washington, DC for two days of meetings, presentations, networking, and general schmoozing. Outrider supports multimedia storytelling about nuclear threats and climate change and partners with creators, thought leaders, and news organizations to explain how smart policy can sustain a safe and livable planet. Among the people interviewed who are on the show: Beatrice Fihn, former Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and currently Director, Lex International and Senior Fellow, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. Former ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn (r) being interviewed by philanthropy and peace expert Alex Toma (l), Executive Director at Peace and Security Funders Group. Above them, a slide showing some of Beatrice's latest work on the familiar images used to represent nuclear weapons in media stories. Dawn Chapman, co-founder with Karen Nickle of Just Moms StL, the group fighting for clean-up of WWII Manhattan Project radioactive atomic weapons waste from their North St. Louis neighborhood and passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. Map of radioactive fallout contamination from the US nuclear tests, created by Sébastien Philippe, Research Scholar, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University. Used by Dawn Chapman and others in lobbying for passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). Mary Dickson, Utah Downwinder, writer, playwright, and activist working for passage of RECA. Mary Dickson and Libbe HaLevy at the Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit …and more than a dozen reporters, editors, and representatives of NGOs concerned with nuclear issues. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with. Linda Pentz Gunter Why are we protecting nukes from climate change rather than abolishing them? Cover keystone photo credit: Jeff Gipe. ### NH #702: Combating Nuclear Greenwashing -Physicist and Atomic Chanteuse Lynda Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/combating-nuclear-greenwashing/ Published: 2024-12-03 Duration: 00:58:44 This Week's Featured Interview: Physicist and Activist Lynda Williams – a foe of nuclear greenwashing Lynda Williams is a Hawaii-based physicist, activist, writer and performance artist – AKA The Physics Chanteuse. She battles against nuclear greenwashing (aka lying) with public presentations, lectures, theatre, and a ferocious activist spirit. Lynda is bringing her new one woman show, ATOMIC CABARET, to the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival this spring. Think of her as Bette Midler meets Carl Sagan, with a touch of Tom Lehrer and Mae West — but understand that underlying her musical theatre irreverence, her science background is rock solid and when she talks about nukes, she’s dead serious. Here, she brings us new insights into a strategy for fighting against nuclear industry greenwashing disinformation (aka "propaganda") and how other countries, including Canada, are fighting back using readily available media tools. These techniques are not yet being implemented in the U.S., but can be – and soon! I spoke with Lynda Williams on November 24, 2024. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A NUMNUTZ TWOFER! FEMA keeps trying to tell us that "shelter in place" will allow us all to survive a nuclear bomb attack <LOL!>. Writer and veteran activist Noel Wauchope points out the futility of staging 30″ wide nuclear reactors under major cities. I mean, what could go wrong? Noel Wauchope's Substack LINK: "SMRs underground – long drop nuclear toilets? – a chance to use that beaut new word – enshittification" Writer and activist Noel Wauchope THE NUCLEAR RESISTER with Jack Cohen-Joppa Fifty years ago, in a classic case of civil disobedience, a young anti-nuclear activist toppled a tower and blazed a trail through the courtroom that nuclear resisters have followed ever since. The ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett, Direct from Geneva The ICAN logo The monthly ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett, covering the past month's progress on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and some of what the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has planned leading up to its meetings at the United Nations in March. Don't Bank on the Bomb – Susi Snyder Wanna help stop nuclear weapons? It's as easy as a phone call to your bank – no minimum deposit required! Susi Snyder once again fills us in on the highly successful Don't Bank on the Bomb program. Links: Holtec: Criminality, Corruption, Incompetence, and Inexperience – Compiled by Kevin Kamps,Nuclear Waste Watchdog, Beyond Nuclear. I wanted to run this Tom Lehrer song, SO LONG MOM, at the end of the show, but was unable to get a clean MP3 recording of this PUBLIC DOMAIN song. Digital gremlins spoiling all the fun. So here's a video of the song from Youtube. Enjoy! After 50 years, Lehrer is still the most spot-on voice to help us sing our way to Armageddon. (CLICK ON IMAGE) Tom Lehrer, musically enlightening us about nukes ### NH #701: “Radiophobia?” Schmadiophobia! - Nuclear Radiation Gas--lighting Lies: Prof. Majia Nadesan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiophobia-nuclear-gaslighting/ Published: 2024-11-27 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week’s Featured Interview: What is "radiophobia?" It's a lie that says that fear of radiation is more dangerous to human health than radiation itself. Prof. Majia Nadesan rips this nuclear industry propaganda talking point to shreds and shows how it has been used against the people of Japan after Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and now Fukushima. She is a professor at Arizona State University and a researcher on a wide range of interconnected topics including Governmentality, Biopolitics, and Risk Cultural Studies; Autism and Bioethics; Globalization; and Political Economy, Energy Politics, and Organizational Communication. Her books include: Fukushima: Dispossession or Denuclearization, Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. She provided a chapter on “Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion” for the book, Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations – and that’s what we’re focusing on today – Radiophobia. I spoke with Majia Nadesan on June 6, 2019. Majia Nadesan’s LINKS: Nadesan, M. (2018). Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion, a chapter in the collection: Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations, edited by B. Fahs, A. Mann, E. Swank; Rutgers University Press. “Lessons of Fukushima” presentation and draft versions of radiophobia chapter BOOK: Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. Palgrave Pivot. VIDEO : “Fukushima’s Genetic Legacy” – Interview produced by EON – Ecological Options Network. BLOG: Majia’s Blog https://majiasblog.blogspot.com/ Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Like pie? You won't enjoy this one and it's nothing to be thankful for. Links: Project 2025 calls for massive changes to Hanford nuclear cleanup Congress wants to turn the nuclear regulator into the US industry’s cheerleader—again NASA discovers secret US military base buried 100-foot deep in Greenland ice Revealed: how a San Francisco navy lab became a hub for human radiation experiments From NEWSWEEK: Map Shows Safest Countries if There Is Nuclear War and Famine Those isolated green dots mark the areas on earth best suited to survival of a nuclear war. ### NH #700! - 700th Episode! Outrageous Cancer Rates in Radioactive Piketon, OH - Joe Mangano + Intro to #Nuclear80 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/cancer-rate-radioactive-piketon-nuclear80/ Published: 2024-11-21 Duration: 00:58:01 SPECIAL PROPOSAL! #Nuclear80 The 2025 Campaign to Reclaim the Nuclear Narrative 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the Atomic Age and all the ensuing nuclear madness covered by the show every week. We already know that the media is going to make a “thing” out of this, because it’s an anniversary that ends in a “0.” That’s why we need to be pro-active and take control of the nuclear narrative for 2025, starting now. #Nuclear80 is a campaign focused on commemorating the start of all this nuclear madness: the first atomic bomb test at the Trinity site in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. It is the moment the world changed forever, and can be the pivotal piece in . it is a platform for international participation from local issues that will speak to our shared and varied nuclear experiences. More is explained on the show under Activist Shout-Out, and more will be revealed as the platform grows. What I envision is a day, perhaps spread to a week, where communities hold events on their local nuclear issues in alignment with their own culture, language, and traditions. Mourning, Activism, Protests, Music, Art, Theatre, or whatever is appropriate – you decide. Just make certain all your posts, social media sites and articles contain the hashtag: #Nuclear80. More Information will be provided on a weekly basis on Nuclear Hotseat. And if you'd like to get our email with updates, make certain you sign up for our email list. Gen. Leslie Groves (r), J. Robert Oppenheimer (center) and reporters examine the first Ground Zero – the remains of the tower that held the bomb at the Trinity Site in New Mexico. Picture taken two months after the detonation, September 7. 1945.. This Week's Featured Story: The country is gearing up to turn Pike County, Ohio, into what they’re calling a “nuclear hub,” starting with the first launch of a uranium enrichment plant in the United States in almost 70 years. The last one was the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, on the same site in Piketon. It’s being demolished, but is still a radioactive mess, part of a multi-decade clean-up (which will never be completed). Meanwhile, a new facility has been built there and just launched to make HALEU – High Assay Low Enriched Uranium, the fuel necessary for will be able to fuel the not-yet-existing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and contaminate even more of the land. To find out how bad it is, I spoke with Joe Mangano. He is a health researcher who has served Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP, Radiation.org) since 1989. Mangano managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth ,and is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health. Author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He is featured in the documentary: "Silent Fallout: Baby Teeth Speak," which covers the Cold War era study of atomic bomb radiation in 320,000 baby teeth by St. Louis scientists. As you will hear, Joe has been crunching the health statistics on cancer in Pike and surrounding counties since 2021, and has now published his third report on cancer rates in the areas adjacent to the defunct-but-being-resurrected Portsmouth gaseous Diffusion Plant. I spoke with Joe Mangano on November 15, 2024 Links from Featured Story: RPHP Reports Finds Soaring Death Rate Near Ohio Uranium Plant – Piketon/Portsmouth Diffusion Plant reports by RPHP on cancer and other illnesses for 2021, 2022, 2023 Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: New moves attempt to further gut NRC safety oversight. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): (NOTE that Numnutz was recorded but I ran out of time on the show! Next week…? Meanwhile, here's something numnutz enough: the stained glass window at the Strategic Air Command Memorial Chapel at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, home to the United States Strategic Command. Instead of saints or miracles, they feature bombers, a red telephone, and a mushroom cloud. Good to know what our military strategic command is praying to and for! One panel of the stained glass windows at the Strategic Air Command Memorial Chapel (U. S. Air Force photo) Links: Nuclear Propaganda Exposed: The Dirty Truth Behind Government and Industry Claims by Linda Williams. Clear, concise, brilliantly well done. Film – Britain's Nuclear Bomb Scandal: Our Story – New BBC documentary Dispatch from a nuclear petting zoo RPHP Reports Finds Soaring Death Rate Near Ohio Uranium Plant – Piketon/Portsmouth Diffusion Plant reports for 2021, 2022, 2023 ### NH #699: UN Science Panel to Examine Climate Impact of Nuclear War + Int'l Uranium Film Fest Officially Invited to Show Films at G20 in Rio! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/g20-iuff-films-un-science-panel-nuke-war/ Published: 2024-11-14 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews: Seth Shelden is General Counsel and United Nations Liaison for ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The United Nations First Committee just announced that they will be putting forward a resolution to create a 21-scientist committee to examine and determine the impact of nuclear war on people and the planet. A study of this sort has not been done since 1989 – 25 years ago – and the changes in the size of the bombs and the possible impact of nuclear war on the climate are top priories. To find out more, I spoke with Seth Shelden on November 7, 2024. ICAN's Seth Shelden The International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) has been invited by the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro to present films during the meetings, which start on Nov. 13 and run through Friday the 15th. Its involvement will also be part of a documentary covering the summit that is being shot by Academy Award-nominated David Lynch as executive director. I spoke with IUFF Founder and Director Norbert Suchanek on November 7, 2024. IUFF Founders and Directors Norbert Suchanek and Marcia Gomes de Oliviera, via Zoom from Brazil Films being shown at IUFF-G20 in Rio this week can be found at: https://uraniumfilmfestival.org/en/uranium-film-festival-rio-g20-summit-2024-program Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): French household goods made from radioactive metal – what could go wron Links: In a progressive US state (Maryland), more nukes? Opinion – When you combine AI and nuclear power, the results can be catastrophic What if the Nuclear Industry Really Isn’t Safe? How the War in Ukraine Could Go Nuclear—by Accident – Russian Atomic Weapons Are Dangerously Close to the Frontlines Britain’s Nuclear Bomb Scandal: Our Story – meet some of the contributors speaking out for the first time Can quake-prone Japan ever embrace nuclear energy again? ### NH #698: PT. 2 - Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change – Datesman, Brugge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/dirty-secrets-nuclear-power-climate-change/ Published: 2024-11-07 Duration: 00:59:00 This Week's Featured Interview Part 2 of a talk with Doug Brugge and Aaron Datesman, authors of a brilliant new book, Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change. Last week was Part 1. This week, we focus on new information about the health dangers of so-called “permitted” radiation releases from operating nuclear reactors in easily understood science. Dr. Doug Brugge is an endowed professor and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut. He has published extensively about the social and health consequences of uranium mining. Doug Brugge Aaron Datesman is a researcher, mathematician, and inventor who has held technical roles at the U.S. Department of Energy and as an engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Aaron Datesman ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons The importance of the United Nations call to form a 21-member science panel to report on the effects of nuclear war. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson claims that demons are at fault for creating the nuclear bomb… and he's not talking metaphorically. Trying out new White House talking points…? Favorite Story of the Week: Mark Zuckerberg AI data center plans derailed by… THE KILLER BEES! (No, really!) The late John Belushi as a Killer Bee on Saturday Night Live. Links: ICAN Australia new 20-page report on the intersections between climate change and nuclear weapons. AP report on Aging Nukes: A 4-Part Investigative Series by Jeff Donn: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV UK says it voted against UN nuclear war panel because consequences already known ### NH #697: Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change - Datesman, Brugge book URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/dirty-secrets-nuclear-power/ Published: 2024-10-30 Duration: 01:00:54 Map of radiation doses at Three Mile Island – new information from the book Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change: This Week's Featured Interview: An important new book has just been published on the lies of the nuclear industry, put together by Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change is a meticulously researched and detailed book that exposes nuclear lies and provides detailed scientific information in easy-to-understand language. It was written by two scientists with impeccable credentials and decades of experience calling nuclear out. To back up its revelations – much of it new – the work is supported by charts, graphs, and clear writing that even the non-scientific among us can understand. The co-authors are Doug Brugge and Aaron Datesman: Dr. Brugge is an endowed professor and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut. He has published extensively about the social and health consequences of uranium mining. Aaron Datesman is a researcher, mathematician, and inventor who has held technical roles at the US Department of Energy and as an engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. FREE download of pdf of the book: Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change. Numutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness: The indoctrination of children towards nuclear starts early – but does the Environmental Protection Agency have to be this blatant about it by putting it in a comic book? Apparently so: Visual from nuclear propaganda kid recruiting comic book, Spark Squad. Activist Shout-Out: The passing of activist, gifted artist, and loving friend Laura Lynch. Here's a link to her brilliant article: THE ART OF PROTEST: A NEW REINTEGRATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS Just one of Laura Lynch's memes created for Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) Links: 10 Nuclear War Movies That Are Downright Terrifying Karl Grossman in Counterpunch: The New Nuclear Push: New Package, Same Lies ICAN Campaigners Group for the Cities Campaign to push for adoption of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Join and get your local municipality to support the international ban on nukes! We Need a U.N. Study of the Effects of Nuclear War ### NH #696: Rocky Flats Nuclear Amnesia Obliterated in Documentary "Half-Life of Memory" - Jeff Gipe URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/rocky-flats-nuclear-film-half-life-of-memory/ Published: 2024-10-23 Duration: 00:59:02 Cold War Horse, sculpture by Jeff Gipe – the only acknowledgement of the radiological history of Rocky Flats nuclear factory present at the site. This Week's Featured Interview: The Half-Life of Memory: America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory by director/producer/videographer Jeff Gipe, is a gripping recounting of the history of Rocky Flats, which produced plutonium pits – triggers – for U.S. nuclear bombs from 1952 to 1989. public protests against it, and how its legacy has been disguised. Jeff is an accomplished visual artist and filmmaker, known for works on the far-reaching implications of the US Nuclear legacy. His deep connection to the subject matter stems from his upbringing near the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant, where his father was employed. zThe 55 minute film is about to have its world premiere on November 2 at the Denver Film Festival. I spoke with Jeff Gipe on October 18, 2024. Trailer for Half-Life of Memory Half-Life of Memory website Jeff Gipe website Jeff Gipe email Denver Film Festival Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear Regulatory Commission "apologizes" for "misinformation" about – OOPS! – radioactive water from Monticello nuclear in the Mississippi river – but doesn't apologize for the radioactive tritium-contaminated water ACTUALLY BEING in the Mississippi River. I don't think Emily Post would consider that as an appropriate apology. Happy Halloween! Piketon, Ohio anti-nuclear Halloween yard display. You want a scary Halloween? Nuclear is the scariest! Vina Colley of PRESS on the left. Links to Articles from News Segment: Back from the Brink – Talking points and suggestions to contact local newspapers in support of Nihon Hidankyo/s Nobel. Peace Prize and other nuclear issues. Nuclear Weapons Have The Potential To Frighten My Nervous Dogs
 The Nuclear Waste Administration Act (H.R.9786): Don't be fooled by its apparent purpose! Democrats Embrace Nuclear Power In Heated Senate Races Costly Replacement of ICBMs With Sentinel Missiles Increases Risk of Nuclear War – Many of our unmet needs as US citizens are due in part to the cost of the US nuclear arsenal. Nihon Hidankyo’s Bittersweet Receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize Indian nuclear weapons, 2024 Kenyans trying to block the building of its first nuclear reactor. ### NH #695: Japanese A-Bomb Survivors Group Awarded Nobel Peace Prize! + Small Modular Nuclear Reactors/Nuke Weapons Connection, Ramana, Pt. 2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nobel-peace-prize-small-modular-reactor-weapon/ Published: 2024-10-16 Duration: 00:59:02 Lead Story: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo. This grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, is receiving the Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. (Audio commentary on this award from the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) will be on next week's program.) The rarely-seen carnage left behind in the wake of the atomic bomb drop by the United States on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. Because of actions taken by Gen. Douglas MacArthur to suppress information and images about how devastating the attack was on the people, most photos you see were taken after clean-up of the bodies. This is from a Japanese newsreel company's footage the day after the bomb dropped. The film was confiscated and suppressed as "Top Secret" until the 1980's. This Week's Featured Interview: Physicist and author M. V. Ramana The conclusion of our two-part interview with award-winning physicist M. V. Ramana (above), author of the book NUCLEAR IS NOT THE SOLUTION: The Folly of Atomic Power int he Age of Climate Change. This week, he covers the myths about Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMNR or SMR) and reveals their direct connection to nuclear weapons. THE NUCLEAR RESISTER: A new monthly feature.  Jack Cohen–Joppa, who along with his wife, Felice Cohen–Joppa, publish The Nuclear Resister newsletter and have since 1980.  Here, Jack shares stories from their archive, bringing our shared activists history to life.   NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness Cameras meant to guide the removal of radioactive debris from Fukushima Daiichi have again failed. At least this time Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) admits that they fried from too much radioactivity. So what is TEPCO’s plan to “fix” these errant cameras? Can you say, “reboot?” Links: For tech geeks, more information on the robot TEPCO is using to try to retrieve samples of radioactive rubble from the rubbled remains of the Fukushima nuclear reactors. Nuclear Future: The Price By W.J. Hennigan – NYT Op-Ed. Harvey Wasserman: Nuke Power’s “Renaissance 4.0” Has Already Melted The radioactive legacy of the Hanford nuclear reservation will live on, even as plans for cleanup evolve Nuclear weapons and children ### NH #694: Court Rules Plutonium Pit Production at LANL, SRS Breaks Federal Law - Jay Coughlin + IUFF "COOLEST FILM FESTIVAL!" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-pit-production-breaks-fed-law/ Published: 2024-10-10 Duration: 00:59:51 BREAKING NEWS: MARY OLSON IS OKAY! Mary Olson of Gender and Radiation Impact Project (genderandradiation.org) is alive and well! She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and we hadn't heard from her since before Hurricane Helene ripped through that town on September 27. As of October 9, Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear reports that Mary is FINE! She has water, food, cell phone, but no internet c"onnection. She has been hosting folks from the community at her house for showers and laundry services. She is very lucky considering the circumstances of others – and we are VERY relieved for her safety. Information was received just as Nuclear Hotseat #694 was posting. 
 Mary Olson (l) and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the Nuclear Waste Summit in 2019. This Week's Featured Interview: U.S. district court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis ruled last week that the US Department of Energy. – DOE – and its semi-autonomous nuclear weapons agency, the National Nuclear Security Administration – NNSA – violated the National Environmental Policy act by failing to properly consider alternatives before proceeding with their plans to produce plutonium pits – the core components of all nuclear weapons – at both Los Alamos National Lab in Santa Fe, NM, and Savannah River Site in South Carolina. This ruling comes as a result of a coalition of plaintiffs consisting of Savannah. River Site Watch, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, and Tri-Valley CARES near the Lawrence Livermore Labs in northern California. Jay Coughlin is Executive Director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, which has since 1999 successfully addressed nuclear weapons issues across the spectrum of disarmament, nonproliferation, open government, and environmental concerns. Here, explains what brought this lawsuit regarding plutonium pits about, what the ruling means, and what's next. I spoke with Jay Coughlin on October 7, 2024. Jay Coughlin, Executive Director, Nuclear Watch New Mexico Links from Featured Story: Court Rules U.S. Nuclear Weapons Production Plan Violates Federal Law PLUTONIUM PIT FACT SHEET International Uranium Film Festival Named to 25 COOLEST FILM FESTIVALS, 2024 by MovieMaker Magazine! The International Uranium Film Festival is honored to have been named as one of the 2024 COOLEST FILM FESTIVALS by MovieMaker Magazine. They had this to say about it: You’ve never seen two people get more done than the life and project-partner duo Márcia Gomes de Oliveira and Norbert G. Suchanek, who run the International Uranium Film Festival in deep collaboration with activists around the world. The festival has its grand event in Rio, but also does an extensive U.S. tour in regions impacted by uranium-related industry. Inevitably, folks wonder whether there are enough films on the subject to warrant a festival. The answer is yes. This, of course, is because the issue is expansive, impacting all 50 U.S. states and many more corners of the world than most folks realize. From the Navajo Nation to Las Vegas to Chicago and many places between, this spirited DIY art, advocacy, and activism project brings folks together in a space of support, education, shared outrage, and a good time. The International Uranium Film Festival is a refreshing example of what activism and advocacy can be: inclusive, expansive, and celebratory. To learn more about the award and the other festivals (it's an amazing group!), go to: https://www.moviemaker.com/coolest-film-festivals-2024/ Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Cameras meant to guide the removal of radioactive debris from Fukushima Daiichi have again failed. At least this time Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) admits that they fried from too much radioactivity. So what is TEPCO's plan to "fix" these errant cameras? Can you say, "reboot?" Links: Silkwood film streaming on Hulu United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI) Jane Fonda: Nuclear power at Three Mile Island is no climate solution Hurricane Helene sends a warning New NRC Report Highlights Dangerous Components at Palisades Nuclear Plant Stop Japan Working Group 2023 – JNC-TV – LINKS to videos: October 5th Los Angeles Rally and March to stop the discharge of Fukushima wastewater October 7th Washington DC Rally and March to stop the discharge of Fukushima wastewater ### NH #693: Nuclear NOT the Solution to Climate Change - Physicist M. V. RAMANA URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-not-solution-to-climate-change/ Published: 2024-10-03 Duration: 00:59:08 This Week's Featured Interview: M. V. Ramana w/book, Libbe HaLevy w/Podcast. A new book by reknowned physicist M. V. Ramana: Nuclear Is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change,. Ramana is professor and Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the University of British Columbia. He previously worked at the Nuclear Futures Laboratory and the Program on Science and Global Security, both at Princeton University. Ramana is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials, the Canadian Pugwash Group, the International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group, and the team that produces the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report. The first of a two-part interview base upon his recently published book. TOTALLY FICTITIOUS WESTINGHOUSE ANIMATION OF A 116 WEEK BUILD SCHEDULE FOR THE AP 1000 NUCLEAR REACTOR. Taken from the Westinghouse website in 2014. Westinghouse has long since taken it down. NO WONDER! IThis is a LINK to the video.) THIS ANIMATION IS A TOTAL LIE. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Let's applaud climate activists willing to risk their freedom to save us all. The ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett The latest news direct from the Geneva, Switzerland headquarters of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Intrnational Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Foooood, glorious Fukushima fooooood! (NOT!) Links: Karen Silkwood and Kerr-McGee: A Reinvestigation By Steven H. Wodka CNIC Statement: Concerns over Revival of the Nuclear Power Myth and Unrealistic Nuclear Policy ### NH #692: Bill Gates' Microsoft Three Mile Island Restart Madness w/Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/bill-gates-three-mile-island-restart/ Published: 2024-09-25 Duration: 00:59:02 Three Mile Island This Week's Featured Interviews: Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert explains what's wrong with the Bill Gates/Microsoft plan to restart TMI unit 1 (not the one that melted down), which has been shuttered for five years, to power the MIcrosoft AI data center. Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the 40th anniversary of the nuclear meltdown – March 28, 2019 Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education speaking at the Three Mile Island accident's 40th anniversary on how much radiation was released. Aaron Datesman, co-author with Doug Brugge of the newly published book, Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change, with new information about the radiation release at Three Mile Island. Datesman is a researcher and inventor living in Washington, DC who has held technical roles at the US Department of Energy and at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This is an excerpt from a full-length interview with Datesman and Doug Brugge which will be coming in the next few weeks. Scene of the Crime: Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy in front of the cooling towers at Three Mile Island The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge Lockheed Martin jets, nukes, and NATO. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) It's the first ever Numnutz Twofer, courtesy Russia! Putin talks with shamans! And plans are floated to build a plywood White House and Big Ben in Siberia… and then nuke 'em! Links: Petition: No deportation of anti-nuclear activist Dennis DuVall! The 82-year-old U.S. citizen and long-term resident of Germany is facing deportation following his two arrests for nonviolent nuclear protests at the Buchel air base. Sign Here. Dennis DuVall, in red, enters Büchel air base July 2018. Photo from Community for Human Rights in the Free State of Saxony The radioactive issue: Meet the 2 Native American women fighting to save nuclear exposure benefits (RECA) Excavation near radioactive creek in Pike County triggers calls for investigation An EMP Attack on the U.S. Power Grids and Critical National Infrastructure – Extensive, w/maps by Steven Starr World now has five times more PV than nuclear power- World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 More Nuclear Reactors? The Nuclear Schizophrenia of IAEA's Director General Rafael Grossi Nuclear power: future energy solution or potential war target? ### NH #691: Arctic Ice Melt & Nuclear Radiation Dangers: UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arctic-icemelt-nuclear-radiation-danger/ Published: 2024-09-18 Duration: 00:59:02 Massive icebergs from Jakobshavn Glacier melting in Disko Bay on sunny summer evening, Ilulissat, Greenland. This Week’s Featured Interview: The next United Nations Climate Change conference, COP 29, is scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November, 2024 – an annual bone tossed to those who are striving to reverse the climate catastrophe despite not having any power to do so. Incessant pro-nuclear doubletalk has infested what is supposed to be a rallying event for genuine renewables and conservation, drowning out the voices of informed activists. To prepare our minds for what's coming in November (besides that other thing in the U.S. on November 5), we’re revisiting an interview from 2022, after COP 27, on the consequences of nuclear radiation on the Arctic ice. Our interviewee is a regular resource for Nuclear Hotseat who always comes up with clear explanations of complex issues. Tim Deere-Jones is a marine biologist – a radiation researcher and consultant – who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here he provides a SPECIAL report produced exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat on the Nuclear Arctic radiation dangers.  We spoke on Monday, January 24, 2022. PDF DOWNLOAD of the text of this presentation – CLICK HERE CONTACT for Tim Deere-Jones:  timdeerejones@outlook.com Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Starving kids is fine as long as we keep overfeeding the nuclear hogs. Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Reactor Cooling Tower Fire Ukranian president Vladomir Zelinsky posted this photo of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility's cooling tower fire. The resulting damage is so bad, the tower will need to be torn down. LINKS: file:///Users/libbehalevy/Downloads/978-3-031-59595-0.pdf Dirty Secrets of Nuclear Power in an Era of Climate Change by Doug Brugge • Aaron Datesman ### NH #690: The Global Hibakusha - We Are All Nuclear Radiation Downwinders - Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-radiation-atomic-bomb-2/ Published: 2024-09-08 Duration: 01:07:52 Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs and his brilliant book NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha This Week’s Featured Interview: This is a. SPECIAL full-length interview with Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs on his book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. HIBAKUSHA is the term for those who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But in recent years, it has come to be applied more widely to all who have been exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb testing and other sources of contamination from manufacturing, uranium mining, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste. As today’s guest will explain, that means just about all of us. Prof. Robert “Bo” Jacobs is an American historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. He moved to Japan in 2006 after being hired by the Hiroshima Peace Institute. and is currently a professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University. He’s the author of the 2022 book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha, and that’s what we’ll be talking about. I spoke with Bo Jacobs on Friday, July 21, 2023. ### NH #689: Depleted Uranium Weapons in Russia, Ukraine... Israel? Jack Cohen-Joppa of the Nuclear Resister with Verifiable Info URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/depleted-uranium-russia-ukraine/ Published: 2024-09-04 Duration: 01:00:01 Jack Cohen-Joppa of The Nuclear Resister (l) on Zoom with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy. Note his tee shirt in light of the demonstrations he talks about at Rocky Flats. This Week's Featured Interview: Depleted Uranium weapons – nuclear radiation weapons without the blast. Who's got them and are they being used by Ukraine? Russia? Israel? Jack Cohen-Joppa parses the known and verifiable information. Since 1980, Jack Cohen-Joppa and Felice Cohen-Joppa have been co-coordinators of the Nuclear Resister and co-editors of the newsletter. The Nuclear Resister networks the anti-nuclear and anti-war resistance movements while acting as a clearinghouse for information about contemporary nonviolent resistance to war and the nuclear threat. Their emphasis is on support for the women and men jailed for these actions.  For 44 years, they have covered reports on nuclear and anti-war arrests while encouraging support for more than 1,000 imprisoned activists. Their stated belief is that in any significant movement for social change, many committed individuals are imprisoned. Behind bars, they are physically isolated from their supporters and their own resistance activity is limited. Broader awareness of their actions and support for the imprisoned activist are essential to the movement for a peaceful, nuclear-free future. We’ll have more on that and how you can help. after the interview. I spoke with Jack Cohen-Joppa on August 30, 2024. Links from the Interview: Prison Addresses for the Two Susans, convicted for their nonviolent protest actions at Büchel air base in Germany, where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored. Susan Crane and Susan van der Hijden are now serving their time at an open (lower security) prison in Koblenz. You can write to them individually at the followin addresses: Susan Crane, JVA Koblenz – Offener Vollzug, Simmerner Str. 14a, 56075 Koblenz, Germany. Sentenced to 229 days in June 4, 2024) Susan van der Hijden, JVA Koblenz – Offener Vollzug, Simmerner Str. 14a, 56075 Koblenz, Germany. Sentenced to 115 days in June 4, 2024) You can read their prison reflections here and here, from Nukewatch This is the Ukraine update on the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW) website: https://www.icbuw.eu/icbuw-update-on-du-in-ukraine/ This is the ICBUW weapons and platforms list: The Israel and Gaza update as regards DU Weapons. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Russia's war in Ukraine has put another nuclear power plant in danger: their own. The ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett Monthly update on issues and actions regarding the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear War from ICAN – the Nobel Peace-Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Here, we learn the latest on the actions taken to pass the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) with ICAN's Head of Media, Alistair Burnett, reporting from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. ### NH #688: Trinity Downwinders' Nuclear Legacy Exploded in Film: FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO - Director Lois Lipman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trinity-downwinders-bombed-new-mexico/ Published: 2024-08-28 Duration: 00:59:02 Poster for film FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEW: Award-winning filmmaker Lois Lipman talks about how she first learned about the plight of Downwinders, those who lived downwind of the Trinity test of the first atomic bomb. Her resulting film, FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO, tracks not just Trinity's history of radiation impact, but the timelines of Downwinder illness through five generations. She also covers recent efforts to pass the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in Congress, to provide some financial compensation to those harmed by America's nuclear weapons program. FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO website Downwinder Tina Cordova demonstrating outside entrance to Trinity site. From the film FIRST WE BOMBED NEW MEXICO. Links from Featured Interview: Article: Documentary about Trinity Test victims fights for wider audience Article: A Nuclear Legacy in Los Alamos? About recently found plutonium contamination in Acid Canyon, a popular hiking trail adjacent to Los Alamos. Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Democrats went wild for Harris and Walz… but nobody was talking about nukes! Note the use ot screws to denote how we're all being screwed by nuclear. The only reference to nuclear weapons found during. the entire Democratic National Convention – an art piece entitled “Elections matter.” The mushroom cloud artwork produced by TaskForce uses thousands of screws to represent the world’s nuclear arsenals, and flagging tape used on construction sites. Photo by Thomas Gaulkin Save the Date! Dec. 7-8 – Atomic Age Cinema Fest in LA! The second Atomic Age Cinema Fest – a co-presentation of Kat Kramer Films that Change the World and the International Uranium Film Festival, will take over the Crescent Theatre in Los Angeles for two days of films, plus a panel discussion jam packed with Hollywood celebrities. More info on further episodes To get a glimpse of what an experience that will be, LISTEN to Nuclear Hotseat #223, which provides an audio mosaic of the first Atomic Age Film Festival, held in Hollywood in 2016. Links: Webinar on Japan's release of radioactive tritium-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean. Nuclear Free Team of the Sierra Club offers a free screening of ATOMIC BAMBOOZLE during the entire month of September. REGISTER HERE – : https://watch.eventive.org/scnuclearfree/play/65df9b811095cc004ea923de Supporting informational webinar on September 30, 5-7 pm Pacific Time. Panelists will be filmmaker Jan Haaken, Associate Producer Cathy Sampson-Kruse, M.V. Ramana, Mark Z. Jacobson, and David Schlissel. The panel will be moderated by Nuclear Free Team Co-Chair Mike Carberry. REGISTER HERE  https://sierraclub.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2CNxDUwVSGWZvzFEpIpwEw. PIKETON/PORTSMOUTH INTERVIEWS – Saturday September 14th at the Career Technology Center in Piketon Ohio 1:00-4:00 PM. These interviews will be for a documentary with Duane Pohlman Local 12. This is for the people who have or had Cancer or other related illnesses living or working at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant. To join the private Facebook group DON'T DUMP ON US, contact Gina Doyle on Facebook and ask to join the group. She'll give you the link to send a Friend request. It's for the protection of the private information shared on the FB site. Digital Activism: Do’s and Don’ts to Keep Yourself Safe Online ### NH #687: Radioactive Ohio School Auctioned Off to Christian Group + Canada Pushing for Nuclear Waste Repository on Indigenous Lands - Edwards, Petrone URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ohio-radioactive-school-canada-nuclear-waste/ Published: 2024-08-21 Duration: 00:59:36 Canada Pushing for Nuclear Waste Repository on Indigenous Lands: Tons of radioactive waste from nuclear reactor operation keeps piling up, with no resolution in sight. What to do with the waste? Canada has been making plans… but they’re bad ones. Here to explain how we got ourselves into this problem, what’s wrong with Canada’s current plans, and suggest some temporary steps that can be taken are two experts: Dr. Gordon Edwards is head of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, Elysia Petrone, who is of mixed descent (Italian, German and Anishinaabe), is a board member for Mining Watch Canada and a member of Niniibawtamin Anishinaabe Aki (We stand for our land), an indigenous-led group dedicated to stopping the disposal of nuclear waste in Anishinaabe territory. Niniibawtamin Anishinaabe Aki – our concerns with nuclear waste.pdf Radioactive Ohio School Auctioned Off to Christian Group Zahn's Corner Middle School, shuttered in 2019 as too contaminated with radioactive material from the demolition of the nearby Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, sold to a Christian school and rehab center. Note the sign on the fence warning of radioactive contamination. Radioactive particles from the Portsmouth 
Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio, migrated into the nearby Zahn’s Corner Middle School and contaminated it with radioactive materials including plutonium and americium. The problem forced the school to be shut down in 2019. But after five years, the local school board decided to unload this liability and offer it up for auction. The one known potential buyer – a Christian school – was contacted by activists, attorney Terry Lodge and Prof. Michael Ketterer, who had discovered the contamination. They explained all the biological and legal reasons why the school should not be used. Within 24 hours, this group decided against bidding. However, there was another Christian group in play, with what promises to be a very dirty backstory. I spoke with Vina Colley of Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS) on August 17, 2024, the day of the auction, about what had just taken place. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: No matter what happens in Chicago, Democrats will continue supporting nuclear power. Democratic National Convention – an explosion of confetti, non-nuclear. ### NH #686: Reuters Investigation Blasts Govt. Agency Incompetence, Lies at N St. Louis Radioactive West Lake Landfill - Dawn Chapman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reuters-blasts-govt-lies-obsolete-data/ Published: 2024-08-14 Duration: 00:59:43 Dawn Chapman of Just Moms StL (l) and Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy at symposium on West Lake Landfill issues in North St. Louis, February 19, 2016. Keystone Photo – activists Dawn Chapman and Kay Drey on-site at radioactively contaminated Coldwater Creek in N. St. Louis, MO. February 19, 2016. This Week's Featured Interview: Reuters news agency published a scathing report on August 8 blasting companies and government agencies responsible for some of America's most toxic waste sites — and how they are using a federal health agency’s faulty reports to save money on cleanups, defend against lawsuits and deny victims compensation. Focus was on the West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis and ongoing contamination from the WWII legacy radioactive waste that has caused rates of cancer, MS and auto-immune disease to skyrocket in the adjacent neighborhood. Specifically, it honed in on how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) presented reports riddled with distorted, obsolete data to “prove” – put that word in quotes – that there was nothing to worry about from the smouldering, radioactive Bridgeton waste dump in North St. Louis, Missouri. We talk with Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms StL, who has been fighting this landfill and pushing for clean-up and restitution for more than a decade. We spoke on Sunday, August 11, 2024. Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy interviewing Dr. Helen Caldicott on-site at the West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis. February 19, 2016. Links: Just Moms StL on Facebook Just Moms StL website Reuters story: How a US health agency became a shield for polluters Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: It's hard to compete with childless cat ladies and Olympic gold but there's still plenty of race to run to stop nuclear folly. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Seafood too contaminated with radionuclides from Fukushima to sell in Japan? Easy! Ship it to the U.S. for beaucoup bucks! Scallops with a side of cesium – mmmmmm! ### NH #685: Hiroshima, Nagasaki 79th Anniversary -"Atomic Cover-Up" film, Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow accepts 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for ICAN URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-79th-anniversary/ Published: 2024-08-07 Duration: 00:59:21 The remains of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb destroyed the city, 1945 ATOMIC COVER-UP – Director Greg Mitchell is the award-winning author of a dozen books including 2020’s “The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” His previous books on the atomic bombings were “Hiroshima in America“ (with Robert Jay Lifton) and “Atomic Cover-up.” His film, ATOMIC COVER-UP, was released in April, 2021 and won the Best Archival Documentary award from the International Uranium Film Festival. I spoke with filmmaker Greg Mitchell on how this remarkable film came to be on Saturday, May 15, 2021. You can view the documentary ATOMIC COVERUP here. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists video, How many people were killed by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? What happened to the bodies at Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Hiroshima bomb survivor Setsuko Thurlow, accepting the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Setsuko Thurlow is a dedicated campaigner against nuclear weapons for ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear War.  She was a 13-year-old child in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in school when the United States dropped the atom bomb on that city.  As a hibakusha – atomic bomb survivor – Setsuko has worked tirelessly with ICAN.  When the group received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in realizing the successful UN negotiations for a Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Setsuko – along with ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn – accepted the award on behalf of the group.  Here is the deeply moving speech Setsuko Thurlow gave on behalf of ICAN at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 2017. Full Nobel peace prize ceremony link International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons – ICAN – www.ICANw.org ACTION LINKS TO WORK AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WAR World Beyond War – www.WorldBeyondWar.org Don’t Bank on the Bomb – www.DontBankOnTheBomb.com Nuclear Age Peace Foundation – www.WagingPeace.org VIDEO: Obstacles to Nuclear Abolition — a discussion with David Swanson, Alice Slater, and Bruce Gagnon Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter As we remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki we must also look to the present as the dehumanization of people "not like us" continues. Links: Flooding at Uranium Mine Near Grand Canyon Tops 66 Million Gallons – great charts from Grand Canyon Trust ### NH #684: What's the Problem with Radioactive Nuclear Waste? What's the Solution? Powerful Symposium at UCSD URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-nuclear-waste-problems-solutions/ Published: 2024-08-01 Duration: 00:59:24 A map of the San Onofre nuclear waste station, showing earthquake faults and the 50 mile radius that would be most impacted by an accident with the current on-site storage of radioactive waste. This Week's Special Feature The Samuel Lawrence Foundation, in cooperation with the Scripps Oceanography Institute, held a one-day symposium on Radioactive Wastes (from Nuclear Reactors) in San Diego, California, on July 24, 2024: Radioactive Waste: Growing Threats, Emerging Solutions. Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy was there to cover the speakers and talk with the audience. You. Are. There. Interviewees include: Larry Agran, Vice Mayor of the city of Irvine and a candidate for mayor. Rear Admiral Len Hering, a prominent military and civilian sustainability leader with a broad. background in energy and environmental issues. Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear. Dr. Gordon Edwards, a mathematician, physicist, and founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. Dr. Edwards provided a transcript of his speech, available as a pdf download HERE. He also provided a list of Educational Resources on High-Level Radioactive Waste, compiled by CCNR. Jan Boudart, a member of NEIS, in from Chicago for the event. Gary Headrick, co-founder with Laurie Hedrick of San Clemente Green. Videos of the presentations can be found on the Samuel Lawrence Foundation Youtube channel. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Want to pay for the most expensive electricity on earth? Then go nuclear!
 ICAN Update with Lucero Oyarzu Lucero Oyarez of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) sits in for the vacationing Alistair Burnett and interviews Florian Eblenkamp, Advocacy Officer at ICAN, on the latest progress on the United Nationsl Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. The Swiss Initiative page is available in German: https://atomwaffenverbot.ch/ and in French https://interdiction-armes-nucleaires.ch/ LINKS: Back from the Brink – actions to take in commemoration of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Podcast – The Nuclear Reactor Next Door – interview with Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project. Podcast – six episode series on Boom Town: A Uranium Story, which explores uranium mining and how yellowcake, or concentrated uranium, winds its way through the West including at the Hanford radioactive cleanup site. United Nations Association Film Festival ### NH #683: Ohio Radiation Contamination - More Radioactive Water, Soil, Plants Found at Piketon/Portsmouth: Dr. Michael Ketterer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ohio-radiation-contamination-piketon/ Published: 2024-07-23 Duration: 00:59:11 The shuttered Zahn's Corner Middle School, shuttered for contamination with nuclear materials from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, only 3 miles away. And now the school district is trying to auction it off "AS-IS" without explaining what the "AS-IS" is?!?!??? This Week's Featured Interview: Latest radiation findings near the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio show increased radiation levels in Little Beaver Creek water, sediment, plants. Interview with Dr. Michael Ketterer, who has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, and at University of Denver. Since 2000, Michael has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment, publishing and lecturing extensively, and has analyzed samples from locations worldwide. He is currently studying plutonium dioxide particles in soils near the former Rocky Flats facility in Colorado, and fingerprinting off-site contaminants near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. Michael is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. We spoke on July 22, 2024. To contact Dr. Michael Ketterer and Others Re: PORTS: Michael E. Ketterer, PhD; Professor Emeritus, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University.Phone: +1 928 853 7188; Michael.e.Ketterer@gmail.com LINK to Duane Poulman WKRC Report on Dr. Michael Ketterer and recent radiation findings in water, soil, plants near the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio Ohio Nuclear Free Network PRESS and Vina Colley – CONTACT for Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS), National Nuclear Workers for Justice (NNWJ) and Vina Colley: vcolley@earthlink.net ; Vina Colley on Facebook Links: Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network Congressional Briefing: RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF US FOOD AND WATER and what Congress Can Do About It: Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network Petition link https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/keep-harmful-radioactive-1. Current U.S. Nuclear Warhead Inventory Numbers: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneneadedness): You want to know where all the money went that should have gone to support RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act), national health care, infrastructure, education – you know, the things that make our world and our lives better? Even at a "mere" 3,748 nukes, the money to build, design, deploy, maintain, and ultimately mothball these devilish weapons – to say nothing of the new ones that are in the pipeline, being built even not – could be put to better use. Here's a chart of our nukes, 1945 – 2023. ### NH #682: Ugly July 16 Nuclear Anniversaries: Trinity Bomb Test, Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Disaster URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-anniversaries-trinity-church-rock/ Published: 2024-07-16 Duration: 00:59:17 Annual walk to commemorate Church Rock uranium tailings pond disaster on Navajo Nation land – from 2019. Site of the mine and tailings pond in the background. This Week's Featured Interviews: Trinity Downwinders Advocating for Justice – Tina Cordova: Trinity Downwinder Tina Cordova grew up in her family home in the Tularosa Basin, 40 miles from the explosion of the first atomic bomb on July 16, 1945. A cancer survivor like so many in her community, in 2005, she co-founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. She and her community have been working for compensation for New Mexico atomic downwinders for the past 15 years. Links: Video created by Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium in 2020. Video creted by the Tularosa Basin Downwind Consortium on the Trinity test and the need for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Trinity: “The most significant hazard of the entire Manhattan Project” – Kitty Tucker/Robert Alvarez research and article on infant mortality rates around the Trinity test site caused by radiation exposure. From the articler: “New Mexico residents were neither warned before the 1945 Trinity blast, informed of health hazards afterward, nor evacuated before, during, or after the test. Exposure rates in public areas from the world’s first nuclear explosion were measured at levels 10,000- times higher than currently allowed.” – U.S. Centers for Disease Control Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Spill Disaster It’s been 42 years since the July 16, 1979 uranium tailings pond spill/disaster that contaminated Navajo Nation land, adding to the radiation burden already there from abandoned uranium mines. Two brief interviews from Nuclear Hotseat #423 from July 23, 2019, where Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy covered the 40th anniversary events. Edith Hood grew up in the Red Water Pond Road Community, on land which had her living between two uranium mines and just down the road from the 1979 tailings pond spill. Edith worked at a different mine than the UNC facility that had the accident, but faced all of the same dangers. Terracita Keyanna has lived her entire life in the Red Water Pond Road Community on Navajo Nation. She was not even born when the Church Rock uranium spill happened… but that did not stop her being exposed to uranium mining waste from what was released and deposited by the spill. Edith Hood of the Red Water Pond Community on Navajo Nation land just across from where she lives – between two uranium mines and just down the road from the site of the Church Rock uranium tailings spill Terracita Keyanna next to sign warning “no uranium mining” in Navajo Links Referenced in This Week’s Show: Nuclear Hotseat #423: Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Disaster – full show. Piketon, Ohio Radiation Spikes from Demolition of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant ### NH #681: What Youth Want to Know about Nukes + Radioactive Contamination of Food & Water - A Congressional Briefing - Kimberly Roberson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/youth-activistss-radioactive-food-water/ Published: 2024-07-11 Duration: 00:59:11 This Week's Features: How do we get a younger demographic into the movement against nuclear? What do Youth Want to Know (to use an olde phrase)? Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy met via zoom with students at Wilmington College in Ohio, who are studying nuclear issues with Tanya Maus, head of the Peace Resource Center. A wide-ranging Q&A followed with some very astute, perceptive students. They give us all hope for the future. An excerpt from what turned out to be a 90 minute session held on July 8, 2024. LINKS from this feature: Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War by Susan Southard Radioactive Contamination of U.S. Food and Water and What Congress Can Do About It – Upcoming Webinar An interview with Kimberly Roberson, founder/director of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) and lead organizer for this Congressional briefing. WHERE & WHEN? The briefing will be held via Zoom on Monday, July 15 at 2pm Eastern time.  Registration is required. For further information and to register, go to https://nislappdc.org/ffan-congressional-briefing/. Speakers will include: US Congresswoman Cori Bush – Representing Missouri’s 1st Congressional District (invited) Arjun Makhijani — Nuclear engineer, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, author of Exploring Tritium's Dangers, member of an independent scientists’ panel commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to review radioactive dumping from Fukushima into the Pacific Prof. Bob Richmond — University of Hawaii Marine Biologist, expert in biological uptake of radiation in the oceans, member of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat panel on Fukushima Kimberly Roberson — Project Director, Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN). She served on the board of National Association of Nutrition Professionals and helped organize the FFAN Coalition which petitioned FDA for better food regulations​ following the Fukushima disaster. James Gormley — President and Senior Policy Advisor of Citizens for Health and a leading consumer health advocate Cindy Folkers — Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist with Beyond Nuclear (moderating) NUKEWATCH REPORT with John LaForge The Two. Susans (Susan Crane, 80, from Redwood City, California, along with Dutch citizen Susan van der Hijden from Amsterdam) enter German prison for having peacefully protested U.S. nuclear bombs being held at Buchel Air Base in Germany. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) Looking for a fun Nuclear vacation activity?  How about a tour of the Hanford Site? <!> ### NH #680: Nat’l Nuclear Activism & Messaging Strategies – ReThink Media’s Mac Hamilton, Ploughshares Fund’s Bonnie Fisk URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-activism-messaging-strategies/ Published: 2024-07-03 Duration: 00:57:02 A symbol of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Anti-nuclear activists are often isolated from each other because we focus on what’s most important to us – a local issue with radioactive waste dump, or uranium mining, or weapons, or a spike in health crises, or any one of dozens of other nuclear issues. Or we’re working on the same issues as other groups, but not necessarily in communication with each other to coordinate what we’re doing and saying to make a bigger media splash with our limited resources. Today’s guests are among those making a difference in terms of all of us working together and strategizing so we’re all on the same page and creating our own echo chamber. Bonnie Fisk is Director of Development for the Ploughshares Fund, a public grant-making foundation that supports initiatives to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons, and to prevent conflicts that could lead to their use. Mac Hamilton is Program Director, Peace and Security, for ReThink Media, which builds capacity across movements, works to minimize competition, maximizes resources, and raises the voices of underrepresented spokespeople. Together, they produced the six sold-out previews of the Oppenheimer film around the country which featured panel discussions on the issues raised – and huge leg up that led to news stories and features on what the movie did not cover. Now is a great time to review their strategies and talking points and apply them to the latest batch of issues. I spoke with Bonnie Fisk and Mac Hamilton on Friday, August 18, 2023 for Nuclear Hotseat #635. Links from Interview: Sign up for ReThink Media’s AM Nukes Roundup, sent weekdays at 8:15 AM ET. Other organizations to receive action alerts from: Take action with the Union of Concerned Scientists Take action with Global Zero Sign up for action alerts with Physicians for Social Responsibility Join Win Without War and take action for nuclear frontline communities Follow the work of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Ploughshares.org – where you will find more information about what they fund) Ploughshares.org/pressthebutton – the Ploughshares Fund’s podcast) The ballet that includes nuclear storytelling: Yvonne Montoya’s production, “Stories from Home” Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japan on 7th release of tritium-contaminated radioactive waste water from Fukushima into the Pacific. ICAN UPDATE with Alistair Burnett The latest on work to implement the work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, direct from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. LINKS: Why cost should not be an obstacle to compensating nuclear survivors From sheep camp to the city to study uranium’s damage to Navajo people Nuclear danger is growing. Physicists of the world, unite! ### NH #679: Early Xmas for Nukesters - Dangerous ADVANCE Act Guts US Nuclear Oversight, Protections - Diane D'Arrigo URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/advance-act-guts-us-nuclear-protections/ Published: 2024-06-26 Duration: 00:59:14 Diane D'Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director for Nuclear Information Resource SErvice (NIRS.org) This Week's Featured Interview: Diane D’Arrigo is Radioactive Waste Project Director for Nuclear Energy Information Resource Service, or NIRS, where she has worked since 1986. Her main area of expertise is radioactive waste and radiation issues. She has closely followed so-called “low-level” nuclear waste issues for decades, the national and international moves to deregulate nuclear waste that would allow it to be made into everyday household items and be dumped as regular trash. Diane has been deeply involved with tracking and fighting the backwards ADVANCE Act, and was eager to share her insights with the Nuclear Hotseat audience. I spoke with. Diane D'Arrigo on Monday, June 24, 2024. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima saki? That's right – get drunk to ignore the radionuclides that might be in your alcohol! Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The ADVANCE Act will gut nuclear safety and keep the Nuclear Navy happy. Hardly anyone on Capitol Hill opposed it. Activist Shoutout: Thomas the Stank Engine illustrates the dangers of nuclear waste hauling in the UK and is the cartoon creation of Cumbrian campaigner Marianne Birkby of Radiation Free Lakeland. Thomas got his name because he hauls train wagons which contain very stinky, very dirty, and very nasty nukiller waste (unshielded nuclear waste can kill a human in a minute). This deadly stuff is traipsed around the country to Sellafield.” Perhaps an image for Haul No? Veterans for Peace Webinar: Veterans For Peace No Nukes webinar on Nuclear Power and Weapons in a Time of Rising Tensions with presenters William Hartung, Linda Pentz Gunter and Greg Mello. PRESENTER CONTACT INFORMATION: William Hartung, Quincy Institute https://quincyinst.org/author/william… Linda Pentz Gunter, Beyond Nuclear email: linda@beyondnuclear.org https://beyondnuclear.org/ https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/ Greg Mello, Los Alamos Study Group email: gmello@lasg.org https://lasg.org/ Links: Congress’s Nuclear Addiction by Karl Grossman ### NH #678: 13th ANNIVERSARY! + Hinamoeura Cross - France's Deadly Nuclear Testing Legacy in French Polynesia URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/france-nuclear-testing-french-polynesia/ Published: 2024-06-19 Duration: 00:59:51 Welcome to the start of the 14th year of Nuclear Hotseat! This Week's Featured Interview: Hinamoeura Cross, 2023 winner, Nuclear Free Future Award, at ceremony in NYC, December 2023 Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross is from French Polynesia. In her mid-thirties, she became an activist when she realized that her leukemia was a legacy of the 193 French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. She conquered her blood cancer and became a collector of unheard stories of suffering and ignored medical records from the Polynesian people. In doing so, she put pressure on the French government, which to this day lacks accountability for its actions. Hinamoera fights for recognition, medical care and financial compensation for victims, and in 2023 was awarded the Nuclear Free Future Award. In May 2023, seeking a wider base of authority for her actions, she moved into politics and was elected to the Polynesian Assembly of Representatives. Hinamoeura Cross of Polynesia and Tina Cordova of New Mexico, both winners of the 2023 Nuclear Free Future Award, embrace in congratulations and commiseration, as both are Downwinders from different parts of the world. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The likely next UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, says Britain will be “fit to fight” with nuclear weapons within a year. So what happened to deterrence? What Would a Nuclear Blast in Downtown Los Angeles Look Like? ### NH #677 - OBSCENE Atomic Museum Shows No Bomb Victims, No Downwinders, Just Nuclear "FUN"<!!!> URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/atomic-museum-propaganda/ Published: 2024-06-11 Duration: 00:59:11 Compare and Contrast: Picture of what the bombing of Hiroshima looked like to this one infant vs. logo outside the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas, promising all kinds of radioactive, life-destroying fun! This Week's Featured Interview: Sometimes one has to go into the belly of the beast. While in Las Vegas for the closing two days of the International Uranium Film Festival, I visited the Atomic Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the Nevada Test Site (now known as the Nevada Nevada National Security Site). I interviewed the museum's Deputy Director and Curator Joseph Kent, an historian who has risen through the ranks of the museum since joining it full time in 2019. Here is our interview, recorded on May 1, 2024. Linda Lovon – An activist attending the International Uranium Film Festival from Hawaii, with her brief thoughts on the museum. Atomic Museum's Deputy Director Joseph Kent with his PR handler and Robbie the Robot. The Miller Map The Miller Map, by Richard L. Miller, author of Under the Cloud: The Decades of Nuclear Testing. The true impact of the above ground atomic tests at the Nevada Test Site. This map and its information is not presented in any way at the Atomic Museum. Links to Fill In the Atomic Museum's Blanks: I urge everyone – especially those who work with the Atomic Museum – to view the following films to fill in the blanks in the "story" told by the Atomic Museum: DOWNWIND – Award-winning documentary on every aspect of the Downwinder situation. Available on Amazon Prime. Filmmakers: Douglas Brian Miller, Mark Shapiro ATOMIC COVER-UP – The earliest on-the-ground footage of the atomic aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with audio from the cameramen who shot the film. This material was classified TOP SECRET for decades. Filmmaker: Greg Mitchell. Available on PBS. TIME BOMBS – The story of 40 young Canadian soldiers sent to Nevada to be used as guinea pigs when the American military wanted to know how the average soldier would hold up on a nuclear battlefield. Filmmakers: Guylaine Maroist, Eric Ruel And if you prefer your information in book – which deserves to be stocked in the gift shop – check out American Ground Zero by Carole Gallagher. The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge NRC "apologizes" for lying about Minnesota's Monticello nuclear reactor leaking radioactive tritium contaminated water into Mississippi River. Links: Veterans for Peace webinar — Nuclear Power and Weapons in a Time of Rising Tensions —Thursday, June 20, 2024, 7pm Eastern time. Featured speakers are William Hartung, an expert on US military spending; Beyond Nuclear international specialist, Linda Pentz Gunter; and Greg Mello, director of the Los Alamos Study Group. There will be a rally in New York in front of the Japan Consulate at 2 PM on July 6, followed by a gathering at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza at 3:30 PM, to demand a halt to the dumping of nuclear wastewater from Fukushima. ### NH #676: The Nuclear Weapons/Nuclear Energy Connection, Costs, Fears - Alfred Meyer of PSR, Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-nuclear-energy/ Published: 2024-06-02 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's First Featured Interview: Alfred Meyer of Physicians for Social Responsibility, mid-Zoom interview Alfred Meyer is a long-time member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and has served variously as Executive Director of the PSR Wisconsin chapter, Board Member of PSR National, and President of PSR New York.  He co-authored a PSR/IPPNW critique of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) report on the health effects of the radioactive releases from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. He has also founded, co-founded and/or served as an executive for half a dozen other major organizations dedicated to nuclear issues relating to Fukushima, Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the connection between proposed fusion weapons w/nuclear reactor infrastructure. I spoke with Alfred Meyer on December 23, 2022. LINK to Alfred Meyer's article in The Progressive: It's All About the Bomb: Why civilian nuclear power is merely a cover for producing more nuclear weapons. This Week's Second Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards, addressing the United Nations Dr. Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, as well as president and co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, a not-for-profit corporation established in 1975. He has served as a consultant on nuclear issues for governmental and non-governmental bodies for over 45 years, and been accepted as an expert witness by US and Canadian courts and tribunals. He is frequently invited to testify before provincial and federal bodies, and to give major addresses in various countries. He also explains complex nuclear matters in a way that is easy to understand, for which I am deeply grateful. I spoke with Dr. Edwards on February 12, 2024. What Scares Me Most about Nuclear: Excerpts from last year's Halloween feature: "What Scares Me Most about Nuclear." I spoke with more than 30 activists and concerned citizens about what they found most frightening about nuclear. Here are just a few, from: Jan Boudart – Nuclear Energy Information Service, Chicago (NEIS.org) Kevin Hester – Veteran activist, New Zealand Dr. Michael Ketterer – chemist, professor, researcher Leona Morgan – Haul No (HaulNo.com) Brian Morrison – space scientist You can access the full Halloween special, with more than 30 different speakers on what scares people most about nuclear, by going to: Nuclear Hotseat #645 ### NH #675: RECA Held Hostage by Mike Johnson's Stupid Congress Tricks - Nuclear Victims' Compensation Act Down to the Wire - Mary Dickson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reca-held-hostage-mike-johnson/ Published: 2024-05-29 Duration: 00:59:15 The Miller Map. The path radioactive fallout took from the 100 above-ground nuclear tests in Nevada. Actually, it took three or more nuclear fallout clouds overhead to make it onto this map. Compiled by Richard Miller, author of Under the Cloud: The Decades of Nuclear Testing. This Week's Featured Interview: Mary Dickson at DC Press Conference for passage of RECA. To the right, Dawn Chapman (in green) and Karen Nichol (in blue) of Just Moms StL. Mary Dickson is a Salt Lake City journalist and writer whose award-winning play, Exposed, puts a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her downwinder information talks. We talk about the horrific price paid by those who were downwind of the atmospheric atomic bomb tests of the 1950’s and 60’s… and the ongoing legacy of those blasts. Contact Mary Dickson: Exposed.Downwinders@gmail.com PHONE NUMBERS TO CONTACT CONGRESS FOR RECA: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson: 202-225-2777 House Majority Leader Stephen Joseph Scalise – (202) 225-3015 https://t.co/4qYxfThpG1 — Senator Ben Ray Luján (@SenatorLujan) May 16, 2024 Press Conference on RECA held last week in Washington, DC. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A public "conference" on nuclear that's supported and promoted by nukesters, yet passes it off as a "public meeting" – how much honest discourse can you possibly expect? (That was a rhetorical question…) Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The Lyndon Larouche crowd cravenly promoted building a nuclear power plant in Gaza at a Free Palestine rally. No one bought it. ICAN UPDATE – Int'l Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Latest on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – with Alistair Burnett reporting from Nobel Peace Prize-winning ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. LINKS: The Vow from Hiroshima – Now on PBS! A bio-pic of human rights campaigner, Nobel Peace Laureate and Hiroshima A-bomb survivor Setsuko Thurlow's life. It is also the story of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which she worked so hard to bring to the world. Check your local PBS station for listings and a link to streaming. Sites with radioactive material more vulnerable as climate change increases wildfire, flood risks It’s not just toxic chemicals. Radioactive waste was also dumped off Los Angeles coast ### NH #674: The Passing of an Anti-Nuclear Activist Hero: Patti Ameno URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-activist-hero-patti-ameno/ Published: 2024-05-22 Duration: 00:59:14 The late, Great, Patti Ameno Patti Ameno (also Patty, Patricia) grew up in Apollo, Pennsylvania, 35 miles NE of Pittsburgh, not realizing that her childhood home was directly across the street from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation. NUMEC manufactured fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and the Navy’s nuclear submarines, leaving behind a legacy of uranium and plutonium waste that impacted the health of everyone in the area — including Patti. A trained investigator with Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and former U.S. Federal Criminal Investigator, Patty took on NUMEC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Babcock & Wilcox and Atlantic Richfield… and won. But the battle she was ultimately unable to win was her fight against illnesses and cancers that wracked her body as a result of that early exposure to radioactive materials. Patti Ameno passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024. She was 72 years old. This interview was recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #239 for January 20, 2016. Patti Ameno Obituary Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Instead of getting us off nuclear power dependence, a new Russian uranium import ban will further condemn Native American communities to new uranium mines. Here’s Linda Pentz Gunter, back from her sabbatical, with this week’s Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story. Links: Speaker of the House MIKE JOHNSON'S office: 202-225-2777. CALL AND TELL HIM TO BRING RECA TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE! NuScale Has Deceived Investors about the Certification of its Reactor

 UN watchdog warns on nuclear trafficking As war in the Middle East threatens to spread, nuclear disarmament is imperative NH #626: Just One Nuclear Explosion in Space = Massive Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) = Buh-bye Grid! – Prof. Steven Starr Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman – The New Nuclear Push featuring Kevin Kamps ### NH #673: Uranium Film Festival Closes US Tour in Las Vegas, RECA DC Lobbying Update, Godzilla B-Day Marathon + the Passing of Activist Patti Ameno URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iuff-tour-reca-dc-lobbying-patti-ameno/ Published: 2024-05-15 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Featured Interviews: Some weeks, it's time to catch up with a number of stories. So here we present a series of short interviews covering a range of issues that are up for us right now. Informational meetings between representatives of nuclear radiation-impacted communities around the country with members of the House of Representatives about expanding and extending the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. This program, which provides nominal payments for health care help to those whose lives and health have been negatively impacted by government-created radiation exposure, is set to expire on June 7, just only three weeks from now. The meetings with Congress were going on right as I was recording this episode. I spoke with Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms StL, the group raising awareness of WWII Manhattan Project radioactive atomic weapons waste which was dumped into Coldwater Creek and which has contaminated water, land, homes, and children. We spoke on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Ian Zabarte is Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation, and organizer of the Las Vegas presentation of the International Uranium Film Festival Shelley Berkeley has served seven terms in Congress and is now running for Mayor of Las Vegas. She was the only Nevada-based politician who chose to attend the festival and who has closely aligned herself with issues regarding the proposed nuclear waste dump site at Yucca Mountain. The International Uranium Film Festival spent two months touring North America, going from Window Rock in Navajo Nation down into Texas, then up the east coast, over to Chicago, the west coast, even Vancouver, British Columbia, before ending its marathon 13-venue, 10,000 mile journey in Las Vegas. IUFF co-Founder and Director, Norbert Suchanek, gives us perspective not only on what this grueling trip was like, but the next set of plans for the IUFF… including Hollywood in November…? International Uranium Film Festival co-Founder and Director Norbert Suchanek, seen here hard at work from his North American Tour office. Patricia (Patti) Ameno It is with great sadness that we let you know that Patti Ameno, long-time activist and a supporter of Nuclear Hotseat since our earliest days, has passed away. Patti grew up in Apollo, Pennsylvania, 35 miles NE of Pittsburgh, not realizing that her childhood home was directly across the street from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation. NUMEC manufactured fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and the Navy’s nuclear submarines, leaving behind a legacy of uranium and plutonium waste that impacted the health of everyone in the area — including Patti. A trained investigator with Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and former U.S. Federal Criminal Investigator, Patty took on NUMEC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Babcock & Wilcox and Atlantic Richfield… and won. Patti Ameno passed on Friday, May 10, 2024. She was 71 years old and died of one of the cancers that plagued her health for so many years. The full interview with Patti Ameno from Nuclear Hotseat #239 will be aired in the coming weeks. Activist Shoutouts: Godzilla vs. Music Box Film Series in Chicago, June 7-13, 2024 – co-production of the Music Box Theatre and Japanese Arts Foundation. Depaul University professor Dr. Yuki Miyamoto will be one of the speakers. Tickets available at: MusicBoxTheatre.com. Meanwhile, enjoy their unique, brief video – the BEST PROMO VIDEO EVER! The original 1954 Japanese film, GODZILLA ("Gojira"), was a metaphor for the nuclear bomb. It was made at a time when direct mention of the impact of the atomic bombs on the people of Japan was still illegal. LINK to full original movie, with Japanese subtitles. (NOTE: If you see a version of the "original" GODZILLA film that has Raymond Burr in it, that's a doctored/edited/censored version of the film. See the full original in Japanese (with subtitles) to understand the atomic bomb parallels.) Links: ### NH #672: "Oppenheimer" Opens in Japan: Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs of Hiroshima Peace Institute URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oppenheimer-film-opens-in-japan/ Published: 2024-05-08 Duration: 00:59:12 Oppenheimer Opens in Japan: Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs of Hiroshima Peace Institute After a delay of more than one year, the Oppenheimer film has opened in Japan. To learn what the response has been, we spoke with Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs of the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University. He is author of the book NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. Bo gives us an insightful examination of the many issues at play in Japan's muted response to the film, as well as what has kept the country from developing a more robust opposition to nuclear weapons. Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs, Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University Interview Links: NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha Robert "Bo" Jacobs website Nuclear Hotseat #632 – Hiroshima/Nagasaki Radiation Aftermath – We Are All Hibakusha (A-Bomb Survivors) The ICAN Update with Alistair Burnett: Our monthly exclusive report on international activism and progress to enact and enforce the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. ICAN head of media Alistair Burnett reports from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with Susi Snyder, ICAN programme coordinator, joining from the Netherlands. The ICAN map of nuclear testing ### NH #671: Chernobyl Lies by World Health Org. - Chernobyl Truth with Alison Katz of Independent WHO - a Nuclear Hotseat CLASSIC URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-lies-by-world-health-org/ Published: 2024-04-30 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Nuclear Hotseat CLASSIC: Independent W.H.O.’s Alison Katz on World Health Organization’s Chernobyl Cover-up We continue our commemoration of the 38th year since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with a reprise of one of Nuclear Hotseat's most CLASSIC episodes. Chernoby Truth, World Health Organization Lies Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group – based in Geneva, Switzerland – draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima.  The group held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning on April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.   Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered is still relevant and important. Chernobyl Truth – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe.  Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham.  NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) No official Numnutz of the Week this week, but if there were one, this would be it: Vodka brewed by The Chernobyl Spirit Company, "a Social Enterprise producing high quality (and safe!) spirits made from crops harvested near Chernobyl." <!!!> I don't care if – as they proudly state – at least 75% of profits go to helping rebuild communities in Ukraine impacted first by Chernobyl and now by the war, I don't believe their claims of safety "where land can't officially be used for agriculture." ### NH #670: SPECIAL: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster 38th Anniversary - Survivor Bonnie Kouneva, Dr. Janette Sherman, Tim Mousseau, Alexei Yablakov, Ryuichi Hirokawa URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-38th-anniversary-special/ Published: 2024-04-23 Duration: 00:58:50 The Elephant's Foot – solidified melted fuel core at Chernobyl in Ukraine. Still highly radioactive, still dangerous. SPECIAL: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster 38th Anniversary – Stories of its Deadly Legacy The “elephant’s foot” – still highly radioactive molten core of Chernobyl – with Arthur Korneev (also spelled Korneyev), former head of the Shelter Object Dosimetry Service, who took these photos. He died in 2022 at the age of 73. This Week’s Featured Interviews: The Chernobyl nuclear disaster began on April 26, 1986 – another of those dates that will live in infamy. Here is a SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat classic episode to paint the picture of what happened and what it did to the people who lived through it, and what we still face. Originally produced for Nuclear Hotseat #357, April 20, 2018: Bonnie Kouneva was a 15-year-old living in Communist Bulgaria when the Chernobyl disaster began, but no one knew about it because the Soviet Union said nothing to its people. On May 1, May Day, only five days after it began, Bulgarian citizens were “encouraged” by the Soviet hierarchy to attend all-day celebrations of the communist state – outdoors, in the rain – at the exact time the worst of Chernobyl’s radiation was directly overhead. Here, she paints the picture of the impact of that radiation rainout and lets us know the result of this devastating experience. Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. The late Dr. Janette Sherman edited the the English translation of the groundbreaking work, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko. Dr. Sherman was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we spoke about this book and how it came about for NH #97 on April 23, 2013. She passed away on November 20, 2019. Dr. Alexei Yablokov was environmental advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace, Russia.  His book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl that completely contradict the World Health Organization’s report, which undermined the seriousness of the accident.  Dr. Yablakov died in January, 2017. Ryuichi Hirokawa was the first non-Soviet photojournalist to document the Chernobyl disaster. The website on his humanitarian aid work with the children of Fukushima, based upon his experiences at Chernobyl, is at: kuminosato.net. Link: CLICK HERE for a free PDF of the classic book Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko, edited by Janette D. Sherman. ### NH #669: UCSB Global Nuclear Legacies Conference on the Nuke/Race/Gender/Religion/AI/Climate Connection URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ucsb-global-nuclear-legacies-conference/ Published: 2024-04-18 Duration: 00:59:16 WHY WE DO IT: Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace shows off a picture of her 3-week old great grandson – the next generation of reason for working against nukes. KEYSTONE PHOTO: Dream Team of Activists at the UCSB Global Legacies conference: (l-r) Jane Swanson, Libbe HaLevy, Linda Seeley, Melissa Bumstead, Heidi Hutner, Jim Heddle, Dr. Amanda M. Nichols, Denise Duffield, Mary Beth Brangan. This Week's Featured Interviews Last weekend, UC Santa Barbara hosted a three day Global Legacies of Anti-Nuclear Activism conference in partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi. Presenters from around the world came together to speak on the interconnectedness of issues that overlap with the detrimental effects of nuclear, including race, gender, religion, indigenous rights, and health. The full three-day UCSB program featured inquiries into the intersection of religion, gender, sexuality, and nuclear. I attended as Ambassador to the U.S. for the International Uranium Film Festival, which had me introducing Heidi Hutner’s award-winning film, RADIOACTIVE: THE WOMEN OF THREE MILE ISLAND, and conducting the after-screening Q&A with Heidi. Filmmaker Heidi Hutner (l) and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, post screening and Q&A I was only able to attend for one day, but I sat in on the roundtable discussion: Environmental Injustice and Nuclear Technologies in California. The presentation was recorded and will be uploaded to the conference website: https://www.antinuclearactivism.org/roundtable-panelists. The interviews on this program were recorded separately, on April 12 and 13, 2024. DENISE DUFFIELD – Associate Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles, a board member of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, and is on the Management Team of Back from the Brink. Here, she talks about crucial strategies for building our movement as we help build others. For more information: PreventNuclearWar.org. MELISSA BUMSTEAD – founder and co-director of Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL), which is one of California’s most toxic places and the site of one of America’s worst nuclear meltdowns. Having dealt with cancer in multiple family members, including her daughter when she was only four years old, Melissa is very attuned to information about cancer and its connection to exposure to radioactivity. Here’s a recent discovery about California cancer rates and proximity to known radioactive sites. Access full report HERE. CA areas with the top four rates of invasive breast cancer – all sites of known radiological contamination. Cathy Iwane lived in Wakayama, Japan for more than 25 years until the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. She and her daughters moved to Southern California, where they found themselves inadvertently living in close proximity to the leaking, dangerous San Onofre nuclear generating station. She fought for San Onofre’s closure, now fights for its clean-up and safe storage of radioactive waste, and has continued working on a range of nuclear issues. Here, she reiterates some important points about AI and nukes that were part of her talk. Amanda M. Nichols, Organizer of the Conference, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Environmental Studies Program at University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Nichols’ primary research falls at the intersections of environmental history and religious and gender studies, and focuses on the roles and contributions of women in the North American anti-nuclear movement. We talk about what it takes to put together a conference like this, and how others can learn how to do it for their schools or communities. Contact her via email at: amnichols@ucsb.edu or esprogram@es.ucsb.edu. Conference organizer Amanda M. Nichols, PhD, moderating a panel Jane Swanson of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace was not a speaker, but came to provide support and continue to educate herself in community with others who care. Linda Seeley is also from San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace. She has served as Vice-President and spokesperson for the group since 2009 and has also been a member of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel since its inception in 2018. Here, she share not only about what she does, but why she does it. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Any time the government wants to cover up the fact of a radiologically contaminated site, it magically turns it into a "wildlife refuge" or "available land! cheap!" So why not lure solar companies onto the Nevada NUCLEAR Test Site to install "sun farms?" No telling what will happen to the radiological levels when that dust gets kicked up during construction and operation… or what the indigenous treaty rights are regarding that land. ### NH #668: Erwin, Tennessee Nuclear Fuel Nightmare – Citizens Fight Back w/5-Expert Panel – Lodge, Ketterer, Olson, McNeill, Inoue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/erwin-tn-nuclear-fuel-nightmare/ Published: 2024-04-10 Duration: 00:59:02 Erwin TN Nuclear Fuel Nightmare – People’s Hearing for Nuclear Awareness features Lodge, Ketterer, Olson, McNeill, Inoue This Week’s Featured Interviews: Erwin, Tennessee is a small town with a big problem: Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., known as NFS, a company that since the 1960’s has been a major supplier of fuel for the United States Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered vessels. In recent years it has also reprocessed weapons-grade uranium into nuclear reactor fuel, which has impacted health and safety of people and the environment. Now, the U.S. government has granted NFS $57.5 million USD to refine uranium into thermonuclear bomb-grade material – a bad idea from so many different directions that the local citizen’s action group that opposes the plant has been fighting back, hard. One of their most inspired moves was to put together a sterling group of experts for a one-day People’s Hearing for Nuclear Awareness. We spoke with the panelists to get a full picture of the problems: Terry Lodge is an environmental and civil rights lawyer representing protesters opposing nuclear power and nuclear weapons, mountaintop removal, fracking and its radioactive waste, and war. He has been working with the Erwin Citizens Awareness Network. Michael Ketterer is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, and was formerly with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement. Mary Olson is an Evolutionary Biologist; Founder of Gender and Radiation Impact Project, and retired Radioactive Waste Specialist for Nuclear Information and Resource Service. Patrick O’Neill is a journalist co-founder of the Father Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker House, and part of the Kings Bay Plowshares nonviolent direct action and other peace work, for which he was imprisoned for more than three years. Mari Inoue, Esq., is an attorney. Born and raised in Tokyo, she is a co-founding member of the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World, which is raising awareness about concerns in communities impacted by nuclear policy. The People’s Hearing for Nuclear Awareness was held and recorded on Monday, March 27, 2023. This is an encore presentation from Nuclear Hotseat #614. For those of you who wish to participate in the Don’t Bank on the Bomb program to eliminate all funding for nuclear weapons-creating companies, go to their website: dontbankonthebomb.com The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge NATO stance towards Russia extends back long before the current war in Ukraine. Nukewatch co-Director John LaForge gives the history and an update. ### NH #667: Outrageous Nuclear Bailouts -$14+ Billion of YOUR Tax Dollars & Counting! - Nuclear Waste Watchdog Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-bailouts-14-billion-kevin-kamps/ Published: 2024-03-30 Duration: 01:05:57 Nuclear Bailout chart compiled by Environmental Working Group. This Week's Featured Interview: Kevin Kamps Veteran nuclear waste watchdog Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear gives us the straight story on how the nuclear industry has conned the federal government, state legislatures, politicians, and agencies into giving them HUGE nuclear bailouts – money, tax breaks, and other financial incentives – to keep worn out, embrittled nuclear reactors in operation. He breaks down the history, dangers, and totally irrational arguments the nukesters use to keep themselves in $4.1 million cars, private islands, and dressage horses. Links from Interview: THE NUCLEAR REACTOR NEXT DOOR – Why A Company With Zero Nuclear Reactor Operating Experience is Receiving Over $8 Billion to Restart Palisades Reactors Are Closing Holtec’s “nuclear white elephant” secret plans revealed: NEWLY UNCOVERED DOCUMENT REVEALS HOLTEC’S SECRETIVE, TRUE PLANS FOR PALISADES AND OTHER SHUTDOWN NUCLEAR SITES – SMRs at all decommissioning sites, $3.3 billion+ bailout for unprecedented Palisades zombie reactor restart The Monthly ICAN UPDATE on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Alistair Burnett, Head of Media for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) reports the latest on the Treaty from ICAN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. He interviews Lina Hjärtström, ICAN Policy Researcher based in Sweden. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) suggests we nuke Gaza! Don't believe me? CLICK HERE to hear him saying it on video! (Or just check the screen shot with transcript below.). Activist Shoutout: University of California at Santa Barbara is holding a two-day conference, Global Legacies of Anti-Nuclear Activism – April 12 and 13. UCSB teamed up with the International Urnaium Film Festival to present Heidi Hutner's award-winning film, RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island. There is no charge to attend, but you will need a reservation because there are a limited number of seats. I will be attending as the Uranium Film Festival's US Ambassador to introduce the film. Afterwards, I'll be interviewing filmmaker Heidi Hutner for a wide-ranging Q&A and lively audience participation. I will also be selling and signing my book: YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat. There are more free anti-nuclear events at UCSB that weekend. To take a look at the public program CLICK HERE. There are 3 keynotes and a roundtable session that are also open to the public – no charge on those and no tickets required. ### NH #666: SPECIAL: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown Anniversary - Timeline of the Accident, The Endless Future URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-nuclear-meltdown/ Published: 2024-03-26 Duration: 00:59:05 Three Mile Island Alert's Eric Epstein (l) and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, pictured at TMI's 40th anniversary conference held in Harrisburg, PA, in late March, 2019. This week’s full-length Three Mile Island Anniversary SPECIAL features interviews with: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education (information provided via transcript). Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of TMI Alert. Peter Bradford, who was a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner during the TMI accident. Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert. TMI Alert’s Radiation monitoring page. Mary Stamos, also known as Mary Osborn, a long time Middletown resident and TMIA member, who just passed away on February 22, 2024. NOTE: Mary Stamos' collection of mutated plants collected around Three Mile Island is now part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection, under the care of staff in the Department of Botany. Where appropriate, the specimens may be made available to Smithsonian scientists and other researchers who wish to examine them for their relevance to the Three Mile Island event of 1979. Walter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as “the most trusted newsman in America. To view his CBS network reports on TMI, CLICK HERE. Our thanks to filmmaker Robert (Robbie) Leppzer, producer of the two-hour audio documentary Voices from Three Mile Island, for permission to use excerpts from that work in this program. These include: Portions of the news montage Middletown Mayor Bob Reid Dairy farmer Jane Lee Local resident Pat Street Dr. Michael Gluck, general practitioner, who works out of three Harrisburg hospitals and lives within two miles of the TMI reactors. Robbie Leppzer's complete VOICES FROM THREE MILE ISLAND audio documentary is available as a free download at: https://www.powerstrugglemovie.com/voices-from-three-mile-island Libbe HaLevy’s nuclear memoir, YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat, contains full information on her experience having been one mile from the nuclear accident at TMI when it happened… and so much more! You can purchase your copy of the book HERE. ### NH #665: SPECIAL: Int'l Uranium Film Festival Launches in Navajo Nation - Mining, Radiation & Nuclear Lies + Powerful Indigenous Pushback URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-film-festival-navajo-nation/ Published: 2024-03-21 Duration: 01:02:25 SPECIAL: Navajo Nation Hosts Launch of Int'l Uranium Film Festival's N. American Tour Sometimes a film festival is about more than just the films. The International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) kicked off its 2024 North American tour in Window Rock, Navajo Nation, with not only powerful films but an informational and emotional space where Navajo activists could find each other, network, and strengthen their battle for health, safety & compensation. Red Carpet Meeting of the Anti-Nuclear Minds! (l-r) IUFF co-founder Marcîa Gomes de Oliviera, Anna Rondon, Kathleen Tsosie, Petuche Gilbert, Domacio Lopez, Mervyn Tilden, Libbe HaLevy The films shown were: TRANSMUTATIONS: VISUALIZING MATTER – USA/Canada, 2021, Director Jesse Andrewartha, TALE OF A TOXIC NATION – USA, 2018, Director Louis Berry, Documentary, English, 13 min DEMON MINERAL – USA, 2022, Director: Hadley Austin – life in the radioactive desert of the Navajo Reservation in the American Southwest. SILENT FALLOUT – USA/Japan, 2023, Director and Producer Hideaki Ito VALLEY OF THE GODS – Poland/Italy/Luxemburg/USA, 2019, Director Lech Majewski JADUGODA – THE LAND OF MAGIC – India, 2023, Director Satish Munda RADIOACTIVE: THE WOMEN OF THREE MILE ISLAND – USA, 2022, Director Heidi Hutner SOLAR NANOFILTRATION – USA, 2023, Director: Deidra Peaches NUKED – Canada, 2023, Director, writer and roducer: Andrew Nisker DOWNWIND – USA, 2023, Directed by Mark Shapiro and Douglas Brian Miller. OF THE SENSE OF THE WHOLE: THE NETWORK OF PHYSICIST HANS-PETER DÜRR – Germany, 2020, Director Claus Biegert IUFF Lifetime Achievement Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winners Anna Rondon (l) and Claus Biegert, holding their awards. Claus Biegert – He is a writer, filmmaker and journalist who attended the Festival from Germany. Claus helped create some of our most important anti-nuclear institutions. He initiated the World Uranium Hearing in in 1992 in Salzburg, Austria, which led in 1998 to the creation of the Nuclear-Free Future Award (NFFA). Among his many films is OF THE SENSE OF THE WHOLE: THE NETWORK OF PHYSICIST HANS-PETER DÜRR, shown at this year's Window Rock festival. Anna Rondon – Anna Rondon (Diné) is Kinya’aa’aanii Clan, born for Nakai Dineh) is a lifelong advocate for the rights of Indigenous people and, in particular, members of the Navajo Nation who have suffered as a result of uranium minining and its deadly legacy. She is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute, which works to end the health disparities resulting from decades of environmental degradation by the uranium mining industry, institutional racism directed at Indigenous communities, and multi-generational trauma. For the past 50 years, Anna has worked alongside many influential Indigenous leaders and her own spiritual advisors, which has deeply rooted her and educated her in how to navigate movement building at the various levels of organizing for change and justice. The IUFF is traveling for two months through the US and into Canada to present films in 13 cities, each set of films curated to the issues, concerns, and needs of that community. The Festival provided not only films, but served as a lightning rod to attract activist groups and services, a community in-gathering for those working on and concerned about uranium mining and its attendant issues. At Window Rock, in the beautiful Navajo Nation Museum auditorium, activists, concerned citizens, film lovers and the curious gather to learn more about all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, from the deadly impact of uranium mining through weapons, radioactive waste, downwinder issues, RECA, and more. The Festival provided opportunities for networking and planning, as well as the support that came from the wonderful films. Photo Gallery from IUFF in Window Rock: IUFF Director Norbert Suchanek doesn't take a break, not even at breakfast. IUFF WR 2024 Bobby Leonard Mason Blurry but historic: Norman Patrick Brown, 19 years old, addressing a 1979 anti-nuclear rally in DC. Just look at the size of that crowd… Norman Patrick Brown at IUFF Window Rock, 2024 Networking in the lobby of the Navajo Nation Museum: (l-r) journalist Mervyn Tilden, Damacio Lopez, Paul Griego. ### NH #664: Keep Your Money Out of Nukes! Anti-Nuclear Financial Fitness w/Domini's Mary Beth Gallagher URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nukes-money-anti-nuclear-financial-fitness/ Published: 2024-03-12 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Featured Interview: Mary Beth Gallagher Want to know how to stop nukes? Follow the money – and then take it away from the nuclear industry. Mary Beth Gallagher is Director of Engagements for Domini Impact Investments, a mutual fund firm that’s women-led and, among other ethical choices, does not invest in any company that manufactures any part of nuclear weapons. After hearing her speak at the United Nations Second Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons last December, I knew the conscientious listeners of Nuclear Hotseat deserved to hear what she had to say. I spoke with Mary Beth Gallagher on January 26, 2024. Links mentioned during the interview: Domini Impact Investments: https://domini.com/invest/ Investors Open Statement to States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW): https://divest.icanw.org/investors_open_statement_to_states_parties_on_the_treaty_on_the_prohibition_of_nuclear_weapons_tpnw, (signed by 111 investors representing at least $1,007 billion assets under management as of 1 December 2023) As You Sow Weapons Free Funds: https://weaponfreefunds.org/ US Sustainable Investment Forum (USSIF) chart of Sustainable Investment Mutual funds and ETFs: https://charts.ussif.org/mfpc/ Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter A Hollywood letter calling for an end to nuclear weapons was the initiative of an organization that promotes nuclear power. No two thumbs up to that. And here's a LINK to Linda Pentz Gunter's article on this letter in Beyond Nuclear. The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge Another American anti-nuclear activist is facing prison time in Germany for protesting nuclear weapons. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima post office is "a symbolic step towards normalcy?" Gimme a break! Links: Film – Tsukushima: Fukushima Speaks – Subtitled in English, available for one week. Hot Poetry Contest – sponsored by Hanford Challenge for U.S. school students ENTRY FORM Not Just Oppenheimer – How other scientists tried to change nuclear weaons policy for the better – and how some succeeded. Nuclear industry wants Canada to lift ban on reprocessing plutonium, despite proliferation risks ### NH #663: SPECIAL: VOICES FROM JAPAN, Fukushima at 13, Quakes + Nukes = Nuclear UNsafety - Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japan-fukushima-quakes-nukes-nuclear/ Published: 2024-03-05 Duration: 00:59:02 Nuclear Hotseat's annual Fukushima Anniversary SPECIAL: VOICES FROM JAPAN this year considers earthquake dangers to Japan's nuclear reactors. In addition to an update on Fukushima, it focuses on the January 1, 2024 Noto Peninsula quake which shook the two Shika nuclear reactors, one of them beyond what it was built to be able to sustain. Fortunately, both reactors were shut down, but that doesn't mean they were in no danger – just that it could have been much worse. This Week's Featured Interview: Once again, we benefit from having the VOICES FROM JAPAN report compiled and written by Yuji Kaneko in Japanese. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko translated. She reports from Yokohama, Japan. We spoke on March 1, 2024. VOICES FROM JAPAN Sources and LINKS to videos and articles Nuclear Hotseat's VOICES FROM JAPAN was researched and compiled from the following English and Japanese sources. NOTE: All Japanese language videos have been set to English captions; CLICK the CC button. Hokuriku Electric Company Shika Nuclear Power Plant outline. (Japanese) https://www.rikuden.co.jp/genshiryoku/shikagaiyou.htm Citizens Commission on Nuclear Energy (Japanese with a limited English website) https://www.ccnejapan.com/ Citizens Nuclear Information Center (Japanese). https://cnic.jp Citizens Nuclear Information Center (English). https://cnic.jp/english/ Article on the safety of restarting the Onagawa Plant. https://cnic.jp/english/?p=4751 Japan Nuclear Regulation Authority (Japanese) https://www.nra.go.jp/activity/regulation/tekigousei/power_plants/index.html Our Planet TV symposium on the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and Nuclear Power Plants (Japanese, English closed captions added) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejixdypBvL4&t=26s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq7hr9_rUlY Citizens Commission on Nuclear Energy Noto Peninsula Earthquake Symposium (Japanese; English closed captions added) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hZc-xQHkSU Democracy Times Noto Peninsula Earthquake Symposium (Japanese; English closed captions added) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aItEfr_4q1c TBS News Dig video on defeated plans for the Suzu Nuclear Power Plant and the damage around the Shika plant (Japanese, English closed captions added) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5fypbNxn3 Ishikawa TV video on land upheaval (Japanese, English closed captions added) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5fypbNxn3k. Tokyo Shimbun Newspaper (Japanese). https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/300551 Video of the present state of Fukushima Daiichi with former Nuclear Hotseat guest, reporter Takeshi Yamakawa (in Japanese, English closed-captions added). https://youtu.be/BmUsdc5MoWQ?si=Ch9NDJ5aKd6_EGDW Screen shot from reporter Takeshi Yamakawa‘s video report on Fukushima Daiichi. Kyodo News Service. https://nordot.app/1133017937588765172 TEPCO. https://www.tepco.co.jp/niigata_hq/kk-np/index-j.html Tohoku Electric Power Company. https://www.tohoku-epco.co.jp/electr/genshi/safety/onagawa/ The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/08/japan/science-health/fukushima-water-leak/ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2022/08/the-diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant-assessing-the-seismic-risks-of-extended-operation/ Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: When we remember the Fukushima nuclear disaster, an accident that could happen anywhere, the only lesson should be to cease all further use of dangerous nuclear power technology. Explosion at Fukushima. Daiichi nuclear power facility Reactor 1 on March 12, 2011. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ugly numnutz – because "cheaper" and "faster" are two words you NEVER want to associate with nuclear construction, operation, or decommissioning. I wish someone would inform Congress… Links: Baby Tooth Study – TV report on current studies on 100,000 baby teeth collected starting in \ 1959 to check radioactive Strontium 90 levels from atmospheric nuclear tests in the teeth of children. The initial study led President Kennedy and Russia's Premier Khrushchev to sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. Dr. Yuki Miyamoto of DePaul University on Oppenheimer Film: a Victim or a Victimizer? Japan must cease Fukushima dumping and establish independent oversight body, says Japanese nuclear power expert
 Tatsujiro Suzuki, the vice director of the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition at Nagasaki University RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island will be streaming as of March 12 on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video. There is also a Webinar, March 28 at 8pm EST: “RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island, Gender, Environmental Justice, and the Future of Nuclear Power.” ### NH #662: Belly of the Beast: LASG's Greg Mello at DC Nuclear Deterrence Summit + NEW! ICAN Update URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-deterrence-summit-greg-mello/ Published: 2024-02-29 Duration: 00:58:59 This Week's Featured Interview: Greg Mello is Executive Director and one of the founders of the Los Alamos Study Group, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The group has worked for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, social justice, and economic sustainability, with actions including policy research, environmental analysis, congressional education and lobbying, community organizing, and litigation. Recently, Greg took himself to the belly of the beast – the DC conference Nuclear Deterrence Summit 2024, for front-line purveyors of nuclear weapons components, self-serving justifications, and lobbying opportunities to grab taxpayer money while preparing the means to obliterate the world. To even walk into such an environment, Greg Mello shows himself to be a braver man than I. We spoke on Feb. 16, 2024. A networking session, with trade booths, at the 2024 Nuclear Deterrence Summit in DC. Each of those tables costs $6,000 – $7,500 for 90 minutes of branding. Logo keychains, anyone? Links referenced in this interview: Los Alamos Study Group Call for Sanity, Not Nuclear Production- PLEASE SIGN! NEW FEATURE: The ICAN Update – From the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons The ICAN Update – with Alistair Burnett, Susi Snyder With this episode, Nuclear Hotseat introduces our first monthly report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Every month, we'll present an update produced by ICAN and coming to us directly from their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It will contain cutting edge information on what's being done to pass the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as well as insights into the tactics and strategies being used – and what you can do to help the world get rid of nukes. A Nuclear Hotseat EXCLUSIVE. Here’s Alistair Burnett, ICAN’s Head of Media, coming to us from ICAN’s Geneva, Switzerland headquarters, with this update on the campaign to get the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW, enforced as international law. He's joined by Susi Snyder, ICAN's Programme Coordinator. Links: Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, upon winning Best Director at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards, shows that maybe he's becoming aware of the world of us who protest against nuclear weapons and do not worship at the shrine of Oppy. Comments pertinent to the anti-nuclear movement start at 1:40: Karl Grossman, veteran award-winning environmnental journalist, was acknowledged for his outstanding independent journalism through that most telling of acknowledgements: an editorial cartoon (below). It even looks like him! ### NH #661: Dr. Gordon Edwards - Proposed Canadian Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dump Threatens Water for First Nations, Ottawa, Montreal URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chalk-river-radioactive-nuclear-waste/ Published: 2024-02-22 Duration: 00:59:02 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards, addressing the United Nations Dr. Gordon Edwards is a mathematician, physicist, nuclear consultant, as well as president and co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, a not-for-profit corporation established in 1975. He has served as a consultant on nuclear issues for governmental and non-governmental bodies for over 45 years, and been accepted as an expert witness by US and Canadian courts and tribunals. He is frequently invited to testify before provincial and federal bodies, and to give major addresses in various countries. He also explains complex nuclear matters in a way that is easy to understand, for which I am deeply grateful. Here, he explains the proposed Chalk River nuclear waste dump in Ontario, adjacent to the Ottawa River and upstream of Ottawa, Montreal, and the St. Lawrence River, to be built on First Nations lands. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): GREENWASHING ALERT: Boeing is aiming at school kids with their 12-week naturalist training at the Santa Susana Field Lab in Simi Valley – one of California’s most toxic sites that’s never been cleaned up. Of course, not one word about the radiological and other toxic contamination of the site. And they charge for it! To learn more about Boeing's greenwashing of the SSFL site CLICK HERE. Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab Nuclear Disaster demo that shut down a planned greenwashing Earth Day hike through the toxic, radiologically contaminated site. Well done! Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: More shoes are dropping — or should that be ankle bracelets? — as further indictments are handed down in the Ohio nuclear power scandal. ### NH #660: RECA LIVES! Dawn Chapman on DC Meetings, Hawley Support for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reca-dawn-chapman-hawley-radiation/ Published: 2024-02-15 Duration: 00:59:02 Hand-out prepared by Navajo Nation and given to members of Congress during meetings on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). KEYSTONE PHOTO: The team that educated Congress for passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. (l-r) Christen Commuso, Reyaun Francisco, Karen Nickel, Dawn Chapman, Rep. Tricia Byrnes, Rep Chantelle Nickson-Clark This Week's Featured Interview: Dawn Chapman (center) and Sen. Josh Hawley (l, maroon tie) at the DC press conference on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel founded Just Moms STL in 2014 to raise awareness of the issues their community was facing from Manhattan Project legacy nuclear waste and other hazardous materials buried at the West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis County, Missouri. When we spoke for this interview, Dawn had just returned home after a whirlwind third trip to the capitol in six months, to educate Congressional members on the need for RECA. She had been joined in this education/lobbying trip by other victims of radiation exposure from the Manhattan Project in Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, as well as reps from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Because this opportunity presented itself when Dawn's energy was still riding high from the experience, we decided to jump in and do the interview "on the wing." Some wonderfully spontaneous moments occurred, along with the solid, front-line information she provided. I talked with Dawn Chapman on Monday, February 12, 2024. Contact Information for Dawn Chapman and Just Moms StL: westlakemoms@gmail.com Just Moms StL on Facebook West Lake Landfill on Facebook Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Megajoules and megaheadlines are all nuclear meganonsense, reports Linda Pentz Gunter on the latest so-called fusion breakthrough and other not-so-hot stories. John LaForge with the Nukewatch Report John LaForge , co-director of Nukewatch, with our monthly focus on nuclear weapons and global politics, The Nukewatch Report. Links: The latest edition of Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center’s newsletter Nuke Info Tokyo NH # 536 Interview with Caitlin Stronell, Editor of Nuke Info Tokyo, Citizens' Nuclear Information Center Congress takes aim at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: ‘It’s déjà vu all over again’ by Victor Gilinsky for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists An Open Letter to Bill Gates About his Wyoming Atomic Reactor by Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education Today’s AI threat: More like nuclear winter than nuclear war ### NH #659: Nuclear Clean-Up Lies, Tricks & Secrets - It's all the same! Melissa Bumstead on Santa Susana Field Lab in CA, Vina Colley on Piketon/Portsmouth in Ohio URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-clean-up-lies-tricks-secrets/ Published: 2024-02-08 Duration: 00:58:53 This Week's Featured Interviews: Vina Colley – Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security Vina Colley (seen in keystone photo on the left) has been fighting for nuclear clean-up in Piketon, Ohio, from radioactive waste created by the long-closed Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. But sweetheart deals between government and nukesters are leading to Ohio building two new nuclear reactors in the area and becoming something they call a “nuclear hub” — which more realistic minds call a nuclear sacrifice zone. Thousands of metal cylinders of corrosive radioactive waste — most weighing 14 tons and many heavily etched with rust — stretch across industrial yards. Five plumes of poisoned groundwater lie beneath the surface, one of them so close to private land that traces of contamination were found in a monitoring well on a nearby farm. Buildings are contaminated with radiation, beryllium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and asbestos. Now a supposed “clean up” is proceeding without public oversight or input, and spreading the risk – and Vina, as founder and head of National Nuclear Workers for Justice and PRESS – Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security – has been fighting ferociously against it. We spoke on February 2, 2024. CONTACT for Vina Colley: vcolley@earthlink.net ; Vina Colley on Facebook Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS) National Nuclear Workers for Justice (NNWJ) Melissa Biumstead – Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab Burn pit at Santa Susana Filed Labs Area 1, which was supposed to begin on Monday, Feb. 5 but was delayed by the massive rainstorm and flooding. Historical photo from Parents Against the Santa Susana Field Lab. The Santa Susana Field Lab in Simi Valley, 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, is the site of an un-contained nuclear meltdown in 1959, which vented radioactivity directly into the environment and contaminated the land for miles around – a fact which not discovered until 20 years later. It has burn pits that were used for improper disposal of nuclear and other highly toxic materials, and suffers from decades of neglect and lies by whatever company had control of it at that time. Now Boeing – current owner of a major portion of the site – is suddenly launching into an “emergency” clean-up. But what’s behind this sudden “emergency,” and what lies between the claim of “clean-up” and the way it’s being handled? There’s a huge gap, with all details kept hidden from the local community. That’s what today’s guest, Melissa Bumstead, addresses. Melissa became an accidental activist for the SSFL cleanup after her four year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia in 2014. She is Founder of Parents Against SSFL and a tireless – though often tired – grassroots Organizer. When we spoke, it was during the recent massive rain storm that created flooding, landslides and mudslides throughout southern California – and we make reference to the impact of that storm on the Santa Susana Field Lab site. I spoke with Melissa Bumstead on February 5, 2024. In the Dark of the Valley – An award-winning documentary on the Santa Susana Field Lab featuring Melissa Bumstead and the other activist moms. Free with ads. LINK to SSFL survey – please fill out! Circus Tent could Cover SSFL Site Remediation, Protect Local Residents from Radioactive Dust A circus-style tent was used in New Mexico during remediation of the Los Alamos National Lab site, so why not cover the SSFL burn pit remediation one? Here are just two of the circus tent manufacturers here in the U.S. capable of making an appropriate tenf for uner $100,000 – chump change to a company like Boeing. Armbruster Tentmaker Big Top Circus Tents For Sale Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Post-nuclear apocalypse, why does anyone think that seaweed will keep us alive and sane? Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter There’s a coup underway on Capitol Hill to make an already toothless lapdog, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, even weaker – by removing safety as a priority. ### NH #658: Int'l Uranium Film Festival Coming to US, Canada! - Norbert Suchanek + Holtec Illegally Evaporating Pilgrim RadWater in MA - Diane Turco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-film-fest-holtec-pilgrim-radwater/ Published: 2024-02-01 Duration: 00:59:17 Int'l Uranium Film Festival Coming to US, Canada! – Norbert Suchanek + Holtec Illegally Evaporating Pilgrim Radwater in MA – Diane Turco This Week's Featured Interviews: (l-r) International Uranium Film Festival Co-founders and Directors Marcîa Gomes de Oliviera and Norbert Suchanek, and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the 2023 IUFF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil This Week's Featured Interviews: Norbert Suchanek – This spring, the International Uranium Film Festival is launching a marathon tour of 12 cities, presenting unique and powerful films about all aspects of the nuclear industry . IUFF co-founder and General Director Norbert Suchanek paints the picture of this massive moveable cinematic feast, which begins March 7 at Window Rock in Navajo Nation, and continues to Tucson (AZ), Austin (TX), Ashville (NC), Chicago (IL), Spokane (WA), Vancouver in Canada, Seattle (WA), Olympia (WA), Portland (OR), Salem (OR), and Santa Barbara (CA) before concluding in Las Vegas (NV). We spoke on January 25, 2024. LINK to the full US 2024 schedule LINK to filmmaker submission page for 2025 consideration Water bottle lable Cape Downwinders tape on top of bottles they carry and give away. Gets the point across! Diane Turco is Director of Cape Downwinders a grassroots activist organization with the goal to protect our communities and environment from the dangers present at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and nuclear waste dump in Plymouth, MA. In this interview, she explains how the company decommissioning Pilgrim, Holtec, has been legally forbidden to dump radioactively contaminated waste water into Cape Cod Bay, so it has instead been heating and boiling off the water to release as steam into the atmosphere – also not legal, but it took a whistleblower to bring this issue to the fore. We spoke just before production oncluded today, January 30, 2024. Studies to examine health risks of New England nuclear power plants Harvard launches two studies of Pilgrim nuclear plant health risks Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Are we tired yet of rich, elite men telling us the world "wants" nuclear energy? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Visiting Boeing's Santa Susana Field Lab in California's Simi Valley, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles? Well, they've got a brochure filled with safety warnings that lists everything… EXCEPT THE RADIATION DANGERS! To learn the history and the dangers that exist even today of the Santa Susana Field Lab, watch the film In The Dark of the Valley. Official trailer is below: LINKS: Happy 60th anniversary to Dr. Strangelove – still as pertinent as ever… alas! Here's actor Slim Pickens taking the ride of a lifetime… which is about to end. Hawley Urges Oscars to Recognize American Victims of Nuclear Testing, as "Oppenheimer" Film Reaps Honors – full letter by Sen. Josh Hawley in support of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and Downwinders. Commentary: Resister celebrates nuclear ban treaty the hard way — John LaForge ### NH #657: Atomic Bamboozle film director Jan Haaken Takes on SMRs, Pacific NW Nuclear Nightmares + Doomsday Clock Stuck, Bill Nye Sucks URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-657-atomic-bamboozle-doomsday-clock/ Published: 2024-01-25 Duration: 00:57:02 Atomic Bamboozle film director Jan Haaken Takes on SMNRs, Pacific NW Nuclear Nightmares + Doomsday Clock Stuck, Bill Nye Sucks This Week's Featured Interview: Jan Haaken is a professor of psychology and director of the documentary Atomic Bamboozle. The 46-minute film portrays a nuclear industry still rising quickly while downplaying nuclear power’s most crucial and recurring issues—those unresolved and unchanged by small modular nuclear reactors (SMNRs, referred to by the industry as SMRs). Haaken interviewed physicists, activists, conservationists, indigenous community members, focusing on the lies behind the push for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. We spoke on January 15, 2024. Links for This Week's Featured Interview: Colorado Environmental Film Festival Atomic Bamboozle page for Colorado Environmental Film Festival – for in-person and streaming tickets https://ceff2024.eventive.org/welcome – Overall festival info Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The Doomsday Clock was unveiled on Tuesday, January 23, still set at 90 seconds to midnight. But Bill Nye (the ‘Science Guy’) told the audience watching that we should go ahead and hate him and love nuclear power and fusion. Say what? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Salty, crunchy, potato chip-like seaweed snacks, made from laver (aka nori) seaweed. Mmmm mmmm good… or is it? What about possible radiation content when it's been harvested from Fukushima's waters? Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The Doomsday Clock was unveiled on Tuesday, January 23, still set at 90 seconds to midnight. But Bill Nye (the ‘Science Guy’) told the audience watching that we should go ahead and hate him and love nuclear power and fusion. Say what? Activist Shout Out! Keepers of the Water will be presenting a four-part webinar on uranium mining issues in Northern Saskatchewan. No registration is required and it will broadcast live from this Facebook Event Page, https://fb.me/e/6zNAhAEJG. All webinars will begin at 6 pm Central time (SASK). #1 – January 30th, 2024, Indigenous Resistance to Uranium Mining. #2 – February 13th, 2024: Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) and Consent in Saskatchewan: What You Haven’t Been Told #3 – February 27, 2024: Health Impacts of Uranium Mining on Indigenous Bodies #4 March TBD, 2023: Decolonizing the Industrial Approach to Mining Our Traditional Lands Ian Zabarte, Karen Pettit NDE & Areeya Priestess at Temple of Sekmet at the Las Vegas Martin Luther King, Jr. parade using a mock-up of a nuclear waste canister as a float. Links in Response to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' article: Why a nuclear weapons ban would threaten, not save Humanity, by Zachary Kallenborn A response to Kallenborn: Why realism requires that nuclear weapons be abolished by Ward Hayes Wilson Nuclear deterrence is the existential threat, not the nuclear ban treaty by Ivana Nikolić Hughes, Xanthe Hall, Ira Helfand, Mays Smithwick | Other Links: Health risks from nuclear contamination in St. Louis denounced at congressional hearing You've Probably Passed A Nuclear Weapon On The Highway And Didn't Even Know It John LaForge: Senior nonviolent resister celebrates nuclear ban treaty the hard way ### NH #656: Nobel Peace Prize-winning ICAN's New Exec. Director Melissa Parke, Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-656-ican-melissa-parke-ban-nukes/ Published: 2024-01-18 Duration: 00:59:02 International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) new Executive Director, Melissa Parke (L) interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interview: Melissa Parke took over the helm of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) as Executive Director in September, 2023. She is a former Australian Minister for International Development and former Member of Parliament for the Australian Labor Party for Fremantle from 2007 to 2016. As an MP, she regularly voiced support for nuclear disarmament, including as a member of a cross-party parliamentary group dedicated to the cause. She has also been an ambassador for ICAN Australia and has served as a patron of the Tom Uren Memorial Fund, which supports ICAN's work. She began working on nuclear issues in the 1990s when she joined a campaign to oppose the establishment of a global nuclear waste dump in her home state of Western Australia. Her former constituency of Fremantle is a self-declared "nuclear-free zone" and active member of the Hiroshima-based Mayors for Peace network. Prior to entering the Australian Parliament, Ms Parke served as an international lawyer with the United Nations in Kosovo, Gaza, New York and Lebanon. More recently, she served as a member of the UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen. I spoke with Melissa Parke on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So many numnutz to choose from! The Congressional "comprehensive" 160-page review of nuclear arms build-up that doesn't mention "waste" even once, or Atoms4Food <!>? Links: How You Can Get your city, town or local authority to join the ICAN Cities Appeal. Even if you’ve never engaged with local politics before, it’s easier than you might think. Learn whether your city is yet involved Here – and if not, what you can do about it. New York Times Minimizes Impacts of Three Mile Island by Karl Grossman Nuclear-free NYC: How New Yorkers are disarming the legacies of the Manhattan Project "Steadfast Noon" spells Doom by John LaForge The backstory on this week's Numnutz: Why a nuclear weapons ban would threaten, not save, humanity "The Hate Song" from the original cast recording of "The Mad Show," illustrating in musical theatre terms the futility of trying to get rid of war with… well, more war. Perfect for Zachary Kallenborn, who just wrote that extensive screed (see: above) on how abolishing nuclear weapons will make us more vulnerable to nuclear weapons. (Say what…?) ### NH #655: Nuclear Weapons: US Stages Nukes in Non-Nuclear European States - John LaForge + UN TPNW Follow-Up URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/us-stages-nukes-in-europe/ Published: 2024-01-11 Duration: 00:59:14 This Week's Featured Interviews: A round-up of short featured interviews by outstanding anti-nuclear campaigners. Dr. Ivana Hughes. She is President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Hughes comes to the Foundation from Columbia University where she is a senior lecturer in discipline in the Department of Chemistry, and where she served as the director of the K=1 Project, Center for Nuclear Studies. Dr. Ivana Hughes, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Dimity Hawkins from Australia. She is a co-founder and current Board member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Australia). She is also a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge We're proud to announce a new feature focusing on US nuclear weapons policy, NATO and US nuclear positions in Europe, and the politics of nukes, with John LaForge. He has been a Co-Director of the peace and nuclear watchdog group Nukewatch since 1992. John is a veteran Plowshares activist, a journalist syndicated by PeaceVoice.org, and a regular contributor to Counterpunch.org. With Arianne Peterson, he co-edited Nuclear Heartland: A guide to the 450 land-based missiles of the United States. John LaForge, Nukewatch The Nukewatch Report with John LaForge will appear once a month on Nuclear Hotseat. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The nukesters head-hunt Linda Pentz Gunter! Look at the perks! The money! The promises! How could she resist? (Did no one at IAEA actually read her bio…?) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When one thinks of Fukushima, "sushi" is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. LINKS: How passport privilege undermines the nuclear ban treaty Oppose uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. Please take a minute to sign on to a letter to the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice. Let them know you're concerned about a uranium mine operating so near the Grand Canyon and within the new national monument. HELP WANTED! National Radioactive Waste Coalition is looking to hire a coordinator. 24 hours a week, $25/hour. Chicago-based, remote possible, travel involved. Full info HERE ### NH #654: JAPAN QUAKE + Depleted Uranium Plume from Ukraine Hit UK - Dr. Chris Busby + DU Dangers - Damacio Lopez URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japan-quake-depleted-uranium-plume/ Published: 2024-01-04 Duration: 01:01:07 Dr. Chris Busby, DU weapons expert Depleted Uranium Plume from Ukraine Hit UK – Dr. Chris Busby + DU Dangers – Damacio Lopez This Week's Featured Interviews: Dr. Chris Busby is a British scientist primarily studying the health effects of internal ionizing radiation. He is a director of Green Audit Limited, a private company, and scientific advisor to the Low Level Radiation Campaign. He is well known for his testimony in support of UK nuclear workers who suffered from radiation exposure and were seeking compensation from the government. Damacio Lopez is both a scholar and activist on DU who was born and still lives in Soccoro New Mexico, less than 30 miles from where DU weapons were developed and tested. Damacio has spoken in more than 30 countries, at more than 100 colleges and universities, and at the UN, and he helped draft bans on DU weapons for Belgium and Costa Rica which still stand. This is an excerpt from our interview from Nuclear Hotseat #625, June 13, 2023. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Leave the World Behind sends a metaphorical warning about the perils of ignoring existential threats — a good admonition about the folly of our continued use of nuclear power, says Linda Pentz Gunter. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Now the nukesters are claiming that they have a portable nuclear reactor all set to go in 2029, aiming for Saskatchewan as their ground zero. But nukesters always claim great advances that are just a forgettable period of time into the future, by which point we'll have forgotten their broken promises. Links: The California-based Samuel Lawrence Foundation has generously donated a new award to the International Uranium Film Festival. This award, named the "Samuel Lawrence Foundation Award for the Best Young Filmmaker," will be presented to the most outstanding film of the year directed by promising new talents, accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize. For more information, contact the Festival directly: Márcia Gomes de Oliveira, Co-Founder & Executive Director, International Uranium Film Festival. US Promotion of Banned Fukushima Seafood Contradicts Biden’s Cancer Initiatives, by Kimberly Roberson COP28 and the nuclear energy numbers racket from the Union of Concerned Scientists Activist Shout-outs: Klee Benally It is with great sadness that we mark that passage of Klee Benally, a Navajo activist and musician who advocated on behalf of Indigenous people and environmental causes. Benally advocated for the cleanup of abandoned mines, where uranium ore was extracted from the Navajo Nation over decades to support U.S. nuclear activities during the Cold War. He protested police violence and racial profiling and was among activists who gathered outside metro Phoenix’s NFL stadium in 2014 to denounce the offensive team name previously used by the franchise from Washington, D.C. An accomplished musician, he released acoustic album, “The Unsustainable Sessions’ in November 2019. The musician/activist released acoustic album, The Unsustainable Sessions in November 2019. The musician/activist died Dec. 30 at a Phoenix hospital. He was only 48 years old. ### NH #653: Annual SPECIAL - NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR Award, 2023! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/numnutz-of-the-year-award-2023/ Published: 2023-12-27 Duration: 01:05:31 The ultimate in nuclear numnutzery – the atomic/nuclear/hydrogen bomb – brought to you by the winner(s) of the annual Nuclear Hotseat Numnutz of the Year for 2023! SPECIAL – Annual NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR Award, 2023! As regular listeners to the show will know, Nuclear Hotseat’s Numnutz of the Week is a regular feature that highlights the absurdity, stupidity, short-sightedness, and greed of the nuclear industry. Not necessarily the blatant headine insanity of the big stories, but smaller bits that assail our senses and are so crazy they're… well, numnutz. This compilation from the past year's NOTW features culminates in awarding the highly coveted Numnutz of the Year, 2023 – followed by a eulogy/elegy written and sung by Tom Lehrer which explains concisely – and in perfect rhyme – exactly what we're facing. A way to wish you a peaceful, healthy, happy, nuke-free 2024 and beyond! Link: Tom Lehrer, "We Will All Go Together When We Go" LINK to Nuclear Hotseat #611 – Voices from Japan 2023 – which features producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko's on-the-ground report on Denshoukan, the Great Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Museum, Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture. Central headquarters for pro-nuclear propaganda aimed at children and teens. Learn in-depth how kids are being manipulated into accepting nuclear energy. Tomarinkan Nuclear Energy PR Center, Tomari, Hokkaido: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko with the Tomarinkan Mascot cartoon character. (Nicknamed Mr. Nuclear Condom). Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. ### NH #652: HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Peace Hero Sr. Megan Rice on Y12/US "Uranium Fort Knox" Protest Break-In - A Nuclear Hotseat Classic URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/peace-hero-megan-rice-us-uranium-fort-knox-protest-break-in/ Published: 2023-12-15 Duration: 00:58:58 This Week’s Special Year-End Interviews: Let's end the year with inspiration from the late Sr. Megan Rice and a way to effectively fight back against nukes with Susi Snyder of ICAN. Sister Megan Rice Sr. Megan Rice was a Roman Catholic nun who was arrested more than 40 times for protesting America’s military industrial complex and nuclear weapons-. She’s best known for breaking into Y-12, one of the world’s largest and most highly guarded uranium storage sites – the "Fort Knox" of the US uranium stockpile. But on July 28, 2012, this diminutive octogenarian nun and two other senior antinuclear activists used simple bolt cutters and their beliefs to walk into Y-12 – and not be noticed for more than 30 minutes! Our extremely embarrassed government threw the book at these three activists, charging them with “sabotage” – a felony with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. She and the others served just over two years before being released. Sr. Megan passed away on Oct 17, 2021 at the age of 91, and there is no better commemoration of her life and work than her own words, recorded for Nuclear Hotseat on May 25, 2012, just after her release from prison. Susi Snyder: What You Can Do to Help De-Fund Nuclear Weapons Susi Snyder, posing with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Nobel Peace Prize for 2017. Susi Snyder is Programmer Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. For more than a decade, Susi headed the Don’t Bank on the Bomb project, which was her position when we spoke for this interview on May 10, 2019. Her information is as relevant now as it was then. The report on nuclear bomb producing companies that she references is updated every year. The 2024 report, “Risky Returns: Nuclear weapon producer and their financiers” is a joint publication of ICAN and PAX. ### NH #651: TPNW SPECIAL, Pt. 2: US Congressman, Int'l Gov't Reps Support Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty at UN URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tpnw-un-i-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty/ Published: 2023-12-13 Duration: 00:59:02 TPNW SPECIAL, Pt. 2: US Congressman, Int'l Gov't Reps Support Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty at UN (l-r) State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, MA; US Congressional Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts; Bill Kidd, member of Scottish Parliament; Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa. After a press conference on the steps of the United Nations building. Keystone Picture: One of the 30 posters selected to line the walls of the United Nations. Hey, on social media, kittens rank high. Maybe that's the way to get attention…? This Week's Featured Interviews: Politics and politicians figure prominently in the struggle to get governments to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Here are a few of those who showed up at the United Nations, November 27 – December 1, for the 2nd Meeting of Sttes Parties on the TPNW. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the first and, to date, only member of the US congress to attend meetings on the TPNW.Rep. McGovern referenced other Congressional supporters of the TPNW. Here is a brief video featuring some of them calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons: Mayor Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa and member of Mayors for Peace. State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, MA Bill Kidd, member of Scottish Parliament Heather McPherson, member of Canadian Parliament Canadian MP Heather McPherson (l) with Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy HIROSHIMA Mayor Kazumi Matsui, who spoke with us through an interpreter: Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui (r) and his interpreter in front of display of information about the Hiroshima atomic bombing and the experiences of the Hibakusha (Atomic bomb blast survivors). The treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons has other supporters representing international as well as local interests. Jay Coughlin, the executive director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico – and no stranger to Nuclear Hotseat listeners – fills us in on another powerful supporter – John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico – one of the most nuclear-intensive sites in the world. Here is a LINK to Archbishop Wester's full statement: https://archdiosf.org/documents/2023/11/231122_TPNW_Statement_ASF.pdf Filling us in on the range of problems we are facing from nukes – not just weapons but nuclear power, uranium mining and the entire nuclear fuel chain, was Jackie Cabasso of the Western States Legal Foundation. Jackie Cabasso Setsuko Thurlow, a Hibakusha and leader with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was scheduled to speak but illness prevented her from appearing. Here is the speech she would have delivered, "We Shall Not Be Moved.": LINK Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Triple nuclear global capacity by 2050? Build 115 reactors a year until then? Fusion is the solution? Nuclear madness at the COP28 climate summit reaches new heights, or would that be depths? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): How to boost acceptance of nuclear energy? Make the reactors prettier!!!!! (Oh, yeah, that'll really help… <!>) ### NH #650: EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Int'l Activists Gather in NYC for UN 2nd Meeting of States Parties on Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (TPNW) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/intl-activists-un-treaty-ban-nuclear-weapon/ Published: 2023-12-06 Duration: 01:08:09 NH #650: EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Int'l Activists Gather in NYC for A Week of UN Meetings on Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (TPNW) This Week's EXCLUSIVE REPORT on the UN Meetings of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Interviewees: Pablo Sadgardurl, Mexico City. He has created an interactive map of international nuclear test locations akin to Alex Wellerstein's Nukemap. Check out the world of nuclear tests and hibakusha communities here: nucleartestimpacts.org Kendra Wahogreneales from Sweden. Janet Fenton, Scotland Lynn Jamieson, Scotland Petuche Gilbert, Navajo Nation Aigerim Seitenova – Kazakhstan Joey Tau, Pacific Islands Eperi Lesuma, Fiji Melissa Parke, Executive Director, ICAN. ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke's ICAN high level statement delivered to the opening of the Second Meeting of States Parties of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear War U.S. Congressman, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), the first and only (thus far) U.S. Member of Congress to attend United Nations meetings on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Claus Biegert, founder of the Nuclear Free Future Awards, holding a specially designed Delft plate to honor the late Daniel Ellsberg. 2023 Nuclear Free Future Award winners Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross of French Polynesia (r) and Tina Cordova of the Tularosa Basin in New Mexico, in a heartfelt hug of congratulations and empathy for their shared status as NFFA winners, Downwinders, and cancer survivors. Susi Snyder, Programme coordinator, ICAN. ### NH #648 - Back after the Hack - Alison Katz on World Health Organization's Lies about Chernobyl URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/world-health-org-chernobyl-lies/ Published: 2023-11-29 Duration: 00:59:02 What's been going on… Hi All. I'm still in NYC for the United Nations 2nd Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The trip and what I've been able to learn and cover has been extraordinary, but tech has been a disaster. When I landed in NYC, my computer's space bar stopped working. After an emergency session with an Apple genius, no fix was possible in the short term so I purchased an external keyboard. It's an awkward, frustrating solution, but at least I have some use of the computer. On Monday night, November 27, I discovered that the Nuclear Hotseat website (this url) had been hacked, showing an almost blank page stating there was a database problem. I have no idea how long it was down. My computer guy was able to get the site up and working again last night, but it was down again this morning. Another fix and we were again running, but no guarantee it will stick. I'll know more tomorrow (He's in Thailand so time zones are an issue). Considering the number of business cards for the show – and the database sign-up I've been promoting – I've given out to delegates, campaigners, and media here at the TPNW meetings, this is really a bummer. Given these challenges, I've been unable to get the work done on this week's planned show from the UN., so Nuclear Hotseat #649 will post next week. In the meantime, here's a classic episode from Alison Katz of Independent WHO on how the World Health Organization "cooked the books" on Chernobyl radiation and health impact data: This Week's Featured Interview: Independent W.H.O.’s Alison Katz on World Health Organization’s Chernobyl Cover-up Chernoby Tuth, World Health Organization Lies Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who headed Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima.  The group held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning on April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The final vigil was held at the Ministry of Health on 5th May 5, 2017.   Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered remains relevant and important. ### NH #648: TPNW SPECIAL: UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear Hotseat Looks Back URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tpnw-special-nuclear-weapons-b/ Published: 2023-11-22 Duration: 00:59:02 NH #648: TPNW SPECIAL: UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear Hotseat Looks Back – Alice Slater, Heidi Hutner, Alicia Sayres-Zakre, Susi Snyder This Week's TPNW SPECIAL: Nuclear Hotseat producer/Host Libbe HaLevy will be in New York next week for the United Nations' 2nd Meeting of States Parties on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. To remind you of what it took to get this far – 93 nations are now signatories and 69 states parties – we revisit four interviews on the journey to get this far… and what lies ahead. NUKE BAN WEEK 2023 – Full Schedule This Week's Featured Interviews: In preparation for my trip next week to cover the Second Meeting of States Parties for the Treaty on the Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, we take a look back a relevant interviews from the past eight years of work to ban nuclear weapons. From 2017 – Historic audio! Heidi Hutner, on-site at the United Nations, recorded within one hour of passage of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Since that time, Heidi has released the film she produced and directed, RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island, as well as continued as director of the Sustainability Studies Program at Stonybrook University. From 2020: Covid19/Nuclear Connection – Alicia Sanders-Zakre is the Policy and Research Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). She directs and coordinates research on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, and general nuclear weapons policy. Sanders-Zakre did the research that led to creation of the infographic below, which has electrified even mainstream media outlets. She joined us from her home in Geneva, Switzerland. ICAN's 2020 info graphic on what one year of the U.S. nuclear weapons budget would buy in terms of Covid supplies. To view a comparable graphics for the UK and France, go to ICAN page: Nuclear Spending vs. Healthcare. From 2020: Alice Slater serves on the Board of Directors of World BEYOND War and is the UN NGO Representative of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Here, she is testifying before the New York City Council to convince them to sign onto the ICAN Cities Appeal. She only had two minutes, but provides a brilliant model of what can be accomplished in that brief span of time – and it's a lesson in effective, persuasive public speaking. (PS – New York signed.) From 2015: Suzi Snyder is now the program coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, where her responsibilities include facilitating the development and execution of ICAN's key programs, including the management of ICAN's divestment work and engagement with the financial sector. At the time this was recorded in 2015, Susi worked with PAX, a peace group based in The Netherlands, and with Don’t Bank on the Bomb, a brilliant program for forcing banks and pension funds to remove their investments from nuclear bomb manufacturing companies. Related Links: Sign up for ICAN general emails Sign up for ICAN research/policy emails LINK to page w/infographics for covid equivalency Story behind the info-graphics on the cost of nuclear weapons vs. healthcare costs. Global doctors oped on Covid 19 and nuclear war Newsweek article on ICAN calculations on nuclear spending vs COVID supplies ICAN CITIES APPEAL DON'T BANK ON THE BOMB ### NH #647: NUCLEAR OHIO: Piketon/Portsmouth a Radioactive Waste Hub? Mangano on Death Rates, Colley & Marida on "Deaf" Gov't Nuke Shills URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-ohio-radioactive-waste-hub/ Published: 2023-11-16 Duration: 00:59:02 Nuclear Ohio: A Radioactive Waste Hub? Mangano on Death Rates, Colley & Marida on Government Nuke Shills Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interviews: Cancer rates in the counties surrounding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio, are the highest in that state and among the highest in the country. Now Ohio is planning on expanding nuclear facilities on that site without even pretending to listen to informed citizens' concerns about the radiation's impact on their health. How bad is it? Today's guests paint a full – and frightening – picture. Joseph Mangano is Director of Radiation and Public Health Project and an epidemiologist – one who practices a branch of medical science that investigates all the factors that determine the presence or absence of diseases and disorders. The group’s Mission Statement: to conduct research on health hazards of nuclear power, and educate citizens and officials on the results. Mangano crunches public health data and teases out a true picture of the public health impact of nuclear reactors that neither the government nor the nuclear industry is willing or able to provide. Vina Colley is, in her own words, “a Whistleblower and a sick worker from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon, Ohio.” She is a Co-Founder of National Nuclear Workers for Justice (NNWJ) and Portsmouth/Piketon Resident for Environmental Safety and Security  (PRESS).  For more than 30 years, she has pushed the government to take responsibility for the radiological contamination that came from the Uranium Enrichment site, and execute The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), which was enacted in October 2000 to compensate workers for their health issues caused by working within DOE’s nuclear facilities. Vina Colley Pat Marida is Director of the Ohio Nuclear Free Network . She has more than 30 years experience fighting nuclear dangers in Ohio. Pat Marida For a final piece of this radioactive situation, Nuclear Hotseat interviewed Dr. Michael Ketterer on his work testing radiation levels in the Piketon/Portsmouth area for Nuclear Hotseat #642 (October 10, 2023). Dr. Ketterer has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, and taught at the University of Denver. Since 2000, Michael has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment, publishing and lecturing extensively, and has analyzed samples from locations worldwide. He is currently studying plutonium dioxide particles in soils near the former Rocky Flats facility in Colorado, and fingerprinting off-site contaminants near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. Michael is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Links: SATIRE ALERT: The Onion – Ohio Voters Narrowly Defeat Measure That Would Nuke Ohio (…as in, with nuclear bombs…) More to come! ### NH #646: WRONG! IAEA BLIND SPOTS in "Safety" Tests of Fukushima Radioactive Water Release - What's Missing? Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iaea-fukushima-safety-tests-wrong/ Published: 2023-11-08 Duration: 00:57:02 WRONG! IAEA BLIND SPOTS in "Safety" Tests of Fukushima Radioactive Water Release – What's Missing? Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones LOL! – IAEA working hard to make their monitoring of the radioactive Tritium-contaminated water being released from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean is actually accurate. (Screen shot from IAEA self-promotion video) This Week's Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a UK-based marine biologist, researcher and consultant. He specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here, he takes on TEPCO, Japan, and most specifically the International Atomic Energy Agency on what they are failing to do or just plain doing wrong in their "safety" tests of the radioactive Tritium-contaminated water being released from the triple meltdown Fukushima nuclear disaster site. IAEA self-congratulatory PR/Propaganda video re: their testing of the water release for "safety." IAEA propaganda/PR video casting them as heroes in the testing of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. To find out what's wrong with this picture and that claim, listen to the interview with marine biologist Tim Deere-Jones. Wilmington College's Nuclear Archive: the Peace Resource Center – Director Dr. Tanya Maus Dr. Tanya Maus is director of the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, which holds the largest archive of materials in the United States relating to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and hibakusha issues, and is second only to the Hiroshima Peace Institute in Japan in its size and scope. Tanya holds a PhD in modern Japanese history from the University of Chicago. Over the past decade, she has taught numerous history courses on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as Japanese imperialism in East Asia. She has served as the director of the PRC since January 2015, where she tends to the care and preservation of its Barbara Reynolds Memorial Archives, making its diverse contents widely accessible to researchers, humanities scholars, journalists, artists, undergraduate/high school students and the public. Through the Peace Resource Center and its archives, Dr. Maus seeks to expand the local, regional, national and international awareness of the experience and danger of nuclear war. We spoke on October 27, 2023. The Peace Resource Center’s non-violence, social justice, and global peace programming, as well as a priceless archive and collection of historical documents, makes it a unique “Hands On” space that promotes and affirms peace as a core value of the Wilmington College mission. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): What – Another type of U.S. nuclear bomb? Bigger? 24 times more powerful than Hiroshima or Nagasaki? WHY????????? Which leads us to… Wanna see what one of these new bombs would do to your neighborhood? NUKEMAP! NUKEMAP is a web-based nuclear weapons effects simulator, created in 2012 by Alex Wellerstein. Since then it has had many updates to its effects model and capabilities. It has been used by over 20 million people globally and has been featured in both academic and general-audience publications and television shows for depicting nuclear weapons effects. “The scariest site on the Internet isn’t lurking on the dark web, but hiding in plain sight at nuclearsecrecy.com,” says The Washington Post. To see what the proposed B-61-13 nuclear gravity bomb would do to Manhattan and surrounding area, Nukemap – CLICK on the LINKS or the map below to see what a bomb akin to the proposed B-61-13 nuclear gravity bomb would do to Manhattan and surrounding areas. THEN, IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT WHAT A NUCLEAR BOMB WOULD DO TO YOUR AREA, SCROLL DOWN FOR INSTRUCTIONS: To use NUKEMAP to see what one of these nuclear bombs would do in your neighborhood – or anyplace on earth: Change item #1 in the set-up (on the right) to your region, city, or neighborhood . For item #2, choose the bomb closest to the proposed new B-61 -13, the B-61-Mod 7. Make sure you check the boxes for Casualties and Radioactive Fallout. Then hit the red DETONATE button and let the games begin! Lots of fun for all ages! (…presuming you get to ANY age with these monsters available to destroy the Earth and every living thing on it.) Then share this link with your senators and congresspeople. Maybe one of their aides will be open enough to consider it. Nukemap Credit: OPENSTREETMAP/MAPBOX/NUKEMAP/ALEX WELLERSTEIN Links: Union of Concerned Scientists RECA talking points for use in calls to House Chair Mike Johnson The Dangers of Not Testing Diablo’s Reactor Unit 1 The climate blind spot in nuclear weapons policy – The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Hedge Funds Pile Into Uranium Stocks Set for ‘Dramatic’ Rise ### NH #645: BOO! Nuclear Halloween! "What Scares Me Most About Nuclear..." - 35 Activists Share Their Nightmares. URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-645-nuclear-halloween-nightmares/ Published: 2023-10-31 Duration: 00:59:00 Halloween SPECIAL: BOO! "What Scares Me Most About Nuclear…" – 35 Activists Share Their Nightmares Special feature: Halloween is supposed to be a scary holiday, and I can think of nothing scarier than nuclear. So I talked with some people who know a thing or two about nuclear to find out what about it scares them most. Vrtually everyone I recorded could have spoken for an hour at minimum. But I wanted to get as many people as possible on the show, which required limiting the length to around one minute, direct address with no interview to steer the comments. These statements came in little snippets/snapshots running from 8 seconds to 90 seconds; you’ll hear more than 30 voices, from front line anti-nuclear movement leaders to audience members at the showing of a really scary documentary about the San Onofre nuclear power plant. All were recorded between September and October, 2023. Among the activists you'll hear from: Karl Grossman – Long Island, NY Harvey Wasserman – Los Angeles Manna Jo Green – New York Leona Morgan – New Mexico Dave Kraft – Chicago Kevin Hester – New Zealand Anna Rondon – Navajo Nation Tim Deere-Jones – UK …and many more! PLUS: Scary Nuclear Stories from Hanford Site in Washington State – "The Most Polluted Place in America" Spooky Stories from Hanford – thanks to Hanford Challenge and Columbia Riverkeep Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness: Whether it originated with Aristotle, the Jesuits, or Lenin, all of them said: "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man." Or woman. The nukesters know how to put on a show – and provide materials for school involvement – to recruit the imagination of children around the world with their annual "International Nuclear Science Week." It's a real Pinnochio's Pleasure Island of trips and traps for impressionable young minds, without a single word about the forever deadly radioactive waste. And we wonder how they embed their propaganda so deeply into the world consciousness? They start young. Pure evil. Links: If You Love Nuclear Energy, Then You Love Nuclear Weapons by Harvey Wasserman Filmmaker Greg Mitchell‘s award-winning film, ATOMIC COVER-UP, is now airing for free at the PBS main site and all PBS apps, and it will start appearing over PBS stations this weekend. The film features the first on-the-ground footage of the devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the United States dropped the atomic bombs in 1945. Narration is from the newsreel photographers who were there. Devastatingly powerful film – perfect to show on a double bill with the "what – did we do something bad on the ground?!?" Oppenheimer film to fill in the blanks from that Hollywood bio-opus. The International Uranium Film Festival will return to the United States March-April, 2024 with stops scheduled in 10 states, 12 venues. Highlight will be DU in DC, films on depleted uranium weapons being shown in Washington. More information and details on the itinerary will be posted here as it becomes available. International Uranium Film Festival in Window Rock, NM, 2018 It's returning to Navajo Nation in 2024 as part of a 2-month tour of North America. ### NH #644: Nat'l Monument Loophole Still Allows Grand Canyon Uranium Mining! Leona Morgan of Haul No URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/grand-canyon-uranium-mining/ Published: 2023-10-25 Duration: 00:59:02 Nat'l Monument Loophole Still Allows Grand Canyon Uranium Mining! Leona Morgan of Haul No This Week's Featured Interview: Leona Morgan is Diné and an indigenous community organizer and activist who has been fighting nuclear colonialism since 2007. She helped to successfully prevent a new uranium mining and processing project in Churchrock and Crownpoint, New Mexico. Leona co-founded and did much work under Diné No Nukes, which helped to establish the Haul No! Initiative and Radiation Monitoring Project. Here she talks about the work of the group Haul No! I spoke with Leona Morgan on October 20, 2023. Numnutz of the Week for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness: Why do people continue to think that being a tourist on a radioactive nuclear explosion site is a good idea? Selfies at the Trinity site Links: Keynote conversation with Christopher Nolan Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Annual Gathering 2023 November 6, 2023 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Central Time REGISTER HERE Diablo Canyon Does the Time Warp List of Hollywood Films on nuclear issues ### NH #643: International Activism! 2022 Nuclear Free Future Awards Laureates Honored + 2023 Winners Announced! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-free-future-awards-2023-winners-announced/ Published: 2023-10-18 Duration: 00:57:02 International Activism! 2022 Nuclear Free Future Awards Laureates Honored + 2023 Winners Announced! 2022 Nuclear Free Future Award Laureates (top, L-R) – Anthony Lyamunda, Libbe HaLevy, Makle Gottsch (Keystone photo on landing page taken from screenshot of awards event) This Week's Featured Interviews: The Nuclear Free Future Foundation educates people about the dangers of using nuclear technology for civilian and military purposes. A highlight of their work is The Nuclear Free Future Award, which honors people around the world who are working for a nuclear-free future. Until 2018, the award ceremonies took place in various locations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, since the Covid pandemic as an online event. The 2022 winners were highlighted in a Zoom Awards ceremony on Friday, October 13, 2023, and here we present excerpts from that international call. Anthony Lyamunda has worked tirelessly to prevent uranium mining in his native Tanzania. His organization, Civil Education is the Solution for Poverty and Environmental Management (CESOPE) empowers local people with an understanding of the political process and their own rights and has led the way in opposition to uranium mining. Malte Göttsche is a junior professor and researcher in physics dealing with new verifications possibilities in nuclear arms control. His group delivers rarely found expertise and resources to foster control and verification among nuclear weapons states. He heads the research group "Verification and Nuclear Disarmament" in Aachen, Germany. Libbe HaLevy launched her international podcast, Nuclear Hotseat, in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. But her first encounter with nuclear power was in 1979 when she was one mile away from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant as it went into partial meltdown. In 2024 she will serve as the US ambassador for the International Uranium Film Festival. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A high level, international nuclear summit co-sponsored by the presumed-impartial-but-biased-pro-nuclear-in-its charter International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?!?!???– Their big press release DOESN'T HAVE EVEN ONE MENTION OF THE "R"-WORD – RADIATION/RADIOACTIVITY! Why does anyone trust the IAEA to be an impartial judge of circumstances in Japan over the dump of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific??? Links: CITIZENS RESISTANCE AT FERMI 2 – Link to petition to prevent the release of irradiated thermally heated water into Lake Erie. Includes a document explaining exactly what this case is about and why you need to sign it. REPORT on The 2023 Nuclear Free Asia Forum in South Korea by Pinar Demircan What is the nuclear test ban treaty and why is Russia changing its position? ### NH #642: RADIATION! Piketon, OH Demolition Releases, Nevada Test Site Fallout in E. California, RECA Implications - Dr. Michael Ketterer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-piketon-nevada-test-fallout-ca/ Published: 2023-10-11 Duration: 00:59:02 RADIATION! Piketon, OH Demolition Releases, Trinity Fallout in E. California, RECA Implications – Dr. Michael Ketterer Radiation researcher Dr. Michael Ketterer Dr. Michael Ketterer has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, taught at John Carroll University, Northern Arizona University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and at University of Denver. Since 2000, Michael has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment, publishing and lecturing extensively, and has analyzed samples from locations worldwide. He is currently studying plutonium dioxide particles in soils near the former Rocky Flats facility in Colorado, and fingerprinting off-site contaminants near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. Michael is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. We spoke on October 2, 2023. Michael Ketterer CONTACT Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The nukesters are choosing glamour-pusses to hawk their wares and recite their talking points. Don't they realize that someone who, in part, names herself "Dope" is not a reliable representative? Links: Nuclear Free Future Award – MEET THE WINNERS including Nuclear Hotseat’s Libbe HaLevy, 2022 winner for Education!– Friday, October 13, 2023, 10 a.m. Pacific time REGISTER https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nxZDuzIoQj6tT-B7igxKjg#/registration  FROM THE PRESS RELEASE: In 2022, three extraordinary activists were honored with a Nuclear-Free Future Award. However, at the end of 2022, the Awards transited out of their former home at the Nuclear Free Future Foundation and there was no official ceremony… Until now! Beyond Nuclear invites you to meet the 2022 winners at a special online awards ceremony on Friday, October 13 at 1pm Eastern US time. Please register at the link below to hear from uranium mining activist, Anthony Lyamunda, Resistance (Tanzania); Nuclear Hotseat podcaster, Libbe HaLevy, Education (USA); and nuclear policy researcher, Malte Göttsche, Solution (Germany) as they are interviewed about their work. A special announcement about the 2023 Awards event and winners will be made during the event. SOS: San Onofre Syndrome will be streaming online as of Sunday, October 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific time. To buy your tickets, CLICK HERE. ### NH #641: Downwinders Lobby in DC for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) + Dangers of DU Weapons in Ukraine URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/downwinders-lobby-dc-reca-du-weapons-in-ukraine/ Published: 2023-10-04 Duration: 00:59:01 Downwinders Lobby in DC for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) + Dangers of DU Weapons in Ukraine This Week's Featured Interviews Depleted Uranium Weapons in Ukraine – Damacio Lopez: Map of sites in the U.S. where depleted uranium (DU) weapons have been manufactured and/or tested. (March, 1993) – supplied by Damacio Lopez from his upcoming book, Memoirs of a Gadfly: One Man's Fight Against Depleted-Uranium Munitions. Damacio Lopez is an academic, author, researcher, and activist who focuses on the issues of depleted uranium (DU) weapons. DU weapons were developed only 2 miles from his childhood home in Socorro, New Mexico. He has traveled to Iraq to measure radiation from DU weapons and published two books on the subject. His newest book, Memoirs of a Gadfly: One Man's Fight Against Depleted-Uranium Munitions, will be published in 2024. Here, we focus on the recent US decision to send DU weapons to Ukraine. I spoke with Damacio Lopez on Friday, September 22, 2023. CONTACT DAMACIO: delicias154cr@gmail.com Damacio asks that you contact the United National Secretary General and the five members of the Security Council with your concerns. UN Secretary General António Guterres: sggeneral@un.org; CHINA: chinesemission@yahoo.com; FRANCE: https://onu.delegfrance.org/; RUSSIAN FEDERATION: https://russiaun.ru/; UNITED KINGDOM: https://www.gov.uk/contact; UNITED STATES: https://usun.usmission.gov/mission/contact-us/ Downwinders in DC Lobbying for RECA Expansion/Extension: The RECA extension/expansion lobbying group in DC. Mary Dickson is an award-winning writer, playwright, downwinder, and thyroid cancer survivor who is internationally recognized for her advocacy for survivors of nuclear weapons testing. She has spoken and written widely about the human cost of the arms race, including twice at the World Forum on Nuclear Survivors in Hiroshima. For the past three years she has been part of a consortium of downwind communities across the West as well as national allies working to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. We spoke on September 28, 2023. Dawn Chapman is co- founder of Just Moms, StL  She is one of the residents living near the Bridgeton landfill and Coldwater Creek, both of which were contaminated with Manhattan Project WWII nuclear weapons waste. We spoke on September 29, 2023. How to Contact Your Congressional Representative: Find your representative's phone, address and email at: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative FROM THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS: Sept. 27 virtual discussion, After Oppenheimer: Learn How to Call Your Member of Congress – A webinar on making effective phone calls to Congress with members of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M27XFgz9LG4 Invitation, with link for Registration, to the Nuclear Free Future Awards Event: MEET THE WINNERS – including Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, 2022 winner for Education! REGISTER https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nxZDuzIoQj6tT-B7igxKjg#/registration In 2022, three extraordinary activists were honored with a Nuclear-Free Future Award. However, at the end of 2022, the Awards transited out of their former home at the Nuclear Free Future Foundation and there was no official ceremony. Until now! Beyond Nuclear invites you to meet the 2022 winners at a special online awards ceremony on Friday, October 13 at 1pm Eastern US time. Please register at the link below to hear from uranium mining activist, Anthony Lyamunda, Resistance (Tanzania); Nuclear Hotseat podcaster, Libbe HaLevy, Education (USA); and nuclear policy researcher, Malte Göttsche, Solution (Germany) as they are interviewed about their work. A special announcement about the 2023 Awards event and winners will be made during the event. ### NH #640: "SOS - San Onofre Syndrome" Film is a Knockout! Directors Mary Beth Brangan & Jim Heddle URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-640-sos-san-onofre-syndrome-film-a-knockout-directors-mary-beth-brangan-jim-heddle/ Published: 2023-09-26 Duration: 00:59:01 SOS – San Onofre Syndrome – Knockout Film on So Cal Nuclear Reactor – Directors Mary Beth Brangan, Jim Heddle Directors Mary Beth Brangan and Jim Heddle, interviewed by Libbe HaLevy To buy tickets: https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/festivals/9beea1c1-f790-4205-98e4-27f3407bf341/feed/e42963ea-7477-4952-a073-31b60e4e280d This Week's Featured Interview: Some weeks, it's personal. A film about a nuclear nightmare only 70 miles from my house. Southern California's now-shuttered nuclear reactors at San Onofre continue to offer nightmare possibilities. How was this allowed to happen? What did it take to shut it down? What's could happen to the highly radioactive waste being stored in sub-standard canisters within 100 feet of the Pacific Ocean? And who are the dedicated activists, scientists, engineers, whistleblowers, and concerned self-educated citizens who fought and continue to fight to prevent San Onofre from turning into another Fukushima… or worse? All these questions are addressed in a new film by Mary Beth Brangan, Jim Heddle, and Morgan Peterson, SOS: San Onofre Syndrome. This week, we talk with two of the three directors behind this monumental film, more than a full decade in the making: Mary Beth Brangan and Jim Heddle, life and work partners since 1983, are documentary video and radio producers, educators, community and international organizers. They co-direct EON, the Ecological Options Network, producing video reports and blogs on activists and organizations working at local, national, and international levels for solutions to planetary challenges. MARY BETH BRANGAN is an author, award-winning filmmaker and an experienced organizer at the community, state, national and international levels. She is the Executive-Director and co-founder with her partner, James Heddle of EON, the Ecological Options Network, a non-profit organization. EON's films have been broadcast on PBS nationally and broadcast internationally and have been screened at the United Nations, the US Congress and Parliaments, libraries and universities worldwide. JAMES HEDDLE (Co-Director) has been a filmmaker and writer for the last forty years of his life. Before that he worked in civil rights as an inter-group relations professional, then as a university teacher and administrator in communications and psychology before going freelance as a media producer. With his partner Mary Beth Brangan he co-founded and co-directs EON – the Ecological Options Network, a non-profit education and media company. Trailer: To Buy Tickets: https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/feed/e42963ea-7477-4952-a073-31b60e4e280d To Purchase Tickets: https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/feed/e42963ea-7477-4952-a073-31b60e4e280d …and yes, I do show up in the film for about a total of 3 seconds: There I am, front row second from left, recording the event with former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairs Gregory Jaczko and Peter Bradford. Links: Grand Canyon Trust – Support the White Mesa Ute community on October 7 – Spiritual walk, speakers, 11 a.m. Rally. Petition for UK citizens: Remove the word "CLEAN" from nuclear branding Hanford Challenge Resource Page for Hanford nuclear workers Nuclear Heartland USA – A Guide to the 450 Land-Based Missiles inside the United States from Nukewatch IAEA essay competition for people between 18 and 24. Need Help to Move Nuclear Hotseat's Archives As I explained on the program, I am dealing with an infestation of rodents in my home and have to clear out my storage space for the exterminators to do their work. That means my archive of more than 600 Nuclear Hotseat episodes must be moved within the next two weeks. I lack the physical and financial means to rent a storage space and people to move approximately 12-15 cartons of files. If you can help, email me at: info@nuclearhotseat.com. Long term, I'm also seeking a university or research facility that would be willing to take the archive and make it available to the public. If you can help there, let me know. THANK YOU! ### NH #639: Activist Insiders on Diablo Canyon Embrittlement & Palisades Nuclear Restart - Harvey Wasserman, Linda Seeley, Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/wasserman-diablo-canyon-palisades-nuclear/ Published: 2023-09-20 Duration: 00:59:11 Activist Insiders Get Real: Harvey Wasserman talks Diablo Canyon w/Linda Seeley, Palisades Nuclear w/Kevin Kamps The Esteemed veteran anti-nuclear activist Harvey Wasserman. This Week's Featured Interview: I just returned from a week off-grid and offline, only to discover that the interview I wanted to set up was already being conducted by esteemed veteran activist Harvey Wasserman, and he has graciouslly allowed me to present excerpts from it here. Harvey holds a regular weekly Zoom call on nuclear and political election issues , with a focus on California but always branching out to address national topics. Here, he focuses on reactor embrittlement issues at Diablo Canyon in California and the proposed re-opening of Pallisades nuclear in Michigan, bringing in a national and historic perspective to the discussion. Harvey Wasserman is an American journalist, author, democracy activist, and advocate for renewable energy. He has been a strategist and organizer in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States for over 30 years. He has been a featured speaker on Today, Nightline, National Public Radio, CNN, and other major media outlets. Harvey knows where the nuclear bodies are buried… and he's funny, too. Linda Seeley has been a member of the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace since moving to San Luis Obispo in 1982. She's been a member of the Board of Directors since 2008 and currently serves as a spokesperson as well as Vice-President. Additionally, she serves on the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel. MOTHERS PETITION: Petition and Digby Macdonald’s Declaration Kevin Kamps is Radioactive Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear. Kevin specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; environmental and public health risks associated with government and industry efforts to dump commercial irradiated fuel rods on Native American lands in the western United States. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): With international protests growing against Japan for releasing Fukushima's radioactive tritium-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, the big story Japan Times can find to cover regarding Fukushima is… a lack of young baseball umpires…? LINKS: Nuclear Truth Telling in Memory of Daniel Ellsberg – Tuesday, September 26, 7-8:30 pm Eastern Libbe HaLevy speaking at Santa Monica "International Ocean Candilight Vigil" event, September 16, 2023 – Fukushima Water Release and Japan's Lies (To access video of the speech, click on picture) International Demonstrations Against Japan's Release of Radioactive Tritium-Contaminated Fukushima Waste Water Into the Pacific Ocean – September 16, 2023: Indonesia: Australia: South Korea: Santa Monica, CA: ### NH #638: SPECIAL - Oppose Nuclear? Good News! Downwinder Compensation, No New Nukes in Illinois, Texas RadWaste De-Licensed, Indian Point Radwater Dump Dumped! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-good-news-reca-il-tx-indian-point/ Published: 2023-09-09 Duration: 00:59:01 SPECIAL – Nuclear Good News!!! RECA Expanded, Illinois Moratorium Retained, Texas Radioactive Waste Non-Storage, Indian Point Radwater Dump Dumped! This Week's Special Features: It's not often that those who oppose nuclear get good news, but in recent weeks there's been a deluge of positive legal decisions and legislation that are enough to make a hardened nuclear campaigner giddy. We look at just four of the good news stories that have dropped since the beginning of August, seen through the eyes of veteran campaigners who have worked for years to obtain these positive results: WEST TEXAS "INTERIM" HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE Karen Hadden is the Executive Director for the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development or (SEED) Coalition in Texas. The group works for clean air and clean energy, supporting affordable energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to meet our energy needs. Karen has been involved with numerous nuclear issues in Texas and the southwest – and here we catch her the day after a momentous decision was made on one of them. We spoke on August 28, 2023. RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT Mary Dickson is an award-winning writer, playwright, downwinder, and thyroid cancer survivor who is internationally recognized for her advocacy for survivors of nuclear weapons testing. She has spoken and written widely about the human cost of the arms race, including twice at the World Forum on Nuclear Survivors in Hiroshima. For the past three years she has been part of a consortium of downwind communities across the West as well as national allies working to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. Here, she reads her op-ed piece on the issues that she wrote for the Salt Lake Tribune and was published on August 3, 2023. LAW TO REPEAL ILLINOIS' MORATORIUM ON NEW NUCLEAR REACTOR BUILDS Dave Kraft is a safe-energy/anti-nuclear advocate and co-founder of Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), where he has served as its director since its inception in 1981.  Kraft’s work is to provide the public with credible information about the hazards and effects of nuclear power and waste, and the viable means to replace them. He has testified in hearings related to nuclear power at the state and federal levels; and is a co-founder of the Radiation Monitoring Project, designed to provide training and field monitors to communities contaminated by radioactive substances.  I spoke with Dave Kraft on June 25, 2023. Dave suggested that people watch the film ATOMIC BAMBOOZLE; the sizzle reel is available on Youtube. HOLTEC PLAN TO DUMP RADIOACTIVE SPENT FUEL POOL WATER INTO HUDSON RIVER – Manna Jo Green spent 23 years as the Environmental Action Director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a post from which she only recently retired. The group seeks to protect the Hudson River and surrounding wetlands and waterways through advocacy and public education. It was founded by folk singer Pete Seeger with his wife Toshi Seeger in 1966. The group has worked long and hard to first shut down the Indian Point nuclear reactors – located only 35 miles from Broadway in New York. Since achieving shutdown in 2021, the group has moved to mandate the proper handling of radioactive waste, most especially the water. Here, Manna Jo Green lets us know what the situation with the radioactive spent fuel pool water was and what has just happened. We spoke on September 1, 2023. NOTE: If you're seeing this page before Tuesday, September 12, that's because it's being posted while I'm away off grid, detoxing from all things nuclear. ### NH #637: Plutonium Pits, New Bombs, Los Alamos Never Learns - Greg Mello URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-pits-bombs-los-alamos-lab/ Published: 2023-09-06 Duration: 00:57:01 Plutonium Pits, New Bombs, Los Alamos Never Learns – Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group As if Los Alamos isn't already contaminated enough with radioactive materials, now they want to build a new plutonium pit factory. What's wrong with that addition to this picture? This Week's Featured Interview: The US already has nearly 6,000 nuclear weapons. So why the rush to build not one but two facilities to make more plutonium pits, the trigger mechanism on the bombs? Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group follows the money, decodes the facts, reveals the ugly truth. He is one of the founders and Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico who has led the group since its founding in 1989. Los Alamos Study Group has worked for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, social justice, and economic sustainability, with actions including policy research, environmental analysis, congressional education and lobbying, community organizing, and litigation. Greg brings more than 30 years of up close perspective on Los Alamos to our conversation. We spoke on August 25, 2023. Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Children! Children! You smugly denounce Greenpeace and its anti-nuclear talking points as "old fashioned?" How about studying your nuclear history before you let others set you up as "another" Greta Thunberg?!?!??? Activist Shoutouts and LINKS: It's official! From the International Uranium Film Festival PRESS RELEASE: "Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy has been named as Special Ambassador of the International Uranium Film Festival to the USA. In that capacity, she will meet with activists, NGOs and potential sponsors to help bring the films of the IUFF to local communities facing nuclear issues. " Here's a LINK to the full press release. If you have any questions about the IUFF or want to explore having your local community host a showing of films, CONTACT: Norbert.suchanek@online.de As money changes hands on Capitol Hill, is it lobbying or bribery? – Article by Linda Pentz Gunter The deep roots of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste fight — and why it continues to this day How a nuclear disaster spurred Fukushima to become a renewables leader A River is Not a Radioactive Sewer by Dr. Gordon Edwards – Excellent article by the head of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. International Uranium Film Festival 2024 – U.S. Tour – Draft Itinerary Contact Norbert Suchanek or Marcia Gomes de Oliviera for details on how you can schedule a stop on the tour in your area – norbert.suchanek@online.de ### NH #636: Japan Puts World in Radioactive Hot Water: Boycotts, Protests, Fukushima's Tritium Dangers - Fairlie, Deere-Jones, Busby URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-tritium-fukushima-dangers-boycotts-protests/ Published: 2023-08-30 Duration: 00:59:01 Japan Puts World in Radioactive Hot Water: Boycotts, Protests, Fukushima's Tritium Dangers – Fairlie, Deere-Jones, Busby In Seoul, South Korea, more than 50,000 gathered to condemn Japan's release of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean and urged the Korean government to file a lawsuit to stop the discharge in the International Justice Court. This Week's Featured Interviews: The nuclear industry is fond of treating radioactive tritium as some kind of benign radionuclide – not dangerous, nothing to get your knickers in a twist about, there there Missy… – in order to dump massive quantities of tritium-contaminated water into our oceans. This narrative could not be more wrong. To build understanding, I’ve revisited two important interviews dealing with tritium and edited together the important bits to give you some concentrated clarity. Dr. Ian Fairlie is a London-based radiation biologist and independent consultant on radioactivity in the environment. He has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals, with a focus on the radiation doses and risks arising from the radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. A Primer on Radiation and Radioactivity by Dr. Ian Fairlie Website: IanFairlie.org Original full interview: NH #574: 11th ANNIVERSARY! Tritium Radiation Lies – Dr. Ian Fairlie on Fukushima, Pilgrim Tim Deere-Jones is an internationally known marine biologist – a researcher and consultant – who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. We’ve had him on the show many times before, the reason being that he’s thorough, articulate, and gives us plenty to think about. Tritium Notes compiled by Tim and used as the basis of our full interview. Tim Deere-Jones is most easily reached through messaging on Facebook. Original full interview: NH #613: TRITIUM: Japan’s Radioactive Water Dump Lies, Tritium Truth w/Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones Dr. Chris Busby LINK – Is the Release of Radioactive Contaminated Water From the Fukushima Nuclear Site to the Sea Acceptable? Is It Safe? Links: Endless fallout: the Pacific idyll still facing nuclear blight 77 years on Sustainability has lost its meaning as the nuclear lobby triumphs – Dr. Paul Dorfman Google form to REGISTER YOUR ACTIONS such as rallies, online hashtag, film screening, press releases etc. Press Conference: A Flawed Decision for Fukushima: Scientific Problems with the ALPS Water Treatment Plan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_k-HMO0BxU Anti-nuclear demonstration in Wales: Protest march by CND Cymru from Trawsfynydd to Eisteddfod in Wales. ### NH #635: Post-Oppenheimer Nat'l Nuclear Activism & Messaging - ReThink Media's Mac Hamilton, Ploughshares Fund's Bonnie Fisk + Fukushima Radioactive Water Dump URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oppenheimer-nuclear-activism-fukushima-tritium/ Published: 2023-08-23 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #635: Post-Oppenheimer Nat'l Nuclear Activism & Messaging – ReThink Media's Mac Hamilton, Ploughshares Fund's Bonnie Fisk Anti-nuclear activists are often isolated from each other because we focus on what’s most important to us – a local issue with radioactive waste dump, or uranium mining, or weapons, or a spike in health crises, or any one of dozens of other nuclear issues. Or we’re working on the same issues as other groups, but not necessarily in communication with each other to coordinate what we’re doing and saying to make a bigger media splash with our limited resources. Today’s guests are among those making a difference in terms of all of us working together and strategizing so we’re all on the same page and creating our own echo chamber. Bonnie Fisk is Director of Development for the Ploughshares Fund, a public grant-making foundation that supports initiatives to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons, and to prevent conflicts that could lead to their use. Mac Hamilton is Program Director, Peace and Security, for ReThink Media, which builds capacity across movements, works to minimize competition, maximizes resources, and raises the voices of underrepresented spokespeople. Together, they produced the six sold-out previews of the Oppenheimer film around the country which featured panel discussions on the issues raised – and huge leg up that led to news stories and features on what the movie did not cover. Together, the work done by these two groups has positioned us to make a huge difference in our future. I spoke with Bonnie Fisk and Mac Hamilton on Friday, August 18, 2023. Links from Interview: Sign up for ReThink Media's AM Nukes Roundup, sent weekdays at 8:15 AM ET. Other organizations to receive action alerts from: Take action with the Union of Concerned Scientists Take action with Global Zero Sign up for action alerts with Physicians for Social Responsibility Join Win Without War and take action for nuclear frontline communities Follow the work of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Ploughshares.org – where you will find more information about what they fund) Ploughshares.org/pressthebutton  – the Ploughshares Fund’s podcast) The ballet that includes nuclear storytelling: Yvonne Montoya’s production, “Stories from Home” Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Washington Post runs an article citing the rise in cancer rates among women and younger people and providing a whole list of possible causes… WITHOUT ONCE MENTIONING RADIATION, which is known to have a greater health impact on women and young people than the standard for measurement – the adult Reference Man. Cancer among younger Americans is on the rise, new study shows Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Linda is on sabbatical for three months. Her Hot Story feature will return in November. Links: Friends of the Earth: [Q&A] ALPS-treated (but still contaminated) water at the Fukushima nuclear plant: 14 points to know. DON'T BANK ON THE BOMB Huge study of nuclear workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States confirms low dose radiation as a cause of cancer. Rallies against the dumping of radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean – around the world as of 23rd August: Google Form to register your actions such as rallies, online hashtag, film screening, press releases etc.: The USA Los Angeles, Aug 23rd, 12 – 1 PM @ Japanese Consulate New York, Aug 23rd, 12 – 1 PM @ Japanese Consulate  (E 49th St & Park Ave.) Washington DC, Aug 25th, 11am @ Japanese Embassy Seattle, Washington, Aug 26th, 2pm @ Seattle Downtown  ‘West Lake Park' Organized by Global Candlelight Action UK North Wales, Aug 25th, 5pm @ Bangor pier Organized by PAWB ( People Against Wylfa B) and CADNO Germany Berlin, Aug25th, 5 pm @ Brandenburg Gate Frankfurt, Aug 26th, 3 pm @ Rathenauplatz (Goetheplatz) Hamburg, September 9th Organized by Global Candlelight Action Fiji Suva, Aug 25th, 10am @ Japanese Embassy Organized by PANG, Alliance for Future Generations, Pacific Conference of Churches; FWRM, DIVA for Equality and others joining the March including the largest Indigenous women's network.  Japan Tokyo, Aug 22nd @ Japanese PM house Tokyo, Aug 23rd @ TEPCO Fukushima Iwaki, Aug 27th  Organized by Japanese CSOs alliances Switzerland Zurich, September 16th Organized by Global Candlelight Action Canada Civil Zoom rally, on August 24, 5 pm Organized by  civil society in Canada Australia Melbourne, Aug 26th (Sat), 5 pm @ Korea Society of Victoria Organized by Global Candlelight Action Korea Seoul, Aug 23rd, 7pm @ Japanese Embassy Seoul, Aug 24th, 7pm @ Japanese Embassy Seoul, Aug 26th, 6pm @ Korea Press Center 17 local cities nationwide in Korea hold a press conference and rallies from Aug 22nd~31st. Organized by Korean civil society alliances / Korean Peoples' Action to Stop Dumping of Fukushima Daiichi Radioactive Water(KPA-SDFDRW) ### NH #634: Post-Oppenheimer Media Fallout + Superb Radiation Class - Greg Mitchell, Mary Olson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oppenheimer-media-fallout-radiation-class/ Published: 2023-08-16 Duration: 00:59:01 J. Robert Oppenheimer (in hat) and Gen. Leslie Groves at ground zero of the Trinity a-bomb test in New Mexico, six weeks after Trinity test and one month after Hiroshima. NH #634: Post-Oppenheimer Media Fallout + Superb Radiation Class – Greg Mitchell, Mary Olson Everything Oppenheimer Inspired in the Media: Author/Filmmaker Greg Mitchell In the weeks following the premiere of the Oppenheimer film, there has been a deluge of articles not only reviewing the film but going into the issues the movie avoided. We revisit Greg Mitchell, author, filmmaker, and expert on atomic weapons from the Manhattan Project era to evaluate this surge of atomic awareness, nuclear issues, and where it might lead activists. We spoke on on Friday, August 11, 2023. LINK to Greg Mitchell interviewed about Oppenheimer on Nuclear Hotseat #631. New Radiation Class: Everything Oppenheimer Ignored Gender and Radiation Impact Project's Mary Olson Biologist Mary Olson is Founder of Gender and Radiation Impact Project, a 501(c)3 educational and funding nonprofit.  An internationally acknowledged expert in radiation health damage, especially to women and little girls, she has addressed: the 2014 Vienna Conference on Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons; in 2015; the United Nations during review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and in Russia, on the medical consequences of nuclear weapons at an event sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This September, she joins Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear to present Radiation Information for Everyone (RIFE). an online series of classes for people for whom understanding radiation is personally important. Together they bring 60 years of combined experience in analysis, research, policy, politics and support for and collaboration with radiation impacted communities. I spoke with Mary Olson on Friday, August 11, 2023. LINK to sign up for Radiation Information for Everyone (RIFE) Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Nuclear-free cities help drive support for a nuclear-free world. But one of the most famous, Takoma Park, just took a step backward. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Hot, hot produce right off the tree from Fukushima sent to the Dominican Republic! Isn't that just Peachy??? Links: Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy storytelling about her recent trip to Brazil to attend the International Uranium Film Festival. Header includes the first announcement of her being named U.S. Ambassador for the IUFF. PETITION to the FDA: Keep Harmful Radioactive Waste Out of Our Children's Food! from Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN), Citizens for Health, Ecological Options Network (EON), and Beyond Nuclear CALL FOR PAPERS – YOUTH FOR TPNW Papers on youth-led research into nuclear weapons + intersecting issues, to have this inform our policy & advocacy and share it with our networks. Youth for TPNW invites interested authors to submit papers for publication in our inaugural research papers series.  Eligibility requirements: Author must be under the age of 30 years old. Paper must be relevant to the subject of nuclear disarmament/abolition (with preference to those referencing the TPNW). Paper must be within the range of 2,000 to 4,000 words long. Paper must be fully referenced and cited.  Paper must be written in English. To submit a paper for publication, please fill out this google form. The deadline for submission for this first call for papers is the 1st September 2023. Good luck! Oppenheimer Advocacy Resources compiled by Back from the Brink The misguided push to weaken nuclear safety standards is gaining steam by Edwin Lyman, Director, Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. BBC 1980 mini-series OPPENHEIMER starring Sam Waterston: PBS American Experience: The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer: After the Fallout – short documentary about Downwinders from Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: ### NH #633 - Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Global Downwinders: "Now We Are All Hibakusha" - Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs, Pt. 2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-global-radiation-pt2/ Published: 2023-08-09 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #633 – Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Global Hibakusha: "Now We Are All Downwinders" – Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs, Pt. 2 Map of radiation contamination in the United States from Trinity test, 100 atmospheric blasts, and 921 underground from 1945 to 1992. Check article: Trinity Nuclear Test’s Fallout Reached 46 States, Canada and Mexico, Study Finds This Week's Featured Interview: Part 2 of our interview with Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs. He is an American historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. Bo moved to Japan in 2006 after being hired by the Hiroshima Peace Institute and is currently a professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University. He’s the author of the 2022 book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. LINK to Part 1 of this interview with Bo Jacobs on Nuclear Hotseat #632 LINK to Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs' book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha Bo Jacob's website Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Nukes on the moon sound like lunacy. But is there a quiet military agenda as well? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When does "education" become "nuclear grooming?" An old reactor in India gets repurposed into a super duper atomic museum aimed at kids! Links: Top Medical Journals Publish Unprecedented Joint Call for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Counting the dead at Hiroshima and Nagasaki AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN FROM CONCERNED PEACE AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES in observance of the 78th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Japan Back from the Brink – Oppenheimer Advocacy Resources Page Gender and Radiation Impact Project – to sign up for Newsletter, scroll down to bottom of landing page America is heavily reliant on Russia for nuclear fuel. Congress might change that. AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN FROM CONCERNED PEACE AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES – downloadable PDF Mary Dickson article link: https://eedition.sltrib.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=5f06855a-6793-4114-aaf0-0f5fdba1db7b ### NH #632: Hiroshima/Nagasaki Radiation Aftermath - We Are All Hibakusha (A-Bomb Survivors) - Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-radiation-atomic-bomb/ Published: 2023-08-02 Duration: 00:59:01 Hiroshima/Nagasaki Radiation Aftermath – We Are All Hibakusha (A-Bomb Survivors) – Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs New study reveals that radioactive fallout from the Trinity atomic bomb test on July 16, 1945, deposited in 46 states, Canada and Mexico. (Map from New York Times; CLICK here for the article. This Week's Featured Interview: HIBAKUSHA is the term for those who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But in recent years, it has come to be applied more widely to all who have been exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb testing and other sources of contamination from manufacturing, uranium mining, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste. As today’s guest will explain, that means just about all of us. Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs is an American historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. He moved to Japan in 2006 after being hired by the Hiroshima Peace Institute. and is currently a professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and the Graduate School of Peace Studies of Hiroshima City University. He’s the author of the 2022 book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha, and that’s what we’ll be talking about. Prof. Robert "Bo" Jacobs of the Hiroshima Peace Institute with his book, NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. Bo offers such a wealth of information that our interview ran over one hour. So it’s being presented in two parts as a bracket around the anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Part 2 will appear on next week's Nuclear Hotseat #633, August 8, 2023. (To clear up a few references from the interview, note that in Part 1, Rongalap in the Marshall Islands was a site of U.S. A-bomb tests in the 1950’s. And the Japanese fishermen on the boat Lucky Dragon were accidentally contaminated by nuclear fallout from the United States Castle Bravo thermonuclear weapon test at Bikini Atoll in 1954.) I spoke with Bo Jacobs on Friday, July 21, 2023. LINKS: Robert "Bo" Jacobs and NUCLEAR BODIES: The Global Hibakusha. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Did the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki end the war, or was it a fundamentally immoral act of racism? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Decisions, decisions… What's more numnutz? A nuke-powered space rocket to get us (or Elon Musk) to Mars in half the time while risking an explosion that will set off an Electro-Magnetic Pulse that will destroy the grid back on earth? A bedside lamp featuring the image of a nuclear explosion that doesn't destroy any of the Manhattan landmark buildings? Oh, but wait — Diablo Canyon decommissioning and demolition framed as being more damaging to the environment than keeping it running… until it needs to be decommissioned and demolished in 20 years? Nukemap: See what would happen if they dropped a bomb on your neighborhood/city/state/country Nukemap by historian Alex Wellerstein created is a do-it-yourself way to launch a nuclear war on… well, anyone, anywhere! Enter the name of the city or area you wish to see nuked, pick out the size of the bomb being dropped, check off a few more boxes et voila! A map showing the target as well as the range of impact from the blast will pop up almost immediately, showing everything from Instantaneously vaporized to merely killed. I suggest you start with the preset for Little Boy, the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, and translate the photos you’ve seen of it into your neighborhood. Nukemap (below) without selections being made (section on the right). Select location you wish to target (type in or use preset), and warhead yield (again, preset may be easiest.) Make sure you click on Casualties and Radioactive Fallout, then click DETONATE. Nukemap (below) showing the impact of a Hiroshima-sized nuclear bomb dropped on Manhattan. Scroll down for further information on what those concentric circles indicate. LINKS: Lots to choose from, as this is "high season" for nuclear stories – Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversaries – even without the added boost from Oppenheimer: Tina Cordova: What ‘Oppenheimer’ Doesn’t Tell You About the Trinity Test – NYTimes Opinion Downwinder activist Tina Cordova The Profiteers of Armageddon – Oppenheimer and the Birth of the Nuclear-Industrial Complex ‘Oppenheimer‘ and the story behind those who lost their land to the lab Keeping contentious nuclear plant open could cost Californians $45B: report The misguided push to weaken nuclear safety standards is gaining steam – Edwin Lyman, Union of Concerned Scientists There’s no such thing as a new nuclear golden age–just old industry hands trying to make a buck We can’t afford to be climate doomers – Rebecca Solnit Deadly Radioactive Waste 1000 Feet From the Columbia River – Active cleanup halted at Hanford’s 324-Building The end of Oppenheimer's energy dream – Modular reactors are supported by ideology alone – Allison Macfarlane, former chair, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bombs away: Confronting the deployment of nuclear weapons in non-nuclear weapon countries What do people who were exposed to radiation in the U.S. nuclear program think of the movie Oppenheimer? https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/1684685672643260417?s=20 Take Fukushima nuclear-contaminated waste water dumping case to U.N. General Assembly NUKEMAP – https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/ https://bojacobs.net/ LINKS: CBS Sunday Morning report on re-evaluation of film of atomic bomb blasts. Duck and Cover: A Pictorial History of Nuclear Weapon Bob Fahrquar free pdf of book, Duck and Cover: A Pictorial History of Nuclear Weapons ### NH #631: NUCLEAR MOVIE SPECIAL: Problematic Oppenheimer OMITS Radiation, Japanese Faces, Hiroshima Devastation: Greg Mitchell URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oppenheimer-omits-radiation-hiroshima/ Published: 2023-07-26 Duration: 00:58:31 Problematic Oppenheimer film OMITS Radiation, Japanese Faces, Hiroshima Devastation: Greg Mitchell Albert Einstein (l) and J. Robert Oppenheimer, both at the top of the nuclear bomb-creating food chain. With all the hooplah surrounding the release of Chris Nolan's Oppenheimer film, we weigh in with two experts on nuclear films: Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books, including “Hiroshima in America,” “Atomic Cover-up” and the recent “The Beginning or the End,” about the first Hollywood film ever made about the A-bomb. He has directed three documentary films since 2021, two for PBS. For more than 40 years, Greg has written extensively about the atomic bomb, atomic bombings, and their aftermath. Greg Mitchell Links: New Oppenheimer daily newsletter/blog Nuclear Hotseat #570 interview with Greg Mitchell on his award-winning documentary, Atomic Cover-Up. Book: The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Book: Atomic Cover-Up Trailer and site for Atomic Cover-up film Los Angeles Times Opinion: ‘Oppenheimer’ is here. Is Hollywood still afraid of the truth about the atomic bomb?" Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: For an additional perspective on Oppenheimer – one that also takes into account Oliver Stone's recent pro-nuclear propaganda "documentary" on nuclear power – Linda Pentz Gunter writes: "It’s a Tale of Two Directors. For Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, about the bomb, it’s the best of times. For Oliver Stone’s lamentable bomb, Nuclear Now, playing to near empty cinemas, it’s clearly the worst." ### NH #630 - Navajo Nation's 1979 Church Rock Uranium Mining Tailings Pond Disaster URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/navajo-church-rock-uranium-disaster/ Published: 2023-07-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Navajo Nation's 1979 Church Rock Uranium Mining Tailings Pond Disaster In 1979 Navajo Nation suffered the worst radioactive materials spill in US history – 90-million gallons of uranium mining waste into the Puerco River that permanently contaminated land and water, devastating the health of the Diné people. These interviews are from the 40th anniversary of this disaster, which happened only four months after Three Mile Island on July 16 – which is also the anniversary of the Trinity test of the first atomic bomb. Former UNC Church Rock uranium miner Larry J. King (center). He stands on land which faces the site of the 1979 uranium tailings pond breach and spill. Here, he explains what happened during the 40th anniversary commemorative walk in 2019. Terracita Keyanna, who grew up between two abandoned uranium mines and one mile away from the site of the Church Rock disaster. "Leetso Dooda" means "No Uranium" in Diné. Redwater Pond Road Community member Edith Hood, on land across from her home. Behind her, remains of an unremediated uranium mind. Down the road less than two miles, the site of the 1979 Church Rock disaster that dumped 90 million gallons of liquid radioactive uranium tailings into the adjacent Puerco River. Journalist and activist, Mervyn Tilden Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The ninety million gallons of liquid radioactive waste that permanently contaminated land and water in Navajo country 24 years ago is the forgotten July 16 tragedy that almost no one talks about Links: Linda Pentz Gunter's article, A 90 Million Gallon Nuclear Tragedy – backgrounder on Church Rock Dave Kraft of NEIS in Chicago's Op-Ed: A bill ending the ban on new nuclear plants is a referendum on the future of energy in Illinois Putting the Nuclear Genie Back in the Bottle – Karl Grossman on the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons Zoominar from Los Alamos Study Group on: "‘The real purpose in making the bomb was to subdue the Soviets.'* Now it's happening again, on a vast scale. WHY?" A conversation with acclaimed historian Peter Kuznick, Greg Mello, and community members in Los Alamos, July 22, 6:30 pm. To register, CLICK here. Brilliant, basic talking points on why nuclear power is a bad idea. USE THIS! ### NH #629: SPECIAL: Japan's Radioactive Fukushima Water Dump - Media Propaganda, Report from South Pacific URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japan-radioactive-fukushima-water-dump/ Published: 2023-07-12 Duration: 00:59:13 SPECIAL: Japan's Radioactive Fukushima Water Release – Media Propaganda, Report from Vanuatu in S Pacific This Week's SPECIAL Report: With Japan's pending release of 1.3 million tons of Tritium-contaminated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approval of that plan, it is time for an examination of the issues behind this wrongheaded assault upon people and the environment. To find out various hidden aspects of the issue, Nuclear Hotseat provides five separate segments Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter considers that the IAEA's vested interest in promoting nuclear power should disqualify the agency as a nuclear safety watchdog. Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones takes on the whistleblower leak of an internal IAEA document from June 21, which shows collusion between the agency and the government of Japan over how the announcement of approval of the water release was to be handled to minimize public fear and response. Japan has dismissed the document as a "fraud;" neither TEPCO nor IAEA has said anything else. What's the bigger story? UK-based marine biologist Tim Deere-Jones Filmmaker Philippe Carillo (The Fukushima Disaster: The Hidden Side of the Story) talks about Japan's campaign to propagandize south Pacific journalists into only believing the talking points they've been fed and not to look further. (LINKS to his film posted below.) The Honorable Andrew Napuat, a Member of Parliament for Vanuatu, an island nation in the south Pacific, explains how his country and others have been manipulated to not speak out against the water release or risk "friendly" relations with Japan. Vanuatu Member of Parliament, the Honorable Andrew Soloman Napuat Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy draws on her Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology to explain how Genomics – the imprint of trauma on DNA – travels through generations and expresses itself in individuals who never went through the initial trauma. Might the genomic imprint of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki be what's behind Japan's insistance on "nuking" the Pacific with radioactive waste water? Links from Episode: Philippe Carillo's film, The Fukushima Disaster: The Hidden Side of the Story), the full film, is now available on Amazon, iTunes, Google play and Vimeo on Demand: https://www.journeyman.tv/film/8421/the-fukushima-disaster https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-fukushima-disaster/id1672643918?ls=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/placeholder_title/dp/B0B8TK5FZC/ref=sr_1_1 https://play.google.com/store/movies/details?id=vehqb5ex-L8.P&sticky_source_country=US&gl=US&hl=en&pli=1 Trailer for The Fukushima Disaster: The Hidden Side of the Story Other Links: NPR interview with marine biologist Bob Richmond – a research professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. ### NH #628: IAEA OKs Japan's Fukushima Radioactive Water Release + Ukraine Nuclear Disaster Imminent? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/iaea-oks-fukushima-radioactive-water-dump/ Published: 2023-07-06 Duration: 00:59:01 IAEA OKs Japan's Fukushima Radioactive Water Release + Ukraine Nuclear Disaster Imminent? Google map photo of Fukushima water tank storage, showing open, unused land surrounding it which could be used to expand the radioactdive water storage area. Japan and TEPCO are acting like they have run out of space for storage, which they most definitely have not; they're just not willing to spend the money. This Week’s Featured Interview: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has – no surprise – given its stamp of approval to Japan to dump 1.3 million tons of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. And in the U.S., decommissioning company Holtec plans to dump their tritium-contaminated water from the Pilgrim nuclear reactor into Cape Cod Bay, and from Indian Point into the Hudson River. But no one bothers to ask, what is tritium? Is it dangerous? What does it do? How does it behave in water? What is the truth of what we will face if Japan and Holtec get away with these water dumps? What might happen to us if they do? And the meta question: what is the IAEA's right to approve this nuclear pollution of the ocean, and who set the standards by which this level of contamination is allowed? To learn the truth about tritium. I spoke with Tim Deere-Jones. He is a UK-based marine biologist, researcher and consultant. Tim specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here, he gives a brief, powerful explanation of what we are up against. LINK to Tim Deere-Jones’ document containing notes and links behind this week’s interview, LINK to Dr. Ian Fairlie on Tritium Radiation Lies from Nuclear Hotseat #433 Conference on the International Legal Issues Response for Discharging Fukushima Nuclear Water Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story – Linda Pentz Gunter It was hard not to gloat last week when a corrupt Ohio politician got a long prison sentence for leading a criminal racketeering scheme using bribes from a failing nuclear company. Links Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna On the Fukushima Treated Nuclear Wastewater Nuclear Contaminated Water Dumping: IAEA Concludes ‘Absolute Safety of Nuclear Contaminated Water’ with Japanese Government Money? ### NH #627: More Nuclear Reactors for Illinois? + Whistleblower: IAEA Pre-Approval of Fukushima Radioactive Water Release - the Fix is In URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/more-nukes-illinois-iaea-fukushima-water/ Published: 2023-06-29 Duration: 00:59:01 More Nuclear Reactors for Illinois? + Whistleblower: IAEA Pre-Approval of Fukushima Radioactive Water Release – the Fix is In 1.3 million tons of radioactive water at Fukushima that IAEA and Japan have already agreed to release into the Pacific Ocean. This shows the "outhouse" through which the radioactive water will be pumped. BREAKING: Internal IAEA Document Shows Collusion with Japan to Eliminate Public Fears of RadWater Release from Fukushima/i A whistleblower released an internal International Atomic Energy Agency document that reveals collusion between IAEA and Japan to minimize the public's fears about the planned radioactive water release from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. The document was released to nuclear-news.net – CLICK HERE to access story and copy of the document. If this is proven to be true, it shows that the IAEA is fully aware of the dangers of the water and is willing to do anything in its power to facilitate the release. This Week's Featured Interview: Dave Kraft is a safe-energy/anti-nuclear advocate, and co-founder of Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), based in Chicago, who has served as its director since its inception in 1981. Kraft’s interest in the environment moved him to found NEIS with seven other people, to provide the public with credible information about the hazards and effects of nuclear power and waste, and the viable means to replace them. Kraft has testified in hearings related to nuclear power at the state and federal levels; and is a co-founder of the Radiation Monitoring Project, designed to provide training and field monitors to communities contaminated by radioactive substances. He has received recognition and awards for his work, including, in May 2016, the Judith Johnsrud “Unsung Hero of the Year” award for his lifelong activism. I spoke with Dave Kraft on June 25, 2023. LINK to NEIS petition opposing construction of new nuclear reactors in Illinois, and supporting 100% renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and transmission improvements. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter The Fukushima radioactive waste dump — which could start next month — is part of an attempt to erase the nuclear accident altogether. Links: Japanese lawmaker proposes novel wxay of storing irradiated Fukushima water 2023 Hiroshima ICAN Academy – information and application for under-25 international activists. Arjun Makhijani's new book – Exploring Tritium Dangers ### NH #626: Just One Nuclear Explosion in Space = Massive Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) = Buh-bye Grid! - Prof. Steven Starr URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/1-nuclear-explosion-in-space-emp-fries-grid/ Published: 2023-06-21 Duration: 00:58:59 Just One Nuclear Explosion in Space = Massive Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) = Buh-bye Grid! – Prof. Steven Starr This Week's Featured Interview: Zoomathon interview (more more than you heard!) with the brilliant Prof. Steven Starr (l) Professor Steven Starr directed the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at the University of Missouri in Columbia for 11 years until his retirement in 2021. He is an Associate of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and has been a Board Member and Senior Scientist with Physicians for Social Responsibility. Starr also teaches a class for the MU Peace Studies Program entitled Nuclear Weapons: Environmental, Health, and Social Effects. Starr began making presentations at side panels at the United Nations in 2007, sometimes working as an expert witness for Switzerland, New Zealand, and Chile at the UN offices in NYC and Geneva. In 2010, Starr addressed the UN First Committee, discussing the environmental consequences of nuclear war, including nuclear winter and nuclear famine. I spoke with Steven Starr on June 19, 2023. Steven Starr LINKS: Website – Nuclear Famine. Be sure to scroll down on home page to see all the articles available on a wide range of nuclear issues. Short version of talking points covered in today's interview. Contact Steven Starr Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So exactly what could the U.S. buy instead of nukes with $76,500… A MINUTE?!????! LINKS: Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (space4peace.org ) is hosting online its 31st annual conference via Zoom: Latest developments on war via space. It will be held on July 15 at 9-11 a.m. Eastern time. You must register for the event in advance. REGISTER HERE. Daniel Ellsberg, (1931-2023) Daniel Ellsberg, military analyst, activist, and the man responsible for giving us the Pentagon Papers, died on June 16 at the age of 92. A lifelong opponent of nuclear war, he authored The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner, Secrets: A Memoirs f Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, and was the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary The Most Dangerous Man in America. Two links: Daniel Ellsberg's Message to Us and to Future Generations from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Excerpts from video interviews with Daniel Ellsberg and a memorial from Mary Beth Brangan and Jim Heddle of EON – the Ecological Options Network Don't Bank on the Bomb – on how YOU (yes, YOU!) can call your bank and make the case that they should not be invested in nuclear weapons. A process that has been hugely successful in Europe and Scandinavia. It can be in the U.S. and more! ### NH #625: 12th Anniversary! Depleted Uranium Expert Damacio Lopez to Ukraine’s Zelensky: DON'T! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/12th-anniversary-depleted-uranium-zelensky/ Published: 2023-06-15 Duration: 00:58:53 12th Anniversary! + Depleted Uranium Expert Damacio Lopez to Ukraine’s Zelensky: DON'T! Damacio Lopez (l) and Norbert Suchanek during a break from the 2023 International Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Depleted Uranium expert, academic and activist Damacio Lopez explains how DU weapons were developed only 2 miles from his childhood home in Socorro, New Mexico; his trips to Iraq to measure radiation from DU weapons; & his drive to contact Ukraine's President Zelensky. To contact Damacio Lopez: L.damacio@yahoo.com Trailer for film on depleted uranium by Norbert Suchanek featuring Damacio Lopez Special 12th Anniversary Look Back over the Past Year of Nuclear Hotseat A tongue-in-cheek look at some of the "highlights" from Nuclear Hotseat's 12th year, with excerpts that never made it into the program that focus on: How I gently guide guests into giving the best interview possible. Maintaining a peaceful environment for each interview. How I am sometimes overwhelmed by what I’ve just learned from a guest. Examples of the meticulous preparation I always take that is necessary to creating a smoothly running interview. Times when my inspired-in-the-moment insights burst forth, in all their disorganized glory. And then there are my carefully researched talking points. All of which go into making Nuclear Hotseat a weekly informational grab-bag of nuclear information, insights, humor <!>, and actions we can take. It's certainly better than sitting out Armageddon! Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy, addressing the audience at the 2023 International Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Links: Bellona Foundation report: The Radiation Risks of Seizing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Bellona Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that aims to meet and fight the climate challenges, by identifying and implementing sustainable environmental solutions ### NH #624: SPECIAL - International Uranium Film Festival in Rio - Pt. 2, The Awards! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/international-uranium-film-festival-rio/ Published: 2023-06-07 Duration: 00:59:00 A Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Uranium Film Festval, 2023. Wow, was I ever surprised – and chuffed! Marcîa Gomez de Oliviera (center) with dance students from the Adolpho Bloch school in Rio following their presentation commemorating Brazil's worst radiological accident. SPECIAL – International Uranium Film Festival in Rio – Pt. 2, The Awards! In this second of two reports from the International Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with interviews with Festival Founders and Directors Marcîa Gomez de Oliviera and Norbert Suchenek; depleted uranium expert, activist, and academic Damacio Lopez; and audience members, who reflect on what brought them there and why the Festival is so important. It all leads up to the Awards ceremony… including a special surprise Lifetime Achievement award for Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy. Damacio Lopez (l), a long time supporter and friend to the IUFF, in Rio from New Mexico, fills us in not only on his films, but on the early history and even pre-history of the IUFF. One of the films Damacio Lopez contributed to, and a winner of Best Short Documentary at the inaugural 2011 International Uranium Film Festival. Festival Founder and Director Marcîa Gomez de Oliviera explains how the Festival and her work at a Rio public school focused on media and the arts have become entwined since the Festival's inception. Filming interviews with students at the Adolpho Bloch school in Rio for Miguel Silviera's upcoming film on the International Uranium Film Festival. That's a bust of Adolpho Bloch, the industrialist who inspired and funded the school, in the background. Permanent collage mural at the Adolpho Bloch school features posters from previous Uranium Film Festivals. Festival Director Norbert Suchanek gives us a glimpse of future editions of the International Uranium Film Festival. Norbert Suchanek (center) in his element – talking with fans and filmmakers during a break in the Festival schedule. And when we weren't busy with the Festival… Me receiving my honoring tattoo from Urutau Guajajara, an indigenous leader from the Amazon village of Guajajara in the Amazon rainforest of northeast Brazil. (Photo by Norbert Suchanek) The finished "tattoo." I might just make it permanent… At Ipanema Beach during our break. Some days are just harder than others… (Photo by Miguel Silviera) Other links from the Festival: SOCORRO – THE CITY OF DEPLETED URANIUM by Norbert G. Suchanek News story on the Festival from the Nuclear Free Future Foundation. RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island – Multiple award-winning film by Heidi Hutner More to come! HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE IUFF: To contact the Festival about bringing it to your city/state/country, contact Norbert and Marcîa at: International Uranium Film Festival Rua Monte Alegre 356 / 301 Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro / RJ CEP 20240-190 Brasil Email: info@uraniumfilmfestival.org Phone: (0055) (21) 97207 6704 To learn how to submit your film for consideration, go to the website and click on the FILM ENTRY tab, or CLICK HERE. ### NH #623: Historic Nuclear Lies - Independent W.H.O. on World Health Organization Chernobyl Cover-up - Alison Katz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/world-health-organization-chernobyl-lie/ Published: 2023-05-31 Duration: 00:59:01 NOTE: Return travel from the International Uranium Film Festival in Rio has delayed my ability to produce the second show on that amazing, important event. Pt. 2 will post next week as Episode #624. Feel free to check out last week's #622 for Pt. 1. Chernobyl liquidators – from the film Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes, directed by Directed by James Jones This Week's Nuclear Hotseat CLASSIC Episode: Independent W.H.O.'s Alison Katz on World Health Organization's Chernobyl Cover-up Chernoby Truth, World Health Organization Lies Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima.  The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  Given the visibility and popularity of 2021’s HBO series on Chernobyl series – it now ranks as the most seen television program in the world, ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of Chernobyl’s devastating impacts refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered is still very relevant and important. Snapshots from Independent W.H.O.'s vigil in front of the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It was held in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva from 26 April 2007 until 26 April 2017. Every working day, between 8am and 6pm, a relay of members of the “Independent W.H.O. – Health and Nuclear” collective demanded that WHO should assume its responsibilities, independently of the nuclear establishment. Chernobyl Truth – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) ### NH #622: SPECIAL! Int'l Uranium Film Festival - Report from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/special-intl-uranium-film-festival-rio/ Published: 2023-05-24 Duration: 00:59:01 International Uranium Film Festival Founders/Directors Marcia Gomes de Oliviera and Norbert Suchanek with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the opening of the 2023 Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil SPECIAL! International Uranium Film Festival – Report from Rio Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to cover the 12 th annual International Uranium Film Festival. The IUFF is the only place on earth that presents films focused solely on issues of the entire nuclear fuel chain, from uranium mining to reactors to bombs to nowhere to safely store the highly radioactive waste that results for the necessary quarter of a million years. But these film stories from around the world are told in human terms – with artistry, a quirky sense of humor when possible, and unabashed emotional responses to the terrible radiation truths that have been forced upon the innocent. The IUFF was founded in 2011 by Norbert Suchanek and Marcia Gomes de Oliveira. It’s based in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, but has traveled around the world, sharing atomic films that would most likely not be seen without the festival to present them and draw attention to their important, thought-provoking messages. During today’s Nuclear Hotseat, you’ll hear from one of the founders of the festival and two of the filmmakers who are here representing multiple countries, as well as a brief rundown on a few of the films that have screened so far: Norbert Suchanek was born in Germany and is an investigative, environmental, human rights and science journalist, book author, photographer and award-winning documentary filmmaker. Since 2006 he has worked as foreign correspondent and filmmaker in Rio de Janeiro. With Marcia Gomes de Oliveira, he is Founder and Director of the Int’l Uranium Film Festival. I spoke with Norbert Suchanek on Monday, May 22, 2023. IUFF Founder/Director Norbert Suchenek Julian Vogel, whose film MISSION: (ICBM) will be screened next next Saturday, May 27. It’s a Sweden/Korea/Scotland production, which almost makes it an international film festival production all by itself. In it, Nils and Julian go on a journey around the world to find out what a global nuclear, war, and the end of the world, might look like, and how they might try to prepare for such a scenario. Finally, after months of traveling to gather opinions and knowledge on the subject, they construct and live in a fallout shelter – in Nils’ parent’s basement in Stockholm. From pretending the world has ended at a Post-Apocalyptic Festival in Poland, to encounters with hardcore survivalists in the United States, to meeting with survivors of the Hiroshima Atomic bomb attack in Japan, Nils and Julian hope their journey inspires others to join the debate on what we can do as a global community to prevent such disasters from happening. I spoke with Julian Vogel on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Swedish-born, currently living in Scotland, filmmaker Julian Vogel . Miguel Silveira is a Brazilian-American independent filmmaker, arts educator and Assistant Professor at the School of Communication of the Loyola University in Chicago. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Miguel is director of award-winning short films like Namibia Brazil, Rooftop Wars, and the film to be screened at the IUFF, Devil’s Work. Devil's Work tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy named Eugene, who has to deal with an absolutely traumatic event – the death of his father – and decides to investigate the scientific causes related to it. The film becomes a psychological-thriller about Eugene's search for the truth. The issue of depleted uranium, rarely portrayed in films, is central to the structure of the film. I spoke with Miguel Silveira on Monday, May 22, 2023 Miguel Silviera, interpreting my welcoming speech into Portuguese at the opening night of the IUFF. Mealtime had me prepping for my interview with filmmaker Julian Vogel. Prepping notes for my opening night welcome speech. The happy crew, including Miguel Silviera's film crew, which is shooting a film on this year's IUFF. Links: International Uranium Film Festival DOWNWIND – Nuclear Hotseat #604 – Interview with directors Mark Shapiro. More to come… ### NH #621: Depleted Uranium Weapons = Nuclear War in Ukraine - Dr. Helen Caldicott URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/depleted-uranium-nuclear-war-ukraine/ Published: 2023-05-16 Duration: 00:59:01 NOTE: Keystone photo is of a baby born after the mother's exposure to depleted uranium from DU weapons. Published in the free PDF, DEPLETED URANIUM: A Scientific Approach to the Hazards of Military Use of Depleted Uranium by Prof. Dr. Massimo Zucchetti. Yes, it's upsetting – and that's the point in responding to something as heinous as the use of DU weaponry. This is a very upsetting truth. Depleted Uranium Weapons = Nuclear War in Ukraine – Dr. Helen Caldicott DU ammunition for eternal war on human DNA come in sizes for all yer weapons. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear icon Dr. Helen Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and for six decades has been one of the world’s most important anti-nuclear advocates. She revived or founded several associations, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Caldicott is dedicated to opposing the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, and military action in general. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel-winner Linus Pauling, she is at the root of much of the anti-nuclear work being done today. We spoke on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Links from interview: Free PDF – DEPLETED URANIUM: A scientific approach to the hazards of military use of depleted uranium by Prof. Dr. Massimo Zucchetti Dr. Helen Caldicott's website. Nuclear Hotseat #568 – Dr. Caldicott tells the full story of meeting with President Reagan and how she almost got him and Mikhail Gorbachev to get rid of nuclear weapons. If You Love This Planet – Academy Award-winning film featuring Dr. Caldicott. It's available on her website, HelenCaldicott.com, or by clicking the Youtube link below: If You Love This Planet – the Academy Award-winning documentary featuring Dr. Caldicott Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Civilian evacuations around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant suggest imminent conflict, which could put the nuclear plant in even greater peril. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): AI in charge of nuke launches? What could go wrong…? Links: A Disaster Waiting to Happen: Safety at San Onofre Nuclear Waste Site – webinar Fukushima's Fishng Industry U.S. Produces More Power From Wind And Solar Than Nuclear For First Time Down to Earth: The path to radically lower emissions tucked away inside the devastating IPCC report ### NH #620: French Polynesian A-Bomb Tests + Rainbow Warrior Bombing - Dennis Riches, Kevin Hester + BREAKING - NRC Approves NM Waste Dumps - Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/french-polynesia-a-bomb-tests-rainbow-warrior/ Published: 2023-05-10 Duration: 00:59:01 French Polynesian A-Bomb Tests + Rainbow Warrior Bombing – Dennis Riches, Kevin Hester + BREAKING – NRC Approves NM Waste Dumps – Kevin Kamps Atomic bomb test in French Polynesia – with one A-bomb, there goes paradise… BREAKING: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has today approved the New Mexico nuclear waste "interim" storage facility. Could a new state law and federal court challenges prevent the project from going forward? Kevin Kamps, Waste Control Specialist for Beyond Nuclear, gives us an update. This Week's Featured Interviews: Dennis Riches has taught English and history at various universities in Japan since 1986. The Chernobyl disaster that year sparked his interest in the hazards of nuclear technologies, and he became aware of the anti-nuclear movement in Japan that was gaining strength at that time. The meltdowns at Fukushima-Daiichi in 2011 provoked him into writing a blog about nuclear issues, which reached a large audience. In 2018, several of the blog posts were published as a free book (print or pdf) entitled: Sayonara Nukes: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Energy. He covers a-bomb testing, France's environmental racism in Polynesia, and the lack of reparations for the damage to the Polynesian people and their homelands. I spoke with Dennis Riches on May 5, 2023. LINK to free PDF of Sayonara Nukes: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Energy. The book Dennis mentioned in the interview is America’s Last President: What the World Lost When It Lost John F. Kennedy (2022) by Monika Wiesak.  https://a.co/d/cRhnQMD Kevin Hester was born in New Zealand and became involved in the early 1980’s in that country’s environmental movement, which was heavily influenced by the anti-nuclear activities that resulted in having NZ declared nuclear-free. Here, he talks about his witnessing the immediate aftermath of the French Secret Service's bombing that destroyed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. This is an excerpt from Nuclear Hotseat #233 from December 9, 2015. The Rainbow Warrior in Marsden Wharf in Auckland Harbour after the bombing by French secret service agents. (Photo: Greenpeace) Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Film director, Oliver Stone, thinks new nuclear is a game changer. But he’s playing on the wrong team. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Aaaaah, Florida – where the streets are paved with… WTF?!?!??? Links: Former Nuclear Leaders: Say "NO" to New Reactors Nuclear Power Plants Under Attack: The Legacy of Zaporizhzhia ### NH #619: The Antidote to Oliver Stone - "Fukushima Disaster," Excellent New Film Exposes Core Nuclear Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/antidote-oliver-stone-fukushima-disaster/ Published: 2023-05-03 Duration: 00:59:01 The Antidote to Oliver Stone is Philippe Carillo's Film "Fukushima Disaster: The Hidden Side of the Story" This Week's Featured Interview: Philippe Carillo has made a 52-minute film that busts the myths of nuclear reactor safety that is clear, easily understood, and devastatingly powerful. Philippe is a French citizen currently living in the Vanuatu archipelago. While living in Paris, he worked on several major documentary projects for the BBC, 20th Century Fox, French National TV, and independent film productions. He moved to Hollywood in 2003 and made his first feature documentary in Hollywood in 2013, Inside the Garbage of the World. The film won 3 awards, was distributed worldwide, and inspired a wave of change regarding plastic pollution. Philippe moved to Vanuatu in 2017 and has since made more than100 short films in that country. In 2022, he decided to finish his feature documentary about Fukushima which was started in 2016. That film, FUKUSHIMA Disaster – The Hidden Side of the Story, was the topic of our conversation. I spoke with Philippe Carillo on Friday, April 14, 2023. Watch the one-minute trailer here: Purchase/Rent Film Here: Distributor: https://www.journeyman.tv/film/8421/t… iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the… Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/placeholder_… Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/Fukushima-Disa… Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/movies/… Vimeo on Demand: https://vimeoondemand.com/thefukushimadisaster IMDB COMMENT LINK: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26734180/reviews/?ref_=tt_ov_rt Note that you will need to sign up for a free IMDB account to be able to post. Raw Footage of Interviews – scroll down page: https://exposurefilmstrust.com/?fbclid=IwAR3cLVrJ0-AA9nHRwFdXMRllyQlSlxOwJMew3iOPWvVzMdpk8y40GOChWkk To contact Philippe Carillo: exodusfilms@hushmail.com, www.exposurefilmstrust.com Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Is nuclear reprocessing really just recycling as the industry would have you believe? Absolutely not! (Just ask the goats…) Protest against nuclear reprocessing from French goats pulls no punches… or head butts. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Aw, poor widdle radioactive nuclear waste! Sooooo misunderstood… NOT! No matter what apologias the New York Times chooses to print about it. Links: More information on the Marshall Islands and U.S. radiation research on the unwilling victims of our nuclear testing program: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-justice-sought-for-marshall-islands/ More on the Marshall Islands: the film Nuclear Savage by Adam Jonas Horowitz ### NH #618: SPECIAL: Chernobyl 37th Anniversary - Survivor Kouneva, Dr. Janette Sherman, Tim Mousseau, Alexei Yablakov, More URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/special-chernobyl-37th-anniversary/ Published: 2023-04-24 Duration: 00:58:49 SPECIAL: Chernobyl 37th Anniversary – Stories of its Deadly Legacy The "elephant's foot" – still highly radioactive molten core of Chernobyl This Week's Featured Interviews: The Chernobyl nuclear disaster began on April 26, 1986 – another of those dates that will live in infamy. Here is a SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat classic episode to paint the picture of what happened and what it did to the people who lived through it, and what we still face. Originally produced for Nuclear Hotseat #357, April 20, 2018: Bonnie Kouneva was a 15-year-old living in Communist Bulgaria when the Chernobyl disaster began, but no one knew about it because the Soviet Union said nothing to its people. On May 1, May Day, only five days after it began, Bulgarian citizens were “encouraged” by the Soviet hierarchy to attend all-day celebrations of the communist state – outdoors, in the rain – at the exact time the worst of Chernobyl’s radiation was directly overhead. Here, she paints the picture of the impact of that radiation rainout and lets us know the result of this devastating experience. Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. The late Dr. Janette Sherman edited the the English translation of the groundbreaking work, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko. Dr. Sherman was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we spoke about this book and how it came about for NH #97 on April 23, 2013. She passed away on November 20, 2019. Dr. Alexei Yablokov was environmental advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace, Russia. His book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl that completely contradict the World Health Organization’s report, which undermined the seriousness of the accident. Dr. Yablakov died in January, 2017. Link: CLICK HERE for a free PDF of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko, edited by Janette D. Sherman. A souvenir of Chernobyl. ### NH #617: MORE INCONVENIENT NUCLEAR TRUTHS: World Nuclear Industry Status Report, Pt. 2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/world-nuclear-industry-status-report-2/ Published: 2023-04-18 Duration: 00:59:01 MORE INCONVENIENT NUCLEAR TRUTHS: World Nuclear Industry Status Report, Pt. 2 World Nuclear Industry Status Report To access PDF of this 385 page report, CLICK ON IMAGE This Week's Featured Interview: The conclusion to last week's interview by Libbe HaLevy, joined by Linda Pentz Gunter, with three of the lead researchers/writers/creators of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report: Mycle Schneider works as independent international analyst and consultant on energy and nuclear policy, based in Paris. He is the initiator and Convening Lead Author of the World Nuclear Industry Status Reports. M. V. Ramana is Professor and Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA), University of British Columbia. Michael Sailer is an independent consultant on nuclear energy. He has more than 40 years of experience in the field, most notably regarding the safety of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities, and the storage and final disposal of nuclear and other radioactive wastes. This is Part 2 of the interview. Part 1 is in last week's show, Nuclear Hotseat #616 from April 11, 2023 To access a free pdf of the 2022 World Nuclear Industry Status Report, CLICK HERE. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants last weekend. Contrary to false propaganda, Germany’s nuclear phaseout made the renewable revolution possible and it’s well on track to carbon neutral. Help Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy to Attend International Uranium Film Festival! Cover of 2023 IUFF program. Hi All – I'm honored to have been asked to attend the 2023 International Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as a Special Guest. I'll not only be covering and reviewing each of the films, I'll be: Reporting on each of the films to put you in the front row. Interviewing filmmakers for upcoming episodes of Nuclear Hotseat Introducing Heidi Hutner's film, RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island Networking with filmmaker/activists from around the world for information exchange and future actions. Bringing it all to you with a (technology permitting) LIVESTREAM. Travel expenses remain an issue. Because of the award I received when I won the 2022 Nuclear Free Future Award for Education, I'm able to cover the cost of the flights. However, I need help with the other expenses, including housing, meals, ground transportation, and care for my dog Munchkin while I'm gone. That's where YOU come in! To help with a donation, please CLICK HERE. For any donation of $100 or more, as a BONUS you can book a 30-minute One-on-One 30-minute Zoom call with me – for you alone or for your group. It's a great way to do some focused brainstorming and problem-solving about actions to help you with whatever nuclear problems you are facing! Many thanks for all your support! ### NH #616: NUCLEAR TRUTH! World Nuclear Industry Status Report - Mycle Schneider, M.V. Ramana, Michael Sailer (Pt. 1) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/world-nuclear-industry-status-report/ Published: 2023-04-11 Duration: 00:59:01 NUCLEAR TRUTH! World Nuclear Industry Status Report – Mycle Schneider, M.V. Ramana, Michael Sailer Mycle Schneider (photo credit: ©Nina Schneider) M.V. Ramana (l) and Michael Sailer (r), World Nuclear Industry Status Report This Week's Featured Interview: Libbe HaLevy is joined by Linda Pentz Gunter to interview three of the lead researchers/writers/creators of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report: Mycle Schneider works as independent international analyst and consultant on energy and nuclear policy, based in Paris. He is the initiator and Convening Lead Author of the World Nuclear Industry Status Reports. M. V. Ramana is Professor and Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA), University of British Columbia. Michael Sailer is an independent consultant on nuclear energy. He has more than 40 years of experience in the field, most notably regarding the safety of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities, and the storage and final disposal of nuclear and other radioactive wastes. This is Part 1 of a 2-part interview. The conclusion will appear in next week's show, Nuclear Hotseat #617 for April 18, 2023. World Nuclear Industry Status Report To access PDF of this 385 page report, CLICK ON IMAGE Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): "24/7 carbon-free energy" – my posterior! Nuscale corporate branding ad pushes the nuclear industry and their proposed, not even built yet small modular NUCLEAR reactors WITHOUT ONCE saying the words "NUCLEAR" or "REACTOR" or "MAKES RADIOACTIVE WASTE THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR 240,000 YEARS!" Who are they trying to fool? Oh, yeah – everybody. Nuscale ad promoting nuclear energy and small modular nuclear reactors while avoiding the word "nuclear." Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: The DOE wants to build new reactors, full size ones. And the price? As much as $5 trillion? What?!?!??? That’s more than the entire nuclear weapons budget, which is nuts enough! ### NH #615: Erwin, Tennessee Nuclear Fuel Nightmare - Citizens Fight Back w/5-Expert Panel - Lodge, Ketterer, Olson, McNeill, Inoue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/erwin-tennessee-nuclear-fuel-nightmare/ Published: 2023-04-05 Duration: 00:59:01 Erwin TN Nuclear Fuel Nightmare – People's Hearing for Nuclear Awareness Panel features Lodge, Ketterer, Olson, McNeill, Inoue Linda Modica of the Erwin Citizens Awareness Network, an organizer of the People's Hearing for Nuclear Awareness. This Week's Featured Interviews: Erwin, Tennessee is a small town with a big problem: Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., known as NFS, a company that since the 1960’s has been a major supplier of fuel for the United States Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered vessels. In recent years it has also reprocessed weapons-grade uranium into nuclear reactor fuel, which has impacted health and safety of people and the environment. Now, the U.S. government has granted NFS $57.5 million USD to refine uranium into thermonuclear bomb-grade material – a bad idea from so many different directions that the local citizen’s action group that opposes the plant has been fighting back, hard. One of their most inspired moves was to put together a sterling group of experts for a one-day People’s Hearing for Nuclear Awareness. We spoke with the panelists to get a full picture of the problems: Terry Lodge is an environmental and civil rights lawyer representing protesters opposing nuclear power and nuclear weapons, mountaintop removal, fracking and its radioactive waste, and war. He has been working with the Erwin Citizens Awareness Network. Michael Ketterer is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, and was formerly with the US environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement. Mary Olson is an Evolutionary Biologist; Founder of Gender and Radiation Impact Project, and retired Radioactive Waste Specialist for Nuclear Information and Resource Service. Patrick O’Neill is a journalist co-founder of the Father Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker House, and part of the Kings Bay Plowshares nonviolent direct action and other peace work, for which he has been imprisoned for over three years. Mari Inoue, Esq., is an attorney. Born and raised in Tokyo, she is a co-founding member of the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World, which is raising awareness about concerns in communities impacted by nuclear policy. For those of you who wish to participate in the Don't Bank on the Bomb program to eliminate all funding for nuclear weapons-creating companies, go to their website: dontbankonthebomb.com Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: This month will mark 37 years since the Chornobyl nuclear power plant disaster.  Beyond the suffering of humans, what do we know about the health of dogs left behind in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone? Chernobyl dog, with New Safe Containment building in background. Links: One more time – check out Don't Bank on the Bomb. ### NH #614: TMI Anniversary - Film - RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island - Director Heidi Hutner URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-three-mile-island-hutner/ Published: 2023-03-29 Duration: 00:59:01 RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island – Interview w/Director Heidi Hutner This Week's Feature Interview: Director Heidi Hutner with the poster of her film. Today is the 44th anniversary of the start of the nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I was there, one mile away when it happened, and the experience completely changed the trajectory of my life. For one thing, I would not be producing this program if I hadn’t been there. But while I’ve done my research, read books, viewed films and TV programs, interviewed genuine experts, no one had addressed the human, emotional, personal toll that the accident and its aftermath extracted from the population. That is, until now. RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island rolls out the story of the 1979 accident and how it affected four mothers from the community. It includes scientific information, of course, but the emphasis is on the human side of the story – the part that the nuclear industry leaves out as it cites statistics and spews false assurances of safety. It’s a calm, understated, and ultimately devastating film that is already having an impact on those who have seen it, and these are as yet early days. So it was with special interest that I set up an interview with the woman behind the film. Heidi Hutner is a professor of Literature, Sustainability, Women’s and Gender Studies at Stony Brook University, and a scholar of nuclear and environmental history, literature, film, and ecofeminism. Hutner chaired the Sustainability Studies Program for six years and was Associate Dean in the School of Marine, Atmospheric Science, and Sustainability. She is the winner of Sierra Club Long Island's 2015 Environmentalist of the Year Award and much more. We spoke on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Scheduled screenings for RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island are listed at: RadioactivetheFilm.com. Three Mile Island Anniversary Show, 2021 For those who want a more narrative presentation of what happened at Three Mile Island, here's a link to Nuclear Hotseat's anniversary program from 2021: NH #509: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 42: Never Forget! Libbe HaLevy's nuclear memoir, YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! Nuclear Hotseat producer and host Libbe HaLevy’s nuclear memoir is YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK!  One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat. It contains full information on her experience having been one mile from the nuclear accident at TMI when it happened, as well as actions any one of us can take to work against nuclear power and nuclear weapons.  You can purchase your copy of the book HERE.  CLICK to purchase from Amazon. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter While calling it their “final warning”, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, scientists said in their latest report that there is still time for effective options but nuclear power isn’t one of them. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you're planning to build new nukes in your country, shouldn't you rely on suppliers who actually know what they're doing instead of industry numnutzes? Links: Dennis DuVall, 81-year-old anti-nuclear protester is in German prison for actions demanding that U.S. nuclear bombs stationed at Germany's Buchel NATO base be withdrawn. You can write to him during his 60 day sentence at JVA Bautzen, Breitscheid Str. 4, 02625 Bautzen, Germany. More information (and future updates if he gets moved to another prison) at www.bit.ly/DennisDuVall. Putin Says He Could Put Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus by Summer ### NH #613: TRITIUM: Japan's Radioactive Water Dump Lies, Tritium Truth w/Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japans-radioactive-water-tritium-truth/ Published: 2023-03-22 Duration: 00:59:01 TRITIUM: Japan's Radioactive Water Dump Lies, Tritium Truth w/Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones Tanks of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima. Japan plans to release more than 1.3 million tons of it into the Pacific Ocean,, despite danger to ocean life, onshore populations. This Week's Featured Interview: Right now in the news there’s a lot of talk about tritium – Japan’s planned dump of more than 1.3 million tons of radioactive tritium-contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. And in the U.S., decommissioning company Holtec plans here in the U.S. to dump tritium-contaminated water from the Pilgrim nuclear reactor into Cape Cod Bay and from Indian Point into the Hudson River. But what is tritium? Is it dangerous? What does it do? How does it behave in water? What is the truth of what we will face if Japan and Holtec get away with these water dumps? What might happen to us if they do? To learn the truth about tritium. I spoke with Tim Deere-Jones. He is a UK-based marine biologist, researcher and consultant. He specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here, he gives a brief, powerful explanation of what we are up against. LINK to Tim Deere-Jones' document containing notes and links behind this week's interview, LINK to Dr. Ian Fairlie on Tritium Radiation Lies from Nuclear Hotseat #433 Numnutz of the Week: France demonstrates that when you've painted yourself into a nuclear corner, just dump more paint onto the floor! Links: New Mexico Law Passes Banning Storage of High Level Nuclear Waste in the State Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman – An interview with David Fenton, who discusses his brilliant, just-published and much-needed book, The Activist’s Media Handbook. Author David Fenton, interviewed by Karl Grossman on his new book, The Activist's Media Handbook ### NH #612 - "Acceptable" Radiation Exposure Standards & Gender Bias: Mary Olson + In Memorium: Mary Oscko, N. St. Louis Activist URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/gender-bias-radiation-standards-mary-oscko/ Published: 2023-03-16 Duration: 00:59:01 “Acceptable” Radiation Exposure Standards & Gender Bias: Mary Olson + In Memorium: Mary Oscko, N. St. Louis Activist – NH #612 Mary Oscko (l) and Kay Drey at the Atoms Next Door Symposium, St. Louis, 2016. This Week's Featured Interviews Mary Oscko was a North St. Louis activist in the campaign to clean up Coldwater Creek from WWII Manhattan Project radiation contamination. Mary grew up around the stream and played in in as a child. As an adult, she and her husband bought a house backing up to the stream and she ate vegetables from her garden that were watered by the stream. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer despite ever having smoked cigarettes. She fought the cancer and defied the odds, living another seven years until she passed away on February 20, 2023, at the age of 63. We spoke on February 20, 2016, at the Atoms Next Door symposium in North St. Louis, when she'd already been diagnosed. This interview is presented as a memorium. Reference Man is the standard first developed in 1949 to establish maximum permissible amounts of radioactive materials in the human body. BUT because humans are so diverse in age, gender, weight, height, lifestyles, geographic locations and other factors, no Reference Man definition can possibly reflect anything other than a scant few individuals from the total population, however he is defined. But there is a better standard that can be developed to protect the health of us all, and that’s what this week’s interviewee talks about. Compare the sizes: adult male Reference Man vs. Little Girl Given their relative body mass, should they be using the same standards to measure suceptibility to radiation damage Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: There’s an ominous shift toward silencing those deemed not qualified to speak out. But you don’t need an engineering degree to understand that nuclear power is unacceptably dangerous. Links: 12th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan – excellent round-up article by Dr. Ian Fairlie. New Nuclear Plants Have Turned Into Money Pits by Linda Pentz Gunter The narrow field of options for safely managing Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant One year later, new dangers threaten Ukraine’s embattled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by Edwin Lyman Nuclear Hotseat #475: Nukegate in Ohio – Nuclear Bailout Scandal explained by Attorney Terry Lodge ### NH #611: SPECIAL - Fukushima at 12: Voices from Japan - On the Ground w/Beverly Findlay Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-at-12-voices-from-japan/ Published: 2023-03-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Abandoned home, Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, five miles from Fukushima Daiichi. Tomioka resident Yuki Saito measures radiation in the weeds outside the home. Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. Fukushima 12th Anniversary: Voices from Japan, On the Ground w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko This Week's Special Featured Interview: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko provides an “on-the-ground in Japan” report on the current situation faced by people living with the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Beverly lived in Yokohama, Japan, for 20 years until March 2011, after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. She worked at Yokohama National University and The Japan Times. Beverly has a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and speaks Japanese fluently. She is the producer behind our Voices from Japan series and this year is the Voice from Japan. I spoke with Beverly Findlay-Kaneko on February 27, 2023. Links from the interview: Hokkaido Nuclear Waste opposition article – Asahi Shimbun Yonomori Denim – Sho Kobayashi's business attempting to help rebuild Tomioka in northeast Japan. You can follow them on Instagram: @yonomori_denim . And here's a QR code, for those who understand how to use one: QR Code for Yonomori Denim Links to Fukushima Anniversary materials: SimplyInfo.org Fukushima Disaster 11th Anniversary Report Photos from Fukushima by Yuji Kaneko: Tomarinkan Nuclear Energy PR Center, Tomari, Hokkaido: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko with the Tomarinkan Mascot cartoon character. (Nicknamed Mr. Nuclear Condom). Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. Yonomori Denim Shop and Meeting Space, Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, five miles from Fukushima Daiichi. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (front left) and Yuji Kaneko (rear left), meet with Yuki Saito (front right) and Sho Kobayashi. The "Nuclear Condom" and the pillar that marks the height of the sea wall at Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. It’s just one meter taller than the one at Fukushima. Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. Abandoned Tsushima Elementary School Athletic Ground, Tsushima, Fukushima Prefecture. As one of the last towns to have evacuation orders lifted, Tsushima has been left behind in decontamination efforts. Bags like these, containing radioactive debris and soil, a rare sight in other parts of the prefecture, are ubiquitous here. Tsushima is, for all practical purposes, a ghost town.  Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. Denshoukan, the Great Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Museum, Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima is just over the hill, a couple of miles away. Student visitors to the museum flocking back to their tour busses. Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. Denshoukan, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Museum, Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima Daiichi is just over the hill, a couple of miles away. Beverly points out fleet of tour busses parked and waiting for high school students inside. Photo – Yuji Kaneko, used by permission of the photographer. ### NH #610: Holtec Threatens Radioactive Water Dump into Cape Cod Bay & Hudson River - Diane Turco, Manna Jo Green URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/holtec-radioactive-water-dump-mass-ny/ Published: 2023-02-27 Duration: 00:59:01 Holtec Threatens Radioactive Water Dump from Pilgrim Nuclear into Cape Cod Bay & from Indian Point into Hudson River – Diane Turco, Manna Jo Green Poster for Halt Holtec event in Massachusetts on March 27, 2023 This Week's Featured Interviews: Big nuclear decommissioning companies are planning to release radioactive tritium-contaminated water into major bodies of water. We usually think of this in connection with Japan, where they plan to discharge 1.3 million TONS of Fukushima's radioactive water over the objections of Japanese citizens, the fishing industry, China, South Korea, and the Pacific Islanders. Outrageous – but if one lives in the U.S., there is a similar threat much closer to home, in Massachusetts and New York, and that’s what we look at this week. Diane Turco is Director of the Cape Downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting issues at the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. With decommissioning company Holtec barreling ahead on its decision to release radioactive water from Pilgrim’s spent fuel pools directly into Cape Cod Bay, possibly as soon as this summer, there’s been tremendous outcry against it. We last spoke with Diane Turco on Pilgrim problems for Nuclear Hotseat #550 on January 4, 2022; in the more than year that has passed, much more has come to the fore. We spoke this time on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Poster for Stop Holtec rally in Massachusetts on March 27, 2023 Manna Jo Greene has been the Environmental Director for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater for more than 20 years – and has been one of the leaders in the battle to shut down Indian Point, the nuclear reactor facility located only 36 miles from midtown Manhattan.  We spoke on the day of the shutdown – Friday, February 17, 2023. Links from Interviews: HALT HOLTEC PETITION MA – sign and share. Experts explain how tritium in water impacts health and safety Exploring Tritium Dangers Videos and Slides from Forum on Indian Point Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Putin’s suspension of the New START Treaty has provoked condemnation, but is a treaty that accepts the preservation of nuclear weapons worth saving? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadness): Come to the latest vacation hot spot… Fukushima??? Links: Zoominar: No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Sav Our Climate and Clean Our Air – Scroll down for First Friday Series. Sign to support HB1079, Illinois' moratorium on the building of new nuclear power plants until the federal government has a working permanent repository for high level spent fuel. "Daisy" ad from the 1964 election campaign of Lyndon Johnson for President: ### NH #609: Advice to East Palestine Toxic Train wreck from Nuclear Toxic "Train wreck" veteran Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/east-palestine-toxic-train-wreck-nuclear-advice/ Published: 2023-02-22 Duration: 00:58:59 Cover photo: Toxic cloud from "controlled burn" of toxic materials at train derailment Advice from Parallel Disasters: East Palestine Toxic Train wreck, Meet Nuclear Toxic "Train wreck" – Kevin Kamps Toxic cloud from "controlled" burn of materials spilled from East Paletine, Ohio train wreck. This Week's Featured Interview: On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, a town of about 4,800 people near the border with Pennsylvania. About three dozen cars derailed overall, 11 of which were carrying hazardous material. As one resident said, ““This is our Chernobyl.” While the materials on board were not radioactive, they still provide evidence that supports concerns of those who oppose the shipping of nuclear waste materials by train to the proposed so-called “interim” storage facilities in the American southwest. To learn more, we spoke with Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear. Kevin specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; environmental and public health risks associated with government and industry efforts to dump commercial irradiated fuel rods on Native American lands in the western United States. We spoke on Saturday, February 18, 2023 Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Watchdog with Beyond Nuclear Link from interview: BOOK – People of Three Mile Island by Robert del Tredici Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter It's a year since Russia invaded Ukraine and new developments in the war there have put the country's 15 nuclear reactors in ever greater danger of meltdown. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): With Japan adamant about extending licenses for reactors to 80 years (twice what they were designed to be safe to operate), who's the one voting cabinet minister they don't listen to? The one responsible for the kinds of messes that will result if any nuke malfunctions! I mean, really, what could anyone like that actually know??? Links: Former DOE Nuclear Security Official Says Wyoming Reactor Not Safe Hiroshima G7 Youth Summit Video on the impact of nuclear war Netflix series on Fukushima: The Days ### NH 608: Fukushima Child Thyroid Cancer Rates Soar - Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-child-thyroid-cancer-rates-soar/ Published: 2023-02-15 Duration: 00:59:01 Soaring Child Thyroid Cancer Rates from Fukushima – Joseph Mangano Last year, a report revealed that Fukushima child thyroid cancer rates had skyrocketed – but still, the government of Japan and the nuclear industry refuse to take these statistics seriously. But in truth – how bad is it? We interviewed a genuine expert to find out. Joseph Mangano is Executive Director of Radiation and Public Health Project. He is an epidemiologist – one who searches for the cause of disease, identifies people who are at risk, determines how to control or stop the spread, or prevent it from happening again. Joe has over 30 years of experience working with nuclear numbers and comes from a history of teasing out health information from data. We spoke on Friday, February 11, 2022. LINKS from Interview: Chernobyl: Consequences of the Disaster for People and the Environment by Yablakov, Nesterenko, Sherman. Excerpt from a book on Jerome Wiesner, JFK science advisor (who, among other things, received a copy of an article on St. Louis baby teeth results on the buildup of Strontium-90 in teeth, and who presented these to JFK). Go to page 58, and you’ll see the JFK quote about radioactive fallout: “You mean it’s in the rain out there?” LINK to address by President John F. Kennedy Address to the Nation on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July 26, 1963 Transcript of President Kennedy’s speech. National Cancer Institute 1999 study on Iodine-131 in bomb test fallout, and the estimated 11,300 to 212,000 thyroid cancers among persons age 0-19 from 1951-1962, from Nevada testing. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant escaped disaster during last week's major earthquake, but continuing the project is reckless. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): UK funnels billions into building new "improved" nukes that are unapproved, unbuilt, untested, and untenable, but somehow can't seem to find the money to take care of storing the radioactive waste they've already created. LINKS: Cleaning Up After the Nuclear Accident: The Changing Face of Interim Storage Facilities – links to article with excellent photos that I cannot post here because of copyright. The latest edition of Nuke Info Tokyo Report Says Holtec Workers Exposed to “Unplanned” Radiation Intake at Pilgrim Decommissioning Site in Massachusetts. Karl Grossman interviews Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility He is an expert on nuclear technology, refutes the claims of the nuclear industry as it pushes purportedly “new and improved” nuclear power plants, so-called “advanced” nuclear power plants, and particularly small modular reactors. He explains that these smaller nuclear power plants are not new and not improved, but were “things that were tried 50 and 60 years ago” and didn’t succeed then. Enviro Close-up ### NH #607: Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning Trickery - San Onofre, Three Mile Island UPDATE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-decommissioning-san-onofre-three-mile-island/ Published: 2023-02-09 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning Trickery – San Onofre, Three Mile Island UPDATE Cathy Iwane of Coalition for Nuclear Safety for San Onofre UPDATE This Week's Featured Interviews: FOR SAN ONOFRE UPDATE: Cathy Iwane is co-founder of Coalition for Nuclear Safety who works closely with San Clemente Green and Public Watchdogs. Formerly from Japan, she and her family moved to southern California in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear triple meltdown disaster. FOR THREE MILE ISLAND UPDATE: Eric Epstein is Executive Director of Three Mile Island Alert. LINKS for San Onofre Information mentioned in interview: Petition to NRC on their claim that events are ‘not credible' 2019-12-11- Paul Blanch Letter to NRC re: Petition Regarding Potential Violations of Regulations SONGS 3 Paleoseismic features San Onofre Tsusami seismic Drop-In Meeting Minutes with NRC Chair Hanson Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Building small modular reactors; nuclear powered rockets to Mars; nuclear power plants on the Moon — They're all Really Bad Ideas. So why do governments insist on pursuing them? Links: Article in Santa Fe New Mexican on Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group Health Experts Warn Against Releasing Indian Point Radioactive Wastewater Into Hudson River They handled nuclear missiles. Now they’re getting cancer. There is no alternative: US-Russian nuclear arms control must restart. Now. WHO Suddenly Updates Medicines List For Nuclear Emergencies Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): UPDATE: Before last week's Numnutz – the tiny radioactive capsule gone on walkabout in Australia – was found, its journey was memorialized in this piece from First Dog On the Moon: ### NH #606: Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group Vs. Nuclear Deterrence Summit Warmongers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-deterrence-summit-disarmament/ Published: 2023-02-01 Duration: 00:59:01 Greg Mello of Los Alamos Study Group takes on Nuclear Deterrence Summit Warmongers! Los Alamos Study Group's Executive Director Greg Mello This Week's Featured Interview Greg Mello is Executive Director and a founder of the Los Alamos Study Group (LASG). He has led its varied activities since 1992, including policy research, environmental analysis, congressional education and lobbying, community organizing, litigation, advertising, and the nuts and bolts of funding and running a small nonprofit. From time to time he has served as a consulting analyst, writer, and spokesperson for other nuclear policy organizations. Greg was educated as a systems engineer with a broad scientific background and as a regional planner with emphases in environmental planning and regional economics. In 1984 Greg led the first regulatory enforcement at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and that lab has kept him busy ever since. Here, we talk first about LASG and then get to his upcoming trip to the Nuclear Deterrence Summit, the annual trade show for nuclear contractors, warmongers, war criminals, and the boys who love all things nuclear. I spoke with Greg Mello on January 27, 2023 Link: Don't Bank on the Bomb – Simple steps you can take to stop your bank from investing in nuclear weapons-producing companies. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter A year into the war in Ukraine, a nuclear power plant disaster has only been averted due to luck. So why is Ukraine ordering more nuclear reactors? Numnutz of the Week Needle in a haystack, radioactive pellet lost along 870 miles of Australian roadway… Missing radioactive pellet (l) vs. Australian dime. Needle in a haystack, anyone? Links: Samuel Lawrence Foundation is hosting a online forum 11:30 a.m. PST Feb. 3 with physicist Edwin Lyman, PhD, Director of Nuclear Power Safety for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The online forum is free and open to the public. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86148500220#success ​Ukraine’s reactors remain at risk as one-year anniversary of war looms ### NH #605: Nuclear Energy = Nuclear Weapons - Change the Arguments! Alfred Meyer of PSR URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-energy-nuclear-weapons-same-issue/ Published: 2023-01-25 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #605: Nuclear Energy = Nuclear Weapons – Change the Arguments! Alfred Meyer Alfred Meyer of Physicians for Social Responsibility being Zoomed by Libbe HaLevy Alfred Meyer is a long-time member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and has served variously as Executive Director of the PSR Wisconsin chapter, Board Member of PSR National, and President of PSR New York. He co-authored a PSR/IPPNW critique of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) report on the health effects of the radioactive releases from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. He has also founded, co-founded and/or served as an executive for half a dozen other major organizations dedicated to nuclear issues relating to Fukushima, Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the connection between proposed fusion weapons w/nuclear reactor infrastructure. I spoke with Alfred Meyer on December 23, 2022. Links from Interview: Alfred Meyer article from The Progressive in October-November, 2022: It's All About the Bomb: Why Civilian Nuclear Power is Merely a Cover for Producing More Nuclear Weapons Doomsday Clock – 90 Seconds to Midnight The January 24, 2023 announcement of the resetting of the Doomsday Clock by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – an annual event to help us gauge how close to Armageddon we really are. (Personally, I would have gone for 50 seconds, but then, The Bulletin seems to be far more conservative in pushing the panic button.) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you're a nuclear weapons producer/promoter and have all the money in the world – the world that you are positioning yourself to take out, once and for all, finito – why not throw yourself a 3-day party and call it a "summit?" Links: Hanford Challenge Poetry Contest Why so few are talking about the power grid amid extreme winter storms Fukushima's Toxic Dumping Flashpoint by Robert Hunziker Our Contaminated Future John LaForge (l), temporarily out of German prison for the celebration of the entry into force of law of the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, with Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear – the force behind Nuclear Hotseat's Hot Story. ### NH #604: John Wayne: Downwinder? New Documentary DOWNWIND on U.S. Nuke Radiation Poisoning of St. George, Utah - Director Mark Shapiro URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ohn-wayne-downwinder-nuke-test-radiation/ Published: 2023-01-19 Duration: 00:59:01 John Wayne starred as Genghis Khan (racially inappropriate casting, anyone?) in "The Conquerer." The flm was shot near St. George, Utah, not long after Nevada Test Site "Dirty" Harry explosion contaminated the area with radioactive fallout. More than half the film's cast and crew died of cancer, including The Duke. John Wayne: Downwinder? New Documentary DOWNWIND on U.S. Nuke Radiation Poisoning of St. George, Utah – Director Mark Shapiro MILLER MAP: Downwind areas hit by radioactive fallout from Nevada Test Site A-bomb detonations, 1951-1992 Radioactive fallout from the Nevada Test Site contaminated land, water, people… and John Wayne? It's probable. Learn the stories of St. George, Utah citizens hit by radiation wafting downwind from "Dirty" Harry bomb fallout in DOWNWIND – a new documentary premiering at Slamdance. John Wayne, Susan Hayward and a full film company shot THE CONQUERER nearby; more than half the cast and crew died of cancer in the ensuing years. That film and the stories around it led to co-directors Mark Shapiro and Douglas Brian Miller researching the issues – and shooting the film DOWNWIND. I spoke with Director Mark Shapiro on Friday, January 13, 2023. DOWNWIND will premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 23, 2023. It will be followed by a panel discussion including: Ian Zabarte, Principal Man of the Western Tribes of the Shoshone Nation of Indians Downwinder Activists Playwright/Journalist Mary Dickson and Claudia Peterson Scott Williams, Nuclear Policy Consultant, HEAL Utah Co-Directors Mark Shapiro and Douglas Brian Miller Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Bad bad bad bad vibrations! Vogtle 3 in Georgia, one of only 2 new reactors under construction in the US, has been delayed yet again, this time for a vibrating pipe that will add $30 million more to the already exorbitant $30 billion costs. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A granular look a how a newspaper's rah-rah support for Japan's dumping of radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific gets woven into word choices, "accepted" wisdom, and yet another act of bullying against a concerned population – heck, a concerned WORLD. LINKS: The Doomsday Clock Playlist – songs that mention or demonstrate direct inspiration from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock – all available on the Bulletin's Spotify account: Wasteland, Baby! – Hozier Easy/Lucky/Free – Bright Eyes 2 Minutes to Midnight – 2015 Remaster – Iron Maiden Why Did I Fall For That – The Who The Call Up – Remastered – The Clash Quarter Past Midnight – Bastille Two Suns in the Sunset Pink Floyd Seven Minutes To Midnight – Wah! Heat Minutes To Midnight – Midnight Oil The Circle In The Square – Flobots EFFED – ESnowy, Jason Williamson Russians – Sting Doomsday Clock – Suicide Squirrel Webinar: Why Small Modular Reactors are not a climate fix When: Monday, January 23rd at 1:00 pm EDT To Register, CLICK HERE How did the US nuclear industry fare in 2022? A group of HT journalists interview Shaun Burnie senior Green-peace specialist on the impact of Fukushima’s controversial plan to dump water into the ocean Risky Returns – Nuclear Weapons Producers and their Financiers – a joint report of ICAN and PAX/Don't Bank on the Bomb. World Nuclear Report: Russian nuclear energy, the industry that has gone unsanctioned by the West Libbe HaLevy appearing on BRAVE NU FUTURE with AMBER KING – 1/13/23 ### #603: NRC Cops Out on 2 Planned In-Person Comanche Peak License Meetings - Citizens Call for Congressional Hearings - Karen Hadden URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nrc-comanche-peak-license-hearings/ Published: 2023-01-11 Duration: 00:59:01 SEED Coalition Executive Director Karen Hadden NRC Cops Out on Planned In-Person Comanche Peak License Meetings – Citizens Call for Congressional Hearings to Investigate – SEED Coalition's Karen Hadden Aging nuclear reactors become increasingly dangerous and prone to breakdowns and radiation releases. According to genuine experts, Comanche Peak's two nuclear reactors should be retired, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering letting them run for 20 additional years, until 2050. Heading the fight to stop this license extension is Karen Hadden, Executive Director of the SEED Coalition. She has worked on energy and nuclear power issues since 2000 and won the 2022 Judy Jonsrud Unsung Hero award from Beyond Nuclear for years of anti-nuclear activism. We spoke about the NRC's last minute shenanigans to avoid facing down concerned, informed citizens – and how it's going to take Congressional hearings to get to the root of all the various NRC operational problems. We spoke on Monday January 9, 2023. LINKS from the interview: ACTION TO TAKE: Please email the NRC ComanchePeakEIS@nrc.gov, reference Docket ID NRC-2022-0078. Ask that in-person public meetings be held in Glen Rose, TX when possible to do so safely in terms of Covid. Deadlines to intervene and request a hearing should be postponed until that time as well. Docket Numbers – Facility Names05000445 – Comanche Peak 1 and 05000446 – Comanche Peak 2 Related DocumentsML23009A036 – 01/17/2023 Environmental Scoping Meeting Related to the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, License Renewal Application NRC posted online late on Jan. 9th – less than 24 hours before meetings were scheduled to occur – to postpone the scheduled in-person meetings. Instead of two 2-hour in-person meetings there will now be one 2-hour Zoom meeting: January 17, 1-3 p,m. Central Time. TO ACCESS THE LINK, CLICK HERE. Webinar Meeting Number:214448191912 Webinar Password:kJ4pGw SEED (Sustainable Energy & Economic Development) Coalition fought the proposed Comanche Peak 3 and 4 nuclear reactors as well as the proposed South Texas Project nuclear reactors, which were licensed but never built due to public opposition and exposure of the true costs involved. SEED Coalition is actively opposing dangerous nuclear waste storage plans for Texas, and opposes similar plans for New Mexico. To contact them directly, CLICK HERE. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story – Linda Pentz Gunter What could be more numnutz than substituting coal plants for nuclear ones? But this new scheme, Coal to Nuclear, is really about sustaining the nuclear weapons industry. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) …but but but she HAD to put the nuclear facility's TOP SECRET OPERATING SYSTEM on an UNSECURED USB drive so she could catch up with work on her UNSECURED home computer… in between compiling photos of family and cats, of course! LINKS: PHOTO BOOK: 50 Years in a Nuclear Power Plant Town: Thinking about the Future from Onagawa by Author Mikiko Abe. To order CLICK HERE. CLICK on photo to purchase book. Doomsday Clock Announcement on January 24, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time In memory of Pradeep Indulkar: Join DiaNuke Online Conversation on 21 January 2023 TIMINGS: Moscow- 5:00pm Berlin, Paris- 3.00pm New Delhi- 7.30pm Tokyo- 11:00pm New York, Washington, Toronto- 9:00am Vancouver, LA- 6:00am REGISTRATION LINK ### NH #602: German Prison for U.S. Nuclear Weapons Protester - Nukewatch's John LaForge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/german-prison-u-s-nuclear-weapons-protester/ Published: 2023-01-05 Duration: 00:59:01 German Prison for U.S. Nuclear Weapons Protester – Nukewatch's John LaForge Nukewatch's John LaForge shows latest newsletter on nuclear weapons to Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy via Zoom. This Week's Featured Interview: John LaForge is co-director of Nukewatch, a Wisconsin-based environmental and peace action group, dedicated to the abolition of nuclear power, nuclear weapons and continued radioactive waste production. Nukewatch brings critical attention to the locations, movements, dangers, and the politics of nuclear weapons and dangerous wastes. John was arrested twice in 2020 after he participated in peaceful protests at the Buchel Air Force Base in Germany to bring attention to U.S. nuclear bombs stockpiled there and aimed at Russia. After trials in which his most compelling defense information – international treaty laws as they relate to nuclear weapons – was not allowed, he had a choice between paying a modest (for Americans) fine or serving prison time. He chose prison. I spoke with John Leforge, who is already in Germany, on Monday, January 2, 2023. This was just eight days before he must report to a German prison to serve a term for his non-violent protest. His insights into what international law says that can be applied to nuclear weapons is a real eye-opener. Links from the Featured Interview: ARTICLE: Why John LaForge Won't Pay Fines Imposed for Nuclear Weapons Actions in Germany BOOK: NUCLEAR HEARTLAND Nukewatch – direct link Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story w/Linda Pentz Gunter: After repeated invitations to contribute her "expertise in the space" to a conference promoting small modular reactors, Beyond Nuclear's Linda Pentz Gunter decided to tell them what she would say, given the opportunity. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When is decontaminated soil not decontaminated? When you figure out the linguistic manipulation of perception from the nukesters. Links: The 2022 nuclear year in review: A global nuclear order in shambles – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Are the bombs back in town? – UK to host U.S nuclear weapons… again? ### NH #601: NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS! Sr. Megan Rice on Y12 Protest Break-In & Susi Snyder on at-home protest w/Don't Bank on the Bomb URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-ban-dont-bank-on-bomb/ Published: 2022-12-27 Duration: 00:59:01 NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS! Sr. Megan Rice on Y12 Protest Break-In & Susi Snyder w/Don't Bank on the Bomb The late Sr. Megan Rice, upon her release from prison for protesting nuclear weapons. This Week's Special Year-End Interviews: Sister Megan Rice Sr. Megan Rice was a Roman Catholic nun who was arrested more than 40 times for protesting America’s military industrial complex and nuclear weapons-. She’s best known for breaking into Y-12, one of the world’s largest and most highly guarded uranium storage sites. But on July 28, 2012, this diminutive octogenarian nun and two other antinuclear activists used simple bolt cutters and their beliefs to walk into Y-12 – and not be noticed for more than 30 minutes! Our extremely embarrassed government threw the book at these three activists, charging them with “sabotage” – a felony with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. She and the others served just over two years before being released. Sr. Megan passed away on Oct 17, 2021 at the age of 91, and there is no better commemoration of her life and work than her own words, recorded for Nuclear Hotseat on May 25, 2012, just after her release from prison. Susi Snyder and Don't Bank on the Bomb Susi Snyder, posing with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Nobel Peace Prize for 2017. Susi currently is heard on the show speaking on the Don't Bank on the Bomb program , which she coordinated for eight years. Susi Snyder is the Financial Sector Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. For more than a decade, Susi coordinated the Don’t Bank on the Bomb project, which was her position when we spoke May 10, 2019. Her information is as relevant now as it was then, and The report on nuclear bomb producing companies that she references is updated every year, and the 2021 report “Perilous Profiteering: The companies building nuclear arsenals and their financial backers," is available by CLICKING on the title. ### NH #600! CELEBRATION! 600th Episode + Libbe HaLevy wins Int'l Nuclear Free Future Award! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/episode-600-retrospective-nuclear-free-future-award/ Published: 2022-12-21 Duration: 00:59:01 CELEBRATION! 600th Episode + Libbe HaLevy wins Int'l Nuclear Free Future Award! Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy receives Nuclear Free Future Award for Education! As we celebrate 600 episodes with this week's retrospective, Libbe HaLevy has been announced as the winner of the 2022 Nuclear Free Future Foundation Award for Education. According to the German newspaper taz, this makes the Nuclear Free Future Award the most important anti-nuclear prize in the world. The following is from their announcement: Libbe HaLevy is closing in on her 600th edition of Nuclear Hotseat, the podcast she was inspired to create after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Although cognizant of the nuclear issue years earlier — she was in the Harrisburg area when the Three Mile Island reactor went into partial meltdown — she was compelled to reignite her anti-nuclear passion given what unfolded in Japan and the on-going risk nuclear power continues to pose to us all. The lively weekly podcast features interviews with renowned guests from around the world — and is heard by audiences globally — and remains the only such podcast known to focus exclusively, and in depth, on the perils of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. We'll have more on this announcement in the future, after I've caught my breath. <g> – Libbe. This Week's SPECIAL Feature – A Retrospective on 11-1/2 Years of Nuclear Hotseat: NOTE: This is not an all-inclusive rundown of episodes, just a saunter through some thoughts and moments that have stuck with me from the first 11-1/2 years of Nuclear Hotseat production. All can be searched under the episode number if you wish to listen to the full report: NH #1 – The first conference call that turned into a podcast that turned into… well, all the rest. NH #7 – Jon Solomon of Eden Foods on safety precautions for foods imported from Japan in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima and FDA insufficiencies. (Link goes to Episode #174) NH #74 – Marius Paul of the Denesuline First Nations people in northern Saskatchewan on his ancestral understanding of “the black stone” – uranium. NH #91 – Dr. Helen Caldicott, 2012 Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. NH #483 – Ian Zabarte, Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians with “A Message from the Most Bombed Nation on Earth.” NH #423 – Church Rock uranium tailings dam break disaster – Terracita Keyanna of the Red Water Pond Road Community.  (Strong suggestion to listen to the entire SPECIAL on Church Rock.)  NH #205 – Sister Megan Rice shortly after her release from two years in prison for participating in a non-violent peace protest of nuclear weapons at the Oak Ridge Y-12 “high security” nuclear facility in Tennessee. Full episode will appear next week as Nuclear Hotseat #601. NH #407 – Three Mile Island: My Trip Back.  Radiation dispersion after the meltdown with Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education, and health impact of radiation exposure with Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear. NH #316 – Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons passage – Prof. Heidi Hutner, interviewed from the United Nations less than one hour after the passage of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. NH #303 – Susi Snyder of Don’t Bank on the Bomb (now with ICAN with an important lesson on how you can take an action, right now, that will remove funding from nuclear weapons producing companies.  NOTE:  All episodes listed above are available on this website and can be accessed through the search function. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Nuclear Fusion Delusion. ### NH #599: Museum of Political Corruption hosts Nuclear Corruption Panel, POWER STRUGGLE Film URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/political-corruption-nuclear-power/ Published: 2022-12-15 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Corruption Panel, POWER STRUGGLE Film Panel discussion on Nuclear Corruption following a screening of POWER STRUGGLE, Robbie Leppzer's documentary on what it took for citizen activists to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station. This Week's Special Feature: While "nuclear" and "corruption" deserve to be listed as synonyms in the thesaurus, we don't usually take the time to discuss this as a specific focus. That's why this panel discussion from The Museum of Political Corruption was so powerful. Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy both moderated and participated in the session, which took place on Friday, December 6, 2022. Participants were: Robbie Leppzer, director of the film POWER STRUGGLE, whose critically acclaimed feature-length and short documentaries about contemporary social issues, grassroots activism, and multicultural themes have been broadcast by CNN International, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, HBO/Cinemax, CNN, and more. Tony Klein was a Vermont State Representative for 14 years from 2002-2016. He served on the House Committee of Natural Resources and Energy for 12 years, the committee responsible for oversight of the majority of issues pertaining to the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Linda Pentz Gunter is the international specialist at Beyond Nuclear; writes for and curates Beyond Nuclear International; and was a journalist for 20 years, principally with Reuters and other print and broadcast media. She now contributes regularly to Nuclear Hotseat with the Hot Story. Panel discussion was followed by a Q&A with viewers. Thanks to the producing efforts of the Museum of Political Corruption, spearheaded by Veronica Medina-Matzner and Bruce Broter. If you’re reading this before December 18, 2022, and would like to watch POWER STRUGGLE at no charge, go to Museum of Political Corruption/Power Struggle. For more information about POWER STRUGGLE or to obtain a DVD of POWER STRUGGLE, visit: www.PowerStruggleMovie.com For schools and libraries wanting to obtain a copy of POWER STRUGGLE, visit New Day Films at NewDay.com Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): How can they say that nuclear fusion makes more more power than it takes to create it, but not check back on how much power it REALLY took to make it? But oh, that's right – nuclear. You can tell they're lying when they move their lips. ### NH #598: RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island - New Film by Heidi Hutner Premieres URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-film-radioactive-three-mile-island/ Published: 2022-12-08 Duration: 00:59:01 RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island – New Film by Heidi Hutner Premieres New film by Heidi Hutner has world premiere: RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island This Week's Special Feature: It’s hard to get the full picture of what nuclear is and what it does across to the general public. Disconnected news stories, nuclear industry full-press spin, ADHD news cycles and the public’s general lack of memory obscures the horrible truth about what happens when a nuclear reactor goes off the rails. Thus it is cause for celebration when a full length documentary appears that tells the nuclear story clearly, completely, with human focus and all the compelling arguments in place. That’s the case with the new film RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island. Produced and directed by ecofeminism professor-turned-visual journalist Heidi Hutner, the film follows four mothers who lived through and next to TMI as the focus for this crucial film. TMI was the worst nuclear accident in US history – so far – and has been buried under decades of nuclear industry spin-speak. Now, at last, the truth can come out, and word is that the film is brilliant. As the press materials explain: Though this disaster took place in 1979, the life and death implications continue in the spiritual, physical, and political DNA of the community, its residents, and their descendants. To bring you the sense of the world premiere as part of the Dances With Films Festival, two long time Nuclear Hotseat listeners and supporters stepped forward to help out: Priscilla Star, a foiunder of the Coalition Against Nukes (C.A.N.) and Joe DeMare. Joe is the host and producer of For A Green Future, a radio program that covers a wide variety of environmental and ecological issues. His show is Broadcast in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio, then posted as a podcast and on a youtube channel. He also organizes an annual event remembering the Fukushima nuclear disaster called Unplug Nuclear Power which is a 24 hour boycott of grid supplied electricity every March 11. Libbe HaLevy Moderating Panel from Disrupt and Museum of Political Corruption on Power Struggle Film On International Anti-Corruption Day, the Museum of Political Corruption honors the fight of all of those who stand up against corruption, with a special screening and discussion of the documentary "Power Struggle," on the fight to shut down the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. REGISTER NOW to receive a one-time exclusive access to the film and join us online on Friday, December 9th, at 7PM (EST) for a live in-depth conversation with very special guests: director Robbie Leppzer Tony Klein (retired Vermont State Representative who led the fight in the Vermont Legislature against the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant) Linda Pentz Gunter (editor, writer and curator at Beyond Nuclear International) moderated by Libbe HaLevy, host and producer of the Nuclear Hotseat Podcast. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, was in Washington, DC last week peddling, yes, a new French nuclear renaissance. Sacre bleu! Did he miss the complete flop the last time around? And has he not noticed that half his current reactor fleet is down? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): How does the head of the country that experienced Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Fukushima justify all this nuclear expansion? Links: Situation at Ukrainian nuclear plants worrying as shelling and power cuts threaten containment Nuclear waste ravaged their land. The Yakama Nation is on a quest to rescue it Karl Grossman article – New Nukes? The Surprising Afterlife of Unwanted Atom Bombs Comic book on nuclear waste in Canada – distributed by Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) Cel from comic book on Nuclear Waste in Canada ### NH #597: More Radioactive Contamination Found in Ohio Homes Near PORTS U-Processing Plant - Prof. Michael Ketterer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-contamination-in-ohio-homes/ Published: 2022-12-01 Duration: 00:59:01 BIG NEWS! Nuclear Hotseat is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit! Your donations are now tax-deductible. More info coming – stay tuned! More Radioactive Contamination Found in Ohio Homes Near PORTS Plant – Prof. Michael Ketterer Professor Emeritus Michael Ketterer, via Zoom with Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Piketon, Ohio, was the site of uranium enrichment for the US nuclear weapons program. It operated from 1954 to 2001, and now the Department of Energy is in charge of cleaning up the site. But how good a job are they doing? How contaminated is the site – and how far has that radioactive contamination spread? To learn more, we spoke with Michael Ketterer. He is professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, and the former Ohio resident studies the sources and behavior of radioisotopes in the environment. He’s been in the thick of discovering problems around the Ports plant – and there’s more coming. I spoke with Michael Ketterer on Friday, November 25, 2022. Links from the Interview: Michael Ketterer CONTACT Reporter Duane Pohlman‘s latest report on cancer rates in Piketon County. He interviewed Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project. Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) When it comes to nuclear stories, even the revered 60 Minutes can get it really, really wrong 60 Minutes' Leslie Stahl interviews Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)… and repeatedly drops the ball. Even good journalists are fooled by the nuclear nonsense. Links: Nuclear Guinea Pigs: NRC's Licensing of Experimental Nuclear Plants by Karl Grossman War Puts Cleanup of Russia's Radioactive Wrecks on Ice by Charles Digges of Bellona Foundation ### NH #596: Nuclear Reactor Radiation Health Impact on Kids - New Baby Tooth Study - Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-reactor-radiation-health-kids/ Published: 2022-11-24 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Reactor Radiation Health Impact on Kids – New Baby Tooth Study – Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano Just one record from one file box from just one of 30+ boxes from the original baby tooth study of the 1950's-60's . This Week's Featured Interview: Joseph Mangano is a health researcher who has served Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) since 1989. Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). Now, he’s involved with putting together a landmark examination of the impact of reactor radiation releases on children living in the area – a study made possible by an amazing discovery of an epidemiological treasure hidden since the Cold War. I spoke with Joseph Mangano on Monday, November 21, 2022. Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project Links from Interview: I Gave My Baby Tooth to Science: Project Sunshine's Role in the Limited Test Ban Treaty by Robert Alvarez and Joseph Mangano Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter In a rare victory, the US Department of Energy turned down Holtec's request for funding to reopen the dangerous Palisades reactor. Now the reactor should be thoroughly "autopsied" before any more license extensions are issued to other operating US nuclear power plants. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's a bomb shelter! It's a kid's room! Wait – it's both! Links: Karl Grossman Enviro Close-up #671: Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA)Karl Grossman – Nuclear Guinea Pigs: NRC's Licensing of Experimental Nuclear PlantsDOE awards millions to restart nuclear operations in southern Ohio as contamination concerns continueFallout from a Nuclear Past: a new book on the human toll of "nuclear colonization" – Nuclear Nuevo Mexico by Myrriah Gomez. ### NH #595: Nuclear Arctic Ice Melt & Radiation Dangers: Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-arctic-ice-melt-radiation-danger/ Published: 2022-11-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Arctic Ice Melt from Radiation Dangers: Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones UK-based Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones This Week's Featured Interview: Given the pro-nuclear doubletalk at COP 27, which is drowning out the voices of actual informed activists, it's important for us to understand the consequences of the climate catastrophe already in evidence around the world – and how much of it is created by nuclear contamination that the so-called "experts" would rather we not know. For that reason, we're revisiting an interview from the beginning of this year on the consequences of nuclear radiation on the Arctic ice. Our interviewee is a regular resource for Nuclear Hotseat, and he always comes up with clear explanations of complex issues. Tim Deere-Jones is a marine biologist – a radiation researcher and consultant – who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here he provides a SPECIAL report produced exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat on the Nuclear Arctic radiation dangers. Tim has agreed to come on board with the show to provide regular updates on oceans, rivers, and other water sources being negatively impacted by nuclear radiation, so you’ll be hearing more from him in the coming months. We spoke on Monday, January 24, 2022. PDF DOWNLOAD of the text of this presentation – CLICK HERE CONTACT for Tim Deere-Jones: timdj@talktalk.net Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The United States has used the occasion of the COP27 climate summit to announce new nuclear power deals, including one, incredibly, with Ukraine. The summit is also “awash” in fossil fuel representatives. None of this bodes well. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Pro-nuke fitness freestyling?!?!??? How low can you go? Oh, wait – it's coming from pro-nuclear interests. There's no limit. There’s a lot of cringe content at #COP27 but even I was not prepared for pro-nuke fitness freestyling. pic.twitter.com/OTfRmZXZiB — Aruna Chandrasekhar (@aruna_sekhar) November 15, 2022 Check out this twitter link of pro-nuclear interests at COP27 attempting to be relevant to a younger demographic. I mean – SHEESH! What Are Your Favorite Nuclear Hotseat Moments? Suggestions Needed for 600th Episode! Hi All: On December 20, 2022, Nuclear Hotseat will hit its 600th episode! – quite the milestone, and one I never could have imagined 11-1/2 years ago when I started. To commemorate the event (and to give myself a week "off" from active reporting), I'd like to compile a "greatest hits" episode. And because my perspective is different from yours, I need your input on what to include. So what are some of your favorite Nuclear Hotseat moments? Memorable interviews, exchanges, flubs, bad jokes, jaw-dropping revelations, musical theatre moments, or…? Let me know! Send them to me at: info@nuclearhotseat.com. If you can, provide the show number/date. And if you really want to be an angel and help me through pre-production, let me know the time in the episode that it took place. The more input I get on this, the smoother will be the edit to create this commemoration. Many thanks for being with me through this ride – and I look forward to seeing if I last long enough to make it through the next 100! <g> <but not really> – Libbe. ### NH #594: Never-Ending Three Mile Island Decommissioning UPDATE: Eric Epstein URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-eternal-decommissioni/ Published: 2022-11-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Never Ending Three Mile Island Decommissioning UPDATE: Eric Epstein Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy. At TMI 40th anniversary commemoration, 2019. This Week's Featured Interview: Eric Epstein is the Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., a safe-energy organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and founded in 1977. TMIA monitors the Peach Bottom, Susquehanna, and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations. He is also coordinator of the EFMR Monitoring, Inc., a nonpartisan community based organization established in 1992. EFMR monitors radiation levels at Peach Bottom and Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations, invests in community development, and sponsors remote robotics research. For more than 35 years, Mr. Epstein has specialized in research, litigation and providing expert testimony on the decommissioning, decontamination, environmental safety, rate recovery and waste isolation at nuclear reactors. No one knows the ins and outs of legalities surrounding Three Mile Island better than him. We spoke on Monday, November 7, 2022. Libbe HaLevy at TMI commemoration plaque, just across from the site of the two shuttered nuclear reactors. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter In this week's Hot Story with Beyond Nuclear's Linda Pentz Gunter, we look at Poland's bizarre decision to choose the American company, Westinghouse, to build three new reactors – the same company that went bankrupt trying to build them in the US, where its track record boasts long delays, massive cost overruns and even criminal activity! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): In Japan, 80 is the new… WTF ARE YOU THINKING?!?!??? And stop supporting your wrongheaded position by mis-citing U. S. policy that was revised last February! Don't you ever Google? Links: The new US nuclear posture review is a major step backwardLocal 12 investigation (Cincinnatti) uncovers family's home is riddled with radioactive contamination (LINK goes to page with video.)Radiation dose and gene expression analysis of wild boar 10 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accidentREPORT: In Suttsu, Japan, the inhabitants do not want nuclear waste ### NH #593: Nuclear War & Medical Impacts - Dr. Helen Caldicott's Oscar-Winning Film "If You Love This Planet" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/if-you-love-this-planet-caldicott-nuclear-war/ Published: 2022-11-02 Duration: 00:59:01 "If You Love This Planet" – Dr. Helen Caldicott's Oscar-Winner on Medical Impact of Nuclear War Dr. Helen Caldicott, whose presentation on the medical impact of nuclear war was turned into the 1982 Oscar-winning short documentary, "If You Love This Planet." This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interview: Dr. Helen Caldicott has probably done more to make the public around the world aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons, nuclear war, nuclear reactors and the entire nuclear fuel chain than any other individual in history. During more than 60 years of activism, she has founded or revived organizations including Physicians for Social Responsibility; led protests, spoken to presidents, been a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and the focus of an Academy Award-winning film, as she influenced several generations of activists to stand up against these weapons of mass destruction in the hopes of avoiding nuclear war. In this extended interview, we take a look at IF YOU LOVE THIS PLANET, the 1982 Oscar-winning film for Best Short Documentary. LINK to the film on Youtube is below. Please view, share, tell your friends, your politicians, people in line with you at the grocery story – if people want to understand exactly what we face from the threat of even a "limited" nuclear war, this is the film for them to see. We spoke on Thursday, October 30, 2022. If You Love This Planet – Here's the Film: Oscar-Winning Film (1982 Best Short Documentary) featuring a presentation by Dr. Helen Caldicott. She explains in clear, no-nonsense language exactly what we will face if even one of the current nukes is exploded. For those of us following the events in Ukraine closely, this is a timely reminder on why nuclear weapons must NEVER be used. Companion Piece: 2022 Interview with Dr. Caldicott List of Links to Resource Books from the Interview: Poisoned Power: The Case Against Nucler Power Plants by John Goffman, Arthur R. TamplinLynne Eden, Whole World On FireWith Enough Shovels: Reagan, Bush and Nuclear War by Robert Scheer.Dr. Helen Caldicott: Missile Envy: The Arms Race and Nuclear WarCHERNOBYL: Consequences of the Disaster for People and the Environment – Alexey V. Yablokov (Editor), Vassily B. Nesterenko (Editor), Alexey V. Nesterenko (Editor), Dr. Janette Sherman (English Editor) When Dr. Caldicott spoke of the one journalist who managed to get into Hiroshima and report on the ravages of radiation poisoning on the population, that story is the focus of a play that I’ve been working on, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE. I’m currently looking for a theatre workshop or development program to move the show forward to a full production, so if you know of someplace where I can continue my work on it, send an email to: info@nuclearhotseat.com. ### NH #592: Nuclear's Ticking Doomsday Clock - Rachel Bronson of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclears-doomsday-clock-rachel-bronson/ Published: 2022-10-26 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear's Ticking Doomsday Clock – Rachel Bronson of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists This Week's Featured Interview: Rachel Bronson is President and CEO of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists – the scientists behind setting the Doomsday Clock. She explains where that image and concept came from, who decides what time to set the clock, and the criteria used to determine just how close to global annihilation we are now, then goes into the group’s many publications and programs. NOTE: This is an interview from March, 2018, when the Doomsday Clock was set at two minutes to midnight. It is currently set at 100 seconds to Midnight, but that was determined in January, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nuclear Hotseat's Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Russia's nuclear fuel chain to the west – uninterrupted despite eight rounds of sanctions! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Need I add more? Never miss a chance or a platform to spread the bad news… Links: Miriam Pemberton discusses her new book Six Stops on the National Security Tour: Rethinking Warfare Economies in a zoominar for Peace Action New York State. REGISTER HERE.Europe is still quietly importing Russian nuclear energyEurope Should Sanction Russia’s Nuclear Industry – Now – Moscow Times articleZaporizhzhia on the brink: How deteriorating conditions at the nuclear power plant could lead to disasterHow Not to Estimate the Likelihood of Nuclear War – Brookings InstituteRhetoric in Ukraine has reinforced the fallacy of limited nuclear exchangeFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, method to remove debris by submerging the buildings in water: Symbolic of project difficulties after repeated changes, with no prospects for feasibilityNuclear Power Is a Dead End. We Must Abandon It Completely. ### NH #591: Nuclear Weapons & the UN Treaty to Ban Them - Ray Acheson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-un-treaty-to-ban-them/ Published: 2022-10-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Weapons & the UN Treaty to Ban Them: Ray Acheson Statue on banning nuclear weapons outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. This Week's Featured Interview: Ray Acheson Two years ago, October 24th 2020, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was ratified by the 50th member nation and thus qualified for implementation as international law. To mark this anniversary, we’re revisiting an interview we did at that time with Ray Acheson. They is an organiser, activist, and writer. They are Director of Disarmament at the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), the world's oldest feminist peace organization. They serve on the steering group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work to ban nuclear weapons, as well as the steering committees of Stop Killer Robots and the International Network on Explosive Weapons. We spoke on October 30, 2020. Links from the Interview: Find out if your country has joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – and which cities, parliamentarians, and local organizations are supporting it. ICANW List of TPNW signatories and supporters. Report on the First Meeting of States Parties Books by Ray Acheson: Banning the Bomb, Smashing the PatriarchyAbolishing State Violence: A World Beyond Bombs, Borders, and Cages Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: "Lord, what fools these mortals be!” exclaimed Shakespeare’s sprite, Puck, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Indeed we are. Somehow, we are still here, despite our reckless possession and use of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Who can we rely on to save us from our foolishness? Ironically, on at least two occasions, it has been Russian military men, recalls Beyond Nuclear’s Linda Pentz Gunter in this week’s Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Oh, Greta! Say it ain't so! Greta Thunberg, not her best look… or best stance! LINKS: Nuclear is Not a Climate Solution – six video excerpts from a Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World webinar. IF YOU LOVE THIS PLANET – interview with Dr. Helen Caldicott Expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – PETITIONDealing with Nuclear Anxiety – from ICANNEIS Night with the Experts – Dave Kraft – Thursday, October 20, 2022, 7 PM CentralVasily Arkhipov saved the worldHarvey Wasserman article: Nuclear Power Isn’t Clean — It Creates Hellish Wastelands of Radioactive Sewage ### NH #590: Uranium Mine to become Int'l Radioactive Waste Dump? Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Fights White Mesa Mill URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-mill-radioactive-waste-dump-ute-fights/ Published: 2022-10-13 Duration: 00:59:01 Uranium Mine to become Int'l Radioactive Waste Dump? Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Fights White Mesa Mill White Mesa Ute at 2021 annual Protest & Spiritual Walk against White Mesa Uranium Mill. Photo and Keystone Photo used with permission by Tim Peterson This Week's Featured Interviews: Sarah Fields is Program Director of Uranium Watch, and has worked on uranium and other nuclear issues for over 20 years. We discuss how the White Mesa Uranium Mill is being allowed to process radioactive waste material from around the United States and as far away as Canada, Europe and Japan. There are plans in place for the mine to accept materials going back 77 years to the start of the Manhattan Project. The move is being opposed by several environmental groups, including those linked to the Grand Canyon, and is a focus for protests from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. I spoke with Sarah Fields spoke on Saturday, October 8, 2022.Particularly impacted by these nuclear intentions are members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, with lands adjacent to the mine and a water supply from an aquifer that sits below the mine. They are holding their annual Spiritual Walk and Protest on Saturday, October 22. To learn more about it, I spoke with Yolanda Badback, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the group, White Mesa Concerned Community. We spoke on Saturday, October 8, 2022. Links from interviews: Uranium Watch – note that the website is currently undergoing a redesign.Protect White Mesa Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: “We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” said U.S. President Biden last week. He was referring to the possibility that Russia might use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and remembering the 13 tense days in October 1962 that brought the US and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. In this week’s Hot Story, Linda Pentz Gunter explores the implications of the current rhetoric. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): TEPCO has a perfect way to "prove" that its already-treated radioactive tritium contaminated water from Fukushima that they want to dump into the Pacific Ocean is "safe." Just hide the truth in plain sight… Links: Radiation Information for Everyone – 3 evenings, October 25, 26, and 27 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.Best Place to Survive a Nuclear War in the U.S. ### NH #589: "Cool" Nuclear History Education for Kids - Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Aiko Kojima Hibino URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-589-cool-nuclear-history-education-for-kids-prof-yuki-miyamoto-aiko-kojima-hibino/ Published: 2022-10-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear History Education for Kids Jessica Kibblewhite, a sixth grade social science teacher at Chicago’s National Teachers Academy, works with her students using a new curriculum that explores the ethics of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Photo Courtesy of Aiko Kojima Hibino This Week's Featured Interview: Illinois has become the first state in the nation to mandate the teaching of Asian American History for grades K-12. The intent is to combat hate crimes and racial discrimination against Asian Americans, which grew exponentially during the Covid 19 pandemic. As nuclear plays a major part in any understanding Japan's history – the atomic bombs being dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the use of nuclear energy and the 2011 Fukushima triple meltdown nuclear disaster – a nuclear curriculum is crucial to teach Nuclear History Education. How fortunate, then, that today's guests created such a curriculum for 6th graders that was used as a pilot project in Spring of 2022 – and that it's available for any teachers, anywhere, to incorporate into their classrooms as of the 2022-2023 school year. Hiroshima-born Dr. Yuki Miyamoto is a second generation Hibakusha – daughter of an atomic bomb survivor. Her mother was in Hiroshima one mile from the epicenter of the bombing, yet survived it with what seemed like little physical damage… though other truths later emerged. She is a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, where she introduces a new generation of young people to the hard truths about the atomic bombing and its continuing impact on survivors – especially women – their children, grandchildren, and beyond. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and teaches nuclear discourse and environmental ethics at DePaul. Aiko Kojima Hibino – is a strong advocate for equitable public education. She serves as a board member of Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, the nonprofit that engages, informs, and empowers parents to protect and strengthen public education for all children in Chicago and Illinois, eliminate inequities in public schools, and work at the grassroots for the public good that is public education. Aiko will start teaching "Nuclear Problems and Society" course for first-year college students starting in 2023. The two school teachers who worked with Yuki and Aiko on how to teach the material to children are social science teacher Jessica Kibblewhite and science teacher Laura Gluckman, both 6th grade teachers at the National Teachers Academy in Chicago. Links mentioned during the interview: Teaach Nuclear History – curriculum materials for teaching nuclear history to grade school and high school students. Available without charge for any interested educators. Dr. Yuki Miyamoto interview on Nuclear Hotseat #528: Hiroshima Nagasaki at 76: Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Daughter of A-Bomb Survivor Should School Libraries Toss Old Books? Discarded copies of John Hershey's book HIROSHIMA tossed in the dumpster at Senn High School in Chicago – the photo that inspired the nuclear history curriculum in Illinois. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter Hurricane Ian caused devastation in Florida last week. Yet one 100% solar-powered town modeled exactly the path we must take — renewables not nuclear — as it survived Ian virtually unscathed, reports Linda Pentz Gunter in this week's Hot Story. Links: TO BE DETERMINED ### NH #588: Increased Child Leukemia Rates near Nuclear Reactors: Dr. Ian Fairlie URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/child-leukemia-near-nuclear-reactors/ Published: 2022-09-29 Duration: 00:59:01 Increased Child Leukemia Rates Near Nuclear Reactors: Dr. Ian Fairlie Dr. Ian Fairlie (CLICK on picture for for access to website) This Week's Featured Interview: Child leukemia rates near nuclear reactors have been shown to increase in 2014 report by Dr. Ian Fairlie. He is an independent consultant on radioactivity in the environment living in London UK and has studied radiation and radioactivity at least since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. He has a degree in radiation biology from Bart’s Hospital in London and his doctoral studies at Imperial College in London and (briefly) Princeton University in the US concerned the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing. Fairlie formerly worked as a civil servant on the regulation of radiation risks from nuclear power stations. From 2000 to 2004, he was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. Since retiring from Government service, he has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals. His areas of interest are the radiation doses and risks arising from the radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. In 2014, Dr. Fairlie published a scientific paper that compiled the results of 60 studies on child leukemia rates near nuclear reactors and blew the lid off the nuclear industry’s claim that living near a reactor is perfectly safe. He also exposes how the industry intentionally kept that information from the public until it was forced to reveal the data in 2012.LINK to Dr. Fairlie’s article, “Childhood Leukemia Near Nuclear Power Stations”LINK to U.S. statistics on Thyroid Cancer Rates near NYC-area nuclear reactors from Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project. Other articles available on that site as well. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Pssst! Wanna fool a country's vulnerable populations into approving a nuclear waste dump in their backyard? Has Australia ever got a public relations firm for you! Links: Nine Stupid Nations – on the countries that own and operate the money pit that is nuclear weapons.Medicine and Nuclear Power– fact sheet written by Dr. Gordon for the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. Another Close Call – Missile strike near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine raises questions about use of nuclear energy at all. Countries in Europe that could be affected if Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility explodes. [Interview] Japanese anti-nuclear activist says fishers’ consent is crucial for Fukushima water release ### NH #587: U.S. "Nuclear Survival" Propaganda & the Real Nuclear Nightmare - Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-survival-propaganda-nuke-horror/ Published: 2022-09-21 Duration: 00:59:01 Sign beside the highway going to Los Alamos NH #587: U.S. "Nuclear Survival" Propaganda & the Real Nuclear Nightmare – Karl Grossman Karl Grossman and the FEMA nuclear survival propaganda brochure he picked up at a Pow Wow! This Week's Featured Interview: Karl Grossman is a veteran, award-winning environmental investigative reporter, author of six books, and a journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury. Karl hosts the syndicated television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman and has been covering nuclear issues for more than 50 years. Here, we go over "nuclear survival" propaganda in the United States, which is popping up with greater frequency. What is the purpose and what might be the ultimate goal? Are we being conned into assuming nuclear war is inevitable? We also discuss nuclear reactor danger in Ukraine, where not only the Zaporizhzhia 6-reactor complex has been shelled, but now also the South Ukraine 3-reactor Pivdennoukrainsk complex was shelled last night. LINKS from the interview: To learn more about Karl Grossman's work, go to his website: KarlGrossman.com FREE BOOK: To download a copy free of Karl's book COVER UP: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power,   CLICK HERE. Copy of FEMA FLYER – CLICK HERE or on the graphic below: FEMA Nuclear Survival Propaganda HOW TO GET INVOLVED: To learn about and get involved with the Initiative of the Nuclear Ban Treaty Collaborative to get media to report on the Treaty for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, CLICK HERE: for the landing page, and CLICK HERE for specific resources for action. Duck and Cover: the Original 1950's Nuclear Survival Propaganda Film Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Climate change, sea level rise, and nuclear reactor risks. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Oliver Stone. ### NH #586: Kings Bay Plowshares 7 - Catholic Anti-Nuclear Activists Martha Hennessey, Patrick O'Neill URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-plowshares-activists/ Published: 2022-09-13 Duration: 00:59:28 Actual site of Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Anti-Nuclear Action – does this look like damage that justifies 3 years in prison? NH #586: Kings Bay Plowshares 7 – Catholic Anti-Nuclear Activists Martha Hennessey, Patrick O'Neill This Week's Featured Interview: The Kings Bay Plowshares are a group of seven Catholic peace activists who broke into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia on April 4th, 2018, and carried out a symbolic act of protest against nuclear weapons. The name of the action and the wider anti-nuclear Plowshares movement comes from the prophet Isaiah's command to "beat swords into plowshares.” As a result of their non-violent actions, the group were arrested, tried, and a federal grand jury found the seven guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor charge. Members served up to three years in prison for their action. Now, prison sentences and home confinements have ended for those who carried out the Trident Disarmament Action Against Nuclear Weapons and we spoke with two of them for this week’s show. Patrick O'Neill Patrick O’Neill is 61 years old, the father of six daughters and two sons. With his wife, Mary Rider, he co-founded the Fr. Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker House in Garner, N.C. in 1991, an intentional, pacifist, Christian community that works to uphold the Consistent Ethic of Life. In addition to Catholic Worker responsibilities, he is a journalist. His peacemaking and anti-nuclear efforts include extensive work opposing nuclear weapons, working for abolition of the death penalty, supporting immigrants, participating in the N.C.-based Moral Monday Movement, the new Poor People’s Campaign, Black Lives Matter and other anti-oppression and anti-racism efforts. Patrick has spent more than two years in jail and prison for his peace work. Martha Hennessey Martha Hennessy, seventh child of Dorothy Day’s only child Tamar, divides her time between the family farm in Vermont and volunteer work at Maryhouse Catholic Worker in New York City. She has been arrested and imprisoned protesting nuclear power, war, the use of drones, the torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and other prisons, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Yemen. She has traveled to Russia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Palestine to understand the effects of war on other peoples. Martha travels and speaks on the topics of life and work in community, Catholic Social Teaching, anti-nuclear actions, and peacemaking efforts in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement. We spoke on August 25, 2022. For more information on the action, its aftermath, and the other activists, go to KingsBayPlowshares7.org. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story – Linda Pentz Gunter: King Charles III and Nukes: can we expect anything good? Links: Why Is There More Media Talk About Using Nuclear Weapons Than About Banning Them? – Karl Grossman ### NH #585: Diablo Canyon Nuclear: CA Legislators Blow it - but It's Not Over URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/diablo-canyon-nuclear-clawmakers-blow-it/ Published: 2022-09-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Diablo Canyon Nuclear: CA Legislators Blow it – but It’s Not Over Diablo Canyon's proximity to earthquake faults: what the CA legislature and Gov. Newsom ignored. This Week's Feature: When the California legislature voted on August 31, 2022 to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility open for a minimum of another 5 years – which will probably end up being 20 – this setback wasn’t for lack of evidence as to why this was a bad idea. Activists from around the state, with national support, put forth compelling talking points, created petitions, made thousands of calls and emails to legislators to vote against bill 846 . But they were up against the nuclear industry’s millions of dollars, poured into a multi-year campaign to turn around the 2016 decision to shut it down, and who knows what incentives dangled in front of legislators eager for re-election funds, But for whatever their reasons, legislators ignored crucial information, all of it verifiable, footnoted, and presented to them about Diablo's dangers, weaknesses, history. The San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace held an online press conference in one final concerted effort to wake up the legislators and the media, and get out the talking points as to why Diablo needed to close on schedule, as planned since 2016. Here, we feature five of the speakers: Cathy Iwane is co-founder of the Coalition for Nuclear Safety . In 2011, she and her family fled Japan to escape the effects of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and moved to southern California, not knowing how close she was to the San Onofre nuclear reactors. She became active fighting for the closure of SanO and continued to work on the problems that came up during decommissioning and especially with the spent fuel canisters. Cathy and still lives in southern California. Donna Gilmore used to live in southern California within five miles of the San Onofre nuclear reactors and founded San Onofre Safety. After Fukushima, when she realized her proximity and the dangers from that nuclear reactor, she became involved in shutting down San Onofre and working on other national battles. Donna is a wiz at doing research and crunching numbers, and here she provides insights into the myth that Diablo Canyon could be a long term reliable source of energy for California. Daniel Hirsch. He is the retired director of the Program on Environmental and Nuclear Policy at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and president of Committee to Bridge the Gap, a non-profit nuclear policy organization focusing on issues of nuclear safety, waste disposal, proliferation, and disarmament. In the press conference, which was on zoom, he shared slides showing earthquake faults and their proximity to the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors. Arnie Gundersen is a licensed nuclear reactor operator with more than 50-years of nuclear power engineering experience. Now, as Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Associates, he testifies on behalf of states, municipalities, NGOs, and environmental organizations regarding the hazards and violations at nuclear reactors and atomic waste sites. Here, he builds on Dan Hirsch's points about earthquake faults and speaks to another vulnerability at Diablo Canyon. Harvey Wasserman is is a journalist, author, democracy activist, and advocate for renewable energy. He has been a strategist and organizer in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States for over 30 years, and he has insights to share about Diablo Canyon that the legislators completely missed. You can watch the full press conference HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Food, glorious foooooood… but what about when it's from Fukushima? Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Ukraine – who's doing the shelling? At this point, does it really matter? IAEA on site in Ukraine at Zaporizhzhia, examining the damage caused by the bombing on the roof of the special building which houses, among others, the new nuclear fuel and the solid radioactive waste storage. (Photo credit : IAEA) LINKS: Ukraine: “People come back from the hospital with bullet-pierced palms”. ZNPP employees talk of murders, torture and abductionsA Ukrainian expert assesses the possible impact of a military attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plantLinda Pentz Gunter article: Zaporizhzhia is the poster child for abandoning the use of nuclear powerFukushima Plants Showing ‘Unusual Growing Patterns’ as Residents Return Activist Shout-Out: Here are those youth climate change activists in Wales, on the march across their country to spread the word: “Climate Justice cannot be achieved by nuclear energy.” ### NH #584: Nuclear Russian Roulette in Ukraine Heats Up: Gundersen + Youth Climate Activists March in Wales against Nukes URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-russian-roulette-in-ukraine/ Published: 2022-09-01 Duration: 00:59:00 NH #584: Nuclear Russian Roulette in Ukraine Heats Up: Gundersen + Youth Climate Activists March in Wales against Nukes Nuclear Russian Roulette in Ukraine – once again Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.org leads us through what has happened, what it means, where it can go as Ukranian Russian Roulette continues. This Week's Featured Interviews: Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education joins us again to explain the latest rounds of nuclear Russian roulette – what dangers got ramped up at Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine over the past week. Last week, for Episode #583, he predicted much of what could go wrong at the six-reactor site… and then it did. Here, he explains both the science and the human factors of what's being risked by the Russians who hold the facility. Arnie is a licensed nuclear reactor operator with more than 50-years of nuclear power engineering experience. Now, as Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Associates, he testifies on behalf of states, municipalities, NGOs, and environmental organizations regarding the hazards and violations at nuclear reactors and atomic waste sites. We spoke on Monday, August 29, 2022. Dr. Bethan Sian Jones is National Secretary and Sam Bannon is Campaign Coordinator for The Committee for Nuclear Disarmament – Wales, or CND CYMRU. They are part of the team that has put together a seven-day march between two decommissioned nuclear reactors that Wales wants to use as sites for new small modular nuclear reactors. They are joining with other youth climate change action groups across the country September 4-10 under the slogan, "Climate justice cannot be achieved by nuclear energy." We spoke on Sunday, August 27, 2022. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Russian state television propagandist Vladimir Solovyov proudly tells Ukraine and America that if Zaporizhzhia's nuclear reactors blow up, "We have the protective suits!" Lead-lined Kevlar? Links: Ontario’s energy strategy opposite of what we need – by Angela Bischoff, Ontario Clean Air AllianceA Ukrainian climate expert on the Zaporizhzhia situation and the winter energy outlookKeeping Diablo Canyon Lit Is Expensive and UnsafeSurfrider Tests Beach Water Radiation Levels at San OnofreMore data needed before ocean release of Fukushima waterThe world stands on a nucl/ear precipice – we must avoid catastrophe by Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand A Sane Leader of a Nuclear-free Country ### NH #583: New Ukraine Nuclear Risks - Arnie Gundersen + Newsom's $1.4 BILLION Diablo Canyon Trickery Meets Ratepayer Rage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ukraine-nuclear-newsom-diablo-bailout/ Published: 2022-08-24 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #583: New Ukraine Nuclear Risks – Arnie Gundersen + Newsom's $1.4 BILLION Diablo Canyon Trickery Meets Ratepayer Rage Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors – supposed to shut down in 2024 and 2025. Will CA Gov. Gavin Newsom get away with his sudden shill game to give PG&E $1.4 BILLION bail out? This Week's Featured Interviews: Arnie Gundersen reveals all the different ways that the Ukraine Nuclear reactors in Zaporizhzhia can be compromised to release more radioactivity than 60 Chernobyls. Gundersen is a licensed nuclear reactor operator with more than 50-years of nuclear power engineering experience. Now, as Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Associates, he testifies on behalf of states, municipalities, NGOs, and environmental organizations regarding the hazards and violations at nuclear reactors and atomic waste sites. I spoke with Arnie Gundersen on Monday, August 22, 2022. Jane Swanson and Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace. Northern California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors have been on track to be decommissioned at their end of their operating licenses, in 2024 and 2025. But now, in a stunning display of political brinksmanship, California's Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to force the legislature to pass a $1.4 billion bailout to keep those nukes running. Here with the details on what he’s trying to do – and how to stop it – are two veteran activists. We spoke on Friday, August 19, 2022. Links from Interview: ACTIONS TO TAKE NOW – from Mothers for Peace – Includes TALKING POINTS LA Times Op-Ed: Reactors at Diablo Canyon are No Cure for BlackoutsAmory Lovins’ Statement for California Diablo Canyon Workshop of August 12, 202 Numnutz of the Week: Numnutz of the Week usually provides a glimpse of ongoing nuclear boneheadedness, tweaking an industry that has more dollars than sense. But this week, something different: A recognition of excellence in making the Russian military into a Numnutz. Congratulations to Chernobyl Tour, its owner Yaroslav Yemelianenko, and his employees for creating a Chernobyl radiation exposure dis-information campaign to scare Russia out of the radioactive zone. Whether that was a sole factor or a contributing factor, it worked. And that makes this the first ever merit-based Numnutz of the Week Award! CHERNOBYL TOUR security video view of incoming Russian troops and vehicles. Video for screen shot provided by Chernobyl-Tour.com/english ### NH #582: Radiation Training - New Info on Risks Worse for Little Girls, Women - Mary Olson, Cindy Folkers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-training-risks-worse-li-girls/ Published: 2022-08-17 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #582: New Radiation Training on How Risks are Worse for Little Girls, Women – Mary Olson, Cindy Folkers This Week's Featured Interview: One of the most misunderstood aspects of nuclear danger is the impact of radiation on our health. Today’s two interviewees not only are in the forefront of exposing the radiation lies that underpin the nuclear industry, they have an exciting new radiation training program for those who are willing to learn the larger truth. Mary Olson is founder of Gender + Radiation Impact Project, a group she started after 25 years as Radioactive Waste Policy Analyst and Director of the Southeast Office of Nuclear Information and Resource Service. Cindy Folkers has been Radiation and Health Hazard Specialist at Beyond Nuclear since 2007. Together with Dr. Ian Fairlie, Vice President of UK Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and previously a member of the scientific Secretariat to the UK Government’s Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, they have put together a new radiation training: Radiation Information For Everyone. LINKS mentioned during Interview: CLICK HERE for Radiation for Everyone information and sign-upSummary of Cindy Folkers paper: Disproportionate Impacts of Radiation Exposure on Women, Children, and Pregnancy: Taking Back our NarrativeEPA annual dose calculator (interesting, but not perfect) Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Implications of the top secret nuclear weapons documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Activist Shoutout: Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance hung up all flags of the 66 states that have ratified the #tpnw outside the Y-12 nuclear weapons factory in the United States. Links: Hering and Blanch: Misinformation About Nuclear Waste Does Not Protect the Public’s SafetySpies Who Spilled Atomic Bomb Secrets ### NH #581: Hiroshima, Nagasaki Second Generation: Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Daughter of Atomic Survivor URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-a-bomb-survivor-kids/ Published: 2022-08-10 Duration: 00:58:59 NH #581: Hiroshima, Nagasaki Second Generation: Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Daughter of Atomic Survivor Hiroshima second generation A-bomb survivor, Professor Yuki Miyamoto This Week's Featured Interview: Hiroshima-born Yuki Miyamoto is a second generation Hibakusha – daughter of an atomic bomb survivor.  Her mother was in Hiroshima one mile from the epicenter of the bombing, yet survived it with what seemed like little physical damage… though other truths later emerged.  Yuki’s story of what it was like to grow up in Hiroshima, the illnesses around her, and the judgments made against her by others in Japan makes for a gripping, little-known narrative of the atomic bomb’s aftermath. Yuki Miyamoto is a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, where she introduces a new generation of young people to the hard truths about the atomic bombing and its continuing impact on survivors – especially  women – their children, grandchildren, and beyond. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and teaches nuclear discourse and environmental ethics at DePaul. 2011’s Fukushima nuclear accident urged her to examine environmental ethics, which led to her most recent work, A World Otherwise: Environmental Praxis in Minamata (Lexington Books, 2021). Miyamoto’s current work is on the formation of postwar nuclear discourse both in Japan and the United States. She has taken DePaul students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki since 2005 and has been appointed Nagasaki Peace Correspondent (2010) and Hiroshima Peace Ambassador (2011). We spoke on Friday, July 30, 2021.  Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: What does the Inflation Reduction Act have to do with Climate Change… and specifically nuclear? Links MESSAGE FROM HIROSHIMA – Narrated by George Takei: Nuke Info Tokyo – newest newsletterDemocracy Now interview on Ukraine nuclear difficulties with Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist with Greenpeace. Open Letter to Bill Gates by Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy EducationFrom Russia to Ohio… to the Cancer Ward – Dangers of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, OhioThe Harrowing Story of the Nagasaki Bombing Mission – from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ### NH #580: Hiroshima Countdown, Atomic Cover-Up - Could the Bombs Have Been Avoided? Greg Mitchell URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-countdown-atomic-cover-up/ Published: 2022-08-04 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki a done deal? Inevitable once the U.S. produced the bomb? Or were there pressures to avoid unleashing a nuclear holocaust on Japan, and if so, how did they play out behind the scenes in 1945? Author and award-winning filmmaker Greg Mitchell recounts his findings, published annually in daily installments on his blog, Countdown to Hiroshima. He is the former editor and publisher of Nuclear Times; the author of more than a dozen books, with three on the use of the bomb. One of them, Atomic Cover-Up , on the decades-long suppression of shocking film shot in the atomic cities by the U.S. military, became an award-winning film. Another, The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood — and America — Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb tells the wild story of how an MGM 1947 drama was censored by the military (and Truman himself). Every year, he publishes Countdown to Hiroshima, blog posts that chronicle what was going on politically behind the scenes as the decision to drop the bomb was being made. I spoke with Greg Mitchell on July 28, 2022. Greg Mitchell LINKS: Author/Filmmaker Greg Mitchell being zoomed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe Greg Mitchell Links: Atomic Cover-Up film trailer: Atomic Cover-Up, Greg Mitchell's award-winning film, was the subject of an interview for Nuclear Hotseat #517. Countdown to Hiroshima – daily blog postsThe Beginning or the End: How Hollywood – and America – Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb And here's a link to the film that Greg Mitchell writes about where President Truman and Gen. Leslie Groves became censors, uhr, script doctors, uhr… well, you get the point. (SPOILER ALERT: It's awful.): Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Ukraine; the madness and the danger continues. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Bonehead/edness): Aw, c'mon – do we really need itsy bitsy teeny weenie micro-mini nuclear reactors????? LINKS: Vina Colley article on her fight to secure benefits for herself and others after radiation exposure at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio.\Keeping Diablo Canyon Running Past 2025 Is Not the Answer to California’s Energy Future ### NH #579: Ukraine Nuclear UPDATE - Reactors at Risk, Greenpeace Chernobyl Study - Edwin Lyman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ukraine-nuclear-reactors-at-risk/ Published: 2022-07-28 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Ukraine Nuclear dangers – how many and how bad? This week, we learn how bad it could get from Edwin Lyman. He is a physicist and the Director of Nuclear Power Safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists. He specializes in nuclear proliferation, nuclear terrorism, and nuclear power safety. Lyman has published extensively in journals and magazines, testified before Congress and advised other government groups, and been cited as an expert source in news stories in most major media. We spoke on Friday, July 22, 2022. Follow Edwin Lyman on Twitter: @NucSafetyUCS. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story: Linda Pentz Gunter Greenpeace examination of Chernobyl radiation in the face of the International Atomic Energy Agency's lowball radiation stats. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Why do the Japanese persist in swimming near Fukushima? LINKS: TERRIE BARRIE Obituary – LINK TO Nuclear Hotseat #187 from January 20, 2015, including an interview with Terrie. Terrie Barrie San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace Press Conference on why Diablo Canyon needs to be shut down: Gender and Radiation Impact Project (GRIP) is offering short courses on Radiation, Biology and Society, led by Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear and Mary Olson of GRIP. Olson and Folkers have a combined half century + of experience helping impacted communities, members of the media, elected and appointed officials and many others to understand ionizing radiation and its impacts on the human body and our environment. Both women have converged on looking at where radiation has disproportionate impacts–particularly impacts to girls and women. For more information on the Fall, 2022 courses – online, inexpensive, really worth it – CLICK HERE.Nuclear strategy and ending the war in UkraineHow Chernobyl made Welsh sheep radioactive and paralysed some farms for 26 yearsOpinion: MidAmerican shouldn't waste money studying small nuclear reactorsFriends of the Earth, Japan: Protest the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Approval of TEPCO’s Plan for the Oceanic Discharge of Contaminated Water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant ### NH #578: NYC Nuclear PSA Disinfo Hogwash - You Don't "Got This" - NYCAN's Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, Seth Shelden URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nyc-nuclear-psa-disinfo-nycan-ican/ Published: 2022-07-21 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Story: The NYC Emergency Management Office released a bombshell last week – a video PSA on how to survive a nuclear attack! …and it has generated a firestorm of its own. It's the 1950’s laughable Duck and Cover drill, repackaged in all seriousness for hip Millennials: Full NYC Nuclear PSA Featured Interview: To counter the disinformation embedded in this PSA, I spoke with two experts in New York nuclear matters: Dr. Kathleen Sullivan is is a disarmament educator and nuclear abolitionist, author, and producer of documentaries. She has been engaged in the nuclear issue for the last 30 years. Seth Shelden is the United Nations Liaison for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning coalition working to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. Together, they helped to found NYCAN – The New York Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a partner organization of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). We spoke on Monday, July 18, 2022 Perspective on the Content of the NYC Nuclear PSA: Answering PSA produced by NYCAN True Impact of 475 Kt. Nuclear bomb explosion over Manhattan – more than 30 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb: Nukemap reveals what the devastation would be from an average Russian nuclear bomb blast on Manhattan. Destruction of 15 kt atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, August 8, 1945. NOTE that this is 1/30th of the power of Russia's most common modern nuclear weapon. NYC Nuclear PSA – tells you to go and stay inside, take a shower, and listen to media updates. Where in the after picture of Hiroshima is "inside?" "Shower?" "Media infrastructure?" More Accurate Nuclear Attack PSA (satire): More realistic Nuclear attack survival PSA. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story – Linda Pentz Gunter The nuclear industry is inherently racist, sexist, and ageist. Links: Harvey Wasserman article: Newsom Wants to Keep Dangerous California Nuclear Power Plants Open ### NH #577: "Radiophobia" Radiation Lies: Prof. Majia Nadesan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiophobia-radiation-lies/ Published: 2022-07-13 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: "RADIOPHOBIA???" – Prof. Majia Nadesan rips this nuclear industry propaganda talking point to shreds and shows how it has been used against the people of Japan after Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and now Fukushima. She is a professor at Arizona State University and a researcher on a wide range of interconnected topics including Governmentality, Biopolitics, and Risk Cultural Studies; Autism and Bioethics; Globalization; and Political Economy, Energy Politics, and Organizational Communication. Her books include: Fukushima: Dispossession or Denuclearization, Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. She recently provided a chapter on “Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion” for the book, Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations – and that’s what we’re focusing on today – Radiophobia. Majia Nadesan’s LINKS: Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story: Nadesan, M. (2018). Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion, a chapter in the collection: Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations, edited by B. Fahs, A. Mann, E. Swank; Rutgers University Press.“Lessons of Fukushima” presentation and draft versions of radiophobia chapterBOOK: Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. Palgrave Pivot.VIDEO : “Fukushima’s Genetic Legacy” – Interview produced by EON – Ecological Options Network.BLOG: Majia’s Blog https://majiasblog.blogspot.com/ Linda Pentz Gunter busts the re-approval by the European Union to include nuclear energy as a "green energy" – and acceptable for investment of renewable energy funds. LINKS: Diablo Canyon Power Plant won't stop power outages.Church Rock – The 43rd Uranium Tailings Spill Legacy Commemoration Saturday, July 16 from 7 am to 1 pmTularosa Basin Trinity Downwinders: 77 Years And Waiting – Town Hall Meeting and Candlelight Vigil on July 16. ### NH #576: World Health Org's Chernobyl Radiation Lies - Alison Katz of Independent W.H.O. URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/world-health-org-chernobyl-radiation-li/ Published: 2022-07-13 Duration: 00:57:01 Chernobyl Radiation Lies put out by the World Health Organization have kept the full extent of its impact on health and mortality hidden. Alison Katz of Independent W.H.O. cuts through the surgically implanted lies that minimize the devastation caused by the world's worst nuclear accident… to date. This Week’s Featured Interview – A Nuclear Hotseat CLASSIC: Chernoby Truth, World Health Org. Lies Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima.  The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  Given the visibility and popularity of last year’s HBO series on Chernobyl series – it now ranks as the most seen television program in the world, ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of Chernobyl’s devastating impacts refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered has in no way gone out of date. Chernobyl Truth – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) ### NH #575: Saskatchewan Uranium Mining - Indigenous UPDATE: Candyce Paul URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/saskatchewan-uranium-mining-indigenous-p/ Published: 2022-06-29 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: It’s a common talking point among those who oppose nuclear that the impact of uranium mining in particular has come down disproportionately on indigenous people around the world.  But in reality, what does that look like?  And what does it do to those who have traditionally lived close to the land and have been fighting against this environmental devastation for decades?  Our  guest today fills in the picture of her own people and lands have been experiencing. Candyce Paul, a member of English River First Nation where she lives on LaPlonge Reserve in Northern Saskatchewan Candyce Paul has lived in northern Saskatchewan for nearly four decades with her husban, well-known activist, Marius Paul.  She is a member of English River First Nation where she lives on LaPlonge Reserve, where she spent many years living and learning the traditional northern culture, which she is passing on to the next generation.  When her community became a target of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization on a proposal to store high-level nuclear waste in her family’s territory she became the Outreach Coordinator for Committee for Future Generations. This group has been educating the public about the risks of nuclear waste and uranium mining for the past 10 years.  Candyce recently accepted a place on the Board of Keepers of the Water, an Indigenous-led organization, which advocates to protect the waters of their regions. Both Candyce and her husband Marius stand to protect the land, waters, and future generations in Saskatchewan and on other First Nations/Indigenous lands from the over-ambitious resource extractive industries that are targeting their part of northern Saskatchewan, from logging to peat mining, to uranium mining.  I spoke with Candyce Paul on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Is reactivating a nuclear power plant near a volcano a bad idea? Hmmm, let me guess… <!> Links: Ukraine: Regulator Describes ‘Terrorism' at Zaporozhye What is Westinghouse Doing in Ukraine? by Linda Pentz GunterICAN Declaration and Action Plan on the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear WeaponsSmall Modular Nuclear Reactors get a Reality Check about their WasteCan Nuclear Energy Power South Korea's Future? (NO!)Nuclear Power Industry is Waging a Propaganda WarAlex Wellerstein: Tsar Bomba – The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Nuclear BombFukushima's Dueling Museums Global fallout patterns – short, good information ### NH #574: 11th ANNIVERSARY! Tritium Radiation Lies - Dr. Ian Fairlie on Fukushima, Pilgrim URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/11th-anniversary-tritium-radiation/ Published: 2022-06-22 Duration: 00:59:01 Yup – it's 11 years since we started! Consider donating $11 (or more!) in honor of this unbelievable milestone! Dr. Ian Fairlie and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe Halevy, mid-interview, talking about tritium radiation lies regarding nuclear industry plans to dump tritium-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. This Week's Featured Interview: Tritium Radiation Lies and planned radioactive water releases at Fukushima in Japan and Pilgrim nuclear reactor at Cape Cod in Massachusetts: Dr. Ian Fairlie is a London-based radiation biologist and independent consultant on radioactivity in the environment. After receiving a degree in radiation biology from Bart’s Hospital in London and doctoral studies at Imperial College in London and Princeton University in the US, he became concerned about the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing. He worked as a civil servant on the regulation of radiation risks from nuclear power stations. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Fairlie was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. Since retiring from Government service, he has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals, with a focus on the radiation doses and risks arising from the radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. He is an expert on tritium radiation. We spoke on Thursday, June 16, 2022A Primer on Radiation and Radioactivity Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, has published a spiffy new PLANNING GUIDANCE RESPONSE TO A NUCLEAR DETONATION – 250 pages of intentional nukespeak obtuseness. And not once does it make the universally accepted response to a nuclear detonation: kiss your posterior goodbye! Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Why in the world would Ukraine, in the middle of a war that threatens its existing nuclear reactors, plan on building more? Beyond Nuclear's Linda Pentz Gunter at the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons – June 20, 2022 Links: Livestream of the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear WeaponsTPNW Signatories Meeting Chair: reminding World of Three as Nuclear Danger gravest" in DecadesMeltdown at Palisades AvertedThe Bomb Next DoorSeismic Testing for Nuclear Disposal Risks Harming Marine LifeFrench Nuclear Power Crisis Frustrates Europe's Push to Quit Russian Energy ### NH #573: Ohio Nuclear Madness Legislation - Attny Terry Lodge, Pat Marida URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ohio-nuclear-madness-legislation/ Published: 2022-06-15 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Madness! Ohio House Bill 434 passed the Ohio House on March 23, 2022. This bill authorizes the creation of a new Ohio body, called the Ohio Nuclear Development Authority, which would be given the go ahead to do research and development on new nuclear reactors, defining them as “advanced.” This is the third General Assembly into which versions of this bill have been introduced and kept moving forward. To fill in the picture of what's wrong with the proposed legislation and the Nuclear Development Authority it envisions, plus learn more about failed clean-up of Ohio nuclear radiation contamination sites, I spoke with two veteran opponents of Ohio nuclear: Terry Lodge is an environmental attorney and recipient of the 2018 Dr. Judith Johnsrud Unsung Hero Award presented by Beyond Nuclear during the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability annual awards ceremony.Pat Marida is chair of the Ohio Sierra Club Nuclear Issues Committee.  We spoke on Thursday, June 3, 2022. Links: Ohio House Bill 434: A Radioactive Taxpayer Subsidy – Talking PointsNH #529: Ohio: Radiation Releases from Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Dr. Michael KettererDr. Michael Ketterer Dr. Michael Ketterer, who fills in the picture on lack of radioactive clean-up at Piketon, Ohio’s Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Nuclear Hotseat #529. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter The flaw in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and why nuclear power must also be off the international table. Linda Pentz Gunter, mid-presentation Links: Get your FREE online tickets to the ICAN Nuclear Ban Forum, being held June 18 and 19, 2022, in Vienna: https://vienna.icanw.org/ican-forum-registration?utm_campaign=guatemala_ratifies_tpnw&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ican ### NH #572 - Dr. Caldicott 2015 Symposium on Possible Nuclear Extinction URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/caldicott-symposium-nuclear-extinction/ Published: 2022-06-07 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Special Feature: In 2015, Dr. Helen Caldicott brought together world experts for two day Symposium on Possible Nuclear Extinction. Meeting at the New York Academy of Science, experts in nuclear policy, politics, the impact of radiation on life, nuclear winter, weaponry joined forces to speak on the exact nature of the nuclear dangers we all face. It was an unflinching look at not only how bad things have already gotten, but how much worse they could get. I attended for Nuclear Hotseat, to not only cover what these experts were sharing, but who was attending, why each of us matters, and what we can do to turn things around before it's too late. Having just interviewed Dr. Caldicott for Nuclear Hotseat #568 on May 11, and #569 on May 18, this seemed a good time to renew our acquaintance with this unprecedented event. So this week, a look back at Dr. Caldicott's Symposium on Possible Nuclear Extinction. Excerpts from talks, interviews with the presenters and audience members who were activists, volunteers, and observations on the event and its impact on all present. Further information on the Symposium and all of Dr. Caldicott's work is available at: www.HelenCaldicott.com. If you wish to view the Symposium speakers, here are the Youtube links: Nuclear Extermination – Day 1, morning speakers Nuclear Extermination – Day 1 – afternoon speakers Nuclear Extermination – Day 2 speakers Libbe HaLevy's Nuclear Memoir – Now Available: Libbe HaLevy's nuclear memoir – her life growing up amid nuclear fears in the Cold War 1950's, being one mile from the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, and becoming producer and host of Nuclear Hotseat. Available on Amazon. ### NH #571: Nuclear Activism and Social Media Messaging - Colleen Moore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-activism-social-media-messaging/ Published: 2022-06-01 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Activism needs to find a way to put all this, and more, up on Social Media This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Activism and Social Media Messaging: Colleen Moore is Digital Engagement Manager for Beyond the Bomb and Global Zero. She creates content to promote the message of eliminating nuclear weapons and has experience in campaigning for justice and peace issues, including:ending U.S. support for the war in Yemen;promoting human rights and justice in Indonesia and East Timor,working for peace between North and South Korea, andadvocating for access to education for women in Pakistan. Above all, she has a passion for using digital media to advance causes of human rights and justice. Contact Colleen Moore for info on her upcoming social media trainings or to book her for one for your group at: Colleen@BeyondTheBomb.org Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): LINGUISTIC LIE: One little word change and POOF! Nuclear problems with Fukushima radioactive water release into the Pacific Ocean disppears… from press releases and news articles. Activist Shout-out: PETITION: Tell Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to support a just transition for reactor communities in Michigan and California.United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on the relevance of gender perspectives to arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as practical ideas that can support diplomats in applying a gender lens to their work. Free copies available HERE. Links: The feds have collected more than $44 billion for a permanent nuclear waste dump — here’s why we still don’t have one ### NH #570: Nuclear Mass Murder: ATOMIC COVER-UP - Film of Hiroshima, Nagasaki Devastation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-mass-miurder-hiroshima-nagasaki/ Published: 2022-05-25 Duration: 00:59:00 Nuclear Mass Murder: For anyone who doubts that the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear mass murder, watch: ATOMIC COVER-UP – Award-winning film by Greg Mitchell, free at International Uranium Film Festival until May 29. This Week's Featured Interviews: ATOMIC COVER-UP – Director Greg Mitchell is the award-winning author of a dozen books including 2020’s “The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” His previous books on the atomic bombings were “Hiroshima in America“ (with Robert Jay Lifton) and “Atomic Cover-up.” He has served as chief adviser to several documentaries, including “Original Child Bomb,” screened at Cannes and winner of the top prize at API/Silverdocs,  His current film, ATOMIC COVER-UP, shares film that was shot in the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and was classified Top Secret for more than 25 years. It is a testament to the Nuclear Mass Murder caused by the bombs. ATOMIC COVER-UP was a winner at the 2021 International Uranium Film Festival. This year, it is again available for viewing through the IUFF until May 29, 2022. I spoke with director Greg Mitchell on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Blast the money out of nuclear weapons!  Nuclear divestment means institutional nuke investments are going down — and Susi Snyder explains how any one of us can join that movement. She is project lead for the PAX No Nukes Project and coordinator for the Don’t Bank on the Bomb research and campaign.  Susi’s an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades of experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. LINK to the 2020 Global Report on the Financing of Nuclear Weapons Producers HERE. To find out which companies invested in nuclear weapons in 2021, CLICK HERE. Nuclear Hotseat Hot Story with Linda Pentz Gunter: Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and the bilking of public funds. Links: On Fukushima Beach: If You Love This Planet – Dr. Helen Caldicott: ### NH #569: Nuclear Icon Dr. Helen Caldicott to Biden: Let's talk! - Pt. 2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-icon-dr-caldicott-talk-to-biden/ Published: 2022-05-18 Duration: 00:59:00 Nuclear icon Dr. Helen Caldicott being interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at Symposium in N. St. Lewis on the radioactive Bridgeton waste dump. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear icon Dr. Helen Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and for six decades has been one of the world’s most important anti-nuclear advocates. She revived or founded several associations, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Caldicott is dedicated to opposing the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, and military action in general. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel-winner Linus Pauling, she is at the root of much of the anti-nuclear work being done today. Here in Pt. 2 of our interview, she sets her sights on a 1-on-1 talk with President Biden, VP Harris, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and a joint session of Congress on what nuclear war actually would do. It nearly worked w/Reagan; maybe this time for sure? We spoke on Monday, April 25, 2022.LINK: Dr. Helen Caldicott Foundation Tweet of the Week (to copy and paste): #Nobel Prize nominee Dr Helen #Caldicott spoke w/Reagan & almost got nuclear weapons banned. Now she wants to talk w/#Biden #Harris #McConnell #Congress. It’s only the future that’s at stake. RT until someone makes that happen! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Links: International Uranium Film Festival – runs May 19-29, more thn 40 films available online for free. John Oliver on Last Week Tonight, story on Energy Utilities – including well-placed slams at VC Summer nuclear boondoggle in South Carolina and malfeasance by Pacific Gas and Electric in California. Nukes in Space , the powerful, award-winning 1995 documentary, exposes the U.S. government’s push to deploy nuclear technology in space. Winner of the Worldfest Gold Award, Houston, International Film and Video Festival First Prize Documentary Award at the 1995 Long Island Film Festival War and Peace (Jang Aur Aman), a 2002 Indian documentary film directed by Anand Patwardhan that covers the Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons tests in 1998, nationalist rhetoric that accompanied these tests., the ill-effects of the Indian test on the surrounding population and the reactions to the test among the government and the public. ### NH #568: Nuclear Icon Dr. Helen Caldicott Almost Saved the World - Part 1 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-icon-dr-helen-caldicott-pt-1/ Published: 2022-05-11 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Icon Dr. Helen Caldicott (r) interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy next to the Bridgeton landfill in N. St. Louis. This was during a symposium she spoke at, "The Atoms Next Door." Back row: (l-r) unknown photographer, Mali Martha Lightfoot, Brian DeLear, Kay Dray, Karen Nickel This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear icon Dr. Helen Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and for six decades has been one of the world's most important anti-nuclear advocates. She revived or founded several associations, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Caldicott is dedicated to opposing the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, and military action in general. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel-winner Linus Pauling, she is at the root of much of the anti-nuclear work being done today. We talked for well over an hour, which is why our interview will be presented in two parts. We spoke on Monday, April 25, 2022.LINK: Dr. Helen Caldicott Foundation Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A snack that needs to be exploded in order to be eaten – what "better" way for two nuke-heads to share numnutzery? Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida and British prime minister Boris Johnson plight their nuclear troth over a bag of Fukushima popcorn! Now with a couple of Numnutz! Links: The Nuclear Ban Treaty Collaborative is looking for a short-term campaign manager, to start immediately and work for 8 weeks on a mini-campaign to educate people about the current nuclear threat and elevate the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They can be located anywhere in the US. CONTACT: https://nuclearbantreaty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Campaign-Mgr-position.pdfWhy the Debate over Russian uranium Worries U.S. Tribal Nations – NYTimes.Hiroshima man’s anime sheds light on Fukushima nuclear project. – The package of an anime DVD and a 16-page, A4-size picture book costs 2,000 yen ($16). For more details, visit the production committee’s website. ### NH #567: Nuclear War on Film - TELEVISION EVENT: Documentary on THE DAY AFTER URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/television-event-nu-war-the-day-after/ Published: 2022-05-05 Nuclear War on Film: Screen shot of the moment the nuclear fireball hit the people of Lawrence, Kansas. Taken from ABC-TV movie THE DAY AFTER, which is the subject of the documentary TELEVISION EVENT by Jeff Daniels. This Week's Featured Interview: The 1983 TV movie THE DAY AFTER depicted the start of a nuclear war and the aftermath of a bomb strike on Lawrence, Kansas. In those pre-CGI-effects days, the devastation of the fireball was presented in such graphic detail (see: above) that it changed the international discussion on the "survivability" of a nuclear war. Now the International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) will present a full-length documentary on THE DAY AFTER entitled TELEVISION EVENT. Produced and directed by Jeff Daniels, TELEVISION EVENT chronicles not only the making of the film, but what it took to get it made, how it impacted international politics, and motivated a generation to oppose nuclear war and weapons. TELEVISION EVENT is nominated for Best Featured Documentary, which will be announced on May 29, closing night of the IUFF. The film will be available for viewing, at no charge, as of May 19. Go to International Uranium Film Festival for details. For now, if you want to know about the movie that TELEVISION EVENT is about, here's a LINK to the attack segment from THE DAY AFTER: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear weapons as a growth industry??? LINKS: Steve Leeper of PeaceInstitute.org – War Culture vs. Peace Culture Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) documentary, In the Dark of the Valley, now streaming of Peacock TV. Navajo Nation to federal agency: Remove uranium contamination from former mill siteA multi-billion-dollar project to make plutonium cores at Los Alamos National Laboratory may be unsafe, unnecessary and ill-conceived.U.S.-Canada board urges more consistent rules for dismantling old Great Lakes nuclear plantsHuntington’s nuclear secret: The Mystery of the Reduction Pilot Plant ### NH #566: Russian Uranium NOT Sanctioned - Why? Linda Pentz Gunter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-566-russian-uranium-not-sanctioned/ Published: 2022-04-27 Duration: 00:59:01 NH #566: Russian Uranium Not Sanctioned – Why? Linda Pentz Gunter This Week's Featured Interview: Linda Pentz Gunter founded Beyond Nuclear in 2007 and serves as its international specialist, as well as its media and development director. Prior to her work in anti-nuclear advocacy, she was a journalist for 20 years in print and broadcast, working for USA Network, Reuters, The Times (UK) and other US and international outlets. She brings a clarity and precision to all her reporting, with specific insights into international angles on nuclear issues. To find out more on one under-represented nuclear aspect of the Russian war on Ukraine, I spoke with Linda Pentz Gunter on Thursday, April 21, 2022Talking Points from Beyond Nuclear for tweets, op-eds, email, more! Linda Pentz Gunter Beyond Nuclear Hot Story of the Week: New feature with Linda Pentz Gunter focusing on one big story. This week: the re-election of Emmanuel Macron in France and what it means to the French pro-nuclear stance. Tweet of the Week: COPY AND PASTE: Russia still ships uranium-filled nuclear fuel rods to reactors around the world – no limits. If US has sanctions against Russian oil, gas & coal, why do we not sanction their uranium? Why is the nuclear industry exempt? And who decided? Links: “Clean” Nuclear is a Fraudulent Scam," Trading Standards Told, on Anniversary of Chernobyl – UKFour unanswered questions about the intersection of war and nuclear power – Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsNetflix series – MELTDOWN: Three Mile Island, starting May 4 for one month only: ### NH #565: Hot Nuclear Films - Int'l Uranium Film Festival - Norbert Suchanek + Gundersen on Nuke Electricity Generation Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-films-uranium-film-fest-nh-565/ Published: 2022-04-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Films: The International Uranium Film Festival Co-founders, General Director Norbert Suchanek (l) and Managing Director Marcia Gomes de Oliveira (l) being interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Films: Norbert Suchanek (l) and Marcia Gomes de Oliveira at the International Uranium Film Festival in Quebec in 2015. Norbert Suchanek, Founder and General Director of the International Uranium Film Festival – now in its 11th year – previews this year's slate of films. He also announces a unique highlight of this year’s proceedings: a live Zoom meeting that brings together indigenous people from two hemispheres, from Navajo Nation in the United States and Brazil, to share the truth of uranium mining on native lands and how film can influence understanding enough to stop it. International Uranium Film Festival runs May 19-29 – in-person in Rio de Janeiro or online. All films are free to view. Arnie Gundersen briefly weighs in on the nuclear industry's loudly touted claim that it produces "20% of the world's electricity" – and why that is a lie. Always fun to hear Arnie interpret what the nukesters say… and what they are hiding. Links: Cape Cod town leaders oppose radioactive water release in Cape Cod Bay.Uranium mill near Bears Ears has become ‘America’s cheapest radioactive waste dumpWar in Ukraine puts New Mexico lab’s mission in spotlight – Los Alamos National Laboratory's Plutonium Pit production ramp-up and why it's not a good idea.Cleanup of abandoned uranium mines on Navajo Nation Land – "Environmental justice, social injustice, flat-out racism"100 people with rare cancers attended same NJ high schoolWhat it’s like to live next door to a bomb stronger than 20 Hiroshimas in a time of rising worldwide tensions. ### NH #564 - Chernobyl Radiation "Souvenirs" = Russian Sickness - Gundersen, Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-ukrai-radiation-russians/ Published: 2022-04-14 Duration: 00:58:59 NUCLEAR UKRAINE: Radiation warning signs abound in Chernobyl (this one outside the abandoned town of Pripiat) but Russian troops (and their bosses!) were ignorant of the risks when they were sent out to dig trenches in the most radioactive area of the Exclusion Zone. This Week's Featured Interview: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education and a licensed nuclear reactor operator, provides a more nuanced view of the consequences of Russian troop actions at Chernobyl. He also gets into how the dangers created by the loss of power to the New Containment Building have much to teach us about American nuclear reactors – including how the U.S. nuclear industry changed laws and regulations to allow less-protected reactors to be built. He also covers parallels between how the facility operators at Chernobyl reacted to the dangerous loss of offsite power to the emergency response of plant manager Masao Yoshida at the Fukushima during the worst hours of the triple-meltdown disaster. Joseph Mangano is an epidemiologist and founder of Radiation and Public Health Project. Here, he provides a few insights into the health problems the Russian troops can expect to experience as a result of digging trenches and being out in the field of the Red Forest – the most radioactive area of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Give a man or woman a fish, they'll eat for a day. Teach them to fish, they'll eat for a lifetime. Grow some fish in tritium irradiated water from Fukushima… and do you really think that will make people to trust that the fish is OK so you can dump your radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean? (Meanwhile, a lot of us have given up sushi for good…) Links: Russian Blunders in Chernobyl: "They Came and Did Whatever They Wanted" – Round-up article of what's been learned thus far about the damages done to the site – and their own troops – when Russia held control of the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.Ukrainians shocked by ‘crazy' scene at Chernobyl after Russian pullout reveals radioactive contamination – Another strong article providing dramatic reports on exactly what the Russian troops did inside the New Containment Building and on the grounds.Is contaminated soil from the (Fukushima) nuclear accident waste? A valuable resource? More Nuclear Hotseat episodes following the Nuclear Ukraine story:NH #563: UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones fills in the picture of radiation risks, IAEA minimizing reports, radioactive Russian troops as Ukraine regains control of Chernobyl. https://bit.ly/3JfknD1NH #562: Ukraine shows that all nuclear reactors are targets of war, not only Zaporizhzhia & Chernobyl. Your neighborhood nuke is a dirty bomb on the ground. Dr. Paul Dorfman, nuclear consultant to governments, on why renewables are our only option. NH #561: Author Kate Brown and veteran activist Harvey Wasserman on continuing Chernobyl radiation risks in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine – radiation lab blown up, forest fires in radioactive exclusion zone. ### NH #563: Nuclear Ukraine / Chernobyl UPDATE - Radioactive Russians Retreat, Spread Rad-Risks - Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-ukraine-chernobyl-nh563/ Published: 2022-04-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Ukranian soldier at Chernobyl re-plants his national flag after Russian soldiers exposed to on-site radioactivity sicken, panic, retreat. New Confinement Structure that encases the radioactive remains of the 1986 nuclear disaster seen in background. Nuclear Ukraine, Month 2: Chernobyl evacuated by Radioactive Russian troops who are sickening, perhaps dying, from radiation exposure. FULL CHERNOBYL UPDATE on contamination risks. BREAKING: DRONE FOOTAGE OF RUSSIAN TRENCHES AT CHERNOBYL AND PROXMITY TO THE CONTAINMENT BUILDING OVER THE HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE RUINS: Go to: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100002022159635/videos/742329896935558 Working to get a viewable link here. Stay tuned! This Week's Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a UK-based marine biologist with priority focus on hydrocarbons, marine radioactivity, and hazards associated with Nuclear Submarine deployment. Tim's been a guest on Nuclear Hotseat several times (SEE: Featured Nuclear Hotseat Guests feature below). Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he's been a steady source of nuclear information that has not yet made its way to U.S. media. So here, we take advantage of his expertise to construct a sequence of what’s been happening in Chernobyl since February 24… and why, even though Russia has now retreated, the dangers from the occupation of the site are far from over. I spoke with Tim Deere-Jones on Monday, April 4, 2022.LINK to Tim Deere-Jones Facebook Page. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear boneheadedness): Would you trust AI and robots to decommission your radioactive nuclear site? I mean, the so-called "experts" claim that it's "faster" and "cheaper" than relying on humans… but "fast" and "cheap" are two words you never want used in connection with any kind of nuclear anything! Links: Acute Radiation Sickness Fact Sheet from the Center for Disease Control.Uranium industry is the latest to hop on the bandwagon taking advantage of tragedy in Ukraine Worker Lockout Is New Worry at Pilgrim Nuclear Plant ### NH #562: Nuclear Reactors as Targets of War: Dr. Paul Dorfman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-562-nuclear-reactors-as-targets-of-war-dr-paul-dorfman/ Published: 2022-03-30 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear reactors = dirty bombs in your backyard. Dr. Paul Dorfman on international issues, climate change, why renewables have “already won,” and taking back power through social media. THIS WEEK’S FEATURED INTERVIEW: Dr. Paul Dorfman is the Founder of the Nuclear Consulting Group; a Member of the Irish Govt. Environment Protection Agency Radiation Protection Member of the International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group; Consultant to Greenpeace Environmental Trust, and much more.  He regularly consults with governments on their nuclear policy, and is regularly interviewed by major media outlets.  We spoke on Thursday, March 24, 2022.Dr. Paul Dorfman Twitter:  @dorfman_p   Nuclear Consulting Group:  www.nuclearconsult.com NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): You’re holding a conference on nuclear safety WHERE????!!!!?!?!??? LINKS: NH #509: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 42: Never Forget! – Encore presentationCould an attack on Ukrainian nuclear facilities cause a disaster greater than Chernobyl? Possibly, simulations show. What is the risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine? A radiation expert speaks from Kyiv. Ukraine says Russian forces near Chernobyl could pose new radiation threat. Nobel Laureates Call for End to Ukraine War and Rejection of Nuclear Weapons.Republicans offer Russian uranium ban. Nixed Russian fuel supply complicates Natrium schedule. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Ukraine and beyond while fear of a nuclear bomb attack by Russia against Ukraine has ramped up the beginnings of a new ban, the bomb movement, especially among millennials new to the subject. There is an even greater nuclear threat in Ukraine and actually anywhere there is a nuclear reactor. There is that threat and there are more than 400 of them on earth all over the place. But don't take my word for the problems. Listen, as a genuine expert on nuclear matters tells you Paul Dorfman 00:00:37 What we've seen in Ukraine is essentially the weaponization of civil nuclear. Something that I and others have been discussing for many years now and far from it being a sort of any form of advertising for a civil nuclear. It's a clear admission clear statement of fact that civil nuclear can be a very real and very D Drew's target. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:03 Well when Dr. Paul Dorfman, founder of the nuclear consulting group at a trusted European source for media and government tells you that every nuclear power reactor on the ground is a potential weapon of mass destruction. You start to realize that even if you Ukraine, the does seem to be on the other side of the world from you, it is, but one place that there is a giant uncomfortable seat that unfortunately we are all stuck in Announcer 00:01:35 New Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? New Claire hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? New clear, hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat it's de bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:05 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Hala. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear meltdown at three mile island, just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we have a tremendously informative talk with Dr. Paul Dorfman. He is founder of the nuclear consulting group, a member of the Irish government environment, protect a member of the Irish government environment protection agency, radiation protection advisory committee consultant to green peace, environmental trust. And if I listed all his qualifications, there would be no time for the interview. We'll be discussing EU energy politics, Russian uranium, and the importance of using social media to present and strengthen our talking points. We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nets of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest, nuclear formation then got mentioned on the Oscars, let alone got slapped. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:24 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, March 29th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. March 28th was the 43rd anniversary of the new nuclear meltdown at three mile island in Pennsylvania with everything going on in Ukraine, there has not been the necessary time to create a special show for this sad anniversary. So nuclear hot seat is honoring this year's three mile island, 43rd anniversary with a link to last year's three mile island special anniversary show for the 42nd year since it happened that's episode number 5 0 9, and we will link to it on our website for this episode, nuclear hot seat, number 5 62, over to Ukraine where Russia has again, shelled the neutron source subcritical nuclear facility in hard, the Ukrainian eight nuclear regulatory inspectorate emphasized that the possibility of new damage to the nuclear installation remains high due to the constant shelling. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:30 The agency, once again, stressed that the neutron source nuclear facility like any other nuclear installation is not designed for operation in combat conditions and warn continued shelling of the site can lead to severe radiation consequences with contamination of nearby areas. The director general of the international atomic energy agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement that the conflict in Ukraine is putting you cranes, nuclear power plants, and other facilities with radioactive material in unprecedented danger. He went on, we must take urgent action to make sure that they can continue to operate safely and securely and reduce the risk of a nuclear accident that could have a severe health and environmental impact. Both in Ukraine beyond gross admitted. There have already been several close calls. A new article in the bulletin of the atomic scientists asks the question could an attack on Ukrainian nuclear facilities cause a disaster greater than Cher noble. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:39 It responds to its own question, possibly re Ash's military attacks on Lizza plant raised great concerns about the possibility of nuclear accidents and to illustrate the possible damage from a military attack on a nuclear power plant, the bulletin of atomic scientists, simulated and analyzed hypothetical releases from a core meltdown and spent fuel pool fire at one unit Zappia one, if an attack by missiles or artillery had disabled cooling systems there cooling system vulnerabilities were explored in depth by Arnie Gerson, chief engineer at fair wind's energy education on episode number 5 59, we'll have a link up to the bulletin of the atomic scientists article on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 62, a former chief engineer at the Tru noble nuclear power plant has condemned as cowardly. The international atomic energy agency is refusal to criticize Russian aggression against Ukraine's nuclear sites. Nicholas Steinberg accused the IA E a of having their quote tales between their legs and being afraid to say aloud. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:51 The names of the criminals who have taken the world hostage. Mr. Steinberg, now 75 came to chin noble chief engineer in may of 19 86, 1 month. After the reactor exploded causing what is listed as the worst nuclear disaster in history in talking with MIT technology review too much stated that fresh fuel is much less dangerous than spent fuel, which has accumulated an enormous amount of vision pro, which are very radioactive, such as iodine, cesium, and strum. If there was any damage to the spent fuel assembly stored at Zaia, it could result in an enormous radiological emergency comparable to what happened, incher noble. He said buildings that hold this fuel are designed for. What's known as the quote maximum projectable accident, which is considered the worst case scenario, but they can't withstand anything beyond that. And none were built to withstand a war zone. There are also around 20,000 spent fuel assembly stored at the chin noble site that still contain a lot of long lived radio. Nuclides like cesium and strum. These articles and others will be linked on our website and keeping all that in mind. Here's Announcer 00:08:08 Nuclear, hot seed, nuclear hot seed, nuclear hot seed, none sound awake Libbe HaLevy 00:08:17 For three days, April 20th through 20. The nuclear industry is holding a symposium on problems of modern nuclear power, the 16th international scientific and technical conference. And where will this conference on the problems of modern nuclear power take place in carve Ukraine? That's right. Car where a nuclear research facility has been shelled, not once but twice. And what are some of the problems of modern nuclear power being addressed, increase safety and efficiency of nuclear power, nuclear radiation, and environmental safety in the handling of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, public relations and stakeholder engagement in the nuclear industry. All of it so timely, given the nuclear dangers on the ground posed by reactors in Cher, noble Zappia and three other nuclear sites in Ukraine, whoever is behind this and sent out the notification of it in the last week. You indeed are this week's Announcer 00:09:29 Nuclear hot seed. None not sound week Libbe HaLevy 00:09:33 In the us. While sanctions have come down targeting Russian oil, coal and liquified gas imports at the behest of the us nuclear industry lobby the nuclear energy Institute, the white house has not sanctioned Russian uranium, which accounts for nearly 50% of the nation's atomic fuel supply. Now four Republican senators have introduced federal to ban the import of Russian uranium with the condition that we steeply ramp up the nation's domestic uranium mining and production at us taxpayers expense while expanding violations of sovereign indigenous people's rights and states' rights. We'll have more on this story next week, we'll have this, week's featured your view in just a moment, but first nuclear hot seats, new website is live so many improvements. The pages load faster, the content is way more searchable. And now we have transcripts there's a more robust and flexible player for each episode. There's a media section for past content, even a humor page. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:39 And what you see is only part of what we get because we've installed state of the art behind the scenes functionality to help the show its topics and interviewees be found on Google it's search engine optimization on steroids. And it's working with page. You use trending steeply upwards as worries about Russia, have the world looking for nuclear information and finding it at nuclear hot seat. But there's a problem. As you might imagine, this website upgrade has been very expensive, a few special donors, step forward to help with the heavy lifting, to get it going for which I am deeply grateful, but expenses have far outstripped original projections. And from this point on monthly running costs are double. What they have been my feeling is our movement is crucially important to the world and a nuclear hot seat is an important part of our inform. So yes, it's worth it to do this. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:42 And yes, your help is needed to keep this new improved website up and running. So the time to donate to nuclear hot seat would be right now, it's easy to do. Go to nuclear, hot.com and click on the smaller, but still red donate button. You can do this as a one time donation or set up a recurring donation of as little as $5 the month, the same as a cup of coffee. So buy nuclear, hotseat a cup of coffee a month, so we can help you understand nuclear issues on a weekly basis and know that whatever you can do to help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now, here's this week's featured interview. Sometimes you learn about good people because they posted on social media and somebody saw that post and forwarded it to you. I'm grateful to a Gerson of Fairwinds energy dot because he's the one who turned me onto today's guest and it all happened because of tweets. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:40 Take note. That point will become important. Dr. Paul Dorfman is founder of the nuclear consulting group, a member of the Irish government environment protection agency, radiation protection advisory committee consultant to green peace, environmental trust. And if I listed all his qualifications, there would be no time left for the interview. As you will hear, we discuss EU energy politics, Russian uranium, and the importance of using social media to present and strengthen our talking points to push back against the nuclear industry propaganda machine. More about that later I spoke with Dr. Paul Doman on Thursday, March 24th, 2022, Dr. Paul, Doman welcome to nuclear ed. Paul Dorfman 01:13:32 Thank you, Lu. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:33 Let's start out with a little bit it about you. What is your background? Paul Dorfman 01:13:38 I started late. I did a degree. Then I went to do a PhD looking at nuclear risk at the same time. Perhaps interestingly enough, I was pointed a secretary of full blooded UK scientific advisory committee, examining radiation risks from internal emitter. That's where the debate is the most complex questions of complex radiation, biology, complex, radiation, epidemiology, I'm chair, and founder of the nuclear consulting group. I've been asked to advise the French government on the decommissioning of its laid up nuclear fleet. I am associate fellow at university of Sussex science policy research unit I'm committee, member of the Irish government environment protection agency, radiation protection advisory committee, and you know, a few other things. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:32 You founded the nuclear consulting group in 2007. Why did you do that? And what is it and what is it intended to do? Paul Dorfman 01:14:42 Basically, I saw that we all saw that UK was going in the wrong direction that something was happening, you know, that, you know, that Blair said nuclear was back with the vengeance and you know, something was going on here. So I thought it's important to try to bring people together, act collectively and relatively high level academic people together because it hasn't necessarily, you know, on a sort of a ad hoc sort of basis, you know, a bit of a chance that had happened really, and actually funded by Quakers. The very limited funding we have came from Quakers from Joseph frat tree's charitable trust. And after that, it kind of grew quite organically. There no rules basically, but it does seem important to have a sort of consider amount of a expertise. So it's ended up basically a, a, a virtual Institute of punching well above its weight. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:39 How is the group utilized and who utilizes it? Is this the mainstream media, government academia, all of the above Paul Dorfman 01:15:48 A significant number of, of the people in the group are high level academic X. So, you know, we all have our, you know, day jobs as it were. And we all largely think alike in terms of nuclear. I mean, we all do think alike in terms of nuclear. So that basically it's a very one could argue a very significant body of high level academics, who not for reasons, but for evidence based reasons believe, think, understand that nuclear is not the way forward. There's that trench to this organization, this virtual Institute, then of course, there's questions of communication we've learned in the last year that nuclear have a huge PR push pre and post cop enormous gin. And that's to a certain extent affected policy heaven knows why big concentration is, has been about communication, precisely that communication, communicating with the press communication with the media communication with people and communication with policy, I'm asked to advise policy and policy makers, not the current government, but certainly those on other front benches in the UK. And I believe the same is true for, for other people in other countries for nuclear consult. So there's policy, there's press communication and there's academic communication. I, and to a certain extent, it's just a holistic hole basically. And, and really it's just coming about by chance. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:21 I'd like to get into the topic that really attracted me through your tweets. You tweeted that even though Russia's war in Ukraine is wrecking havoc on fossil fuel supply chains, uranium deliveries for nuclear power remains untouched, at least for now to what would you attribute that? Paul Dorfman 01:17:40 Well, the reality is that the Russian nuclear corporation rose Adam has a sister corporation in Kazakhstan and rose Adam controls this sister corporation. So in other words, Russia controls Kazakhstan, which of course it does. So in real terms, this isn't up for grabs. This is true in real terms, Russian controls, uranium comprises 42% of all worldwide global uranium supply to power worldwide nuclear reactors, 42%. It also controls 20% of all uranium feed stock for European reactors. And it also controls the kind of those, the, the high tech stuff that guys like bill gates wants to power as well too. America has not banned a U imports from Russia as we speak. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:39 That was my next point. Is it the need, especially in small modular nuclear reactors, I don't call them small modular reactors, the small they're in control of the tall. And that's one of the points I wanna get to is how we take control of the communication, but in small modular nuclear reactors, it's my understanding that only Russian uranium can be used for the fuel. This is particularly true with bill gates. Do you think that is behind the lack of a ban sanctions against Russia for nuclear at this time? Paul Dorfman 01:19:17 I think that's both true and not true there kind of ways around it. I don't think that the, the so-called small modular reactor issue is absolutely pertinent in terms of Uran at the moment, because there is no functioning, small, modular reactor, therefore it doesn't need that fuel. All so-called SMRs are still, you know, largely in development and a long, long, long, long, long way from deployment. So, no, I don't think that the limitation of uranium from Russia is a small, more modular reactor phenomena, and there could be potential ways round it in the long term. But then when one talks about small modular actors, you're getting into a whole debate, which I'd be happy to have with you. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:06 We'll get into that in a moment. I wanna follow the uranium trail for now and the talking points, the misconceptions that have been really surgically implanted by this enormous nuclear industry PR campaign to manipulate and manage and create consent, even if it would not be there. Otherwise in the recent past E U has allowed in its taxonomy for green energy has allowed nuclear to be included in that, which seems to be completely counterintuitive. How did that happen? Paul Dorfman 02:20:46 It was a long and torturous process and one that I involved in and fought. What happened was that an original scientific working group was set up to discuss the issue was nuclear renewable or not. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:00 How long ago was that? Paul Dorfman 02:21:02 Four years ago, maybe say three, four years ago, it was called the wag. W E G I can't remember the, the name that the acronym stands for. So the original group, which is a, in a high tech scientific group, came up with saying, no, of course it's excuse me, what? Excuse me. Of course it's not. So the European union being the European union then said, oh, well, okay. I know what we'll do is we'll set up another group to see if their, if our original group's findings were correct or not. And, and because basically underlying this, okay, is obviously the fight between Germany and France. That's what this is all about with Germany saying, no, it's not. And Fran saying, yes, it is. And Europe people in Brussels, the bureaucrats and Russells saying, well, look, we have to, what are we gonna do now? So they came up with this idea of, of finding another group whose acronym I forgotten, who then reported that. Paul Dorfman 02:22:05 Well, it could be, I dunno, why not sort of thing. And it gave a whole set of reasons. And if one looks at those reasons, they really don't stand up to sort of scientific interrogation. And at that point, basically it becomes a political discussion and irresolvable political discussion between France and Germany. And at which point Europe says, well, look, everybody then expected for there to be kind of not a green, not a red, but an orange sort of light as it were. Well, you kind of do what you want to do. We're not really gonna say much about it, but actually what happened at the end of the day, unfortunately, is that EU is largely the, the bureaucracy around the EU, largely largely. Pronuclear actually, if you look at it in the whole, and there's a lot of influence there, you know, there's a lot of lobbying going on, which I've involved in trying to counter for many, many years, and it's hugely powerful. Paul Dorfman 02:23:05 And that lobbying really sort of took off and in the end, the discussion and ended with, well, okay, you know, let's say that nuclear is sustainable with the caveat that you can somehow get rid of the waste, or that you have a mechanism with, which you can get of the rid of the waste by a date. I don't know, 20, 45 or 2050. I don't know why that date and also this of an idea that you use slightly more sustainable fuel, or slightly less dangerous fuel, which again is sort of very anomalous cause nobody really understands what this fuel is or could be. So as usual, it's the usual sort of European mess or not a European, but a UMAS which leans towards nuclear that, you know, Brussels tends to lean towards nuclear. And so largely that's what happened. And then of course, Austria, Luxenberg Germany, the backing of the whole other sets of nuclear, less positive states that are come on now, you know, you playing out, but in legal terms, nobody has launched a significant legal challenge to that sort of definition. So we're left in this, frankly, you know, this extraordinary position where for some reason, and no really quite understands why nuclear has been deemed vaguely sustainable. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:32 It's been a horrible role model because of course the industry here in the United States, world nuclear news and the like have lined up in force behind that to just hammer it in. Is there any way you can foresee where this determination, this green taxonomy can be reversed or paused, or as you said, perhaps with a legal challenge, Paul Dorfman 02:24:58 Others and I have really fought this all the way. I mean, this has been a real battle, you know, for some years now. And I think at the moment, we're in a, a position of stasis, but then again, there are words and there are words, one missile that goes stray in Ukraine could change everything. So, no, I don't think that at the moment, I don't think that taxonomy will change. I think that we're in a position of stasis. And I think, think that you could argue that it's a battle lost, but it's just something that we have to live with for the time being Libbe HaLevy 02:25:33 Speaking of Ukraine, let's shift this a little bit. The nuclear industry is working very hard to spin the situation there, to their advantage saying, well, the nuclear reactors are still operating and there hasn't been a disaster and everybody's downplay what the risks have been. What's your take on this attempt by them. And what do you see as the genuine risks in Ukraine as regards the nuclear reactors and the Cherno site? Paul Dorfman 02:26:03 Certainly not over it is a shooting wall and it is a human atrophy, but when they're attacking the largest nuclear plant in all of Europe with six operating reactors, I, and many others, perhaps didn't sleep for a couple of nights. The idea of munitions firing into nuclear plant is unthinkable. It's almost as unthinkable as a nuclear proponents, spinning this into a good story for prone nuclear. It is champion in its hypocrisy. This idea that any idea that Ukraine in any way suggests that nuclear safe is an appalling redaction of truth. And, you know, as I say, the risks are far from over. What we've seen in Ukraine is essentially the weaponization of civil nuclear, something that I and others have been discussing for many years now and far from it being a sort of any form of advertising for a civil nuclear, it's a clear admission, clear statement of fact that civil nuclear can be a very real and very dangerous target. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:24 You spoke about languaging and getting messaging out. How can we coordinate to get that message out? Because it is clear that any nuclear reactor on the ground is potentially a target in war for terrorists, for crazy people. What can we do to convince the world not to build any more Nokes Paul Dorfman 02:27:53 Yeah, good question. I think it's important to look at things in the round. First of all, it's important to talk about how things should be before saying, you know, let's stop doing that. It's important to invest in hope, realistic hope and realistic ways of powering our societies. Now, for example, the international energy agency, which is blue ribbon, you know, everybody believes in the international agency say that by 2026, we'll have globally 5,000 GTS of new renewable capacity online, which in electrical terms, in forms of electricity is equivalent to total fossil fuel and nuclear combined combined. So there is no question, but the renewable evolution is here. I mean, it's not a debate anymore. There is no energy professor, not a nuclear it's professor, but an energy professor will tell you otherwise it is renewables. It's a feta. We know this now in terms of cost, you talk to ARD again, gold ribbon, you know, in terms of economics, solar, and wind about, I dunno, quarter fifth of the cost of nuclear. Paul Dorfman 02:29:06 The number is let's give the comparator about 20, 30 bucks per megawat out for solo wind, a hundred forty five hundred fifty bucks for new new construction. That's the difference. That's actually the difference. These are accepted numbers. These are not pulled out of green piece. This is LA out. So economically, and also until of how quickly it can be done, especially in the context of climate change. The game is over in real terms, the game is over. So we're left with nuclear PR and nuclear industry lobby and all of the power of nuclear, which is very great. Actually, then that goes into questions, well, SRS or this fusion or this and that, but that's a long debate. Even that doesn't hack it. The reason why none of this hacks it is the key issue is climate and climate change. Now we know now that I P C C, which basically reviews older research, saying what we all know, cause we've all been looking at the fundamental research with the last few years. Paul Dorfman 03:30:05 Basically we need to change and change quickly. There is no way on earth that nuclear will help with that. It cannot even replace itself by say 2050. You know, when all of these aging actors come offline, there is out absolutely no way. There's not the money, not the capacity, not the person power, not the will to do so. It takes between 10 and 15 years for a nuclear rat to come online. These days, it is just to slow. And the same is true with SMRs. Now, currently, what does nuclear do? It does about, I don't know, between three and four point percent of global energy, which is, excuse me, but that's not. I mean, you know, for all the, the fuss that nuclear make about things, it's not, it's just not that much. So that if you were to then to try to, to make that more, in other words, basically, to try to replace at what you have to do. Paul Dorfman 03:31:03 I mean, for example, a quarter of all France's nuclear is now offline. As we speak 15 reactors are offline due to safety and security problems because of aging basically. So you cannot replace the amount of reactors that we have even now by 2050, there's there's simply not the capacity to do that. So to capture to the chase, the renewable evolution is here. It costs a fifth of the price. It can be deployed incredibly quickly. And when one thinks about energy, one each think about energy in the round. We've been talking about supply, which is what nuclear is basically just supplying stuff. When you talk about energy electricity, you talk about supply, about transmission, about use. So it's about demand side management, energy efficiency, energy management, as well too. And of course, in terms of renewables, when thinks about storage, when thinks about backup, when thinks about load, follow load, balancing interconnectors and the rest of it. Paul Dorfman 03:32:05 So yes, we can basically, yes, we can do the renewable evolution and no, we do not need nuclear to do that, which is basically too costly, too dangerous and too late to help us with our climate problems. And there's one issue really that nuclear needs to understand very, very clearly that nuclear will be perhaps one of the first and most problematic victims to climate change. Nuclear needs to be beside large bodies of water to get the cooling and also to discharge. Now that's either by the coast, inland by river or in large lakes, large bodies of water. Now we know what's gonna happen with the, with the coast, the sea's going to rise. We know what's gonna happen with the rivers. The rivers are going to alternate between inundation and low flow and heating, which means that inland rivers may not be able to get at cooling. Paul Dorfman 03:32:59 And then importantly may not be able to discharge because the river flow is too hot and too low. And the same is true for lakes, but within the next two decades, two decades, okay, it's looking very much like we think that sea level will be rise stepwise. We think it'll be stepwise, but that the key issue for nuclear is storm surge. We're under certain atmospheric conditions, which combined with high tides, as we've seen all across the globe, the sea just rises and just moves in land. And a number of current nuclear stations are just a few meters above sea level. And it's very likely that within two decades, current nuclear capacity will be at significant risk from storm surge ti Ingres nuclear island, basically flooding Libbe HaLevy 03:33:51 Nuclear island. That's not a phrase that I have heard and it's certainly both graphic. And I think important because languaging and communication and especially the harnessing of social media and the power that it represents. Yeah, I think are key to us turning things around. I need to congratulate you on your Twitter presence. It was a Gerson, a far wind's energy who started forwarding your tweets to me. And then I subscribe. And it seems that you are on at least once, if not on average, I would say three times a day with new updated points. Is this something that is new to the work that you are doing, or has this been part of the plan all the way through, Paul Dorfman 03:34:35 No, this is something that's new to the work I'm doing. And I'm hoping to gain a, a sort of a base as it were something that I just thought, well, you know, this seems to be very, very interesting. My initial sort of approach was always to go to the broadsheet press and to the media, what I found and what a lot of people have found in the last year. And it's actually quite disturbing is that, whereas before, if there was some key issue about nuclear, the BBC would turn to me and say, well, you know, come along, have a chat. The times the Telegraph, the guardian, the German press, whatever it was, you know, say, well, okay, you know, you have a go Forbes or whatever, you know what you have to say? Well, in the last year, the nuclear PR has been so great. And I'm not saying this question of blacklisting, but there's been something very, very strange. That's been going on that one has had basically less presence in the media. Now that's beginning to change now. Okay. That that's beginning to change. However, it has been worrying. And in response to that, I turn to social media in order to communicate, to talk with people, Libbe HaLevy 03:35:47 We will link to your Twitter handle on the website. And I encourage anybody hearing this to sign up because these are some of the most informative, short burst talking point tweets information flow that I have encountered. And it's encouraging because you seem to have a handle on how to phrase things so that in short bursts, we get the truth of it. I saw on the website for and CG. And we will link to that as well that you have a list from the British academy of 127 experts with huge credentials who are available to comment knowledgeably both on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That was this specific list, but also beyond that to other nuclear, your issues as well. How did that come about? Paul Dorfman 03:36:41 I don't know. I mean, I'm, I'm an academic and all of a sudden British academy, just put me on that list basically. So they're basically in their, in their, in their judgment, they think it's basically a good idea. It's just one of these academic things. I'm considered to be a safe pair of hands. I'm not off the wall. What I say can be fact checked, I'm a coast academic. So I'm a safe pair of hands. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:06 We will link to that list as well because anyone in the media who is covering Ukraine or beyond that, who are looking for nuclear experts should have access to that list from the British academy, but also the list of people who you have, who are part of the nuclear consulting group. Where do you go from here? You're going to continue of course, with Twitter and with the communicating and making yourself available. But my question is how do we, who oppose nuclear for all the same reasons that are out there instead of being reactive to the assaults and the push of the nuclear industry, how do we become active as precise, opposed to reactive Paul Dorfman 03:37:51 Precise and, and that's exactly it. And right from the start, I decided not to be reactive. I mean, right from the start, it's always a question about taking the, the forward, because one can argue endlessly with troll or you mean one can argue endlessly. The whole point is actually to make a point and to push it through there's press there's media, there's policy and there's people, and none of these are greater or lesser than anybody else. It's almost like an iceberg. You know what we see on the top or a Swan, you know, what you see on the top is not what's going on underneath and things change. And when things change, we're left with the idea, what, what on earth, what held that up? What held that straw man of nuclear up when it, you know, rather like, you know, I don't know, apartheid or the, the Berlin war, you know, why did that thing actually exist? Paul Dorfman 03:38:42 And when it actually comes down, you said, well, there was actually very little that held it up. And there was this huge mass underneath that supported the reality of the situation. And in a sense, I think that's how people are around nuclear, largely. There's this significant sort of top of the iceberg of the nuclear PR a huge impact in terms of policy and lots of money, but beneath that is the backdrop, the reality of, of what's going on of what what's actually happening. And what's happening is the renewable evolution is here. It's far quicker, far cheaper, far more effective. And nuclear is really just a, an absolute side show. I mean, a very, very, very real side show. The problem with that side show is that it's costing us. It's costing us in time and in money. We don't have the time because of climate. Paul Dorfman 03:39:35 And we certainly don't have the money because we need to put our money into what will work. So it's a question of actually prioritizing our choices and making those choices clear to, to press, to media, to policy, and most importantly, to people. And this one does in a sort of a buckshot way in any way that one can and in any way, that seems reasonable and viable. And I think that people get the truth of, of where one is basically. I think that people understand people who, who try to deal with facts. So in, in that sense, that's the general approach that I, and, and many others take. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:17 And has there been any coordination in getting the message out with those who are in the renewables industry, solar, wind, geothermal, any of the others, any of those companies, Paul Dorfman 04:40:30 People tend to be in their own sort of cards. And also they sort of, they fight their own fights basically. And people are sort of fighting their corners, which is, you know, absolutely understandable. The truth is really that the world has changed in the last eight, nine years or so. I mean, before the nuclear proponents would always renew, forget it, you know, kind of joke now across the board, across the board, nuclear proponents say, well, oh, renewables, that's the way for would, but nuclear can act as an adjunct to renewables. That's the, that's the, so argument, that's the only argument left actually. So things have changed enormously in the last eight, nine years, 10 years or so solar and wind costs have decreased, I don't know, 70% or something nuclear costs have increased. So solar and, and wind costs exponentially decreasing nuclear costs, exponentially increasing. Paul Dorfman 04:41:28 So the argument is over the market will not touch nuclear. There's no way that the market, the finance market will touch nuclear. The only way that you can build nuclear is with massive. And I do mean massive public subsidy. So basically the public purse would have to stump up huge amounts of money. And as we've seen in somewhere in the en VO, the rest of it, huge losses, especially in terms of the early cost recovery regimes. So the reality is, I mean, the argument is over actually. I mean, it really is over all that's left is this sort of skeleton, which is sort of pushing out this PR, which is still very, very dangerous actually, you know, and therefore worth engaged with. And it has a lot of resource. It has a lot of power and it has a lot of influence. And one worries about this actually in a democratic sense, the secret democratic deficit in terms of nuclear nuclear, particularly in, in the us actually. Paul Dorfman 04:42:30 So long story short everyone's fighting corners, the renewable evolution is here for evidence-based reasons. Nucleus says, well, maybe it can back up. So-called intermittent renewables. The reality is of course nuclears intermittent. A quarter of the French nuclear fleet is offline as we speak. Also, nuclears very bad at load follow. In other words, backing up the renewable evolution because nuclear, you switch nuclear and it runs it doesn't power up and power down well at all, it doesn't load follow. So the last thing that you want to back up so-called intermittent renewals is nuclear nuclear. Can't do that. Doesn't do that. So even its last argument is to kind of a flawed argument as well. So in a sense, what one find is one just churn out the same kind of arguments. These are just basic facts, basically. I mean, these are not really up for discussion. This is just how things are and just sort of wait for reality to set in. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:34 If we were to create our own echo chamber, our own set of talking points, that would go out in a coordinated way because that's what nuclear does. They set the agenda and it gets picked up all over the place. And they're talking at each other. Paul Dorfman 04:43:49 Exactly. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:50 I know nuclear hot seat has listeners. It's been downloaded in 120 countries. There are people who listen to this show religiously around the world and we've all got access to social media. So if there were to be some kind of coordinated, here's the talking point of the week, here's the talking point of the day that we could then just upload maybe a series of, of them that we could upload on a schedule because this is, this is the way Fox built its new thing. Roger Ailes gave the talking point. If we were to do this, how might it be coordinated? How might your organization be involved? Certainly nuclear hots seat would be of service to this. How might we get our own echo chamber with talking points, coordinated talking points off the ground? Paul Dorfman 04:44:42 That's a very interesting thought. It's certainly worth considering. It's a very, very interesting thought. It's not something that, because nuclear consult was something that sort of organically grew. It's not something that I directed or invented. It just happened basically. And then I'd sort of worked with it. I've always sort of tried to work within my own limits, but then always very happy to push those limits. I think that as Obama found key to everything is organization and collective action. So I think that if there is any route to a collective organization thought through collective organization with a certain amount of, of resourcing and also an element of presentation, as you say, week by week ongoing work, because basically it comes down to work at the end of the day. It, it just starts, it just comes down to getting things done. Then yes, that sounds like a very interesting idea. And one that potentially needs to be thought about, Libbe HaLevy 04:45:50 I will continue to put that thought out in, in as many places as I possibly can. And yeah, hopefully include you in the process. Paul Dorfman 04:45:58 Please do Libbe HaLevy 04:45:59 Your communication skills are brilliant. You have these little talking points, I have little slips of paper where I've printed out what your tweets are over the course of a week. And if we could have those to draw upon, then we at least have automatic ammunition that people can use in fighting back against what nuclear does with all of its millions and millions and millions we can potentially do because of the power of social media and of the individual. Paul Dorfman 04:46:30 I think this is very important to understand that the rules of the game is changed. And this is born out by sort of, you know, complex science of technology studies, academic, social scientific knowledge, you know, whole loads of whole loads of academic work that the, the, the scales are changing. You're absolutely right in terms of social media and in terms of output and the rest of it. So yes, this does provide an opportunity to certainly match and even outmatch pro nuclear output on this level, without any doubt. There's no question about that. Absolutely agree. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:09 That will be pursued. Is there anything else that we haven't covered that you would like to speak about at this time? Paul Dorfman 04:47:16 One of the many things that got me into this was questions about radiation risk and our secretary, you know, you see these scientific advisory committees about COVID and the rest of it and oh, you know, all these scientists, well, you know, I was one of them in terms of radiation risk. And the truth of the matter is, I mean, the fact is actually that when one really gets into the science, I mean really, really, really deeply into the science about radiation risk, about internal radiation risk. There is huge levels of uncertainty, very, very great, very, very significant levels of UNC. And there's a thing that has always really, really bothered me. And that's a fact you can't really dispute it. I mean, this is just a fact in terms of radiation biology, everyone talks about, you know, stuff like genomic inability theory or bystander theory, all kinds of stuff. Paul Dorfman 04:48:05 What always, I find really, really curious is that a fun and in terms of fundamental science, and this is actually true in terms of fundamental science, there's a huge amount of complexity and uncertainty. Basically, you don't really know actually the numbers really could be out in terms of safety. It could be out by 10. It could be out by a hundred. There's no real way of knowing actually. And that's actually true. That's a fundamental scientific advice. I mean, that really is in terms of complex internal radiation. What happens when a bit of radiation gets inside you really, and truly it could be not such a good idea. And that goes on to questions of not simply about talking about gross cancers and leukemias, but you're talking about immune deficiency, heart problems, whole host of things that are really, really difficult to pin down epidemiologically. What then happens is for some reason, this complex reality is then shortcut over simplified. Paul Dorfman 04:49:04 If you like to make a rule to get to regulation. So complex scientific reality somehow translated into regulatory certainty. So basically potential risk real risk is translated into potential certainty in order to continue for nuclear to function because nuclear, in order to function must put out radioactive pollution. It just must do that. So there's a strange paradox. It's not like a Russian doll where all things sort of fit together. It's more like a Chinese whisper when the original message gets corrupted on the way to the listener. There's a strange thing that happens that complex scientific uncertainty in and risk potential risk is somehow translated into regulatory safety. In other words, it's we probably think it's more or less. Okay. And that's curious, that's very, very odd Libbe HaLevy 05:50:06 Dr. Paul Hoffman, this has been an illuminating discussion with you. I look forward to having a others in the future and especially picking up on the possibility of a communications network echo chamber on our own behalf until we next speak. I want to thank you so much for being my guest today on nuclear hot seat. Paul Dorfman 05:50:27 Thank Libbe HaLevy 05:50:27 You. Luby Dr. Paul Doman of the nuclear consulting group, we'll have a link up to it. Nuclear consult.com. It will be on the website. We'll also have a link to his Twitter post, which is a bit more elaborate. They'll be up@nuclearhotseat.com under this episode, number 5 62, and we'll also have a downloadable PDF of the British Academy's list of 127 nuclear and other experts who can comment knowledgeably on all aspects of what is happening in Ukraine. If you are a reporter, you must have this resource in your wheelhouse, the nuclear people as for the use of Twitter that we discussed. There's more of this to be reported as part of speaker 3 05:51:16 Activists, activist, shout, shout, shout. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:24 It's always great. When an interview pushes out beyond of what we spoke about and into a next set of actions. So, okay. It's become really clear that we who oppose nuclear need our own echo chamber to build awareness of honest nuclear talking points. This is to contradict the propaganda focused grouped money backed pro nuclear manipulations that take the form of massive public relations campaigns. And you should know that the field of public relations was first labeled and promoted by Edward bene, who was a nephew, a Sigman Freud, and he considered PR to be the manufacturer of consent. That's what the nuclear industry has been doing with its PR campaigns, manufacturing consent. And so what we need to do is have our own public relations campaign to move that in the opposite direction and manufacture non-consent for all things to nuclear. That's actually not even a manipulation. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:33 It's just allowing people to access their own common sense in the absence of talking points that are trying to push them away from their own common sense. We are still in the early stages, but what's being explored and worked on is a program that will allow you the listeners to participate in a really important PR drive on our own behalf. The goal is to have what's called an editorial calendar for a full year. This is something that has been used traditionally in all news media. It's a list of the anniversaries that can and be used as the basis for stories, tweets, and posts. And we would also provide tweet, length talking points that could be used on Twitter, Facebook email, any place you like to reverse the surgically implanted self-serving lies of the nuclear industry in less than a week. We have an ever increasing list of activist groups and individuals who are getting involved. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:36 We intend to come up with a series of boiler plate tweet, length posts that can be used anytime, anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, other social media email, get it tattooed on your forearm. The intent being that we have, these that are good at any time anywhere. So all you have to do is copy and paste into your social media accounts, easy peasy. We would also have some that were geared to the anniversaries and ongoing stories that we are all concerned about as well as some that we can jump into. When there's a hot story, then it's up to you, the listeners and your social media networks. And please don't give me that grown Grimmy and eye roll about social media. It is a tool that we must not only use, but master, if we're going to make progress and it's going to be made as easy as possible for you to participate, the load is light. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:33 Just copy and paste one or two of the prewritten talking points once or twice a week. That's it sound like it's doable. I know you can do it. This is a smart audience. You know how to do these things. Now, as I said at the beginning, this is still in very early days, less than a week in, we will have details available when it's time for this program to go live. And any updates that might be applicable that you would find interesting will be reported on this show. In the meantime, feel free to do this on your own, come up with your own posts for Twitter, and then copy them over onto Facebook. The goal being that the language repeats from one platform to another, and if yours are as good as I suspect they will be, we might end up nabbing some of yours and putting them on the list. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:24 The goal is to counter the pro nuclear big bucks, echo chamber of false information with our own echo chamber of accurate information that opposes nuclear. And as you heard from today's guest, it is people power that will make the difference and let's face it. There are more of us than there are of them. More details on this as they become available. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 29th, 2022. If you'd like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, it's easy. It's the same mechanism we had on the old website. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box, put in your first name and your email address. And every week you will have an email delivered with a link to that week show and a brief rundown of some of the information that's in it. As a bonus. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:24 When you sign up, you'll get a free chapter from my book. Yes, I glow in the dark one mile from three mile island to Fukushima and nuclear hot seat. It costs you nothing. And it's one of the great deals available online. Now, more audience participation. If you know of a S story, lead a hot tip, or have a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info nuclear hotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to our brand new website. I never get tired of saying that the new website, nuclear hotseat.com and look for our now modest size red button, click on it, follow the prompts and anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hots seat is copyright 2022 libe and artistry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:29 As long as proper attribution is provided. That means you can quote me or cite me or my guests. As long as you credit nuclear hot seat. And my guest organizations. This is levy Hal of artistry, communications producer are in host of nuclear hot seat, reminding you every nuclear reactor is a dirty bomb on the ground and holds the potential for disaster, which is why we have to get rid of them all. There you go. You have just had your weekly nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:11 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Nuclear hot seat. The car is sinking. Our time to act is shrink, but the activists are licking new hot seat. It's de bomb. ### NH #561: Chernobyl Radiation Lab Destroyed, Radioactive Forest Fires, History with Kate Brown + Fukushima 7.3 Earthquake Damage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobylradiationlab/ Published: 2022-03-22 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl Radiation Lab Destroyed, Radioactive Forest Fires, History with Kate Brown + Fukushima 7.3 Earthquake Damage Kate Brown, author of the award-winning Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future, is a historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Plutopia, which won seven major awards.  Here, she shares information that is as timely now as it was when we first spoke, on Monday, April 15, 2019.   ARTICLE:  Kate Brown & Susan Solomon: One thing nuclear power plants weren’t built to survive: War.  Kate Brown Harvey Wasserman is a veteran author and activist noted for getting people getting involved on issues that matter. He is holding an event this Sunday, March 27, in Santa Monica that has implications for all our work. If you wish to attend, you can contact him for furtheer information at: Solartopia@me.com. Links: Combat at Ukraine Nuclear Plant Adds Radioactive Dangers to Russian Invasion What Comes After Russia’s Attack on a Ukrainian Nuclear Power Station?  NIRS Joins Ukrainian Calls for Sanctions on Russian Nuclear Industry.   Russia's energy clout doesn't just come from oil and gas – it's also a key nuclear supplier. Pair of Earthquakes, Tsunami hit Fukushima Daiichi Dr. Helen Caldicott video:   Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Ukraine week four, the radioactive remains of the Cher noble nuclear power plant. Continue to be a hotspot of concern in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. While everyone from the Russian military to officials at rose, Otum the Russian state nuclear corporation to the international atomic energy agency, loudly deny any claims that she noble has killed or harmed more than a handful of people. It takes an award-winning author and historian of environmental and nuclear history who did her own research at 27 Eastern European medical archives on your Nobles health effects. And she tells you Kate Brown 00:00:46 When they found catastrophic results, which was a major epidemic of children with thyroid cancer, very rare cancer among kids, one in a million normally get it suddenly in a small area of Northern UK, they had 20 kids and the Soviet doctors handed the foreign experts, 20 biopsies. They didn't believe that this could possibly be thyroid cancer among so many kids. They brought 'em home to have examined and sure enough, they found that these were cancers, but then in their report, they said, we heard some rumors about thyroid cancer among children. And we found those rumors to be anecdotal in nature. But what they were sitting on was hard evidence and they had other evidence of 30 more kids in Belarus. And that indeed turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of what became a big epidemic and thyroid cancer among kid. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:32 And that is just the start. So when Kate brown author of manual for survival, Acher noble guide to the future, not only tells you this, but so very much more. You begin to realize that not only in Northern Ukraine and Belarus, but everywhere on this planet, there is a giant uncomfortable seat that unfortunately we all share Announcer 00:02:00 You clear seat. What are those people thinking? New, clear, hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? New Claire hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new Claire hot it's Deba. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:31 Welcome to nuclear. Hotsy the weekly international news magazine keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Hala. I am the producer and host as well as a, of the nuclear meltdown at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we continue coverage of the nuclear aspects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine taking an historic look at tri noble, how bad it was before this war began and what its health impacts have already been to give us a sense of how much worse it still could be. Under current circumstances, we revisit an interview with Kate brown author of the best selling manual for survival Acher noble guide to the future to gain her insights into the ongoing aftermath of that deadly nuclear disaster. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:30 We'll also hear from author activist, Harvey Waserman on how activist across different platforms can assist each other in getting our talking out to the public, as well as an upcoming event where we learn to do just that we will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information. Then we will ever get out of a Russian oligarch. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Starting with this late breaking story out of Ukraine, Russian military forces have destroyed a new laboratory at the chin noble nuclear power plant that among other works to improve management of radioactive waste. This according to the Ukrainian state agency, responsible for the tri noble exclusion zone, the laboratory contained quote, highly active samples of radio nuclides that are now in the hands of the enemy, which we hope will harm itself and not the civilized world. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:39 The agency said another worrying development Ukraine's nuclear regulatory agency said on Monday that radiation monitors around the plant had stopped working. There is additional concern because forest fires broke out around the Cher noble nuclear site on Monday, March 21st, raising fears, raising fears of radi contamination and spread in the smoke from the burning of contaminated plants, at least seven fires within the plant's exclusion zone were observed on satellite imagery from the European space agency. Lawmakers blamed the Blas on Russian forces that captured the site in February Ukrainian officials and fire fighters could not carry out their usual functions in the area to extinguish the fires because of Russian control of the plant. It warned that fires within a 10 kilometer or 6.2 radius of significant radioactive waste and contamination could pose particular damage. Nuclear experts said could also threaten critical electricity transmission lines, which were recently repaired according to Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the union of concerned scientists, the facilities themselves greatest vulnerability is a loss of power. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:59 An NAGO Adam Ukraine state. One nuclear company said that Russia's seizure of the area meant crews were no longer able to monitor radiation levels there. According to Reuters, Argo, Adam also stated radiation levels in the exclusion zone and beyond including not only Ukraine, but also other countries could significantly worsen. If there is any good news out of Tru noble. It's the fact that on Sunday, March 20th, after about 600 hours inside in a hostage situation, 64 people were allowed to leave the Tru noble nuclear power plant. After more than three weeks, without a break, 50 shift workers were among those allowed to go. And they were replaced by 46 employee volunteers from Ukraine, this amounts to about half the staff at the site that actually runs the safety systems at the facility. As yet, it is UNC clear when or whether the remaining workers will be able to rotate out the state nuclear regulatory inspectorate of Ukraine has said that some maintenance and repairs at she noble could not be carried out because of quote, the psychological moral and physical fatigue of the personnel anonymous. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:17 The online on hacktivist group has hacked into the website of rose AUM, defacing the website, but also putting out the assurance that I have not put the operation of any nuclear reactor at risk will have links up to several articles on Ukraine, including what comes after Russia's attack on a Ukrainian nuclear power station by Carnegie, senior fellow mark Hibbs, nuclear information service, joining Ukrainian calls for sanctions on Russian nuclear industry. Russia's energy cloud. Doesn't just come from oil and gas. It's also a key nuclear supplier and a key article from the New York times as Russia in what's the risk of nuclear war quote. It's not zero. And in Japan on March 16, a pair of earthquakes hit the Fukushima region, a magnitude 7.3 followed by a slightly weaker quake. It hit offshore in the same area as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami alarms did go off, but the two that hit were both under one meter in height and did no further damage. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:28 Current reports from the quake are one death, 88 injured and 2 million homes that lost power. A series of radioactive waste containers stored outdoors at Tecos Fukushima site were and tilted by the earthquake eight one meter square containers. Toppled over four of them were damaged and the contents exposed as low dose used protective clothing. The coolant pumps for spent fuel pools were shut down at the number one and number three reactors with pump operations recovered after two hours, warping of a panel opening in a door at the number one reactor building that releases pressure in emergencies to prevent hydrogen explosions. And what has been described as a fist sized space in that panel opening, but quote, no radioactive substances were confirmed to have leaked. According to TECO. I just question their use of the term. Not confirmed there, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first the baby has arrived. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:35 Clear hot seats, new website is up and running, and I think it's terrific, faster, way more searchable. And now with transcripts, there's a more robust and flexible player for each episode, a media section, even a humor page. This revamp has required close to a year planning and more than six months of work because you can't use a cut and paste template for a website with 560 recordings and counting more importantly, we've installed state of the art behind the scenes functionality to help the show its topics and interviews be found on Google's first page search engine optimization on steroids. Now it's still a work in progress so far. We've loaded episodes back to January of 2021, along with transcripts. And there are some of our classic cornerstone shows up as well. The rest will be rolled out over the coming weeks and yes, we will be proofreading too, especially the scripts needed, but the site will function as an oral archive of our history told in weekly updates over the past 11 years and become a roadmap to find the people issues and actions that make up the community of those who think nuclear is not exactly a good idea. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:56 I don't think I need to tell you how important this is or how expensive it's been, not only design and implementation, but the monthly charges. We now need to maintain the site, which have at least doubled. So if you've ever thought about donating to nuclear hot seat, do it now, nuclear hot seat.com and click on the smaller, but still red donate by any amount can help. And you can set up a sustaining donation for as little as $5 a month help us. So we can help you to understand nuclear issues on a weekly basis and know that whatever you do to help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here's this week's featured in, in looking at the future. We must understand the past and there is no more important place to do that right now than in Ukraine. And specifically at Cher noble, while everyone from roseum to the international atomic energy agency are downplaying the dangers there, especially to health. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:56 Some people know more about your Noble's truth. And this week we have one of the best of them. Kate brown is the author of the award winning manual for survival Acher noble guide to the future. Arguably one of the best books on sure. Noble that has ever been written. She is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Pluto Topia, which won seven major awards here. She shares information that is as timely now as it was when we spoke on Monday, April 15th, 2019, Kate brown. I am so thrilled to have you here today on nuclear hot seed. Kate Brown 01:12:36 It's great to be here, Libby. Thanks for inviting me, Libbe HaLevy 01:12:39 Figuring out the truth about Cher. Noble was an enormous complex mind boggling project. What drew you to this area of research in the first place and how did you get started? Kate Brown 01:12:50 Originally? I was interested in the nuclear security state. And so I started, I wrote a book called Pluto Topia about the first two cities in the world to produce plutonium. And while I was working that story, these I wasn't interested in, in health or environment, but these farmers who lived down wind and down river from these two plutonium plants, the Soviet and American one were telling about their health problems and they thought it very similar strain health problems and similar across this huge divide between the Siberian Soviet site and the Eastern Washington American site. And I, so I started working to try to figure out what that meant to if they were right, what scientists thought. And I got a little bit into that story when I, in that book, Pluto, Topia, but I felt like I didn't really get the, so this is almost a sequel. Kate Brown 01:13:38 And I thought, well, Cherno was a civilian site. It wasn't a military site. So it was more, more open. It, it exposed far more people and it was later, it was in the 1980s rather than the, you know, the forties and fifties and sixties. So I went into the archives and found his sort of Kandi of health records in many points. I was the first to check out these records cause it was pLS���� ### NH #560: Nuclear Ukraine – Russia Shells Zaporizhzhia Nukes + Chernobyl 2.0? Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-560-nuclear-ukraine-russia-shells-zaporizhzhia-nukes-chernobyl-2-0-kevin-kamps/ Published: 2022-03-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Screen shot of Russian troops shelling the Zaporizhzhia six nuclear reactor site in Ukraine, March 4, 2022. LINK below for full NPR analysis of damage to the site. This Week’s Featured Interview: Kevin Kamps is Nuclear Waste Specialist at Beyond Nuclear.Dr. Gordon Edwards has been president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR.org) since 1978. He graduated from the University of Toronto after studying mathematics, physics and chemistry with a gold medal in mathematics and physics. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Dear Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: In light of the nuclear dangers of the past month that have been raised by Russia in Ukraine and in threats to use nuclear weapons… CAN YOU NOT TELL TIME??? The clock stopped. Links: NPR Video Analysis of March 3 Russian attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia 6-reactor nuclear power site. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/11/1085427380/ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-zaporizhzhiaREGISTER for Bob Alvarez Lifetime Achievement Award – Saturday, March 19, 2022, 3 pm Eastern time, presented by Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) and Alliance for Nuclear Accountability.Dianukes zoominar, Nuclear Power in the Battlefield: Ongoing Concerns at Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhya, and Beyond with Dr. Gordon Edwards; Dr. Olga Koshama, nuclear and safety expert, Ukrainian Nuclear Society, Kyiv; and Dr. Andrey Ozharovskym, Russian physicist and an independent expert on nuclear matters. https://www.dianuke.org/chernobyl-in-the-war-zone-dianuke-conversation-on-the-unfolding-crisis-in-ukraine-zoom-recording/ Pinar Demarican article: Rosatom’s woes before and beyond the war: implications of Russia’s embattled nuclear industryTRANSCRIPT OF MARCH 4 UKRAINE NUCLEAR REGULATOR REPORT Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Ukraine, week three, while the Ukrainian people continue to fight valiantly against the Russian invaders nuclear reactors on the ground, continue to remain prime targets and potential disaster flash points, nuclear energy apologi are holding to their pro nuclear talking points. When they got on the media, trying to give the false impression that all is well, nothing to see here, pay attention to NATO and the bomb, but we know that the nuclear power reactors in Ukraine, indeed all nuclear power reactors have vulnerabilities that make them prime targets for saboteurs, as well as intentional or accidental shelling in a war zone. And then you have a genuine expert who tells you Kevin Kamps 00:00:49 Nuclear power plants, whether accidentally through misfired, explosives, or intentionally as intentional targets of military attack, what they essentially represent is dirty bombs on your domestic territory. So if they get blown up, no matter how they get blown up or meltdown, no matter how they meltdown, these are gigantic dirty bombs that have been preyed throughout your domestic territory. And at a time of war, that's a pretty bad idea to have those preyed nuclear, dirty bomb, radiological, dirty bombs deployed throughout your territory. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:27 Well, that's kind of the opposite of quote unquote, clean green energy. And when Kevin camps radioactive waste specialists for beyond nuclear puts it that clearly, and you realize that there are already more than 400 of these nuclear monsters on domestic territories around the world, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are stuck in that terrible deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:57 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Hot seat? The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat. It's de Libbe HaLevy 00:02:28 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accent at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we continue nuclear hot seats coverage of the nuclear aspects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. With an interview with Kevin camps, he is nuclear waste specialist for beyond nuclear, and he shares with us the exact nature of those nuclear dangers faced by Ukraine that have nothing to do with bombs being dropped and everything to do with nuclear power reactors as dirty bombs on the ground. And we'll also hear a brief set of comments by Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility on the well known limits to nuclear energy safety. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:32 We will also have numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information. Then you're going to get from Tucker Carlson ever. All it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, March 15, the odds of March, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective as we have for the past two weeks, our focus is going to be on Ukraine where video analysis by NPR reveals that the Russian attack on Ukrainian nuclear plant at Zappia was far closer to disaster than has yet been admitted. NPR conducted a thorough review of a four hour 21 minute security cam video of the attack, which reveals that Russian forces repeatedly fired heavy weapons in the direction of the plant's massive reactor buildings, which house dangerous nuclear fuel photos show that an administrative building directly in front of the reactor complex was shreded by Russian fire and a video from inside the plant shows damage at a possible Russian shell that landed less than 250 feet from the unit two reactor building. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:48 The security camera footage also shows Russian troops, haphazardly firing rocket propelled grenades into the main administrative building at the plant and turning away Ukrainian firefighters, even as a fire raged outta of control in a nearby training building, this evidence stands in stark contrast to early comments by the international atomic energy agency, the IA E a which while acknowledging the seriousness of the assault emphasized that the action took place away from the reactors. The footage shows that the training, the building took multiple strikes and it was hardly the only part of the site to take fire from Russian forces. The security footage supports claims by Ukraine's nuclear regulator of damage at three other locations, the unit one reactor building the transformer at the unit six reactor and the spent fuel pool, which is where highly radio active nuclear waste is stored. It also shows ordinance striking a high voltage line outside the plant and the IA E a admits that two such lines, which is power from the grid, which is needed to fuel. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:55 The cooling systems were damaged in the attack. We will link to that NPR report on our website, nuclear hots seat.com under this episode, number five 60, for those who are relying on the IA E a the international atomic energy agency for its interpreter of what is going on, I need to bring your attention to article two of the I a E a statute its objectives, which include the agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health, and prosperity throughout the world, which goes a long way to explaining the IA E A's systemic bias towards minimizing risks and dangers in all nuclear circumstances, including their repeated comments last week, the I a E a sees no critical impact on safety in the wake of the attacks at Zaia on March 13, it was reported that staff at the Cher noble nuclear plant have stopped repairing and maintaining safety related equipment in part due to physical and psychological fatigue. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:13 And from working nonstop since Russian forces invaded on February 24th, Ukraine's nuclear power company, a NAGO Adam said specialists from Ukraine had fixed one of two damaged power lines, which allowed offsite power to be delivered from the grid to the plant. This has now happened twice and been repaired twice. And at Zappia two of the four offsite power lines connected to the grid had been damaged. And the IA E a has been saying that as long as there is at least one power line, as well as diesel generators with enough fuel backup power can be provided. But in a quote from I a E a director general Rafael Grossi, we, he can't afford to lose more time. On Monday, March 13, Ukrainian authorities accused Russian troops of, of detonating ammunition at the Zaia six reactor nuclear power plant site. Ukrainian officials also allege that Russian forces plan to continue with explosions at the plant and that staff had fled. And now Announcer 00:08:24 Clear hot seed, no clear hot seed, no clear hot seed, none sound awake. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:33 The bulletin of the atomic scientist doomsday clock is an internationally recognized symbol of how close the world is to nuclear annihilation at its own hands. Three years ago, in 2020, it was set at 100 seconds to midnight. The closest it has ever been that setting remained in place for 2221. And as of January 27 of this year, 2022, the same. So what's happened in less than two months since then. Let me see. Russia invaded Ukraine took over the cheer noble radioactive site turned off radiation monitors, lobbed missiles at the six nuclear power reactor site of Zappia setting an administrative building on fire, a short distance from the reactors and doing still undisclosed damaged. Oh, and Russian president Vladimir Putin threatened the world with nuclear annihilation. The term he used was you will witness quote, such consequences that you have never in, in your history TMA to threatening that Russia would use nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:41 So what did the bulletin of the atomic scientists do about their doomsday clock, their own science and security board met after the invasion to consider their position. And they left the clock unchanged really saying that we are no more at risk than we were before Russia took all the bad actor positions. It has, but not acknowledging it. That's more than a missed opportunity. It's numb nuts territory. The bulletin had the opportunity to raise awareness in the world, a dire nature of the nuclear threat using a symbol that is recognized everywhere to up the alarm. And they went, meh. We knew all that was possible. Last January, all this war stuff in Ukraine is a manifestation that has no impact on nuclear threat, which means it has no impact on our alarm system. Oh yeah. Or bulletin, are you shaking in your boots afraid to alert people to how bad it actually is in Ukraine? I know I'm not reassured by your lack of action. It seems like an abdication of duty or a really big blind spot. And I feared to think that it might be something worse. So in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its targeting of nuclear sites for not signaling to the world, that the nuclear situation is far worse today than it was in January of 2022. And who knows how much worse it might be getting, even as I'm recording this union of concerned scientists and your science and security board, you are this week's Announcer 01:11:25 Clear hot seat, none sound awake. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:29 You'll hear about all these stories in much more detail from Kevin camps during today's featured interview, we will also have links up on the website, including an in depth and insightful look at the politics of rose Otum before and beyond the war and the implications of Russia's embatled nuclear industry. This was written by PIAR DeMar Jean. She is from Turkey, an independent researcher, PhD candidate, nuclear cs.org coordinator, and nuclear editor at GA. This article was posted on Diane nu.org. And as I said, we will link to it. We will also have links up to the R. I was a nuclear missile operator. There had been more near misses than the world knows by Cole Smith. That's from the guardian in London. We will also have a link up to the impasioned article, do not use nuclear weapons, a message from Japan written by Todd Toshi, Akiba, former mayor of Hiroshima. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:35 He also calls for a current Japanese prime minister KDA, who is from Hiroshima to visit Moscow, to meet president Putin and attend the United nation security council meeting. To explain why nuclear weapons must not be used by conveying the cry of the Hiba, the Tomic bomb survivors of hi Shima and Nagasaki, and an article by the esteemed and revered Dr. Helen Caldecot Russia's war could spell worldwide nuclear disaster in it. She describes the medical effects of a single bomb dropping on a city. She states a Russian 20 megaton bomb would enter at 20 times the speed of sound exploding with the heat of the sun, digging a hole three quarters of a mile, 1.27 kilometers wide and 88 feet, 26.8 meters, deep converting all buildings, people and earth shot up into the air. As a mushroom cloud, 20 miles, 32.2 kilometers from the epicenter. All humans would be killed or lethally injured. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:43 That's what we are facing. And it is closer than 100 seconds to midnight. We'll continue with this. Week's featured interview in just a moment, but first the nuclear tree is going all out to obscure the nature of the nuclear threat within Ukraine, giving false assurances in carefully focus group, tested, quotes, reading over their well constructive and massively disseminated talking points. It's clear that this is nuclear business as usual and unfortunate. Most mainstream media reporters don't know enough to ask the questions that will bust through to the genuine situation. Add to that mainstream media's short attention span, and any mention of nuclear comes in short spurts of alarm, but not followed up and not with any persistence of vision, but that's the case here at nuclear hot seat. Even when the media is not paying attention to nuclear dangers, we follow it closely because we know that nuclear does not go away. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:48 And the current dangers in Ukraine, as well as the ongoing aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster are just two examples of the pain, danger, health threats, and worse that we face from this deadly technology using it is a definition of madness. If you ever had any doubts as to why nuclear hot seat needs be here for you, this is another episode that should put that thought to rest without nuclear hot seat, you would at best only know bits and pieces of those nuclear dangers that you chase down yourself online and not see the big picture and how it all fits together. So if you've ever thought about donating to new nuclear hot seat now would be the time go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button. Any amount will help, and you can set up a sustaining donation of $5 a month, which will support us in our efforts and know that whatever you can do to help I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here's this week's featured interview. The nuclear problems and dangers in Ukraine are ongoing and evolving, and they're not going to go away to get an overview of the range of problems faced both those endemic to nuclear energy technology and the specific threats posed by the current by Russia. I talked with Kevin camps. He is nuclear waste specialist at beyond nuclear, and that title barely covers his range of expertise. We spoke on Monday, March 14, and there have been developments since that interview, which I will bring you up to date on at the end. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:32 Kevin cam, thank you so much for making the time to speak with us this morning. This very busy morning on nuclear hoed. Kevin Kamps 01:16:39 Thanks for having me. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:41 The situation in Ukraine changes from moment to moment, it seems that the Russians are intent on taking control of the nuclear rights in Ukraine. Right now, our focus has been on the radioactive remains at Cher noble and a six reactor site at Ze. Let's start with Cher noble before the current Russian invasion. What were the requirements to keep the Cher noble site safe and its radio activity under control? Kevin Kamps 01:17:09 Well, at the immediate side of the Trino nuclear power plant itself, you've got four reactors unit four was the one that suffered the explosions and meltdown in 1986. The other three were operational the last one shutting down in the year 2000. So the situation now fast forward 20 years, I guess, is you have, what's called the new safe confinement, which is a giant movable structure. The biggest Mo moveable structure in human history that was built a half mile away and then rolled over the old sarcophagus from 19 86, 19 87, the original cover over the melted down and exploded reactor that's unit four, there's 200 tons of highly radioactive molten, but solidified for the most part nuclear fuel in unit four, the other three atomic reactors at Cherno have been shut down for 20 plus years, a grand total from those three of 20,000 plus nuclear fuel assemblies, a radiated a and that fuel has been moved into indoor wet pools storage at four different pools, I believe at the Cher noble site. Kevin Kamps 01:18:17 So they were just beginning after many years of delay to move, to transfer the irradiated nuclear fuel, highly radioactive waste from those four indoor wet storage pools to a dry cast storage facility of gigantic size at Cher noble, not only is this new dry cast storage facility supposed to accommodate the three reactors worth of I radiated nuclear fuel from Cherno itself, but it's actually a Ukraine wide facility. And so there were plans. There still are plans. I us to transfer all of the irradiated nuclear fuel from the other four nuclear power plants in Ukraine, into Cher noble for what they call consolidated, interim storage. That process of moving from the other nuclear plants was spent nuclear fuel to Cher noble, I believe had not started yet. What the process of transferring the wet pool storage fuel into the dry cast storage at Cher noble itself had just started Libbe HaLevy 01:19:19 When Russia began the invasion on February 24th, it seemed that one of the first targets that they had was Cher noble. Why do you think that be? Kevin Kamps 01:19:32 I think it is mostly because the Russian military had deployed to Belarus already and Cheral nuclear power plant is less than 10 miles from the bell Russian border. And it just so happens to be a straight shot to key of from the Bero border. And not very far, I mean, we're talking, I believe set. So it was one of the nearest borders to Kia of itself. The bell Russian dictator was all too happy to have the Russian military on his territory in large numbers. So one of the first invasion prongs was across that bell Russian border passed Cher noble through the radioactive exclusion zone, own the dead zone and on to Kiev. And one of the first things they would encounter coming across that border is Cherno nuclear power plant itself. And I said, hasten to mention that the tanks, the armored personnel carriers, the trucks, the troop movements coming across that border in the dead zone kicked up a lot of radioactive dust. Kevin Kamps 02:20:33 That's why it is a dead zone. That's why people are not supposed to live there. There are a small number of people who do live there. The only people that are supposed to enter and exit the Cher noble exclusion zone, which is, I believe it's a thousand square miles in size is the Cherno nuclear power plant workforce itself, which the workers reside in a city far from Cherno called sloo to get them out of the radioactive contamination. And then they come to work and then they go back home to sloo outside of the exclusion zone. So now you've got count numbers of Russian soldiers running around and the Ukrainian nuclear safety agency has pointed out that the Russian military is violating exclusion zone rules left and right at will, of course, and they have held the Cherno workforce that happened to be on shift. When the war started, they have held them hostage. Now for more than two weeks, Libbe HaLevy 02:21:28 How dangerous is it that these workers, the people who actually run Cher, noble have been under such intense hostage situation for this period of time? Kevin Kamps 02:21:41 Well, they're working at gunpoint. There's loud rumors from even the international atomic energy agency that there's little food at Cherno for this workforce. It's 211 workers, both technical staff, maintenance, staff and guards. And there was a fire fight involving the Ukrainian national guard against the Russian military at Cher noble itself. There were Ukrainian troops deployed to the nuclear power plants and Ukraine to defend them against seizure by the Russian military, the international atomic energy agency at the United nations is a very pro nuclear institution. And yet they are raising alarm bells about the condition of the workforce at Cherno and at Zappa nuclear power plant. We'll talk more about that. Luckily at Zapp, it appears that shifts are able to change, but at Cherno for more than two weeks, the shift that was on duty is the only workforce at Cherno all communications lost, all communications lost at Cherno and they are under the direct Russian military control. Kevin Kamps 02:22:45 At least, you know, you can compare and contrast Cherno and Zappia, but at Cher, no communications, they lost power several days ago for a number of long days. And the danger there was you need electricity from the grid to run the cooling pumps at the indoor wet storage pools to keep the waste cooled and safe. And fortunately, there was a lot of water in those pools. So the were going from the top nuclear regulator in Ukraine and the company that owns turnover, so to speak, they said a week there's a week of safety. There's enough water that were safe for a week without electricity. And then you had other voices, like for example, ed lineman at union of concerned scientists who said maybe weeks, may even months because the waste, fortunately at Cher noble, the silver lining is 20 plus years old. So it has cooled some it's not as thermally hot as it would be if it was straight outta a reactor core. Kevin Kamps 02:23:42 So the, the fuse Thatcher noble in the pools was a long one, fortunately, but the dry cast storage at Cherno, we have information from an inside source, an anonymous whistleblower that the dry cast storage facility at Cherno is very flawed. It was designed by a Reva of France. And then when they built it, they screwed up the construction. And then whole tech took over after Ari got fired for these huge mistakes they made. And I should point out something that's not mentioned is all of these delays due to Ava's mismanagement. And then whole tax mismanagement has led to the situation where those pools are still full of waste. This was a opposed to have gotten done a long time ago. This transfer of spent nuclear fuel into the dry cast storage, which would be a safer configuration if they built it well, but they did not. They built it so badly that our inside source, our anonymous whistleblower said it would've been better if they had knocked down the dry cast storage facility and started over from scratch, but they did not do so. They were activating it. And here we are in this current crisis, Libbe HaLevy 02:24:54 How significant is it that the radiation monitors at true noble have been turned off since February 25th, Kevin Kamps 02:25:01 Very significant before they turned off, it was clear that that Russian military through the dead zone was kicking up radioactive dust into the air because the remote monitors, which were automatic transmission to international atomic energy agency and the Ukrainian nuclear safety regulatory agency were showing elevated readings above control levels. So these are impermissible, even in the lax troll standards of the Cheral dead zone, they were depicted as red dots instead of green. That means there's a problem here something's going on. And what was going on was heavy troop movements through the dead zone. So now we don't even know what the readings are. The last reading I was aware of was something like one milligram per hour. That's problematic. If you were to be exposed to that for a year, you're talking a 10 REM dose. And granted there are small numbers of elderly people. Kevin Kamps 02:25:56 Who've moved back to the Cherno dead zone, and sometimes there's even toddlers in there, families with no other choice, but to be there refugees go out there. And ironically enough, from the Chu in the war, back in the day that Putin launched against Chenia, there were Chechen refugees living in the Cherno dead zone, cuz they were desperate and had nowhere else to be. Those are the kind of peoples the workforce at Trenoble the Russian soldiers that's, who's being exposed to dust in the air and that millirem per hour I mentioned or 10 REM per year. If you're exposed to it for a year, those are external readings. If you breathe in a particle of plutonium, it's so much worse. If you ingest it through drinking or eating, it's so much worse. Once radioactivity is inside of you, one milligram per hour, 10 rum per year is an external dose, bad enough, but internally so much worse Libbe HaLevy 02:26:50 In terms of the safety at the site, power from the grid was launched on Wednesday, March nine and Trino switched to the backup generators, which then we learned only had a two day supply of diesel to run them as the I a E a said three day supply. Now apparently more diesel has been delivered and Russia claimed that power was being restored. But as of this morning, Monday, March 14th, we've learned Thatcher noble power lines have again been damaged. And now Belarus is trying to set up emergency power lines from their country. Two true noble. What does this say to you about the stability at the site? Kevin Kamps 02:27:29 Well, it's obviously a very unstable situation. Apparently these losses of power loss of the grid is due to fire fights in the area that are damaging the electrical transmission system. So it's very, you know, unstable. The only silver lining is that there's a lot of water in the pools. Apparently the water could be compensated for as it evaporates due to heating by the nuclear fuel stored in the pools. But this all is happening in an active war zone, right? So anything could happen at any time. All of this assurance that maybe we have weeks, maybe we have months before the pools would evaporate down to the tops of the nuclear fuel assemblies that all assumes that no other shoes drop that nothing else happens that a stray missile or a stray mortar or an intentional attack. We've seen intentional attacks on this appre nuclear power plant that none of that additional violence and damage happens. Kevin Kamps 02:28:28 That's the assumption. It's a very optimistic assumption. So it's a very dicey situation and don't take it from me, take it from the director general of the international aro energy agency and take it from the Ukrainian nuclear power industry who are raising major alarm bells. And these are O nuclear voices. And as many observers have pointed out, this is an unprecedented situation. Yes, the United States did bomb a research reactor in Iraq in the 1991 war, but the fuel had been removed, but it was a radioactive facility. So there was a radioactive release from that us attack in Iraq. And yes, as we bombed a larger sized commercial reactor in Iraq, but it was pre-op operational. There was no fuel. There was no radioactive contamination. Yet here we have open warfare, brutal open warfare in one of the most nuclearized electric grids in the world, 50% of Ukraine's electricity for a population of 44 million people comes from four operational nuclear power plants with 15 operational reactors, eight of which right now are operating, which is insane to be operating atomic reactors in a brutal war zone. Kevin Kamps 02:29:42 That is crazy because even if you shut an atomic reactor down, it takes days if not weeks to get that reactor cool enough that it's stable. That if you were to lose the grid and lose the diesels, you might still be okay, but they're operating at full power at, as we speak. And it's craziness because if they lose the grid and they lose the diesels, those reactor cores will melt down within hours or days. As we saw at Fukushima DII, that was due to an earthquake and a tsunami here, we have open warfare and apparently at Zappia in the south of Ukraine, the Russian military of attack, there was a very close call, even national public radio. A couple, three days ago now reported that was a much closer call than initial media reports indicated Libbe HaLevy 03:30:33 The attack took place on Zia on March 4th. And the initial response that was put out to the world was that it blew up and set a fire that destroyed some administrative and training building. But as you just stated, there was further damage and it was a much closer call. What do we know now about the damage that was done at that time? Kevin Kamps 03:30:56 Yeah, the national public radio coverage examined the security film footage from the security camera that the zap nuclear power plant itself had put out on YouTube in real time. And they examined several long hours of that footage and it showed the entire attack unfold. It was a column of Russian tanks, two Russian tanks followed by a half dozen or more armored personnel carriers. And the, the auxiliary buildings got hit. The training center got hit and severely damaged was on fire. But what did not get mentioned in the initial coverage? And that's what NPR analysis showed was there was active Russian fire at the nuclear power plant itself at the atomic reactors. One of the most scary parts for me, E because I focus on radioactive waste was that two shells hit the dry cast storage facility at Zappia for high level radioactive waste storage. So reportedly none of the containers were breached. Kevin Kamps 03:31:56 There weren't disastrous releases of radio activity. One of the possibilities, even with dry cast storage of high level radioactive waste is if you breach a container with an explosive, and that explosive happens to be hot enough and reaches the fuel. If you reach the ignition temperature of the zirconium metal cladding on the fuel rods, you can set it a fire and you can't put it out. It becomes an exothermic chemical reaction, like a sparkler and the fuel rods burn and all the way down and the container is breached. So those releases would be directly to the environment. And these are disastrous amounts, catastrophic amounts of radioactive waste. It would depend on how many containers get breached, how much the fuel goes up in flames. That's the dry cast storage, perhaps even more vulnerable of course, is operating reactor cores, indoor wet storage pools, which hold vast amounts of highly radioactive nuclear fuel. Kevin Kamps 03:32:53 And that was intentionally and directly attacked by the Russian military. And by sheer luck, perhaps apparently, I mean, one of the Ukrainian officials compared the Russian military behavior at Appia to monkeys with grenades, and there's some truth to that, that those Russian soldiers know that they were directly firing on atomic reactors. I mean, there are so many soft spots forget about the contained protecting the reactor itself. And in the case of Zappia some of the storage pools, what about all the soft spots? What about the electricity? And the electric grid was hit and there are still down power lines that Zappia on the film footage itself from the security camera. It showed the Russian military open fire hit the transmit and they're gone. So fortunately some of the transmission lines survived. The Russian military attack continued to provide electricity to the cooling and safety systems. Kevin Kamps 03:33:51 Appia that was sheer luck because they took some out. It's not like any of this was calculated or carefully done. In fact, NPR went out of its way to point out one moment in the attack where a Russian soldier out of one of those armored personnel carriers fired and explosive randomly at, I believe it was unit one, atomic reactor is appre. You're supposed to kneel down, take careful aim and hit what you're aiming at. He was standing up and kind of walking and just inspired at Willie nilly at the unit one, a tonic reactor. So monkeys with grenades and Sherlock perhaps is why we did not suffer Cher noble time, six that's how Ukrainian president Zelensky described the risk after the attack. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:37 There was an extremely alarming report that just showed a up right before we started this interview on March 14, there was a report that Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian troops of detonating ammunition at Ze, and in a statement Ukraine communication center, alleged that Russian forces blew up explosives next to the nuclear plant. And the authorities. We were waiting for a response from the international atomic energy agency going on in this report. They alleged that Russian forces plan to continue with explosions at the plant. The staff had fled and ergo Adam Ukraine, state nuclear energy company said that 11 representatives of were Russia's state atomic energy corporation, where at the nuclear plant, one of the explosions were reported. And it is obvious. The detonation of ammunition on the site of the station is carried out with their direct participation. So it turns out that Rosato is also involved in this terrorism. Again, this is a report that showed up maybe 15 minutes before we got on this call. What is your awareness of this? Kevin Kamps 03:35:48 Well, I have seen clear documentation of unexploded ordinance at Zappa, including Zappa and nuclear power plant workforce members taking video of an unexploded shell in a walkway that is adjacent to all six reactors. It was just laying on the floor. It had come through the ceiling of the elevated walkway. It was laying there. And then I believe there was an unexploded shell near the transformer yard at unit six. So yeah, there's unexploded ordinance. And I hope and pray that the Russian military and the Russian nuclear officials who are deployed to that site, rose atom, 11 members of the Russian nuclear directorate, so to speak. I hope that they're doing very controlled detonations of unexploded ordinance so that nobody gets hurt walking past when it sides to go off. But in the fog of war, who knows what's going on, and maybe there was more unexploded ordinance that we haven't even heard about yet at the site. Kevin Kamps 03:36:47 Again, the Russian military attacked the site intentionally and directly. I mean the international atomic energy agency, again, a very pronuclear institution has protested for the director. General Rossi has protested. Many of these developments that the Russian militaries is in control of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant that the workforce at Zappia is essentially being held hostage. At least when they're on shift, they are operating at gunpoint and have to take all orders. C come from the Russian military. All decisions are made by the Russian military and probably these Russian nuclear officials, which all of this violates I a E a what they call pillars of safety. None of this is okay. The lack of communication, the workforce is supposed to operate and do their jobs under no additional pressure except for their jobs themselves. And they're doing this at gunpoint with unexploded ordinance on the site with Deton nations taking place as we speak. So all of these are violations of IA E a standards, which to begin with are very lax. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:55 It seems that from the start Putin has been aiming at the nuclear and having a very strong game plan regarding the new, what do you think that that might be Kevin Kamps 03:38:09 There's various speculations. Some are that, well, the nukes were just in the way of the invading army and they took them because they could, and they're just taking territory and controlling it. But of course, you know, these are nuclear power plants. We've, we've talked about the catastrophic risks located there. So another speculation on the other end of the spectrum is that Putin and the Russian military are essentially holding Ukraine and even the rest of Europe and the Northern hemisphere hostage, so to speak, it's like nuclear blackmail. Either. You let us do what we wanna do, or, you know, we could blow this whole place up if we wanted to. What's ironic about that. Speculation is of course, Russia itself is down wind of all of this. And not very far away Zappia is like a hundred miles from the Russian border. But when did Putin care about the Russian people? Right? So what does he care? You know, his claim is that the entire invasion of Ukraine is to protect Russian speakers and even Russian nationals in Ukraine. Well, car keys, the city that he is, as we speak and attacking maternity wards and killing pregnant women and their babies, that's his supposed justification for the invasion is to protect Russian speakers while he's killing them, you know, directly intentionally civilians. So who knows what he's up to, who knows what he has planned, but it's unprecedented to put it very mildly. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:39 There are now reports that Russia is planning a false flag operation at Tru noble to blow it up, but to put the blame on Ukraine. And there has even been a media echo chamber claiming that Russia is stockpiling the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers at tri noble, to be able to pose them as saboteurs. How likely is this that Russia would intentionally damage the containment structure at the world's worst nuclear accident? Kevin Kamps 04:40:08 It's hard to know what Putin and his military are capable of. I mean, just look at Syria. I mean, the attacking of hospitals intentionally between the Syrian dictatorship and its Russian allies, chemical weapons use took place there that again, they tried to muddy the waters and say, no, it was ISIS did that, except that, you know, it was civilians who were dying and very likely it was the Syrian military that did it. Chenia, you know, know Putin verbalized the capital city of Chenia. That was one of his early career moves as leader of Russia, or soon to be leader of Russia. So who knows what he's capable of? It's just so ironic because Ukraine and Russia of course are very close and Putin himself is even said that Ukraine is Russia. And it's the core of our identity is Russians going back in history. So who knows what he's capable of? It's all very scary. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:06 What does this situation say about the quote unquote safety of nuclear reactors around the world and the current push to put small modular nuclear reactors everywhere under the umbrella, nukes are green and the solution to climate change. Kevin Kamps 04:41:25 There have been analysts like Bennett Ram who wrote a book called nuclear power plants as weapons for the enemy. He wrote that in the mid 1980s, during the cold war before Trenoble had happened. So it's been known that nuclear power plants, whether accidentally through misfired, explosives, or intentionally as intentional targets of military attack, what they essentially represent is dirty bombs on your domestic territory. So if they get blown up, no matter how they get blown up or meltdown, no matter how they melt down, these are gigantic dirty bombs that have been preyed throughout your domestic territory. And at a time of war, that's a pretty bad idea to have those preyed nuclear, dirty bombs, radiological bombs deployed throughout your territory. And there's few places on earth where that's more concentrated than in Ukraine where you still to this day, all these decades after Cherno, you still have 15 operational atomic reactors and all of the high level radioactive waste that they generate year after year. And it's a sign of the insanity of the situation that nine of those reactors are still operating. As we speak eight of them. I'm sorry, with open warfare happening all around. How many radioactive bullets can we, Dodge is the question. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:48 This is a moment when the whole world is aware of the nuclear dangers in Ukraine. How might those as of us who have been opposing nuclear for years, if not decades leverage this awareness to a genuine known nukes future. I mean, if we survive this, it seems like a teachable moment. So how do we use this to bark and inspire and motivate and international movement against nuclear reactors and nuclear bomb? Kevin Kamps 04:43:17 Well, I think of what happened in the immediate aftermath of the beginning of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe 11 years ago, almost to the day I added up all of the media interactions I had in the two weeks after Fukushima began. And it was 125 media interactions I had, they weren't all interviews, but a lot of them were. And essentially that was more media attention that I got myself personally than I had in the previous 20 years. Right? Because there's this mainstream media denial and we don't care. We're not interested, nothing to see here about nuclear power and radioactive waste. Then Fukushima began. And all of a sudden reporters who I'd been trying to get their attention literally for 20 years in some cases wanted to talk to me. So what we have to do as a movement is to take every single media request that comes our way and try to generate more and try to teach the media and the public and even our own elected officials and appointed officials the truth about the risks of nuclear power and radioactive waste. Kevin Kamps 04:44:21 And one of those officials I'll name by name by name is Jennifer GRA home energy secretary in the Biden administration who the next day after Z APPA was attacked said, oh, there's really nothing to worry about. The containment structures are so robust at Zappia. There's really nothing to worry about. And then her deputy, the director of the national nuclear security administration, which is the nuclear weapons arsenal, and it's complex in this country, her name is hubby. She went so far as to on CNN that actually nuclear power plants are designed to withstand shelling. And that was a lie that was either she's really ignorant about the design of nuclear power plants, or she was lying to the American people on CNN. I'm not sure which is worse actually for such a high level official is that. So we need to educate people that this tiny planet we inhabit is too fragile for operating atomic reactors and high level radioactive waste storage. We need to stop doing it because one of these days, we're not gonna Dodge the bullet. And we've already seen at three mile island and turn and Fukushima. Sometimes you don't Dodge the bullet. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:32 Is there anything you'd like to add that we haven't had a chance to cover? Kevin Kamps 04:45:36 Well, there have been nuclear facilities that have been significantly damaged. We've mentioned Zappia, but there's a place called neutron source in car. Keve that's been hit not once, but twice by Russian munitions. And again, the I a E a being such a pro nuclear institution and so ready to downplay risks. Most of the time it's been pointed out that it's been difficult for the IA EA director to speak about what's going on in Ukraine, because they have more than half century of practice downplaying the risks they downplayed Cherno in real time, I Han BLIS who was the director at the time downplayed the significance of Cherno. And we know that was a very big lie in the aftermath of Cher noble. Well, the current director gross is having trouble even speaking about the risks, but he is raising alarm bells that shows how serious the situation is. Kevin Kamps 04:46:31 But one risk that they have downplayed in real time is at this neutron source facility in car Keve that's been hit twice. They've said, oh, there's so little radio activity on site. That even if it were to be released, it wouldn't be a big deal. Well, they have a atomic reactor on site. They have a radiated nuclear fuel on site. They have nuclear neutron sources on site. This is radioactive inventory that know if it were to blow up and burn, that would not be a small radio activity release. That would be a very large radio activity release. And then another similar facility I believe, or at least a low level radioactive waste storage facility in Kiev has also been very closely hit. I think a transformer got hit there. So, so these are minored by comparison to what has happened at the nuclear power plants, but the next nuclear plant, there's three more. Kevin Kamps 04:47:20 We haven't even talked about. There's the south Ukraine nuclear power plant near the city of Michel. And if folks wanna learn more about that, there's a great documentary film called God's river. The name of the river, there is God's river at the south Ukraine, nuclear power plant three reactors. That's the next one in line for the Russian military to try to take over. And then in the Northwest of the country, you have the RNA and the mal Nitsky nuclear power plant, several more reactors. So what we seen thus far may be repeated at these other three nuclear power plants, Libbe HaLevy 04:47:54 A personal question under this kind of ongoing pressure with all things, you know, what do you do to help yourself keep going Kevin Kamps 04:48:03 Right now? I'm wearing for good luck. My Cherno children's project Ireland sweatshirt from 20 plus years ago, my ex-wife Gabriela, who is the film maker of that documentary. I mentioned God's river. She lived in Lia for a year or two on a Fulbright back in 2019. She came back from Belarus because the Irish TNO children's project focuses on helping and Belarus. She came back from a medical aid delivery there where she was doing futon with the sweatshirt that she gave me. So I've been wearing this sweatshirt a lot at the white house demos against the war, where a few weeks ago, there were a couple, 3000, mostly Ukrainians, but also LA and also bell Russians, and also Georgian and the occasional American. And I've been wearing it at the anti-war protest. There are so many good people in Ukraine and even Russia and even Belarus. Kevin Kamps 04:48:55 One of the signs at the white house that really moved me was a little girl on her dad's shoulders that said, I love Belarus, but I hat its government. And I couldn't agree more with that sentiment. So just remembering all the good people who've done so much good work to try to help the children of Cherno and all the children of Cher noble, including adults, just the millions of people who have suffered for the past three plus decades from the first Cherno disaster. And let's just hope and pray that there are no more Ukrainian nuclear disasters, Libbe HaLevy 04:49:26 Kevin camps, you have been doing phenomenal work all of this, not only for years, but especially in the past two weeks. And we will turn to you again as a source for information on this time permitting. Kevin Kamps 04:49:42 Yeah, that'd be great. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:43 And I wanna thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hote. Kevin Kamps 04:49:47 Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:49 That was Kevin camps. He is nuclear waste specialist at beyond nuclear. And if you haven't yet signed up for their newsletter, you need to do so@beyondnuclear.org. Since we recorded that interview power has again been restored at Cher, noble and remains on as of the time this episode is being recorded. We do not however know whether that power is coming from a restored grid connection within Ukraine or from some Jilt extension cords running from Belarus. We will, of course, keep close watch on what's happening in Ukraine because in nuclear terms, there is no greater threat on the planet. DIA nuke.org, which stands for dialogue on nukes has been putting together a great informative series of zoom ours, and just did the second DIA online conversation in entitled nuclear power in the battlefield ongoing concerns at Tru noble Zappia and beyond one of the speakers on that March 12th call was Dr. Gordon Edwards of Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility, CC N r.org. Here is a brief excerpt from what he said. Dr. Gordon Edwards 05:51:05 This is a question where I think that every nuclear establishment in the world in different countries, we in Canada here, for example, our regulator and our government should be speaking out very loudly against this aspect of breaking the UN charter through what they're doing in the nuclear domain. So we can, all of us work with our governments best, or our governments and our nuclear regulators in our own countries to be very open and in denouncing the breaking of the UN charter and the breaking of the statute of the I a E a by the Russian military and Ross Adam, for that matter, because we've got to break through this idea that they're all buddy, buddy, and they're all come be chummy, and they all defend each other. This is what happens in the nuclear world. Is that any nuclear industry, anywhere in the world that is caught doing something illegal or wrong, tends to be supported by the other nuclear industries around the world. Dr. Gordon Edwards 05:52:04 We've gotta break through this clubby atmosphere. I think I just wanna also can other point this insane rush to build thousands of small modular reactors and put them all over the world. You should think about how dangerous this will be for the future, because it has been Warren time and time. Again, even years ago, back in 1972, Nobel prize, winning Swedish physicists on it wrote that nuclear power is safe only if everything is done right. And if there is no military conflicts, not even conventional ones where the nuclear reactors are located and no act of God is permitted. We have to take these words. Seriously. These are not idle comments. These are very serious comments. If we were to scatter small modular reactors all over the world, then wars are and civil strife and terrorist attacks are going to continue. And these are going to become targets, and they're gonna be much easier targets than the great big reactors that we see now, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:08 Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian call for nuclear responsibility@ccnr.org, we will have a link up to the full Dinu discussion moderated by Kumar Syron, which also included Dr. Olga Khama nuclear and safety expert for the Ukrainian nuclear society in Keve and Dr. Andre oof scheme, a Russian physicist and an independent expert on nuclear matters. And one final note, there have been many statements being made by nuclear apologi, making its way onto of mainstream media. I bring your attention to us energy secretary, Jennifer GRA home. She has gone on record in the media saying that reactors in Ukraine quote are protected by robust containment structures and reactors are being safely shut down and quote, that gives the false impress. That all is well with Ukraine's S Nokes. And as you've heard on this program, that is not the case to understand just how misinformed ignorant or compromise Ms. Grand home statement is. I direct your attention to last week's nuclear hot seat, number 5 59, which featured a Ukraine nuclear update with nuclear engineer. AIE Gerson of fair winds, energy education, fair winds.org with great clarity and specificity. Ana makes the point that multiple vulnerabilities exist at zap nuclear reactors. And that containment is not the issue. The water intake system is you can listen to him on nuclear hot seat, number five fifty9@nuclearhotseat.com, Announcer 05:54:55 Activists, activist, shout, shout, shout, Libbe HaLevy 05:55:03 You and I. And everyone are invited to join the for nuclear accountability and nuclear information and resource service as they honor. And we honor Bob Alvarez with a lifetime achievement award. This will take place on Saturday, March 19th, 2022 at 3:00 PM to four 30 Eastern time, which is noon to two 30 Pacific time zone. Sorry I'm being US-centric here. The groups are collecting stories and gratitude for Bob for his decades of crucial work on nuclear issues. It's going to be on kudo board, not a platform I'm familiar with, but we will link to it. And preference is for videos, but you can also post photos and write messages. If you're not familiar with Bob, he is a senior scholar at the Institute for policy studies, where he is currently focused on nuclear disarmament, environmental and energy policies. His involvement with nuclear issues includes working for Congressman John Glenn, helping to protections for native American uranium miners and working with his late wife, kitty Tucker on the Karen Silkwood case, his full biography is far too extensive to go into here, but we will link to it at nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:25 And if you can join in the celebration, this truly is a man who deserves every acknowledgement we can give him. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 15th, 2022. If you'd like to get nuclear hot seat delivered via email each week. So you never miss a single episode. You can sign up@nuclearhotseat.com. Look for the yellow box, put in your first name and your email address. You'll receive a link to the latest show. Plus a short description of what's in there. You can also sign up on your podcast platform of choice. If you have a storyline, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, please send an email to info nuclear hotseat.com. We can always be reached there. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, such as this one, go to nuclear hotseat.com. Look, the red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do to help will really help. And we will appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 libe Hala and artistry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use aloud. That means that you can quote me or my guests just cite me and my guest by name and credit nuclear hot seat. And my guest organizations. This is libi Hal of heart history, communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as Albert Einstein said, the unleashed power of the atom has changed everything. Save our modes of thinking and thus, we drift towards unparalleled catastrophe. Libbe HaLevy 05:58:16 There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:27 New clear, hot seat. What are those people thinking? New clear, hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? New hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking hot seat. It's de. ### NH #559: Nuclear Ukraine UPDATE – Gundersen + SPECIAL: VOICES FROM JAPAN – Fukushima 11 th Anniversary URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-559-nuclear-ukraine-update-gundersen-special-voices-from-japan-fukushima-11-th-anniversary/ Published: 2022-03-14 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Ukraine UPDATE: Arnie Gundersen is a nuclear engineer, a licensed nuclear reactor operator and expert witness, as well as the Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Associates. Nuclear Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactors first shelled, then captured by Russians.  Pumping stations are #4; reactors are at #3; building that got hit and burned is #15. FUKUSHIMA 11 th ANNIVERSARY Voices from Japan SPECIAL Our annual report on Fukushima, with reports direct from Japan, focusing on the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, featuring: Yuji Kaneko, Nuclear Hotseat Voices from Japan Special Japan CorrespondentBeverly Findlay-Kaneko Nuclear Hotseat Voices from Japan Co-Producer, Editor and Translator.Ryan Kaneko, English narration and engineering for Yuji Kaneko’s travel diary.Aki Tabei, voiceover talent for Woman in Museum Compare and Contrast the “official” photo from the museum with pictures from Fukushima: Sterile representation of the horrors of Fukushima’s nuclear disaster at the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum – Japanese pro-nuclear public relations propaganda at its most obscene. Photo supplied by Great East Japan Earthquake and National Disaster Memorial Museum. In the foreground, radioactive tsunami debris still dots the landscape in Futaba. In the background, brand new Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. Copyright Yuji Kaneko 2021. Radioactive tsunami debris can still be found in many places in Futaba in the vicinity of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. Copyright Yuji Kaneko 2021. Processing of radioactive debris from across Fukushima Prefecture takes place nearby the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum. Photo taken from the roof of the building next door to the museum. Beyond the tree-covered hills lies the wreckage of Fukushima Daiichi. Copyright Yuji Kaneko 2021. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Ukraine in a Russian war zone. We'll have an update from nuclear engineer, a Gerson with the latest information. Plus the Fukushima 11th anniversary. Voices from Japan special all on this week's Announcer 00:00:17 Nuclear hot sea it's bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:24 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi hall levy. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island us one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. Today is Tuesday, March 8th, 2022. And this week for the second week in a row, we again do away with our usual formatting to have time for two special reports. Voices from our annual Fukushima anniversary, special program will be up shortly, but first an update on the Ukraine nuclear situation with AIE Gerson. He is a licensed nuclear reactor operator and chief engineer at fair winds energy education. We spoke on Sunday, March 6th, 2022. You Aney Gerson. I'm grateful to have you back on nuclear hotseat this week. Arnie Gunderson 00:01:28 Well, thanks for having me. It's kind of a terrible topic to have to talk about, but I'm glad you're doing it. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:34 We are talking on Sunday, March 6th. What do we know about the current situation of the nuclear reactors in Ukraine? Arnie Gunderson 00:01:42 Of course there was Cherno which we discussed last week and the Russians continuing control of that. And most of the staff has not been allowed to leave. You know, it's, it sort of reminds me during Fukushima, the, the staff slept in the hallways and things like that, cuz there was no place and it's it. One it's demoralizing into it's incredible difficult to be productive, but nothing really has changed at Cherno that the other nuclear units, they have a, a six unit site, which has been captured by the Russians. And it it's unfortunate because they actually used military weapons on the buildings. There was a photograph on the net that showed a fire and, and likely that was a transformer fire. I don't know for sure, but they're spectacular, but they're not safety related. And about once or twice a year, a nuclear plant has, has a fire like that. Arnie Gunderson 00:02:40 And nationwide coal plants have 'em too their dramatic, but they're not safety related. However, today, Sunday I did understand that the report came in and said that the containment building on one of the reactors had been hit and damaged. Now the nuclear industry will say the containments is robust. And in fact it is, it's probably three feet thick and it's sort of dome shaped, but I, I submit to you that that's the wrong place to look. The containment is the outermost bear area that holds the nuclear radiation inside, inside the containment as a reactor, which is a giant pressure cooker. It's got eight, eight inch thick walls. It's identical to a pressure cooker. And the fuel is inside that in the reactor. So the containment holds the, and the fuel sits inside that so that it was shelled. It's unlikely that one or two shells would break the containment and break the reactor. Arnie Gunderson 00:03:51 But that's absolutely irrelevant. The problem is that the nuclear industry is trying to use this as an opportunity to say how robust their power plants are. What really happens in an nuclear plant is that they're cooled by water from in this case, the nearby river though, there's a pump house at the river that pumps cooling water into the reactor when it shuts down. And without that cooling more order, the nuclear chain reaction may have stopped, but this radioactive rubble that's left behind continues to generate lots of heat and it has to be cool. So the pump house contains the emergency service water pumps, and they have to be on to cool the nuclear, the rub from the nuclear chain reaction and also to provide cooling for the emergency diesels, which have a water pump if that were hit. And that's not a robust building, like a containment, there would be a meltdown and there would be a containment for each. Arnie Gunderson 00:04:59 And we have to look no further than Fukushima that containment itself at Fukushima survived the earthquake in the tsunami, but the tsunami wiped out the cooling pumps along the ocean and created what the technical term in the nuclear industry is. The loss of the ultimate. He, the key is ultimate. It's the place where you dump the heat from the nuclear chain reaction. It's a also called the Lewis for the abbreviation L O U H S but in any event, it's the pump house. And if it were attacked by the Russians, we'd have a meltdown and a containment failure. So don't believe the nuclear industry when they tell you that their plan is so robust, it can withstand and attack Libbe HaLevy 00:05:45 At Zio, which is the six reactor facility. Is there a single pump house or is there one for each of the six reactors? Arnie Gunderson 00:05:58 They're six separate pump houses and they're like an industrial building. They're, they're, they're strong, but they are not the four feet or three feet thick concrete that the nuclear containments are and they draw river water. And if there's no water your to Libbe HaLevy 00:06:17 With Russia trolling the six reactors at Appia and restricting the staff under their command, according to tweets by ed Leman of UCS and other sources, Russia has issued the statement that measures related to the technical operation of the six reactor units must be approved ahead of time by the Russian commander. What does this mean in terms of the staff being able to respond in an emergency situation? Arnie Gunderson 00:06:44 It's awful. The staff has to respond quickly and if there's just one more person in a chain of command that slows down response times. Now on top of that, the Russian commander knows absolutely nothing about how to run a, a power plant. And it's not like you can import the talent from Russia because every plant's different so that the, the net effect is it's going to add an excess step in the loop. You know, it's, it's intimidating to have armed Russians in your power plant. Back in the 1999, I was, I was in a Russian reactor at the Timlin reactor in Czech Republic. The owner really didn't want us in, but there was a lot of political pressure to get us, take a look at it. And they, they made me S strip down and put on some overalls and go into the plant. And then they followed me with four guys with AK 40 sevens. And I'll tell you, you know, it's, it's an intimidating thing to have a, a guy following you with a fully automatic rifle. And these people in Ukraine have, you know, Russian guards everywhere. So it's frightening demoralizing. And you know, when you're frightened, you're not at your peak. So it concerns me very much that that Russian soldiers are inside the plant trying to dictate what these people should be doing. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:09 And these people are stressed and overworked and they haven't had a break since the war broke out. Is that accurate? Arnie Gunderson 00:08:15 You know, and they can't get out to leave for shift changes, right? But they also can't get out to, you know, call your wife or call your family. How are you doing honey? Cell phone calls have also been excluded. So you're inside the plant and you've got absolutely no idea how your family is faring on the outside. That's just one more stress. And again, people don't behave well in stressful situations. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:40 There are reports that Russian war games are including examination of the tactical use of atomic bombs. What can you tell us about that? Arnie Gunderson 00:08:50 Every year, the Russians have a massive exercise to test their readiness for what they'll consider Western aggression. And as part of those exercises, the exercises are called translate over as west. So these west exercises always have a component where they deter the aggressor us by tactical nuclear weapons. So it's always in the military dictums of the Russian military that small nuclear weapons are an acceptable battlefield deterrent. And, and that concerns me just as a human being, using a nuclear warhead, probably even a tactical one has as much explosive force as every mom we dropped in Germany in 1945. So you're talking about a significant explosion, radiation being spread throughout Europe. And it just seems to me to be absolutely unacceptable. And I, I would hope that the Russians don't consider it. Of course, we know that Putin has put his nuclear forces on alert. So it's a card he's keeping on the table, but I, I certainly hope that he doesn't use it because it would be devastating and likely cause retaliation as well, that he, it's not a place. I hope we go. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:19 And for clarity, what's the difference between a tactical nuclear weapon and any other kind of nuclear weapon? Arnie Gunderson 01:10:28 Well, they both explode the same way a tactical weapon would have less plutonium or less uranium in it. So the explosion would be smaller. The United States had tans that fired anatomic bombshell, and they would lo it, you know, 20 miles away. And we had nuclear howitzers that would shoot a shell nuclear Bacas. So it's not something that the America's unaware. We, we have experiment, it was them in the past, but it's not part of our normal military dictum to escalate to the point of needing a nuclear weapon to turn the tide battle, but both sides have 'em. And unfortunately, Russia, one is on alert and two has trained and is prepared to use them in the event that the battle doesn't go the way they want it to, you know, the, the bomb that was dropped Nagasaki were around 15 kilo, tons of 15,000 tons of T and T of, of explosives. And these would probably be only one killer ton there, enormous and in, and much more massive than any other conventional explosion. So it would be devastating the troops on its ground or communities if they were used against communities. And then of course it would spread radiation all over Europe as well. Likely. We'd pick it up here in the states in about a week. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:58 There's one other issue that's come up in all of this. What is happening regarding Russia's supply of uranium to the United States, Arnie Gunderson 01:12:08 About 15% of the uranium that ultimately is inside a of American nuclear reactors comes from Russia. It, it starts life in Russia as yellow cake, which is the, or that ultimately has to be enriched. So Russia ships us this raw, or, and we use about 15% for our power reactors. Now, now that's not a big number, but the American nuclear industry is actually lobbying against the Russians being sanctioned. They want this 15% of the Russian nor to keep their costs down, which to me is not very patriotic. If you wanna issue sanctions against the Russians, it's gotta be across the board. They can't and play favorites with the American nuclear industry. So that's a drop in the bucket. Really. 85% of the uranium is from other sources and about three or four years is already here. So it's not like anything will hit us soon, even if we couldn't replace it. Arnie Gunderson 01:13:12 But the other thing that the Russians provide is enriched uranium for bill gates, sodium cold reactor. This it's called high assay, low enrichment uranium halo, and the halo fuel has to come from Russia. They're the ones who can enrich uranium to now ninth or 19 5%. So bill Gates's reactor, which he's proposing to a company called natrium is relying on Russian, not just uranium, but Russian enrichment to power his new reactor. And to me, first off, the natrium reactor is Dave's I've written and counterpoint in the past, but on top of that, we're relying on Russia, the American nuclear industry's responses that the government should spend 10 billion building our own enrichment capability. So we can enrich bill gates' uranium forum. And, you know, here's the most wealthy man in the world asking for yet another government subsidy. It just doesn't make any sense. So we talked about this last week that this war talks about the world's reliance on fossil fuels and on Russian uranium. And this is just one more example of how we've gotta wean ourselves from this and get back to renewables. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:42 Anything else you'd like to add? Arnie Gunderson 01:14:44 I hope not. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:45 AIE Gunderson a fair winds, energy education@fairwinds.org, fair wind, spelled F a I R E wins.org. We will also post a link to last week's show, episode number 5 58, which included AIE journalist, Carl Grossman and Dave craft of nuclear energy information service in Chicago. Talking about the many aspects of what's going on. Ukraine. We'll continue with nuclear hot seats, annual voices from Japan Fukushima anniversary program in just a moment. But first mainstream media sure has a short attention span. And while they continue to cover Ukraine, their story has moved on from nuclear matters. That was so three days ago. Now they're focusing on other angles, but not here at nuclear hot seat. Even when people don't pay attention to nuclear dangers, we know they continue to exist and will for tens of thousands of years, nuclear does not go away. And with the current dangers in Ukraine, as well as the ongo aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, we have just two examples of the pain, danger, health threats, and worse that we face from this deadly technology. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:03 It is the definition of madness. If you ever had any doubts as to why nuclear hot seat needs to be here for you this episode, as those last weeks and the ones coming up should put those thoughts to rest be it, the ongoing aftermath of Fuku Shima or the possible nuclear disaster facing us in Ukraine. There is no more urgent story on earth right now, and let's face it without nuclear hot seat. You would at best, only no bits and of these nuclear dangers, not the big picture and how it all fits together. So if you've ever thought about donating to nuclear, hotseat the time to do so would be right now, go to nuclear hotseat.com, click on the red donate button and know that any amount will help. You can also set up a sustaining donation, the equivalent of, of a cup of coffee for $5 a month help us. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:58 So we can help you to understand the nuclear issues in Ukraine, Fukushima, and beyond, and know that whatever you do to help I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now for our annual special report. Voices from Japan, Fukushima is 11th anniversary on March 11th, 2011, the 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that led to a meltdown of three nuclear reactors at Fukushima DII. This year, we focus on Japan's ongoing propaganda efforts to convince people that Fukushima is seriously handled over safe to return to and more you'll hear first from UJI Conco, nuclear, hot seats, voices from Japan, special Japan correspondent UJI focuses on the great east Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster Memorial museum, which he visited in 2021. His words were translated by Beverly Finlay Conaco. And I read by Ryan Conaco Ryan Kaneko 01:18:02 On November 17th, 2020. I visited the new great east Japan earth in nuclear disaster Memorial museum. It is an archive facility documenting the nuclear accident. It opened on September, 2020 near the shoreline. Inba. This is an area that underwent catastrophic damage during the tsunami and nuclear accident. When I saw the building, I was suddenly overcome with a leaf barely a year before I had traveled here for nuclear hot seat with Tobo reporter Tama, we went so we could see Fukushima dichi from the beach. The entire area was a construction zone. And I couldn't tell you how much progress had been made on the nuclear disaster museum, but I'm pretty sure it was nowhere near completion. The town had been washed away in the tsunami and mountains of contaminated soil, scraped from the ground, dotted the landscape here and there sat abandoned homes. There wasn't anyone around saved for the occasional worker trucks, carting loads of contaminated material traveled to and fro leaving clouds of dust in their wake, the work of stacking black bags, full of radioactive soil piles, reminiscent of the Mexican pyramids trudged on the ocean breeze blew past us across the desolate scene. Ryan Kaneko 01:19:26 That's what I remember from a year ago, but now in 2021, just year after my visit a building of the likes of the nuclear disaster museum, which cost a whopping 5.3 billion yen or 51 million was complete and welcoming many visitors. If I wasn't surprised by this, I don't think there's anything that could surprise me. The burning question is why there would be a facility here of all places welcoming the average person to get here. You have to go through areas of extremely high radiation, risking exposure. You can get there by taking the train to the bus station and ride a shuttle bus to the museum, or you can drive your own car, but you'll still have to travel through area of high radio activity along the way. There's dull colored fencing to keep trespass from crossing over into the difficult to return zone. Beyond that, all you can see is decaying buildings in ravaged farmland. Ryan Kaneko 02:20:26 There are no people. If you jump the fence, your Geiger counter would be sure to start beeping. This sea is rarely shown on television. So if you are a visitor that doesn't know much about the nuclear accident, your eyes are certain to pop outta your head. The brutal landscape outside your windshield will tell you a lot more about the harm cause by a nuclear accident than anything in the great east Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster Memorial museum, where you are headed. I won't go as far as to say, you'd be better off making a U-turn and not visiting the museum at all. This is because it's important for you to see for yourself what exactly the national and prefe government's want you to know. Before I talk about what's inside the museum, let me tell you about where it's built. It's just four kilometers or less than two miles from Fukushima DII. Ryan Kaneko 02:21:19 The destroyed reactor cores are still spewing radiation into the environment and the workers there are engaging in an unprecedented endang is decommissioning operation. It's so dangerous that one false move could trigger a huge accident. It's not an exaggeration to say that the workers are risking their lives to do this job. I just can't believe that just a couple of miles away from this is a museum that anyone can visit right next door to nuclear disaster museum is theba industrial relations center. You can climb up to the roof there and get a view of the area surrounding the museum in 2020 Yama. And I had a really hard time getting a good view of the exhaust stack at the Fukushima DII. But in 2021, you got a perfect view. It's impressive, but unsettling. Actually the risky business of dismantling the exhaust stack was completed later in 2021, which is nothing short of a miracle, a mile or so south of the museum, there is a forest and some Hills beyond that since the wreckage of Fukushima dichi in, in front of the forest, there are mountains of radioactive debris filled plastic bags, waiting to be ripped, open and processed in adjacent buildings. Ryan Kaneko 02:22:38 The debris is separated into waste. That will be incinerated and things that will be buried. It seems strange that this kind of operation is going on so close to a museum. It failed in the face of common sense to have a facility that deals with nuclear waste. So close to a place where people gather even. So the dizzying number of bags I saw stacked up here in 2020 have been whitled down to about 20 to 30% of what they were before. It shows the staggering speed of the work that has been done. The rush was because of the Olympics, former prime minister, Abe wanted decontamination and infrastructure completed as a public relations strategy. So he could boast about recovery, but still bags full of radioactive soil and debris keep arriving at the facility and the incinerators continue burning the rubble opera around in the clock until March, 2018, 16 million cubic meters of soil and debris had been collected. Ryan Kaneko 02:23:37 This is enough to fill 6,400 Olympic size swimming pools. In the end, the job is still not finished. There is no way they could have finished in 10 years. As ABA had promised from a top to industrial relations center, looking across 500 meters in every direction, the ground has been leveled and you can see the ocean beyond the national perfect and local governments are planning a huge reconstruction Memorial park for the area. Let's turn our focus to the nuclear disaster museum itself. More than anything. There is one basic fact that we must keep in mind. Namely, the nuclear accident was not a natural disaster. It was a manmade disaster caused by the government and TECO who bear legal responsibility has been born by several lawsuits, awarding compensation for harm caused by the accident before the earthquake occurred. TECO was warned that approximately 8.2 magnitude earthquake off the shore of Fukushima was overdue. Ryan Kaneko 02:24:40 TECO did not want to spend billions of yen shutting down the reactors and upgrading safety measures. So the, they ignored the warning, which resulted in the accident on September 30th, 2020, the high court and Sendai found Tipco and the government responsible for the accident. For this reason, we must remember this fact as for the nuclear disaster museum, frankly, its overall exhibits and methods of display don't deserve any special attention. There were very few items on display. The rubble street signs and mailboxes exhibited were free of mud and dust and did not give any sense of reality that they'd come from a disaster scene. The workers' protective clothing and plastic bags used for decontamination were brand new and were arranged like a department store display. The didn't give any sense of the power of an earthquake disaster or the terror of a nuclear accident and missed the mark in communicating anything emotional yet, right nearby the nuclear disaster museum. Ryan Kaneko 02:25:39 The desperation caused by the accident is on full display and the ruins in debris still littering the area, the exhibits inside the museum was dry and dull as old TEAC cups on the dusty shelf in the countryside museum. The contrast between what's outside the museum and what's inside is disappointing. It's not to say that things exhibited were so bad. It's just the way that they were being displayed was too boring. If you were serious about communicating the horror of an earth quake and subsequent nuclear disaster, then this is not the way you should go about it. Wouldn't it be better to get rid of the showcases and come up with an exhibit that is realistic and interactive that gives the visitor some sense of the scale and emotion of the disaster. Something along the lines of the Okinawa or hero of peace Memorial museums would be a big improvement. Ryan Kaneko 02:26:30 They could bring actual radioactive rubble into the museum and safely display that there could be a whole room devoted to an interactive installation and it shouldn't be impossible to exhibit it safely. Visitors could look through glass like an aquarium, perhaps they could experience the museum wearing protective gear. There needs to be some creative thought put into it, how to communicate the severity of the accident as it is. I wonder where the 5.3 billion end to build this museum went. It makes me think the money went into someone's pocket. The day difficult to return zones will eventually be decontaminated and cleared of rubble and abandoned buildings. For that reason alone, it's important to have a realistic archive facility. This museum has to improve. If it's going to preserve the historical truth, the real problem isn't with the nuclear disaster museum itself, but rather the fundamental posture behind the museum. Ryan Kaneko 02:27:24 There are three parts to this posture. One, the nuclear accident and recovery records and lessons to pass on to the future and share with the world two, using the lessons and experience unique to the Fukushima accident, disaster prevention and mitigation three cooperating with individual jewels in groups that can attract people to Fukushima, regenerating, local communities, culture and tradition, nurturing human resources that can contribute to the acceleration of recovery. These are lofty goals, but looking at the records, testimonies and information on display in the museum, I started to feel uncomfortable. The, there are no records or explanations describing who is responsible for the accident. As I mentioned earlier, this accident was manmade. A fact that was affirmed in the court of law, but there is no mention of it anywhere in the museum. If we are going to pass any lessons about nuclear disaster to future generations, then we need to take a hard look at the responsibility of politicians and industry. Ryan Kaneko 02:28:28 It seems like that important question is forbidden in the nuclear disaster museum. There's a space in the museum where victims can relate their experiences much like the Holocaust museum here in Los Angeles. However, the victims are asked not to criticize or slander individual and organizations, which probably means TECO and the government. Apparently there are more than a few people who have been angry that they can't freely express their feelings about their experiences in this space. The Abu newspaper wrote about this and it caused quite a stir. There was a huge amount of criticism against the nuclear disaster museum and governor of Fukushima prefecture for their unreasonable stance. Apparently they did make some effort to improve the museum later in 2021. But I spoke with photojournalist Shida on the phone recently. Hi, visited the museum in late 2021 and said it had barely changed at all. Ryan Kaneko 02:29:24 Let me talk about the former mayor of daba. Cut stuck for a moment. We featured him on nuclear hot seat a few years ago and I went to visit him again in early 2021. Futaba is the town where the nuclear disaster museum is located when he signed off on the construction of Fukushima DII, the government in TECO, guaranteed that it would be absolutely safe and never break down. But the result was three reactors exploding and melting down. And when there was an accident evacuation measures that had been promised by the government failed to work properly and people were unnecessarily exposed to excess radiation. Mayor Al went through an unimaginable battle, trying to evacuate his townspeople to a safe place. He's one of a handful of people that has a unique and valuable experience to share with others. But having someone like mayor Al relate his experiences at the nuclear disaster museum would never be a loud. Ryan Kaneko 03:30:22 This is because for the past 10 years, Mary Igawa has fought to have the government in TECO take responsibility for the accident. Is it right to have a nuclear accident museum that passes on biased lessons and reflections about the nuclear accident to feature generations? We need to think long and hard about why the government is spending taxpayer money on a facility with such unreasonable rules. While I was at the museum, I noticed a woman looking at the exhibits carefully and taking notes on my way out. I met her in the lobby and asked her a few questions. She told me she was on her way to visit her grandmother in FIMA city. She wanted to see the damage from accident with her own eyes and decided to stop at the museum. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:07 What follows is a translation of what that museum visitor had to say. I am voicing U G KACO's questions and comments, and her words are being spoken by AKI TA. What is your impression of reconstruction and recovery of the a region? Aki Tabei 03:31:24 I don't think you can call it recovery. What is meant by recovery? Anyway, the optimistic image that comes to my mind is people returning and setting down roots and reinvigorating the town. Again, the picture I've been getting from the disaster zone, doesn't mesh with that. Me of recovery at all. The newly reopened areas that I visited have had all of the damaged houses removed. The ground has been leveled and streets have been reaped, but I didn't see a single person. There is no one there and no sign of life. The only thing that remains is a vast emptiness. I was overcome with sadness when I saw crumbling, abandoned homes and neighborhood parks that are buried under ways that no one is around to cut back Libbe HaLevy 03:32:20 After seeing the nuclear disaster museum. Do you think it gives an accurate picture of what really happens after a nuclear accident? Aki Tabei 03:32:28 Unfortunately, I don't the superficial display and the beautiful showcases only serve to divert visitor's eyes from the truth. This is message. I think the nuclear disaster museum is trying to get across. This is how the government and TECO addressed an unprecedented disaster. It was such a huge disaster. So we've bungled a few things along the way to recovery. It's still going to take a while, but if we work together, we can overcome the obstacles ahead. Japan's future is bright or something like that. That's important. But if it really is a Memorial museum, don't you think they should have something communicating the reality of the victims that have suffered because of the accident, something about what areas were contaminated and how the people's lives were disrupted and thrown off course, something about who had to evacuate and about their lives. Now what about the people who took their own lives? What about the illnesses people might I be facing? What about all of the nuclear divorces? And what about all of the communities that will never be the same because of the contamination? This nuclear disaster Memorial museum does not cover the tragic reality of the victims of the accident at all. In other words, the government, and Tapco seemed to be saying the areas that were contaminated with radiation were just unlucky. So let's just forget about it. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:12 The Jovan train line in the areas around Fukushima DII have been reopened. How do you feel about that? Aki Tabei 03:34:19 The train line running is symbol recovery. Don't you think that's just part of the recovery trend. It's just part of the government's cherry picking things that suit their public relations strategy. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:34 What was the thing that left the biggest impression on you as you traveled around the recently reopened areas surrounding Fukushima DII, Aki Tabei 03:34:43 That would have to be the PAMAS grass growing in. OK. Ma Machi in the difficult return zone, the grass is shown in the sunlight and waved in the breeze across vast fields, innocent to the fact that they were contaminated with radiation. It was so breathtaking that I stopped my car to gaze upon the scene. I was overcome with guilt as I stood before the shining grassy Hills, which could not feel anger or resentment toward the human race. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:18 If you could sum up what you have seen in the Fukushima disaster area, in one short phrase, what would it be Aki Tabei 03:35:26 A land where the seasons pass, but time has stopped. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:31 That was a woman visitor to the great east Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster Memorial museum, which Hui visited in 2021. We continue with Hui KACO's narration of his trip to Fukushima in 2021. Ryan Kaneko 03:35:48 After I left the museum, I decided to drive along the Shortline. When I was up on the roof of the industrial relations center, I had seen various pockets of tsunami wreckage in the otherwise barren landscape. I wanted to get a closer look. As I drew near, I realized how bad some of the remaining records was. So I stopped to take some pictures. It seemed very strange to have a museum dedicated to the disaster. Standing amid such miserable relics of the same event. The haphazardness scene was like some kind of sick joke. It was evidence of just how much of a hurry, the powers that be were in to open the museum. It was so strange that it decided to call the Fukushima perfectional office responsible for the museum and ask why so much disaster debris was still strewn here and there. I had heard that the area was slate, become a park and dedicated to recovery. Ryan Kaneko 03:36:40 I thought maybe the remaining debris in wreckage was being saved to serve as Memorial objects. However, the person in charge told me that due to reasons, negotiations with some property owners were still in progress. This is why some things still hadn't been cleaned up. I was really that even after 10 years, there were so many things that still stood Testament to the disaster, iron scrap, building materials, household items, clothing, mounds of muddy, things that washed up in the tsunami, still dotted the landscape. These things told so much more of a story than the antiseptically displayed. And dispa labeled items in the museum. Their very existence was a biting critique of the new museum that was raised in their midst. I was even more shocked by a handful of tombstones stewing about on a field in front of the museum. This had once been a small cemetery. The graystones still hadn't been move after 10 years. I don't know why they remain, but I felt that certainly the souls of the ancestors must be glaring down on the destroyed landscape of their old hometown. With deep disappointment, I felt so sad looking at this horrible scene that I couldn't even bring myself to take a photograph. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:55 That was a report by UGI Kaneko nuclear, hot seats, voices from Japan, special Japan correspondent. Next voices from Japan. Co-producer Beverly Finlay Conaco shares a few more of U Eugene's observations about his trip. One year later, Beverly the last scene that U shared about the abandoned gravestones is so heartbreaking. What does it mean that there is such a clueless and sterile facility as the great east Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster Memorial museum standing in the middle of the desolation and the wreckage. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 03:38:35 It boils down to the two things that are absolutely necessary to run a nuclear power plant uranium and propaganda. On top of that, I would throw in a good dose of selective blindness. Even if you have plenty of uranium, if you don't have the understanding of people, you can't build a nuclear power plant in particular, you must have the agreement of the communities living in the area where a plant is going to operate. And that's where propaganda comes in handy. It's a useful tool that can be wielded to change people's minds toward welcoming nuclear power. Amidst. The museum is one aspect of the Japanese government's propaganda program offering up mundane objects in a sterile exhibition space, dehumanizes and desensitizes taking away from the urgency and the fear of the nuclear disaster. Only allowing victims who stick to a script to share their experiences is dishonest. And it robs future generations of the wisdom that could be gained from their, for bears mistakes. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:49 How does this fit into the overall pro nuclear propaganda picture in Japan, Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 03:39:55 The Japanese government's spin a lot of money every year to figure out ways to make people think that nuclear is safe and radiation is not something to be afraid of. In 2011, before the Fuku United disaster, the government spent more than 50 million a year on a wide variety of pro-nuclear PR efforts. Some samples include pronuclear symposiums and seminars for adults, nationwide, newspaper magazine articles and TV programs. And for children, the school curriculum covers nuclear safety, the necessity of nuclear energy and information to dispel fears about radiation, the ministry of education distribute supplementary readers on radiation to elementary, through high schools all around the country. These publications have been criticized for not properly describing the risks of radiations to students. One flyer came under scrutiny as recently as 2021. The title was three things to know about the Alps water treatment system. This is the system being used to decontaminate the tainted groundwater at Fukushima dichi. Apparently the flyer was criticized for going overboard gushing about the safety of Alps treated groundwater. In the end, the distribution of the flyer was canceled. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:21 Can you refresh our memories about the Alps system? Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:41:25 Yes. Alps treated water refers to water that has been treated by the advanced liquid processing system being used at Fukushima DII to remove radioactive materials from the water around the plant. As of February 3rd, this year, nearly 1 million, 290,000 tons of this water was being stored in tanks at Fukushima DII, the government plans to release it into the ocean. There are a couple problems with this idea. First as other guests on nuclear hot seat have gone into detail about the ALP system. Doesn't filter out all of the radioactive elements. Tridium is the main one people have been concerned about, but very as other man-made radioactive elements, as well as non-radioactive toxic industrial chemicals that the ALP system doesn't filter out have been detected in the quote unquote, treated water. Nevertheless, the government plans to release 22 trillion Becker rolls worth of Alps treated radioactive water into Fukushima bay every year for 30 years, starting in 2023. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:43 How do people feel about that? Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:42:45 Naturally there's a lot of opposition from the public, especially from the fisheries industry. So the government is working hard to produce symposiums and information sessions that aim to increase the number of people that agree with the plan to dump the contaminated water. The flyers that I just mentioned earlier for elementary and high school students are intended to bring children into agreement with the plan to dump the water. That effort has had the opposite effect. There were two types of flyers. The one for elementary school kids described Alps treated water as safe enough for people to consume without any bad health effects. Of course, the water slated to be released would not be safe, drinking water. It contains Tridium and a cocktail of other industrial contaminants. And then the pamphlet for junior high and high school students had misleading statements about the safety, like the impact of radioactive Tridium on human health is nothing to worry about. And other C countries also regularly release Tridium laced water into the ocean. Well, sure. Tridium contaminated water is regularly batch released from working nuclear power plants around the world, which is arguably not a good thing in and of itself, but the Alps treated water, plenty of other nasty things because Fukushima is a disaster site undergoing a tricky decommissioning process. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:26 That's the very definition of propaganda and how terrible and how coldhearted of the Japanese government to say nothing of the nuclear interest that they're specifically targeting children and teenagers who don't necessarily have the historic context to be able to place this and will just consume the inform go, okay, that must be the way it is when indeed it is not. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:44:55 They're getting a good start on raising a new generation to accept a resurgence of nuclear power, a generation that really didn't experience Fukushima. And if they give them this information, they'll accept however many 50 or however many nuclear power plants beginning to run in Japan. Again, they won't question it. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:21 I understand that the Japanese government provides quite a hefty budget for pro nuclear propaganda. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:45:29 Yes, and as I mentioned a little bit earlier, it was more than 50 million per year before the Fukushima accident. After the accident, the budget was slashed to only 5 million annually, but as time marches on the budget has crept backup and it's 11 million for this year. This is a big indicator that pro clear pressure is ramping up. The 1.5 million annual budget for the disaster Memorial museum that UGI described in his travel diary comes out of the government's nuclear PR coffers. It's pretty clear that a museum funded by the nuclear promotion, PR budget, not going to depict the situation in a way that is inconvenient to the nuclear industry. People like mayor Igawa of Futaba who call attention to the government and Tecos responsibility for the accident are obviously not going to be welcome guest speakers in the survivor's corner at the museum. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:34 There's a survivor's corner. Meaning people stand there and say, hi, I was there and this is what happened. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:46:41 It's kind of modeled after the Holocaust museum where you have victims there and it's really regulated. They only let certain people talk there and they're not allowed to be critical of the government or TECO Libbe HaLevy 04:46:56 Nuclear propaganda is not limited to Japan. As we have been following very closely with what's going on in Ukraine and the attempts of the nuclear industry to spin what's happening there as a promotion for how safe nuclear really is. God knows how they wrap their head around that one, but be that as it may, what else do we know? Or what else is the historic perspective on nuclear propaganda, Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:47:26 As it has done throughout its history of industrialization, Japan has looked abroad to learn the tricks of the trade. As far as propaganda goes in 2016, the Japanese government conducted a comprehensive survey of nuclear nations in the west. So the United States great Britain, France in Sweden. And that way they tried to learn how to foster public acceptance of nuclear power. Frankly, they wanted to know how other countries have been able to brainwash the public. They published their results in a report. And in that paper groups like mothers for nuclear here in California are featured. The report also mentions that according to a 2015 survey, that while 68% of the general public in the United States approves of nuclear power, 83% of those living in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant are supportive. The fact that even after an accident like three mile island Americans overwhelmingly support nuclear energy points to a very healthy propaganda machine and the Japanese government wants to emulate those results. In this way, the Japanese government is diligently laying the groundwork for a nuclear Renaissance pro-nuclear forces are gaining momentum by gradually and deliberately wiping away. People's negative feelings about nuclear and hitching, a ride on the carbon neutral bandwagon. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:05 Let's switch gears here. In addition to the Alps system to decontaminate water UJI talked a bit about the effort to process the contaminated soil and debris from around Fukushima prefecture that is taking place right near the museum. We've touched on this topic previously on voices from Japan. Can you give us an update as to where the efforts stand today? Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 04:49:30 Yes. According to the environment ministry, there were 14 million square meters of contaminated debris and soil collected from areas outside of the quote, unquote, difficult to return zones. That's enough to fill 11 Tokyo doms. The Tokyo dome is a gigantic covered baseball stadium. That's seats, 55,000 people. The processing of this material through incineration and or burial in interim storage sites near Fukushima. DIII is slated for completion this month. There's another 3.6 million square meters of debris and soil that's expect to, to come from the cleanup of seven towns in the difficult to return zone that are priority areas in the recovery effort. And there are also areas outside the recovery areas in the difficult to return zone where they're not really expecting people to ever return, but former residents there can request to have their properties cleaned up. And as of now, there's no way of knowing how many requests will be made and how much contaminated material will be collected from that effort. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:49 It sounds like we'll be seeing those ubiquitous plastic bags for the foreseeable future. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 05:50:56 I think so the government has no idea when the process will end and beyond that the government has promised to move all of the contaminated soil to permanent story outside of Fuku prefecture by 2045. Unfortunately, so far, no prefecture has volunteered to take the waste. Also, the government wants to use soil that's under 8,000 Beck rolls per kilogram as under layment for roads and other public works per projects. But this idea isn't getting much traction, public support is not behind this effort. And the environment ministry says that they're planning to develop new technologies as well as work on getting the quote unquote understanding of stakeholders. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:46 I wonder what kind of nonsense they will cook up, just serve to school kids to convince them that radioactive roads and playgrounds are okay. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 05:51:54 That's right. And speaking of decontamination processes, according to the Sahi newspaper, the Alps advanced liquid processing system for decontamination, the groundwater around Fukushima DII yields, a nasty radioactive slurry that's causing its own set of problems. That slurry is being held in 3,373 polyethylene lined stainless steel tanks. So these are separate from the tanks that are holding all of the quote unquote treated water. The slurry, which is what's been removed from the water is extremely radioactive and sometimes tens of millions of bed girls per cubic centimeter. This causes the tanks to degrade quickly and TECO estimated that they would have to begin being replaced in 2025. So that it's just what three years from now, but Japan's nuclear regulation authority. The NRA found that TECO was massaging the radiation readings. They were taking measurements 20 centimeters above the bottom of the tanks, but the sledge accumulates at the bottom of the tanks and is thicker and more radioactive there. So the NRA found that even more tanks than TECO had been planning to replace are going to need replacement even sooner. And on top of that, TECO still hasn't come up with a safe weight to transfer the material to new tanks. And it'll probably still be stuck trying to engineer new ideas about transferring it when the tank's lifespan comes to an end, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:40 It looks like while everyone has been focused on the dumping of the Alps treated wall water into the ocean, there was a big problem brewing behind the scenes. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 05:53:50 Yes. And unfortunately that's not the only problem related to water around Gima. Dichi the boom also reported that on top of the Alps water dumping and the degrading sledge tanks, there's an ever increased supply of bags full of zeal light around the plant that were placed to absorb cesium in the dirty water that accumulates on the plant floors. These bags need to be recovered and dealt with in some way, but no one can get close enough because the radiation readings are so high that can kill someone within the vicinity within an hour. And then of course, as with the rest of the prefecture, there are trees, soil, and radioactive rubble all around the plant that need to be dealt with. It's a huge job and it will need some heavy lifting by TECO and the government PR specialist to convince people to go along with their plans, to store a never ending supply of the radioactive material, that results from trying to clean up radioactive contamination. Beverly, Libbe HaLevy 05:55:00 We always appreciate your updates because they're coming from so close to the source. And for now thank you for once again, helping us provide voices from Japan. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko 05:55:11 Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:13 That was Beverly Finlay Conaco co-producer for voices from Japan, as well as editor and translator. I literally could not do this episode every year without her. This has been nuclear hot seat for two March 8th, 2022. Our thanks. In addition to Beverly fin lake, Conaco go to Ji Conaco for his reporting from Japan, Ryan Conaco for reading and recording Ji's statement, AKI Tabay for voicing the woman in the museum and to Zach Reuter for Korea. The video of last week's nuclear Ukraine in a Russian war zone special. We have that video up on last week's webpage nuclear hot seat, number 5 58, and look forward to posting more videos on a dedicated nuclear hot seat, YouTube channel. If you'd like to get nuclear hot seat delivered via email L every week, it's easy. You can sign up@nuclearhotsy.com. Look for the yellow box and just click on it. You'll receive a weekly email link to the latest Cho with a short description of what's in it. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:21 And you'll also receive a free chapter of my book. Yes, I glow the dark one mile from three mile island to Fukushima and nuclear hot seat. We are also open to your input on the shows. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, help us out with some support, go to nuclear hotseat.com. Look for that red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do to help we'll really be appreciated. I want to add for those of you who have been inquiring that waiting for a new website to launch is kind of like being pregnant and waiting for your due date. Only the baby is deciding to take just a little bit more time. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:18 Target launch is now March 18th, 2022. And when you see it you'll understand that it's been well worth. The weight nuclear hot seat.com will have a much more robust search function, including a section focusing on our top experts with links to all of their shows through the years, no need to hunt and search. They will all be in one place. We will have transcripts available for the last two years of, as we get started and there will be a chance to add even more, going back to nuclear, hot seat. Number one, as circumstances allow, and we will have many more features as we roll out the pages. But rest assured that each week's show will be there waiting for you@nuclearhotseat.com or if you prefer get it from your podcast provider of choice. So stay tuned and fingers crossed by late next week, we will be up and running with the new website. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 libi Hal and artistry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use aloud. You can quote or cite me or my guests as long as you credit nuclear hot seat and by guest organizations. This is libi Hala of harvestry communications. Remind you when it comes to nuclear, never ask dismissively, eh, how bad can it get? You don't wanna know because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:49 New hot seat. It's Deb. ### NH #558: SPECIAL: NUCLEAR UKRAINE IN A RUSSIAN WAR ZONE - Gundersen, Grossman, Kraft URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-ukraine-in-a-russian-war-zone-chernobyl-reactors/ Published: 2022-03-02 SPECIAL: Nuclear Ukraine in a Russian War Zone NEW! Video with Slideshow: Nuclear Ukraine in a Russian War Zone – There are more ways to trigger a nuclear catastrophe i Ukraine than mainstream media is currently reporting. For this Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL, we have three interviews with genuine experts. Each knows the nuances of nuclear issues and covers the nightmare variants of possible Armageddon that we currently face. They also provide some positive steps we can take at this dangerous moment towards ridding the planet of all nukes. THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Arnie Gundersen is a nuclear engineer, a licensed nuclear reactor operator and expert witness, as well as the Chief Engineer for Fairewinds AssociatesKarl Grossman is host of the television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman, a professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, and author of six books – so far. He has been covering nuclear issues for more than 50 years. Dave Kraft is Executive Director of Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), base in Chicago, and a 40+ year veteran of anti-nuclear work. LINKS: Dave Kraft‘s article on the NEIS website: When Nuclear Power Meets War. Article on 4th quarter power earnings, containing this quote: "There's a realization that Europe has to move away from dependency on Russian oil and gas and one way to achieve that is renewables," Deepa Venkateswaran, an analyst at Bernstein Autonomous, tells Bloomberg. "Now it's not just about decarbonization, but also about security of supply."Article by Bennett Ramberg: A Russian invasion raises questions about the country's 15 nuclear reactors and the dangers they pose Article by Tilman Ruff of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW.org) – The Ukraine crisis could trigger a nuclear catastrophe Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:05 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I'm the producer and host of nuclear hot seat. And this week show is a special on nuclear Ukraine in a Russian war zone. We're doing away with the regular formatting feature so we can get right to the underplayed nuclear aspects of the biggest news story on earth. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting ongoing threat of a nuclear catastrophe. This week, we hear from three genuine experts with information about Ukraine's nuclear reactor vulnerabilities, Chernobyl Russian president Putin's mental state and how the current situation could actually cement no nukes into the climate change conversation. We'll be hearing from environmental journalists, Carl Grossman, and Dave craft executive director of any I S in Chicago. But first we start with Arnie Gunderson. He is chief engineer at Fairwinds energy education and a licensed nuclear reactor operator. We spoke on Friday, February 25th, 2020 to Arnie Gunderson. We're talking on Friday, February 25th. And as of last night, Russia has seized control of Chernobyl. What do we know about the current situation there? Arnie Gundersen 00:01:31 There's probably three or four parts shorts, but let's talk immediately about Chernobyl Chernobyl had four reactors and they're all closed down and they'd been closed for a long time now, but the, of course the name there's probably three or four parts shorts, but let's talk immediately about Chernobyl Chernobyl reactor blew up in 1986. That's feud radiation throughout the Ukraine through Belarus, through Germany and the Czech Republic and Russia, and on and on and on the reactors have been shut down. So there's no more chain reaction occurring. There's no more new uranium being split, but the pieces after uranium split about 7% of the power comes from the radioactive decay of that rubble of the pieces that broke of the broken uranium AMS. So that radioactive rubble is still inside the Chernobyl facility. And it's still spewed all over the ground for 20 miles out to an enormous region that is highly contaminated. Arnie Gundersen 00:02:52 So that's the condition of Chernobyl two days ago? Well, yesterday with the invasion of the Russians, the group that took over the Chernobyl facility came down from the north from Belarus and captured Chernobyl. We're not sure why the Russians would want it. I I'd like to think that, you know, they designed it and they built it. So they want to take the activity home with them, but I really don't think that's their purpose. So the, the Russian motive for capturing Chernobyl is unknown, but a couple possibilities. One that drives a fear factor in the Western Alliance that may do something crazy. Now they could, if they wanted to destroy a large part of Ukraine, they could blow it up and release all that radioactivity. That's still inside it. The downside of that though, is that it's very close to Belarus. It's to the north, to the east is Russia itself and to the south is Crimea. Arnie Gundersen 00:04:03 So if they were to use it for hostage negotiations, and if they were to blow it up one, it would definitely be highly radioactive, but it's likely that it would blow onto them and their allies. So I don't know what their motive was for capturing it, but the, the net effect is what's happened in the last two days, is that the Ukrainians have measured a hundred fold increase in radiation in the environment using these air monitors. It seems like that's coming because all these Russian tanks are driving through contaminated soil and they're throwing up the radioactive dust. You know, we take here at Fairwinds radiation knows no borders, and it also has a very long half-life. So while it was trapped in the soil, the very activity of a large mechanized divisions driving over that dirt is going to throw that radiation up. So it's about a hundred times more radioactive than it was two days ago. Arnie Gundersen 00:05:11 The media is portraying that as still not as significant exposure. And I'm really not too sure about that. You know, the, the peer reviewed paper that Fairwinds and Dr. Mark wrote, it talks about the particle size of these radioactive particles. And they come in small, medium and large, but if a large one gets in your lungs, it will cause a lot more damage than a traditional radiation models. So the question isn't that the conflict hasn't created additional radiation, but perhaps over time, when we get those filters back, we'll be able to determine the size of the particles and come up with a better estimate of what the radiation exposure is. My bottom on Chernobyl is that most of the radiation remains trapped inside the building. It could be blown up, but I can't figure out why that would happen. However, just the fact that there's mechanized divisions driving all over the place is going to throw radiation into the environment for miles to come. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:19 And is it likely that when the media or when the officials say, well, the radiation level isn't that bad? What they're talking about is external contamination, as opposed to, as you cited it, breathing in some of these particles so that there is an internal dose, Arnie Gundersen 00:06:37 The international council on radiation protection as a convoluted model, that is largely based on an external dose. And of course, what we were able to show in the work we did in Japan and that's Maggie and I, and Dr. Councilman, we were able to show that a large portion of this radioactivity winds up being inhaled or ingested. So, you know, my concern is that the dose model's wrong and whatever we hear coming out of the Ukrainian, don't worry, be happy is in fact, arbitrarily low, we're going to need some better science to figure out what they got. The interesting thing is, is that it's Russian troops were picking up the highest exposure was there. The other ones were throwing up this dust. So they may wind up bringing it home and becoming more casualties to their own war. 20 years from now, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:33 Reports are that the nuclear power plant management at Chernobyl has not shown up for work. And the assumption is that they won't, what kind of difficulties or dangers does this represent? Arnie Gundersen 00:07:47 Most of the mechanical systems inside Chernobyl have been deactivated for years so that the management would be monitoring radiation and things like that. But as far as cooling, the nuclear fuel that's happened a long time ago and the nuclear fuel no longer needs an active component to cool. It read the same reports that managers are not showing up to work. And I'm sure it's out of fear, but I don't think that has any short-term in the first month or so any significant health effects for the people in Ukraine Libbe HaLevy 00:08:28 After the first few months, Arnie Gundersen 00:08:30 But it depends how long it lasts. The longer it goes on the more the systems to track and control the radiation become important. And that's why you count on the management is to keep those systems in place. And so, as the systems deteriorate, it's likely that exposures will go up. You know, when hopes that the conflict gets straightened out quickly and gets back to normal. But boy, that's a real crazy wish. At this point, Libbe HaLevy 00:09:00 Ukraine has 15 operating nuclear reactors at four separate sites, including six reactors. It's up a Regio, which has only 120 miles from the border with Russia, looking at these reactors, what are the problems that we might face there? Arnie Gundersen 00:09:16 Yeah, you cranes 15 nuclear reactors are almost the same amount as Illinois, Illinois has 11. So to put it in perspective, Illinois is the most nuclear intensive state in the union. That's a lot of nuclear plants in a relatively small area and you're right. Six are within a missile shot of the Soviet border. And of course now the Soviet scar much closer even than that. So there's a couple of questions. It's a war missiles go where missiles go and shells go or shells go. So it is possible that the nuclear plant could be targeted. But again, I get back to the same argument of earlier, if you target the nuclear plant, the Ansari that radiation is kind of blow on your allies as much as it is on your enemies. So I don't think it's likely that the nuclear plants anywhere, the six that are close to the Eastern border or the others that are on the Western side. Arnie Gundersen 01:10:18 I don't think that any of them will be deliberately targeted because you just have no control over where that radiation heads, it may be used to frighten the Europeans in the NATO Alliance, into I'm backing down. I mean, that's a possibility that the Russian could say, if you don't back down, we're going to blow up Chernobyl, or we're going to blow up one of these other 15 plants. That's a possibility. But again, the chances of inadvertently contaminating Belarus or Russia itself, or Crimea are to my mind, significant, but missiles go where misses go. And sometimes they don't go where you want them to go same with shells. So that there's also a possibility that they may get hit inadvertently. And that's to my mind, a major concern, the containment structures can't withstand an explosion. You know, these, these nuclear plants are built on civil criteria, not Wertheim credit criteria, and nobody built those containments. So where we stand the impact or the explosion of a Russian missile, the net effect is that if a containment were hit, it would be a significant radiological contamination event. The plant would have to scurry to make sure the reactor stayed cool. Even if the containment were breached, but this is a drill that nobody's ever had to face. And I just don't know how anybody could respond appropriately in the event of a, the missile strike. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:55 When we were speaking, just before this interview, you mentioned that a major problem could occur not from a missile, but from the loss of power to the nuclear reactors. Talk about that and talk about the vulnerability of Ukraine's grid. Arnie Gundersen 01:12:14 A nuclear power plant creates electricity, but when it's not creating electricity, it needs electricity to run the pumps that keep the nuclear radioactive rubble. Cool. So if the grid is intact, if the electric system in Ukraine is intact, if the nuclear plant were to shut down, it could rely on the electric grid to maintain the schooling. But that's really unlikely in a, you know, there's 190,000 Russian troops there. And the likelihood of the grid collapsing to my mind is pretty significant. Well, when that happens, that's called a loop L O P loss of offsite power and nukes have diesels diesel generators. In that event, these diesels are huge. They're longer than a longer than a car. And then the generator portion is probably another car. These are really big engines. They came from tug boats. Then they are designed to run for long periods of time, but they're not designed to start up quickly. Arnie Gundersen 01:13:25 And in a nuclear plant, they have to start up and assume full power in 42 seconds. So problem number one is if they lose the grid and they have a loop, then the diesels have to start, you know, about 98% of the time diesel start effectively, but there's still a risk that the diesels may not start. But to my mind, the biggest problem for any of these nukes is that the diesels have limited fuel on site. They can run for about a week or two with the fuel that's onsite, diesel fuel. And after that, there's no way to call the plant. Now they rely on diesel fuel being delivered from external sources to fill those tanks up and continue the operation of the diesels. Well, in a war, it's not clear to me that you can count on fuel deliveries to your 15 nuclear plants. Arnie Gundersen 01:14:22 My biggest fear is that everything will work, right? The plant was shut down the diesel carrying on and they'll run out of fuel. And that's an identical consequence to what happened at Fukushima, the fuel overheats, the containments explode, and it goes downhill from there. So it's imperative to have plans in place to get diesel fuel to those 15 nuclear plants. And if the Russians are surrounding a nuclear plant, then it's on them to get the diesel fuel. Then if the Ukrainians are in control of that area, it's on them to get that diesel fuel in. But in a societal collapse, like a war, it's not clear to me that the diesel fuel will get there in a timely manner. So my biggest fear is not a missile hitting it. That's my second biggest fear. My biggest fear is that they'll need the diesels, the diesels work, and they suck down all the diesel fuel and an outreach point. You can't call the plant Libbe HaLevy 01:15:28 And the result would be a meltdown on power with Fukushima. Arnie Gundersen 01:15:33 Yes, that's exactly what happened. That Fukushima, when the diesels failed, they had also by then lost the offsite power. Then of course, you had a meltdown in a couple of days. So that's the greatest fear. Now one would hope perhaps they've parked the diesel oil truck at each one of these facilities that may get them a month down the road. But, you know, that becomes a target. If there's a truck sitting around with diesel fuel in it, it could also be used to fill tanks. So, you know, that's a military target, whereas a nuclear power plant may not be no, I think this whole discussion talks about the root of it is that nuclear power plants work in a civil society. But as soon as there's any kind of an upset in the society that we've not taken into account nine 11 Hijacker driving an airplane into the side or a war, no one ever designed or anticipated those events that happen. So it's outside of the realm that the designers have any kind of protections in place for. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:43 So in Athens, even without a nuclear bomb going off each one of these nuclear reactors is in essence, a nuclear bomb without the fireball, it would have the radiation release and the damage without the visible fireball with the mushroom cloud. Arnie Gundersen 01:17:06 It's actually worse than that. The radioactive levels inside those nuclear reactors are worse than the radiation that's released from a nuclear bomb. And it's at ground level a nuclear bomb releases its radiation out a couple thousand feet in the air and sucks up ground around it from a convective current that also becomes irradiated, but what's inside a nuclear plant is easily a hundred to a thousand times more radiation than in a bomb at ground level. And across then the problem there is that there's not the dispersion, something doesn't go up into the air and float and mix with other air particles for a thousand miles. It happens right at ground zero. So if these nukes don't get the diesel fuel and they explode like Fukushima will have the same consequences we did at Fukushima. And I just hope that regardless of if it's the Russians surrounding a nuclear plant or the Ukrainians defending and you're going to plant, they put plans in place to make sure that those plants don't run out of diesel fuel. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:17 This of course gives lie to the propaganda that's out there. That nukes are really clean green and the solution for climate change, because this is a whole level of danger and potential catastrophe that hasn't been factored into the entire discussion of the small modular nuclear reactors and the push that's going on. Do you agree with that? And how do you see that factoring in with say the European union, just having approved nukes as green and worthy of their financial support. Arnie Gundersen 01:18:56 You know, the war really puts the whole spotlight on the issue of central station power. The Russians are threatening to shut down the gas line. So the central station power plants that run on gas are threatened and here, of course, 15 nuclear plants likely will close and hopefully won't melt down. So this concept of central station power is really in the spotlight as a result of this war. It also talks about our dependence on fossil fuel. You know, Europe wouldn't be held hostage if it weren't so reliant on gas and oil coming from Russia. So it's twofold. First is the reliance on fossil fuels. We're crazy to continue down that road. And I hope that that Europeans wind up with a lot more solar and wind as a result of this rather than relying on anyone, but especially the Russians. But the second piece of that is that any of these large central station nukes need cooling in the event of just the normal grid collapse, you know, like the Northeast blackout of this 1970s. Arnie Gundersen 02:20:08 So they all need cooling and the need for cooling is even worse, of course, in the event of a war when you have lost the civil society. So this war really, it brings into highlight the effect of the loss of a civil society on any central station power. And we should really be thinking about the advantages of distributed power. Distributed power is a small sources of power, but thousands of them now the example, there is a tree as a tree I've 10 really big leaves that it counts on for its energy, or does it have a couple thousand little leaves? The tree analogy is a perfect example of distributed energy. Then if your point that way there'd be no need for these large central station power plants. There'd be no need to be held hostage by Russians for fuel, things like that. And I hope that one of the positives that'll come out of this is that people will rethink that central station paradigm and using fossil fuels in general and say, Hey, we're, we're on the wrong path. We we've got to get to a renewable distributed economy. I think maybe a hundred years from now. When historians looking back on this era, we're going through, it's not going to be pro nukes and anti anti-nuke. It's going to be a paradigm shift from central station power to distributed power. And this war should just drive that point. Home that distributed power is much safer and much more easy to control. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:49 This of course is an ongoing and breaking story. And we have just learned virtually as we started this interview that the Russians have moved missiles into Bellaruse. What is it that is known about it so far? Arnie Gundersen 02:22:05 There are reliable reports that show that the Russians are bringing in intermediate range, nuclear tipped missiles into Bellaruse. Now of course, Putin has claimed that he's not afraid of having a nuclear war and you don't know if that's he's known he's soapbox or not, but that they're moving missiles closer to Poland or or Germany for that matter means that there's less of a response time for the NATO nations to react. It's likely that Putin is trying to drive a wedge into the NATO Alliance. I don't think that'll happen, but you know, crazy things happen in a war. And if you bring in dozens of nuclear tip missiles with, you know, a bunch of 20 year olds driving them around the forest of Belarus, it's entirely possible that a mistake could happen. And it's also possible that Putin is not bluffing and he's willing to use one. I'm not suggesting he's going to use one on the 15 nukes in the Ukraine. He's going to use it if he does on a target in NATO, in an attempt to break up the Alliance. And at that point, I have no idea where the world goes. I hope and pray. It will not be in that direction. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:26 Arnie Gunderson, chief engineer at Fairwinds energy education, we'll continue this nuclear hot seat special on nuclear Ukraine in a Russian war zone in a moment. But first, if you ever had any doubts as to why nuclear hot seat needs to be here for you, this episode should put those thoughts to rest. There is no more urgent story on earth right now than the possible nuclear consequences of what's happening in Ukraine and without nuclear hot seat, you would at best only know bits and pieces of those nuclear dangers, not the big picture nor how the pieces fit together. This episode provides the blueprint of what we all face. It's pretty frightening, but we need to know the truth. Part of what's being done to help you get this information is that I've moved up the launch of the new nuclear hot seat website, because starting with the new site, each episode will have its own transcript. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:27 That means by next week, I've been promised March eight for the launch. This episode will include a full transcript for you to search and read it's part of nuclear, hot seats, mission statement to get you the nuclear information, you will not find on mainstream media and this new feature will make it more accessible and usable. That's why the time to help us out is right now, go to nuclear hotseat.com, click on the donate button. Any amount will help, and you can set up a monthly sustaining donation as well, a cup of coffee as it were for $5 a month, which does sustain our efforts. So help us so that we can help you to understand nuclear issues in Ukraine and beyond know that whatever you can do to help. I am deeply grateful. Now, back to this week's special edition of nuclear hot seat, nuclear Ukraine in a Russian war zone. Our second interview is with Carl Grossman and award-winning investigative environmental journalist. We spoke on Monday, February 28th, 2020 to president Putin's declaration. As the invasion began was that if any nation tries to impede us, the Russian response will be immediate and lead to consequences. You have never seen in history, a brazen threat of starting a nuclear war. Now there are reliable reports that Russia is bringing nuclear tipped missiles into Bellaruse. Are these scare tactics or is it possible that they will actually be used? Karl Grossman 02:26:03 The starters Putin's threat of clear conflict of starting a nuclear war is, and this is according to the lawyers committee on nuclear policy based in New York, an eminent group is a violation of the UN charter, which disallows such unlawful threats of force as to now has proceeding, not just threatening, but doing it mobilizing the nuclear arm of the Russian military, be prepared for, for nuclear war, possibly he's doing it because well, to increase the pressure on Ukraine and Ukraine also, there's been an analysis. The Washington post had an interesting piece. This is just yesterday by Caitlin Talmage that what Putin is trying to do is to indicate he's just enough of a madman to lash out when his back is against the wall. However, the former us ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, he said in an interview on TV that he finds Putin, that he knows Putin is becoming increasingly on unhinged and others have in recent days, spoken about Putin being out of it. Karl Grossman 02:27:20 So here is this Hitler like dictator of Russia talking about nuclear war. I don't think his threat. I don't think at this point, his military moves should be taken lightly. I mean, just to put it in a wider context, it isn't just Russia, but it's the United States. It's the United Kingdom. It's others with nuclear weaponry still believe that nuclear war is winnable. It's feasible. Faculty United States has been involved in a $1 trillion modernization of its nuclear arsenal though. Here is Russia and Putin and his army not doing well at this point. Would he use nuclear weaponry, particularly tactical weaponry? Would he escalate beyond tactical weaponry? I think it's quite possible. We could be at the point of doomsday because if potent turns his invasion of Ukraine into a nuclear conflict and uses nuclear weaponry, I think the response is going to probably be nuclear and that could escalate beyond just battlefield nuclear weapons, which we haven't. They have. It could be. I hate to say it. I hate to think about it, but it's a reality we're facing it's enormously scary. Again, the nuclear clock stands for nuclear annihilation because nuclear war is not winnable. Nuclear war is suicidal and as suicidal, not only for the parties that engage in it, but for, for life on earth, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:00 Given the fact that these weapons are now on the move in Belarus, it brings up the fact that in February of 2019, then president Trump pulled the United States out of the intermediate range, nuclear forces treaty with Russia, which banned all of the two nations land-based missiles with ranges of between 300 and pen and approximately 3,500 miles that would put Bella ruse, definitely in proximity with the UK, with Germany, with France, with so many of the other countries in Europe, if that treaty had continued, might that have impacted the current situation or would it probably have been ignored? Given the current circumstances? Karl Grossman 02:29:48 The question is whether Putin would've complied a bit going back to Trump's action. I mean, it's, it's along the lines of his famous league saying, Hey, we have nuclear weapons. Why don't we use them? I mean, th this idiotic declaration, on the other hand, we have Trump's buddy now making a decision which could cascade into, well, the group beyond nuclear. I mean, I'm on the board of beyond nuclear it's based in Tacoma park in Maryland issued a statement just a couple of days ago. We are in an unprecedented situation for the first time, a war happening in a region where there are operating nuclear reactors, there's 15 nuclear power plants, and Ukraine beyond nuclear goes on. If there is inadvertently or purposely nuclear conflict involving these nuclear power plants should a major release of radioactivity occur due to the damage or destruction of any one of the 15 nuclear plants. The scale of disaster would escalate to unimaginable proportions affecting populations well beyond the boundaries of Ukraine and Russia. So we easily, we easily could be at the precipice of what's been feared since the atomic bomb was developed, since it was invented of nuclear annihilation and nuclear apocalypse. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:22 Hold on for a second. I periodically in these interviews, I have to catch my breath in the previous interview. Arnie Gunderson, the Fairwinds spoke of this situation in Ukraine is demonstrating the dangers of central station power, meaning a single provider of energy resources versus distributed power. As in rooftop, solar wind generation, and the like, and Bernie Sanders has called for an international transition to genuinely green, renewable energy. And he said, here, I quote, not only to combat climate change, but to deny authoritarian Petro states, the revenues they require to survive. So how do you believe a shift to genuinely clean green, sustainable energy distributed power factor into our national security and international politics, Karl Grossman 03:32:16 Clean green energy, which we can live with in terms of not doing what nuclear power does impact on health. Even when there's not a catastrophic accident, just routine operations of nuclear power plants, and beyond all the public health issues. We couldn't do it. There's no need not to do it. There's no reason not to go to green, sustainable, safe energy. We have the technology, Nat are do it beyond all that you factor in nuclear technology, nuclear power, which involves these billion dollar plus huge nuclear power plants, these centralized power plants, and then the military component. I mean, nobody is going to attack our wind turbines. Nobody is going to go after our solar arrays, not to mention rooftop, solar clean green energy lends itself to peaceful coexistence because they don't present targets to the enemy, nor do they create if it's an inadvertent situation, having these lethal machines in the middle of a war zone. Karl Grossman 03:33:24 I mean, if humanity doesn't figure out how to live peacefully at long, long west, and there'll be war in oncoming centuries and oncoming millennia. And I hope not, but I mean there's 500 nuclear power plants around the world. There's a push to, to build many more. In fact, Russia is a leader in that Bush scattering, these lethal machines, all over the planet, pre deployed weapons of mass destruction. And inevitably, if there's not going to be an end to war, some of them ending up in war zones, it's a suicidal movement by humanity. We have to get away from nuclear power. We have to go to many other reasons, but also because they don't represent targets to an enemy or lethal machinery that might end up in a war zone, we must have clean energy and we must have peace. We must eliminate nuclear power. We must eliminate my view, nuclear weapons, and they're tied together because nuclear power plants produce the plutonium that is used as fuel. Karl Grossman 03:34:30 And while the atomic bomb, the Nagasaki bomb, most atomic bombs and provides the trigger in the hydrogen bomb piece. Can't be a fantasy piece. Can't be a dream that will never happen. People can work for peace. People can have peace. People can get along. You have to strive for peace. And we have to strive for a, a non nuclear world. The United nations has set forth areas of the planet as nuclear free zones, portions of the south Pacific Africa and so forth. In my view, if we're going to make it out of all this, the whole planet must be a nuclear free zone, no nuclear weapons, no nuclear power. I think it will be inevitable considering the history of humanity and war that nuclear power plants would be part of the equation of conflict that can't be allowed to be when war comes, things get very crazy how it has to be is all of us, the whole world saying no nukes, no nuclear power. Let's go. The Greenway. Let's go with solar and wind and geothermal and the abundant technologies here today, which could provide all the power we need. And aren't, and can't become targets in war purposely or inadvertently because they're safe. The green peace and green energy. It's a perfect marriage, war and nuclear power we're talking about ultimately, hell, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:09 That was award-winning investigative environmental journalist, Carl Grossman. Our third interview this week is with Dave craft. He is executive director of nuclear energy information service, N E I S based in Chicago, Dave craft, you posted an excellent nuanced analysis of the nuclear situation in Ukraine on the NIS website. And of course we will link to it for the show. I was particularly impressed not to say terrified by your description of the extent to which one nation can hold another nation hostage by constraining or threatening the supply of energy resources. Explain how that factors in and plays out with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dave Kraft 03:36:56 And you're upright now is such that Western Europe is heavily dependent on Russian gas. That's been known for decades. And of course the controversy over the second pipeline between Germany and Russia has been specifically in the news quite a bit lately, but it just shows not only the importance of energy in modern society, but its kind of devalued sense. You know, it's treated like a commodity like ping pong balls or strawberries. So it doesn't get the strategic attention that it deserves to protect nations. So they don't end up in situations where they're held hostage by another country who gleefully turn off the gas pipe, which is actually what Russia did a few years back with Ukraine. A number of years back in winter, or there were disputes over the price of the gas and Russia said, well too bad. You know? So this just shows them not only the strategic importance of energy generally, but the need, the absolute need for countries to become self-sufficient in as many ways as possible, but they have to be Greenways, which we'll get into in a minute. Dave Kraft 03:38:01 The other aspect though, of this nuclear hostage situation is that any nation that even attempts now to build nuclear power infrastructure, which they are guaranteed by the United nations charter provided they are pledging. It was for peaceful uses, becomes suddenly a target of weapons and air forces of other nations. We saw this happen when the Israeli air force overflew to neutral countries to bomber a reactor under construction in Iraq at a OSA rack outside of Baghdad, there've been books written about that. We've seen the United States and Israel bomb reactors under construction or research reactors in Syria and Iraq as well. We had the NATO intervention that which took place in the Balkans under the Clinton administration where nuclear experts were very concerned that errant bombs unleashed by NATO would damage or possibly even hit structures, which they knew contains sensitive nuclear materials. So anyone at this point who has a nuclear reactor, a reactor and a construction, a nuclear research program might as well put bulls eyes on those four adversaries who apparently have no regard for international law. And if they feel that they are threatened, we'll make those reactors targets. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:24 What are the current nuclear targets in Ukraine that we know of at this point? And we are talking on Sunday, February 27, Dave Kraft 03:39:33 Ukraine has 15 operating reactors on four sites. And several weeks back, even before the fighting started, we were very concerned about the ones in Eastern Ukraine. If those operation site, that site is the largest nuclear reactor complex in Europe, it has six reactors, the V V E R design, which is a Russian Soviet design. Most of them I believe are VVR one thousands, which makes them the current and best generation of that. What we're most concerned about though is number one, the reactor fuel that gets taken out of reactors when it's no longer useful, it has to be stored somewhere. And it all reactors, not just in Ukraine, but around the world. These fuel rods are being stored in dry cast, outside of the strong containment buildings that everybody boasts about in the case of the Ukrainian reactors, we know that they're stored in auxiliary buildings, which is better than what we do in the United States. Dave Kraft 04:40:29 And here we just leave them out in the open like bowling pins for everyone to see at least they have auxiliary buildings where they are storing the spent fuel, but these are not as robust as the reactor building. So we're concerned that either an errand weapon or deliberate strike could hit these waste sites and distribute nuclear materials around the area. Beyond that, we have other concerns with operating reactors in a war zone. You certainly have, as I said, the waste issue, which we're concerned about, but you have just the operation of these reactors, a number of levels. First of all, reactors are connected to their local grid to get power, to operate their emergency systems. And if the grid is disrupted, it doesn't even have to be near the reactor site. If a grid goes down somewhere and it's affects the operation of the reactor, you have serious concerns about whether the safety systems will kick in at those reactors because they are dependent on diesel generators, which very often don't start up the way they're supposed to, or the fuel might be bad and not have been replenished. Dave Kraft 04:41:35 Recently, the generators may run out of fuel. Not only that, but in a war zone is once you run out of the fuel, how do you get it there? If you have tanks and bombs and planes all over the place strafing and bombing any kind of a truck or a train going into the sites, there's no way we can guarantee that their lead diesel generator fuel to power the safety system. So that's a concern, not only that though, but the personnel themselves are the concern. And this brings up the fifth worrisome site in Ukraine. And that is the reactor site at Chernobyl, which of course is the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster. In 1986, press reports already have indicated that the Russians have taken over the site. The Russian army has taken over the site and that allegedly the workers are being held hostage, whatever that means. Dave Kraft 04:42:26 But we at NIS had seen another press account earlier in this invasion, which indicated that when some of the workers showed up on site, the day that the Russians showed up, none of the management was there. They had split, they left. So the real question becomes, number one, who's minding the store, number two, who is there to operate it. And do they have the competence, the training, the management skills to keep the reactor safely manage the reactor site. Of course the reactors are not operating a Chernobyl, but there is radioactive waste there. And then thirdly, what about workers who are trying to get to operating sites or the Chernobyl site and run into a military buzzsaw? Will they be safely allowed in from other places or will they be killed on their way to work? These are all considerations that the international atomic energy agency is wrestling with right now, in the case of Ukraine Libbe HaLevy 04:43:20 In the article that you publish, you cite Senator Bernie Sanders in a statement on the Russian invasion that links this invasion to climate change and green energy. What did Sanders say? And what is it significance? Dave Kraft 04:43:36 Yes. I want it to prepare this exact quote because it's important. And the article that's on the NIS website, which she will post. There is a link to Bernie Sanders website where he says, this is his third point on February 22nd. Now finally in the longterm, we must invest in a global green energy transition away from fossil fuels, not only to combat climate change, but to deny authoritarian, Petro states, the revenues they require to survive. Now you can read that in a very narrow way and saying, he's only talking about gas and fossil fuels, but if anyone who had a shred of knowledge about Bernie Sanders would go back and think them in and we'll know that Bernie is not in favor of the nuclear industry as well, because you can be held to nuclear hostage just as easily as you can, a fossil hostage. So what he's really saying here is nations that begin the methodical transformation away from nuclear and fossil fuels towards a green energy future are going to be getting rid of all of these pretexts for wars, for invasion and for energy insecurity, which threatens them on the battlefield right now. Dave Kraft 04:44:50 So once again, the green new deal, a true green energy transition is a must in a world, not just to combat climate change, which of course we've been saying all along, but now in the real world of warfare, all of these energy resources that are not green energy are a threat and they have to be dealt with in the same way that we're dealing with the climate crisis. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:14 What does this current invasion due to the argument by pro nuclear energy forces that nuclear, especially nuclear, the small modular nuclear reactors are a necessary component of combating climate change? Dave Kraft 04:45:29 Well, first of all, that whole issue, just in the context of climate change is specious and wrong. And it's not just groups like NIS or, or beyond nuclear or others saying that it is two former chairpersons of the nuclear regulatory commission. It is internationally renowned energy analyst, Amory Levin's it is Mark Jacobson of Sanford university. We can go on and on and list all of the energy experts who had said, look, this notion that small modular reactors are needed for climate change is absolute nonsense on many fronts. All it is is another way to suck money resources out of the department of energy research, budget budgets, give it to our own us oligarchs and philanthropists who are billionaires already and delay the actual transition. We need to green energy, which is in the form of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and transmission improvements. So just from the climate standpoint, small modulars don't make any sense. Dave Kraft 04:46:32 I was pointing out that by the time they're licensed and researched and available in the numbers needed to combat climate change will be well past the 20, 30 deadline that it has already been set for the climate code red for us to do anything meaningful. So count them out. They are just money suckers. They're taking resources away from what's needed. Now put it in the context of warfare, which is what's going on in Ukraine. So let's say that some enlightened philanthropists like bill gates, who's touting his new reactor or others go over there and say, oh, you don't need these big reactors. Let's put small reactors around. Let's analyze what that means. First of all, you're distributing nuclear materials and these reactors in a much broader context than you would as they are now. Secondly, it's proposed that none of these small modular reactors not have these safety structures and robust containment buildings that the present generation of reactors have. In other words, you could just put them in a Walmart type building and run them that way. That's ridiculous, especially with the warfare going on now in the kinds of missiles that are capable. So you're distributing the problem. First of all, on the battlefield, the munitions available today could make Swiss cheese out of any of these small modulars and spew their materials all over the place. So it makes no sense from a security standpoint, a military standpoint, or certainly a climate code red standpoint to invest in small modular nuclear reactors. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:04 So it seems that the fact of this invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the pudding at risk Chernobyl 15 nuclear reactors, especially the six at that are so close to the Russian border. We have just learned that they are part of the invasion pathway towards Kenneth with all of that. So visibly. And so frighteningly visible, it seems like this is the moment and the start of an entire shift in the conversation about nukes, about climate change about nukes is green and moving forward in that way, what that's going to take is a shift in the conversation and a change in talking points, given your Superbowl ability at languaging and communicating, what are some of the talking points that you would like to see us begin to incorporate in our discussions to shift this thing around? Dave Kraft 04:49:04 I would have to say there are a number of levels that we can begin this we've already discussed a few of them. We have shown that nuclear power in any form, current form, small modulars has no place in either meeting the climate crisis or in promoting any kind of energy independence for a nation because of its security risks. So we have to take it up on those two fronts, which are obvious right now. I have to say, you know, I'm getting too old and becoming much more cynical about things I would have thought Chernobyl and Fukushima would have been the wake up calls enough to move this one. Apparently we haven't had our noses rubbed in the fan blades deep enough to do that. I hope that this situation in Ukraine and messages like what Bernie Sanders put out last week will be enough to really ignite that kind of conversation at the levels it has to take place. Dave Kraft 04:49:57 I am pleased though that even some of the media is starting to pick up on this theme. There was a pretty good article in the guardian a few days back, which brought up the vulnerabilities of nuclear power in Ukraine under the current situation of war. So we have to keep harping on those messages that there is no place safe on the planet for nuclear power in terms of climate or in terms of war. The second is that I mentioned earlier, there are the nuclear hucksters who are going to want to promote nuclear as the alternative to fossil fuels. We have to confront that now and go back to what Dr. Johnny said in 2007, when he wrote the book carbon free and nuclear free, and we have the technology to do it. That's not even been up for debate over the last 10 years. We have to force the politicians to begin taking that up as a planned methodical transformation of energy structures, not just for climate purposes, but as a national security message. Dave Kraft 05:51:04 And war is a pretty good opportunity to talk about national security. So we have to take advantage. I hate to say it opportunistically of the situation now, but if we can't do it on the circumstances of war in Europe, which war are we going to take advantage of? So that is a message. We have to link those two pieces right now using this situation. And it has to become a United nations mantra. You know, the powers that be the security council, they all have vested interest in continuing nuclear power. In fact, there's another quote I want to read because I think it's important and instructive to your listeners, just how vested the nuclear states are and keeping things going. And this is a quote from the president of France Macron two years ago, who had this at a nuclear power plant that he was giving a speech at. Dave Kraft 05:51:52 And I quote the nuclear industry lives from it's complimentary. And it must be thought of in terms of its complimentary fees. This is also why we must constantly think in terms of the longterm of our ability to preserve our technical, technological and industrial skills throughout the industry. Here it is in order to protect our sovereign production capabilities, both in the civilian and military sectors, one cannot exist without the other, without civil nuclear power. There is no military nuclear power and without military nuclear power, there is no civil nuclear power. This attitude, especially amongst the big seven has to be challenged and messages like Bernie Sanders are one way to begin that dialogue. The other thing I would point out again to your listeners is this is an election year in the United States. This needs to become a forefront election issue. We have a climate code red, and now we have a national security code. Red going on and nuclear is at the forefront of the hazard. What are you going to do about it? It's time to back away from nuclear and go for the green new deal. So these are some of the messages we feel are important to get out right now. If you do that, if we can do that, we obviate the need for any of the uranium infrastructure that's out there already damaging indigenous peoples around the planet. There's no need for more uranium mining, no more nuclear weapons. So this begins the, of denuclearize the planet. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:28 If you could help put together a brain trust of climate change anti-nuclear and other interested organizations in order to really launch an offensive about what you've just discussed, the talking points, who would you want to be part of it? Dave Kraft 05:53:46 The situation presents a great opportunity for the reintegration of the nuclear weapons and peace movement with the anti-nuclear power movement. The two had been separated far too long decades, even where after Eisenhower's Adams for peace thing, it seemed like nuclear powers on one side weapons is on the other activists like Alfred Meyer, formerly a physicians for social responsibility. Who've been harping all along. Look, it's the same piece, the same animal, one's a fig leaf for the other. So this is the opportunity. Number one, where these two movements can enhance both of their messages simultaneously and enhance national security. So that's one area, right? That I would see happening. The other piece we didn't mention in this context is the environmental justice aspect of nuclear power. And that's where the uranium cycle comes in. Because as I pointed out, all the uranium mining is taking place on native lands around the world. Dave Kraft 05:54:45 You have the and American Southwest. You have the Cree and Canada. You have the, you have the Aborigines in Australia, all being victimized by uranium mining. So this has to be hammered home that nuclear power, as well as nuclear weapons is a serious environmental justice issue. In fact, in spite of the Biden administration's promotion of nuclear power, it ignored the advice of its own white house advisory committee on environmental justice, which came out against nuclear power and waste as detrimental to communities. So we have to bring up the fact that this is an environmental justice issue and bring that to the attention of the environmental justice community and vice versa that they will argue for the fact that nuclear power and nuclear weapons are environmental justice concerns. So these are two huge opportunities that the crisis situation we have now afforded us Libbe HaLevy 05:55:41 For those people, listening, who want to jump forward and do something substantive right now, what would you suggest they do? What are some actions they can take? Dave Kraft 05:55:51 Certainly keep up on the news, but there are a number of activist organizations, both in power, weapons, and peace that people should consider supporting right now and, and becoming more informed on these issues and becoming more active. Secondly, those of you who are already politically involved, and you're going to be involved in creating slates and candidates and primaries that are coming up this year, raise this issue as the platform issue. This has to be really ratcheted up quite a bit in prominence. So those people who are in the, either the Republican party, the democratic party, the independence, the greens, this has to be a priority issue. And part of the platforms in the election year, 2022, this can be done now, thirdly, and I think very importantly, in the current situation, though, there are many organizations right now, which are establishing relief efforts for the people of Ukraine, the refugees who are leaving the country and going into Western Europe, as well as those who are remaining at home. And there will be opportunities and, and, and postings of reputable relief efforts for the people and the victims of Ukraine. And in this situation, those are things people could just do off the bat right now. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:04 Anything else you want to add? Dave Kraft 05:57:07 I wish I weren't so old. I wish I had more energy NIS. My organization is it turns 41 this year and we're doing it even before this. So this is not something that is a sprint. It's obviously a long distance race and long distance run. But we have an opportunity here now that we've been given, we can't squander it. We have to unfortunately take advantage of a crisis situation to take these two industries and say no more. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:33 It was Dave craft, executive director of nuclear energy information service, N E I S all links mentioned by Dave and the other interviewees will be available on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 5 8. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 1st, 2022. If you'd like to get nuclear hot seat by email every week, go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box. Put in your information. You'll get it hot off the press every week. If you wish to contact us, we're always available@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues from Ukraine and around the world, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the red donate button. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022, but you can quote me or cite my guests as long as you credit nuclear hot seat. And my guests organizations. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications and nuclear hot seat reminding you that what happens on earth stays on earth, which means that we are all in the nuclear hot seat. ### NH #557: Nuclear Downwinders (That’s All of Us): Journalist/Playwright Mary Dickson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-downwinders-radiation-cancer/ Published: 2022-02-23 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Downwinders – Actually, that would be all of us. Map shows all locations where fallout from atmospheric nuclear tests landed at least three times. Map created by and used courtesy of Richard L. Miller. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Downwinders – and that would be more of us than you might suspect. Mary Dickson is a Salt Lake City journalist and writer whose award-winning play, Exposed, puts a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her downwinder information talks. We talk about the horrific price paid by those who were downwind of the atmospheric atomic bomb tests of the 1950’s and 60’s… and the ongoing legacy of those blasts.Contact Mary Dickson: Exposed.Downwinders@gmail.com Mary Dickson Richard L. Miller‘s book, Under the Cloud: Decades of Nuclear Testing It is the original source for the keystone graphic of the map, seen above.Nuclear Downwinder Map – An excellent explanation of the map and what it means. It includes implications for those who live at distance from the Nevada bomb blasts, but are nevertheless at ongoing risk from the radiation it dispersed. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Pssst! Wanna make a lot of money? Forever? Why, radioactive nuclear waste as a business is just the ticket! Government money – mmmmmmm! LINKS: Webinar on Tik Tok for Activists by ReThink Media on March 15, 2022. To register, CLICK HERE.Call the Midwife episode with a story line about British sailors exposed to nuclear radiation from south Pacific bomb tests. Suddenly, years later, they have to deal with personal health issues and devastating problems with their infant offspring. The cause is only revealed near the end of the show. This episode is not yet available on Netflix, but can be accessed for free (at least in the U.S.) – CLICK HERE.The Bomb and Us: Why Gen Z Should Care about Nuclear Disarmament by Anna BartouxThe Ukraine crisis could trigger a nuclear catastrophe by Tilman Ruff, IPPNWThe Risk of Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine by Bennett Ramberg, former foreign affairs officer in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and author of Nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the Enemy.OIG "Special Inquiry" Finds Fraudulent, Counterfeit Parts in U.S. Reactors by Linda Pentz Gunter.Canada's Big Banks Urged to Drop Nuclear from Green Investment Portfolios Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear fallout, the deadly radiation gift nobody wants, but that keeps on giving anyway, down winter is a term used by those people who found themselves in the path of atomic bomb. Test fallout, both from the Trinity blast, the original one before Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the above ground testing in Nevada in the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, these people were exposed to untold amounts of radioactive material in fallout, which impacted and continues to impact their health. To this day. You might feel falsely assured that at least you did not live in one of those Western states that got hammered by Dudley fallout, but then you hear one extremely knowledgeable down winter tell you, Mary Dixon 00:00:52 I know that there were tests being done the whole time I was growing up. They were above ground test. And the thing I think that is the most alarming to me is that everybody still to this state, even here in Utah, they think that that fall out only went to this small geographic circle around Southern Utah parts of Nevada and parts of Arizona. When, if you look at where it went and the government knew from the beginning, how far that went, it went across this entire country and all the way up into Canada. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:27 Well, isn't that special when you hear it, put that clearly by a journalist who has thoroughly researched the issue for newspaper articles before reluctantly realizing that yes, she too was a down winder. You learn how bomb tests that ended in 1964 are still undermining health and safety all over the country. And that plunks every last one of us down into that dangerous seat that we all share, Announcer 00:01:58 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot seat? The our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:29 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with Mary Dixon. She is a, a playwright and a down winder. Someone whose health and life had been deeply impacted by the above ground nuclear bomb tests in Nevada. During the 1950s and sixties, Mary not only has the facts, she has the feelings and can articulate them, which is what shows up in her powerful play about downwinders exposed. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week per outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we are ever going to get out of Vladimir Putin. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:36 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off with Ukraine, where as of the time of this recording, Russian troops are in place to invade the country. But the media is catching up with the nuclear dangers angle of this story. As this Reuters article points out, should the Kremlin pull the trigger? It will encounter a hazard that no invading army has ever faced before 15 nuclear power reactors, which generate roughly 50% of Ukraine's energy needs at four sites. That includes six nuclear reactors at zapper ratio, which is only 120 miles from where Russia is mast on Ukraine's border. If struck the installations could effectively become radiological minds and Russia itself would be a victim of the ensuing wind borne, radioactive debris, Tilman, Ruff of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war states that nuclear power plants have a huge potential. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:46 As pre-positioned radiological weapons at risk are not only the nuclear reactors themselves, which are inside hardened containment vessels, but the far more vulnerable spent fuel pools, which contain years, if not decades of plutonium laced, fuel rods, submerged in water to try to keep them cool as was witnessed in Fukushima with that nuclear disaster reactor, meltdowns and explosions released vast amounts of radioactivity and do not require a high level of military assault, breaching reactor cores. They can happen simply from disruption to the constant power and circulating water system required to keep reactors and spent fuel pools. Cool, Nobel Laureate physicist professor Joseph described in his landmark 1981 study nuclear radiation warfare that precision guided bombardment or a commando raid with conventional weapons could rupture a reactor's containment and pressure vessel. And that very serious radiological consequences could ensue even without rupture of the pressure vessel. If the reactor cooling system were put out of action, the meltdown of the core could occur within less than one minute after the loss of coolant, which means that warn Ukraine could turn nuclear. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:08 If any of its nuclear power reactors and or spent reactor fuel cooling ponds were damaged sufficiently to cause loss of coolant meltdown and or an explosion. Two excellent articles on this. And we will link to both here in the U S counterfeit parts have been discovered in us nuclear plants potentially increasing the risk of a safety failure. This according to the inspector general of the nuclear regulatory commission, as a test, the inspector general sampled an unnamed plant in each of the NRCS four regions and found data showing fake parts were used in a plant in the U S Midwest. While the NRC is trying to foof this off with spokesperson Scott Burnell saying nothing in the report suggests an immediate safety concern, Edwin Lyman director of nuclear power safety at the union of concerned. Scientists said this troubling report shows that the NRC needs to do much more to ensure that counterfeit or fraudulent parts with potentially dangerous defects are kept out of U S nuclear power plants, including strengthening requirements for plant operators to report and correct such problems. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:16 As soon as they are discovered, the NRC does not currently require licensees to report counterfeit fraudulent or suspect items, except in extraordinary circumstances, such as those involving the failure of equipment that performs significant safety function, a status, which is determined by each nuclear power plant Fox guarding the henhouse, other U S nuclear reactor updates in Georgia, Southern company's beleaguered Vogel nuclear project is getting pushed back again. After the company discovered documentation issues that will delay completion by as much as six months prompting a $920 million charge. The reactor is now about seven years behind schedule and costs have doubled in Massachusetts following an I-Team investigative report on the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire, both Massachusetts senators are demanding an independent review of the place after the investigation showed that there was cracking concrete at the facility that is sometimes called concrete cancer in California. The nuclear regulatory commission found two security violations at Diablo canyon, but instead of correcting the violations owner operator Pacific gas and electric is trying to wriggle out of them by amending its license requirements. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:40 And enrichened Washington, some workers at the Columbia generating station received unexpected and significant exposure to radiation during the spring maintenance and refueling outage. The incident happened on May 28th, 2021 when radiation workers and pipe fitters were preparing for welding on piping of the highly contaminated reactor water cleanup heat exchanger, radioactive contamination was found on the faces of two pipe fitters and also contaminated were one radiation protection technician and 18 other workers for those pro nuclear walks, pushing nuclear energy as green, take a look at just a few of the dangers and radiological problems with reactors that already exist that have shown up in the last week in Canada, 78 public interest groups are calling on Canada's biggest banks to drop investments in nuclear power, including the so-called small modular nuclear reactors, and remove nukes from being listed as their fossil free and ESG meaning environment, social and governance criteria for their investment portfolios. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:52 The banks are all members of the net zero banking Alliance and industry led United nations convened group. We'll link to a letter from Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility, which has all the details and Francis EDF energy limited electricity de France posted eight 21 million pound 29 million us dollars loss in earnings for 2021. This impact on Francis' largest utility was largely the result of unplanned nuclear plant outages. Many of them caused by the discovery of cracking pipes within the reactors. EDF stock has dropped 19.3% in value since the start of 2022. And now Libbe HaLevy 01:10:52 In setting up a business marketing guru, say, you need one of two things. You either need something that people buy use completely and then have to buy it again, like vitamins. The other is to service a business or a need that will never go away. And that's certainly the definition of radioactive waste. A recent article in the British publication, financial mail touted the acumen of a company called metal craft. It makes ultra strong three meter cubed steel boxes. Initially it focused on the medical and scientific markets, but more recently has been creating boxes to house radioactive waste from the Sellafield nuclear silos. The tons of nuclear waste from Sellafield in Cumbria needs to be packaged and securely stored as part of the decommissioning process and metal craft has cornered the market. It has already been awarded a contract of up to 70 million pounds to supply about 1000 units over the next six years, but Sellafield will need some 70,000 containers over the next three decades and few firms, other than metal craft have the technical ability to make them so over the next 30 years, metal craft stands to make almost $5 billion and that's without accounting for inflation. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:21 As a result, this column sights, the parent company of metal craft, adding trans as quote a well-run business with a track record of success and recommends the chairs be bought. And that is how the curse of radioactive nuclear waste can actually make people richer, nothing about the ethics, morality or dangers of nuclear radiation just let's make money. And that's why Joanna heart of financial male who wrote this article. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:13:01 And they're not the only ones just ask Holtec we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first you may have heard me talk about nuclear hot seats website revamp over the past many months, and you may have even thought, so where is it already? Well, it's very close and we are aiming to be up by mid March. Why did it take so long? First of all, we're talking about a website with 556 podcasts and counting each one of which has its own page. Each page has multiple links. It is massive. The largest website the designer has ever worked on second, we have added a slew of new features, multiple search functions to make it user-friendly a section which links to all the episodes, featuring our top experts, cutting edge search engine optimization so that nuclear hot seat can be found online. And now pre-launch, we have the opportunity to add full transcripts of all the shows. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:11 So you can read the content, not just listen. As you might imagine, this kind of a website revamp does not come cheaply. I've been quietly fundraising for many months to cover this long planned upgrade. But the opportunity to add transcripts has just come up and it's going to require additional funding to get it started. We're going to need $500. So now would be the perfect time to help us out if you value nuclear, Hotsy honest nuclear news from around the world that mainstream media continues to neglect. And if you want to be able to not only listen, but read the show's content right now is exactly when we need your help. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size, do what you can now and know that however much you are able to help. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:08 I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's this week's featured interview. Sometimes I meet someone for the first time during an interview, and we have such a good connection. We both know there will be more to come from knowing each other, such as the case with this week's interview. Mary Dixon is a salt lake city based journalist and writer whose award-winning play exposed, put a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for nuclear responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her downwind. Her information talks. I spoke with Mary Dixon on Friday, December 4th, 2020, Mary Dixon. So great to have you here with us today on nuclear hot seat. Oh, Mary Dixon 01:16:03 It's so great to be with you really. I so appreciate this opportunity. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:08 Let's start with a little bit about you so that we can get to know you. What is your background? Mary Dixon 01:16:15 My background was as a journalist, I worked for a newspaper, mostly I also freelanced edited a publication called the desert sun Utah's peace news. And that was at a time when we were covering the Nevada test site, an underground test and trying to get a test ban going. So that's my background. I did not realize I was a down winder though. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 29, just the spring before my big birthday. And I just thought I had bad luck. I didn't think much of it. Ironically, I was writing about this. I was writing about people who got sick. I was interviewing them. I didn't put it together. That that's what happened to me, but the more I dug in and researched, the more I found out, I would read articles about how thyroid cancer was. One of the most common cancers caused by fallout from nuclear testing. Mary Dixon 01:17:10 And it pretty much took me by surprise. It was like a sock in the gut to think, okay, my own government did this to me. And then I started looking at the people I grew up with because there were children growing up with me who died of brain tumors and the neighborhood, the five block neighborhood I grew up in my sister and I counted 54 people who got cancer, strange tumors. They also got auto immune diseases and we thought, okay, something happened to us and it's very hard to prove, but we knew something happened to us. And it's just, the more I found out, the more I was convinced. That's what happened to me. Okay. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:53 What were you told growing up about the tests or did you have any awareness of it at all? Mary Dixon 01:17:59 Oh yeah. You know, we had those cheesy little film strips. They would show us in grade school dock and cover. I can still sing it. You remember Bert? The turtle was our fruit. There was a turtle by the name of Bert. And I always thought it was strange that you could just get under your desk, put a newspaper over your head and you'd be fine. I thought, I don't think that's how it works. And they would make us go into the bomb shelter of this school with our jug Clorox jug, full of water. And all I could think was where do we pee? If the bomb falls, we've got water, we've got no food. So I remember that as a child, I remember the film strips that had that dreaded voice of a narrator telling us that communism would be coming to America. We'd all be speaking Russian. So there were a lot of scare tactics. I grew up with. We had food storage in my basement. We grew up, we would go to my grandfather's and drink milk straight from the cow. We ate our vegetables. We played in puddles of water. We made snow cones out of snow, just put sugar Manila in them all the time. Not knowing that there was a silent poison threading its way through our bodies, Libbe HaLevy 01:19:14 Which was the radiation. The radioactivity that was left over from the bombs. Mary Dixon 01:19:18 Exactly that fell out. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:21 Was there any word at all that was given about radioactivity, the need to protect oneself from it was that part of the discourse at all, growing up, Mary Dixon 01:19:31 Never, never what we got. I actually have a copy of it. It's this little booklet that the government printed about nuclear tests. Basically. They said there was no need to worry. There's even a part in there that says many of you have heard about radiation and are using Geiger counters, do not let this alarm you. And they told us we were part of a great national experiment and every little picture in there we'd be was of Cowboys. You know, it was just like all we were out here or Cowboys, Indians, and Mormons. We didn't matter. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:05 At what point did illness start showing up in your family Mary Dixon 02:20:09 And my family, it was when I was in my twenties, in my twenties. But you know, this, this, this is a thing with fallout. It doesn't show up as disease sometimes for 20, 30, 40 years. So it's really hard for people to connect the dots and say, well, my cancer was linked to that, like my thyroid cancer. And they say that especially women exposed as children are a lot more susceptible. So who knows how long it took that to show up in me. I know that there were tests being done the whole time I was growing up. They were above ground test. And the thing I think that is the most alarming to me is that everybody still to this day, even here in Utah, they think that that fall out only went to this small geographic circle around Southern Utah hearts of Nevada and parts of Arizona. Mary Dixon 02:21:04 When, if you look at where it went and the government knew from the beginning, how far that went, it went across this entire country and all the way up into Canada. There's a map that a man by the name of Richard Miller put together based on government data, data from us weather service. And he tracked where fallout from at least three above ground test went. And if you look at that map, that map is the most profound thing. I show people they're always startled because you chose almost blacked out, but it goes across the Midwest, which is where our agriculture and most of our food came from. And it goes all the way to upstate New York. So they knew from the beginning where that went, I'm familiar with, Libbe HaLevy 02:21:52 With that map. And I will put it up on the website under this episode, Mary Dixon 02:21:57 You know, for a while, the government actually kept on the department of energy website maps of where every test went. And there were three different lines because it different level of the atmosphere. It goes in different directions. And for a while, I was printing out, especially the tests that were conducted underground because people kept saying they didn't leak, they were safe. So I printed those maps out. I wish now that I had printed everything out because it shows where it went, how far it went. It's pretty shocking. When people see it, there was actually a study done in 2019 out of the university of Arizona. And he looked mostly at agricultural contamination and he predicted that 500,000 people in the U S mostly the Midwest and the east likely died as a result of exposure to fall out from contaminated agriculture. And these are things we just don't hear about. Mary Dixon 02:23:00 It was like that study that came out in 97 that the national cancer Institute did. And they only looked at radioactive iodine, which causes thyroid cancer, but it was a huge study. It was like 120 pages. They also concluded that every county in the continental us got some level of fallout from testing. And that probably 212,000 lifetime cases of thyroid cancer were the result of testing. But that study was not going to be released. Somebody leaked it, and that's how it got out. So there's been huge coverup about the effects and the human cost of testing. Since the beginning, Libbe HaLevy 02:23:44 I'm currently completing my research and have begun the writing of a play that deals with someone who is involved in the coverup since before we knew there was a need for a cover-up. So I'm very familiar with the earlier years of that and how lack of information about radio activity, its existence and its negative impact on the human body have all been repressed in order to allow the moving forward of nuclear bombs, nuclear reactors, and all of the mess that we've gotten ourselves into since the beginning it's been embedded in the entire process. Mary Dixon 02:24:21 Yeah, from the beginning there was cover up. There are still even when under Clinton, they released some of those documents. There are still parts that are redacted. And I got copies of the atomic energy commission minutes from the fifties, when they moved to testing, they were thinking of moving testing in the continental us. And when they found out what the testing was doing, there was actually one AEC commissioner who said, nothing's going to get in the way of testing nothing. They called it the judicious handling of public information, which is essentially propaganda. It's Libbe HaLevy 02:24:57 The manufacturer of consent. It's public relations. Mary Dixon 02:25:00 Yes, yes, yes. And so to look at the human cost of testing, it's staggering and people think this is something that's over. And I keep saying a lot over people's cancers are coming back. People are still getting sick. The auto-immune diseases are kind of out of control. It's not over, we're still living with that fallout. And the people I've worked with so hard in this movement, most of them are gone. I'm the one left, you know? And I think what happens when we're all gone, who remembers these stories? What happens? The man who was my mentor, who I worked with so closely it's cancer's back. He's told me the last time he talked to me, he said, I know I'm dying. And I thought to write about my experiences before I die. It just breaks my heart. The loss is sometimes really hard to deal with. And even in my own family, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:59 Let's get into that with your own family because you and your sister, and both had cancers where you, the first one diagnosed, how did this play out within the family? Mary Dixon 02:26:12 Okay. I was the first one diagnosed, but my sister had actually died of lupus. She had lupus, it took them forever to diagnose her. And she ended up dying at age 46, leaving three kids behind you. I'm extremely close to and helped my nephew. In fact, lived with me for a while. And then it took more years now. My, I mean, I come from a large family. Now, my other younger sister has a rare stomach cancer. My youngest sister had autoimmune disorders that she's been doing virtual calls to Johns Hopkins with the try and figure out what they are. And then I look at the next generation and what's showing up in them like breast cancer and a 32 year old niece. Her sister has autoimmune disorders or other sister also, and lupus as well as other things. So I just look at how this is trickled throughout my family. And yet I know people who actually lost everyone in their family to cancer. It's heartbreaking, but people, again, don't connect the dots. And I would say the vast majority of downwinders in America will never know that's what happened to them. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:32 When did you realize that the cancers and your sister's auto-immune disease were from the same source were because you were downwinders and at what point did you accept that label for yourself? And what did that take? Mary Dixon 02:27:48 That is a very good question, because it's hard to think of yourself as a day on winter. And I think that probably happened when I was reading a lot of things about the illnesses that are related to radiation and there was thyroid cancer and there was lupus and there was other autoimmune diseases. And there were still a part of me and did not want to believe it. I thought, no, I was just unlucky. I didn't want to believe it. But then all the things I kept finding out and all the people I kept talking to, I thought I really am. I really am a down winder. And it was, it's hard to accept that because I have many friends who I am very confident are like, I know a woman she's older than I am. She lost her husband to cancer. And then her five-year-old ended up getting bone cancer, had his leg amputated and woke up and fed mommy where's my leg. Mary Dixon 02:28:43 And yet she did not consider herself a down winder. And she was from much closer to the test site than I was. So to put that label on yourself, it is kinda hard, but I view myself as a survivor. I mean, I survived. So I feel like I have an obligation to share this story. And one of my friends who died and she had actually been studied at the Mayo clinic and they told her it was from radiation. But if she told anybody that they'd deny it, she had like whole gloves and hair come out in her hand. But she was always saying to me, you got better. You have to do this work where to sit. So I always felt an obligation Libbe HaLevy 02:29:31 Given that your background is as a journalist, how did this awareness of yourself as having been victimized by this of having been a down winder influence, writing of news articles and features Mary Dixon 02:29:44 As a journalist, I felt like I definitely had a point of view now. So I ended up writing about it a lot. I wrote a lot of editorials about it and affairs, and I thought, you know what? I'm in this unique position, I can write, I need to write this. And of course I'm biased because I am a Don winter, but I think it gave me a unique perspective. And again, an obligation to tell that story, Libbe HaLevy 03:30:15 What motivated you to begin writing exposed as a play, as opposed to a book or a series of articles or something? Because your background is not in theater. Why a five? Mary Dixon 03:30:29 Okay. I actually didn't start out writing a play. I was at the Mesa refuge employment. Ray is to work on a book about this. And I left there with a 200 and seventy-five page manuscript and I hadn't finished it. And on the plane one time I was reading those atomic energy commission minutes. And I thought this is like high drama. And I'd written monologues and had them produce. I thought, okay, I'm just going to write something based on these. And I started doing that. And then I felt, well, I'm going to weave into this interviews I've done with downwinders. I did that. And I really did not intend to write a play. I mean, I'm a huge theater goer. I love theater and have many friends in theater. And I ran into a woman who was an actual play. Right. And she said, I want to talk to you because I want to do my next play about downwinders. I said, oh, that's funny. Cause I'm kind of working on this thing. She goes, no, no, no, it's your story, Mary I'll help you. However I can. And I started just putting together those monologues. I had friends who were actress, come read them. I thought, well, this doesn't really work. Then I met this woman, Mimi Kennedy from LA, who was, Libbe HaLevy 03:31:37 I know Mimi Kennedy. You only referred to somebody from who was an actress and a theater person in Los Angeles. I didn't know it was somebody I knew. Mary Dixon 03:31:46 Well, she was here for some democratic fundraiser and I gave her a ride home. And for some reason we got on this subject and she was telling me about the thyroid issues in her family. And I just said, well, are you from Bergen county? And she's like, how do you know? I said, oh, that was one of the hotspots. And we got to talking and I told her I was working on this thing. And she said, well, send it to me. I sent it to her. I should call them up. She says, married, you've got the real story is you and your sister. That's going to be the thread that weaves it together. And I said, I can't, that's just, it's too hard for me. It's too close. I just can't because it was really devastating when she died. And she said, that's the heart of your that's already your play. Mary Dixon 03:32:26 And so I started working on it. I called a friend of mine here, go to a coffee shop and I'd give her seeds. And she would just tell me, oh, this is so great. How you did this with the arc. I didn't know what she was talking about. I just thought, well, okay. But it was incredibly helpful. And Mamie said, you know, send it to me. I'll get my actor, friends here to do it. And then she called me up and she said, well, how's it coming? I'm like, oh, fine, fine. She said, oh great. And I thought, oh no, I've got to finish it. I really, I hadn't done it. And then my friend here ended up sending it to a director at a theater. She said, I just, I want to send it. Can I send it to him? I said, no, no, no, it's not finished. Mary Dixon 03:33:06 It's not finished. She says, it doesn't matter. Let me just send it to him. Well, he called me the next day and said, I want to open my season with this. I'm like, but it's not finished. It's not finished. And he said, well, workshop it. Do you know? I didn't even know what that meant. I just went. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, the first day we workshop that thing, everyone in the cast was not just crying, but they started telling their own stories. It turns out the director's mother had died of stomach cancer. They all had a story to tell. And the director said, do you see what you've done here? Do you see how this has hit people? And then we workshopped at, also in Walnut Creek at a theater. And I was sitting next to a woman in the audience who had no idea who it was. Mary Dixon 03:33:48 And she just kept going, oh my God. Oh my God. What if this really happened? And I said, it did happen. And it happened to me. I wrote that thing. That's my story. So it was, I just remember a friend of mine because I would sit there at my computer and just cry riding that thing. And my friend said to me, she said, you know, Mary, it's easy. You just cut up on your vein some bleed. And I feel like I bled all over those pages. It was hard to do. It was emotionally really hard. And every time that thing is produced or has a reading, I fall apart every time. And when it was produced in salt lake, we did these talk backs afterwards. So every night I had to relive that thing every night. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:37 First of all, as a playwright, who's written from very emotional, personal material. I can appreciate what you have gone through in putting this together. And it's an old saying about writing. It's very simple. You just sit down, open a vein and bleed, but a play like this and I've read it. And I found it tremendously moving and exciting and infuriating. And so many other things it's clear how much care and concern and focus you put on this in order to bring it forth as such a complete vision that works for an audience. Mary Dixon 03:35:22 Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:23 Which brings me to a big question, which I think we have to be clear about. And that is that really in terms of structure, it weaves back and forth between the two adult sisters and what they're going through. And these officials who are being cited saying some of the most outrageous things imaginable, except they don't have to be imagined. Cause they're right there. And my question is where did you get this source material for the officials? And how much, if any Liberty did you take with what the source material was to make it as effective as it is from the stage? Was there any embellishment, was there any addition to it or did you leave it pretty much intact? Okay. Mary Dixon 03:36:09 And left it pretty much intact because what they say and what they said was so outrageous at times, it's so unbelievable. And I did, I would always like when I go talk about this thing, I always say, I didn't make it up. You couldn't make this stuff up. And I tried to keep everything that I'd already written before. I mean, I'd written some articles and some journal pieces and from the book I'd started. So I had everything sourced and I just used it all. A lot of those interviews I have with people in there are the actual interviews. Of course, you know, you don't remember word for word everything, but I'm one of those people who takes notes and writes everything down. And the two officials, I did have to make it just two officials who said all the things. And so while they're kind of unnamed officials, everything they say is something people had said, it's pretty much, I guess you'd call it almost you not used to. I remember I had to go talk to a theater class and I said, I'm just not clever enough to make this stuff up, Libbe HaLevy 03:37:18 Nor I think, are you diabolical enough to come up with some of those things that were said, which are absolutely harmonic with all the research that I have been doing into the very early years and the pre Trinity years of what, what people were saying and the liberties that were being taken with the future life and health of people, the environment and the planet. Mary Dixon 03:37:39 I mean, we were all considered expendable. We were expendable. I mean, we were casualties of the cold war. That's what I always say. We were better and said, one of my dearest friends who died a horrible death, she said, yeah, I'm a veteran of the cold war. Only. No one will ever put a flag over my coffin. That that always really got me. But there's also a writer, Barbara Rose Johnston, and shorten this book half lies and half crews. And she said that nuclear testing did not prevent a nuclear war. It was a nuclear war. I mean, we bombed our own 928 times a hundred above ground arrest underground 920 times. That number is almost unfathomable to me. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:24 That is the exact quote that I was about to bring up about the fact that testing didn't prevent a nuclear war. It was a nuclear war and we wage it on ourselves. I flash back to the Nazi scientists who were brought over unvetted to the United States to be part of the atomic team operation paperclip. And when I see the photos of the soldiers, the us soldiers standing with an exploded atomic bomb in the background, having been given the order to go towards the bomb to test their psychology, all I can think is that there is some unvetted, Nazi scientists who put this idea out. Who's laughing hysterically because we're doing to ourselves what the Germans couldn't do to us, which is Mary Dixon 03:39:15 Yes, they were Guinea pigs. And I met a very, I mean, in all this work I've done, I've met so many amazing people. I met this very dear man who was a poet in Colorado who wasn't atomic veteran and wrote a book called folding paper cranes. And he was such a lovely man, but he talks about those experiences. He had running toward the blast and he had gone in after the bombing of Hiroshima and saw what it did. And so he told me when he went running out of the trenches to work ground zero, all he could think is I'm going to die. Yeah. His book is quite compelling. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:56 So the play has had a number of staged readings. Has it ever received a full production? And where does it stand now? Mary Dixon 04:40:05 Okay, well, it had the full production here twice. I mean, they extended the run. It was extended an extra week. Cause it kept selling out. It had a full production in St. George, but it's been done in Eugene, Oregon as a reading and some other places. We had one scheduled for last may in New York at the player's club. The director was just so moved that he just wanted to do it. He said he would get his actor, friends. And we had the invitations. We had it all set up. It was going to be in conjunction with a UN conference. I mean, we had that thing already to go and then COVID hit. So, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:42 And I had a production of shattered secrets that was scheduled to open in Nashville on March 20th, Mary Dixon 04:40:49 Like 10 days after the shutdown, 10 Libbe HaLevy 04:40:51 Days before our opening, we got the word, it wasn't unexpected, but it was heartbreaking. People think that lives dealing with plays and theater and all of that can be so romantic and so wonderful. Yes. Mary Dixon 04:41:03 I would love to have it done some more. I know it's been used in some college classes and I had someone who said, can you please figure out a publishes? So classrooms can use it as a text because I could easily footnote things. I mean, there are things I would love to do with it. We did have more readings of it here in March. Again like the night before the shut down, it had its last reading here. And it just always amazed as me that when I go to rehearsals for this, the cast just loses it. I mean, they were crying so hard at the rehearsal for this reading. We had to take a break and I thought, damn, I guess I'm pretty good at making people cry. But it's also funny. I mean, it's got humor in it too. It's not yet. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:50 Yes it does. It has to because that's the only thing that's going to carry people through is knowing that there will be times that no matter how bleak the information, you will laugh as to one of the areas where there is no laughter at the very end of the play there is. And I, I find myself choking up, as I'm even thinking about this, there is a litany that is read of the people that you knew of in this list that you had been compiling of people who had died. And each of the cast members that I don't know how many there are, but each one of them six. So each one of them recites 49 names simultaneously. So there is this cacophony, this is this wall of names. Here I go surrounding the audience with the truth of it. And it ends with the name of your sister. Mary Dixon 04:42:46 Now you're going to make me cry Libbe HaLevy 04:42:48 Well, because it's so true. It's so powerful. How have audiences responded when they get to the end of the show? And they've just gone through that tunnel of truth. Mary Dixon 04:43:02 Oh, I love that tunnel of truth. You know what they break down and it's, they would walk out of that theater just sobbing. And we did during the original run, we put up huge. What's your paper in the foyer and ask the director at the end, you know, for a talkback would say we invite any of you to add names, you know, up to that list. Well, it filled so fast. We had to stop. We had to take it down, but there were always more names that would come out and people would come out of there and start telling me about people they'd lost. And it was incredibly emotional and powerful. And we had our mayor, I remember one night the mayor was going to get up and lead a discussion and he had to just sit there while, because he had to regain his composure. So yeah, that's kinda my tribute to the dead so that they won't be forgotten. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:05 And it also sounds like a wonderful motivating force for people in the audience. First of all, to come out of denial of this has been anywhere in their own life. And whether it has touched them personally or not to have an understanding of outrage as to what has been done to all of us, which of course then makes it the perfect time to go, okay, here's an that we need you to take to become part of a movement to then fill in the blank, whether it is, we need people right now, this is happening right now, by the way, to write to our legislators about the need to extend the radiation exposure compensation act. We just had a huge piece about that legislation last week, show nuclear hot seat, number 4 93. And to use this really as an awareness and a consciousness raising and as a result of that, a recruitment tool to get people to fight against nuclear because they'll understand why they should. So my question to you is how can this play be made available? Do you have it in published form for people? Have you considered doing just a quick create space down and dirty for Amazon so that it's available? What can be done to get this play into the hands of people who want to read it and B who might want to figure out how to do it on zoom? Because I think it's very zoomable Mary Dixon 04:45:38 Yeah. That's what, one of the actresses who was in it said, why can't we do this on zoom? I thought, well, maybe we should. Yeah, because I think it is a great tool. I think nothing's as powerful as a story as people's stories, especially when it's a true story, it just has incredible power and people do want to get involved and I print up those maps and give them to you to say, well, I have these with you. Show them to people because I keep one in my wallet. I show it to people. But one of the things they can do, as you said, or I'm so glad you did a program, the radiation exposure compensation act, because that thing never was inclusive enough. It identified this narrow little circle. And as I said, Southern Utah, a piece of Arizona in Nevada. So everybody, all these decades has, I think once people know how widespread it was and what it did, they always start saying, oh my uncle, my aunt, my whatever. Mary Dixon 04:46:39 They will find reason now to call and say, you've got to expand compensation. I mean, the thing is compensation was only $50,000. So your life was worth $50,000 or your loved one's life was worth $50,000. But only if you could prove you lived in one of those rural counties, they were sure they got the rural ones in. They didn't want an urban area because that would be too many people. If you could prove you live there during certain years and you got one of 18 kinds of cancer while there weren't just 18 kinds of cancer either. So what they're doing and one of our congressmen who was just the best guy and who was fighting to expand it, unfortunately he wasn't reelected and Q and honor won over him. But the radiation exposure compensation act adds states. It increases the amount to 150,000. I would hope that we could see justice for downwinders. Mary Dixon 04:47:36 I mean, when you think of it and the sacrifice so many people made, I think that compensation is a must, but more than anything I think is the commitment never to test again. And as you know, Trump wanted to resume nuclear testing. He thought that was fine, which I'm sure he had absolutely no idea of the history of testing this country or if it's ever its consequences. But I'm glad to report that our Congressman who's at least in till January, thank goodness Ben McAdams. He succeeded in blocking funding for preparations to get the Nevada test site, to resume testing. So that language was put in a Senate defense policy bill. They were going to give $10 million to prepare the test site. He got that voted out. So I'm thrilled about that. But as I always say, all our victories are temporary. We have to just keep fighting and remain ever vigilant because people, administrations, governments keep saying, we, we need those weapons and nobody's safe. As long as they're saying that, Libbe HaLevy 04:48:47 Mary there's so much more that we could. And ultimately we'll be talking about with each other that will far spill beyond the boundaries of this interview. If people wish to follow up with you and learn more about the script, which I think is brilliant, it's powerful. It is deceptively simple in the way that it plays out. It's just two parallel storylines that totally contradict each other with a lot of details in it. If somebody wants to get in touch with you and maybe explore what could be done with the script, what's the best way for them to do so. Mary Dixon 04:49:28 If people want to reach me about the player, anything else, I'm happy to talk to anyone they can do exposed dot downwinders@gmail.com. So that's exposed dot downwinders@gmail.com Libbe HaLevy 04:49:42 And that's exposed D with a D at the end of it. Yes. Mary Dixon 04:49:46 Yes, yes. And I'm always happy to talk to people about this. Always. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:51 I am so thrilled that I caught you on one of the many zoom in ours that are going on and had no idea that we had as much in common as we did in terms of all our backgrounds. And we're going to have a real wingding of a conversation once this interview is over. But for now, Mary Dixon, thank you for your courage, your writing, your work, your play exposed, and for being my guest this week on nuclear Hotsy. Mary Dixon 05:50:21 Oh, it pure pleasure. Thank you. Thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:25 That was down winder journalist and playwright, Mary Dixon. We had no idea. We shared so many commonalities until the actual interview. Now, a few things in following up, we talked about her play extensively and kept neglecting to mention the name of it. So here it is, again, the play is called exposed and it is by Mary Dickson, D I C K S O N. When Mary referenced the map by Richard Miller, we originally had some confusion as to what it actually represents to be clear. There were 100 atomic bomb blasts that were tested above ground in Nevada. They were in the atmosphere and the black lines on the map show the places in the United States where radiation fall out, clouds were tracked over an area at least three separate times from three separate blasts, some versions of the map, online state, that there were two separate blasts. Sometimes there's a bit of confusion as to whether it's from all the blasts or not. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:32 But through Mary, we checked back with the maps creator, Richard Miller, and it's the fallout cloud went over these areas at least three times, by the way, Richard Miller's book is entitled under the cloud, the decades of nuclear thinking. And we should probably get him on the show for an interview as well. Now, if you would like to keep one of those maps in your wallet to show people, it's the Keystone picture I'm using for this week's show. So you can grab it, put it onto your hard drive and print it out in any form. You like put it on a baseball cap. And also we will have a link up for Mary Dixon on the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 57 speaker 3 05:52:18 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:26 There is a webinar coming up in March on Tik TOK, meaning it is about how to work with Tik TOK, not on Tik TOK itself. Now Tik TOK presents a unique opportunity for advocacy groups looking to reach new and younger audiences and expand their reach. As the platform continues to shape the future of digital media it's being put on by John Pope and rethink media. And that has been a source of a lot of great information on how to use social media, to our benefit in the training. Everything will be covered from launching a Tik TOK account to the best practices when creating new content among specific points will be strategies for launching a new tic-tac account insights on how to create Tik TOK content, best practices for the platform and top tips for growing your audience on Tik TOK. At the end of the formal presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:29 This will be on Tuesday, March 15 at 1:00 PM. Eastern 10:00 AM Pacific time. We'll have a link where you can go to sign up for the webinar on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 57, speaking of younger activists, there is an article that we're going to link to called the bomb and us. Why gen Z should care about nuclear disarmament. And it's written by a member of that target audience, Anna Barto, who is a junior studying political science at Columbia university school of general studies, click on the link, give it a read and then send that link to any gen zeros you happen to know as we activists with a preponderance of gray hair. No, we must get the younger generation involved if this movement is to continue. And here's an unexpected support to our perspective, the British TV series called the midwife, which is featured on Netflix, has a storyline about British sailors exposed to nuclear radiation from south Pacific bomb tests. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:38 The sailors suddenly years later dealing with personal health issues and devastating problems with their infant offspring. This particular episode has not yet been posted to Netflix, but it is available for free viewing here in the United States on PBS. We will have a link to it on the website and note that it is only at the end of the episode that you learn that the problems that have been explored in the episode relate back to nuclear radiation from bomb tests. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dot wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org see preview.org anti-nuclear dot net reuters.com. omaha.com. John manabu.com Japan times.co.jp Mark Z. Jacobson on Twitter BNN, bloomberg.ca M S n.com. Try dash city herald.com. Ed Lyman of ucs.org. Again via Twitter, U S news.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:59 Detroit news.com Oregon live.com straight times.com the diplomat.com the guardian.com Tokyo dot N P that's ceo.jp, Dr. Gordon Edwards and CC and r.org nuke safety. You see S on Twitter, financial post.com, independent.co.uk F t.com Telegraph co.uk marketwatch.com and be captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. For those of you who would like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, it's a terrific way to not miss a single episode. It's easy to do so just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and fill in your first name and your email address. As soon as the show posts every week, you will get a link plus a brief description of the content. And we'd like to hear from you. If you have a story lead, a hot tip, or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:11 And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button and know that when you click on it and follow the prompts, whatever you do will be a big help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 libi Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that is Hiroshima survivor Setsuko. Thurlow said the nuclear arsenal represents a self-destruct button for the human race. Now, someone tell that to Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. Both. There you go. You just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we're all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:17 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear, hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking Hotsy it's the bomb ### NH #556: Fukushima Thyroid Cancer in Kids - Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-thyroid-cancer-in-kids-mangano/ Published: 2022-02-16 Duration: 00:58:59 Fukiushima thyroid cancer in kids – 5 former Japanese Prime Ministers cite the known facts while current Prime Minister lashes out to protect nuclear industry image. Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, Exec. Director of Radiation and Public Health Project (above), cites landmark Cherobyl book to back up his findings. This Week's Featured Interview: Joseph Mangano is Executive director of Radiation and Public Health Project. He is an epidemiologist – one who searches for the cause of disease, identifies people who are at risk, determines how to control or stop the spread, or prevent it from happening again. Joe has over 30 years of experience working with nuclear numbers and comes from a history of teasing out health information from data. We spoke on Friday, February 11, 2022. LINKS from Interview: Chernobyl: Consequences of the Disaster for People and the Environment by Yablakov, Nesterenko, Sherman. Excerpt from a book on Jerome Wiesner, JFK science advisor (who, among other things, received a copy of an article on St. Louis baby teeth results on the buildup of Strontium-90 in teeth, and who presented these to JFK). Go to page 58, and you'll see the JFK quote about radioactive fallout: "You mean it's in the rain out there?" LINK to address by President John F. Kennedy Address to the Nation on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July 26, 1963Transcript of President Kennedy's speech. National Cancer Institute 1999 study on Iodine-131 in bomb test fallout, and the estimated 11,300 to 212,000 thyroid cancers among persons age 0-19 from 1951-1962, from Nevada testing. RE: Los Alamos National Lab's recent accident and radiation release: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Is this "lucky" Pokemon really worth exposing kids to Fukushima radiation? Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Fukushima and children's thyroid cancer rates. It's a hot topic in Japan right now as five former prime ministers and the current prime minister face off over whether the 2011 triple nuclear meltdown has harm children exposed to radiation at that time. And since or not, the former prime minister say it did the current administration denies it and is trying to bury the accusation, who to believe the only comparison of radiation impact on children after a nuclear accident is with that other massive nuclear reactor accident. The one at your noble in 1986. So when a genuine expert on radiation and health damage to children tells you Joseph Mangano 00:00:50 In the first 15 years after the explosion and the meltdown at Chernobyl, the rates of firearm cancer in children in Belarus rose 200 times in the Ukraine, it rose 20 times. And for every thyroid cancer case, there are 29 other cases of children who have other thyroid disease. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:20 Well when Joseph of radiation and public health project points out the historic understanding of nuclear accident, radiation release, and child thyroid cancer cases, you get a very clear uncompromising picture of the exact nature of that dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:43 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:14 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we take a look at the pushback against child thyroid cancer rates in Japan, following Fukushima, we talk with Joseph Mangano. He is executive director of radiation and public health project, and an epidemiologist who for more than 30 years has been examining health data in the wake of nuclear accidents and radiation releases around the planet. He lets us know the merits of the child, thyroid cancer arguments in Japan, with suggestions of what kinds of research need to be done to determine the truth. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:15 We will also include an historic clip of a speech by president John F. Kennedy referenced by Joe, which took place just prior to the partial nuclear test ban treaty being enacted in 1963. And of course, we will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information. Then it's going to appear at the Oscars this year. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 15th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off here in the U S where there have been a lot of problems recently at nuclear reactors on February 5th, the economy to nuclear reactor in South Carolina, scrammed meaning and had an emergency shutdown. And it was labeled an unusual event, which is the first of four categories that the nuclear regulatory commission uses to categorize things that really should not be happening at nuclear reactors. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:26 According to Edwin Lyman of the union of concerned scientists, a blown fuse caused the coolant pumps to trip triggering the shutdown overheating caused the coating on a pipe to break down and smoke. According to a Connie owner, duke energy, there was no fire and no radioactive release suspect factors that have not yet been addressed, include the temperature that caused the smoking from the cladding on the pipes. It would have to be really high. And the question is why also, according to Lyman, the NRC nuclear regulatory commission found two violations at the Limerick nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, including operating for six months in 2021 with a broken valve that impaired the plant's ability to reach and maintain cold shutdown in certain fire scenarios and Arnie Gunderson, chief engineer with Fairwinds energy education and a former licensed nuclear plant operator wrote on Twitter for 16 years, the Waterford nuclear reactor was improperly calibrating, its radiation monitors, and nobody noticed more than half gave inaccurate readings, 600 employees to resident inspectors and numerous and RC and Institute of nuclear power operator audits. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:54 And nobody noticed in New Mexico, the national nuclear security agency has formed an accident investigation board to look into last months reported leak that contaminated several workers at the Los Alamos national laboratory. The Santa Fe new Mexican reports that a breached plutonium glove box at Los Alamos on January seven released airborne radioactive material. That was more than doubled the yearly limit for the work area. The leak occurred in a sealed compartment, which has attached gloves. So workers can handle radioactive material according to a report by the defense nuclear facility, safety board, a Los Alamos employee noticed the breach after working with a container of legacy waste in the glove box alarms then sounded prompting the six person crew to evacuate. No word has yet been released on the employee's health, or if anyone has yet been able to return Bloomberg published an article entitled the nuclear industry argues regulators don't understand new small reactors parentheses, correct. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:04 Congress has ordered the nuclear regulatory commission to replace a rules framework that dates to the 1950s, the new guidelines aren't expected until at least 2025. That means that to prove the safety of designs, the commission demands data from similar plants. The problem being that none of the smaller installations have yet been built in the U S so there's no performance history. The newer technology typically uses substances such as molten, salt, and lead or gases like helium to keep the core from overheating, but no company employing these technologies has won a construction license and only one design a water-cooled model as all of the current models are water-cooled. This one from new scale power has been approved and is intended to be built at Idaho national laboratories. So the NRC is tasked with trying to regulate a technology that has not yet been built. That is not clearly understood, has not been approved. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:07 And nuclear insiders are pushing to cast aside any regulations or limitations based on current understanding of reactors, because it doesn't fall in line with their thinking and intentions. Good to know environmental groups, point out that small modular nuclear reactors still produce enough radioactive material to present a contamination risk and building more plants. Even small ones will add to the piles of toxic waste that no one can figure out what to do with Jeff fetis and attorney with the national resources defense council states, to the extent that there will be efforts to weaken the regulatory envelope, we will aggressively push back and Gregory yacht SCO former chair of the nuclear commission from 2009 to 2000. Twelves says the lack of movement on such plants around the world suggest that we would be wrong to count on them as a way out of the climate crisis. Quote, they're just not ready. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:09 He says, and by the time they could be ready, they're not going to be useful to which we add. But in the meantime, the nuclear industry will be getting boatloads of money from the government to pursue the false promise of small modular nuclear reactors over to Japan where a remote controlled robot has captured images of what appears to be mounds of nuclear fuel that melted and fell to the bottom of the most damaged reactor at Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear facility. Most of the highly radioactive fuel fell to the bottom of the containment vessels, making its removal extremely difficult, Tokyo electric power company, or TEPCO said the images captured this week show broken structures, pipes, and mounds of what appears to be melted fuel, and other debris submerged in the cooling water about 900 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the facilities. Three damaged reactors. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:12 It's removal is a daunting task that officials say will take 30 to 40 years. And critics say that's overly optimistic at one location. The robot measured a radiation level of two sieverts, which is fatal for humans. The annual exposure limit for plant workers is set at 50 millisieverts or one 20th of that amount. We will link to an interesting article from science daily.com entitled can reactor fuel debris be safely removed from Fukushima Daiichi. It raises a lot of the points that must be considered when looking at not only the problems at Fukushima Daiichi, but the problems that could happen at any nuclear reactor in the world. Also at Fukushima Daiichi on January 16th, an estimated four tons of liquid at minus 30 degrees Celsius, which is minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit that was used as a refrigerant to build a frozen earth. Walter frees the ground around the buildings at Fukushima Daiichi leaked. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:20 The frozen wall or slushie was examined and revealed that the joints between pipes that feed the refrigerant and the underground pipes used to freeze the ground had shifted, not unsurprising in an earthquake plagued country. Some of the joints were replaced on the 22nd of January. Parts of other pipes will be replaced sometime in the undetermined future. And the cause of the shift is still being investigated as for the decommissioning plan at Cape coast, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power ruins. Two goals have disappeared from the decommissioning plans, put forth by TEPCO and the government. They are zero generation of contaminated water and dismantling of the reactor buildings. TEPCO CEO, Kira Ono said we want to proceed according to schedule. And he stressed that point at a press conference on January 27, but TEPCO had removed the goal of zero generation of contaminated water when their plan was revised in 2019, the previously mentioned frozen soil barrier, which was introduced to stop the inflow of groundwater through the radioactive areas of the plant has not been proven to be effective. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:38 And TEPCO continues to emphasize that the tanks they use to store the steel radioactive water will be full next spring. And that's why the government has decided to release that water into the ocean. As regards that planned release of radioactive water into the Pacific ocean, a team of international atomic energy agency, I E a quote unquote so-called experts will visit the wreckage of Fukushima Daiichi to review Japan's plans to discharge the radioactive water into the Pacific ocean. This will take place during a visit, which begins today, February 15th, 2022, the IAEA will evaluate the so-called safety of releasing the treated water slated to begin in the spring of 2023. It has been opposed by China and South Korea, as well as local fishing communities and environmental groups around the world as regards the IAEA and its so-called experts. It's good to remember that article four of charter is the promotion of commercial nuclear power, which brings their credibility as an objective fact, finding source into question an op ed in the major publication, a Saki is headline touting nuclear power as green energy is a non-starter for Japan. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:06 This is in response to the recent recognition of nuclear power as an energy source that they say can contribute to curbing global warming under certain circumstances, qualifying for this designation under the EU taxonomy requires quote no significant harm to such environmental objectives as the sustainable use and protection of water, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as pollution prevention and control EU countries are split on this designation. And we will link to this editorial because it really spells it out very clearly and very thoroughly while we are discussing the potential dump of even more radioactive water from Fukushima into the ocean comes the notice that Japan's health ministry has ordered the suspension of shipments of black rock fish caught off Fukushima prefecture. After radiation exceeding an upper limit was detected in a catch late last month. The development comes on the heels of an announcement by Taiwan that it would relax a ban on food imports from Japan, put in place after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, a little premature, the suspension means the targeted fish will not be shipped regardless of the destination, this according to a ministry official. And just in case you have not yet had your fill of nuclear bone headedness, heres Libbe HaLevy 01:15:42 Okay. Last December, Japan opened its first Pokemon themed park, featuring playground equipment themed on characters from the popular anime and game series. And where was this theme park opened in NAMI in Fukushima prefecture, only 35 miles from the site of the triple meltdown and in the middle of the evacuation zone at lucky park named unironically after the Pokemon character, Chauncey children are invited to play on six pieces of playground equipment donated to the town by the Pokemon company, including a six meter tall complex place set with the motif of Chancey who is labeled the Fukushima support Pokemon for context, all residents of NAMI were evacuated after the nuclear accident while the evacuation order was lifted in the Eastern part of the town in spring 2017, many residents remain evacuated and only 31 students about 2% of the number for the 2011 disasters have come back to elementary and junior high schools in town, despite the paucity of students available to play in that playground, the NAMI and municipal government spent some 17 million yen about 150,000 us dollars to create the park in a speech during a ceremony ahead of the parks opening mayor, a hero Yoshida said, we'd like to dedicate all our strength to promote relocation and settlement by improving various tourism programs, such as lucky park and expanding the number of visitors so that they think I want to visit NAMI and to live there. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:30 I don't think a playground within 35 miles of a nuclear disaster site is going to do that. And in a totally tone, deaf announcement, Pokemon company, corporate officer Taku, Kawamoto said lucky is a Pokemon character that brings happiness. I want people to play a lot at this park and bring a lot of happiness to the town of NAMI. No wonder the Japanese government is trying to deny that radiation exposure is responsible for the elevated, if not exploding, thyroid cancer rates in children from Fukushima prefecture. And that is why mayor Yoshida Pokemon corporate and all the brainiacs behind Pokemon park in NAMI, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:18:25 And in France, a speech by president McCrone from 2020 reveals his thinking in terms of retaining and expanding nuclear power. He states opposing civil and military nuclear power in terms of production. And moreover in terms of research makes no sense for a country like ours without civil nuclear power. There is no military nuclear power and without military nuclear power, there is no civil nuclear power. One cannot exist without the other. So how about let's get rid of both. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first we're coming up on what I like to call nuclear anniversary alley six weeks that mark the anniversaries of the three worst nuclear reactor disasters to date Fukushima on March 11, three mile island on March 28 and Chernobyl on April 26. These dates are dog whistles to the nuclear industry to unleash their well-planned PR hounds of hell flax and paid flunkies. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:31 The goal flood the media with their lies about nukes being green, say the cure for climate change, blah, blah, blah. The few honest articles or op EDS that managed to get through those opposed to nukes might get out that might get out. There are immediately slammed with paid naysayers and buts meant to drown out all the anti-nuclear voices as a result. The ordinary citizen here's the hypnotic drone of nukes are good. Good, good, good, good, and fall. Right in line. Well, programmed to pair it surgically implanted talking points that drown out common sense, opposition to this deadly technology. That's why you need nuclear hot seat to cut through the financially backed pro nuclear shills and their talking points so that you learn what's really going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We countered the pro-nuclear tsunami of disinformation with facts, perspective, credentials, authorities, footnotes, and vetted information, but we can't keep doing this without you. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:38 And that's why right now is a perfect time to support us. You can do so by going to nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size. If you set up a monthly $5 donation, Hey, it's the same as buying us a cup of coffee. So do what you can now and know that however much you are able to help and deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care as we covered on last week's nuclear hot seat. Number 5 55, Japanese politicians are in a tug of war over the rates of child thyroid cancer that have shown up in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The triple meltdown of March 11th in Fukushima prefecture, a health survey has found 266 cases of confirmed or suspected thyroid cancer in people aged 18 years or younger at the time of the nuclear act, an additional 27 were discovered in a separate, but the Japanese government is claiming that a panel of experts commissioned by the prefecture says that no links have been established so far between the thyroid cancer cases and radiation exposure. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:54 And they're trying to fight it off on quote unquote over-diagnosis meaning they're actually looking for something well to try and sort out the truth of it. We contacted Joseph Mangano. He is executive director of radiation and public health project and an epidemiologist that's one who searches for the cause of disease identifies people who are at risk determines how to control or stop the spread or prevent it from happening again. Joe has over 30 years of experience working with nuclear numbers and comes from a history of teasing out health information hidden in the data we spoke with Joe Mangano on Friday, February 11, 20 Joseph Ben Ghana. Thanks so much for joining us today here on nuclear hot seat. Joseph Mangano 02:22:46 Thank you for having me. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:47 This is regarding the, what I'm calling the thyroid cancer info wars in Japan that are going on right now. Let's drop back to some basics. First, what causes thyroid cancer? Joseph Mangano 02:23:03 If you Google thyroid cancer causes the first page, you're going to see the Mayo clinic, what causes thyroid cancer. And they're going to have three things, emails, sex, certain genetic conditions. And the third one says radiation, and you go to the Cleveland clinic, they do a little better. They have eight different risk factors. And one of them specifically says exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons, tests and nuclear power plants, Cleveland clinic, other risk factors are things like goiter and a family history of disease and a personal history of thyroid disease. Those aren't really root causes. Radiation is a root cause Libbe HaLevy 02:23:53 When you say root cause what is the distinguishing factor there? Joseph Mangano 02:23:58 Distinguishing factor is that that cause can take an otherwise healthy person and turn them into someone with thyroid disease. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:07 So if radiation is a cause of thyroid cancer, why do we study child thyroid cancer? Joseph Mangano 02:24:17 Any environmental pollution, including radiation is much more harmful at a certain dose to children, infants and the fetus than it is to an adult. That's clear Libbe HaLevy 02:24:31 Is that because of body size or mass or weight, or are there other factors involved? Joseph Mangano 02:24:38 One is, is the small body size. And two is the fact that the fetus in infant and child are growing very rapidly, which means the cells are dividing much faster than adults. If you injure a cell to a fetus or an infant, it's going to reproduce into other injured cells and make the chance of cancer. More likely adult cell reproduction is much slower. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:05 He has thyroid cancer or other thyroid disease been studied near nuclear facilities that are not in meltdown like Fukushima was, but are still functioning. Joseph Mangano 02:25:18 Oh yes. There's, there's a long history of studies of excess thyroid cancer from radiation. As you mentioned, there have been some, the first was Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors. The next worthy, the people in the Marshall Islands exposed to atomic bomb test fallout near Chernobyl was perhaps the best study going to refer to a fantastic book in 2009 written by Alexa, which is probably the best consensus on harm from Chernobyl, which along with Fukushima is the largest meltdown in our history. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:03 And for people who cannot see this at the moment, the title of the book is Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and the environment. Joseph Mangano 02:26:12 That's right. If I could go just a bit of detail in the first 15 years after the explosion and the meltdown at Chernobyl, the rates of thyroid cancer in children in Belarus rose 200 times in, in the Ukraine, it rose 20 times. And they, the book makes to that for every thyroid cancer case. There are 29 other cases of children who have other thyroid disease who don't find out cancer. So it was very clear that the child thyroids around that were devastated by this meltdown, which is an important fact. Before we start to study Fukushima Libbe HaLevy 02:27:09 In Japan, it seems that the current prime minister and a group of five previous prime ministers are engaged in what I am calling thyroid cancer wars. The five previous prime ministers released a statement to the European union stating that nuclear should not be included in green energy taxonomy, meaning the funding of energy specifically citing quote, many children are suffering from thyroid cancer. That was the phrase. And this has triggered an epic pushback by the current prime minister and his government. What's your take on what is happening there? Joseph Mangano 02:27:52 My take is that what's being found and your focus Shiva now with child thyroid cancer was very predictable because it's really similar to what happened after Chernobyl in that area. The current total of children who have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the 10 years after Fukushima is now up to 293 using us health statistics for a population that's ties. They, they, they are testing 38,000 children for every 38,000 children. In 10 years in the U S we would expect three or four children to develop thyroid cancer. And here we're talking almost 300. So we're already almost a hundred times above expected in child thyroid cancer, near Fukushima and rising, but the numbers continue to rise every year. Now the pushback from the current prime minister and his health advisors have been that, yes, there are 293 children with a thyroid cancer, but it's only because we are screening them and testing them, which we normally wouldn't do. It's only because of screening and that absolutely falls on its face. Put it this way. Any regular physical exam from a physician to a child or an adult is going to include palpating, the neck area, touching the neck area. The thyroid gland is located right around the throat. And if there are gross cancerous growth, a doctor is going to feel them. So that line that is only screening absolutely as carries no scientific weight whatsoever, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:47 Right? The term that they've been using is that it's been overdiagnosed in other words, catching cases that would not otherwise be caught, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly these numbers are alarming. And I need to point out here that I believe it was Dr. Alex Rosen of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war, who, when he came on this program pointed out that the study itself, the Fukushima prefectural health study had been manipulated to minimize the number of children who could be considered for this study. First off, it was only started five years after the triple meltdown and many families with children who were under 18 at the time of the triple meltdown had already moved away. So they could not be considered. If anyone, after having been started in the study, moved out Fukushima prefecture, or even change doctors, or even missed some of their appointments for this study, they could be eliminated from the pool of individuals who are being followed for this. So the numbers keep shrinking and are undoubtedly diminished from what they might've been. If all the children under 18 at the time of the triple meltdown were being studied. Once individuals are lost from a study like this, is there any way to pick up their information and be able to consider it? Joseph Mangano 03:31:18 It would be very difficult to do that. However, study should be routinely done tracking, not just thyroid cancer among children are not just thyroid cancer, but all cancers and all immune diseases in the local area. In Japan. I know of no other study that has come out of Japan, specifically looking at the post-truth Ashima health consequences, the rates of disease and death I've yet to see any published in medical journals. And the reason why is because I've published some using not data from Japan, but data from the west coast of the United States, which we know was the hardest hit part of the us by Fukushima all out within four days after the meltdown. Now, of course the doses were much lower than in Japan, but they were higher than normal. We saw levels of iodine, 1 31 in the precipitation in places like Boise, Idaho, 200 times higher than normal, instead of two piko curios, it was 400 Pico curies and other areas around the country. Joseph Mangano 03:32:32 But all in all the west coast had more. I found. And my colleague, Janet Sherman, who was the co-author of this great country, found several things. We looked at the number of newborns on the west coast, who were born with hypothyroidism and underactive thyroid gland. And we found that in the months after Fukushima in the five west coast states. So Pacific states, the rates were 28% higher, the increased 28% from the same period in the previous year, the rest of the country, it went down 4%. We also looked at children who were born with congenital hypothyroidism or were on the borderline. And that number was 54% higher that included 777 children. Okay. These are just markers of where Fukushima may well have left its footprint. Okay. We have to continue monitoring and doing studies on this, but I know of no other published studies. In fact, the party line from leaders in Japan, other leaders, where there was that Fukushima caused zero deaths, right? This is one of the two worst meltdowns in history and maybe one of the two worst environmental catastrophes in history. And 10 years later, 11 years later, they're pronouncing no deaths without doing the studies, which is not the way science should work. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:06 And certainly those of us who followed the study know that musalia Shita who was the Fukushima plant manager who stayed behind with the group called the Fukushima 50 to actually fight the meltdown by pouring water from hoses onto the plant to keep it from exploding or melting down. Even further, he died three and a half years later of esophageal cancer, which the country and the government very quickly said, oh, that had nothing to do with Fukushima because it takes too long for that kind of cancer to show up. And it hasn't been that long since the accident itself. So there's no connection to it, which was one of the many lies to cover it up. So we know that certainly Yoshida died and there may have been others, but there's been no attempt to follow these people. Fukushima prefecture itself commissioned a panel of so-called experts. And they came out with a statement that no links have been established so far between the thyroid cancer cases and radiation exposure. First of all, do you have any idea who these experts might be their affiliations and funding sources and how likely is it that they're finding perhaps reflected a bias that was set up before they even became part of this study? Joseph Mangano 03:35:33 Well, I know the child thyroid cancer study is being by the Fukushima medical university. It's an institution that is reliant on government funds for its operation. And we know that the government is very, pro-nuclear very, very strongly committed to reopening as many reactors as possible. There were 54 reactors operating in Japan 11 years ago. And after Fukushima, they closed them. All many will not ever reopen, but they're trying very hard to reopen it. I think the number is nine out of 54, 9 have been operated again, which is not very many, but they're trying to get that number as high as possible and to do so. It would be a conflict for them to admit to a lot of disease and death caused by the meltdown. So it's really not objectives science. There really needs to be an independent analysis of health trends and health patterns in the area. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:41 What would it take to get something like that going and how likely is it that it will ever happen? Joseph Mangano 03:36:46 I've been involved with radiation and public health project was formed just for that reason, because even here in the United States, there wasn't any good way to get analyses of nuclear reactors and their health risks from people at universities. Many of whom are reliance on government grants for their research. We set up the group has one independent from industry independent from government. And since then we've published 38 articles in medical journals on our findings, including several about thyroid cancer. I think that is truly the only way as long as governments remain committed to continuing nuclear power programs. They're just not going to be objective about the health risks. It's as simple as that, Libbe HaLevy 03:37:38 That goes to some of the sources that are being cited to prove. And I put that word in quotes as well, that Fukushima had no impact on thyroid cancer rates in children. They are the 2012 report that came out from the world health organization and the I a, the international atomic energy agency, and also the 2014 report from unscary United nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation. How reliable as a source for this information is the I a one skier and the world health organization, and how reliable in your estimation are the studies that cite them. Joseph Mangano 03:38:25 It was organizations are totally unreliable. And I'll just go back to using Chernobyl, which was the other large belt down as a precedent from the get-go. The word came out from those organizations that nobody died, or in Chernobyl's case, they admitted early on to 31 rescue workers who helped put out that terrible fire and got huge amounts of radiation and died quickly. They use that number for a long time. Finally, finally, they pushed the number up to I think, 9,000 extra cancer cases. However, that is a massive undercount. Again, this book by estimated in the first 20 years after Chernobyl, there were 986,000 additional deaths caused by the trend mobile meltdown. So a million, and obviously it's more than a decade later, that number is increased. So they are into either denying or minimizing rather than being accurate as to what the causes were. I'll even say that we in the U S did better for years. Joseph Mangano 03:39:32 The U S tested nuclear weapons above the ground until the test ban signed by president Kennedy went into effect in the 1960s for a long time. After that, the government was absolutely silent on what the fallout from those massive blasts above the ground work. And finally, in 1999, after the cold war, it ended after the breakup of the Soviet union, the national cancer Institute put out a publication where they estimated that up to 212,000 Americans developed viral cancer from the atomic tests in Nevada. Only that doesn't include the Soviet fallout which got here and the fallout from the us test in the south Pacific. My point here is that it sometimes takes a long, long time to really get out of the truth. And I'm not sure that's even an accurate estimate. And of course they only did thyroid cancer. I stopped your studies after that, obviously there are other cancers and diseases from which Americans were affected by the fallout. So it may be years before we get a much better clearer view of what Fukushima did to the world. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:47 And I need to point out that thyroid cancer is one of the first cancers that will show up after exposure to radiation, but following a dose, be it the iodine, 1 31 that you mentioned, which is radioactive and comes from a pressure nuclear release, that there are long-term impacts from this that take years, if not decades to show up yet while cause and effect are greatly separated from each other. It doesn't mean that they're not connected. It just means that maybe we haven't had the persistence of vision to hook the cause up with the effect, which is cancer. Later in life, Joseph Mangano 04:41:30 You bring up a good point to be the effects of radiation exposure. Aren't always seen like immediately, it's not like you're exposed to focus Shima. And within a few days you develop cancer. These can take a long time, years, even decades, decades later, they're still studying the survivors of the original Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs and finding excess cancers. And this is 70 plus years ago. So it really takes a committed research effort to, to understand what the effects are. Then radiation is no different than anything else. Like cigarette smoking, you start smoking as a teenager. You're not necessarily going to become ill soon after it could be many decades after, Libbe HaLevy 04:42:17 But the disease does show up. Joseph Mangano 04:42:19 Oh yeah. In, in larger numbers. No question about what Libbe HaLevy 04:42:23 Further research in your estimation should be done to understand the health impacts of the Fukushima disaster. Joseph Mangano 04:42:31 Not only do I think the population in Japan should be studied. I think the affected populations in other countries, the us, as I mentioned, the people in the west coast and neighboring countries like Korea should be investigated. Number two, I think the thyroid cancer is truly just the tip of the iceberg. We should look at childhood cancers. We should look at birth defects. We should look even at underweight births or premature births. We should look at. And again, as the years go on and these young people become older, look at adult cancers and things like that. Because again, it's going to take decades to really understand the full and not just near Fukushima as well. All of Japan was affected. They found hot particles in Tokyo, 140 miles away. It's really a, there are no led walls blocking radiation once it's left the reactor. And should I say that almost 11 years later, the Fukushima reactors are still releasing radioactivity into the Pacific ocean. It has not been contained, which has makes it different. And perhaps worse than Chernobyl, if noble was contained, there was a terrible, terrible thing, but Fukushima is not. So we must reckon on that as well because the Pacific ocean is a feeder for fish for many people. Yeah. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:06 And with Japan, there's the citizens radiation data map, which was a citizen scientist activist study that took place taking soil samples from around the country. And what they found was that you're right. All of Japan should be studied because they found evidence of Fukushima radiation at great distance from the Northeast of the country. The study was so scientifically sound and the book that resulted. So well-written that as a group of amateur writers and amateur scientists, they actually won an award from a major Japanese journalism society. The only time it's ever happened for a non-professional journalist. So the information is credible. The danger is real, it's ongoing and we'll never be free of it. Joseph Mangano 04:45:00 Yes. But at very least we can understand the true health risks better because this will help us limit the exposures and limits the role of nuclear power in the future. Just because we've had a focus Shima, we've had a Chernobyl is tragic, but we can use it as a learning experience, similar to what we did with the atomic bomb testing above the ground. What happened in those years? The fallout was enormous. It went worldwide. The health consequences are, are, are quite severe. We're still studying, but we learned enough to know that we shouldn't test anymore. Meaning when right before the treaty was signed, president Kennedy gave a speech and he specifically use words like the loss of even one child with leukemia in their blood, with cancer in their bones, with poison in their lungs is, is unacceptable. He made very clear that this was not just about trying to reduce the chance of a nuclear war. This is a health treaty, which is what it was. So I think we can use studies of Fukushima to learn the same lessons so that in the future, we will have less nuclear power and thus less disease from exposures, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:20 From your mouth to somebodies ears, Joe Mangano. It's always a pleasure to have you on the show and be able to rely on your excellent information. And for now, I want to thank you for being my guest this week. That was Joseph men, Ghana and epidemiologist and executive director of radiation and public health project. We will have a link up to his website, radiation.org on our website, nuclear hot seat, number 5, 5, 6. I was impressed that Joe could quote president John F. Kennedy from a July 26th, 1963 speech on the need for the partial nuclear test ban treaty with Russia in this excerpt, he addresses the need to protect children. And I found it particularly poignant as Jackie Kennedy had a history of giving birth to a stillborn infant. And only a few weeks after this speech gave birth to an infant who died within 48 hours. That is the subs text when JFK John F. Kennedy 04:47:26 This treaty can be a step towards freezing the world from the fears and dangers of radioactive fallout. Our own atmospheric tests last year were conducted on the conditions which restricted such fallout to an absolute minimum, but over the years, the number and the yield of weapons tested at rapidly increased. And so the radioactive hazards from such testing continued unrestricted testing by the nuclear powers joined in time by other nations, which may be less adept and limiting pollution will increasingly contaminate the AI that all of us must breathe. Even then the number of children and grandchildren with cancer in their bones with leukemia in their blood, or with poison in their lungs might seem statistically small to some in comparison with natural health hazards. But this is not a natural health hazard, and it is not a statistical issue, a loss of even one human life. John F. Kennedy 04:48:43 Although malformation of even one baby who may be born long after all of us have gone, should be of concern to us. All our children and grandchildren are not merely statistics towards which we can be indifferent. No does this affect the nuclear powers alone? These tasks of fall, the air of all man and all nations, the committed and the uncommitted alike without their knowledge and without their consent. That is why the continuation of atmospheric testing causes so many countries to regard all nuclear Polish as equally evil. And we can hope that its prevention will enable those countries to see the world more clearly while enabling all the world to breathe more easily. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:39 That was an excerpt from a speech on the need for the nuclear test ban treaty from a speech by president John F. Kennedy we'll link to the complete speech, both audio and transcript on our website. It's well-worth Announcer 04:49:56 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:03 The grand canyon trust has issued a call to action asking that we write letters to urge our senators to support. And co-sponsor the grand canyon protection act. This is because uranium mining has left a toxic legacy of radioactive contamination near the grand canyon polluting water air and the surrounding environment. Specifically uranium mining threatens regional groundwater, which feeds seeps and Springs inside the grand canyon and provides the sole source of water to the Haba Supai tribe. The grand canyon region holds only 0.2% of the identified uranium resources in the United States, meaning this is the wrong place to mine. Uranium and uranium is not an economic driver in the region, but tourism and outdoor recreation are thousands of jobs depend on a healthy grand canyon. So again, grand canyon trust is urging us to contact our senators and ask them to support. And co-sponsor Senate bill 3 87, the grand canyon protection act we'll have a link up where you can learn more about it on our website. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:20 And it is with sadness that we marked the passing of. a former dairy farmer who continued to tell the truth about the nuclear accident in Fukushima, a resident of a Tata village. He died of thyroid cancer on October 22nd, 2021 at the age of 68, Mr. Hasegawa was the co-chairman of he'd done run a group of victims of the nuclear power plant accident and the head of the group of his tattoo villagers who filed for an alternative dispute in 2012, he gave a speech at the European parliament about his experiences in the wake of the Fukushima accident and the film, my legacy, if only there were no nuclear power plants features him. He was diagnosed with cancer in early 20, 21. After his diagnosis, he said, I wish we didn't have nuclear power plants. And I hope the remaining dairy farmers will do their best not to be defeated by nuclear power plants. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:24 His presence will be sorely missed both inside and outside of Japan. And for those of you who are seeking to make a real difference with a minimum of effort, this is so easy and so quick to do. You'll have a great time with it. Don't bank on the bomb is a system for divesting funds from those companies that are actively involved in the design and manufacture of nuclear weapons. This brief explanation of how the campaign works is able to be voiced by Susie Snyder. She coordinates the research publication and campaigning activities for the group and is on the steering committee of ICANN. This brief explanation was recorded app Dr. Helen called the con's symposium on possible nuclear extinction on February 28th, 2015, Susie Snyder 05:53:16 It's called don't bank on the bomb. And that's the website too. Don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon, producers, step two, contact your bank, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says. And if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to the companies that make nuclear weapons, you and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallets. And how can people find out Libbe HaLevy 05:53:55 The companies that were told the bank is supporting any connection with Susie Snyder 05:53:59 We, your weapons industry? Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profile 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website. Don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in, you know, through the website really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'm happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, tell us we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:38 I loved it when I first heard about it and I love it. Still Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb. We have a longer interview with Susie about the program and its implications and the progress it has been making. It's up on nuclear hot seat, number 4 54 from March 3rd, 2020. Check it out on our website. That was Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb with an easy, fast and effective action you can take to rid the world of nuclear weapons. We will have a link up to dump bank on the bomb on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 56, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 15th, 2022 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or I can w.org grand canyon trust.org, Robert Jacobs, weather.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:45 Our planet-tv.org. Big issue-online.org WV F F four.com K O b.com bloomberg.com. Tokyo dash N P that's C o.jp JP yahoo.com science daily.com NHK dot O r.jp asahi.com. reuters.com. My nietzsche.jp Marianne wild. Our wordpress.com keep Cumbrian Cole in the hole.wordpress.com, Edwin Lyman, and the union of concerned scientists, Arnie Gunderson, and Fairwinds energy education and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Now nuclear Hotsy gives you this kind of information every week. So if you want to make certain you don't miss any episodes, it's easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt in box, and then put in your first name, put an email address, and you will get an email with each week's link and a short summary of some of the material that's in it. And you'll get it. As soon as it posts. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:02 If you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, we depend on the people who are on the ground and seeing it right in front of you. Don't assume I've got the information. So send it please to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we really appreciate and need your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as former Soviet prime minister Nikita Khrushchev famously said of the aftermath of a nuclear war, the living will envy the dead. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:22 clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #555: Idaho National Laboratory: Radioactive Waste Repository for the World? - Snake River Alliance URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/idaho-national-laboratory-radioactive-waste/ Published: 2022-02-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Idaho National Laboratory in the southeastern portion of the state has, in the past, disposed of radioactive waste in 55 gallon drums by dumping them and covering them with dirt – pictured above. Are you feeling safe? This Week's Featured Interview: The Idaho National Laboratory – a major Department of Energy site in the nuclear complex – has appeared in stories about waste and submarines and a smattering of other issues, but it’s never been a real focal point on Nuclear Hotseat… until now. We learn details of the site and the decades of activist pushback for clean-up by talking with three members of the Snake River Alliance, which serves as Idaho’s nuclear watchdog and clean energy champion. We spoke on Friday, February 4, 2022: Beatrice Brailsford grew up on a ranch in southern Idaho, graduated from Cornell University, and taught at the University of Idaho. She started volunteering with the Snake River Alliance in 1987 and retired from her position as its program director in 2019. During those years, the Alliance helped stop construction of nuclear weapons plants at the Idaho National Laboratory and across the DOE complex, helped limit shipments of nuclear waste to Idaho, and was a leading advocate for cleanup of nuclear contamination at INL.Leigh Ford is a 4th generation Idahoan and both her grandfathers worked at the Idaho National Laboratory. Now, she serves as Executive Director of the SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE.Amy O’Brien was a professional dancer who performed on Broadway, was a member of Twyla Tharp’s Company, choreographed for and toured with Mikhail Baryshnikov and his White Oak Dance Project. She serves on the Board of the Snake River Alliance and is a member of the Days of Action working group for the Nuclear Ban Collective, which was formed after the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on January 22, 2021.We spoke on Friday, February 4, 2022 Idaho National Laboratory, site of the first nuclear reactor in the world to make useable amounts of electricity. It lit these four lightbulbs on Dec. 20, 1951. LINKS from the Interview: Beatrice Brailsford on the history of INL: OUR RADIOACTIVE BACKYARD International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN): New report on Schools of Mass Destruction. ICAN University PledgeNuclear Blues: Nuclear Blues lyricsArt Exhibit in Santa Fe, New Mexico: Exposure: Native Art and Political Ecology Numnutz of the Week: Nothing like getting your nuclear information from a former Brazilian model with a "non-profit" that does not show up anywhere as a non-profit. LINKS: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is hiring!Also Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:  Doomday Clock remains at 100 seconds to midnight.  Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 When is a nuclear cleanup, not a nuclear cleanup. If you listen to the government, their usual response to citizens telling them to clean up your radioactive mess is what radioactive mess or oh bad. It's not a problem. Or if it is a problem, we'll take care of it. Eventually don't go getting your knickers in a twist, otherwise known as their, their Missy. Don't worry your pretty little head about it. And at every radioactively contaminated site in the country, and there are a lot of them, even once they'd been declared Superfund sites in need of cleanup, the results are usually underwhelming. That's why when you listen to a 30 year veteran of safety and cleanup battles at the Idaho national laboratory, and she talks about what it took for the government to quote unquote, clean up the contamination in the land and the water. And she tells Beatrice Brailsford 00:01:03 The political establishment of Idaho representing all the people in Idaho who used the water and quite frankly, citizen activism from the sneaker reliance bed to a very successful cleanup program here in Idaho. The flip side of that though, is that INL will remain contaminated until the end of time. There is no final solution for the nuclear waste that hit the water, hit the ground. There will always be nuclear contamination there. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:41 Well, if that's what a successful cleanup looks like and Beatrice Brailsford, the retired chair of the snake river Alliance, who's been fighting for cleanup and she knows you get yet another view of the true nature of that dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:01 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:33 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we take a look at the issues and actions at the Idaho national laboratory at 890 acres. It is two-thirds. The size of Rhode Island has contained 52 nuclear reactors and is the nation center for nuclear energy research and development along with being a designated site for internationally produced nuclear waste disposal. And it's right over the second largest aquifer in the country. We'll talk with three members of the snake river Alliance, Idaho's nuclear watchdog and clean energy champion, retired chair, Beatrice Brailsford, executive director, Lee Ford and board member Amy O'Brien. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:43 We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information then will make its way into the Superbowl halftime show. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 8th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting out in the U S in Massachusetts, where the attorney general of that state Maura Healey issued a statement saying that the dumping of radioactive water from the Pilgrim nuclear power plant is prohibited specifically. She said, quote, the facilities permits prohibit the discharge of spent fuel pool, water and wastewater generated by the decommissioning process into Cape Cod bay. And we expect Holtec to abide by those rules in a meeting last November, between decommissioning from Holtec and the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel, or N D cap, the company revealed that it was planning to release this radio active water into Cape Cod bay, as opposed to other options, including evaporation, where it goes into the clouds and comes back down in the rain and trucking it offsite to a disposal facility, most likely at the Idaho national laboratories. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:13 And we'll hear more about that in today's interview only after intense pushback by the public and protests by the fishing community has Holtec pledged not to release any of the water into the bay in 2022. What this ultimately points to is the fact that there is no good, effective, lasting, and safe way to rid oneself of radioactive materials. Once they have been contaminated, radioactive waste is also a focus in New Mexico where a bill that would ban the storage or disposal of nuclear waste material in the state is working its way through the Senate. Senate bill 54 would also present the state from issuing permits to private companies for the construction of a high level radioactive waste facility. And it's no surprise that the company that is trying to build the high level radioactive waste facility is Holtec state Senator John Boucher, who supports the bill, said the potential for accidents puts workers, residents, and the oil and waste industry at risk. The bill now moves on to its next committee. And another story that ties into today's interview, we've just learned that radioactive soil in Australia is being excavated and shipped to a waste disposal facility in Idaho. The approximately 1900 tons of contaminated soil would be shipped to USC colleges, Grandview operations in Idaho. The facility received nearly 110,000 tons of radioactive waste in 20, 20, 90 6% of which came from outside of the state or the country. And if that's not crazy enough for you, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:09 I think more than 75 scientists, academics and entrepreneurs sent a letter to California, governor Gavin Newsome, urging him to find a way to keep the Diablo canyon nuclear facility open citing it's being carbon free, clean yada yada, and all of them are following the lead of a Brazilian fashion model and tick tock influencer who until six months ago knew nothing about nuclear. Yes, it's Isabel. again known for her bizarre hair and makeup choices, as well as exposing copious amounts of flesh. I guess it's not hard to get the men to follow her. What's really interesting about this overblown promo piece in the San Louis, a biz pole newspaper, which lards every mention of nuclear energy with the word clean is that the letter to Newsome was sent by quote, the nonprofit foundation saved clean energy. Here's the problem. There's no trace of a nonprofit called saved clean energy anywhere in a Google search. So when is a nonprofit, not a nonprofit, maybe when it's just the hobby of the ex wife of a gazillionaire, by the way, has created the online persona for herself under the name ISO dope. And let's just put the emphasis on the second syllable there because you Isabel bowl Mickey and all the string bikini followers who signed onto that letter to governor Newsome. You are this week's, Announcer 00:08:54 Hotsy awake Libbe HaLevy 00:08:58 Over to Japan, where there is currently a major battle over children's thyroid cancer levels on January 27, 5 former prime ministers who are truly concerned about the future of Japan sent a letter to the president of the European commission entitled nuclear, and carbon-free excluding nuclear power from the EU. Taxonomy is possible. Taxonomy is the official classification that allows for nuclear to be given funds that are earmarked for sustainable genuinely carbon free energy to combat climate change. A firestorm of official pushback has ensued triggered by a statement in that letter that quote many children are suffering from thyroid cancer and quote, February 3rd prime minister Filmio casita criticized that statement as inappropriate citing what is referred to as a fact, but as simply an oft repeated talking point by quote unquote experts saying that quote at this point, it is difficult to believe that this is an effect of radiation. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:11 The next day, February 4th, environment minister, Sue Yamaguchi set letters of protest to all five former prime ministers accusing them of spreading false information about the health effects of radiation on children in Fukushima prefecture that same day, the governor of Fukushima Uchi blurry. Marcel sent his own protests letter to the five former Japanese prime ministers. Again, citing a panel of quote unquote experts commissioned by the prefecture that says that there are no links that have been established between thyroid cancer cases and radiation exposure note that it is an undeniable scientific fact that pediatric thyroid cancer, which was said to occur in only one or two children per million people per year before the Fukushima nuclear accident has increased in Fukushima prefecture in the 11 years, since the accident with 266 cases in the Fukushima prefectural health survey and 27 cases in other surveys for a total of at least 293 cases of thyroid cancer in Fukushima children. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:21 So it's clear that in the opposition to this statement by the five former prime ministers, they can't dazzle with their brilliance. They will baffle people with their bovine feces. We're working to get Joseph Ben Ghana, an epidemiologist familiar with these issues on next week's nuclear hot seat to discuss this battle of children's thyroid cancer information in Japan, in Spain, that countries ecological transition minister to race. The Roberta said that the European commission has made a big mistake in labeling nuclear and gas as green investments. She charged that this decision requires a clear legal analysis before any action can be taken by the EU. In the meantime, pointing out that in France, 30% of nuclear facilities are inoperative due to problems. Instructors that have been in operation for decades in China, state owned China national nuclear corporation assigned a contract in Argentina to build an $8 billion nuclear power plant reviving a deal that had been stalled for years. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:36 Argentina's government said in his statement that the $8 billion will go for engineering instruction, acquisition, commissioning, and delivery of the reactor and states that it will have an initial useful life of 60 years though. All previous nuclear reactors built have only initially claimed 40 years for their operational life in Ukraine with Russia, having more than 130,000 troops massed on that country's border. And the United States already sending 3000 soldiers into that country. The Ukrainian national guard is preparing its troops by staging urban combat exercises in Pripyat the ghost town evacuated after the Chernobyl accident and in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The country claims that this training situation is safe because before it started workers with Geiger counters scammed the route to check that there were no radioactive hotspots that ignores the fact that radioactivity from anywhere within the exclusion zone can be moved by wind rain, snow, and blowing Duff from plants Ukraine's defense minister states that invasion by Russia through Belarus is unlikely because quote, this area is very hard to get through forest swamps rivers. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:01 And don't forget that still since the disaster there remains some highly radioactive areas on the route from Belarus. He did not point out that that could include the town of Pripyat, where his soldiers are currently staging. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first we're coming up on what I call nuclear anniversary alley six weeks that mark the anniversaries of the three worst nuclear reactor disasters to date Fukushima on March 11, three mile island on March 28 and Chernobyl on April 26. These are not benign dates to be passively noted. They are dog whistles to the nuclear industry to unleash their PR hounds of hell the hacks and paid flunkies their goal to the media, with their lies about nukes being green, safe, the cure for climate change, blah, blah, blah. The few honest articles or op EDS that those opposed to nukes might be able to get out. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:04 There are immediately slammed with paid naysayers and bots meant to drown out the anti-nuclear voices. As a result, the ordinary citizen hears the hypnotic drone of new books are good and fall, right in line. Well, programmed to parrot surgically implanted talking points that drown out common sense, opposition to this deadly technology. And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. It's why we're here to cut through the financially backed pro-nuclear shills and their talking points. So you get to find out what's really going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We help you know how to stand against the pro-nuclear tsunami. That's coming up with facts, perspective, credentialed authorities and footnotes. And we don't wait for anniversaries to get the word out. Nuclear hot seat provides fresh information every week, but we can't keep going without your support. That's why right now is the time to go to nuclear hotseat.com, click on the big red donate button and follow the prompts to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:17 Please do what you can now and know that however much you are able to help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's this week's featured interview in 10 and a half years of doing nuclear hot seat. I've covered us government nuclear sites around the country from Trinity and church rock and New Mexico to the Manhattan project sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Hanford, Washington, and back to New Mexico for the Los Alamos national lab. But the one site that with few exceptions seems to have alluded. My attention is the Idaho national laboratory. Yes, it has appeared in stories about radioactive waste and nuclear submarines and a smattering of other issues, but it's never been the real focus on the show until now the snake river Alliance serves as Idaho's nuclear watchdog and clean energy champion by inspiring, educating and advocating for and with their fellow Idahoans. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:20 We have three representatives of the group on the show this week, Beatrice Brailsford grew up on a ranch in Southern Idaho, graduated from Cornell university and taught at the university of Idaho. She started volunteering with the snake river Alliance in 1987 and retired from her position as its program director in 2019. During those years, the Alliance helped stop construction of nuclear weapons plants at the Idaho national laboratory and across the DOE complex helped limit shipments of nuclear waste to Idaho and was a leading advocate for cleanup of nuclear contamination at INL Lee Ford is a fourth generation Idaho, and, and both her grandfathers worked at the Idaho national laboratory. Now she serves as executive director of the snake river Alliance. And Amy O'Brien was a professional dancer who performed on Broadway, was a member of Twyla Tharp's company choreograph for and toured with Mikhail Baryshnikov at his white Oak dance project. She serves on the board of snake river Alliance and is a member of the days of action working group for the nuclear ban collective, which was formed after the treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons entered into force on January 22nd, 2021. We spoke on Friday, February 4th, 2020 to Beatrice Brailsford Lee Ford and Amy O'Brien of snake river Alliance. Thank you so much for joining me today on nuclear hot seat. Amy O'Brien 01:18:58 Thanks so much for having us. We're really excited to be here. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:02 You know, we hear little bits and pieces about the Idaho national laboratory when a story comes up in the news, but it's not on a consistent basis. And there really isn't a context for this, including on my own show. I'm as guilty as anyone for providing the context of what the Idaho national labs are, what they do, what's going on there and the consistency of your problems. So let's take care of the basics first. What is the Idaho national laboratory and what goes on there? Beatrice, I know you're greatly skilled in this. Why don't you take it to start? Beatrice Brailsford 01:19:37 The Idaho national laboratory is the second largest site in the department of energy complex. It covers 890 square miles of Idaho's high desert plain it's in the Eastern part of the state. It sits at the base of some beautiful mountain ranges. It is a desert. And in fact, all of Southern Idaho is a desert. So sometimes people think that maybe it's a wasteland, right? It is not. People have lived on the high desert, plain, right, where I N L is for more than 13,000 years. So it's a very valuable place. One of its deepest values is that underlying the high desert plain is the snake river aquifer and the snake river a lot aquifer ranch, really from border to border in Idaho, it holds at least as much water as lake Erie. It is the source of Idaho. It's very vibrant agricultural community. It is the reason that people can live here. Beatrice Brailsford 02:20:46 Unfortunately in 1949, the department of energy looked around and said, well, yes, there's water. And yes, there's a wasteland there too. So they came to Idaho and established the Idaho national laboratory. It has over time had four missions. The first mission for which it was established was reactor research. The United States had started its nuclear endeavor by building a nuclear bomb. It wanted to cover the other end of the mission by building nuclear reactors for nuclear power as well. So we became the reactor research station. Over time. We have had 52 nuclear reactors built at Idaho. Anything called a reactor, anything that has a reaction can be called a reactor, but some of the very large, they have been some run to destruction, a lot of reactors for all sorts of different missions for the army. So that was one mission Libbe HaLevy 02:21:55 1949, when INL was founded. That's where the start of the manipulation happened to blur the lines between atomic bombs and nuclear energy. It was like a rebranding process that was going on for the industry itself. Yet there is a direct connection between nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Lee, could you explain that to me, Amy O'Brien 02:22:18 They're always trying to separate themselves from the weapons industry, but they're intimately connected for instance, the new reactors. These so-called advanced reactors that the industry is proposing mostly run on Hailu fuel, which has high assay, low enriched uranium and reprocessing of fuel to create this fuel is one step away from weapons, grade, creating new waste streams and the reprocessing, just getting so close to being able to create weapons with it is dangerous. Beatrice Brailsford 02:22:53 Going back to the connection between weapons and power. They're both radioactive is the fundamental connection, but I think certainly the, the United States began its nuclear endeavor, building weapons, making the material to explode a weapon plutonium, which is used in nuclear weapons is produced in a nuclear reactor and the nuclear reactor can be making power at the same time. It can be only run to plutonium. Historically, my understanding is that Russia began its nuclear power work before the United States and Mr. Eisenhower wanted very much for the United States to embrace the peaceful quote unquote, that was the impetus for the government moving into nuclear power research and development. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:55 I ano is in Idaho, which is a landlocked state, but yet, and has become the focal point for the development of the nuclear Navy. How did that take place? And when was that started, Beatrice Brailsford 02:24:10 INL was such a large site that it attracted a number of nuclear missions very early on. One of which was the nuclear Navy, that propulsion program for the Navy to build nuclear ships. So the nuclear Navy came to Idaho and the prototype reactor for the USS Nautilus. The very first nuclear powered vessel was built at the Idaho national laboratory. And then as the Navy started the program of actually launching the boat itself here in Idaho, we mapped the whole voyage across the Atlantic and you know, worked out the bugs. The bugs for the very first nuclear powered ship were worked out here in Idaho. Now what that meant unfortunately, is that then all of the nuclear Navy's waste ended up here as well. So even today in 2022 nuclear Navy spent fuel comes to Idaho Amy O'Brien 02:25:21 About rebranding. The nuclear industry is definitely doing a rebranding right now. They've jumped on the climate crisis as its new pet project. It is seeing an opportunity in the climate crisis because I think the industry is threatened. Now there's no solution for radioactive waste. They rely on taxpayer money and government handouts. So they are trying to be the answer to climate change and disregarding the whole nuclear fuel cycle and the carbon intensity that goes into uranium mining and milling and processing shipping, storing it's carbon free, you know, to them and it's clean. And so they're really trying to propagandize. It is clean. It's frustrating. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:10 I like to point out that when the nuclear industry says that its technology is carbon free, it's the same as taking a sheet of steel drilling, a tiny pin hole through it, squinting through it at seeing only the moment that the actual atom is split. That's the only thing they're looking at. But if you widen the view and look at anything on either side from, as you said, uranium, mining and transport and milling and processing and all the rest all the way through to what do we do with the waste? All of that is carbon intensive, but they have controlled the conversation so that it's narrowed down to just that tiny pinhole. And unfortunately it's being bought. Amy O'Brien 02:26:53 It is it's frustrating. And we do need to get the message out that it is not clean. It's not renewable. Austria is suing the EU from what I've heard about calling nuclear clean. I don't know how it can be called clean, but we're definitely on not on agreement. This definition Libbe HaLevy 02:27:10 Define the word claim, right? So let's get this back to INL Beatrice. You said that there were four different missions. It was given. I think we've covered the first two of them. What are the others? Beatrice Brailsford 02:27:23 The third mission was nuclear weapons, waste disposal. And that was, you know, it became right within a couple of years of INL founding. We started receiving waste from other places. So over the years we built a number of waste disposal or storage sites in Idaho. And those first three missions, the nuclear reactor research, the nuclear Navy building training reactors here in Idaho, and then most certainly nuclear waste disposal from the weapons project led to a lot of contamination here in Idaho as did the fourth mission before we got to clean up reprocessing. And again, that's the link between nuclear weapons and nuclear power. We began reprocessing for the weapons program in the early fifties, took, spent nuclear fuel. You know, you dissolve it in acid, you pull out the plutonium. The only thing we use plutonium for is nuclear bombs. They also pulled out the highly enriched uranium from spent nuclear fuel. Beatrice Brailsford 02:28:34 The highly enriched uranium from the fuel was sent to Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge used it to make nuclear fuel for the production reactors at Savannah river. You know, there was this circular thing going on all over the country involving as many places as it needed to involve both from a scientific perspective and probably from a political perspective as well. But at any rate, we got enormous quantities of nuclear weapons waste from Rocky flats, Colorado. All of that waste was contaminated with plutonium. We created our own waste streams from reprocessing. So those were the two dirtiest things that I and L did all in all. There were more than 50 reactors built here in Idaho of various shapes and sizes and missions. And it caused a lot of concern within the state. As people learned more and more about what was happening. So the snake river Alliance was formed by a handful of people. Beatrice Brailsford 02:29:43 They met in a Boise park in 1979. There was one little group that was concerned about nuclear power. Another little group was concerned about nuclear waste. They joined and we have been working ever since to address the problems at INL learned very early on that the problems that INL were intimately connected with other nuclear problems across the country. And so, you know, the department of energy has it's web. And so do the activists who are working to try to stop nuclear activities from going forward at any rate. The first four missions at INL really did lead to a robust cleanup program. That's partly because the sneaker reliance was there. We were pushing to protect the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of Idaho ons. We were pushing always for cleanup Libbe HaLevy 03:30:43 89, the Idaho national labs were declared a Superfund site. What did it take to get it there, to that declaration? What was determined, needed to be done? And how has it progressed thus far? Amy O'Brien 03:31:00 I think it took knowing that our water was threatened and just mass mobilizing around protecting our water. We are an agricultural state we're in the desert. That water is vital to our existence. And water is very important in the west. What it meant when the INL area became a super fun site, was that it was going to finally get the attention that it deserved from the federal government and that the waste would finally get cleaned up. We were hoping. So I think that was the beginning of the recognition that there was a problem and it needed to be solved Beatrice Brailsford 03:31:38 After INL became a super spun site. INL established probably one of the most successful cleanup programs in the DOE complex. It has been remarkably successful, partly because of citizen pressure and politicians pressure. We have been very fortunate in having governors who expressed the concern of their fellow Idaho and about the threat to Idaho's water and how devastating that would be. So I think over time, the political establishment of Idaho representing all the people in Idaho who used the water and quite frankly, citizen activism from the sneaker reliance that led to a very successful cleanup program here in Idaho. The flip side of that though, is that INL will remain contaminated until the end of time. There is no final solution for the nuclear waste that hit the water, hit the ground. There will always be nuclear contamination there in addition, and I think this is leading into Lee's concern about what the future holds. Beatrice Brailsford 03:33:00 If our state and nation embraced nuclear power. One of the reasons Idaho's cleanup program has been so successful is we have moved a lot of the waste someplace else. That's the story of nuclear cleanup here in the United States. That's all you can do once it's there, it's there. So a lot of the ways that we have dug up or the reactors that we have torn down have ended up in, in new dumps here in Idaho, we already have one dump that holds half a million cubic yards of waste. We will build another half a million cubic yard dump to contain what still being torn down, dug up and moved. We have sent 60,000 cubic meters of waste contaminated with plutonium to whip Libbe HaLevy 03:34:03 Whip, being the waste isolation pilot plant, which is in New Mexico. Beatrice Brailsford 03:34:08 It's licensed for waste that contains plutonium. That's its fundamental thing, but we have sent waste to Nevada and we have kept a lot of waste here, but contained maybe a little bit better than it was before. So I think the thing that watching the DOE complex should teach anyone who's considering nuclear power is that once it's there, it's there until the end of time, plutonium remains hazardous for a quarter of a million years. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:44 There are now plans for new reactors to be built at INL part of the movement towards small modular nuclear reactors, which are always referred to as small modular reactors. They forget the N word in the middle, but I always put it in. How far have these plans progressed and are they a done deal? Can they still be stocked? What is the current situation? There, Amy O'Brien 03:35:09 There are a number of so-called advance, small modular nuclear reactor projects intended for INL. One that we call the dirty dozen was a 12 small modular nuclear reactors that was going to be built by new scale. And most of the power would go to Utah. They've maybe buckled under pressure or lack of finances, but now they're proposing six or a four-pack. There was a reactor from a California based company called Oklahoma. That was just denied. It's licensed to start in Idaho because of a lot of information that they left out of their application. Of course they'll reapply. That's the expectation. The department of defense has plans to build a mobile micro reactor. So there's a lot coming at us and building these reactors obviously creates more waste. And since we've already put all this money and work into cleaning up waste over our sole source, drinking water, then why are we creating more for ostensibly to curb climate crisis? But it won't do anything it's still too slow and too dirty. It's not going to make a difference. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:24 Hauling nuclear green or clean are just two of the semantic atrocities that are committed by the nuclear industry and that they get away with. So often, what is the connection between the halloo the fuel and these small modular nuclear reactors? Amy O'Brien 03:36:45 Well, it's funny, there's another rebranding that, that the nuclear industry is trying to do with reprocessing. They're now calling it recycling. So if you hear that, that's what that is. It's reprocessing. So, so Hailu is this high acid, low enriched uranium, which is enriched up to 20% and the most of these reactors will be using high essay low-enriched uranium right now, Russia is the only place that has Hailu insignificant amounts. And as you know, from the news, our relationship with Russia is not the best terms right now. So there are proposals to start making Hailu in the United States. Like I said, it produces more waste streams. It's highly dangerous, very expensive, and it poses real security questions. As far as, you know, if there's going to be a black market for uranium or hate Lu. So it's, it's a real concern and, and really just creating more waste. There is just no point in spending all this money when we have better, faster, safer, cleaner alternatives, Libbe HaLevy 03:37:55 Beatrice, you sometimes refer to small modular nuclear reactors as smores. What do you mean by that Beatrice Brailsford 03:38:04 Unit of electricity? Small modular reactors create more problems than even large reactors per unit of electricity. It creates more nuclear waste. They use more water and they cost more money. You know, it's just a misnomer to call the small, the word, small cans to minimize any problem that these reactors could cause. But these reactors have all the same problems that power does. They're just endemic in the technology. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:40 What actions has snake river Alliance been taking with these not only consistent dangers and problems, but with this new welling up of focus on the small modular nuclear reactors, Amy O'Brien 03:38:54 Small modular reactors, our campaign right now is to get out the education to let people know that these are too dangerous, too expensive, and they're not the answer to climate change. They cost way too much money. Specifically. Our audience in this area in the inner mountain west is focused on economy and the economics of nuclear. And they do not pencil out. We've gotten together with heal Utah and some others to create a website that talks specifically about the small modular nuclear reactors that new scale wants to construct over. INL there's a lot of information about how this is actually an industry that is heavily dependent on federal welfare and taxpayer handouts, and that it is not sustainable. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:45 I noticed in your email Lee, that you always stayed at the bottom, that you are located on Shoshone and bannock traditional lands. What, if anything has been the involvement in the support from the tribal people in your area, Amy O'Brien 04:40:01 In my eyes, this is their land and they do not support nuclear waste going through their land on their tribal lands and being stored there. Beatrice has worked more with the Shoshone bannock tribe than I have personally, but I know that they have done several actions to stop shipments from coming through their land, but they are opposed Libbe HaLevy 04:40:22 What has been the media coverage in the state. Amy O'Brien 04:40:25 The media coverage for small modular reactors in the state has been positive. Our Congressman Simpson has mentioned replacing the four lower snake river dams with technology from small modular reactors, that he is a Congressman from Eastern Idaho. And, you know, he represents the people that work at INL and I'm sure he means to support that, but it is not in our, all of our best interests. So the media coverage has been pretty pro INL as it is. We are an industry state Eastern Idaho is an industry area, and there's a lot of support for INL and the small modular reactor coming in there. But it's our job to educate people, to let people know that this is not going to help us. This is just going to make things worse. And this is going to cost us money, which is, I think what the people in Idaho would oppose most Libbe HaLevy 04:41:23 Naik river Alliance is not involved just with the issues at INL and in Idaho, but also reaches out to the rest of world is deeply involved with the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. Amy, what is being done by snake river in connection with the TPN, w Amy O'Brien 04:41:43 We are part of a nuclear ban collaborative that came out of some of the actions that happen all across the world and all across the country. When the treaty entered into force last year on January 22nd, 2021, because there was such a ground swell of action. The nuclear ban collaborative was formed at that point, out of all these different grassroot organizations, people that have been working for decades in this anti-nuclear push the nuclear ban. Collaborative is comprised of people from all over the United States. And so the snake river Alliance, we jumped in and were part of, one of the working groups. We have four different working groups that work to uplift the treaty and spread the news that nuclear weapons are moral and illegal. Now, the days of action working group, we provide resources to organizations and people all over the United States so that they can make their voices heard. Amy O'Brien 04:42:46 It includes principal banners that say nuclear weapons are illegal. We have letters to the editor that you can write. You can insert your organization's name. We have information on the treaty available, and we've actually even written a song. One of my songwriting partner, Ralph Hutchinson, from Oak Ridge environmental peace Alliance. It's based on the iconic video that Bob Dylan did for the da Pennebaker documentary. And it's the subterranean homesick blues, but we've changed the words. And we basically kind of spell out all the things that are in the treaty and that we're letting people know that the United States still has nuclear weapons. We have bombs, we are still working on modernization. And then we also talk about all the nine nations that are armed and dangerous still, and still have the weapons and refuse to sign the treaty. That's one of the things, the days of action working group has been working on Libbe HaLevy 04:43:45 This is the song nuclear blues, which is part of a video that was done by snake river Alliance. Thank you very much, Amy, for facilitating that and helping that get going. And we will be playing that song on this episode and probably in the future, because I thought it was one of the easiest ways to run down everything that was wrong with nuclear. My jaw kept dropping because the rhymes were great and the information was perfect. So we will be playing that at the end of this program on our way out. What other impulse is there out there for perhaps some more artistic or creative ways of getting the information across? So we're not out there lecturing and hectoring people to understand this very difficult. Amy O'Brien 04:44:32 I know it is a hard one and I feel like art is one of the easier ways to deal with really painful and awful subject matters. And PE you know, it can be a graphic. It can be, you know, like you said, a song. So yeah, the days of action working group, we were working on a lot of different ways to elevate the treaty with arts. And I've been wrangling in a lot of my artist, friends that we've been working with anti-nuclear themes, things that happened at Rocky flats, things that happen in Idaho, the connections between those. And so there's a, there are a lot of resources with artists that have been working in this field for a long time. So that's one of the things that we're working on. And there have been some really amazing art installations and exhibits that have happened around the world. There's a really good one in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the moment, but it's indigenous artists that have been creating work based on a nuclear warfare nuclear horror that has happened, where they are located. I would highly recommend that. And you can find that online Libbe HaLevy 04:45:38 If anyone does have any artwork or any art exhibits or videos or music or anything, I always want to hear about it. info@nuclearhotseat.com is where to send the email. Now, the snake river Alliance has had many positive achievements through the years. Can you tell us about just a few of them Amy O'Brien 04:45:59 Are getting new scale to cut the reactors from 12 to six? Like you said, these are small modular nuclear reactors, but they pack them together to make it a huge area. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:13 I refer to small modular nuclear reactors as nuclear Lego's. That's what they're trying to make it sound like it's just little pieces fit it together. Amy O'Brien 04:46:19 Right? Exactly. A couple of years ago, we stopped some transuranic waste from coming from Hanford and our don't waste. Idaho. A campaign was 2019. I think. Beatrice Brailsford 04:46:32 Well, we have stopped all told I think three big projects, the specialized stoked strips, separator, the specialized, the plutonium we've stopped a couple of new production reactors. Those again were weapons plants. I think we were the leading voice in Idaho that stopped the shipments of nuclear waste into Idaho long enough for the people here and across the country to sort of come up with a recognition of how often nuclear waste is moved someplace else so that the people getting some of the benefits don't have to think about the perils so much. There have been just extraordinary. You know, when Lee mentioned the Riva plant that would have enriched uranium, always, always the nuclear industry is looking for a soft spot to put a new project. So for years and years, it was weapons projects for years and years, it was where are we going to dump this stuff? Beatrice Brailsford 04:47:45 We were the leading voice, certainly the most active voice standing on train tracks to stop spent fuel from coming into Idaho that certainly protected Idaho spent fuels still comes in, but it's in a very regulated kind of way, but we showed people all across the country that a there was danger and that they should learn about what was happening in their own backyard. I think we have helped stiffen the spine of Idaho politicians so that there is no way, well, okay, now I'm going to have to backtrack because we have, I think there is political support for new reactors here. I and L is a billion dollar gift to Eastern Idaho. What you learn is that you have to face the same challenges over and over fight the same fights over and over, but that people, you know, were reasonable human beings. And if people learn about the perils of the nuclear endeavor, they by and large respond, not immediately because it does look like, you know, it's always been portrayed as the answer to so many things. And so then you have, you know, New York times reporters not maybe reporting the whole thing, the upside and not the downside, but I think we've had, I think the secret reliance has been remarkably successful, particularly given where we are. We have protected a beautiful place, and it's been my pleasure over the decades to see our activism and our activists such as Amy and Lee, reach out to other places to feed our power and energy in and in turn to bring that home to us, Libbe HaLevy 04:49:56 There is an excellent one sheet for anyone who wants to take an action called the power of one, because really that's how this thing changes. It changes one person, one action at a time who put this together and how is it available? Amy O'Brien 05:50:11 This was put together by the nuclear ban collaborative, primarily the days of action committee. And it's a resource that people can use to make a difference and let your government know how you feel about weapons and that they're immoral and illegal. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:31 Are you familiar with the program out of the Netherlands don't bank on the bomb? Amy O'Brien 05:50:35 Yes. Don't bank on the bomb is part of our resources. We have another working group called localities and legislator looks lectures, and they use a lot of the information from there and also have some information about schools of mass destruction. So you can also look up schools that have been funding, nuclear weapons projects, and find out if your university is a part of that or not. And there's a pledge that you can take and that's online as well. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:04 My first degree was from the university of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana Illinois, and that's a huge nuclear campus. I've done what I can there, but they don't want to hear it. No. However, what it takes is one voice at a time, one letter at a time, one phone call at a time, one presence at a time, one railroad track at a time to make a difference that hopefully will be a lasting one, not only for ourselves, but for future generations as well, because that's what we're in this for. None of us will ever see the full result of our actions, but if we can get things in motion and move them down the line and just keep the persistence and bring other people in behind us to carry it on, there's a chance. And that's all we can hope for. Anything. Any of you want to say in closing Beatrice Brailsford 05:51:57 Theater, and I do want to thank you so much for engaging in this conversation and in this struggle, Amy O'Brien 05:52:07 This is Lee. Thank you so much for having us on. I am so happy for the opportunity to talk about Idaho, how beautiful it is here and how our water is our life. And we want to protect it. Thank you. This is Amy. And I just wanted to let you know that I'm a huge fan of your work. And what you're doing is very important. This hot seat is very hot. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:36 That was Beatrice Brailsford, Lee Ford and Amy O'Brien of the snake river Alliance. Idaho's nuclear watchdog and clean energy champion. We will have lots of links up on their material, on the website to the snake river Alliance, to the international campaign, to abolish nuclear weapons list of schools of mass destruction. Alas. My first Alma mater university of Illinois is right there and a pledge you can take to stop them. It's a great cornerstone for creating an on-campus movement. We'll have the video of Beatrice Brailsford explaining the history of INL called our radioactive backyard, a video of nuclear blues. That's the song that we were talking about along with lyrics. So you have a fighting chance of singing along because it really fast and a one sheet, the power of one with tips on how any one of us can take small manageable steps to have an impact on the world. Links to all of this will be up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 5, 5, right? Libbe HaLevy 05:53:54 If you've ever thought about working professionally and making your living doing work, that spreads accurate information about nuclear matters. This is your chance. The bulletin of the atomic scientists is hiring. There are more than half a dozen positions available from support staff and editing to CFO. Clearly the group is expanding and when it comes to honest, accurate nuclear information, including the yearly update on the doomsday clock, this would be a great group to join. You can check them out@thebulletin.org and we will also have a link up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com. This episode is number 5, 5, 5, and a reminder that with the March 11th, 11th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster coming up, we can all expect mainstream media to be flooded with articles and reports that are pushing nuclear and stomping on any kind of alternative perspective. So the time to start writing and sending in your op-eds your letters to the editor articles, if you happen to be a reporter and getting the phone in numbers for radio and making a list of the call in numbers for radio talk shows that take calls from people now would be the time to do it in preparation. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:20 We've got Marshall Leben as Fukushima's anniversary, March 28 for three mile island and April 26 for Chernobyl. All of them will be media hotspots. So let's get our voice in and herd by prepping in advance. Next week, I'll have links to some places you can go to find sample wording that you can use in what you're going to write. Let's plan on being active, not reactive. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 8th, 2022. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:57 Going out with the recording of nuclear blues lyrics by Amy O'Brien of the snake river Alliance, Ralph Hutcheson of Oak Ridge environmental peace Alliance, music, vocals, and recording by Curtis Stigers. The recording will be posted on our website material for this week. Show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org nears.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org public news service.org Provincetown independent.org, K R Q e.com. San Louis obispo.com 3 1 1 support.net gg.com necon-jendai.com. Our planet-tv.org, asahi.com. You're active.com reuters.com daily saba.com LA progressive.com in stick media.com the bulletin.org and the ever captured in compromised by the industry. They are supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to make certain you don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat and get it hot off the grill. It couldn't be easier just to go to the website, nuclear hopsy.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:18 Look for the yellow opt-in box. Put in your first name and email address. We won't bug you. We won't sell it. We just want to get the show to you every week. Do that. You'll get a single email that has the link and a brief outline of some of the material in the show. Then if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to that website and look for a big red button, click on it, follow the prompt and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi and harvest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that radioactive nuclear waste is dangerous for forever. Ain't going nowhere. There you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:44 no matter what the fish is on the phone, got something to say, lose the nuclear weapons that as a way. ### NH #554: Nuclear Ukraine: 15 Reactors + Chernobyl + Russia/US Saber Rattling = Yikes! - Karl Grossman, Bruce Gagnon URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-ukraine-15-reactors-chernobyl-russia-us/ Published: 2022-02-02 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Ukraine – 15 nuclear reactors, Russian troops massing on the border only 120 miles from a six-reactor complex, and the possible weaponization of nuclear energy facilities. Oh – and then there's Chernobyl in the north… This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Ukraine – No, not bombs, but 15 nuclear reactors on the ground, including six of them just 120 miles away from where Russia has amassed troops on the Ukrainian border. And let's not forget the radioactive remains of Chernobyl in the north. What are the risks? What is behind this sudden military build-up? While the United States and Russia ramp up the rhetoric and the threat, might there be another narrative going on here? This week, two guests with knowledge, expertise – and a very different perspective – provide an alternative interpretation of what's going on… and why. Karl Grossman is an award-winning environmental investigative reporter, author of six books, and a journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury. Karl hosts the syndicated television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman and has been covering nuclear issues for more than 50 years.Bruce Gagnon is the co-founder and Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. He follows international issues, the threat of war, and the dangers posed by nuclear anything in space. Links from the Interview: Book recommended by Karl: Nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the Enemy: An Unrecognized Military Peril (Studies in International and Strategic Affairs) by Bennett Ramberg Karl's March 28, 2016 Counterpunch article: Nuclear Power Plants: Pre-Deployed WMDs Bruce Gagnon's Blog: Organizing Notes Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A non-toxic, fungi-based means of cleaning up radioactive nuclear waste seems to be possible. So why are scientists saying it would be great in space as a food source, rather than trying it out on earth to clean up the radioactive waste problem we already have? LINKS: PILGRIM WASTE – Shape of Bay Means Poisons Would Linger by Christine Legere.Former Nuclear Leaders: Say "No" to New ReactorsEuropean Green Taxonomy and Nuclear Power: 5 Former Prime Ministers of Japan have Taken A Public Stand Against InclusionNuclear Warfare Without Bombs by Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond NuclearAtomic Cover-Up – free viewing of 29-minute version of award-winning film – good until February 15: https://bfcfilmfestival.org/short2022, scroll down. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Ukraine while Russia and the United States face off at the Ukrainian border over what looks like an impending invasion by Russia. But then again with Russia and the U S one never knows exactly what's going on behind the scenes. One might be tempted to think, well, at least Ukraine doesn't have nuclear weapons, but wait, when one considers that there are 15 nuclear power reactors in Ukraine, including six at a facility, only 120 miles away from where Russia is a missing its forces that might lead you to think. Oops. And then when a genuine expert on nuclear matters tells you Carl Grossman 00:00:47 It's a multiplication of nuclear power plants has been given a little public consideration in terms of their vulnerability in times of war. And that's what we have a country crowded with nuclear power plants. If there's war, that's going to be a big war in the Ukraine, probably the biggest war in Europe, since world war two, and those 15 nuclear power plants in Ukraine are going to be one way or the other involved in the conflict of the threat is real. Even a desultory Russian incursion into Eastern Ukraine is likely to expose reactors and the uncertainty of a ground combat environment. The world has little experience with react is in a war zone. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:39 Well, when Carl Grossman raises a big red flag about nuclear reactors on the ground in a possible war zone in Ukraine, and then Bruce Gagnin fills us in on the connection between war and Ukraine and climate change. You can see that we're a lot closer than ever to that dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:04 To clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear? Hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:35 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi, I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a truly different perspective on the growing tensions in Ukraine, where Russia has been amassing troops on their border, the United States and NATO had been rattling sabers back at them. And there are 15 operating nuclear reactors on the ground. Plus the highly radioactive remains of Chernobyl. Will we have a war and live thereafter by the law of unintended nuclear consequences? If so, how bad might those be defined out? We have two experts. Award-winning environmental journalists, Carl Grossman, and Bruce Gagnin, who is coordinator of the global network against weapons and nuclear power in space. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:46 These two men will help us decipher the nature of the dangers as well as background issues that led up to this situation and the surprising role that climate change plays as the ultimate motivation behind this military buildup, we will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than showed up on Wordle even before the New York times bought it. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in New Mexico, triad national security, the nuclear weapons contractor at Los Alamos national laboratory. Once the department of energy to accept the risk of bringing large shipments of plutonium, 2 38 in uncertified containers for repackaging at the plutonium facility, despite the fact that this would exceed the established quantity limits for the plutonium facility and the glove boxes that would be used in packaging operations, it would also increase the potential risk to the public from a radiological release, from an earthquake fire either or both. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:05 And the radiation exposure would be three to 15 times the DOE guidance limit of 25 REMS Dan Hirsch, a retired director of environment and nuclear policy programs at the university of California. Santa Cruz said just 25. REMS is 12,500 x-rays and a very, very high cancer risk that the request is so far over. It is astonishing in Massachusetts. We will link to an article by Christine and the Provincetown independent on exactly why Cape Cod bay is not a good place for Holtec, which is decommissioning the Pilgrim nuclear power station to dump 1 million gallons of radioactive waste. The former heads of nuclear power regulation in the U S Germany and France, along with former secretary to the UK government radiation protection committee have issued a joint statement that says in part nuclear is just not part of any feasible strategy that could counter climate change. Dr. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:06 Gregory former chair of the us nuclear regulatory commission, Dr. Paul Dorfman from the UK, Dr. Bernard lapel Lynch, former director general of the French agency for energy management and professor Wolfgang. Roennenberg former head of the reactor safety, radiation protection and nuclear waste division of the federal environmental ministry in Germany said, quote, the central message repeated again and again, is that a new generation of nuclear will be clean, safe, smart, and cheap is fiction. The reality is nuclear is neither clean, safe, or smart, but a very complex technology with the potential to cause significant harm nuclear isn't cheap, but extremely costly. Perhaps most importantly, nuclear is just not part of any feasible strategy that could counter climate change. We'll link to that source material as well. In Japan, as the European commission has decided to include nuclear power in the European green taxonomy, meaning the classification that allows for funding as part of clean, renewable energy to fight climate change, put all of that in quotes, five former prime ministers of Japan had taken a public stand against that inclusion now to Aecon who was prime minister when Fukushima happened and junichiro Koizumi the longest serving prime minister in Japan's history cited the exorbitant cost to Japan after Fukushima and spoke in favor of wind power and solar power. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:41 Many of the plans, the TEPCO Tokyo electric power company has to release the steel radiologically contaminated water stored at Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean. Starting in spring of 2023 has received more setbacks opposition to the plan remains fierce among local residents. The fishing industry and overseas governments pits are being dug that will temporarily hold radioactive water right before the release. But other preparatory work has already been stalled, including creation of an undersea tunnel through which the, through which this radioactive water is intended to be released into the Pacific about one kilometer from the plant now comes word that Fukushima radiation may Japanese for trees go haywire after that nuclear disaster, which began on March 11th, 2011, and a study published on January 15 in the journal plants, scientists described changes to the structure of plants and trees in areas close to where the triple meltdown occurred. The number of strange mutations corresponded with the amount of radiation the trees were hit with. And the authors noted that the abnormalities they uncovered were like those found on Scott's pine trees and the Chernobyl exclusion zone. This also brings to mind Mary Osborne's collected of mutated plants around three mile island after that nuclear accident, which are currently in the Smithsonian institution. And now Libbe HaLevy 00:09:18 I think a number of fungi species are known to inhabit the extremely radioactive environment than emerge out of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. In 1986, scientists have documented around 200 species living in the ruins of the former nuclear power plant. And now we learn that a few actually eat the radiation itself. So what conclusion did the scientists come to about the possible use of such radiation eating fungi? Why use them as a source of food for astronauts during long space flights or when we colonize other planets, excuse me, has anybody thought to maybe unleash these on radioactive zones so that they can start eating up radiation here on earth and neutralizing it? Could it be that mother nature has come up with a solution to the nuclear waste problem? Only we are too stupid short-sighted or who knows what to see that it's there. How about we get a lot of these fungi and I don't know, dust them over the Santa Susana field lab in Southern California or the Westlake landfill in north St. Louis or the Hanford site in Washington state or any one of the other radioactive zones that we have around this country, heck around the world. Let's try it out, guys. You know, a practical, low cost non-toxic means of neutralizing nuclear waste. Could we just put some rain power behind it? Well, I guess not from these people and that's why whoever you scientists are, who are saying, Ooh, let's send all of this radiation eating fungi into outer space. You are shortsighted and your, this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:11:11 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear threats and radiation disasters, there are too many to count, but as a start, the Trinity tests in New Mexico, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl Fukushima, three mile island, church rock uranium, mining spill in New Mexico, overflowing radioactive spent fuel pools at every nuclear energy reactor on the planet. Plutonium contaminated, radioactive waste dumps. And as you'll soon here, 15 Ukrainian nuclear reactors and what may soon be a war zone. And there's always more, every week, there are new stories of how nuclear perpetuates itself, despite the known risks and historic accidents, as well as lesser told tales of how brave activists around the world are fighting back and how any one of us can take action to stop the nuclear madness. And that's why nuclear hotseat is here to help you understand what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:21 We get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as a healthy dose of sarcasm and provide a much deeper and nuanced exploration of the issues than you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. We bring you fresh information and unrelenting perspective and even one possible humor all with an eye to giving you the power to fight back, want to help us keep doing our thing. Then the time is right now to support us, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. You can also set up a monthly donation of as little as $5. That's actually the juice that keeps us going. So if you value nuclear hot seat of what help us continue to keep you informed, please do what you can know and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude that you listen and that you care. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:23 Now here's this week's featured interview. It's bad enough to know that Russian troops are massing on the border of Ukraine. The U S and NATO are pushing back and the U S and Russia, two nuclear armed states are ramping up both the rhetoric and the war footing. What is going on and how much of a nuclear threat are we as a planet facing? That's what I set out to discover for this week show and came out of it with more complex, nuanced, and unexpected information than I ever could have anticipated. That's what happens when you ask genuine experts, what they see happening, and then allow them to have their say. I spoke with Carl Grossman. He is an award-winning environmental investigative reporter, author of six books and a journalism professor at the state university of New York college at old Westbury. Carl also hosts the syndicated television program in viral close-up with Carl Grossman and has been covering nuclear issues for more than 50 years. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:29 Bruce Gagnin is co-founder and coordinator of the global network against weapons and nuclear power in space. He follows international issues, the threat of war and the dangers posed by nuclear, anything in space together. These two men have worked tirelessly to tease out and expose the truths of nuclear dangers. Then share them with anyone willing to listen. That's why they're here. And that's why they're talking to you at the start of each nuclear hot seat. I always state that we provide nuclear news from a different perspective, and that is what we truly have here. A different perspective on Ukraine. What has led up to it? What is ultimately behind it? And hint, can you spell climate change? I spoke with Carl Grossman and Bruce Gagnin on Saturday, January 29th, 2020 to Carol Grossman and Bruce Gagnin welcome to nuclear hot seat. Carl Grossman 01:15:29 Great to be with you, a pleasure to be with you Libby, and to be with Bruce. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:35 Let's do a little bit of background first on the nuclear aspect of Ukraine. How extensive is their use of nuclear reactors to get their energy? Carl Grossman 01:15:46 There are 15 nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Indeed. I'm looking here at an article, aerospace and defense. A Ukraine invasion could go nuclear. 50 reactors would be in war zone. That's the headline here. Here's a piece from the New York times just a week ago, talks about the Ukraine being one of the most radioactive places on earth. Indeed, the Ukraine is where the, this should noble nuclear plant was. Now it's in the middle of an exclusion zone, highly radioactive area. And here are the New York times and its first paragraph notes as that, if there is an invasion by Russia, into Ukraine, the shortest path lies going through this Chernobyl exclusion zone. So we're talking about, well as aerospace and defense says a war that could, because of all these nuclear power plants, if there's an exchange of fire and nuclear power plants are hit, you're talking about huge destruction, which could impact not only the Ukraine, but like Chernobyl did all of Europe and beyond Libbe HaLevy 01:17:10 Presumably because these reactors were all built during the Russian era of being dominant over the Ukraine. These are Russian design built and certainly the training behind it has to come from Russia. To what extent do we know that they are still involved in the operation of these reactors? And could they just at minimum step away from any of their support, should anything go wrong with them? Carl Grossman 01:17:38 Frankly, I wouldn't downgrade the Soviet design reactors and the Ukraine allowed me to Shanna Cinco who I interviewed years ago. And he was in charge of the cleanup at the Chernobyl nuclear plant site. And he died of cancer as a result of being there. I mean that area is hot, still hot with radioactivity. And what Dr. Chino Cinco told me is that though the west would like to say the Soviet reactors are of poor design and so forth. He was to the west. He's been to, or he was to Western reactors. They're all about the same. So they all are very susceptible for catastrophic accidents. And whether it's the, of the GE reactors and Fukushima was the Soviet design reactors. And in the Ukraine, nuclear power is dirty, dangerous, also expensive, but enormously, enormously dangerous because of the high likelihood of accidents and not slow ones, either catastrophic accidents. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:47 Russia has been building up its troops at the Ukrainian border. And there seems to be every indication that they intend to invade the country. We just got news this morning that blood supplies have been moved to the front in Russia. Is there a known reason for this build up? Can we speculate as to what Russia's intention is? Bruce? Why don't you take this one? If you would, please. Bruce Gagnin 01:19:15 Actually, I don't agree with your premise there. I don't think Russia has the slightest interest in invading Ukraine. We hear that in Western media, but we should remember 2003. George W. Bush was shock and awe were rack where the corporate media lied to us, lied us into a war, NPR, New York times, CNN, MSNBC, Washington post all the way down the line. And they're doing the same thing. Again, we've got to be a little more circumspect about what we hear in the corporate dominated media. Russia has said this, that since the 2014 Obama administration orchestrated coup d'etat in Ukraine, where they overthrew an elected president, this was directed by Joe Biden. Then vice-president Hillary Clinton, secretary of state and Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state. They installed a right wing president. And the first thing they did was pass a law saying that the speaking of Russian in Ukraine would be illegal. Bruce Gagnin 02:20:30 Well, half the country speaks Russian. And on the Eastern side of Ukraine, what they call the Donbass region, the cities of Lugansk and Don asks right on the Russian border. They began holding peaceful marches and referendum signatures saying we want a federated Ukraine. These people are now called Russian separatists. I call them self-defense forces because as they were doing this, they were attacked by Nazis Nazis from Western Ukraine who since the days of Hitler's invasion, when Hitler swept through Ukraine, as he came into Western Ukraine, there's a long tradition of Nazi worship. There, a guy by the name of Stephan Bandera. Who's now been proclaimed by this new government as a national hero. He organized a group of fascist followers and they helped the Nazis kill tens of thousands of Jews poles and ethnic Russians. And so today these Nazis are being trained and outfitted and directed by the United States, the United Kingdom and NATO. Bruce Gagnin 02:21:51 And as soon as these peaceful marches and signature campaigns began in Eastern Ukraine on the Russian border by ethnic Russians, but Ukrainian citizens, these Nazis were sent there to attack them. And they've been doing it ever since 2014, more than 10,000 people have died. They bombed and shelled hospitals, schools, churches, daycare centers, train stations, rail stations, apartment blocks, rural homes of poor people. These are mostly coal miners in the region. And as they began attacking the people in the Donbass, the coal miners came out of the mines and grabbed whatever they could to defend their families. Again, this is why I call them self defense forces to defend their families against these attacks by the Nazis and slowly, they began to accumulate some of the weapons from some of these Nazis as they chased them away or whatever. And then Russia also began to arm them. Bruce Gagnin 02:22:55 Russia never invaded, but they did support these self-defense forces. Well, today they have, what's called a line of contact between the Donbass. But again, the cities of Lugansk and don't ask, and just on the other side, literally a few hundred yards away, or 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers who are now being armed in a steroidal campaign by the U S and NATO. And so the reason why Russia has moved its forces near the border of Ukraine is not because they want to attack it is because if there's a full scale attack, something that Ukraine has been threatening for years of this Donbass region, then Russia says we will defend them. That's what's really going on. And few people know about it because it's never reported. As I said before, and the corporate media, again, Russia has been saying this us created a failed state when it did the Q data in 2014, I AMF loans came in and in order to get those loans, they had to sell off everything in the country, including their topsoil. Remember Ukraine was the bread basket of Europe, and Monsanto has now bought the top soil of Ukraine. So it's a failed state. Russia said, why do we want to occupy and try to take on the responsibility of this huge country? We already have a big country. It makes no sense. Let the U S and NATO deal with Ukraine, let them fix Ukraine because they've ruined it. That's Russia's official position. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:38 Thanks for that, Bruce, because that's certainly a perspective that I have not come across. Now, the build up of Russian troops is only 120 miles from the Zappa regia nuclear power plant, which consists of six reactors. If there is a conflict that goes hot between the United States, NATO, Ukraine, whoever the forces are on one side and Russia on the other, if that's not too simplistic, what is the possible impact it could have on zippers? Yeah. Carl Grossman 02:25:13 Ambassador to Japan surgical said if war, she just said a few days ago, if war is going to happen, it'll be the first ever in the history of mankind war against the country, which has on its territory, 15 nuclear reactors. Again, it's part of the folly, frankly, of nuclear power ignoring the impacts of war. Indeed Gordon Edwards, who was a noted nuclear scientist. He was on a, it was an impressive presentation. He came just a few days ago, all about nuclear power. And we use the Canadian Dr. Edwards. And one of the points he made was that if nuclear power had been developed before world war two, and you consider all the bombing done in world war two, Europe would be rented uninhabitable because inevitably some of those nuclear power, I mean, there's over a hundred nuclear power plants now just alone in the European union. Carl Grossman 02:26:20 And then you add the nuclear plants in countries that aren't part of the EU. You can save. You can imagine what it would have been if nuclear power came along in the 1930s, so that we could go back to Ukraine, 15, 15 nuclear power plants. If there's an invasion, if there's a war, the ambassador spoke of this too, it's going to be a catastrophic event in terms of the consequences, because of all these nuclear power plants. Bruce Kagen has a blog, which I always read. And this is the one it's actually from this morning, 15 nuclear reactors in Ukraine is the heading war. Very bad idea. And it's not only a very bad idea. It's a very bad, horribly bad event in human history because we have all these, these nuclear plants in this country. And I think they would inevitably get involved in a shooting war in the Ukraine. The disaster would be unthinkable. The radioactive disaster would be unthinkable. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:31 Certainly it wouldn't take an atom bomb. We wouldn't have the fireball, but in terms of radiation releases, conventional weapons aimed at spent fuel pools or possibly containment vessels, but even just the spent fuel pools, you could have, we could have an enormous release of radiation. The question being, how likely is it that Russia has planned for this eventuality or this possibility by having teams of mobilized trained reactor operators and reactor crisis management teams to take over any power plants that they might quote unquote, liberate Carl Grossman 02:28:09 Nuclear power plants have containments, but they don't contain very much. And did here's a piece I wrote 2016, six years ago, nuclear power plants. This is the headline. It was on counterpunch. If people would like to read it it's as relevant now, as it was then nuclear power plants, the headline are pre deployed weapons of mass destruction. And I note in this piece about how this is the nine 11 commission that we had writes about, have those hijackers originally considered an attack by hijack planes on quote unidentified nuclear power plants, Indian point nuclear power plants, thankfully not operating any longer, but 26 miles from New York city was conceived to be the nuclear power plants. The nine 11 hijackers were thinking of hitting an excellent, excellent, brilliant authority on nuclear power plants. And the consequences of their them being struck is back to Bennett Randburg. He wrote a book, it's a landmark book. Carl Grossman 02:29:20 People should look at it because again, this whole thing, nukes and war and the combination. I mean the nuclear ministry doesn't want to talk about this at all. He wrote a book 1980 nuclear power plants as weapons for the enemy, an unrecognized military peril. He writes in the book, a multiplication of nuclear power plants has been given a little public consideration in terms of their vulnerability in times of war. And that's what we have with the Ukraine, a country crowded with nuclear power plants. It's a product of war. It would be accidentally in a kind of, if there's war, there's going to be a big war in the Ukraine, probably the biggest war in Europe, since world war two. And those 15 nuclear power plants in Ukraine are going to be one way or the other involved in the conflict. Bruce Gagnin 03:30:19 Let's look at it from the Russian perspective for a moment. Russia is of course the neighbor of Ukraine, half the country. Basically I think the majority of the population is Russian ethnic. It would not be in Russia's interest in any way to take out a nuclear power plant. Number one, because it would, the radiation would fall into Russia as well. And number two, they'd be killing their own brothers and sisters by exposing the Ukrainian Russian ethnics to the fallout. So I just don't see, I think this is just one more reason why Russia is trying to avoid this whole thing, but I think I'd like to go in for a moment to what I believe is driving all of this insanity today, because mostly we're just talking about this immediate situation, but I want to talk about what's really behind it. And it's climate change. Bruce Gagnin 03:31:20 As you look at the Arctic sea, which country has the largest border with the Arctic. And the answer of course is Russia, massive border. The Rand corporation in California that was famous for publishing the Vietnam era, the Pentagon papers that was smuggled copied and smuggled to the media, to the public by Daniel Ellsberg during the Vietnam war, the Rand corporation recently has published a study called unbalancing Russia. And they basically call for the breakup of Russia and to smaller countries because the fossil fuel extraction corporations want to get their hands on that Arctic sea. They don't want Russia to have access to all of that. And so the only way to do it is similar to what the U S and NATO did to Yugoslavia during the Clinton administration, they broke it up, they balkanized it. And so that's the plan for Russia. And so what the Rand corporation says is essentially that we have to create chaos along the borders of Russia and by expanding NATO and creating situations of a failed state and Ukraine. Bruce Gagnin 03:32:47 What they're doing is forcing Russia to spend a lot more money, a massive amount of money, protecting their borders, preparing against any kind of attack that would be ultimately directed by the U S and NATO. And so this is what the Rand corporation prescribes bleed Russia, so that it begins to have increasing internal problems. The population is not being cared for at the level they need. They begin to agitate and it becomes easier to destabilize Russia and do regime change, get rid of Putin and begin to Balkanize the country, break it up so that the oil corporations can drill baby drill. Of course, Russia understands, this is what's going on. And so we see this conflict going back and forth, but nobody really talks about what the real reasons for this conflict is. So, anyway, I think this is really important. I urge people to go to my blog, which is called organizing notes and O T E S and w just search my name and organizing notes. You should find it. And I daily report on all these kinds of things that are happening today. Carl Grossman 03:34:06 And of course we will link to it on the website, Carl and, and I would want to stress. I'm not saying that the Russians would hit the reactors in the Ukraine on purpose, because indeed it, it would be suicide. So for, I mean, Russia is right there. The fallout cloud would affect Russia, but it would be a part of the impacts of war, the kind of war. I think that possibly could occur a secondary impact being in a war zone, having 15 nuclear power plants in a relatively small country, where there would be hundreds of thousands of troops, both sides engaged with each other in all kinds of violence and bombing. And, and again, with these nuclear plants in the middle of it all, it's no place for a war. Not that there's any good place for a war, but not with, with all these nuclear power plants Bruce Gagnin 03:35:04 Today. I got a, a email from a friend of mine in Russia, Dr. Vladimir Cozen, he's a member of the Russian academy of military sciences. He's come to two of our global network annual meetings. We hold them in different countries where there are space issues. He's become a very good friend. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a minute and tell you what he's told me. He is concerned. He thinks there very well might be a war that will be initiated by Ukraine under from the United States and NATO. He says, the following there are now 150,000 Ukrainian troops near the Donbass. Some days ago, it was 120,000. The Donbass has only 35,000 troops that cannot attack Ukraine. The general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces has finalized a master plan to attack Donbass. The USA has delivered 250 tons of military equipment and ammunition to the Ukrainian government. Bruce Gagnin 03:36:09 45 more us transport aircraft are to arrive with more of this military equipment and ammunition. Civil hospitals in Ukraine had been converted into military ones. Any regular annual vacations for the Ukrainian GIS had been canceled. The bunker defeat munitions have arrived to the Ukrainian government attacking forces. The Donbass self-defense forces do not have them. Basically, you know, both sides now of this contact line have created these kind of underground bunkers. It looks a lot like the world war one, trench warfare kind of situation. And so these bunker busting munitions, he's talking about the U S and NATO have supplied them to the Ukrainian government. Several public protests against war versus Donbass have recently been staged near the Ukrainian parliament because remember, half the country is Russian ethnic. They don't want war. The public doesn't want war. The current president Zelensky was elected because he was opposing any war. Bruce Gagnin 03:37:20 That's why he won the election. But as soon as he got in there, the U S and NATO's turned them around and he's their agent. And finally, he says that Kiev, the capital, the government of Ukraine continues to violate a ceasefire that was negotiated several years back. It's called the Minsk agreements where Ukraine signed an agreement with the Donbass. And the agreement says that you will allow for a federated Ukraine again, not Russia taken over the, the Donbass region Lugansk and Dawn ass, but Ukraine government would agree to have a federated Ukraine where the local people there would be allowed to decide what language they want to speak. They'd get to elect their own local politicians rather than have them appointed by the current super right-wing government in Kiev, give them some local autonomy. That's all they've ever asked for. He says the Kiev government continues to violate the ceasefire that there have been 173 ceasefire violations recently. Bruce Gagnin 03:38:32 And it's getting worse by the so a Bladimir Cozen is not as optimistic, but I will say this, that just in the past week, there seems to be some of the NATO members that are getting cold feet Croatia. The president of Croatia has said, we will not send any of our soldiers into a natal war. They're a NATO member. Croatia is Romania, apparently has said the same thing. France. Also a NATO member is working behind the scenes, trying to get the United States and NATO to back off. And Germany is also doing the same thing we're told, and they didn't allow the United Kingdom to fly a weapon. Shipment. UK has been flying a lot of weapons to the Ukrainian government. And Germany said you can't fly over our territory. So there is some consciousness growing in Europe that, Hey, this wouldn't be good for us, especially with 15 nuclear reactors that could potentially, as Carl said, even if they weren't intentionally blown up, they could become, they could be hit during and during a war. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:45 They can certainly be compromised in some way, if the fighting takes place around them, if somebody goes off target, if they're dropping a bomb, or if they're launching munitions at it in all of this action that is going on behind the scenes, the diplomacy, the pressure whatever's going on. What if any focus, has there been the fact of these 15 reactors and anything that could be done to protect them or mitigate damages, or do we just have to sit with them, but naked out there and vulnerable to anything that might happen in the course of a war? Bruce Gagnin 04:40:24 My opinion, Carl might be able to add more to this, but I didn't know anything about these 15 nuclear reactors until about three days ago. I put it on my blog today. I shared it widely on my email and on Facebook shared the article that I posted on my blog. I'm trying to alert people to it, but I don't. I've heard no discussion prior to the last couple of days. Carl Grossman 04:40:49 The piece that I read before a Ukraine invasion could go nuclear 15 reactors would be in a war zone. And this is an aerospace and defense, which is, it was the trade journal. It goes back to, well, not too far, a December 28th. So it goes back to the end of last year. But I mean, here is spelled out. The threat is real. Ukraine is heavily dependent upon nuclear power. Even a desultory Russian incursion into Eastern Ukraine is likely to expose reactors and the uncertainty of a ground combat environment. The world has little experience with react is in a war zone as to your earlier question, the consequences, the impacts of it wouldn't take much a handheld shoulder mounted rocket launch. It compares the containment of a nuclear power plant nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors contain a thousand times more than Rio activity. Then the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Carl Grossman 04:41:59 Again, I would think it would be inevitable that they would be impacted you can't safeguard them. They're in the middle of a war zone that radiation, that radioactivity would come streaming out. If a reactor is hit while it's an actual operation, which is highly likely these nuclear power plants are an operation you can have in the Ukraine, Russia, noble accident, a huge explosion. You can have easily a plume of radioactivity moving out of those nuclear power plants. The fallout has to be gauged in terms of wins, terms of rain and so forth. But again, th th this is a nuclear hotspot and war is quite possible. And let me just, just add here that, oh, for 20 years as the United nations, I was on a commission for disarmament education, conflict resolution, and peace. Our focus, our mission was to look for ways to avoid war, particularly nuclear war in this situation. Carl Grossman 04:43:03 I'm kind of, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that the United States has taken a very, very hard line position beyond what Bruce is talking about. What Russia is very concerned about is the placement of missiles and other weaponry, other armaments on their borders. I mean, it's been compared with what will United States do if suddenly there were missiles and weaponry along the border with Mexico, along the border with Canada, this is too close to comfort. But from my reading of the Ukrainian situation, the U S doesn't want to negotiate on what seems to me to be a, be a central issue. Diplomacy is necessary here. Avoiding war is necessary with this commission that I was on for for many years, we learned about countries take Costa Rica, which disbanded as military in 1948. Although people down in the central American region said, you can't do that in this tough neighborhood. Carl Grossman 04:44:06 We learned about successful disarmament. We had programs where we put warring parties, so to speak, having retreats, getting to know each other, indeed putting together Israelis and Palestinians for two weeks to get to know each other and not to demonize each other any longer, but person to person. It's amazing what that can do. There's all kinds of conflict measures and methods. I mean, it's a whole science these days, and in my judgment, we can have peace, but you got to work on it and you have to have a will to have peace. And, and I'm afraid that there are forces in this world, which relish warfare, and there's an alternative. And the alternative is peace. Bruce Gagnin 04:44:53 That may come in further on one thing, Carl was just saying he was talking about us missiles nearby Russia. In fact, they're called Aegis ashore platforms. The ages Navy Aegis destroyer that is made here in bath Maine, where I live has had the best testing of its so-called missile defense system. Missile defense basically is the shield to be used after the U S launches a first strike attack, the way it works, us attacks, and then Russia or China tries to fire retaliatory strike of their remaining capability. And in Zen that these so-called missile defense systems are used to pick off that retaliatory strike, giving the U S a quote unquote, successful first strike. This is something that at the space command, they war game annually on computers against Russia and China. So anyway, this Aegis Navy platform has had the best testing results of any other so-called missile defense system. And so they've created it. They've now taken the technology off the ship and putting it on the land and they put it in Romania and Poland. So in Romania and Poland now, so near the Russian border, the U S has this capability to be able to deliver a first strike attack, and then have the shield pick off any Russian retaliatory strike. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:22 And when you say first strike, are you talking about a nuclear Bruce Gagnin 04:46:25 First strike? Yeah, I am it's at these platforms. They not only can fire the interceptors for the shield, but they also can fire the Tomahawk nuclear capable cruise missile, which flies below radar detection. And this is what Russia talks about all the time is you've put these offensive Tomahawk, cruise missiles, nuclear capable, very near our border. They would have the capability of taking out Russia's nuclear, underground systems or command control centers, all those kind of military assets, if you will. And basically it's a Cuban missile crisis in reverse, but again, unlike the Cuban missile crisis, the American media doesn't ever talk anything about it. You never hear anything in the American media and never see anything in the papers about the Russian perspective on these NATO, us NATO, military deployments in circling them. This is what's driving them crazy in Russia, just as it would, as Carl said a minute ago, if we were putting, I mean, if they were putting basis in Mexico or Canada. So this is the unfairness, the unfairness of the U S policy, the unfairness of U S media Western media, and not telling this story to the public. So they only get one side and it's Russia, demonization. That's all they hear Carl Grossman 04:47:57 Talking about nuclear weaponry. So importantly as the United nations, this goes back to 2017. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons was adopted. It was supposed to enter into force. Like last year, we have majority of nations on this planet supporting it. The us is not a signatory to the it's also called the nuclear weapons ban treaty. What we've been doing is instead of trying to take the nuclear Janie and put it back in the bottle, like was done after world war one, when the horrific consequences of the use of chemical warfare was so in the 1920s, there was a series of treaties to prohibit, to ban chemical weapons. And it's not been perfect, but it's pretty much held. And this nuclear weapons ban treaty would do the same kind of thing, but put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. But what we've done in the United States in fact begins under Obama is to embark on a $1 trillion modernization of our nuclear arsenal to make, make even more powerful nuclear weaponry. Carl Grossman 04:49:19 This has continued. I mean, Trump said we have nuclear weapons. Why don't, why don't we use them? And this drive to move towards nuclear conflict. I'm suicidal unwinnable, the bulletin of the atomic scientists in 2020, put the doomsday clock and the doomsday clock signifies. This is what the nuclear scientists are saying. Nuclear annihilation, nuclear annihilation. The doomsday clock was set up in 1947 by the bullet to move it in 2020, a hundred seconds to midnight to nuclear annihilation. The closest has been the closest it's been since 1947. Last year, it was capped at a hundred seconds to midnight this year, just a couple of weeks ago. Again, kept a hundred seconds to midnight. I mean, Ukraine or a conflict with China over Taiwan, as long as there's this thinking that nuclear war is susceptible and nuclear war is somehow winnable our children and their children and their children, what they face is so threatening. Carl Grossman 05:50:33 What we have to do here, I think as to our country and countries, also the world fully adopt the nuclear weapons ban treaty, and abolish abolish nuclear weapons, and then secondarily abolish eliminate and nuclear power because in fact, nuclear power provides the material, the, the plutonium for nuclear weapons, the UN has various zones around the world. Nuclear free zones, no nuclear weapons. I feel that's the entire planet must be a nuclear free zone, no nuclear weapons, no nuclear power. And back to the Ukraine. It's a case study of the folly in the real world of using nuclear power. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:24 Bruce, do you have a brief closer that you want to put on this? Bruce Gagnin 05:51:30 Well, let, yeah, let me say this. I'm looking at an article now that just came up today, talking about how Biden Zelinsky, the president of Ukraine are fighting with each other, and they're supposed to be allies in this. Remember that, oh, let me read to you the white house and its democratic allies have just about had it with president Zelensky according to three sources in the administration and on the hill, the Ukrainian president is by turns annoying infuriating and downright counterproductive. Zelenskyi says the white house is making the Russian invasion as burning as possible. In my opinion, he says, this is a mistake. So Zelenskyi is accusing Biden of hype in this war. Zelensky the president of Ukraine has said, Russia is not going to invade. Okay. So he's accusing the United States of hyping it for whatever reasons and Biden is becoming frustrated that he's saying that, you know, he's sort of blowing the cover. So this whole thing is a mess in a million ways. And the last thing we in the United States should be supporting is a war in any way against Russia. That's total insanity. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:45 I want to thank both of you for certainly an unexpected set of terms that this conversation took and for the insight and the different perspective, because that's what we like to provide here for now. Carl Grossman, Bruce Gagnin. Thank you so much for taking the time to be my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Bruce Gagnin 05:53:07 Thank you very much for having me on Libbe HaLevy 05:53:10 That was award-winning environmental investigative journalist, Carl Grossman and Bruce Gagnin co-founder and coordinator of the global network against weapons and nuclear power in space. Lots of links for this week's episode two, the book that Carl referenced nuclear power plants as weapons for the enemy and unrecognized military peril studies in international and strategic affairs by Bennett Rambert we'll have a link to Carl's 2016 article encounter punch nuclear power plants, pre deployed WMDs and to Bruce's blog organizing notes, which is on the global networks webpage space for peace.org. And that's the number four space for peace.org. And we'll link to an article by Linda Pence Gunter of beyond nuclear on Ukraine, nuclear war, without bombs. All of these will be up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 54 Announcer 05:54:16 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:54:24 The award-winning documentary film atomic coverup by director, Greg Mitchell is available for a free viewing through February 15th as part of the bear more film center festival in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the widely acclaimed film explores how the U S suppressed the most important footage shot in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for decades, we will have a link to it up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 54 at atomic cover-up. We'll also be one of the films at the 11th international uranium film festival of Rio de Janeiro. That festival is scheduled for may 19 to 29, 20 22. And I have been honored to be asked to be one of the judges for this year's festival. It's a 10 day in gathering of filmmakers, nuclear experts, activists, journalists, and film enthusiasts from all over the world. They have invited me to come down for this of course, and I would love to, but that would involve a fundraising effort through Kickstarter, and I'm not familiar with the platform. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:29 So if there's somebody out there who would like to help me get a Kickstarter up to see if I can get to reel and claim all of those amazing interviews, such as I did at the international uranium film festival, when it was held in window, rock, New Mexico, and also in Quebec many years ago, this would be a chance to do so. If you're interested in helping send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com and I'll get right back to you. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org npr.org, uranium film festival.org, nuclear active.org Provincetown, independent.org. The verge.com power mag.com. asahi.com, C R I L a N dot F R M D P i.com. Dr. Helen Caldicott I F L science.com and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:44 They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to make certain you don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat, you can get it delivered via email every week. As soon as it posts, just sign up, go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show with a brief summary of some of the information that's inside. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompt and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:48 As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as Dr. Helen, Caldicott the mother of us all rights from Australia had there been atomic reactors in Europe during world war two, the continent would have been uninhabitable thereafter. Something to think about the next time your uncle doofus goes off on how nukes are the so-called solution to climate change. So there you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So now don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:30 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear hot Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #553: Nuclear Arctic Radiation Dangers: Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-arctic-radiation-dangers-deere-jones/ Published: 2022-01-26 Duration: 00:59:00 Nuclear Arctic Radiation Dangers – Pictured above is 1981-2001 average polar icecap (yellow outline) compared with the impact of global warming and record temperatures on the Arctic as of 2020. (Graphic: Scott Duncan) This Week's EXCLUSIVE Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is a marine biologist – a radiation researcher and consultant – who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet’s waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. Here he provides a SPECIAL report produced exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat on the Nuclear Arctic radiation dangers. Tim has agreed to come on board with the show to provide regular updates on oceans, rivers, and other water sources being negatively impacted by nuclear radiation, so you'll be hearing more from him in the coming months. We spoke on Monday, January 24, 2022.PDF DOWNLOAD of the text of this presentation – CLICK HERE CONTACT for Tim Deere-Jones: timdj@talktalk.net Tim Deere-Jones post-interview with Libbe HaLevy Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If drinking beer brewed from Fukushima rice gives you anxiety about consuming anything grown in Fukushima (because of radiation concerns), and you drink enough of the beer, does it drown out your anxiety? Links: Fulfill the NPT: From Nuclear Threats to Human Security – open letterNuclear Waste Risks can be "Minimized" and Other Myths by Linda Pentz GunterCalifornia Tsunami Alert was a Wake-Up Call on San Onofre Flood Risk by Paul BlanchOPEN LETTER to nuclear nations, pledging no first use of nuclear weapons. Available for you and your group(s) to sign. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2022 Doomsday Clock statement Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock, 2022 – Still 100 seconds to midnight… meaning apocalyptic nuclear doom! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear Arctic while most attention paid to the Arctic. These days tends to focus on climate change and glacial collapse and methane levels than the, like the rising radiation risks to the Arctic have not been considered by groups that focus on the rapidly evolving changes to the Earth's biosphere, but nuclear issues, accidents and exposures have already had a deep impact on radiation levels in the Arctic water ice and the food eaten by indigenous cultures of the far north. How bad is it mainstream media? Doesn't like to fill us in on the ugly bits. So it takes a brave researcher, an expert in Marine biology to spell out just one of the massive dangers, should there be a nuclear accident in the Arctic? And he tells us Tim Deere-Jones 00:00:53 In the context of the massive weaknesses and failures of response, we have seen with journal, bill focus, Shima, and other nuclear disasters, situated close to relatively good communication and transport routes and a reservoir of technical expertise. It seems to me that an Arctic ocean nuclear disaster occurring at enormous distances from such facilities is likely to progress faster and further than Advil or focus Shima. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:23 When you hear such a dire yet logical assumption from someone who has dedicated his life to the study of nuclear radiation risks in the oceans, Marine, radiation researcher, and consultant Tim dear Jones. And he tells you such a common sense, but completely overlooked problem with introducing still more nuclear technology into the Arctic you get yet another view of that dangerous deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:53 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:24 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we have an extensive unprecedented report on the radioactive contamination of the Arctic, especially important in light of the rapid melt of glacial ice and its impact on climate change. We'll hear from Marine biologist, Tim deer Jones, who provides a thorough report on a range of problems in the Arctic. And this is exclusively done for nuclear hot seat. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:26 Then we're bound to hear president Biden mutter over a hot mic. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 25th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off in Japan this week. We're on Saturday, January 22nd, a strong earthquake jolted, the Q shoe Southwestern Japan region with an earthquake of an estimated magnitude of 6.6, coming on the heels of the Tonga underwater, volcanic eruption and resulting tsunami. This earthquake raised concerns, but there was no tsunami and there have been no reports, thus far of problems in the operation of the econ and nuclear plant in Western Japan and the Sendai nuclear plant in Southwestern Japan at Fukushima Daiichi, a coolant solution used to create an ice wall. Halting the seepage of groundwater into reactor buildings has leaked from two storage units, about four tons of calcium chloride solution used to maintain the ice wall has leaked in what is the eighth such leakage. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:38 Since the wall went into operation in 2016, Tokyo electric power company admitted that on January 16, the water level dropped in two of the four tanks that contain the liquid at minus 30 degrees Celsius, which is used to freeze the ground around the buildings at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains yet another malfunction of the slushie. A group of six young men and women is filing a class action suit against Tokyo electric power company, claiming that they developed thyroid cancer due to exposure to radiation emanating from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The plaintiffs now aged between 17 and 27. We're living in Fukushima prefecture when the nuclear meltdowns, the triple meltdown occurred at Fukushima Daiichi in March of 2011 and expert put that in quotes investigation committee set up by the Fukushima prefectural government has not yet recognized the causal relationship between radiation exposure from the Fukushima disaster and thyroid cancer. And whether there is such a correlation could be the focal issue in this lawsuit. And now for the latest in nuclear bone headedness, Announcer 00:05:53 Claire Hotsy player, Hotsy Libbe HaLevy 00:06:03 A brewery in Hong Kong has unveiled a craft beer made with rice grown in Fukushima prefecture. Hong Kong continues to restrict imports of many agricultural products from the prefecture since the 2011 nuclear triple meltdown accident. But for whatever reason, possibly because they have better lobbyists or better money this year rice is allowed in the beer was produced at the request of Fukushima prefecture and the Japan agricultural cooperatives it's made with a brand of rice called 10 note again, they probably have the best lobbyists and the head of the Japan, agricultural cooperatives, Hong Kong office says he wants people to learn about the rice brand. So it will lead them to buy other food products from the prefecture. And the craft beer will be sold at events, promoting foods from Fukushima prefecture. So let's get this straight they're appealing to alcoholics who will drink anything as long as it gives them the buzz, or maybe just those who want to dull their reaction to their fears about the nuclear awfulness that exists because of Fukushima and spreads throughout the Pacific ocean. So their way of avoiding dealing with it is to ingest possible additional radio nuclides while at the same time, being able to forget that it's there. Now that's economy of action and intent, and it's also just plain stupid. And that's why Japan agricultural cooperatives and all of those involved with the brewing of this beer, let alone putting it out to the public. You, you are this week's, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:57 Here in the U S in Alabama, a failure to identify a specific hazard, severe tornado threat to the Brown's fairing nuclear facility has been called out by Gary L. Morgan, who is a us army medical department, retired member, and a member of both the blue Ridge environmental defense league, brittle and best Bellefonte efficiency and sustainability team. Morgan points out that a near miss at the reactor occurred on April 27th, 2011, when an F five tornado took out incoming power to the nuclear reactors and to there was one backup generator failure. He points out that a direct hit of the reactor by an F four or five tornado would likely be a catastrophic event involving all of north Alabama and portions of south Tennessee or release of radioactive material in the immediate area. And downwind would be a high probability. This information has been sent to both the nuclear regulatory commission and the Tennessee valley authority stating that failure to include tornado events and mitigation regarding the TVA's Brown's ferry. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:07 Nuclear plant is an error which must be corrected. Linda Gunter of beyond nuclear has been busy on January 24th on counterpunch. She published the article nuclear waste risks can be minimized and other myths, lots of great talking points there, and we will post it on our website among her comments. The unnamed survey respondents from the state of Georgia apparently told the associated press that their nuclear reactor expansion will provide ample clean energy for 60 to 80 years. But again, there is no context to this bold prediction in reality, that expansion consists of the only two survivors of another nuclear myth, the U S nuclear Renaissance. So-called always an aspiration, never a reality. It's a good read. Go to the website, click on it. We will also link to the opinion piece California. Toonami alert was wake up, call on Santa, no for a flood risk. This follows up on matters discussed in last week's nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:13 Number 5 52 on the impact of the Tonga to NAMI Fukushima, Santa, no Oprah and other possible nuclear reactors is certain by Paul blanche, who is a 50 year nuclear energy consultant, former reactor operator and instructor for us Navy nuclear plants from an international perspective, it's 100 seconds to midnight. The members of the bulletin of the atomic scientists, science and security board find the world to be no safer than it was last year at this time. And therefore decided to set the doomsday clock. Once again, at 100 seconds to midnight, this decision does not by any means, suggest that the international security situation has stabilized on the contrary, but clock remains the closest it has ever been to civilization ending apocalypse because the world remains stuck in an extremely dangerous moment. We will have a link up to the doomsday clock and the 2022 doomsday clock statement on our website, nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:19 Under this episode, number 5 53 in France, electricity, they France or EDF. The giant nuclear operator has become a nightmare for investors technical problems at some of its largest reactors means EDF is set to produce the smallest amount of atomic power in three decades, slashing Frances exports to neighboring countries. Several of its nuclear power plants in France will be offline longer than expected for repairs prompting the company to slash its output forecast reactors by 8% leading to higher prices for electricity in Europe, Vincent ARL and analyst with JP Morgan, chase and company said, given the circumstances we would consider to avoid EDF stock for the time being. So this loss of nuclear energy, isn't only a political crisis for the government in Paris. It's a growing economic threat for much of Europe and Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring options of investing 100 billion us dollars in up to 16 nuclear reactors by 2030 and rolls. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:33 Royce is looking to the middle east to export its new quote unquote, what they're calling green technology, but really isn't to slurp down the lion's share of that funding major positioning in one upping by lobbyists, hucksters and others in the nuclear arena took place at the world. Future energy summit held January 17 to 19 in Abu Dhabi. You can bet that nobody was there on a bake sale budget. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first, each week, the nuclear industry provides us with new nightmares, but you couldn't tell any of it was happening. If all you follow is mainstream media. That's why nuclear hotseat exists to give a caring, compassionate and concerned person such as you, a regular weekly dose of nuclear news that you can count on. To be honest, nuclear hot seat is the longest running program anywhere that focuses exclusively on nuclear issues. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:33 Now in its 11th year as a podcast and sixth year as a broadcast, we have a long history of scooping mainstream media on nuclear issues, giving context and continuity to local and national and international stories. And behind the scenes providing links and introductions between activist, researchers, and reporters. So that the story of what's happening in nuclear gets out far beyond this show. Now you count on nuclear hot seat to provide you with verifiable fresh information and an unrelenting perspective every week. So of having this information helps you and you see the importance of getting it out into the world. We need your help to keep doing it. A donation of any size is what we're asking. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button. And that is where you can send a one-time donation of any size or set up an automatic recurring donation of any size, just as little as $5 a month. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:34 The same as what you would spend on a cup of coffee and a decent tip here in the U S is crucial to keeping us going. So do what you can to help nuclear hot seats stay up and running so that we can continue to search out and share information that the nuclear industry would really, you didn't know, whatever you can do to help. Thank you for caring and for listening. Now, here's this week's featured interview. Tim deer Jones is a Marine biologist, a researcher, and a consultant who specializes in analysis of the radiation threats to our planet's waters from a wide range of nuclear sources. We've had them on nuclear hot seat before, and he's always been thorough articulate and provided us with plenty to think about. So when I asked him to speak on radiation problems in the Arctic, I'd caught a few short posts of his, about it on Facebook. He let me know that there was so much information to unpack. We would all best be served if he put together a presentation rather than the two of us use the show's usual interview format. So that's what he's done. And that's what we present here. We'll also have a copy of his presentation available as a downloadable PDF. So you can look back on some of this information and really get into it. I recorded this exclusive presentation for nuclear hot seat with Tim dear Jones on Monday, January 24th, 2022. Tim Deere-Jones 01:16:05 Good afternoon. Good evening. Good morning, everybody. My name is Tim Deere Jones and I am a Marine radioactivity researcher and consultant. And I'm very grateful to my dear friend levy, too, for allowing me to take up so much of her time by introducing you to my story about the nuclear ization of the Arctic ocean, which has been going on since the 1930s most surprisingly, because it was during the 1930s that the Soviet union began the construction of over a thousand planned nuclear lighthouses along its Arctic coasts in order to assist navigation through the difficult waters of the Arctic and Northern sea route, which goes from Europe to the Pacific. These nuclear lighthouses were powered by radio ISO topic, Thermo electric generators, happily called RTGS, which utilize radioactive strontium 90 as a heat source to power Thermo electric batteries, which drove the lights on the light houses. Tim Deere-Jones 01:17:12 So the construction and the maintenance of these RTG lighthouses seats with the collapse of the Soviet union in the 1990s. And it is reported that many of them had already fallen into major despair by then, and that some of them have now been completely destroyed by weather and ice conditions while other RTGS have been removed and broken for scrap material by thieves. Now, unfortunately, the number of these loss RTGS has not been quantified more recently, international teams have been permitted to attempt removal and decommissioning of the aged RTGS. And during their work, they have uncovered strong evidence that many of those strontium 90 sources had leaked radioactivity into the surrounding terrestrial and Marine environments. However, despite these old fashioned ones having been lost and broken with the continuing development of the Northern sea route, the Russian Federation has recently announced that it is planning to install a new generation of RTGS at remote Arctic military and industrial sites. Tim Deere-Jones 01:18:24 There are indications that some of these may be deployed on the Arctic sea bed, as well as that coastal terrestrial sites prior to the 1963 test ban treaty, which prohibited all tests to donations of nuclear weapons, except for those conducted underground Arctic indigenous communities had been in receipt of exposures of fallout, radioactivity, and were considered to be some of the most exposed populations to global fallout from atmospheric testing from 1945 through to 63. Now the records show that the U S carried out over a thousand such tests in the Northern hemisphere, but none directly in the Arctic, however, after 1965 and through to 71, the U S did carry out a series of three underground tests that am checker in the Aleutian island chain, close to the Arctic circle and situated between the bearing seat of the north and east and the Pacific ocean to the south and the west. Tim Deere-Jones 01:19:31 The final Amtrak test named khanaqin, who is a really big five megaton blast, which not only created an earthquake of Richter scale seven and 15 foot ground waves is also reported that cliffs collapsed into the sea and that the sea boiled and thousands of seabirds, sea otters and other animals were killed. Chica is still the subject of regular radiological monitoring. And the Marine and terrestrial environments are still considered radioactive as a result of these tests. Meanwhile, Soviet union tests were being performed between 1949 and 90 90. And during that period, over 715 tests were carried out. Many of these took place at the Northern test site on the Arctic island of know via zoom layer details of the Soviet tests are more obscure than the U S data, but it is likely that some were of similar magnitude to the Caniquan test, no matter where they work carried out much of the airborne radioactivity from these Northern atmosphere tests, even though several thousand kilometers distance from the Arctic were driven by and precipitation patterns to eventually fall out over the Arctic contaminating land water, and the ground level atmosphere analysis of both sea ice and glacier and ice cap calls has proved the presence of a range of weapons tests, radio new, including strontium 90 regrettably. Tim Deere-Jones 02:21:12 There has been poor quantification of the amount of weapons tests, fallout that is deposited on Arctic environments. But academic research has shown that the diet and traditions of indigenous groups mean that they have been and still are receiving very significant contact, dietary and inhalation doses of weapons, tests, fallout derived from hunted fish, sea mammals, and terrestrial meat gathered vegetable and other wild produce, and the inhalation of contaminated air and Marine aerosols and sea sprays in the context of climate change, it is quite clear that the major ice loss melt trend currently affecting the Arctic is going to make a significant contribution to Marine radioactivity concentrations. As the reservoir of radioactive fallout locked in the ice is released to the sea so far, I've not been able to find any evidence that this factor has been or can be quantified contemporary with the rising number of nuclear weapons tests through the fifties and the sixties. Tim Deere-Jones 02:22:19 There was a massive increase in radioactivity discharges from the operation of a new breed of civilian nuclear power stations and reprocessors sites, including Sellafield and Capitola hog in Europe. These were built to extract weapons, grade plutonium from power station used irradiated fuel. These establishments discharged nuclear waste materials to both the atmosphere in gassy or some particular form through chimneys and stacks, and to see in liquid and particular thought through sea discharge pipelines. And as we have seen such atmospheric fallout and wash out onto the Arctic seems to be impossible to quantify. Sadly, it seems to be the case that the impact of distant Marine discharges on the Arctic is also hard to accurately quantify. It was assumed by the nuclear industry that such materials would either dilute and disperse and hence all but vanish in the Marine environment or become sequestered in Marine seabed, sediments, and thus be locked away from contact with humans and the environment. Tim Deere-Jones 02:23:28 However, some years after the first discharge to see a radioactive affluence from Sellafield, it was blandly announced by the British authorities that the discharge has had been experimental and that much useful information had been gathered amongst that was the fact that much of the radioactivity discharged you see, did not dilute and disperse to nothing or become a locked away forever in Marine sediments and fact field research by both nuclear industry and independent academics has now proved that the Sellafield reprocessors see derived alpha emitting plutonium, beta, and gamma, remitting, cesium, and other radionuclides have penetrated the Arctic ocean and contaminated the Marine environment and food webs and delivered dietary doses of multiple nucleotides to apex consumers, including human populations, Santa Fe or discharges are easily identified because they have a specific thing to print ratio of radionuclides. Other Atlantic and Pacific nuclear power station discharges are less easily identified, but must clearly follow the same distribution patterns of the reprocessor discharges researchers. Tim Deere-Jones 02:24:47 Now confidently confirmed that selfie or derive Marine radioactivity has entered the Pacific from the Arctic after having entered the Arctic from the Atlantic in connection with all of this, Russia has embarked on a major exploitation of mineral reserves as the Arctic Marine environment warms and the opportunities for safe and ice-free maritime transport increase a number of major industrial sites are under development along the Arctic coast of Russia with Newport's industrial infrastructure and supporting areas under construction to exploit very large reserves of metals, such as gold nickel, copper uranium, rare earths, and oil and gas reserves, then use of nuclear energy to power. These developments is rapidly becoming the preferred choice in the Russian Federation government policy appears to be strongly supportive of the use of a variety of small modular nuclear reactor design types. In the Arctic. There is a similarly flexible attitude to deployment methods with plans to deploy small modular nuclear reactors that offshore oil and gas rig complexes either on the seabed all as floating units. Tim Deere-Jones 02:26:11 In addition to those more that the coast, a floating small modular nuclear reactor power station is already in operation on the Siberian coast, having been constructed in Western Europe and then towed to pelvic on the coast of Chukotka and the east Siberian sea, not that far away from the U S and Canadian jurisdiction paddock is the site of a newly opened copper and gold extraction and refining development. And the Alexander Lamar nozzle is an unprepared vessel, which carries two uranium field nuclear reactors developed from Russian nuclear sub propulsion units. Their reactors will require onsite refueling every three years and a refit overhaul every 12 years. The Lamont Monosoff has been operating at paddock since 2019 for more such units are currently under construction and destined for similar resource extraction sites along the Siberian coast. Clearly Russia's current policy increases the risk of nuclear accident in the Arctic. Tim Deere-Jones 02:27:22 The obvious risks to the integrity of such units deployed in extreme Arctic conditions are exacerbated by the extreme distance from technical backup expertise in the event of a nuclear incident. Additionally, the expectation that the reactors will be refueled on site clearly indicates that Arctic ocean maritime transports of both new fuel elements and used irradiated nuclear fuels is going to increase exponentially as more of the planned small nuclear reactors come on stream. So there's also an issue in the Arctic with nuclear civilian shipping. There were originally four nuclear cargo ships built by each of the early nuclear nations, France, Russia, America, and Germany. There is also an issue with the amount of nuclear civilian shipping in the Arctic. There were originally four nuclear freighters built by nuclear nations in the early seventies and eighties, only one of them remains. And that is the Soviet built nuclear powered freighter serve more put, which was launched in 1988. Tim Deere-Jones 02:28:39 This vessel has recently been relatively inactive, largely due to the refusal of many coastal states and even some Russian ports to accept a visit from a nuclear powered vessel in the context of fears about nuclear accidents, react to accidents and uncertain insurance regimes covering maritime nuclear reactors in the late 1990s. This is the Russian seven report was laid up in Murmansk due to delays in the refueling of her reactors. The refueling finally took place in 2001 and later the ship resumed low level services on Arctic routes in August, 2007, it was reported that the ship would be converted into the world's first nuclear power drilling ship, working the Arctic oil fields, but due to lack of demand for cargo operators and the need of specialized drilling vessels in the Russian Arctic, that conversion never took place in October two and nine, the general director of atom Flott announced that seven more put could remain in service for 15 years, but in October, 2012, it was reported that she would be removed from the Russian ship register in July and will be sold for scrap. Tim Deere-Jones 03:30:00 However, in the following December, it was reported that the decision to decommission this ship had been canceled and that the vessel would be brought back to service by February, 2016. So the seven report became active again and has subsequently been charted mainly by the Russian ministry of defense for transporting cargo related to the development of military infrastructure in the Arctic. And in addition, she has occasionally transport and supplies for oil and gas projects. Her new life has been punctuated by breakdowns and delayed operations. None of which have so far been attributed to react to problems. So this redeployment of this now very old nuclear powered freighter appears to be part of the ongoing nuclearization of Russia's Arctic shipping and follows recent statements that Russia is considering alternative fuels in inverted commerce for it severely and polar athletes having already built and operated 10 nuclear powered icebreakers with five more in the design and building stage and the one floating Marine nuclear reactor referred to earlier. Tim Deere-Jones 03:31:22 And there's nine more of them in design and build stage as well. All of which are going to be used to keep the ice clear from the Northern sea route and to power off shore Arctic ocean oil drilling, mineral mining, and the associated refining manufacturing and urban industrial activity. Just as a side mention, China has also begun the construction of nuclear power icebreakers were certainly one and possibly two such vessels powered by twin maritime. PWRs under design and construction, the design and construction brief for the Chinese vessels states that they are intended to open polar waterways, presumably intended to accompany future Chinese merchant vessels along the Arctic Northern sea route. So it's not only the development of these transport modes, which is causing questions and problems there in the Arctic. A series of nuclear accidents have made detectable impacts on the Arctic's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Tim Deere-Jones 03:32:29 Research projects have concluded that Chernobyl accident radioactivity entered the Arctic environments by way of multiple pathways, including direct fallout and wash out onto Arctic environments, inputs of radioactivity from the river basin systems of Arctic and sub-arctic terrestrial environments contaminated both all out and wash out. And as is the case with other input sources, this is not being quantified across the Arctic either in terms of the quantity of radioactivity or the number of radio nuclides, which have cropped up research has recently reported that radioactivity released to see during and after the focal Shima disaster has entered the Arctic ocean and has been detected in the Bering sea, which knives between the Pacific and the Arctic proper and the Chuck CISI, which is actually a subdivision of the proper Arctic ocean in the context of the fate and behavior behavioral weapons test fallout discussed earlier. It seems inevitable that other Northern hemisphere nuclear accidents dating back to the 1957 selfie of reprocessor fire and the Soviet union's Chelyabinsk Myack reprocessed to accident in the same year, we'll also have made significant contributions to Arctic environmental revenue activity going back to in Arctic sources of nuclear contamination. Tim Deere-Jones 03:34:01 There is no doubt that sunken nuclear subs and see dumped military nuclear wastes have made a significant impact on radioactivity levels. In the, some of the Arctic Marine environments, there is a wide consensus that the major issue is nuclear submarines reports from Russia confirmed that the Soviet union actually lost five nuclear submarines and subsequently the Russian Federation lost two in the barons and the car sees at the European end of the Arctic ocean, all, but one of these sinkings occurred as a result of some form of onboard failure. One was deliberately scuttled following an onboard nuclear event, which made the vessel too radioactive to be worked on. One of the sunk ships was a diesel powered submarine, carrying nuclear missiles. The others were all nuclear powered and an uncertain number of them were carrying nuclear weapons. Now it seems to be pretty certain six of the seven lost submarines were powered by twin nuclear reactors, each containing between 700 and a thousand kilograms of nuclear fuel, depending on the vessel type, some observers postulate that a significant leak breach of containment from any one of these vessels could raise radioactivity concentrations in the valuable barons and Carra sea fish stocks called capital in Halliburton crab by a hundred times in the years following any such leak and because of the risk of such environmental impact from any one of these vessels, European money has been granted to Russia in order to help raise the sunken submarines and decommission them. Tim Deere-Jones 03:35:55 And now emerges that a suitable vessel has now entered the design stage and is likely with any luck to be commissioned in 2026, so that those submarines could be lifted by 2032 and taken landside for proper and correct decontamination and breaking Russian sources also confirm that at one stage there were over 100 disuse nuclear submarines in wet dock storage, complete with their reactors and the little Mo most of them have now been decommissioned and scrapped. Some still remain. In addition, there is a growing fleet of retired nuclear powered icebreakers complete with their reactors. Also more around the Arctic coastlines and waiting decommissioning and breaking all told it is reported that around 17,000 containers of hazardous nuclear waste, 19 retired nuclear support vessels, togs barges, floating docks, pontoons, and waste carriers, and 735 items of irradiated heavy machinery have also been C dumped into the barons and the car receives again at the European end of the Arctic ocean while international nuclear expertise insists that nuclear waste should have been dumped into ocean deeps far off shore, and at least three kilometers deep. Tim Deere-Jones 03:37:24 Some of the material discussed here has been dumped on the seabeds around 50 meters. Deep, clearly pretty close to land. Russia is not alone in its military radioactive pollution of the Arctic because the us has also made its own notable contribution focused on Northern Greenland. In 1959, the U S opened a cold war nuclear missile site called camp century, which was buried beneath the ice cap in Northern Greenland, about 150 miles from the U S air base at fuel. Three kilometers of tunnel were constructed beneath many feet of ice with accommodation for around 200 military personnel. And the site was powered by an experimental PM. Two portable nuclear reactor project ran until 1967 when it was abandoned, due to the instability of the covering ice. And the reactor was dismantled and removed. However, in the expectation that polar conditions would continue as normal and that the base would become more and more snowed under and sealed, many tons of waste were abandoned on site, including thousands of gallons of sewage, diesel fuel PCPs, and 47,000 gallons of liquid nuclear waste. Tim Deere-Jones 03:38:47 Given that the PM tool reactor was water-cooled and uranium and fueled. It is inevitable that this liquid waste will contain alpha emitting uranium and plutonium nucleotides, tritium, and a cocktail of other activation products. It is now widely agreed that due to climate change driven ice melt, the site infrastructure is likely to be exposed by the end of this century, the potential radiological impact to run off watercourses and the receiving environment of green Nan's coastal waters is clearly a radiological threat awaiting the region. Regional Marine food webs are unlikely to avoid bio absorption and accumulation of some of that radioactivity. This issue was compounded when in 1968, a USB 22 bomber crashed and exploded on sea ice off the north Greenland coast. The explosion ruptured the nuclear payload consisting of four Thermo nuclear devices and scattered debris and nuclear material across a wide area of CIS. Tim Deere-Jones 03:39:59 Although Danish and us, or authorities undertook a cleanup and attempted to collect and remove all the debris. It is clear that not all of the debris and contamination could have been removed as the secondary stage of one bomb containing uranium 2 38 plutonium and tritium has never been recovered on the basis of short-term research. It has been concluded by the authorities that most of the plutonium variously estimated to be between 7.5 and 24 kilograms in mass is currently sequestered in seabed sediments, and not available to most biota or human populations. How, however, as is the case with the camp century pollution in the context of climate change and the increasing severity of Marine and meteorological conditions, intensity of storminess wave height, and the possibility of major changes in regional Marine currents, this sequestered isolation of the bomber material must not be expected to last. One of the problems with working in Greenland is that like all other Arctic sites, it's relatively isolated and not particularly easy waters to work in. Tim Deere-Jones 04:41:18 And the radiological inventories of these accident events remains very poorly qualified as do the long-term environmental Marine food web and human impact. So having looked at all this stuff, there's a natural concern to try and identify what might be the doses to human populations as a result of this very heavy nuclearization of the Arctic ocean. And unfortunately, there's virtually nothing there. What we have is that during and after the construction of the test ban treaty, it was agreed that Arctic residents whose diets comprised a large proportion of traditional hunted gathered foodstuffs had received the highest radiation exposures to weapons test radio neutralize. And it was a pretty wide agreement that the most exposed population groups in the Arctic may have on average received up to 50 times higher individual doses than members of the average population and using architect's specific information. The predicted collective population dose is five times higher than that estimated for more temperate areas, such as Northern Europe or the bulk of the states. Tim Deere-Jones 04:42:36 And most of the Southern Canada, where the source of dose is reasonably well, understood calculations have shown that significant doses can be delivered to Arctic populations, thus individual annual doses to the most exposed residents of the Arctic from Chernobyl fallout have been calculated for reindeer herding and hunting gathering communities at approximately 10 to 20 microsieverts in the most effected area. So that's about as high as the Japanese lifted the limits for populations in and around Kashima after the Fukushima incident. So you can appreciate that's pretty high, and these are people living thousands of miles away from the journal bill source. By contrast to that, 10 to 20 microsieverts releases arriving in the Arctic from the Sellafield reprocessing plant in the UK, provide a small contribution. I, in the range of maybe naught point naught five microsieverts, it has been estimated that dosage to humans from the reactors of the sunken nuclear submarines are currently very low indeed. Tim Deere-Jones 04:43:49 And this has been attributed to the fact that so far reactor shielding has not broken down for which we must surely will be very grateful. However, the churn of IL related data quoted above gives you a powerful indication of the kind of impacts that we might be seeing if we had an in Arctic reactor or nuclear warhead release, regrettably though, as I've indicated earlier, due to difficult working conditions and the remoteness of much of the Arctic serious estimates of aggregated total radioactivity locked in seabed and intertidal sediments, and in the Arctic water mass or in the remaining Arctic ice are pretty much non-existent. The few studies that have been undertaken have been widely spread across a large sea area and present very variable outcomes. The majority of the researchers focused on the sun couldn't Russian and Soviet nuclear submarines in the barons and the car seat and on the Russian Soviet test site, nuclear test site at Novi as M liar in the car. Tim Deere-Jones 04:45:00 I see, but elsewhere research has been very thinly spread and this militates against any comprehensive Arctic wide environmental or population estimates for the same reason, both individual and population dose estimates are similarly incomplete and incoherent and are additionally inadequate because the prohibited expense of analyzing samples for all of the radioactivity likely to be present means that research tend to focus on a very limited number of radio nuclear codes, sometimes only one and thus returns, thoroughly unrepresentative data dose estimates from Marine environments. Also based on the outdated assumption that Marine radioactivity dose can only be acquired via a limited number of pathways. Three, in fact, seafood consumption skin contact with Marine materials and accidental ingestion of Marine materials, such as beach, sand, or seawater such assumptions have been clearly disproved by recent independent academic investigation, which now recognizes nine such pathways of exposure to Marine radioactivity. Tim Deere-Jones 04:46:15 So the big problem with the Arctic is that there are indeed many potential sources of radiological threats. Russia has an ever-growing fleet of nuclear submarines. Their Arctic Northern fleet has about 20 nuclear submarines, some capable of carrying 120 nuclear weapons and missiles each such that it is believed that as many as a thousand nuclear warheads could be deployed in the Arctic by the Russian fleet. If you add into that, the fact that the U S is also putting its own nuclear submarines and other vessels into the Arctic in order to watch and harass the operations of the Russian fleet, you can see that that's an even bigger threat. So in addition to the submarine issue, Russia has 10 nuclear powered twin reactor icebreakers, some decommissioned, but more being built. The nuclear powered freighter seven report has two reactors and the floating nuclear power station referred to earlier also has two reactors. Tim Deere-Jones 04:47:18 So there are currently at least 44 maritime reactors deployed in the Arctic. So we've got a thousand nuclear missiles, a thousand nuclear warheads, 44 maritime reactors deployed in the Arctic. And in addition, there are an unknown, but clearly growing number of shipments of maritime, civilian nuclear cargo. So that's supply ships to nuclear floating reactors and military nuclear basis taking material, nuclear material in those bases and bringing use material out. And then we've got the military sites and the test sites, we've got the historical legacy from atmospheric and weapons tests and accidents, and the U S inputs from camp century and lost bombs and Russian Marine dumps of nuclear waste material and lost nuclear subs. We've got the issue of ice and permafrost melt, which is as we speak releasing radioactive fallout and wash out from ice melt into the ocean, increasing rainfall on the river systems and river basins is going to flush terrestrial radio activity from those areas into the ocean. Tim Deere-Jones 04:48:31 So it's important to remember that as of yet, there is no method for the radiological decontamination of environments by odor or humans. And that flushing by applying copious amount of water is the only system of decontaminating radioactive material, such as those we've been looking at. And all that flashing is inevitably going to end up in your ocean anyway. So biota, including humans can flush at a certain amount of radioactivity by excluding it from their systems, but since many radionuclides preferentially attached to bone teeth, organs, or blood such processes, do not remove all of the radioactivity. And indeed create the ideal scenario for long-term internal exposure of humans and animals. Such excretory processes are of minimal benefit to those living a traditional life, which ensures that they must consume a local diet gained from a longterm radiologically polluted environment. And I'll just remind you again, that due to the difficult working conditions and the remoteness of much of the Arctic response to Arctic nuclear releases is going to be severely restricted due to ambient conditions of seasonality meteorology, see an ice state and time constraints imposed by the enormous distance that many of these nuclear installations are set at, as opposed to the base of nuclear expertise back home in mother Russia and mother us. Tim Deere-Jones 05:50:11 So in conclusion is my thoughts that the significant nuclear accidents in the Arctic are pretty much inevitable with accompanying major releases to atmosphere and aquatic environments of multiple radionuclides in the context of the massive weaknesses and failures of response. We have seen the Chernobyl and Fukushima and other nuclear disasters situated close to relatively good communication and transport routes and a reservoir of technical expertise. It seems to me that an Arctic ocean nuclear disaster occurring at enormous distances from such facilities is likely to progress faster and further than churn Lowville or Foco Shima the Arctic ocean with an area of only about 6.1 million square miles is far and away. The world's smallest ocean yet it has possibly the longest history of important nuclear pollution and the in ocean deployment of multiple uses of nuclear power under the current conditions. It can, without doubt, be defined as the most nuclear ocean with more Marine nuclear activity, compressed into a smaller area than any other ocean. Tim Deere-Jones 05:51:26 All the signs are that the future can only see the process become more accelerated. And the nuclearization and attendant radiological risks become more intense in the context that the Arctic has numerous sources of its own manmade radiological inputs. And that it is clearly also a conduit for the inter ocean distribution of other Northern hemisphere Marine radioactivity from the Atlantic to the Arctic, to the Pacific. It is clear that Northern hemisphere, coastal maritime nations cannot escape the potential problems arising from the nuclear ization of the Arctic ocean. So I believe it is imperative that Arctic and other governments address this issue with alacrity and set in motion, a series of international Arctic wide agreements to limit the nuclearization process set in place, memorandums of understanding. So the management and response to and mitigation of any radiological incident and consider the radiological implications for the Arctic Marine environment and for both the traditional indigenous Arctic peoples and those many thousands of immigrant workers now living in the new resource extraction industries and their associated developments along the Arctic coast of the Arctic ocean. This is Tim deer Jones, Marine radioactivity research and consultant. Thank you very much for this, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:58 And thank you very much for providing that Tim UK based Marine biologist, researcher and consultant, Tim dear Joan, Tim has provided a PDF of this exclusive presentation, and we have it available for you on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number 5 53. Great news for the show is that Tim has agreed to come on board nuclear, hot seat as a special correspondent on Marine issues. And he will be presenting his information regularly in the coming year and hopefully far beyond. And next week, if there's time, I'll share an outtake from our post presentation. Chit-chat where Tim and I get down and dirty and morbidly funny about how we deal with the pressure of facing so much nuclear awfulness every week, Announcer 05:53:49 Activists Libbe HaLevy 05:53:57 And open letter urging nuclear weapons states to adopt no first use and other policies to ensure that a nuclear war is never fought, was delivered to leaders of the nuclear five China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These are also the five countries that are on the UN security council. The letter was also delivered to leaders of the other 185 countries, which are states parties to the NPT or non-proliferation treaty the open letter in titled fulfill the NPT from nuclear threats to human security was organized by no first use global, a global network of organizations, academics, policymakers, and to civil society advocates. It has so far been endorsed by over 1000 signatories from 69 countries, including former government ministers and ambassadors parliamentarians, Nobel laureates, former military commanders, and high-level officials of the United nations, leading scientists, religious leaders, business leaders, and representatives of civil society organizations from around the world and nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:13 We'll have a link to the actual letter text, and also a way that you can continue to sign this for yourself as an individual or groups that you belong to. That will be up on our website, nuclear seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 53, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 25th, 2022. The material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org nears.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org npr.org nuclear ban treaty collaborative arclight.blogspot.com. Counter punched.org, gen.gg.com, NHK dot O r.jp reuters.com. The bulletin.org, no first use global.org, bloomberg.com. Climate rocks.com, express.co.uk Cumbria, cracked.com and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Now it's easy for you to never miss another episode of nuclear hotseat. And that is you can get it delivered by an email every week. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:37 As soon as the show posts, how do you get on the list? Easy. You know what to do? Go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up for weekly email links to the latest show. It also includes a short summary of some of the material that you'll find there. Now, speaking of stories, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, you're on the ground, you're seeing it up close and personal, and that's how we keep up with the stories that are out there. So if you know any of this and think that we should be covering it, let us know, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com and a reminder that if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything that you can do to help will be greatly appreciated because we can't do this show without your support. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:43 This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 libi Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but they're use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with the date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it's never over. That's it. You have just hand your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:25 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot seat. The time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #552: Tonga Tsunami Nuclear Dangers to Fukushima, San Onofre - Nancy Foust, Charles Langley & Nina Babiarz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tonga-tsunami-nuclear-dangers-fukushima-san-onofre/ Published: 2022-01-19 Duration: 00:59:00 Tonga Tsunami nuclear dangers erupted from underwater volcanic explosion, seen here from space. This week's episode explores this massive natural disaster's real and potential impact on nuclear reactors at Fukushima in Japan and San Onofre in southern California. This Week's Featured Interviews: Tonga tsunami nuclear dangers are explored in two featured interview this week. We look at the possible impact both on Fukushima and United States domestic nuclear reactor sites, most specifically San Onofre in southern California Nancy Foust is Communications Manager & Research Team Member SimplyInfo.org, a not-for-profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. We spoke about the Tonga underwater volcano eruption of January 15 and what's currently known about the impact of its resulting tsunami on Fukushima in Japan.Public Watchdogs is a nonprofit advocacy group focused on the shuttered San Onofre nuclear generating station in southern California. San Onofre is now, in essence, a nuclear waste dump, with 3.6 Million pounds of deadly radioactive nuclear waste stored on site, on the beach, 108 feet from the Pacific Ocean, in a USGS designated tsunami inundation zone. We talked with its two heads to find out how the Tonga tsunami has affected San Onofre and point out what other problems could be manifest: Public Watchdogs Executive Director Charles Langley holds as his personal vision to: "unscrew the inscrutable” through lucid communications on complex regulatory and infrastructure issues. I embrace the conviction that access to clean water and affordable, sustainable energy is a fundamental human right, that when honored, sustains life, nourishes human dignity, and encourages worldpeace." Board member Nina Babiarz began her career in journalism and has high level experience in: Training Development/Delivery Coordination, Facilitation, Project and Program Management, Strategic Planning, Negotiation, Marketing Materials Development and Outreach Delivery. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Does France actually think those new, untried nuclear reactor designs from EDF are going to be approved by 2023 and operational by 2037??? On time and on budget will be new concepts for any nuclear new build… but from EDF? Sacre bleu! Links: Can Santa Fe Survive as a Nuclear Weapons Suburb? – Op-ed by Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group.New Mexico Archbishop Pushes for Nuclear Disarmament Why is the Santa Susana Nuclear Accident Still Being Covered Up? by Warren Olney Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear. Toonami the January 15 explosion of an underwater volcano near the island of Tonga sent out a massive Toonami in all directions and putting nuclear facilities sited on the Pacific and using its waters for cooling at risk. While the obvious focus of Toonami danger is in Japan at Fukushima, the threat of tsunami inundation exists all around the Pacific rim, and it seems that no nuclear entities are taking it seriously enough as a threat to take necessary safety measures. So when you hear confirmation of that from an expert on the defunct, but still dangerous, San Onofre, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste in Southern California, and she tells you Nina Babiarz 00:00:49 Perspective Southern California Edison and even their parent company, Sempra that continues to enable this perspective, as well as the nuclear regulatory commission is somewhat in denial of the inevitable tsunami hitting the Southern California coastline. And in that regard, they're playing Russian roulette with the public safety. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:11 Well, just because a bad enough to NAMI hasn't happened yet to inundate Santa ano fray and other nuclear facilities doesn't mean that it can't and won't plus the volcanic activity at Tonga may not be over nor are they out of any of the rest of the Pacific rim. So when you understand that, you begin to understand how all encompassing is that dangerous, deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:39 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's debacle. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:11 Welcome to nuclear. Hotseat the weekly international news magazine keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we take a closer look at the January 15 underwater, volcanic eruption near the island nation of Tonga and the tsunami that ensued. We'll talk first with Nancy Faust of simply info.org who let us know about what happened in Japan and specifically Fukushima as a result of that tsunami, hitting the Japanese, then an illuminating discussion of what that tsunami means. 6,000 miles away from its point of origin at the Santa Ana fray nuclear generating station in Southern California, it's defunct, but the radioactive waste stored there is still dangerous and vulnerable to a water-based breach. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:20 We talk with Charles Langley and 900 Babby ares of public watchdogs to get their take on why and how, what happened in Tonga does not stay in Tonga and how woefully unprepared we are to deal with the possible consequences. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than would ever survive a us Senate. Filibuster, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 18th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting out with the latest news we have about the underwater volcanic eruption off the island of Tonga in the Pacific and the resulting to NAMI the eruption took place on January 15 with a blast that was heard as far away as Alaska as the explosion took place, the displaced water and debris created a cloud, not unlike a mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:30 And it could be seen clearly from space. NASA researchers have estimated that the power of this massive volcanic eruption had the explosive force of around 10 mega tons of TNT equivalent, which is more than 500 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945, the explosion caused a massive Toonami that he had all around the Pacific rim nations causing concern most specifically in Fukushima in Japan, to learn more about that tsunamis impact on Fukushima, we spoke with Nancy Faust. She is communications manager and research team member@simplyinfo.org, which is a not-for-profit research collective that holds and manages the world's largest public archive of data and the Fukushima disaster we spoke on the morning of Monday, January 17th, 2022. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:30 thank you so much for taking the time this morning on such short notice to speak with us here at nuclear hot seat. Hi, glad to be here. This is about the underwater volcanic eruption that took place in Tonga and its possible impact on TUPE Shima and where we stand now. So let's start out with what was your first awareness of this eruption and the fact that it might have an impact on previous Seamus? Nancy Foust 00:05:58 The first information we got of it was through Japanese media when they started setting off tsunami warnings, you know, as we saw those come out, we started looking at cause and realized how big this really was, that, you know, one, the cause wasn't an earthquake. It was a cause of it was caused by a volcano, which is apparently fairly unusual for tsunami also that it was impacting just about everywhere along Pacific coastlines, New Zealand, Australia, south America, all the way up to Alaska and some of the predictions hitting to can where they weren't 2011 levels of dire, but they were concerning. And some of them, they were, you know, issuing straight up warnings, telling people, you know, you have to get to higher ground immediately. So we immediately started looking at what was going on in, in a little more detail. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:54 I saw pictures from the coast of Oregon and this was when a tsunami surge was hit. And there was a woman who was actually there, she survived, but she was up to her waist in water before it was over and she almost got swept out. So this was very serious. How long after the eruption began, did the Toonami begin to hit Japan? Nancy Foust 00:07:17 It was about eight to 10 hours. Japan's meteorological agency has ocean buoys that they use to detect occurrences in the wave patterns that indicate that there may be a tsunami. This is similar to what many other countries have. So they weren't issuing tsunami warnings immediately. When the volcano exploded, they started issuing them as they started seeing abnormalities in their tracking systems. So we're looking at, you know, eight to 10 hours after the initial explosion of the volcano, they started triggering tsunami warnings and telling people, you know, get away from the beaches. If you're in certain areas, you need to completely evacuate Libbe HaLevy 00:07:57 Keeping Fukushima in our focus. What were the vulnerabilities or what are the vulnerabilities there for another water surge from a Toonami, Nancy Foust 00:08:08 There were a number of number of things that are still vulnerable at the plant, but I want to go back for a minute back to 2011. So you Shida who was the plant manager during the initial disaster. And he was still there in the subsequent years right after. And he made a very big deal trying to get TEPCO to put up some temporary tsunami measures on the sea front to protect what, you know, what was left. So nothing was made worse. If there was another tsunami hitting the plant TEPCO told him no, just completely told him no. He ended up going to the Japanese media and just basically went on TEPCO and told the public that he did this to force Tepsco's hand Tepsco did put some temporary measures in place. They are now in the last year or two have been putting in some small concrete walls to provide a little bit more permanent tsunami measures. But this has all been kind of late and very reluctant on Tepsco's behalf, which in this situation, 2022, we're really lucky that the waves that did hit the plant were not super tall. They were only about a meter. So, you know, there are many things that were at risk during this and that we still don't know about, but the big scary scenario didn't happen. But boy, is it a reminder that, you know, Tepsco's compulsion to ignore things really is a risk. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:39 What kind of follow-up does Pepco do to find out if there was any damage to they have sensors? Do they send people on site? How is the examination done Nancy Foust 00:09:53 Typically when there's some sort of weather event and this isn't necessarily weather, but it kind of falls into the same category of, you know, natural events. They send people out to do visual walkouts, but they've completed those, but they're very superficial. They're just looking for very obvious damage. They're not going in and deeply inspecting things. They're just double checking. You know, if it's a system that's at risk, is it still running? That kind of thing? What they will do is over the next week, we'll probably start finding out more information about things that may have actually sustained some damage at the plant. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:30 So this is information that's going to be rolling out over the next days and week, if not weeks. Nancy Foust 01:10:37 Right? Libbe HaLevy 01:10:39 How transparent do you expect those assessments from TEPCO to be? Is there any kind of oversight to what they're doing to make certain that they do not overlook something of importance or they failed to report it to the public? Nancy Foust 01:10:56 There's some oversight. The new nuclear regulator in Japan does kind of keep an eye on things, but there still are multitudes of ways where things fall to the wayside. Don't get looked at. There isn't any official stance on this. You know, if there's a typhoon or a tsunami, there isn't like a checklist that they have to, that they're mandated to send to Japan's nuclear regulator or inform the public about. So it's kind of voluntary. That's probably the best way to put it. When there have been other events like there've been typhoons and they'll put out these initial everything's fine reports. And then as the next couple of weeks, go on, we find out that, oh, there was damage to water tanks. There was damage to this. There was damage to that. And you know, we expect some of that with this event where we'll probably hear in the next couple of weeks of things that actually did sustain some damage. The only good news about this is if there was something super dangerous, super critical that had been damaged in this, that they would have probably been obligated to tell the nuclear regulator, because there are certain things that they have to keep in place like, you know, cooling and containment type features on what's what for the reactors, Libbe HaLevy 01:12:15 Another relevant concern is the large piles of contaminated soil bags that have been stored along the Fukushima coast on beaches and in low lying areas and riverbanks near the coast. What are the possible dangers to these contaminated soil storage bags from the tsunami that did hit and might the inundation levels put these bags at risk of being swept out to sea. Nancy Foust 01:12:39 We've already seen evidence of this and other natural disasters. There have been a couple of typhoons in recent years that had slipped away soil bags that were stored along riverbanks, near Fukushima de Archie. And these are gone. There was number of them. They were unable to retrieve and they were just sitting on a low line riverbank. So, you know, when all of this rain and invasion happened, it just swept the bags away. And we see lots of this where these stashes of soil are lightly regulated. No one is making smart decisions about where a storm they're just storing them kind of wherever. And this is where we got to what you were mentioning of these massive soil storage locations on beaches, which is just mind boggling that anyone thought this was a good idea. There are a number of them that have been documented on the Fukushima coast where they'll take an entire beach and just stack up these bags of contaminated soil, right at sea level. And we have yet to see any reports of the condition of those what has happened. So that's something we're definitely looking for information on is, you know, how much of that is still in place and how much of it has been damaged because we assume there's at least some damage that has happened. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:59 What do we know about the condition of these bags and how well they're holding up? Because they do have, I think it is a five-year useful life, three to five years, something like that. And they are beyond that timeframe. What do we know about their condition as of now, Nancy Foust 01:14:21 Total that was found to be stored on beaches showed up around 20 14, 20 15. So that tells us that if they are still in the original bags, that those bags are reaching or past their lifespan, which means the bags that these, that the soil is stored in is likely in a degraded state. And this has been an ongoing problem again, where it's something that's getting neglected. There are some situations where people made enough noise. The environment ministry would have soiled Rebag, but this is a really rare thing where we found instances of that actually happening. So most of this is just being left Herat on the beach. So this is of course, adding to the concern that one potentially inundated by tsunami waves, to some extent, and that the soil that was stored there may have been in older bags that had reached their lifespan and are more prone to rupture. These bags are made out of polyethylene, this kind of heavy canvas plastic canvas. And as that degrades, that can just break apart. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:24 Do we know anything about the early construction of the tunnel that TEPCO is purportedly going to use to dump the trivia, rated water, the radioactive water that it has been storing from Fukushima over 1 million, 200,000 tons of it into the Pacific that was just started under construction. Do we know if there is any damage to that as yet, Nancy Foust 01:15:51 Topeka mentioned nothing about this in their walk down report that was posted this morning, and it is a big concern. They have a large construction rig that they had floated out into the port, and this was supposed to be the equipment. They need to start doing the work for the base for this pipe. So it's really early initial work. What we're concerned about is what happened to that rig that they have out in the port know, was it displaced? Could it have tipped over those kinds of things? And so the fact that TEPCO didn't mention anything about it was a little concerning and that's something we're keeping an eye on. As far as the pipe itself, since they hadn't started actually putting out the pipe chase itself, you know, there's no concern that that has been damaged further, but of course, whatever work they had completed on setting the foundation for it may have been damaged in this. But we don't know at this point Libbe HaLevy 01:16:47 We've been discussing the eruption that began on January 15th. Now, just before I got on with you, I learned that there's been a new volcanic eruption on Tonga at around 9:45 AM Japan time, which is 2:45 AM Pacific time. And that's as of today, January 17, Monday as we are recording this, is there any word that you have received yet about a possible second set of Toonami risks from this eruption? Nancy Foust 01:17:17 No, not yet. And that's news to me that this had happened. I'd been keeping an eye on Japanese news up until about oh two hours ago. So at that point there wasn't anything, but this is of course a new concern if there's, and this was something the meteorological agency had mentioned the other day is we don't know if this is the right Libbe HaLevy 01:17:39 Meaning. There could be other eruptions as indeed. There apparently was one today. This came from TD new SU reported there B eruptions to the best of anybody's knowledge are not yet over. And the danger has not passed. What is any additional protections can be put in, even on short notice, should the volcano at Tonga erupt again, or perhaps multiple times a sequence of time, Nancy Foust 01:18:11 The way things are situated at the plant, what is vulnerable is going to be vulnerable because anything that could potentially act as a seawall, so is going to take an extreme amount of time to install. So what defense they have is pretty much what they're going to have to ride this out with. They've got these large portable barricades that they had put up in some places they've got concrete in some other concrete barricades and some other ones, but they're just going to have to ride it out with what the, Libbe HaLevy 01:18:43 And for clarity, what are the sources you use for the information that you are using a crinkly info? We have a couple of Nancy Foust 01:18:50 The different sources where we find information. When we get information from TEPCO themselves, we get information from the regulators in Japan. There are also some other related agencies that are tied to nuclear power and environmental issues in Japan. And we look at those. We also look for third party confirmation on things. Sometimes it's workers at the plant. Sometimes it's environmental groups in Japan or locals in Japan that have direct information and direct evidence of things going on. So we try to look at a number of sources. So when we're not getting enough information out of official channels, we start looking elsewhere to see if we can find something that confirms or denies what we're hearing Libbe HaLevy 01:19:38 Things like. You're going to have a very busy couple of days coming up to match the busy days you've already had on this potentially. Nancy Foust 01:19:45 Yes. You know, if this volcano keeps doing things big enough to cause potential tsunami waves, this could be a really busy week. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:54 Nancy Faust. We appreciate this update. We will stay in touch. Hopefully things will calm down from this point on and for now. Thank you tremendously for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Nancy Foust 02:20:09 Great. Thanks for having me. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:11 That was Nancy Faust communications manager and research team member@simplyinfo.org. We will have a link up to their page on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 22, we will have a further interview later in the program on the risks posed by this and possibly other two nominees on nuclear facilities, including that of Santa no fray in Southern California. We'll have that later in the program for now more news here in the U S three separate, but interrelated stories out of New Mexico in the first comes word that the Los Alamos national laboratory, which was used for the development of the atom bomb in world war two is still 14 years away from cleanup. And it might be even more the U S department of energy estimates. It could be 2036 before the cleanup is complete at the lab, which is referred to as Lanel during a recent meeting. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:15 Federal officials acknowledged reviewing whether new risks will increase the need for additional funding for the cleanup project. These risks consisting in major part of the federal government's plan to increase plutonium core. Plutonium Pitt is another term production at Los Alamos and finding out how that will result in additional waste and disposal, liabilities, New Mexico, environmental officials, and watchdog groups worry that the federal government has significantly understated its environmental liability regarding the lab. The DOE is facing a legal challenge by the state of New Mexico, over setting and meeting the milestones of its current cleanup agreement with the state, which was signed in 2016. State officials found the federal government's plan for the previous fiscal year to be deficient. Watchdog groups said it wasn't until the state sued in February of 2021, that the DOE proposed boosting the cleanup budget at the lab by about one third J Coghlan executive director of nuclear watch. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:18 New Mexico said the conclusion I draw from it is the New Mexico environment department gets a lot more from the skip than it does from the carrot with respect to making the laboratory and a DOE truly committed to a comprehensive cleanup. Greg mellow, who is executive director of the Los Alamos study group, had a great op ed in the Santa Fe, new Mexican. He asks, what exactly would Santa Fe stand for or mean if nuclear weapons, the ultimate inhuman disposability became its main tangible product. He cites current plans at Lanel to spend $18 billion to start up production of the plutonium pits. This decade. This is 15 times what the Manhattan project spent in New Mexico to develop the nuclear bomb in the first place. And indeed adores the cost of every other project in New Mexico history. The pits will cost at least $50 million a piece 200 times their weight in gold, a single Lanel Pitt. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:21 Assuming all goes well will cost you as much as the combined annual salaries of 1000 New Mexico teachers or the equipment for 5,000 residential solar systems. Melo goes on to state several other meaningful equivalencies, and we will have a link up to this article on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 52 and the third New Mexico article states that Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe has published a pastoral letter living in the light of Christ peace, a conversation towards nuclear disarmament. He called the nuclear arms race, a quote vicious spiral that prompts progressively destabilizing actions and reactions by all parties, including our own country, whatever your religious affiliation or lack thereof. It's a good letter that he wrote and we will link to it in Missouri, the Callaway nuclear plant automatically scrammed, which is an emergency shutdown after a turbine trip. This is in the wake of the fact that the reactor was shut down for over seven months in 2021 for extensive repairs to the turbine, back to the drawing boards guys off the coast of Florida, the nuclear reactors at St. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:47 Lucy have got some splaining to do after a sub adult female loggerhead turtle, which is a protected species was found dead in the reactors intake, cooling canal. It was caught in the intake, cooling canals, five inch barrier net and an autopsy determined that mortality was due to forced submergence. In other words, the turtle got caught and drown to death. No one can figure out exactly how or why it happened, which means it's probably time to call him the jellyfish because when it comes to shutting down a nuclear reactor, those guys know how to get it done. Another article we're going to link to is entitled. Why is the Santa Susanna nuclear accident still being covered up excavating six decades of buried secrecy, neglect and flat out lies in the San Fernando valley. What's notable about this piece it's that it is written by Warren only the reporter who first broke the Santa Susana field lab story on KNBC four in 1979. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:52 It's a good, clear recap of the history of the site and carries the authority of someone who is so frustrated that six decades after breaking a story, it's still a story over to Japan where even before this week to NAMI hit the plant, the unit three spent fuel pool was showing some damage. The work took place between July and October of 2021 and focused on high radiation equipment, including used control rods and used filter canisters. The inspection found a damage control. Rod lying across a fuel ramp to damage control rods hung in the wall rack and damage to the rack itself. Two dummy fuel assemblies have damaged lifting handles and six lifting on the fuel racks were damaged. Sandy debris and rust were found at the bottom of the pool causing difficulty in examining the use filters stored there. Pictures of all these are found on the website, simply info.org on December 6th, Tokyo electric power company. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:01 Tapco began to drive steel pipes into the ground at Fukushima Daiichi to stop the inflow of underground water into the thought part of the frozen soil barrier. AKA the slushie, this frost wall has been in operation. If you can call it that since 2017 intended to prevent the inflow of groundwater into the reactor building where melted nuclear fuel and debris remains from the accident. This is meant to reduce the generation of contaminated water, which then has to be stored onsite in containers. And as the exact water, the TEPCO is threatening to dump into the Pacific ocean. Needless to say the slushie, excuse me, ice wall has not been working as advertised. And the only time we get updates on it is when they suddenly have to do another round of repairs in the UK. If you thought Rolls-Royces small modular nuclear reactors would be for electricity on earth guess again, because the rolls Royce team has just moved into space park in Leicester to work on nuclear powered space. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:10 Travel rolls. Royce has already signed the contract to move into the new 100 million pound facility and will collaborate with the new space park head professor Richard Ambrosie, professor of space instrumentation and space nuclear power systems at the university of Leicester. They already have a curriculum set up for it and they're so tricked out a video on rolls Royce's nuclear aspirations in space is up on YouTube and has already garnered more than 600,000 views. I wonder how many bots or what degree of PR promotion it took to get that many hits on something that's only been up for a short period of time in Belgium, the operator of the latest dwell four and to Hanes three reactors has informed the Belgian prime minister that they can no longer be connected to the grid. The dwell for reactor has been in operation since July of 1985. And to Hanes three since September of 1985 and are to be shut down on September 1st, 2025. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:18 This date for the shutdown was decided in Belgium in 2003. And an extension of the term of operation would require a lead time of at least five years because of the necessary studies and approval procedures. Both reactors sites are less than 100 miles or 150 kilometers from the German border. And in the summer of 2021, the city of cologne signed a resolution against the extension of the term of the reactors in Scotland. The hunter student B reactor three was taken offline on November 26th for the final time as of 2020 Scotland met 97% of its energy needs through renewables, genuine renewables in India, noted activist. met with the prime minister of tamale Nadoo, which hosts the could them nuclear reactors and urged him to shut them down. She cited the serious impact. Radiation causes on human beings as well as aquatic species and pointed out that even as opposition to the two units of nuclear power plants was continuing. They have started construction on units 3, 4, 5, and six, and are planning to begin the seventh and eighth unit and a reprocessing plant. She said, we have requested the chief minister of Tamil Nadu to take steps, to withdraw the projects, and we want the state to intervene. And now Libbe HaLevy 03:31:00 The French government has announced that it expects plans for new nuclear reactors to be submitted around 2023 with a target date of 2035 to 37 for the reactors to go online this according to secretary of state to the minister for the ecological transition. And she said that the new reactors would be EPR two models, improved versions of ETFs EPR full-stop let's unpack. What's really being said here. Secretary ABA said the new reactors would be improved versions of ETFs. EPR will anything would be an improvement because that model has suffered years of delays and billions of euros of cost overruns on units, still under construction in France and Finland. New plan submitted around 2023 and a target date of 2035 for the reactors to go online, give out arrest nuclear is notorious for being over budget over schedule and less. We forget these are untried designs. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:13 They're talking about small modular reactors, and these are designs that have never been built, let alone operated to test their efficiency efficiency. Did you say you dare dimension that word in connection with nukes Francis currently building one new generation EPR reactor at unit three of the Flamanville nuclear power plant. And it has encountered multiple setbacks. Previously, the government had said it would not launch any new third generation EPR reactor projects until Flamanville three is completed and that's not even on the horizon. And to let you know how ridiculous and out of touch with reality. This is when this announcement was written, netted showed up in the papers, which was on January 10th, 2022. It touted that 52 out of 56 nuclear reactors in France were currently online. Okay. That means four were shut down, but wait, just one week later on January 17th, 46 of Francis 56 nuclear reactors were offline. And as time goes by, who knows how many more of these EPR dinosaurs are going to be incapable of operating and the French government expect new nuclear to be up and running by 2035 to 2037, give it a rest guys, Sacra blue. And that's why French secretary of state to the minister for the ecological transition, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 03:33:57 We'll have this week second featured interview in just a moment, but first, just two weeks into the new year. And we've already got our new set of nuclear nightmares was certainly more in the queue. It seems that those in charge of nuclear matters have a bad case of denial going on. As they ignore the radioactive problems, they've already created do nothing to clean up the mess or protect against future risks and keep creating more radioactive waste. They do not know what to do with meaning safely store for the necessary quarter of a million years, and they don't know how to neutralize it. And then there's mother nature, as we just saw in Tonga those in power, keep getting away with it because they trust that nobody's paying attention except some of us are. And that includes you because you are listening to nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:46 We're here every week, providing verifiable nuclear information. That's been sourced, checked and footnoted plus interviews with people who are genuine experts on the nuclear industry's impact on life health and our shared genetic future. We also talk with people from the front lines of activism around the world, so you can see how others are fighting back without your support. Nuclear hot seat will not be able to continue. So if you're grateful for the information you get from the show, help us out by sending a donation to help us meet our expenses, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can send a one-time donation of any size or set up an automatic recurring donation as little as $5 a month. The same as you would spend here in the U S on cup of coffee, and a decent tip will go a long way towards making certain this program continues. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:43 So please do what you can know to help nuclear hot seat stay up and running. So we can continue to share information that the nuclear industry would really rather, we not know whatever you can do to help go to nuclear hot seat.com. And thank you now, here's this week's second featured interview. That tsunami that resulted from the Tonga underwater, volcanic eruption on January 15, went out into the Pacific ocean in all directions, hitting not only Fukushima, but up and down the west coast of north America. That specifically raised questions of safety at the Santa Ana fray, nuclear reactor in Southern California, which sits on the boundary between San Diego and orange counties, just south of Los Angeles. While the reactor is permanently shut down. And in the process of being dismantled, there are still 3.6 million pounds of high level plutonium contaminated radioactive waste from so-called spent fuel rods being stored onsite in what is truly a travesty of safety considerations here to fill us in on the problems that San Onofre faced and will continue to face from two nominees are Charles Langley, executive director, and nine Bobby hours, board member of the Santa. No, for a nonprofit advocacy group, public watchdogs. We spoke today, Tuesday, January 18th, 2022, Charles Langley and Nina Bobby hours. Thank you so much for joining me this morning on nuclear hot seat. Charles Langley 03:37:19 Glad to be here. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:22 When the tsunami happened after the volcanic eruption near Tonga, public watchdogs responded very quickly to the fact of it and the resulting to NAMI. What were the alarm bells that went off for you here in Southern California that led you to generate this press release and this awareness alert so quickly? Charles Langley 03:37:45 Well, they'd be here in Southern California. We have 3.6 million pounds of absolutely deadly high level nuclear waste basically entered on the beach and stainless steel canisters. You're talking Libbe HaLevy 03:37:59 About Santa and elf right Charles Langley 03:38:00 Here. That Santa no FRA. Yes. And they're interred in these silos inside an earthen berm that's relatively low. And one of our concerns is what happens if these silos flood and stop the convection cooling of this waste? Because what a lot of people don't understand is that when the nuclear waste comes out, it's not just radioactively hot, but these cans are physically hot and you could easily fry a steak on the side of one, just from the heat. So they call themselves with a flow. And if that air flow is interrupted, so by flooding, it could cause them to overheat and it could potentially cause a criticality event. The classic example of criticality is a nuclear bomb going off that, what that means is that the material, the plutonium and uranium has achieved critical mass in a power plant, in a nuclear power plant. This is a controlled reaction, but when they're done using the nuclear fuel, they call it spent fuel. There's nothing spent about it. This stuff is sizzling hot and it remains radioactive for at least a quarter million years. Nina Babiarz 03:39:18 I think a good example that everybody can remember. Hopefully anyway, levy is Fukushima. You know, when you saw the visuals as Fukushima, it was not just the water coming in. It was what was being dragged out. It was not clear seawater. It was not, it was mud that was being pulled out. If you look at the topography at San Onofre, you've got the foothills back there, the water's going to come in and it's going to go back out. And when it goes back out, exactly what Charles is describing is what we're concerned will happen. Not just water, but not because it could potentially shut those cooling systems down or compromise their cooling capability publicly Libbe HaLevy 04:40:04 Watchdogs has previously had dealings with the nuclear regulatory commission about this flooding issue. Bring us up to speed on that. Charles Langley 04:40:14 We filed a complaint a couple of years ago, there was actually a, a legal petition to revoke Southern California. Edison's privileged to bury nuclear waste on the beach at Santa now for it. And this type of petition is called a 2.26 petition because it's part of code of federal regulations, 2.2, us six, where the NRC, the nuclear regulatory commission. And what we said is, look, you haven't analyzed what happens when this facility is covered in water and what the consequences will be, whether it's a partial flooding or a complete flooding from a tsunami or any other type of flooding event. And we're concerned that these containers might go critical if they're underwater for too long. And what we see on earth over the these last couple of years is the fact that the nuclear regulatory commission has not analyzed the probability or possibility of this at all. They've done some flood analysis, but it only represents perhaps half a page or a page in their final safety report that the manufacturer of these nuclear waste canisters Holtec submitted to the nuclear commission. Not only that, but they've censored that analysis away from the public claiming that it would violate Holtec corporations, intellectual property rights to show how they intend to deal with a flood situation. Nina Babiarz 04:41:49 I just want to get also pointed out for your audience that may not be aware that they can see this visual on our website at public watchdogs is these cans are only 108 feet from the Pacific ocean practically of sea level. We're talking about feet, separating them from the Pacific ocean. And so what Charles is describing is something that the nuclear regulatory commission responded by saying these allegations or this of offices is non-credible. And they use that term that it was non-credible, but then they could not define what that means. And so the NRC actually responded with a non-credible response indicating that this allegation is not incredible. And of course it's common sense. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:46 It's one of those terms that gets used so often, like not significant, which is really code to tell people pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. It's there. They're Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it, as opposed to this is a genuine and legitimate concern that must be addressed for the safety of people and the planet. And as somebody who lives in Southern California, I'm not close, but I'm close enough to sound an afraid that any impact that would come from it's compromised of these spent fuel canisters, only five eights of an inch thick I might add would impact me, would impact all of Southern California, our food, our economics, everything. So we're talking about the potential for a major catastrophe here that NRC is looking away from, Nina Babiarz 04:43:34 Hey, the bottom line is our press release, went out due to concerns, deep concerns for the public safety. But the issue here is paramount is the public's safety. And so from our perspective, Southern California Edison, and even their parent company, Sempra that continues to enable this perspective, as well as the nuclear regulatory commission is somewhat in denial of the evitable tsunami hitting the Southern California coastline. And in that regard, they're playing Russian roulette with the public safety by just being in denial of what has happened in that area. For thousands of years, you can look at a website, there's a report called earthquake bay. Charles Langley 04:44:20 Yeah. The coast of Southern California, the original Spaniards, when they mapped it, they called it earthquake bay. Why? Because it's known for its earthquakes is an earthquake hotspot. And one of the hottest spots on the entire west coast, all the way to Alaska. So putting a nuclear power plant in this area was dangerous and storing the waste. There is equally dangerous in our opinion. Nina Babiarz 04:44:47 Well, you know, in addition to the tsunami, something close very closely associated is the accelerated sea level rise above anybody's expectations levy. And the denial of that is demonstrated by the proximity that they have buried this waste to the Pacific ocean. It needs to be moved to higher ground and there's limited capabilities of which to do that. And it needs to be in safer casks, 18 inch thick wall casts that survived Fukushima is what we've been asking for from day one. And I would like the opportunity just to point out that everything that we're talking about is occurred because Edison did not tell the truth with regard to the replacement of the steam generators. They were not a like for like replacement. It was a brand new untested technology that gave us a radiation leak that shut the plant down. And I'm going to continue to reiterate that because a lot of people don't know that Santa no free was originally shut down because of a failed design at a radiation leak. And so when Edison continues to tell that they're doing things safely, the history and the facts actually demonstrate just the opposite. And this is just another example of that. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:12 Let's take this back to the tsunami that resulted from the, I want to say atomic explosion. Cause that's what it looked like. The underwater eruption of the tongue, a volcano. What was the actual result? If any, that was noted here in Southern California, Nina Babiarz 04:46:34 There was a weather man last night that pointed out a fact that I think says it all. He demonstrated with a map of how far away from San Diego that initiating incident of the volcano eruption occurred almost 6,000 miles away. His point being that even that far away, this thing had the power to travel and still hit not only Southern California, but you know, Northern California and Santa Cruz area was, you know, the Harbor was hit, the beaches were hit, the water came in. And so this isn't some illusion we're talking about here. I mean, I think we were rather lucky that it wasn't higher than, than an occurred the other day. Charles Langley 04:47:20 Yeah. Our concern is what happens if a tsunami, a few hundred miles or only a thousand miles off the coast comes in and overwhelms shoreline with a 30 or 40 foot wave that could happen. And there's evidence that tsunamis have hit San Diego county that had been 150 feet high. So you imagine 150 foot wave and it isn't just water either. It's modern rock and coral and all sorts of stuff. That's flowing like almost like a lava. Nina Babiarz 04:47:53 And just to take your listeners back a few years, something I'd like to point out is that during Fukushima, I mean, which really in a way, was a blessing for Southern California. It gave a reality check that nobody could deny. During that time. We, the Southern California Edison was actually proposing to the nuclear regulatory commission, the restart those generators they've given us a radiation week. The only way that that didn't happen was because we had Fukushima and it was a reality check it's may done 10 years plus, but the facts continue to demonstrate that this is a risk to the public Charles Langley 04:48:34 Plus when they wanted to restart, they didn't offer to fix the problem because what they said as well, the system's faulty. If we run it at a hundred percent capacity, but we're pretty sure it won't leak radiation. If we run it at 70%, which is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard, Nina Babiarz 04:48:51 Again, roulette with the public safety. So Libbe HaLevy 04:48:55 With this recent Toonami what position or what response has the nuclear regulatory had to it and the danger that it posed here on the west coast of the United States, if any, Charles Langley 04:49:10 Well, we've taken it as far as we can go at the nuclear regulatory commission through the appeals process. And the only resort that's left would be to Sue in federal court, which will basically say, we're not the regulatory body for that. You've got to take it up with the NRC. So we're concerned that we just don't want to be in a situation where we're saying, we told you, so when a tsunami eventually hits one of these below ground storage facilities and causes a problem, they didn't expect a tsunami at Fukushima. I was talking to someone in the industry who used to run nuclear reactors a few days ago. And he said in 2001, he was meeting with an executive at TEPCO and any, he brought up the concerns about a tsunami off the coast of Japan. And the executive said, oh, that'll never happen yet. Here we go. 10 years later, Fukushima occurred because the tsunami that was larger than anything, anyone thought possible hit the coast. And that's why we got Fukushima. Nina Babiarz 05:50:19 Everything we're talking about is irresponsible. It's irresponsible for Edison to be in denial about the facts of mother it's, they're responsible for the nuclear regulatory commission to be claiming that this third option is non-credible when mother natured sells is just the opposite. We're asking these people to do the right thing with regard to the public safety. You think that these, some ethics involved in that, but they have absolutely no shame Libby and issuing a response like non-credible. And then when we asked, since we couldn't find the word non-credible or the term anywhere on the NRC glossary website, or anywhere, could you please define that they couldn't even define the term that they were dismissing this assertion with that's irresponsible to me. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:14 So where does public watchdogs go from here? Or is there a further place for you to go? Nina Babiarz 05:51:20 Well, you know, we took our, one of our federal cases to the us Supreme court last year. And although they decided not to hear the case, the problem still exists. One avenue that we're exploring of course now is the court of public opinion because when it comes down to the public safety, that's really the only court that matters is that, you know, the increased public awareness of what the facts and the situation is, it's an old Onofre. And the concern for the public safety is of paramount to public watchdogs. That's why we're doing what we're doing. Charles Langley 05:51:59 Also be looking very closely at their budgeting and deconstruction activity that the California public utility commission, which sets the rates and the amount of money that Edison has a large to charge the public against the decommissioning trust. Nina Babiarz 05:52:14 So I've been serving on Congressman Michael Evans, Santa, no free task force with a number of people here in the community, both from orange county and San Diego county, quite a diverse group. And that he has proposed legislation with regard to prioritizing some of these sites. And of course has pointed out to the folks in DC, his, his congressional peers, that we've got a situation here at Santa, no free. That is very unique. We've got all the reasons why this way should have never been buried. I mean, it's the most ridiculous bot in the world on an earthquake, falling into the tsunami inundation zone in the middle of millions of people. And so there's legislation that's been introduced to prioritize the most risky of all decommission sites and San Onofre is like number one, in that criteria, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:12 We will stay in touch with the two of you and public watchdogs, certainly about anything happening in Southern California. But also as we learned that there has been at least one additional eruption from the Tonga volcano since the big one on the 15th, we don't know yet whether it's tsunami as result of, we don't know if this is the end of the eruption. So we don't know if the danger has passed, but as that continues, we will stay in touch with you to learn about the impact on Southern California and the San and offer a site until we speak again. Thanks so much for being my guest this morning on nuclear hot seat. Thank you lady. Thank you lady. That was Charles Langley, executive director, and nine Bobby RS board member of the Santa. No free nonprofit advocacy group, public watchdogs. We'll have a link up to their website, public watchdogs, that's plural.org on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 52 Libbe HaLevy 05:54:20 Don't bank on the bomb.com works closely with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can to do just that. Get rid of nuclear weapons. The group is a highly effective one because they have concrete actions that can be taken to deprive the nuclear weapons, manufacturing companies of their much needed financing. These plans run all the way from massive pension funds to individual investors who may have no more than $5 in their account. It all matters when it comes to putting pressure on to get the money out of nukes. Now don't bank on the bomb has published a new report, rejecting risk, 101 policies against nuclear weapons. The report showcases more than 101 financial institutions that have public policies against nuclear weapons related investments. It showcases 59 investors with comprehensive policies preventing any money from getting into the nuclear weapons industry pipeline. These companies are based in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:37 And in some instances, the United States, these companies are investing for the future and not in nuclear weapons. And this rejecting risk is a report that we all deserve to read. We'll have a link to it up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode. Number 5 52, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org in pr.org, ed Lyman of the union of concerned scientists report, air dot and T Santa Fe. New mexican.com. newsweek.com crux now.com Zeljko public square.org, Marianne wild art.wordpress.com. New magazine that's Neu magazine.com and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Now nuclear hotseat comes out every week and you deserve to get it every week and not have to stress over it. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:55 So if you want it delivered by email, it is easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box and sign up for weekly email link to the latest show we won't sell or otherwise compromise your information. We just want to make sure that you get our information. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button and know that whatever you can do to help, we will really appreciate your support. And it is needed. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the last thing, anyone who opposes nuclear wants to be able to say is, I told you so let's not have that, but there you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. Now don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:21 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy it's bomb. ### NH #551: Nuclear Regulator Confesses! Former NRC Chair Jaczko's Tell-All Book! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/rogue-nuclear-regulator-nrc-chair-fukushima/ Published: 2022-01-12 Duration: 00:59:01 Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator – Gregory Jaczko, former Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, spills the beans and his guts. A REALLY important book – and we talk all about it in a SPECIAL extended interview. This Week's Featured Interview: Greg Jaczko, the former Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has published an explosive new book: Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator. (NOTE: Link is to Amazon, but we recommend you order it through your local independent book store.) In it, he gets honest with the American people about the dangers of nuclear technology, which he labels “failed,” “dangerous,” “not reliable.” He particularly comes down against nuclear as having any part in mitigating the problems of climate change/global warming. In this extended Nuclear Hotseat interview, Jaczko brings us inside the NRC’s response to Fukushima, the “precipice” on which nuclear safety balances, his own growing doubts about how safe nuclear reactors are in the United States, and how, ultimately, it was that concern with safety that probably brought him down. Originally recorded on January 10, 2019, just after his book was published. Former NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko – "Rogue" Nuclear Regulator, indeed! “Jaczko Nixes Nukes” – A Backgrounder on Greg Jaczko’s book and the issues he addresses from Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. Numnutz of the Week: If you wanna know if Ontario's aging nuclear reactors ar safe to operate, it's gonna cost you… $10,000.00. Now – is that Canadian or USD? If you don't agree that an environmental NGO should need to pay $10,000 to receive safety information on nukes requested from a public utility through a FOIA, please send a message to CNSC President Rumina Velshi and OPG President Ken Hartwick calling on them to release pressure tube safety assessments for independent analysis. Links: Picture of Google Earth Halloween lawn protest of proposed Theddlethorpe, UK nuclear storage facility. And knowing Google Earth, this is going to be up for years! Brava! Film: The Final Years of Majuro, which features testimony on the United States bombing of Rongelap in the Marshall Islands by Bravo survivor Nerje Joseph, 74, who died recently.Ian Zabarte, Head Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation – "The most bombed nation in the world." Recent interview with rt.com.Russian footage of the explosion of Tsar Bomba – the world's largest nuclear explosion. 50 million tons of TNT. Visions of Hell on Earth, anyone? Our friends at the Snake River Alliance, committed to Idaho‘s clean energy future, offers this little ditty for us all to sing along to! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 It's one thing. If you hear me or friends or other activists say that nuclear reactors are bad, unsafe, and not a cure for global warming, but when you hear the former chair of the nuclear regulatory commission, say Gregory Jaczko 00:00:17 There is a fundamental law in the technology and the design of these reactors, they really are built in such a way that you will always be on this precipice of on the one side safe operation on the other side accidents, sometimes catastrophic accidents. And that's just the way that they are. One of the things that worries me right now is that so many people are looking at climate change and looking at nuclear as the solution, the silver bullet, if you will, for climate change. And I just think back to the Fukushima accident and realize that this is not a reliable technology. If we pin our hopes for climate change on nuclear power, we're going to lose it in two ways. We're going to probably have four accidents and we're probably not going to solve the climate, but there are better ways to do this. There are cleaner technologies now that are cheaper, that are becoming more and more viable. And I think when you compare those to the challenges of nuclear power, it's obvious what the right solution. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:13 Well, isn't that refreshing because when you hear something like that from some one like that, you begin to understand that even some nuclear professionals agree with what activists have been saying for years. And that means that truly we are all sitting in the exact same seat, Announcer 00:01:35 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been braking? our time to act is shrinking, but, it's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:07 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a very special extended interview with former chair of the nuclear regulatory commission, Gregory yacht SCO. He was the head of the NRC during the Fukushima crisis and was forced out after standing up for increased safety at us. Nuclear reactors Jasko has published a book confessions of a rogue nuclear regulator, and he has a lot to say about the nuclear industry from a unique perspective when we don't normally have access to smack center on the inside and a nuclear hot seat is intensely pleased to be able to present an extended interview with him. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:15 It is quite the ride. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than the European union used to decide that, Hey, nukes are really green. Let's invest all of it coming up in just a few moments. Today's Tuesday, January 11th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective here in the U S last month, the U S nuclear regulatory commission quietly reported preparing for tens of thousands of cross-country shipments of high level radioactive waste from nuclear reactors to the desert. Southwest transport from major highway and railroad lines would include the hottest most concentrated atomic waste from the nuclear fuel chain mistakenly labeled spent nuclear fuel because it contains plenty of radioactivity still available to be spent. And the two proposed destinations, one in west Texas, and one in New Mexico do not exist except as legal fictions at our boat. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:26 The subject of lawsuits in Michigan on Thursday, January 6th, the cook nuclear plant near St. Joseph either had a fire or had a malfunctioning fire alarm. Confusing matters is that the fire protective system for the volt where the fire was detected is currently out of service. And last year, the nuclear facility deactivated all its warning sirens in favor of mobile alerts. So when it's a fire at a nuke, not a fire at a nuke, the way things stand right now, there's no way to tell. And we will link to a terrific article on the ferocious ins Liberte principle, man of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation and a fearless tireless opponent of the nuclear devastation done to his people and his land saying after 900 nuclear tests on our land, the U S wants to ethnically cleanse us calling the Shishoni people. The most bombed nation in the world in Japan, it's been reported that Fukushima derived radio Caesium has arrived in the Arctic ocean Caesium 1 34 and 1 37 were measured in the Arctic ocean in 2019. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:39 You a chiro, Kumamoto a senior researcher from Japan agency for Marine earth science technology speculated that had spread to the center of the Arctic ocean after spreading east from Fukushima, then northward after reaching the west coast of the United States and up to the Bering sea along the Alaska peninsula. Now with Tokyo electric power company, planning to discharge, radioactive water tritium water into the Pacific ocean, it's likely to repeat the same path and further concerns have been raised in the UK. The Haitian two nuclear power station in Lancaster is to stop generating electricity. Two years earlier than planned. This would be in 2028. Haitian one will stop generating power in 2020 for Germany's longest running anti-nuclear protests has ended after 35 years because on December 31st, the broke door nuclear reactor in Northern Germany was shut down. And Russia has released previously classified footage of the world's largest nuclear explosion, Tsar Bomba from October of 1961, it carried the force of 50 million tons of conventional explosives, and we'll post it on the website just so that you can have a, close-up look at hell on earth. And now Libbe HaLevy 00:07:09 If you're in Ontario and want to know if your local nuclear reactor is safe, it's going to cost you $10,000. That was Ontario power generation's response to a freedom of information request from the Ontario clean air Alliance. The publicly owned utility refuse to provide a copy of the analysis of pressure tube safety, which has raised a number of red flags over the last 10 months. Unless of course they get their bribe payment. Ontario clean air Alliance wants to have an independent nuclear expert. Look at what the Canadian nuclear safety commission think. Canadian version of the nuclear regulatory commission here in the U S what they've signed off on. And the C N S C itself has said that the public deserves to know more about what is happening with one of the world's oldest fleets of nuclear reactors. We'll have a link up on the website to where you can send a message to the president of the Canadian nuclear safety commission, because clearly they are this week's Libbe HaLevy 00:08:21 Here's this week's featured interview. When I first began nuclear hot seat in 2011, one of the people I reported on week after week was the chair of the nuclear regulatory commission, a man with a nigh on two unpronounceable, last name spelled J a C Z K O. We will not go into how many ways I butchered it back then. I wrote him off as just another pro nuke, bad guy, and targeted him for a lot of sarcastic comments. Only once he was forced out of the NRC. Did I start understanding that my perception had been, let's just say, lacking nuance. And I began developing a different opinion of the man and his actions post Fukushima. I came to realize that within a difficult NY on to impossible situation, he had been doing the best he could to stand up for safety for as the NRC slogan, likes to state people and the environment in the ensuing years, I've interviewed Greg several times and learn how to properly pronounce his name. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:37 Now he's written a book confessions of a rogue nuclear regulator, and it is a bombshell and inside look at the power and politics of our nuclear regulatory body told by an ultimate insider who experienced firsthand, how the agency has been compromised by the very industry it's supposed to oversee more than a cautionary tale. It is an out and out smack down done politely, but a SmackDown nonetheless, of an industry and a technology that has the power to destroy us all and has come close to doing so more than once logical methodical, well-written frequently funny and told with restraint yet complexity. Greg yachts goes, book must be read by everyone with an interest in understanding the failings of the nuclear industry. He explains its problems with clarity and brevity, as it only could be by someone who is expected to carry the technology's banner and uncritically bend to its demands. Only he didn't. I spoke with Greg yacht SCO on Thursday, January 10th, 2019. Apologies for the sound quality we had some challenges, Greg yacht go. It's so good to have you back as an interviewee here on nuclear hot seat. Gregory Jaczko 01:11:03 Well, thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:06 Let's start out with a bit about your background. How did you come to the nuclear issue? Gregory Jaczko 01:11:11 I came to it indirectly. Really. I started out with a career in science, getting a PhD in physics, and then got a fellowship that took me to Washington DC, where I worked for a Congressman from Massachusetts who was very involved in nuclear issues. And that's largely how I got involved with them first dealing with nuclear proliferation issues, and then ultimately with the nuclear power issues. After doing that fellowship, I then wound up working for Senator Harry Reid from Nevada who wanted a scientist to help him to deal with the policy around the Yucca mountain, the waste repository. And from there, he helped get me on to the nuclear regulatory commission. And then I was fortunate to be appointed chairman by president Obama when he became Libbe HaLevy 01:11:57 Now, you never intended to be a commissioner at the NRC, let alone its chair. And you fashioned yourself as what you call a nuclear power, moderate. Explain what that means to you. Gregory Jaczko 01:12:09 I came to Washington and came to these issues. I was a scientist by training and nuclear power was a scientific and technical issue to me, more than anything else. So when I joined the commission, I had spent some time working on the policy and dealing with the issues, but didn't really have a firm view about the technology, about the industry, about all the aspects of nuclear power. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:33 And clearly as we will get into, there was also a lack of understanding about the politics that you would face as well. Gregory Jaczko 01:12:41 I certainly, when I got to the commission got a much clearer sense of the politics and really the influence of the industry, not just at the agency itself, but with Congress as well. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:52 Would it be fair to say that you were perceived by the industry and its supporters as a nuclear Maverick, even before you became a commissioner? Gregory Jaczko 01:13:01 I certainly think the industry was concerned about my joining the commission, and there was a lot of opposition to that, that Senator Reed using his, his influence was able to overcome. They were took almost two years from the time I was initially nominated to join the commission to the time that I actually joined. And I think that was the first indication to me that, that there was a lot of opposition. And mostly that was based on the work that I had done for then Congressman Markey. And for Senator Reed, both of whom were Senator Reed was very opposed to the echo mountain nuclear waste repository. Congressman Markey was very focused on new crusades. So by reputation, I acquired their views and that's largely, the industry really was concerned about my joining the commission to begin with. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:46 When you first joined the commission and were just a commissioner, what were some of the frustrations that you faced within the agency? Gregory Jaczko 01:13:54 When I first joined the commission and as one of the five members on the commission, it was a time in which I had my views and I largely advocated for them within the commission process and did what I could to move issues in the direction I thought was more focused on safety. One of the things I was most proud of was spearheading a change in the regulation that required all nuclear, new nuclear power plants to be protected against a nine 11 style aircraft attack. And that was something I was able to do with working with my colleagues on the commission. I think really the power of the industry. I didn't really feel until I became chairman because then I was the focal point for the agency. I was the chairman, I was the chief executive. I was the chief spokesperson and without authority came tremendous responsibility. And it also made me someone that the industry was very focused on. And in terms of what I was going to do, what I was going to say in, Libbe HaLevy 01:14:48 To what extent did you come to believe that the nuclear industry has a tremendous amount, if not too much influence over the NRC and its decision-making process? Gregory Jaczko 01:14:59 Well, I really started to see that as chairman, when I would have issues or discuss issues with the agency staff and begin to understand that the industry was talking to them and really in a very pervasive level. And to a certain extent they're able to do that. But what was unfortunate is that in a way there weren't any countervailing voices that it really wasn't a way of one-sided communication, where you really only had the industry providing that level of interaction and feedback to the staff. And so part of what I saw my role and responsibility as was providing the staff was covering another voice that was willing to push back. And in the book I recount some of those stories, one issue, really being an issue involved with updating the fire protection standards that we had a nuclear power plants. And just seeing how, as I was working with the staff to try and move that issue forward, the industry was pushing back and they were very pervasive in their efforts to do that and working, trying to work through the staff, trying to work through sympathetic commissioners. And that really opened my eyes to the way that they were really involved in trying to make sure that the agency wasn't doing things that they felt were ultimately not good for their bottom line. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:15 One important point that you make is that determining nuclear safety is as much a political decision as it is a scientific one. And of course we have to add in the financial aspect of that as well. What are the prevailing winds? What is it that takes precedent? One that decisions are actually made Gregory Jaczko 01:16:35 All policy really is a almost political process where different voices come together to try and agree on what the right answer is going forward. And especially at an organization like the nuclear regulatory commission. So much of what goes into those decisions is scientific and technical information. But ultimately in that, as I talked about in the book, when we really get to the ideas of safety, those are cultural societal decisions. What kind of risk we're willing to tolerate? What kind of protection is sufficient? Those are all very difficult, challenging issues that ultimately have many, many views about the right answers. And at the NRC, one of the louder voices in the room was often the industry. And then of course for them, not only did they have a responsibility to generate power through nuclear power plants, but they also had a responsibility to make money. They were businesses. And with that came a different point of emphasis. And, you know, I felt it was the job of the agency to not consider that by law. In fact, we weren't allowed to consider cost. And so that was an often a point of contention as we work to try and figure out the right answers. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:41 You were the chair of the nuclear regulatory commission on March 11th, 2011, which is one, the 9.0 earthquake. And tsunami happened off the coast of Japan, hit the coast of Japan and hit the nuclear reactors at Fukushima. That's when the nuclear disaster there first began. How did you first learn of this and what was your immediate responsibility? Gregory Jaczko 01:18:05 So I first learned about the earthquake and the tsunami from a phone call from the operation center at the agency on that was early that Friday morning. And they told me that there had been an earthquake. There had been a tsunami, and we were looking to see if there was going to be an impact on plants on the west coast of the United States. And it's one of those amazing facts that you could have an earthquake and the ocean close to Japan and tsunami wave to travel all the way across the Pacific ocean and hit the west coast of the us. So that was really the initial focus for me as, as that incident was developing. And then as the day went on that transition, once we knew in particular that the plants in California were fine, it started to transition to a recognition that something more severe was happening in Japan with their reactors. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:53 When the accident began, you stated that while you saw your role in it as to provide support guidance and direction to Japan and your position as the NRC, how open was Japan to that? And what kind of pressure were you under from the nuclear industry? From the start to make the statement that everything was okay, Gregory Jaczko 01:19:15 The accident developed Japan became more and more receptive to working with us and open to us offering assistance and guidance. Certainly as the accident began, my focus was on really deferring to them. And because they were closest, they knew more about what's going on than we did. And certainly at the accident develop, everyone realized that none of us knew as much as we really needed to know. So when I initially was confronted with the accident, I fell back to my training, which was really that in the event of an accident or some situation like this, you want to revert to the people who are closest to what's going on because they probably have the best information. And as the accident went on, then in some areas, we started to diverge a little bit in terms of what we thought was happening, what we thought could happen, what the Japanese were doing, and recount a few of those episodes in the book of times, in which we made decisions and made recommendations that were different. And, you know, that was something that I did. And I did because we were looking at the information and making what we thought were the best decisions possible. Certainly after some of the public decisions were made in particular, the recommendation for 50 mile evacuation, the industry became a little more vocal in how they were reacting to what was going on. And I think really began their efforts in the public media to try and paint as positive a picture of what was going on with the United States reactors as they could Libbe HaLevy 02:20:46 Until Fukushima the perceived wisdom in the nuclear industry was that a 10 mile evacuation radius from a nuclear accident would be sufficient. What led you to change that? And declare a 50 mile evacuation zone from Fukushima, for Americans in Japan, Gregory Jaczko 02:21:04 Really as an agency, what we were trained to do, which was we ran analysis of the deteriorating condition of the reactors, and we plug those into our models and our, our estimates of what we should do for an evacuation. And that's where we came up with the 50 miles. Part of the challenge at that time was that our inputs about what was going on were limited because we didn't have a lot of information about the plan. So we were making some, some judgments about what was going on, and that's how we came to our conclusions. You know, it was really the agency at its best doing what it was prepared to do, which was to take information, analyze that information and make objective recommendations about what to do. And the ultimate conclusion we made was that if this plant were in the United States and we were getting the same information we were getting, we would be recommending a 50 mile evacuation. We communicated that to the white house and ultimately the white house agreed. And the president agreed and the agency or the government went forward with that advice to Americans Libbe HaLevy 02:22:02 In your heart of hearts, in your secret, inner thinking, did you ever reach a point with hookah Shamo where you thought we've really done it? A line has been crossed and there's no coming back from this one, Gregory Jaczko 02:22:16 You know, while we were in it, it was hard to realize that, but there certainly were points looking back where it was clear that the accident had reached a tipping point where it was really going to progress to something very, very severe and very significant. I didn't never imagined while I was in the middle of it, that it was something that was going to consume such a large portion of my time, of the agency's time, or really the us government's time as we look to try and help the Japanese deal with this as best they could. There was one moment though, where I remember being in our operation center and talking to a staff, or kind of one of the, the grizzled staffers that you want working at the NRC. And he kind of slumped in his chair and said, you know, this is not supposed to happen. Gregory Jaczko 02:23:03 And, you know, I started to get more and more of those bits of information and what was happening. It was just not supposed to happen. This was not supposed to be there. It wasn't supposed to be an accident anymore. And, you know, to a large extent, so much was happening so quickly that it was hard to kind of take a step back and really assess that bigger picture. It wasn't until the accident really ended. When we began looking at the ways that we needed to shore up us plans, that it really hit something really fundamental had happened here, that the Mirage really perfect safety had been listed. And it was clear that nuclear power plants could have accidents. Not only could they have axes, but they did really have accidents. And that was kind of a watershed moment for me, as I really started focusing on dealing with the us plants and how to make them better. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:52 How involved and for how long did you remain involved in the assessments and mitigation plans and Fukushima? Gregory Jaczko 02:24:02 So the U S was, was engaged in this for quite some time. I was personally involved in, in the beginning and really the whole agency was mobilized to, to respond in the beginning part to the act and that we were operating 24 hours a day with our operation center, providing information to the Japanese, providing information to the us government, and then really went all the way until December of that year. When I went back to Japan and had an opportunity then to see the conclusion really of the accident. So it was something that we call cold shutdown or something that a normal operation of a nuclear power plant when it shuts down, happens in a matter of hours or because of the accident. The reactor only got into that condition after four or five months. And that was really in a way, the termination of my role and my direct involvement in that incident. But it was to go to Japan, to go back to Japan, for me to really work with the Japanese, to make that determination that in fact, they were in cold shutout in the accident had really resolved itself in first phase, really the accident there was still a lot to do and a lot that's still going on today when it comes to the accident, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:13 2011 seems to be a watershed year for nuclear accidents and near misses that same year, you have to deal with the flooding of the Missouri river at Fort Calhoun, nuclear reactor near Omaha, Nebraska. That's what turned the site into a virtual island in the middle of the river protected only by an eight foot inflatable berm, which at one point was damaged. And the water from the river came to within inches of the facility. And then there was also the aftermath of the 5.8 earthquake near the north Anna reactors in Virginia, that happened in August, which consisted of a shaking that exceeded the design basis of the facility. What was, it was intended to be able to withstand what impact did these accidents have on your perception of the nuclear industry and the safety of nuclear power plants, Gregory Jaczko 02:26:03 Both of those incidents, which at which I, I do recall or account in the book just brought home. The fact that this accident was not a problem in a far away country, that these kinds of incidents were real. They could happen even in the United States and they would happen different than we imagined the flooding in Missouri river. It was an amazing spectacle of nature to see I went and visited the plant and was just as I approached the plant. I remember walking there, walking on a walkway that had been set up because the plant was completely surrounded by floodwaters and seeing the slow in the volume of water rushing by that plant, you realize this was a tremendous force of nature, but it was completely different than what had happened in Fukushima. It was a very different way that nature was challenging. Our technology was challenging, all the systems that we had built and designed. Gregory Jaczko 02:26:57 And luckily at that plant, the water levels didn't rise enough to trigger a severe accident, but they came close. And so it really instilled in me that the fact that we had to do something about making plants safer, that we couldn't just look to the Japan accident and say that this is something happening in a far away country. And then of course, we see another incident shortly after that with an earthquake. And again, an earthquake that exceeded well by west coast standards was not a larger spike. It was an earthquake that was bigger than what the plant in Virginia had been designed around. So again, it was a recognition that all our standards and all our regulations weren't as good as they needed to be. We needed to make changes. And that was part of what I was focusing my efforts on at that point was trying to get the reforms that the staff of the agency had established and get those passed by the commission and ultimately put in place Libbe HaLevy 02:27:49 That leads us to the blue ribbon task force on safety that you convene through the NRC after Fukushima, what did it consist of and what did it do? Gregory Jaczko 02:28:01 The panel that we established the task force that we established was really one of the most proud moments of my time at the NRC, working with my colleagues on the commission, we established this organization to take a look, both a short-term kind of immediate look at changes that needed to be made to plants in the U S and then a longer term look, which was to be dealt with later. We assembled a group of some of the best and brightest people at the NRC and gave them three months to go out and try and identify the most important lessons and the most important sixes to those lessons. And three months later, they came back to us and gave us their best judgment about what needed to be fixed. And I still look back and really am amazed at the quality of the work that they were able to do in such a short time with so much external pressure and so much interest in what they were doing. Because as I told them, what they did was really going to set the tone for the rest of the world about what you needed to do to deal with this Fukushima accident for any country that had nuclear power plants. And I'm so proud to this day of the work that they were able to do and the recommendations that they were able to come up with. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:10 How was that report and how were those recommendations received both at the NRC and by the nuclear industry? Gregory Jaczko 02:29:18 Yeah. This is where I think I began to see some of the, the pressure that the industry was going to put the biggest response that I got from my colleagues. So of course, for the, some of the most important recipients of the report, because they were the people I was going to have to work with to implement the recommendation. The reaction I got from most of them was really that the staff had just done too much. That initially there was an effort to try and prevent the report from being made public without essentially vetting it through the commission so that they could water it down a little bit. And this is where I really started to recognize that I was not going to have a lot of allies in this fight to try and implement these recommendations. And I really dedicated the rest of my time at the agency to doing that, to doing the best I could to get these recommendations implemented. Gregory Jaczko 03:30:08 And you know, it, wasn't a moment of disappointment for me because the people who did the report and the agency were really unimpeachable. These were viewed as the best and brightest of kind of our up and coming managers and technical staff. And so their conclusions were not extreme conclusions. They were reasonable conclusions, but they were meaningful and they meant things needed to change. And when I was talking around the time of the Fukushima accident, I reassured the American people that we believe that the plants were safe, but I also told them that we would take a look and we would identify issues that needed to be fixed. And if we did, we would fix them. And I felt I had made that promise to the American people, and I had an obligation to do what I could to implement that report and all those recommendations. Sadly, many of them have never been implemented. It never will, but, you know, at the time I did the best I could to get as many as possible. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:08 Why do you think that the industry was so resistant to implementing the safety fixes? Is it simply a matter of the money? Gregory Jaczko 03:31:17 Yeah, it really, it really just comes down to the profit and the ability to operate nuclear reactors. You know, if you're requiring a lot of changes and a lot of modifications that ultimately cost the owners and operators of the plants and could potentially put them in a situation which they cannot make a profit it's, you know, that's not to say that that's a bad thing, that that's the responsibility of the power companies. It's not only to generate the electricity and do it safely, but it's also to make money they're for-profit corporations. They have that obligation as well. And my view was it's the responsibility of the NRC to make sure that the safety changes that were needed regardless of the costs were made. And that's where I began to see some divergence in opinion, between myself, the industry and the commissioners, Libbe HaLevy 03:32:07 In terms of the range of recommendations that were made in this report, what percentage of them have moved forward and being implemented? Gregory Jaczko 03:32:17 Well, it's a little bit hard to put it into the percentage. I think if you look at what the basic thrust of that report was, it said that the commission should look at accidents beyond the kinds of apps that they considered up until that point and be a little bit more open to new types of challenges, new types of incidents that could cause the serious and to do everything possible, to prevent them from happening to begin with, or prevent accidents from happening in those situations. And to really stop them in their tracks if they get going. And a lot of what's happened with those recommendations is that the work has focused and shifted more and more towards really just responding to them when they happen, rather than trying to do a lot, to actually prevent them. And I think that's the missed opportunity, but there are a number of things that the report recommended that would make the accidents less likely, not just less destructive when they happen. Gregory Jaczko 03:33:16 And that's really become more of the focus is just on doing things that will respond better than what's already built in. I think we can do better because at the end of the day, even if a nuclear reactor doesn't contaminate and pollute a large area around the plan that the accident of the reactors law, that's a huge asset, it's expensive. And, you know, it's one of the things that worries me right now is that so many people are looking at climate change and looking at nuclear as the solution, the silver bullet, if you will, for climate change. And I just think back to the Fukushima act and then realize that this is not a reliable technology. If you look at what happened to Japan after the accident, there really a large portion of their efforts to battle and reduce carbon dioxide emissions came down to their nuclear fleet. Gregory Jaczko 03:34:01 Well, after the accident, they lost six reactors for sure. But then their, almost their entire fleet is now in operative because of the act. So, you know, you, you have a technology that is right now looked at so much as a piece of the climate change puzzle of not the piece, the key piece of the climate change puzzle. And I look at it and I see a technology that's not reliable. That's subject to these catastrophic accidents that can cause shutdown and pause for the entire industry. And that's not something we can have in 10 or 15 years as we're at a key point in reducing our fossil fuel emissions. So all of a sudden lose all our reactors and have to turn to very polluting and dirty fossil fuels. So I think so much could have been done to really focus on this idea of prevention and more on the prevention side than I think was actually done. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:50 Do you think it was, you're standing up for safety that ultimately led to what appears to be a campaign to get you kicked out of the agency? Gregory Jaczko 03:34:59 Certainly at, at, around the time of the accident, I did have a lot of opposition from my colleagues on the commission, from the industry, because I was doing what I thought was right for safety. And ultimately they've never told me why they did what they did. And so I, you know, I should say it's probably up to them to, to say, but it's certainly, you know, a lot of the conflicts that materialize materialize around how we responded to the accident. As I recounted the book as a story with talking to a very senior member of Congress, you know, on the phone. And he was pushing me about the report and really encouraging me to essentially soften it or back off from it a little bit. And I just told them, candidly, you know, this is a report that was done by my agency. It's my job to defend it. Gregory Jaczko 03:35:45 And it's my job to promote it, if not, who would, you know, and that's when I really saw that, I think there was a strong movement to try and water down the report to try and move away from the port to try and really discredit it, to try and dismiss it and say that it didn't really meet the mark. And I think that just objectively was not true. And, you know, I had put my face and trust in this group of people that did this report, and I felt a strong obligation to defend their work because they had done the best they could. And I think quite rankly produced a very, very good report that was thoughtful, meaningful, and really comprehensive and doable and, and implementable. So I think, you know, I can't say enough about the work that they did. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:32 It seems that when it comes to your position at the nuclear regulatory commission, Harry Reed giveaway and Harry Reed take it away, what ultimately led to his decision to ask you to step down as chair. Gregory Jaczko 03:36:45 I was very fortunate to work for two wonderful elected officials and Marcie and Harry Reed and Senator Reed in particular was instrumental in getting me onto the commission Congress and was instrumental and along with Senator Reed and defending me and giving me the room to make the kinds of decisions I thought were right for public safety. And that created a lot of tension and conflict. And I made a lot of enemies. And at a certain point, Senator Reed is he was always a master tactician came to me and said, you know, your term is expiring soon. And I want to do what I can to protect the agency. And I think there's an opportunity now politically, to get somebody like-minded like you and the chairmanship and have that happen now. And so to make that happen, he needed me to step aside and, and that's what I did. Gregory Jaczko 03:37:35 And, you know, it had been a very long tenure and almost three and a half years and had dealt with a lot of different things, challenging issues throughout that time. And, you know, I was certainly ready for a break. As I said in the book though, sometimes there are questions that people ask and you know, that they're not really asking you, they're telling you there was one that I do. It was really the right choice for me. And it was what I thought would have been a good interest for the agency long-term as well. So when he asked me to step down, I said that I would set in motion. Then the opportunity for a replacement for me, Libbe HaLevy 03:38:11 We will continue with our special interview with former nuclear regulatory commission chair, Gregory Jasko in just a moment. But first I know that you care about getting honest, verifiable nuclear news. Otherwise you wouldn't be listening to the show. And while other news organizations interviewing Greg yacht SCO have been expressing fresh outrage over their newly-minted understanding of nuclear industry machinations. If you're a regular listener to nuclear hot seat, you already know the learning curve that they're just starting to travel. That's why we're taking a deeper dive than most, not only into the big headline talking points, but the connective tissue that holds this story together and will continue to underlie a dangerously captured regulatory agency. That's what you listened to nuclear hot seat for. That's the different perspective that comes from following nuclear issues every week, week after week, making us the longest running program in the world, dedicated exclusively to nuclear issues. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:23 Isn't that worth a donation. If we're to keep going, we need your help and we make it easy. Just go to nuclear hotsy.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can send a one-time donation or set up an automatic recurring donation of any size. So please do what you can to keep nuclear hot seats, stay up and running so we can continue to search out and share information that the nuclear industry would really rather, you not know whatever you can do to help you have my gratitude. Now, back to our special extended interview with the former head of the nuclear regulatory commission, Gregory Jasko, let's move on to taking a look at the nuclear industry here in the U S with several of the points that you do make through the course of your excellent book. I would liken it to the Fox guarding the hen house because here in the U S it's the companies or utilities that own the reactors that are responsible for cleanup after an accident and setting those standards, not the government, or at least that's what I got from the reading of the book. How workable or how safe do you think that is for people and the environment? Gregory Jaczko 04:40:41 One of the things that I always learned when I was at DNRC NRC, and it took a little bit a while to realize this, but the people who were first and foremost, responsible for safety of nuclear reactors are the people who own them. They operate them, they manage them day-to-day they have to be the ones that are most responsible. The government is there and the regulator or the NRC is there to make sure that they're doing the right thing. We establish rules. We establish in a way, the minimum standards of what they need to do to keep the plant safe. Now that process of developing those standards, it's a back and forth. And the operators of the plant, the industry has a lot of influence in that. And they certainly use that influence and that the power that they have to shape those regulations in a way that allows them both to operate the plants and to make the kind of money that they need in order to do that. Gregory Jaczko 04:41:34 So, you know, there's always that pressure in is always that balance. And, you know, I think the pushback has to come from the agency. And I think certainly the time that I chair the agency, I felt, I always felt that there could have been more to get a more diverse view on the commission to get more commissioners who were more focused on public safety and less concerned about the impacts of our decision making on the industry as a whole. And I think that's still the case today. And I think it's unfortunate that the commission has had trouble. I think really getting that, that right balance for what it needs for membership on the commission and, and, you know, to really make the right safety decisions. But, you know, one of the things that I've really come to recognize that I left the agency is that at the end of the day, there is a fundamental law and the technology and the design of these reactors that they really are built in such a way that you will always be on this precipice of on the one side safe operation on the other side accidents, sometimes catastrophic. Gregory Jaczko 04:42:37 And that's just the way that they are. And the only thing that stands between that are our best efforts to build engineered systems, to develop processes, to train operators, to do all of these things that we need to do to keep them on the right side of that precedent. But mother nature can throw a wrench in that. And that's what we saw in Fukushima. So we saw three mile island. We saw humans making mistakes. Chernobyl was also about humans making mistakes. So, you know, the technology is always have this balance between safe operation and accident. And that to me means that there's something fundamentally wrong. That's probably not the right way for us to generate electricity. There are better ways to do it, but we don't have to worry about those kinds of catastrophic events happening. However likely they may be Libbe HaLevy 04:43:28 So far, we have been discussing operating reactors and the accidents that happen there, but there's another aspect to nuclear power generation that, and that is the waste stream and the highly radioactive waste that results from operation of any nuclear reactor. We have a situation here in Southern California at Santa Ana, oh, free dealing with the spent fuel, which is being buried in 50 ton canisters, which are only five eights of an inch thick stainless steel. They are being placed only 100 feet from the Pacific ocean. There's no way to monitor these canisters or remove them as something goes wrong. And where despite serial near miss accidents and miscalculation by Southern California, which is the owner operator in the loading of the fuel, the NRC has seemed more like a codependent of Southern California Edison and the nuclear industry. Then it's regulator. How safe do you feel the situation at San Onofre is? And what do you project is what's ultimately going to happen to the high radioactive waste that's being buried there? Gregory Jaczko 04:44:34 I think as we look at not just in an ovary, but all the nuclear power plants in my country, we have to recognize that the fuel is most likely going to stay near the plants, that there, there is no state that has come forward. That's willing to take all the fuel and, and accepted and put it in some type of more permanent disposal. So the fuel will need to be there. And I think one of the things, and I talked about this in the book, one of the things, looking back from my time at the NRC, where I wish I had really come to the realization sooner is that the first and foremost, what we have to do is stop generating the way we don't really have a solution that people really like when it comes to dealing with Joe. Now in Southern California, it's in an old, that first problem isn't solved. Gregory Jaczko 04:45:18 The plants are shut down. So now it's a question of what to do in this kind of medium to short term period. And I think what needs to happen there is you need to find a place to store the fuel that is further removed from the coastline. And there are locations that are viable for this that I think would make a better location than what's been chosen right now. And I think people need to start making these decisions with the longer term view in mind that it could be in whatever place it's put for a hundred years and maybe 200, maybe 300, maybe 400 is finding a place that will be able to maintain the fuel safely for that long period of time. And I don't think where it is now is the optimal place for that. So my hope is that they will recognize that and realize that there's a better place, put the fuel, move it into a better place and remove the fuel that's already been put in the ground. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:11 I previously interviewed you at the west coast premiere of the film Indian point by Ivy miracle, which showed some of the travails that you went through while you were the chairman. There were some very difficult moments depicted when you were testifying in front of Congress and then quite poignantly showed you post NRC. When you seem to be virtually unemployable and became a stay at home dad for several years, what was it like being shut out of an industry that you dedicated so much of your life to, and indeed the job market, because you stood up for nuclear safety. Gregory Jaczko 04:46:46 When I left the NRC, you know, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I mean, I had spent, obviously I'd spent a lot of time in the nuclear industry. I clearly had no interest to work directly for the industry, you know, and it did take me some time to figure out how to go forward and what the right kind of path for me was. And I have to say one of the real benefits of that was that I did have a young son at the time. He was actually born less than a year after I left the agency. And I got to spend a lot of those early years with him to the largest then was a stay at home. Dad started working on this book and, you know, looking back, it was really some ways, a great opportunity to really be able to do that and be a dad and spend time with him Libbe HaLevy 04:47:29 Professor at both Princeton and Georgetown universities, what are the courses that you're teaching and who can take them Gregory Jaczko 04:47:36 At Georgetown? I teach a graduate class in regulation and really energy regulation. And it's open to any of the students in the McCord school, or anybody at Georgetown is interested in taking it in, in Princeton. I've been teaching on and off their energy policy classes or science policy classes. So it's really in the policy world and the energy policy world that I think there's a lot of interesting areas to understand. And, and I have some very, very unique experiences in this area. Enjoy sharing those with the students and learning from them as well as they teach me about the world and the policy world and what they think is going to look like in the future Libbe HaLevy 04:48:14 Since last June. You've also been the senior nuclear advisor for stem rat, which is an Israeli American company headquartered in Tel Aviv that develops manufactures and sells personal protective equipment for ionizing radiation and its use in space. And also at nuclear reactors. What is the nature of your work with them? Gregory Jaczko 04:48:35 So I've been helping them try and have their product looked at and adopted in many different segments of the economy that deal with radiation environment. So that involves power plants. It involves first responders, other types of emergency workers. And it's really, it's kind of a, it's a very innovative product that is designed to help people in situations in which they would have to deal with a high radiation environment like responding to a nuclear power plant accident. And it's a way to try and help make sure that the people who may be forced into those very difficult situations can do it in a way that their health is better protected than it is now. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:14 Now you've written this powerful little book confessions of a rogue nuclear regulator, which I have to say, I found fascinating compulsively readable often witty in a self-deprecating way and even poetic at times. What do you hope the impact of this book is going to be? Gregory Jaczko 04:49:32 I hope the book will just educate people a little bit more about nuclear technology and about how the industry's regulated. So very important technology, whether you support it or oppose it, it is a technology that is really crucial. And as I said, right now, many people are talking about nuclear as the solution to climate change. And I want people to read this book because I want them to understand why I think that is the wrong way and the wrong strategy for climate change. I think at the end of the day, if we pin our hopes for climate change on nuclear power, we're going to lose them two ways. We're going to probably have four accidents and we're probably not going to solve the climate. You know, I think there are better ways to do this. There are cleaner technologies now that are cheaper, that are becoming more and more viable. And, you know, I think when you compare those to the challenges of nuclear power, it's obvious what the right solution. So, you know, hopefully this book will give people a better understanding about how the technology's regulated the kinds of choices that are made every day in the interest of safety or not in the interest of safety and how those can often really affect them. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:39 This is a point that I have to bring up towards the end of the book after having been very strong in expressing the failings of the nuclear industry, labeling it expensive and dangerous in the, like you seem to back away from that stance and talk about how free it is of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions has an energy form and you focus only on the energy generation instead of the entire range of pollutions in air, water, and land created by the full nuclear fuel cycle from uranium mining, transport manufacture, and then the deadly legacy of radioactive waste, which would not be solved by developing a nuclear fusion process. Though. You seem to point to that as a passable technology for the future. Are you perhaps holding out any hope that a new improved nuclear technology might be created in the future or is that not a path to go down? Gregory Jaczko 05:51:37 Certainly think, and this is where I revert back to really my roots as a scientist that, you know, there are a lot of virtues for nuclear energy, the most fundamental levels, whether we can ever come up with an effective way to use that as a buyable electricity generating source. I think that's where the question really is and everything I've seen up to now has led me to believe that that's just not going to be the case now what the future will hold. You know, I can never really say, but you know, when I look at the things that are the most viable right now, we look at the rapid advancement in solar and wind and storage technologies. Now that shore up some of the biggest weaknesses in the renewable arsenal, which is just the fact that these technologies are not dispatchable. You know, I think when you look at those technologies and how cheap they're getting and how quickly they're getting cheap, it's obvious in the short term, this is the way we have to go could in the future, somebody come up with a better way to try and harness nuclear technology and nuclear energies. Gregory Jaczko 05:52:40 That's certainly possible. And as a scientist, I, you know, I look at that and I would never want to shut the door on that completely, but there's nothing that I see right now that from a practical standpoint, I think we'll meet the kinds of challenges that I think that technology needs to meet in order to really be viable. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:57 If you had the chance to attend the 20, 20 Tokyo Olympics, especially the softball and baseball games that are set to take place in Fukushima, would you go, Would you have any concerns? Gregory Jaczko 05:53:12 You know, I've certainly have concerns for what's going on at the plant. I think those, you know, those are concerns that exist every day. They have a massive amount of radioactive material that is stored at that plant and it largely poses threat to the ocean and environment. And it's an unfortunate spread. It's a threat that's going to be with us for decades. You know, there is a persistent environmental pollution problem or concern from the plant. And unfortunately there just is no simple answer to making it go away. So there will always be that concern for decades to come. And unfortunately, that's the burden that the Japanese will continue to deal with. There's no magic bullet to make all that radiation go away. The only thing that really does at this time, and a lot of times, fortunately, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:59 I wish you every success with the book, I found it an extraordinarily good read, and I know that there's a high level of interest in it within the listenership of nuclear hot seat for now. I want to thank you for once again, being my guest this week on nuclear hot Gregory Jaczko 05:54:14 Seat. Thanks so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:17 That was the former chair of the nuclear regulatory commission. Greg Jasko, his book confessions of a rogue nuclear regulator remains an essential part of the personal library of anyone who opposes nuclear, especially here in the United States. It's published by Simon and Schuster and can be ordered through your local independent bookstore Announcer 05:54:41 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:54:49 Our condolences for the passing of Nair, J Joseph 74 years old, who was one of a dwindling number of Rongelap Islanders in the Marshall Islands who were on wrong. The lob when the U S government detonated castle Bravo, the hydrogen bomb that blew up bikini, a toll on March 1st, 1954, Bravo spewed a snowstorm of radioactive fallout on there, Jay and the other 85 people who were on two downwind assholes at the time near Jay, lived with health complications from that explosion, from her initial exposure to the nuclear test fallout, she suffered from skin burns and hair loss. Later in life. She experienced miscarriages and developed thyroid cancer. A problem that affected many of the original Rongelap people exposed to Bravo fallout of the 86 people on Rongelap in 1954, who were exposed to castle. Bravo only 16 are now still alive. And there is a documentary on this called the final years of Maduro, which was directed by Sam Denby. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:00 And we will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 5, 1, that's where you'll also find a link to the new song, nuclear blues by the snake river Alliance. Well, with your time to listen, it's quite a catchy Diddy, and we all deserve to sing along and they picked you're taken by Google maps in the UK, shows a front lawn demonstration against nukes, including a skeleton and mock-ups of 2 55 gallon containers of nuclear waste. That will also be on the website. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 11th, 2022 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dune renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or I cam w.org Sierra Nevada, ally.org CGT n.com counterpunch.org, soundcloud.com. bbc.com dw.com. Marshall Islands journal.com the Lincoln ida.co.uk Arctic today.com world beyond war.org, snake river Alliance, futurism.com R t.com and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:20 They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email each week, it's the easiest, fastest way to get the show and never miss a single one. Just go to nuclear. Hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box, put in your first name and an email address and you'll get the show each week. As soon as it posts, this episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but they're use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest three communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought. And now that five nuclear nations, us Russia, Britain, France, and China have all signed off on that statement. Hey guys, get rid of your stinking, stockpile safely and don't make any more. That's it. That's your nuclear wake up call. So do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:27 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear? Hotsy the Cari Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #550: Holtec Pilgrim Radioactive Water Dump into Cape Cod Bay? NOPE! Diane Turco, Cape Downwinders URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/holtec-pilgrim-radioactive-water-dump-cape-cod/ Published: 2022-01-06 Duration: 00:59:00 Holtec Pilgrim Radioactive Water Dump is coming up against serious community pushback. They're hearing from Cape Downwinders (logo above), Pilgrim Watch, and government reps. (Poster above is by graphic designer and educator Lance Hidy. Signed posters are available as a fundraiser for Cape Downwinders if you scroll down HERE)  This Week's Featured Interview: Holtec Pilgrim Radioactive Water Dump – is an action that the decommissioning company has planned for the radioactive water from the reactor spent fuel pool. But Holtec has been receiving ever-growing pushback from Massachusetts representatives and the public. Diane Turco is Director of the Cape Downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that’s been fighting against the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor and its impact on the community for more than 40 years. She gives us both the historical perspective and an update on what's planned for a public meeting with Holtec on January 24.CAPE DOWNWINDERS SPEAK-OUT January 24 at 5:30 pm EST at the Plymouth Town Hall. At 6:30 pm, the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel will meet in the same location. HOLTEC REPS WILL BE ON THE PANEL. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Japanese government and TEPCO will say almost anything to create the illusion that everything is OK in Fukushima. They want people to return to live there despite the radiation. And now they're touting that there's absolutely nothing wrong with them dumping 1,280,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. As for their wiggle-worded press releases and "news" stories — yowzah! Talk about doubletalk! Links: Can Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Help Mitigate Climate Change? by Arjun Makhijani and M.V. Ramana (Short answer: NO!)Nuclear Power Doesn't Belong in the Green New Deal – Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond NuclearOur Oceans Are Not Sewers – Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy EducationHappy Birthday to Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow. Here is a short film of her passionate call to action, delivered on the day that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted at the United Nations – 7 July 2017. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Water water everywhere. And the nuclear industry contaminates this precious resource every day by using it to cool reactors, which leaches radioactive materials into the water that the industry has no way of removing, but that doesn't stop the nuke stirs from planning to dump this red water into the ocean and gaslighting the rest of us into thinking that that's a good idea, but water made radioactive by nuclear reactors is a very big deal. Be it from Fukushima or the tritium contaminated water from the spent fuel pool at the shuttered Pilgrim nuclear facility at the foot of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Holtec the company tasked with decommissioning. Pilgrim has already announced that it is planning to simply dump this radioactive water directly into Cape Cod bay. And it propaganda spokesmodels mild platitudes about how it's a, okay, but then you hear from Diane, Turco a genuine expert and veteran activist. Who's been dealing with Pilgrim for decades. She knows the full history of radioactivity issues there. And then she tells you Diane Turco 00:01:15 In 1988, Senator Kennedy held a hearing on the restart of the Pilgrim nuclear station because it had been shut down for two years. And in it, it talks about a waterborne radiation cesium, one thirty seven cobalt, 60 Tridium had been present in the canal samples and are attributed to the operation of the Pilgrim nuclear power station. That's a 1988 in the shellfish, in the algae, in the sediment. So we already have it documented that Pilgrim has already poisoned our communities. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:47 And if Holtec gets its way, Pilgrim will continue to do so. And both the waters of Cape Cod bay and the Atlantic ocean will become a whole lot more radioactive forever. Well, that's just one more example of how the nuclear military industrial complex continues to strap us into that dangerous deadly seat that we all share. Announcer 00:02:14 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:44 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we get an inside look at the way things are heating up in Massachusetts as the decommissioning from Holtec plans to dump radioactive water from the Pilgrim power station into Cape Cod bay. And let me tell you, the citizens are fighting back. We'll talk with Diane Turko. She is director of the Cape downwinders in Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting against the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. She'll bring us up to date on the community pushback to hold techs, cavalier decision and announcement, all leading up to a public speak out and hearing on January 24th in Plymouth, Massachusetts, we will also have nuclear news from around the world. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:55 None of that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information than Fox's Sean Hannity put into any of his tweets. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 4th, 2022. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, lots of news to catch up on this week. And that's what we will be doing. First of all, in Colorado here in the U S we dodged a bullet when wildfires whipped through Boulder, Colorado on December 30th, the fire came within very few miles of the site of the Rocky flats, nuclear plant cleverly disguised these days as a wildlife preserve. If the site had burned, it could easily have led to the kind of situation we discovered after the Woolsey fire here in Southern California three years ago, which ran through the Santa Susana field lab, 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles and released radioactive particles as much as 19 times of a background that traveled as far as nine miles from the site. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:03 It's known that earlier difficulties at Rocky flats released radioactive materials into the local community, but it is unknown if any of these were re-released in this latest wildfire, but for those of us, with nuclear awareness, it was hard to watch know the potential and not be able to do anything about it. Even with winds whipping up to 100 miles an hour, the fire was suppressed in less than 24 hours and followed up by rain and snow, which put it out completely. Two people are still reported missing. Bill gates is getting all he wants for Christmas in a nuclear way. When the small city of Kemmerer Wyoming announced that it would be the site of a new bill gates back nuclear power project, which some scientists warn is a dangerous diversion from true energy solutions. The company behind the experimental nature of nuclear power plant, which intends to construct an untried nuclear reactor design is being promoted by terror power, which gates helped to found and of which he is chairman of the board. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:11 According to nuclear expert, earning Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education gates has continually downplayed the role of proven, safe, renewable energy technology in decarbonizing our economy as to the science of the new design Gunderson said, Liam is following in the footsteps of a 70 year long record of sodium cooled nuclear technology failures. Your plan to recycle those failures and resurrect liquid sodium again will siphon valuable public funds and research from inexpensive and proven renewable energy alternatives. Meanwhile, gates has plans are gaining support from two Japanese industrial majors, the Japanese atomic energy agency and Mitsubishi heavy industries to provide industrial assistance and data. The proposed new facility is estimated to cost $4 billion with the U S government providing funding to cover half of the project price tag in Michigan Holtec international has received initial approval to acquire a nuclear power plant that it plans to decommission and dismantle the Palisades plant in covert, Michigan. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:28 You'll be hearing more about Holtec and what its actions have been in Massachusetts as regards their decommissioning plans for the Pilgrim nuclear facility. But opponents of this license transfer have labeled the nuclear regulatory commissions decision. Shocking this, according to Terry lodge, an attorney for a coalition of environmental groups lodge said that they will seriously consider a court appeal of the NRCS decision. And Michael Keegan of don't waste. Michigan said we have been denied our due process rights and that the NRC had denied a hearing on our very serious environmental health, safety, and fiscal concerns. Some interesting links. There's an article in the bulletin of the atomic scientists entitled can small modular reactors help mitigate climate change. Short answer, no longer answer this article by Arjun Maka, Johnny and MV Ramana, and an excellent article in truthout.org by Linda Pence Gunter of beyond a nuclear. The title is nuclear power doesn't belong in the green new deal. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:39 It starts out amid rising public outcry over government inaction towards the climate crisis. The nuclear power industry has attempted to advertise itself as zero emissions, carbon free and even renewable in order to convince politicians and the public that it is essential to solving this world historical disaster. However, nuclear power is none of these things. And it in fact stands in the way of achieving an ecologically just society well worth the read, of course, we will link to both these articles on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 5, 0 over to Japan, whereas is so often the case that country is the site of this week's news. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:35 This is a masterpiece of numnuts Surrey taken from what passes as a legitimate news story in Kyoto news, the Japanese government always eager to force course lure bully, or lie to get people to go along with their nuclear nonsense, especially as regards Fukushima has announced that it will set within a year standards, put that in quotes for compensating businesses that suffer losses due to rumors that may emerge when Japan starts discharging treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. Let's unpack this one, shall we rumors? How about it's the truth? It's news that radioactive water will be released into the Pacific ocean and that it's being opposed by governments, water, protective organizations and citizens around the world. The article goes on the action plan includes having the international atomic energy agency or IAEA evaluate the safety of the water to secure transparency. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:46 Dude, first of all, the IAEA exists to give seemingly legitimate excuses to the nuclear industry so they can do whatever they damn well, please, with their radioactive waste stream, putting the IAEA in charge of nuclear transparency is like putting the Fox in charge of evaluating security precautions at the henhouse. The only transparency is that they will do whatever it takes to get Japan. And TEPCO off the hook. The article goes on during a cabinet meeting on the topic, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsumoto call that members to quote, implement the measure swiftly and steadily and have as many consumers as possible. Be aware of the safety of the processed water safety, but the water is radioactive and radiation is always dangerous. We have studies that prove this it accumulates and it can't be removed. So it is never safe. Basically. You're asking the public to swallow this lie hole, along with the water and anything. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:52 It might have contaminated again from the article. The action plan was formed as the government decided in April to allow Tokyo electric power company holdings, Inc, to release significantly diluted contaminated water into the sea. Well, they've already decided, but be that as it may significantly diluted contaminated water significantly is a wiggle word. A relative term meant to imply more importance to something than actually exists. It's like adding boldface or an exclamation point or 12 to some dumb Facebook posts to make it seem more important and more valid when it is when it's not diluted to dilute. Something means to make it weaker. That's like a poison can be diluted, but radioactive water cannot be diluted because radioactivity is produced by the release of one electron from one atom. So the smallest possible unit that creates it is one Adam, and you can't get smaller than that without splitting it. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:01 And that's a whole other topic. So radioactive materials are not made weaker. They are dispersed, not diluted dispersed, meaning sent out in a wider area. Each Adam spreading the possibility of radioactivity over an ever expanding greater area. And they always like to say into the C because C sounds small, give it a rest. You mean the Pacific ocean. And that's a term that you never use because everybody can understand that the Pacific ocean means, hello, a majority of the water on the planet. Then finally, there's this masterpiece of nuclear. Double-talk the process removes most radioactive material except for tritium, which is said to pose few health risks most not all. And we're talking about the part that isn't being covered by most. This Tridium is said to pose few health risks, but who's doing the saying based on what just saying the thing does that make it itself, but they make it seem that way. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:10 Don't they finally, the article states that the IAEA will have a long-term involvement with the release of the water, according to the plan. So according to Japan, the water release is a done deal and annoying little countries like oh, Korea and China that are objecting, even though they share the waters of the Pacific in close proximity, according to Japan, they have nothing to say in the matter. Well, we'll see, because as I understand it, China has been known to get kind of loud at times, in the meantime, Japanese government, with your plan to release radioactive water into the Pacific ocean and IAEA international atomic energy agency with your codependent, enabling position to make this plan look legitimate and safe. When it's neither, you are both this week's, Libbe HaLevy 01:15:09 Awake. And in keeping with so much of this week's news and our feature, which is about water and radiation, there is an article entitled. Our oceans are not sewers it's by Arnie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education. And we will link to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five 50 that's 5, 5, 0 internationally. What we hope is a good piece of news. If it can be believed in, if they stick to it, five of the world's most powerful nations, the United States, Russia, China, the UK and France, which are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, who are also the five permanent members of the United nations security council have all signed a pledge and agreed that quote, a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought such a common statement on a major issue of global security has become a rarity at a time of increasing friction between Russia, China, and the west with Moscow threatening to invade Ukraine and China signaling its readiness to use military force against Taiwan. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:24 The joint statement represents a renewed commitment to prevent any confrontation turning into a nuclear catastrophe. That's terrific guys. So why are we still building new nuclear weapons? Why does the United States not yet have a no first use policy stated signed, sealed, and delivered? So in the category of words, words, words, these are very encouraging, very hopeful. And we have yet to see whether they will be followed and out of the EU, a decision that was not surprised, but it's still really disappointing. And that's that the European union plans on financing nuclear as well as gas draft EU plans would allow nuclear energy as well as gas to remain part of the blocks path to quote a climate friendly future. And as might be expected has brought them under immediate criticism from both environmentalist and some governing political parties in EU member nations. It is the EAs executive commission that proposes a classification system for defining what counts as an investment in sustainable energy. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:41 And under certain circumstances, it would allow nuclear energy to be part of the mix. Polluting companies will be delighted to have the seal of approval in order to attract cash and keep wrecking the planet among the most visible separation in beliefs is between Germany and France. As early as 2002, before Angela Merkel became chancellor in 2005, the German government had already passed a law to phase out nuclear energy by retiring all of Germany's 17 power reactors by 2022, meanwhile, it's France and its utility EDF that is pushing to get the EU to include nuclear in its funding for renewable energy. And it is ironic that this push comes at a time when 17 French reactors are down and brownouts or blackouts are threatened across the country. And as a result, ETF's shares are tanking and their new reactors are literally cracking up. And at this time of nuclear contention, the Washington post has published a tone deaf editorial with the headline. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:52 Germany is closing its last nuclear plants. What a mistake? No. The mistake is yours editorial board. And if the subject hadn't been so serious, you would have been this week's numnuts as for the reliability and viability of nuclear so-called green and sustainable profile. EDF closed down two nuclear power plants. After routine safety inspections found cracks at one power plant. I believe we covered this in the show two weeks ago, but it's worth repeating. There were cracks detected in these new nuclear power plants, close to the weld on the reactors pipes, which could have proved catastrophic. If there were a failure in Belgium, the government agreed in principle to close down its nuclear power plants. By 2025, the seven party coalition had wrestled for months with the topics with the greens adamant that a 2003 law setting out a nuclear exit be respected while the French speaking liberals favored extending the life of the two newest reactors. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:56 Belgium's two nuclear plants with seven reactors in total are operated by the French utility Angie in Russia as 2021 drew to a close be number one reactor at the Kursk nuclear power plant was permanently shut down after 45 years in operation, this marks a major step towards retiring and the country stock of Chernobyl style RBMK reactors Kursk is located 524 kilometers or 325 miles south of Moscow. And Scotland has announced plans to shut down the torness power station two years earlier than planned. It will cease energy production in March of 2030, but meanwhile, there are jellyfish that have a whole other idea of one. The plant should be shut down, which is right now jellyfish are to clog the cooling intake pipes of Scotland's major nuclear reactor echoing problems from 2015, when it was forced to shut down for nearly a week at an estimated cost of $1.5 million a day, the torness reactor uses seawater to prevent overheating. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:05 And while there are measures in place to prevent aquatic life from entering the intake pipes, according to the bulletin of the atomic scientists, they are no match for the sheer number of jellyfish that come during so-called jellyfish blooms when sufficiently large volumes of jellyfish or other aquatic life are pulled in, they block the screens, reducing the volume of water coming in and forcing the reactor to shut down. This is not an uncommon phenomenon in 2008, a swarm of jellyfish shut down Diablo canyon in California, three years later, the same thing happened at a plant in Japan and in 2017 jellyfish clogged a power plant in Israel. So if a spineless jellyfish or a whole bunch of them can shut down nuclear reactors, just think what the rest of us can do as for the ongoing unsolved problem of radioactive nuclear waste, what to do with it, ship it someplace that isn't here like Australia, that country is about to receive a two ton shipment of nuclear waste from Britain. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:13 It will be just the second portion of intermediate level nuclear waste returned to the country. And it's a rival shines a spotlight on Australia's lack of a long-term storage plan for nuclear waste classified above low-level material in the coming weeks. This nuclear waste radioactive nuclear waste we need to add will be moved by rail from the decommission nuclear plant at Sellafield in Cumbria to the British coast before being loaded onto a ship that is expected to then travel through Australian waters. It may follow a comparable route to a 2015 shipment that was returned from France. When all local roads along the route were shut for more than five hours. And the operation involved the new south Wales riot squad and other police units to contain anti-nuclear protestors in Kenya, the Tanzania atomic energy commission has detained a ship Laden with nuclear waste in the port of Mombasa. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:12 And king has ordered that material on that ship back to the port of origin, which is Mumbai in India, the Kenyan nuclear regulatory authority director, general Joseph Mirena approved of these measures and said that the ship quote poses a serious threat to the health and lives of Kenyans by the emission of radiation, at least one member of government, somewhere on this planet gets it right. South Korea reports that there were more than 200 incidents of Japan caught fishery products being sold in South Korea without proper identification of their origin. That was during January through November of 2021. This is the highest such figure since the 2011 accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. And 1.5 times the previous record of 137 registered for the entire year of 2019, the national fishery products, quality management service has tightened its controls since the Japanese government decided in April on the planned discharge into the ocean of 1 million, 280,000 tons of tritium contaminated radioactive water from Fukushima. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:24 This has led to greater exposure of cases involving Marine products whose place of origin is not properly identified. The south Korean government has continued to prohibit the import of Marine products caught in eight prefectures of Japan, including Fukushima and Miyagi. Taiwan is of a like-mind as their foreign minister. Joseph Wu has emphasized that Taiwan will not import food products from Fukushima, Japan that are contaminated. The government will check food safety in accordance with international standards and scientific evidence. And Wu reiterated that in order to enter Taiwan, food must not be contaminated. Also in Taiwan, a referendum seeking to unseal and restart work on Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant failed to pass this marks. The first time people have been allowed to directly vote on the facility that has been debated and under construction for more than two decades, more than 4 million, 250,000 people voted and 52.3% voted, no that the power plant should not be unsealed and operated commercially to generate electricity while 3 million, 800,000 people or 46.7% voted. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:42 Yes, the government of Taiwan has argued that unsealing the power plant would be unfeasible due to costs and safety issues and require years before it could actually generate power, given that they've already wasted 20 years, two decades, and still there is no power you think by now everybody would have gotten a message to throw in the towel. And it seems like enough of those people got the memo. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. But first when I was just starting nuclear hot seat, more than 10 and a half years ago, I attended a Hollywood industry event and ran into some women producers I hadn't seen for several years. When I told them I was doing a weekly program on nuclear issues, they kind of sniffed the air as if a rank odor had just made itself known and asked. Is there even enough nuclear information to fill an hour long program every week to which I can only respond? Libbe HaLevy 02:26:46 Is there ever a week without much, much, much more than an hour's worth of nuclear news, climate change, human error, the decay of aging technology COVID during refueling the push for wrongheaded nuclear technology, lack of planning for nuclear waste to say nothing of the weapons budget. Nuclear is a mess. And it's one that mainstream media tends to avoid as too difficult to cover in 32nd soundbites. And that is why nuclear hot seat is here. We cover not only what the industry is doing, but how people around the world are fighting back and how any one of us. Yes, even you listening right now can take action to try to stop the atomic madness at nuclear hot seat. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we provide vetted facts with context and continuity. So you can understand the full picture of what we're facing, not just now, but far into the future, but in order to continue to do our work, we need your help. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:53 That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation. And we make it easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button. And you can send a one-time donation or set up a monthly recurring one. Anything you can do will help. So if you value a nuclear hot seat and want to assist us in continuing this work, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude. Now here's this week's featured interview with the decommissioning company. Holtec barreling ahead with the decision to release radioactive water from the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor at the foot of Cape Cod directly into Cape Cod bay. As you might imagine, there's been quite a bit of outcry against it this week. We talk with Diane Turco. She is director of the Cape. Downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting against Pilgrim for more than 40 years in this interview, you'll find out the background on the current issues. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:55 What community response has been so far to hold text announcement and what is being done about it. Note that when Diane speaks of treaty aided water, that's shorthand for water that contains radioactive tritium from the nuclear reactor. And there is no known way to remove Tridium from water. I spoke with Diane Turco on December 31st, 2021, Diane Turko thanks so much for joining us today on nuclear hot seat. Well thank you for having me again. You have been working extensively and for decades on situations around the Pilgrim nuclear power station. Historically speaking, what is the situation at Pilgrim and how is Holtec involved? Diane Turco 02:29:41 The Pilgrim power station was shut down finally in 2019 and subsequently Holtec decommissioning international bought Pilgrim from Entergy. There was a lot of issues with the transfer of license and our attorney general Healey had to actually take Holtec to court because they had some concerns about financial viability. Would they do the job? Right? Holtec came into town saying that they would be open and transparent with the communities. And it took our attorney general to actually force them to some concessions on what they were doing in Plymouth. So right now they have moved all the waste onto the fuel pad right next to Rocky hill road, a very busy public road, and they are beginning to dismantle the buildings. And one of the buildings is a spent fuel pool now empty of the waste, but full of radioactive water. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:36 That's what I want to get to next because in early December, Holtec announced that they were planning to release, not asking to release or putting plans in place, but they were planning to release 1 million gallons of potentially put that in quotes, radioactive water. We know it's radioactive into Cape Cod bay as early as the first quarter of 2022. How did they get permission for this? Or did they get permission? Diane Turco 03:31:04 Well, they don't need permission. The nuclear regulatory commission will allow them to dump into the bay when they want, not only do they not need any approval by the nuclear regulatory commission, but they can dump into the bay and the nuclear regulatory commission only looks at their records after the fact of what they've dumped into the bay. That depending on whole Tech's truthfulness to make that happen. And we know Holtec is not truthful. I mean, if you look at the new Mexican lawsuit against the nuclear regulatory commission, what they, 100 contentions of malingering misstatements, it's just a huge case that we cannot trust Holtec period. So they said they wouldn't dump in 2022 until they, as their evaluation was ongoing. Well, that means if their evaluation was over on January 2nd, 2022, they would dump. So we kind of forced them to change that, but I still don't trust them. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:02 So they've got this water from the spent fuel pool, which we know is radioactive. It's not a question of perhaps it is, or it's potentially radioactive. It is what kind of examinations or studies need to take place to determine what's in there and what needs to be done with it. Diane Turco 03:32:25 Well, it appears that Holtec is supposed to analyze the water, but they're so shady. Somebody asked about the water in the spent fuel pool and the response was, well, look at it so clear. You can see the rods in the picture. That was their response. They recently in era dumped seventy-five hundred gallons of water wastewater into Cape Cod bay. And somebody in the audience asked what was in it. And Holtec said, well, we're not sure, but there was no sheen or smell, but we will do an assessment Libbe HaLevy 03:32:58 As if there would be a sheen or a smell. If there was anything radio active in it, because it's invisible tastes smell nothing. There's no way to detect it except with the proper equipment and the proper evaluation. Diane Turco 03:33:10 Exactly. Holtec is all smoke and mirrors. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:13 What kind of studies, what kind of evaluation do you and others in your community believe should be required before the move of dumping? This water could even be contemplated? Diane Turco 03:33:26 Well, we're saying it's not going to be dumped. Period. Water should not be dumped into Cape Cod bay. That's the end of it. Their options were to dump it in the bay to truck it someplace or to let it evaporate. And none of those options are appropriate at all. But we found out the international atomic energy agency recommends that treaty, ated water, be stored in leak tight containers in a secure facility. And that's what we're going for. That seems to be the most reasonable way to manage this waste. They can't dispose of it. They have to manage it. And again, it highlights the fact that the nuclear regulatory commission and the nuclear industry don't have a clue to what they're doing. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:12 One of the things that I brought up when this story first hit about, Holtec wanting to dump the water into Cape Cod bay, which is the Atlantic ocean is the parallel that it draws with Tokyo electric power company in Japan. Tapco wanting to dump the 1,280,000 tons of tritiated water, meaning radioactive water that has tritium in it that can't be cleaned out, which is at Fukushima in storage containers, which are supposed to be leak-proof. But we've recently through some astonishing photos that were posted by simply info.org. We've recently seen the kind of corrosion that's been taking place in those tanks. So given the precedent of Tapco and Fukushima and the tritium aided water there, what does that say for the types of plans that should be put in place here? And how can we prevent those kind of problems from showing up at Pilgrim in Massachusetts, here in the United States on Cape Cod bay? Okay. Diane Turco 03:35:18 That's a good question. That's a really good question. You would think the industry would already have that resolved, but they don't. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:26 So basically looking at what's happening with Tokyo electric power company, trying to force the release of that water sometime in the next, say 18, because they've already stepped back from 2022. They're now saying 2023. What we're doing is we're looking through like a time machine into what the future could be might be. And proportionately looks like will be for Pilgrim and the people of Massachusetts and especially Cape Cod, which is where you live in. So much of the activism has taken place, right? What kind of limiters or prevention or anything needs to be put in place right now on Holtec to hold them back from the actions that will lead them down the path that is being followed by Tapco at Fukushima? Diane Turco 03:36:22 Well, we've been trying to find any kind of legal avenue to block them. They need to keep it in spent pew pool for now. And that's where it's going to stay until there's a resolution to this. We're asking our legislators they're meeting next week. Nobody has an answer. Nobody has an answer. It appears that it's all under the regulation of the nuclear regulatory commission and that our state we've asked our attorney general, can you file an injunction? Something. So people talking about it, the gathering, you know, can they develop a regulation to ban dumping of radioactive materials into Cape Cod bay? What can they do? We've been asking and asking, unfortunately, it's the holidays and we get, you know, we won't be back till January, but our state is trying to look at every avenue everybody's against it. I'll tell you, this is the first time. Diane Turco 03:37:14 And my year decades of activism that have really seen a strong community response to this. We've got the east coast shellfish growers association, the Massachusetts shellfish coalition, the Massachusetts aquaculture organization, along with, you know, physicians for social responsibility. And all of our other colleagues are really standing up and saying, do not dump into our bay. It seems like the people not realize that irreputable damage, that Holtec plans to create. You know, we have Caltech on one hand protecting their pocketbook. But on the other hand, now we have the community trying to protect the health of our families, the livelihoods of our coastal communities and the fishing industry and the habitat of the Marine life. Now we found that under the extinction act that the right whale is on that list. And 63% of the living, right whales feed in Cape Cod bay. So we're connecting with organizations that are protecting the ocean and the animals in the ocean and seeing if there's some group that could help us use that angle to keep Holtec from dumping in the bay. Diane Turco 03:38:24 But as you know, on the flip side is they've been dumping in the bay forever. And that's the sad story about this as you know, people are upset now, but do they realize this has been going on? In fact, in 1988, Senator Kennedy held a hearing on the restart of the Pilgrim nuclear station because it had been shut down for two years. And in it, it talks about a waterborne radiation cesium, one thirty seven cobalt, 60 Tridium have been present in the canal samples and are attributed to the operation of the Pilgrim nuclear power station. That's in 1988 in the shellfish, in the algae, in the sediment. So we already have it documented that Pilgrim has already poisoned our communities. The community's altogether, all the politicians, elected officials, everyone is, is on this. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:21 That's a very powerful slogan, not one drop more speaking of hell. I know that there are many communities that have had epidemiological studies done in proximity to nuclear reactors to determine if there has been health impact. And if so, what that looks like. And in so many of the instances we see increases in childhood leukemia in birth defects in miscarriages, in lack of fertility. And I'm wondering, has such a study ever been attempted in the greater Massachusetts area surrounding Pilgrim Diane Turco 04:40:01 In the eighties and early nineties, a study was done, the Southeastern Massachusetts study. They found that the closest one worked or live to Pilgrim, there was a four times increase in leukemias as 400% that was done. There hasn't been anything done recently. So I did on your advice call Joe man Jonno, and we had a talk and we're thinking of pursuing some kind of current study. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:30 And just to be clear, Joe Mangano is the executive director of radiation and public health@radiation.org. And he's an epidemiologist, which is somebody who does the deep dive into medical and health statistics and teases out what they're actually saying. And he's been instrumental in many of the cases and locations around the country and actually around the world, dealing with the radiation impact. Now, in terms of the waters someone we've been dealing with, and who's going to be a regular contributor to nuclear hot seat starting in 2022, Tim deer Jones is a UK based Marine biologist. He has been doing analyses of the water around various reactors and dredging sites and so many other locations. And I'm wondering if there's been any outreach to him to find out what it would take to have a study of the Marine environment. Diane Turco 04:41:30 And I followed your advice again and got touched. Thank so much for those great resources and wonderful people. And I did get in touch with Tim. I have to get more information for him, with all the family things going on. I haven't had the time to pull stuff together for him, but he's interested in becoming involved with us too. I think this is a real good opportunity to show what's happening in Pilgrim with the high interest. NBC and CBS are both doing investigative reporting now of it. So something will be coming out in January. So it's getting attention. And finally, maybe we can all connect. I've been in touch with Janet Truro from the oyster Creek group. And we're trying to coordinate because Holtec is also doing the decommissioning work there, Libbe HaLevy 04:42:16 Oyster creeks in New Jersey, correct? Yes. You spoke about the TV networks or the local stations at NBC and ABC doing reports on this in general. How has the media reacted to this? And has there been a shift since Holtec made the announcement about wanting to dump the water? Diane Turco 04:42:35 It was front page news and the Cape Cod times in the Boston globe. It wasn't front page news, but it was in the Boston globe and on the radio. But very quickly, Holtec walked back this story and said, oh no, no, we didn't mean it. It was a mistake. We're not dumping in 2022 while we do our evaluation. And then that's when I was saying, ah, that's not true. But at the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel, the department of environmental protection for the state of Massachusetts, Seth Pickering said that he received notification. He, the DPH department of public health and the EPA received notification that Holtec would be dumping. And he went on saying they were going to dump in batches. He had a whole plan in front of him. And then when Holtec walked it back, I said, could I have a copy of that email? You got about the notification. And now I had a file with the state for, you know, to get the papers. I haven't received them yet, but I want to see what did they get as a notification? Because it was pretty clear. It was pretty concise. They will go in and dump the water in batches. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:42 That's such a typical behavior by perpetrators. I've worked psychologically with abuse survivors. I am one myself. And one of the things is recognizing the perpetrators will say something outrageous and horrible and mean it. And as soon as there's any pushback as like, oh, you're taking me too seriously. It's just a joke. Oh no, no, no. You're not understanding no, that's not what I meant you're missing. And in that way, rolling it back. But bullies always do that. They will make their intentions known. And if anything comes back, they'll step back hoping that somehow they'll unbalance the opposition and the pushback will go away and then they'll take a larger step forward. So it's kind of like, you know, two steps forward, maybe half a step back and putting the blame on those people who are calling them to task. When it sounds like this time with the level of response that has come, which is a result of your decades of diligence. And so many others who have worked on this issue as well. That finally they're in a position where they're not going to get away with it. Is that your sense of it as well? Diane Turco 04:44:52 I think the spotlight is on them again, but after they walked back, a lot of people say, well, that's what they said. And so we're going to just have we have time to work on this. And I said, no, we don't really can't trust them. That's why I tell people to go to that new Mexican lawsuit, just read that. And you will not trust a word that Holtec says, somebody told me the lips are moving. So, you know, they're lying. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:18 There's a song like that. I sing along with it all the time in the car. It's not based on whole check, but it's easy to do the substitute. Diane Turco 04:45:26 Yeah. So I looked up their business plan to the whole Tech's business plan. It's on the screen and it has a timelines. And I thought, I wonder when they're going to start taking down that building, they're going to have to get rid of the water before they take down the building. And they plan to take down the building starting in the fourth quarter of 2022, which means they have to get the water rock. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:47 So in other words, on the one hand, they're saying, oh no, no, no. Don't take us seriously about this. And on the other hand, they're putting plans in place that would mandate that those spent fuel pools be drained of the water before they can take the building down, which is scheduled for 12 months from now. If not Diane Turco 04:46:03 Starting. Yeah. Yeah. This starting is, that's what it appears. So we're keeping an eye on them. Okay. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:10 Okay. So you're keeping an eye on them. What kind of pressures can those of us who perhaps don't live in that community or in that state bring to bear on Holtec what can we do to assist you? Diane Turco 04:46:24 Number one, and we are having a speak-out on January 24th at the Plymouth town hall and the great room. We will have it on a zoom too, because a lot of folks on the Cape really can't make it at night up there where, you know, some are an hour away and we have invited Senator Markey, Senator Warren, representative Keating, ag, Healey, they're all looking at their calendars, our local reps, the fishermen's association, a lobster association, the physicians because everybody and their mother is going to be there or on zoom right now there's a mask mandate and that's okay. We'll be careful. We'll keep our distance, but we want to fill the room as best we can because at six 30 on that same evening, Z nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:12 What group is behind that panel Diane Turco 04:47:15 That is state officials from the department of public health, the department of environmental protection. There are citizen folks, there are whole tech representatives. So the whole tech are there and they have to answer questions. So we're hoping that that whole crowd that has come, just do a speak out and say, you're not dumping in our bay, stay in that room. And the ND cap walks in and we're all there ready to ready to roll with them. We want them to commit to not dumping in the bay. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:47 That's a great theater event that you have leading up to. It. Here's a point that we learned from the Santa Ana fray hearings. And that is that the TV cameras show up and they film until the first break, the first bathroom break. And during that time, it's usually the nuclear industry and its representatives going blah-blah-blah at limp. And then the questions from the audience are in the second half, but the TV cameras have already packed up. So what can you do to do an on around any kind of structure of the event that's going to undermine you so that your questions actually get captured by the major media that's going to be in attendance. Diane Turco 04:48:32 Exactly. And actually what I heard was that Holtec said they will not discuss the water at the end D cap meeting, but they're going to have to, I'm sorry, they're going to have to Mary Lambert, who we work with with Pilgrim watch is on the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel. And she's already proposed that that whole next meeting will be on the water. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:53 Fabulous. We'll have to check in with her as well. We've had her on the show before and we will get her input to this as well. Diane, even from a distance, this is very personable infuriating on the part of what Caltech is doing though. The entire industry is infuriating almost every moment of every day, but it's very exciting to watch the magnitude of the pushback, you and Mary Lambert. And so many others have been organizing for years and pushing through whatever despair was there to bring us to this moment where there is attention being paid. There are connections that have already been made with legislators and other bodies and other activists. And it seems like you guys are loaded for bear ready to go. And that, yeah, their lips will be moving and they will be lying, meaning Holtec, but they can be caught out on it. So what I want is for you to keep us informed as the steps move forward and anything significant, we will always have some time on the show for you to keep us up to date. And we'll look forward to hearing the result of this because nailing Holtec would be a lovely thing to watch. And you will be cheered not only around the country, but I believe around the world through the listeners of nuclear hot seat. Diane Turco 05:50:11 Well, you know where we're with everyone else in New Mexico, in oyster Creek, New Jersey, everywhere. Holtec is we are all connected, as you said, in this nuclear hot seat. Yeah. Thank you so much for all that you're doing. It's it's just a great show. And I learned so much from all of your guests. You're helping make it happen to hear, Libbe HaLevy 05:50:35 Thank you. I don't know, as a journalist, I'm supposed to do this, but I'm a journalist with an opinion and I'm honest about it. So advocacy, journalism, here we go. If people wish to stay in touch or follow what's going on, where can they go? Why would give us something online that they can follow? Diane Turco 05:50:54 You can go to our Facebook page. We'll be Cape downwinders. A website is being redone. It's in a skeleton stage right now, but we're trying to post there too. As it's being redone, Cape downwinders.info, Libbe HaLevy 05:51:10 We will stay in touch. We look forward to hearing from you for now, enjoy your holiday with your relatives in the other room, patiently waiting for you. And thanks so much Diane, for taking the time and being my guest again this week on nuclear hot seat. Diane Turco 05:51:25 Thank you. Thank you. Have a wonderful new year. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:28 That was Diane Turko. She is the director of Cape. Downwinders a group on Cape Cod that has been fighting against bad decisions and bad actions at the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor. For more than 40 years, if you would like more information about the actions the group is taking and specific information on the upcoming January 24th, public speak-out followed by a nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel meeting go to their website, caped downwinders.info. And we will have a link of course, up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five, five, zero Announcer 05:52:10 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:17 A happy birthday to Setsuko. Thurlow a Hiroshima survivor who worked closely with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can double you.org for passage of the United nations treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. We will have a link up to a brief beautiful film, which was adapted from a passionate call to action. She made on the day that the treaty was adopted by the United nations, July 7th, 2017. The treaty came into force on the 22nd of January, 2021 after 50 states parties ratified it. Now the first meeting of states parties on the treaty, which was originally scheduled for the 12th to 14th of January of this year will take place at the United nations office in Vienna from the 22nd to the 24th of March, 2022. For more information visit, I can w.org, no, that will keep you up to date on it here. And we will also link to that refilm that was made of Setsuko Thurlow is message. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:25 Atomic coverup is a brilliant film that takes long suppressed footage of what it looked like on the ground, in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki immediately after the bombs were dropped and combines it with narration from the two individuals who actually shot that footage. Atomic coverup is a film by Greg Mitchell and it will begin streaming on Tuesday, January 11, at 6:00 PM Eastern time. It will be available to be watched for 24 hour period. We'll have a link up online to where you can purchase tickets to view this and know that a discussion with filmmaker, Greg Mitchell and art rocks Elliot forest will take place at 7:30 PM. Again, Eastern time on Wednesday, January 12th, nuclear hot seat also has an interview with Greg Mitchell. That was up on our episode of May 18th, 2021 episode five 17. You might want to check that one out as well. It keeps getting well to Bruce Gagnin of global network against nuclear weapons and power in space or space for peace.org. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:34 That's the number four, Bruce was felled by COVID in December and continues to recover from it. The good news is that he's finally able to get up and around and as again, becoming active online, he just posted a new blog entry. We will link to that and wish him continued healing with the Jewish mother and me saying, Bruce darling, try to put back on those 15 pounds you lost, you were skinny enough to begin with and news that the next international uranium film festival will take place in Rio de Janeiro may 19 to 29, 20 22 that's COVID permitting several filmmakers have already booked their flight to Rio, including Jeff Spitz of Navajo. Boy. If online streaming is announced, we'll let you know here@nuclearhotsyandallinformationandupdatescanbefoundatnuclearhotseat.com. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.nec dune renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org nears.org. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:45 The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org AP news.com R t.com. Common dreams.org, the bulletin.org truthout.org courier post online.com Kyoto news.net fairwinds.org. The guardian.com Irish examiner.com Gordon Edwards, and the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility@ccandr.org, Washington post democratic-europe.edu east lo Theon courier.com. vise.com the global mail.com bellona.org anti-nuclear dot net. The citizen.co.tz. the-japan-news.com. Taiwan news.com, sandbox dot U S and the ever captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission to follow nuclear hot seat. You can subscribe at any of your favorite podcast platforms or cut to the chase. We make it easy. Go to nuclear hot seat, not com scroll down for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show. You'll get it. The split instant that we post the show, and it will also include a brief rundown of some of the material inside. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:09 Now, participatory democracy here. If you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to me@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. We do take these suggestions seriously and check them out. And it's where some of the best stories have come from. And of course, if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, help us out. Take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2022 Leiby Halevi at hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that water is life, but radioactive water is not. There you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:25 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #549: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year 2021! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-numnutz-of-the-year-2021/ Published: 2021-12-30 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Numnutz – for your year-end delectation! You don't have to swallow it whole, just be aware… This Week's SPECIAL Year-End Treat: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year! The annual Nuclear Hotseat chance to revisit some of the year's worst nuclear impulses and actions. It's a look back at the highlights from 12 months of our most popular (notorious?) feature, Numnutz of the Week. Shake your heads in unison at the wilde and wacky antics of an industry that lost its mind and is working on us to lose ours. Featuring: Fukushima's radioactive water… and what TEPCO has been planning to do with it since 2012!The mainstream media as unindicted co-conspirators in perpetuating the lies and propaganda spewed by the nuclear industry!Looking for a new vacation hotspot? Man, have the nukesters got some destinations for you!…and so much more! Thanks to all of you for being with us in 2021. If you haven't yet, please click HERE or on the Donate button and support us with a bit more than your good wishes. Consider purchasing a copy of my book, YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat. Here's to us having a nuclear-disaster-free 2022 and beyond… but hey, don't hold your breath. — Libbe and Munchkin! With thanks to Laura Lynch for this great calendar! /trans ### NH #548: Nuclear Hollywood! Secret Government Film Studio Exposed! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hollywood-secret-government-film-studio/ Published: 2021-12-21 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Hollywood Revealed! Lookout Mountain Laboratories was the secret film studio dedicated to filming raw footage of nuclear weapons tests and editing them into propaganda films. New book (cover picture above) reveals the full history. This Week’s Featured Interview: We talk at length with Kevin Hamilton and Ned O’Gorman, authors of LOOKOUT AMERICA! The Secret Hollywood Studio at the Heart of the Cold War. Learn about the U.S. Government’s secret Hollywood studio that filmed nuclear above ground blasts and turned them into pro-nuke propaganda; and cranked out other images and films the government used to use to manipulate nuclear consent during the coldest of the Cold War. It’s a whole new take on understanding how we’ve been deceived into believing what we believe about nukes. Links from the Interview: LOOKOUT AMERICA! website includes links to films and research information: www.LookoutAmerica.org.Atomic Blonde – how Marilyn Monroe became involved in Lookout Mountain.Nuclear Savage – a film by Adam Jonas Horowitz on the bombing of the Marshall Islands. Lots of film clips from Lookout Mountain included.OPERATION IVY – full film that made President Eisenhower want to share nuclear information with the country.Dr. Strangelove – Below, the final scene, including montage of bomb blasts filmed by Lookout Mountain Laboratory (montage starts at 2:34) Links: Links: Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World – Messages from Moms from Okuma and Futaba: </p> Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear movies or nuclear secrecy. Nowadays, we take it for granted that any kind of nuclear, anything will be cloaked hidden from public view. And it will take years if not decades, if ever before an uncomfortable nuclear truth is revealed. And by that time, a veritable army of nuclear defenders armed with calculated talking points will undercut our awareness and muddy the waters. So that the last thing we, the people will know is the nuclear truth. But it almost wasn't that way. When you hear a genuine expert, tell you that in the early 1950s, president Dwight Eisenhower considered a different route and you hear KEvin Hamilton 00:00:43 Very early in his administration and he was largely moving in that position of we're just going to let the world know we're going to let the American public know just how destructive these things are, including radiation. We're not going to hide what we're doing. Ultimately, that argument was overcome was defeated by another argument, which is we can't do that because people will freak out and they will panic. Yeah, Libbe HaLevy  00:01:12 I think, well, for a brief window of time, in the early 1950s, we might've learned the truth about nuclear weapons and thus been able to stop their proliferation, but instead to prevent an appropriate mass emotional response to the horrors being unleashed on the world, the powers that be just silently shoved us into that uncomfortable unavoidable seat that we unfortunately all share Announcer 00:01:39 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:10 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week in an astonishing interview, we learn about the us government's secret Hollywood studio that for 20 years, not only filmed nuclear above ground blasts and turn them into pro nuke propaganda, but cranked out other images and films that the government used to manipulate nuclear consent. During the coldest of the cold war, we talk at length with Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman authors of lookout America, the secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war. It's a whole new take on how we've been manipulated into believing what we believe or think we believe about nukes. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:16 We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numbness of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we'll ever pass a vote in the current Senate. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, December 21st, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in Japan and inspection of Fukushima Daiichi unit two in June of 2021 has shown a fatal design flaw of the boiling water reactors that may have contributed to their destruction. A series of photos and full text of this is available@simplyinfo.org, Fukushima derived cesium 1 34 and 1 37 radioactive substances that flowed into the ocean due to the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 have arrived in the Arctic ocean. Additional analysis has shown that some of the cesium released into the ocean and atmosphere due to the accident, went northward after reaching the west coast of the United States and reached the Bering sea along the Alaska peninsula. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:26 Now as part of tech CO's plans to release tritium contaminated water also radioactive from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean has taken a step forward. As the company starts off shore drilling for an under sea tunnel planned to release the radioactive water 1 million, 280 metric, tons of it, roughly one kilometer or six tenths of a mile away from the site. Speaking of faulty nuclear reactors, French power giant EDF has found faults on pipes in a safety system at its civil nuclear power station. Corrosion was detected close to welds on the pipes of a safety injection system. Circuit EDF has shut down two reactors at SIBO in Western France and two reactors at shoes in Eastern France, stockbroker chairs in the French utility EDF dropped 15% one day after this announcement in Taiwan, a referendum seeking to unseal and restart work on Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant failed to pass. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:33 The first time people have been allowed to directly vote on the facility that has been under construction for more than two decades. Here's this week's featured interview. We've all seen those powerful black and white films of atmospheric nuclear bomb tests. Most notably in the montage at the end of the film, Dr. Strangelove, but did you ever stop to think where those films came from? Who shot that footage and why? I know I didn't until I read my Alma Mater's newsletter and discovered a new book with a nuclear premise that blew me away. It's called lookout America, the secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war. And the book was written by two professors from the university of Illinois, Kevin Hamilton and Nitto Gorman. What they uncovered during their 10 years of research is the mind blowing saga of a hidden propaganda arm of the us military. And it explains a lot about how us beliefs about nuclear weaponry were developed and implanted it in the populace. I could barely contain my excitement when we finally had the opportunity to talk on September 6th, 2019, Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman. Thank you so much for joining us here on nuclear hot seat. KEvin Hamilton 00:06:52 Thank you for having us on. We're glad to be here. They'd be really glad to be here. Thank you. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:56 I can't begin to tell you how I've been eagerly anticipating this interview. Let's start out with a little bit about the two of you. What are your backgrounds, Kevin you take? Kevin Hamilton 00:07:07 So I come from a fine arts background Libby. I was trained as an artist who had a focused on public art and public memory. And I came to university of Illinois, Urbana champagne in 2002 to come as an art professor and teach people how to address these big issues of how we understand what's happened in the past, through art, through digital media. And as I started working here and finding good collaborators like NA I started working more and more as a scholar, as well as, as an artist. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:35 And how did you switch over to doing media work or communications with KEvin Hamilton 00:07:40 That really happens in large part because of when I came out of school and because of my interests, I really followed a path from art that was primarily about image making and how images work into a world that in the early digital revolution was really turning upside down that way. And I started to apply my questions I had about how images work and how people have made images over the centuries to our new digital technologies and the new social connections that they afford. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:10 How about you? How did you come to this conversation? KEvin Hamilton 00:08:13 Yeah, I'm a professor in a communication department and my research and work over the last decade and a half who's tacked back and forth between history, specifically the history of the cold war and philosophy, philosophy of communication, public discourse on how publics get motivated or discouraged how they get informed or misinformed. And so the cold war has been a great place for me with respect to both of those, you know, the history part, but as well as the more sort of philosophical questions, cause it was a time when a lot of major historical importance was happening across the globe. And there were a lot of ways in which publics were misinformed about what was taking place, Libbe HaLevy  00:08:58 Who first became aware of lookout mountain studios. And how did that happen? Kevin Hamilton 00:09:05 This is Ned and I was working on my first book, which was on president Eisenhower and the Eisenhower administration focused in specifically on nuclear weapons and on nuclear weapons discourse. And I came across a memo when I was doing research at there at the Eisenhower library about a film that president Eisenhower had watched there in the white house. And when he finished watching it, he turned to his staff and he said, every American should see this film. And it was a film about the first test of a Thermo nuclear device in the Pacific in 1952 done by the United States. It turns out that film was made by lookout mountain laboratory. So that's what got me keyed into it. And from there, Kevin and I started what ended up being a decades worth of research into the history of this particularly unusual Hollywood studio. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:06 How did you proceed with your research? Because certainly within the movement of people who oppose nuclear, there has been no awareness of this studio. So where did you go? What were you looking for and how difficult was it to find? Kevin Hamilton 01:10:22 We learned the studio's name through the credits and they don't actually credit themselves for many of their films, but for some of those early wins they did. And once we started looking around for mentions of this, really one of the first places we came to was the department of energy, of all places who had released just a one page PDF that they put up online and probably gave out and printed copies somewhere in some of their sites about what came out in laboratories. It turns out to contain a lot of inaccurate information, but that was our first little nugget. And where that took us was to declassification efforts that had started in the nineties when the Clinton administration out of which that little bit of information had come. And some of the films that have been declassified at that time, Libbe HaLevy  01:11:09 Did you have to go foil in order to get the information, freedom of information act requests? Kevin Hamilton 01:11:15 You know, once we started seeing what was already out there early on in this project, we made a decision to try to uncover as much as we could without foil. And that really became a commitment early on, just as a way to prove what you could tell that had been hiding in plain sight in a way, Libbe HaLevy  01:11:33 Taking a look at lookout mountain from the start, what was its mandate and what was it created to document? Kevin Hamilton 01:11:42 Yeah, it was created to document nuclear tests, primarily tests that were taking place in the late 1940s and the Pacific operations sandstone was the first test that they were charged with documenting. It was a highly secretive affair. This film, the footage, as well as the documentary products that they produced out of the footage were classified. They were meant for atomic energy commission officials for the Pentagon, for the white house for Congress. And in certain cases for personnel who would be working in these operations to inform them what to expect and how to best prepare for the experience of taking part in and regular tests. And maybe some of what was happening there early on was just the logistics of secrecy. They knew they needed it, the photographic documentation of these tests, but they also knew that it was really easy, a photographic project, a film project to end up getting out of hand. If they had to go process the film in one place and edit it another employ different photographers from another source to actually shoot the thing. And they really decided, you know what we need as a one-stop shop, we need a place we we know is on lockdown, where photographers start, they can do their work. They come back, they develop and the work gets produced for its audiences. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:13 So look out mountain was really a consolidation of efforts that were already taking place under the Aegis of the government to document nukes. Is that accurate? Kevin Hamilton 01:13:22 Yeah. You know, to call it a consolidation, maybe gets a little ahead of things. Look out mountain really came to be just as the nuclear weapons testing itself was a program itself was coming to peace immediately after the war, you had a kind of spectacle test known as operation crossroads, and that was open to the press. But once under the Truman administration, the United States government got serious about developing more powerful and more destructive nuclear weapons. They immediately began to think about how were they going to document these events on film. And that's where lookout mountain came in at that point. So it was sort of right there at the beginning. And you can think about it as coming out of the air force, which of course was already in the business of photography, if not least from the perspective of assessing the bombing impacts in world war II, right? Kevin Hamilton 01:14:16 So took photography to identify targets and then photography to evaluate the damage. And so a lot of the early photographers there and look on mountains that early stages of course were coming from the air force. But the sheer size of these projects require that they also hire civilian photographers. And by our research really seems to be less reconsolidation consolidation. Then maybe a formalization where the government saw that it needed to take an operation that had been partly managed by the air force, but dipping into civilian realms and really formalize it into something they could say was working on. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:51 It was an entity unto itself, but it was directly dependent upon an answerable to elements in the military, the government, Kevin Hamilton 01:15:03 Yes, it was officially a part of the air force, but it was strangely answerable primarily to the atomic energy commission. And this is something that took some finagling on the part of the leadership of lookout mountain, but in the early 1950s, they successfully, even though it was a military outfit, at least in leadership, they rested free the chain of command and came under more or less the authority of the atomic energy commission, because they were just so intertwined into the nuclear testing operations. And it was really the ADC that was managing these operations, Libbe HaLevy  01:15:44 Taking a step back to look at the studios itself. Before we go deeper into the nuclear part of the issues. There were many Hollywood big names. They had to hire the technicians and the hands on people, but there were also many major people from Hollywood who became involved with lookout mountain, including Walt Disney, Jimmy Stewart, John Ford, Susan Hayward, and Marilyn Monroe taking just one example while we do think of Maryland as a bombshell of the blonde variety, what did she have to do with films about nuclear bounds? Kevin Hamilton 01:16:17 They brought Maryland in a head of a really big test. They were working on called operation castle, which is probably familiar to your listeners access to largest nuclear disaster. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:30 That was castle Bravo. Wasn't it it's sometimes referred to that way. Yeah. Yes. Kevin Hamilton 01:16:35 And what had been happening in previous tests was that the huge workforce required to essentially build new from scratch labs out in the Marshall Islands to run these tests is workforce had not been keeping their stories under wraps. They were riding home. They were telling their family and friends what they were up to out there. And after lookout mountain had already established itself as a credible storyteller about the tests to classify audiences and to government audiences. They said, you know, maybe you all can help us with the secrecy problem. So the studio came up with the idea that maybe they could cut some short films trailers, really that would be put in front of the films that soldiers were looking at as part of their RNR, that would encourage them to keep their work to themselves. And so they fill Marilyn Monroe looking into the camera and encouraging them to keep what they were doing secret. In that way. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:33 I've written a lot, including a full play about Marilyn Monroe, done a lot of research into her life and never came across that particular factoid. Kevin Hamilton 01:17:42 It's a really interesting story. We didn't know how she got there until we dived into this a little deeper. We ended up finding the way that she got there through our interaction with the descendants of Harold Lloyd, the silent film star, which really became one of the main connections by which she got hooked up with the lab. They actually filmed her on Harold Lloyd as a state. And there's a longer story to tell here that's that we've actually told was another journalist has been published in a California publication called Alta. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:12 Well, we'll get a link to that so that people can check it out. Moving this along. The films that were created by lookout mountain told stories of the bomb as a controlled physical and political instrument for a variety of audiences, enthusiastic technophiles skeptical, decision-makers aggressive generals, mystified, military personnel, and eventually a wary public. What kind of impact was intended by the films and what kind of impact did they actually have? Kevin Hamilton 01:18:44 It's a hard question to answer because there were so many films doing so many different things for so many different kinds of audiences, but in the 1950s, which was the peak of above ground nuclear testing, clearly lookout mountain intended to make films that were going to cause audiences to be overwhelmed and perhaps overawed by the spectacle of a nuclear blast. And at the same time to say, despite the over powering site, before your eyes, we, that is the atomic energy commission and the department of defense have this under total control. And so there's no reason ultimately to fear what we are doing. The only thing we really need to fear is what the Soviets are doing. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:45 Let's take a look at, look out mountains role in operation Ivy, which you referenced earlier, Ned. It was America's first thermonuclear device, and it's considered to be what inaugurated the age of Thermo nuclear weapons. You stayed in the book that quote, it was not really the device itself, the bid, the inaugurating of the age of thermonuclear weapons, but rather it's fantastic images. So talk to us about project Ivy, what those images were and what the resulting film led to. Kevin Hamilton 02:20:17 And that film really was what started our whole project in many ways, really diving into that film and asking questions about why it told the story the way it did and how it came to be the way it was, and even how that came to be different versions out there, different edited versions over the years. And what we saw there was that this was a film in which the, the makers and the commissioners, the clients, as it were knew that this was going to be a game changer. This was really going to be what they would call historic. And yet they needed to both claim the newest authority that being the first across that line would give them without making it look like something was out of their control. Because of course, for many of our perspectives, it might be historic in a way that is a direction. Kevin Hamilton 02:21:04 We don't want to go a direction that would seem to be spinning out of control. That could be igniting the whole atmosphere on fire. These kinds of questions were still on people's minds about what might happen with a test this big. And so the film that they made was a highly scripted film. It was the first film they made that used an on-camera narrator for which they secured a known television face, a trusted face that walked us through there as if we were there as if we were counting down as if we were right there waiting for history to happen. That was the approach anyway, but this was of course a very different story. Once the test happened and images started actually appearing to folks back in Washington. And what ended up getting out in front of the public is a different story. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:52 Why was it a different story and how was it different? Kevin Hamilton 02:21:55 The film itself really became the primary object about which people in the government argued and debated it wasn't the thermonuclear weapons program. It wasn't the IB test. It was this film that was shot about it, that caused people and civilian defense to argue with people in the atomic energy commission to argue with people in the Pentagon and for the white house staff to mediate and all these arguments. And at the heart of the argument was when should we tell the world about this? And what should we tell the world about this? And the film became the way in which these debates were sort of hashed out over an 18 month period. When finally the castle Bravo incident happened before the IB film was released publicly. And by that time, everybody in the world knew anybody who was paying attention knew that the United States was engaged in a Thermo nuclear weapons program and taking us into an entirely new era and nuclear weapons history. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:06 No, I understand that it was president Eisenhower who said, let's show this to the public when he said that everyone in the country should see it. How was the film distributed and shown to the public? And what, if anything, was the general response to it? Kevin Hamilton 02:23:22 The result of all the deliberations and arguments that it was talking about was the film getting sent back to look at mountain for new edits and even the filming of new introductions and the first folks to end up seeing this film outside the inner circle, who saw the full length film, not too long after the test itself was actually a council of mayors that Eisenhower had convened and a much shorter version that's for 20 minute version of this film was screened for them as a first step here. And as was kind of almost resolution to the arguments from there, that version of the film, the much reduced version of the film didn't end up getting screened for Congress and eventually screened across theaters screens across America and on television. And the response was mixed. And all those audiences, we can read television reviewers and their comments about the film. We can read what the mayors themselves said about the film. And some of these responses are indicative of maybe a story in which they saw the technical aspects of the story getting so foregrounded that they were sort of lost a sense of what else was happening there. The film itself, I think even for finances at the time, read as a little over the top for some folks, Libbe HaLevy  02:24:38 Did it just show the explosion as a marvelous piece of technology that had been developed or was there any reference at all to what the human toll would be? If such a bomb were exploded in a populated area, Kevin Hamilton 02:24:55 There was quite a bit of attention in the film, both in the full version of the film, and even in the shorter edited versions of the film that were made for the public or for the mayors that detailed on maps, what would happen to the city of New York, if this bomb was dropped on it, or what would happen to the city of Washington DC, if this, or dropped on it. And so there was attention to the human costs we might say, but it was a kind of graphical attention that is to say it was a view from the sky. It depended upon maps. We didn't see actual humans or really hear any stories about the kinds of sufferings that even the Marshall LEAs themselves were undergoing at that time due to America's nuclear weapons, testing programs. So attention to the human costs, but a very carefully crafted kind of attention to it. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:59 Was there any discussion at all of radiation releases from such a bomb and what the aftermath of the radiation would be? Kevin Hamilton 02:26:07 The focus of the operation Ivy films. When they tried to communicate the size of the blast were more on how deep the crater was or how wide the blast radius would be. And some of your listeners probably have seen some of these blast radius, protectors and calculators that the civil defense people distributed at the time. And that's, that's the kind of approach that this took. It really didn't focus on the radiation piece to focus on the, the yield of the blast as a kind of measurable geographic size. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:39 We need to get into the ethics of what lookout mountain was doing during the depression in 1938, the farm security administration produced the film, the river, which was about the Mississippi river. I actually saw it when I was at the university of Illinois in one of the journalism classes. And this was such a powerful film about how farming and timber practices led directly to soil loss, catastrophic floods, and impoverishing, the farmers that the program that produced it was discontinued shortly thereafter. There was a fear that it was just going to produce more new deal propaganda to sway the public in the direction of whatever the administration wants it. So there is a decision to separate government from the making of films, and yet after the war, that's exactly what the government did with lookout mountain. How was that justified? Kevin Hamilton 02:27:36 I think part of the justification was more broadly cultural. And what I mean by that is that during world war II, as well as in the years after world war II, Hollywood itself really moved to the center in so many ways of American popular culture. And I think that part of the justification was a desire that is perennially true on the part of the state or on the part of the federal government to try to make sure they're connecting with people where people feel connected with, if you get what I'm saying today, it might be social media or Twitter, right. But then it was Hollywood. And so I think part of the government's justification for aggressively pursuing a film operation and Hollywood was Hollywood is kind of where the cultural action was. And they felt as though this is where they need to be able to connect with people. Libbe HaLevy  02:28:38 We'll continue with this. Week's featured interview with Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman authors of the book, look out America, the secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war. We'll do that in just a moment. But first this holiday gift giving season reminds me of what my mother used to say. You can't play with your toys until you've cleaned up the mess in your room. I wish she were here to tell that to the nuclear industry. See they love playing with their toys, bombs, reactors, bailouts, even dangerously radioactive nuclear waste because it's all a big money making Ponzi scheme that the industry has sold to a well propagandized public, but the new steers never clean up their room, meaning the planet. They might give it a lick and a promise, but they always leave behind a deadly radioactive mess. How do they get away with it? Libbe HaLevy  02:29:35 Well, focus group talking points along with copious quantities of smoking mirrors funded by all money that they're making into a big PR campaign to make it seem like they're responsible citizens and mainstream media politicians, the general public, even so-called environmentalist fall for it. That is why you need nuclear hot seat. We look through the smoke and mirrors to find the real nuclear stories so we can report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the industry would rather you not hear about. Now, as we come to the end of 2021, consider celebrating this season with a donation to help us keep going, just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button to send us a donation of any size. That's also where you can sign up to be a monthly sustaining supporter of the show for as little as $5 a month, same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now we continue with this week's featured interview with Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman authors of the book. Look out America, the secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war. From your perspective as communications professors for a major university, what are the ethical problems that were, or might be posed by this kind of connection between the government and the film industry, let alone having their own studio? Kevin Hamilton 03:31:12 You know, I think to go into that in relationship to the work we've been looking at, I think it'd be most interesting to look at the kind of exchange is, and quid pro quo is that we're going on between lookout mountain and industry itself. Because when you look at things like how, when there was a fire in the sound studio there at like a mountain laboratory on Wonderland avenue, Walt Disney was happy to let them come down the mountain there from Laurel canyon and use the sound studios down at Disney studios, early cinema scope technology, even before, if I might, the robe came out that that technology was already in use by the air force. You don't see a blockbuster film that includes military technology in which there hasn't been a lot of consultation and maybe even loaned equipment from the Pentagon. And I think that relationship there and what's happening there across an exchange mutual influence, a discovery of shared rhetorics and stories, and iconographies is where I would look for that conversation. KEvin Hamilton 03:32:15 Yeah. And if I could add another dimension to the ethics of all this, there was actually in and around 1950, a really, really interesting debate happening at the level of the white house. And this is in the late Truman years going into the early Eisenhower years. And that was a debate that was typically called the debate about candor. How candid should we be with the American public and the world about nuclear weapons and the kind of destruction that they could do, and the kinds of activities the United States is engaged in with respect to making them even more destructive. And there was a substantial wing in the highest levels of the federal government making arguments that we really just need to be upfront with people about this. We shouldn't sort of whitewash it. We shouldn't dress it up. We just need to tell them the facts. Kevin Hamilton 03:33:11 And Robert Oppenheimer was at the forefront of making this case, ultimately unsuccessfully, but it was part of what got Eisenhower's ear very early in his administration. And he was largely moving in that direction. That is towards this position of, we're just going to let the world know we're gonna let the American public know just how destructive these things are, including radiation. And we're going to be candid. We're not going to hide what we're doing. Ultimately that argument, which Oppenheimer represented an Eisenhower for a time and braced was overcome, was defeated by another argument, which is we can't do that because people will freak out and they will panic. That was the word that was used. People will panic. And then we will have a situation where we have mass hysteria about this, and that's no way to run a society, was the counterargument. So you can see there, there really is an ethical argument about the nature of the public, about the capacities of the public to know, and what is the responsibility of the government to the public when it comes to some of the more dangerous activities in which the government is engaging? Kevin Hamilton 03:34:30 I think one other ethical dimension that I think we could look at about hookah Mountain's work is looking at their role in the identification of the test sites as disposable and the ways in which when lookout mountain borrowed from Hollywood ways of looking at things, Hollywood, rhetorics, and symbols, they really helped build a whole view of the Pacific, the whole view of what we might even think of as Tiki culture and that kind of a depiction of the Pacific as sort of outside of history, where one islands as good as another, it's mostly populated by Palm trees and peoples that don't really care about, which I won there on. I mean, this was the basis by which these folks were removed and irradiated in many ways was by their depiction as less than human and depiction of these oceans, these waters, these lands as replaceable. I mean, that's another place we could go here and be the ethics of representation in that. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:31 I don't know if you're familiar with the film nuclear Savage, have you seen it? Kevin Hamilton 03:35:35 Yes. For Libbe HaLevy  03:35:36 Those who aren't familiar, it, it is about the bombing of the Marshall Islands and what was done to the natives there, the lies they were told and the way that it was used as almost a mangle, a type laboratory, not to give healing and treatment to the people who were subjected to the bombs, but to just track what happened to them as a result so that we would have some data on exposure to radiation and what it did to people, which of course is environmental genocide and environmental racism. Kevin Hamilton 03:36:09 Absolutely. It's one of the motivating factors for us to write our book is to bring attention to how images played a role in that story. I mean, how did we get to a point where we were able to take a territory that had been stewarded by the United States on behalf of the United nations and decide that this was an acceptable use of that stewardship to use it as a bombing site, as a test site, as you said, as a site for really human experimentation. And I think we learned from indigenous scholars who are, I think the highest authority in this, we learned that the depictions of the people that addictions to the lands play a key role in their rendering as, as disposable and as other, Libbe HaLevy  03:36:53 What do you see as the larger danger when films are made by the government, not only to document, but to dramatize an issue in this case, the nuclear issue. Kevin Hamilton 03:37:04 I think that one of the larger dangers is certainly the way in which the mushroom cloud becomes kind of cliche, such that there's hardly a Hollywood production over the last 30 or 40 years that involves, you know, world cataclysm that doesn't feature a mushroom cloud. And that mushroom cloud could be nuclear in the film in origin, or it could be some others, some extra terrestrial beam that implodes and produces the equivalent of a mushroom cloud, but that kind of familiarity that kind of cliche desensitizes us to the reality. And I think that that is on the one hand, a very effective way to manage. And I use that in the most, almost insidious way to manage populations, but clearly from you don't even have to speak from any kind of perspective of democracy. You can just say from a human perspective, we don't want to be desensitized to these things. Kevin Hamilton 03:38:16 Do we? And so I think one of the dangers here is the way in which film is part of a major part of the way in which we have become desensitized to nuclear issues. I think it comes back to history as well. I think something of that de sensitization is happening as a result of those mushroom clouds, getting edited over and over again and taken out of their context and that we know the most famous montage of all of these, right at the end of Dr. Strangelove, we see, see the one after another. And we actually don't know what led up to that for each of those particular explosions. We don't know the calculated decisions about which sites in the desert, which islands were going to be lost through those pieces. We don't know the cost. I think it's about taking it out of, out of the history. That's where these films take us. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:09 There's another aspect that we haven't gotten into, and that is that the camera operators and other technicians who are actually onsite to shoot these films sometimes from very close up, they were exposed to the blast, to the radiation, to the fallout. Has there been any kind of health study or followup done on these individuals? Kevin Hamilton 03:39:33 Part of how we know anything we know at all about locum is because of the declassification effort that happened in the Clinton administration and when the cold war was deemed by some as over, it was at that time that the energy secretary has a little leery, authorize the release of a lot of documents to help irradiated workers and veterans get access to the actual data about what they have been exposed to because they couldn't get to it before. And so if you look up some of these nuclear tests now, and you look up for what documents are out there online, the first thing you're going to find are the reports that came out of that time that have tables and tables of exactly how much radiation, different workers and the tests were exposed to that's to say that that is not a test that was done later, that was data that was gathered at the time. That is to say that what was measured at the time was deemed to be acceptable. So in that case, what has been happening since has, would only been a case by case is people seeking compensation, families, seeking compensation for what happened. And right now that we have talked to a number of the actual veterans and former photographers, we've not talked to any who were involved in that kind of litigation. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:48 It would be interesting to find out if any of them are still alive. Kevin Hamilton 04:40:51 Well, when you look at how few are, of course you wonder, and even some of the ones we've met along the way have since passed. And they're very glad to get together. The combat cameraman is the order to which they claim to belong. It's a broader kind of identity for themselves and they gather, and they would be the ones to talk to about this about who's still here and who's not in line. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:15 That's definitely a potential for our next program. Now look out mountain was closed down in July of 1969. Why then? And what happened to the archives who owns the copyrights and how are the films and photos access Kevin Hamilton 04:41:33 Today? Yeah. So why did look at mountain clothes? That was a long process beginning, really in the early 1960s with the Kennedy administration and Robert McNamara and his incessant desire to try to centralize and make as efficient as possible. And his V right, all the operations of the Pentagon, including film operations. And so there was talk relatively early in the Kennedy administration about consolidating. There were other film units in the military across the country, none like lookout mountain, but there were other film units. So there was talk relatively early in the Kennedy administration about some sort of consolidation effort. So that's part of the story. Part of the story is that Hollywood was becoming a less and less convenient place for lookout mountain to be in the 1960s for a variety of reasons, but not the least of which was the Vietnam war. And you might say the way in which Hollywood turned from a kind of a cold war consensus, a more center position politically in the 1950s, or even, you know, far out right position in the 1950s to a more left position and anti-Vietnam politics. Kevin Hamilton 04:43:02 And that sort of thing, start to create some problems for lookout mountain in the 1960s. So, you know, there were a variety of reasons is it just became a less fruitful place in their eyes for them to be. And so eventually, as you said, in the late sixties, the operations were moved to another area. San Bernardino is that right air force, air force base. And that was part of a more general consolidation effort. As far as the holdings, the issue is not copyright. The issue is classification. These are government products, right? And so they weren't privately owned. There is no real copyright law that covers them, but there's all kinds of security and classification laws cover them. And so many of their holdings were sent to secure facilities. Some of them ended up sort of randomly and various places, including people that worked at lookout mountain, taking stuff home, a lot of it was destroyed. Kevin Hamilton 04:44:03 And so the story of the archives is itself its own kind of quite messy story. And the fact that we were able to gather as much as we were able to over 10 years was partly just good sleuthing on our part. And partly, you know, we hit some luck to be honest. I mean, we, we ran into some people that put us onto some things that, that really helped her project. You know, maybe there's another story that might interest your listening to her aspect of this story that might interest your listeners. In that one of the biggest surprises for us was to learn just how involved look up mountain laboratory was in Vietnam. By the time they closed there in late sixties, they were as big as they've ever been. And there were hundreds of hundreds of photographers and support workers for that effort that were going back and forth to Southeast Asia. Kevin Hamilton 04:44:53 And at that time look out mountain had become known, not just for producing slick Hollywood style narrative films, but for being the most efficient deliverers of visual documents, visual evidence of military operations. And so they were documenting all the bombing in Vietnam and all the agent orange work. And within that footage around back and forth across the ocean to measure it, to evaluate it in what it was increasingly a data-driven enterprise as war was becoming. And so in many ways, the closure of lookout mountain was a part of the Pentagon learning of the value of images as data and absorbing of what was a very specialized at bruh operation into a capacity that the Pentagon today does with just about every piece of its being. It's now hope as part of almost everything they do Libbe HaLevy  04:45:48 With the declassified films, because I know they show up all over YouTube and I've seen so many of them, are they accessible to the general public? Can they be used? Are they under public domain now? Kevin Hamilton 04:46:03 Yeah, they're under public domain and we've cataloged every film we can find online or that we have even found and digitized put online, we've put on our website, look out america.org and they're all public domain. Now, sometimes folks are acquiring these films and restoring them and releasing copyrighted versus of them in high resolution. And that's a different story, but partly the reason why you see these things popping up in YouTube edits all the time is because they're in the public domain, our book that's full of images we're able to do in part because so many of those images are in the public domain. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:36 What has been the response to your book so far, both in the general reading public in the academic community and with the university of Illinois, having such a large nuclear engineering department to some of perhaps your neighbors on campus, Kevin Hamilton 04:46:53 Each one of those audiences that you just described tends to operate in their sort of according to their own sense of time and timeliness. I would say that when our book was first released, we spent a lot of our time and a really wonderful way doing podcasts and radio interviews. And we've entertained some conversations with documentary film producers. And so, you know, there's been more than anything else that I've done in my career. This has certainly been a public facing project. And one, that's gotten a fair amount of public reception of the Smithsonian just released a documentary a couple of months ago. That features a lot of our work in it from this book. And so the academic world just operates at a different pace book. And the academic world is only been out about seven or eight months. And so that's still almost a kind of forthcoming book and in the academic world, it's still hardly out right now. Kevin Hamilton 04:47:59 So we're, we're waiting to see what happens in the academic world with our work. And we really do hope that it gets taken up. Kevin might want to speak to that more. We have some folks with seeing this out to a broader audience in film form, for sure. We think that there's a lot of ways to tell this story that reflects some of the values and the critical concerns that have come up in our conversation here with you. You mentioned the nuclear engineers, and that's a really interesting point that not many people have asked us about. And we know some here on campus that are interested. They've invited us to come and screen some of these films and talk about them with them. Of course, as with any campus like this, where at some point in history, there were probably some Manhattan project scientists here. Kevin Hamilton 04:48:38 We have some traditions here of really anti nuclear physicists that have been teaching with some of these films in their classes over the years to actually teach the students about the damages of these technologies. But maybe the most interesting piece of this is that we started to finally get a more conversation with the folks who are actually studying these films from the perspective of science out of Lawrence Livermore. And that might be an interesting subject for your listeners to look into these films are now under close scrutiny yet again, out of Lawrence Livermore to actually correct some of the bad data, the ways in which these films resulted in datasets that were actually not serving nuclear engineering well. And so they're going back to these films to try to see if they got the data right for their science. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:25 And is there a department or an individual at Lawrence Livermore who is in charge of this? Kevin Hamilton 04:49:30 Yes, there is this, his name is Greg sprigs and he is a nuclear scientist and his project, which is in its own way, quite fascinating as he discovered, as they began to digitize some of these films several years ago and use computers as opposed to humans to do things like try to measure blast radius or fireball circumference, they realized the many, many of the measurements from the 1950s were inaccurate that there was all kinds of human error. And so the yield figures that we have in these documents that have been out there forever right now, many of them are wrong. So the films are becoming the basis for recalculating. Things like yield from these various tests. So it's AI technology, super competing technologies. All of that is, are coming back to bear on these films and in ways that who would've thought it 15 years ago, Libbe HaLevy  05:50:41 Everything old is new. Again, unfortunately, including the arms race, Kevin Hamilton 05:50:48 If Libbe HaLevy  05:50:48 People wish to purchase your book and I would encourage them to do it because it is a fascinating green, we've barely scratched the surface here with this interview, where can they go to access the book? Kevin Hamilton 05:51:01 They can buy our books, look out America, the secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war directly from university of Chicago, press on their website or from Amazon or from their local bookstore where they can request it to come get delivered in support local bookseller. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:17 And you have a website that you've mentioned as well, that I assume has other information on it. Kevin Hamilton 05:51:22 Yes. Levy, if people want to see more of the material on which we based our research and our book that look@america.org, you can see not only into films, but a lot of the documents that we used to figure out exactly what was happening over the years there at the studio. So that's still an ongoing concern. We're putting up new things. We think there's a lot more work to do. We're just scratching the surface ourselves on this. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:44 Is there anything else that we have not gotten to that you think is important to mention at this time? Kevin Hamilton 05:51:50 Now, one of the chapters of lookout mountains, history that we have not talked about, but I think your listeners would be very interested in as the missile development program, which lookout mountain ended up being really, really integral to that whole project. So that the way in which the nuclear weapons program shifted in the 1950s from a, an airplane based approach to a missile based approach. And, and that was the transformation that took place in the Pentagon, but it was one that was quite fraught. And one where there was plenty of opposition within the Pentagon itself to missile development over Armor's using bombers in nuclear war and look out mountain ended up getting pulled into the middle of that and all kinds of really interesting ways that we discuss in the book. And so given the interests of your listening audience, we think they might want to turn to that missile chapter when they get the book and read up on that. Kevin Hamilton 05:52:46 It's also truly be that they ended up covering the development of early experimental nuclear reactors. So there are some films out there from a few that they were, they were out there documenting that might be of interest to some of your listeners who are studying some of the particular cleanup sites and that sort of thing, and might find some documents of landscapes that they know all too well. As we're getting to a conclusion here, I would just say that I think one of our biggest hopes here is that we are able to ignite and catalyze conversations about the roles that images play and that moving images play in these critical, critical debates, whether they're about what happened in the past or what's happening in the present, whether it's the current arms race, or even the climate crisis, Libbe HaLevy  05:53:32 You've clearly made an important, valuable and blasting contribution to our understanding of the whole nuclear landscape and the research you've done strikes me as being critical. And I know that listeners are going to be looking this up because that's the kind of people they are for now. I want to thank the two of you, Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman for the marvelous book that you wrote. And also for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat, Kevin Hamilton 05:54:03 It's been our pleasure to be here levy and thank you to your listeners as well. Thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:08 Kevin Hamilton and Nitto Gorman are the authors of lookout America. The secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war, their website is lookout america.org, and it contains a treasure trove of links to films and documents directly taken from the lookout mountain laboratory. As the studio was known to learn more about the bombing of the Marshall Islands. I strongly suggest you view the film. I mentioned nuclear Savage by Adam Jonas Horowitz. We will have a preview of that movie up on the website for this episode, nuclear hot seat.com. Number four 30 we'll link to the film operation Ivy, and also the article on how Marilyn Monroe came to briefly be part of lookout mountains work. And just for fun, for those of you who may have been too young to remember Dr. Strangelove we'll link to the films ending with the scene in the government bunker leading to the bomb, blastic finish all will be available on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 4, 3 0, that was Kevin Hamilton and Ned O'Gorman authors of the book. Look out America. The secret Hollywood studio at the heart of the cold war we'll have links up to their book, their website, and the films and research information mentioned in this interview on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five forty eight, Announcer 05:55:33 The business Libbe HaLevy  05:55:41 Congratulations to Mary Osborne of three mile island alert who lived only eight miles from three mile island at the time of the accident and collected misshapen plants, quote unquote, when they first showed up in the wake of that nuclear accident. Now more than four decades later, 90 of her specimen have been accepted by the Smithsonian institution in Washington, DC under the care of the staff and the department of botany. When appropriate specimens may be made available to Smithsonian scientists and other researchers who wish to examine them for their relevance to the three mile island events of 1979, kudos to Mary for her work. And thanks to Scott port's line of TMI aid who helped prepare the collection for submission, we will revisit the nuclear hot seat interview with Mary Stamos for our three mile island annual special posting on March 28th, 2022 and San Louis Obispo. Mothers for peace are fighting back against a newly released Stanford MIT study that recommends exploring the extension of Diablo Canyon's license to operate, but completely ignores a series of important conditions that exist at the Abloh canyon. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:53 Mothers for peace have created these as talking points and we will have a link to it up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Again, this episode is number 5 48. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, December 21st, 2021. You can listen to nuclear hot seat, any place you get your podcasts, or here's the easy way. Get it delivered to your email every week as it posts go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box. Fill in your first name, your email address. We will send you one email a week with the link to the show and a short summary of some of the material that's in it. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com really you're on the ground where you are tell us what's happening in your neighborhood and in the giving spirit of this holiday season. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:46 If you'd like to help us out, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the big red button, follow the prompts and anything you can do to help. We will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi at hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of harvestry communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as Albert Einstein said, the unleashed power of the atom has changed everything. Save our modes of thinking. And thus, we drift towards unparalleled catastrophe. Ooh, happy holidays. And there you go. That is your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. ### NH #547: Nuclear Reactor Radiation, Kids and Cancer: Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-reactor-radiation-kids-cancer/ Published: 2021-12-15 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear reactor radiation releases are known to impact health, especially in kids, who are particularly vulnerable to radiation exposure that can lead to cancer. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear reactor radiation and its impact on public health – especially that of children – is the focus of the work of Joseph Mangano. He is a health researcher and epidemiologist who has served as a director of Radiation and Public Health Project since 1989. Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants. We spoke for Nuclear Hotseat #418 from June 26, 2019. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The ex-sex partner of Person of the Year's Elon Musk (GAK!) got dumped by him in September, so here it is December and she's decided to become a pro-nuclear Social Influencer! This make-up maven-cum-singer is telling the kids on Tik Tok why they should support Diablo Canyon's nuclear reactor in continuing to operate because hey, "green," etc. (and her make-up is terrific!). Links: (coming…) Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear talking points. If you follow nuclear issues at all, you have undoubtedly heard your concerns about radiation coming from nuclear reactors in the possible dangers dismissed with the line. Nobody Announcer 00:00:15 Died Libbe HaLevy 00:00:15 At three mile island. In other words, sit down, shut up. You are just being a nervous Nellon you don't know what you're talking about. It's a phrase used to dismiss any concerns based on the perceived lack of impact because of that nuclear meltdown, just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979 or anything that might be happening in your own backyard from your own local nuclear reactor. But then you hear an experienced researcher in nuclear health consequences. Explain to you Joseph Mangano 00:00:48 The nuclear industry grabbed that, that slogan. Nobody died at three mile island almost immediately. After the meltdown occurred, before there had been any chance to measure how much radiation was released, how much actually got into the water and the food and people's bodies. It was a immediate attempt to stifle any type of research. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:13 When you hear epidemiologists and radiation, health researcher, Joseph Mangano, a genuine expert, say something like that. You start to see how we've all been gamed away from pushing for nuclear accountability, especially when it comes to understanding radiation dangers. And you begin to realize that it's all part of us being intentionally stuck in that awful seat that we all share. Announcer 00:01:40 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? New Claire hot. What have those boys been breaking new Claire? Hotsy the is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are linking new Claire hot it's Deba. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:12 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Hal levy. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we revisit an interview on the impact of radiation from so-called safe nuclear actors with Joseph Mangano. He is executive director of radiation and public health project, an expert researcher on radiation issues and an epidemiologist whose examination of medical statistics in the areas around nuclear reactors reveal a much different picture of their health impact than the nuclear industry wants you to know. We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest information than Santa is putting under my manure. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:19 Truly all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, December 14th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. There is a ton of nuclear news this week and we will get to as much of it as we can in a piece at news, the New York city council has adopted a powerful package of legislation, which calls for the us to join the United nation's treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and includes legal obligations for the city. In terms of dives, education and policy on nuclear weapons. The adoption of this legislation is a major milestone achieve due to the advocacy of the New York campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, NY C a N, and its allies. The passage of resolution 9 76 calls upon the New York city controller to instruct the $266 billion pension funds a of the public employees of New York to divest from companies involved in the production and maintenance of nuclear weapons sounds a lot like don't bank on the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:30 To me, this stands to impact approximately 475 million of us funds in public investments. The resolution also reaffirms York city as a nuclear weapons free zone prohibiting the production, transport storage placement, and deployment of nuclear weapons in New York city, a healthy round of applause for all involved in making this come about so much for the good news. The environmental working group has updated its database for the first time since 2019 and shows that radioactive material and pesticides are among new contaminants found in us tap water. There are newly identified P a S, which is a toxic class of forever chemicals. In addition to the whole lot, even more for or ever chemicals from radioactive materials, earth working groups, database allows users to search for contaminants and water systems by zip code and provides a guide on which chemical water filters can remove what you can find them@ewg.org. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:39 Meanwhile, here in Los Angeles, uranium is found at seven times the earth working group health guidelines, which means that we all need something better than Abria in Virginia. The former senior resident inspector of the north Anna nuclear power station pleaded guilty to making false statements on inspection reports. 60 year old Gregory CRO of Tennessee worked for the us nuclear regulatory commission and was working at the north Ana plant between 2016 and 2018 NRC inspector general. Robert Freal said the accuracy of NRC inspection reports is critical to the NRCS oversight of the licensee's safe operation of nuclear power plants around the nation. CROs false statements could have jeopardized the safety oversight function in Georgia. Word that the VO nuclear units, number three and four may not be complete until 2014. At least that's what's being said. Now wait until we get closer to 2014 for the later extensions on this. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:48 Even if they fulfill on that 2024 date, this is nearly seven years beyond the project initial schedule, according to two separate construction, ma monitors, the construction team's use of unachievable schedules, a critical path that changes from day to day end widespread equipment performance issues during operational testing, as well as the use of unauthorized testing methods that damaged built systems are all contributing to this delay until recently Georgia power had updated its estimated completion dates for VO unit three to third quarter of 2022 and unit four to the second quarter of 2023. But considering the nuclear industry standard operating procedure of always coming in beyond the completion date and over budget, there's no telling when this boondoggle is going to be completed, let alone, if it will ever be operational the battle to extend the operating life of California's Diablo canyon, nuclear reactor, which is cited a top several earthquake faults is now being pushed by a former us energy secretary, Stephen chew and Ernest monies, no surprise there. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:05 And several fashion plate TikTok influencers, who we will get to in a moment, but the times points out that this push is misguided and largely divorced from reality, their words, not mine. They went on say the plant's closure should serve as an impetus for California to do more, to accelerate the shift, to renewable energy and set a realistic course to meet the state's target of getting 100% of its electricity from carbon free sources by 2045. The idea of keeping Diablo canyon open seems to ignore many practical considerate, including how to address seismic risks, the ecological harm of using seawater for cooling and what to do with spent nuclear fuel, the cooling system and earthquake safety upgrades that would be required for the facility to keep operating. After 2025 are so extensive that they would likely exceed 1 billion. The plant operator Pacific gas and electric company agreed in 2016, not to pursue license renewal and the utility has shown no interest in reconsidering. That decision nor has the public with utilities commission received any proposals to revisit its 2018 decision to allow the plant to shut down. But that hasn't stopped some Airheads with money from pushing forward with what they think is a good idea. And so here we go. Announcer 00:09:31 New clear hot seat, new Claire, hot, hot seed, none sound awake, Libbe HaLevy 00:09:40 Heaven protect us from online social media. Pronuclear influencers. Yeah, that's a thing. And now Grimes, it should be grimy. The single named single wannabe and most notably Elon Musks recently discarded sperm receptacle and baby mother has decided to become a social media influencer in favor of keeping the Diablo canyon nuclear reactor in California up and operating. I guess even rodeo drive gets boring when you have more money than God and already own a full supply of face back AKA makeup, but why pro nuclear dude, and why lift your leg to pee all over San Louis bipo mothers for peace who have been fighting against Diablo canyon for decades and know every reason why that nuclear reactor, which by the way, is sighted. The top multiple earthquake faults needs to be shut down. Now, why don't you talk with them for your information, but no, she gets her new news from another social influencer, another glamorous actor spokes model. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:52 Good at keeping attention for all of 60 seconds on TikTok. So the kids keep watching, but that's what we are up against. No nothings jumping into the glamorous high profile world of pro nuclear propagandizing based on fo Fox talking points and weird makeup, which is what the kids tune into, not us. And they don't know that they're going to get their brain work by pro nuclear nonsense while they're looking at makeup tips. So here's hoping that this Grimmy Grimes has a short attention span after all. She was only with Musk for two and a half years and just stayed one year after the birth of their son. So maybe she'll find another tangent to go off on soon. Hopefully one that will not harm people or the environment. And that is why Grimmy Grimes. You are this week's Announcer 01:11:47 Nuclear hot seed. None that sound awake. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:51 Meanwhile, does anyone understand what TikTok is and how it operates? We've got to start getting our message out in front of the kids moving right along in Wyoming, billionaires, Warren buffet and bill gates have chosen a remote town in that state to build a new, small mud nuclear reactor and unproven design pending federal and local approval. The company Terra power will build before billion dollar nuclear reactor in Keer Wyoming, about 130 miles Northeast of salt lake city with a population of only about 3000 residents, meaning that there isn't likely to be much pushback. I find it interesting that this information comes from a site called climate crux because this claim that it's green energy and it's going to somehow save the world is just that. And an older article in people magazine, that's just come to my attention. Asks, did late actor, Michael Landon of little house on the Prairie and Bonanza get cancer from filming close to a contaminated nuclear site. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:02 That site being the Santa Susanna field lab in Simi valley for nine years, little house on the Prairie was filmed just 15 miles away from that site. Landon was diagnosed with pancrea at cancer in late 1991 and died in 1992 at age 54, over to Japan where the temperature of the groundwater at the remains of the Fukushima nuclear reactor site is observed to be rising despite continuous efforts to freeze the ground into what is being called improperly and impervious wall. It's not impervious and is referred to on nuclear hot seat. As the slushy on October 28th, 2021, Tokyo electric power company, TECO announced a part of their supposedly impervious wall of frozen soil is pervious and possibly breached due to the rising temperature of the groundwater from August to September this year, the temperature rose from minus 15 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees, positive Celsius, 25 Celsius degrees, which equals 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:16 TECO did not publicly report about it and the cause has not been identified. But the effectiveness of this particular piece of technology has been questioned from the beginning. TECO has also admitted that it sprayed rainwater that had accumulated in tanks at the plant before confirming the safety of the water in their wards. They have not yet analyzed it for radioactive materials, a move that the all Japan Federation of fisherman's cooperative associations has protested calling it extremely regrettable. Their linguistic restraint is hereby noted. TECO has been urged to conduct a thorough investigation of the cause of the accident and to take drastic measures to prevent its recurrence. Now about Tecos planned release of the 1,280,000 metric tons, not gallons as I mistake. And Lee said last week, metric tons of radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean. There was an excellent article on Japan's upcoming nuclear waste dump published on power technology.com and picked up byard.wordpress.com. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:28 One of my major sources it's written by I Robert Hunziker and very succinctly goes into all of the talking points we need to know about this, not proposed, but planned release of radioactive water into the Pacific ocean. We'll have a link to it up on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 47. And for more international news, we have this out of the UK research finds significant concentrations of radio activity in samples taken from across the summer set and south Wales coast. This is a confirmation of the work of Marine biologist, Tim dear Jones, who spoke about this for nuclear hot seat, number five, four from September 14th, 2021. The survey was undertaken over the summer by groups from both sides of the Bristol channel. After EDF energy refused to carry out pre dumping surveys on the Cardiff grounds and port his head C dump sites where they have disposed of waste from the construction of Hinley point C nuclear power plant. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:33 In the past, the study found significant concentrations of Hinley derived radio activity and samples from all 11 sites. Meanwhile, EDF is trying to deny the difficulty here by saying that the sediment is not radioactive under law, but what about under science? We'll have an update on this by the dear Tim dear Jones, early in 2022 on nuclear hot seat, it looks like inside information from China could sync the French nuclear flagship EPR. Two French EPR design reactors were built in Tashan China as the only two out of 200 announced that ever went online. However, now one of the two is offline again after just two and a half years of operation, and it's not known whether it will ever be able to come online. Again, evidence is growing that a design flaw affecting the entire EPR series has led to Taschen being switch off. This information came from a French nuclear engineer and whistleblower who gave the radiation research Institute, CRE rod important detailed technical information from Tahan in June of 2021, a CNN report from Tahan caused stir because there was talk of an imminent radiological threat. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:55 And the Chinese security authorities were accused of having raised the radiation limit values for the outside area around the nuclear power plant. In order to circumvent the shutdown of the defective reactor block, there has also been damage found to the cladding tubes, which led to the escape of radioactive gases in the reactor pressure vessel. This may be akin to the damage in the cladding of the fuel rods at the Sanofy nuclear facility, which was ultimately the reason why that nuclear react is shut down forever. In the EU. Germany has told France nuclear is not green and said that it will oppose French efforts to label nuclear electricity as green. It all boils down to money. The debate is about so-called taxonomy, which is the green labeling system for investors France aims to include nuclear and gas as green investments while Germany opposes atomic energy. Unfortunately, there are now 12 countries that have joined forces to pressure the European commission to grant nuclear energy, that green status, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Che France, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:20 The European commission is likely to unveil investment rules for nuclear and gas on December 22nd, just in time to be buried and ignored in the Christmas holiday in a has been revealed in a new report that 27 London financial companies are funding the new nuclear arms race. In other words, don't bank on the bomb strikes again, the financial firms in London have been accused of using investment funds with links to the UK government. A campaign group report perilous profiteering has named hundreds of companies involved in the nuclear weapons sector and their financial backers. An analysis by the ferret. A publication found that 26 were based in London and six have links to the conservative party, which plans to increase Britain's nuclear weapons. Arsenal is that the equivalent of insider trading, the Netherland space peace group PACS produced this study with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:20 There report warns that financial institutions continuing to invest in companies involved with the nuclear weapons industry could face regulatory risks because of the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which came into force in January of 2021, the treaty, which the UK has not yet ratified bans nuclear weapons and has been signed by 86 countries. So far the UK government, which claims it is committed to the long term goal of a world without nuclear weapons said in March, it would lift the cap on its nuclear arsenal by 40% raising the number of weapons from 180 to 260 warheads. Then in November, the government claimed it had played a leading role by pioneering work in your disarm. No, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. But first, last week I shared that I was recently asked why nuclear hot seat does not do the usual hammering away at our distribution list for donations on giving Tuesday cyber Monday. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:26 And the like the reason I don't like getting hit over the head with repeated email requests, even by groups I esteem and regularly consult with for content, I give what I can when I can. And I trust those of you who have come to value. The information of nuclear hot seat will donate if when and as much as you can, but now in the, of the website, which is due to come online in early 20, 22, it's been suggestion that I create a betray on page where I offer premiums for people who sign up to donate on an ongoing basis. Of course, anything I would come up with will immediately be made available to the loyal supporters who are already with me. But the question this raises is would this kind of a bonus induce you to donate? What kind of special information or report would you want and on what topics, if you haven't been a sustaining supporter, what might entice you to join my loyal crew? Libbe HaLevy 02:22:23 The great folks who are truly responsible for my ability to keep nuclear hot seat going a, let me know by sending an email to info nuclear hotseat.com. And while you're at it, whether you become a sustainer or not consider celebrating this season with a donation to help keep us going, just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can send us a donation of any song eyes, and know that that's where you can become a sustaining supporter of nuclear hot seat without waiting for Patreon. All it takes is a donation of as little as $5 a month, the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the us. So buy nuclear hot seat, a metaphoric cup of coffee to support us and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:13 Now, here is this week's featured interview, the ongoing spew of radio activity into our environment. And its dangers are the subject of this week's interview. Tokyo electric power company in Japan is planning or threatening to release radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific. And in Massachusetts whole tech, the decommissioning company is not asking but telling the nuclear regulatory commission that they will release radioactive spent fuel pool water from the defunct Pilgrim nuclear reactor into Cape Cod bay, meaning the Atlantic. So we thought this would be a good time to look back at a still timely interview on the impact of nuclear reactor, radiation on those living near them, and specifically the impact upon children. So this week we revisited interview with Joseph Mangano. He is a health researcher and epidemiologist who has served as a director of radiation and public health project since 1989. Manana is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books, low level radio, radiation and immune system damage and atomic Aero legacy and radioactive baby teeth. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:32 The cancer link, Joe managed the study of strum 90 and baby teeth, and is continuing with that project. He has also managed the citizen based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian point, New York and oyster Creek, New Jersey nuclear plants. We originally spoke with Joseph Mangano for nuclear hot seat, number four 18 on June 25th, 2019. Here's this week's featured interview. Joseph Mangano is a health researcher, an epidemiologist who is served as a director of radiation and public health since 1989. Manana is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health and is the author of the books' low level radiation and immune system damage and atomic I legacy. That's a 1998 book and radioactive baby teeth. The cancer link from 2008. He managed the study of strum 90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian point, New York and oyster Creek, New Jersey nuclear plants. This interview was originally heard on nuclear hot seat, number 3 54 from April Libbe HaLevy 02:25:50 Joe. Mangan always great to have you with us on nuclear hot seat. Joseph Mangano 02:25:55 Likewise, glad to be here. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:57 First of all, let's give people an idea of your group. What is radiation and public health project, and how did it come to be? Joseph Mangano 02:26:07 We are a, a non for profit research and educational group. The truth is that we shouldn't even have existed in the first place, had the nuclear industry and government been honest when nuclear reactors were first built in the 1950s, there were several questions concerning the health of local residents. Number one, can we guarantee that there isn't going to be a major meltdown. Number two, how much radiation is gonna be routinely released to the air? And number three, what are we going to do with the waste? The waste products produced to making electricity, but it has to be kept safe for hundreds and thousands of years. What happened was the industry and government kind of colluded, and just said, we're gonna set some limits of safe limits, permissible limits. They called them. You know, if you release below a certain amount of radiation or if the air and the water and the soil has below a certain amount, you're allowed to keep your license, you can keep running the reactor and we call it safe. Joseph Mangano 02:27:17 Now we are a public health group. This is in very good public health, right? A matter of fact, the radiation at at low levels may be safe, but you gotta do the studies. You've gotta prove it. You can't just assume it. These are very dangerous chemicals. We're talking about the same that are created and released when a atomic bombs explode. So it's just about 30 years ago to retire. Gentlemen won a physicist and the other statistician put together this group. And we have been at it ever since 37 journal articles, eight books, 57 or so, op-eds lots of media attention. And, and so on. That's a bit of background of what we do. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:03 What kind of information do you examine when you are coming up with your reports on what's going on around a nuclear reactor, Joseph Mangano 02:28:14 Two things dose and response are the formal names for them. By dose, we look at how much radiation is released from a reactor, how much exist in the local environment, the air and the water and food and the body. We did a study measuring how much radiation were in the baby teeth of 5,000 children. Most of them living near nuclear reactors to date. This is the only study ever done looking at how much radiation is in the body of Americans living near reactors. And that's the dose side. The response side very simply is disease rates and death rates near nuclear plants, which our public health departments actually do a very fine job of collecting data and making them available on the web, both the state health departments and, and the centers for disease control. That's what our work really has entailed. We haven't gotten to all reactors, but we've done studies near a number of them. And we find consistently that red flags are raised about unusually high levels of cancer and for mortality and other other disorders, especially after a nuclear plan opens, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:32 Where do you find the numbers that you base your findings on? Joseph Mangano 02:29:36 The big one is the us centers for disease control. They haven't gone out and, and done studies near near reactors, but they've done a fine job in collecting data. In fact, there are 50 years worth of statistics on mortality, on deaths in the United States, beginning in 1968, right online. It has it by states, by county cause of death by age, by gender, by race. It makes it rather easy for us to do a lot of analysis down to the county level. That's the major source that, that we use. And for the other side, the radiation side, how much is released and how much is in the environment. Those come from the environmental protection agency companies that run nuclear reactors are required to make these measurements every year and to report them. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:33 What you've been working on is called epidemiology. And you're actually the reason that I have any familiarity at all with the term it's the study and analysis of the distribution and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined population. In other words, trying to work out why certain people in certain locations are getting ill. So let's take a look at some of the reactors that you have been studying. Let's start with OCE Creek in New Jersey, which is scheduled to be closing in October of this year 2018. How did that formerly low cancer county rise to become a high cancer county after the reactor started up? Joseph Mangano 03:31:18 Yeah. Libby, I hope we haven't scared anyone with a big word, like epidemiology let's make it simple. These are basic questions. Like what are cancer rates like near nuclear reactors? Like, like oyster Creek, very simple again, if it weren't for us and our group and our work, the answer would be, geez, we really don't know. Nobody does studies on this oyster Creek is a, a case in point. It is a reactor that is in central New Jersey. It's about 60 miles from New York city. And it's about 50 miles from Philadelphia, obviously lots and lots of people nearby strike two on oyster Creek. It is the longest running nuclear reactor in the United States. And I believe the world the day it first started operating and generating radiation and emitting radiation was May 3rd, 1969. So we're coming in on 49 years here. Yes. Even though reactors are, we're supposed to go to 40 years at maximum 0.3 with all Easter Creek, is that even though the statistics on what was admitted from reactors are a little thin. Joseph Mangano 03:32:33 Unfortunately, the requirements are, are not very stiff because there are over a hundred separate radioactive chemicals produced by reactors and, and emitted into the environment. A good system would be to make counts of each of them. There's only several that are counted, but one of them iodine, 1 31, we'll talk about it later. It's a chemical that affects the thyroid gland. It goes right. You know, when it's drank in the water and eating the food or breathed in these little metal particles go right for the thyroid gland, where it attacks and kills cells and leads to diseases like cancer. We found the seventies and the eighties and the 1990s oyster Creek had the highest level of emissions than any us reactor. Matter of fact, it had five times the amount that was officially released from the three mile island partial meltdown, 1979. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:34 And this was just part of its normal operating. It wasn't like they had an accent that happened there that created some radiation leak. Joseph Mangano 03:33:43 There was no meltdown. There was no shutdown by the government to saying that you're, you're releasing too much. None of that. These were all part of normal operations. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:53 How did that impact the cancer rates in the area? Joseph Mangano 03:33:57 Well, we took a look we've actually been working on in oyster Creek for a, for quite a while because our, our group is based in New York. And this is, is very close to New York city. We did a whole educational campaign, you know, in conjunction with, with local citizen groups. We even had a couple of celebrity supporters, Alec Baldwin, and, and Christie brink. And we went to that area of central New Jersey and gave a, a number of public talks. We collected 600 baby teeth from the area and found a high and rising amount of another chemical STR 90, which goes into teeth into bone. As far as the cancer goes there, there's been suspicions for a long time near oyster Creek. Back in the 1990s, the health department, the state health department found a childhood cancer cluster and a very long story short after about 10 years of, of meetings and discussion, no official cause of cancer was, was ever admitted to by the health department. Joseph Mangano 03:35:06 In fact, they gave oyster Creek, the nuclear component, very little tension at all years ago when oyster Creek first began operating the cancer death rate in the county where it's located, ocean county was just below the New Jersey, eight 1% below as the 1980s and nineties went along. It grew a couple of percent above the stay rate. And in the two thousands, it was 8% higher. Now going from 1% below to 8% above may not sound like very much, but let's turn it into real numbers and real people. If that original rate of 1% below the state had state, you know, all, all these past 49 years there, would've been over 2,500 fewer to deaths in this one county. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:59 Okay. That's jaw dropping Joseph Mangano 03:36:01 That 2,500 is a lot of people. It's, it's a very populated county. It's about 600,000 in the county. We also found too that the largest increases occurred in the youngest residents in the area. We, we know, you know, science disagree that while every human who's exposed to radiation is affected, the greatest harm is caused to the very youngest. That is the fetus, the infant and the child. And we found that the childhood cancer rate years ago was 23% below Jersey. And now it's risen to 15% above. Again, we're convert, we're converting a low cancer county into a high cancer county. Are there other possible reasons? Sure. There might be, but we don't know of any that that would cause make this before and after which like this. And we feel that this should have, and more studies done the health departments and the industry that ran the, the plant basically either ignored us or called our work. You know, they'll use terms like junk science. Do they have any proof that always decree is safe? Nope. Not one Libbe HaLevy 03:37:16 Given that the situation was found around oyster Creek, are there other reactors where similar patterns have been found and where populations are suffering from similar consequences? Joseph Mangano 03:37:29 Oh, sure. I could give you several, but the one I'll focus on is the other nuclear plant in New Jersey. And that's called Salem hope Creek Creek. It's a little different than oyster Creek. Oyster Creek has one reactor. Salem hope Creek has three oyster Creek is relatively small. Salem, not only has three reactors, but each is about double the capacity of oyster Creek. This is a big place. The reactors came online later than oyster Creek from the mid seventies to the mid eighties. Okay. So we did a similar study of Salem county where this reactor is located a little bit different. Oyster Creek is 600,000 people. Salem only has about 65,000 people. It's largely rural farming is, is the primary industry. If you will, which should mean that there's no real worry about industrial pollution in the area. So let's go back. As the reactors were opening in the mid 1980s, the Salem county cancer death rate, just like oyster Creek was 5% below the rest of New Jersey. Now in this decade, that 5% below the state has turned into 20% above the state. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:46 That's a 25% change, Joseph Mangano 03:38:48 25% flip. And at once a, again, it is highest in children, in young adults and in middle aged adults. Like we would've expected if nuclear emissions were a factor, we even found that there was a jump in death rates for causes other than cancer, right? From 2% higher to 23% higher. And once again, we'll go to the, what we call the excess cancer cases. Since, since the mid eighties, we estimate that over a thousand people died because these, these rates went up all right. If they had stayed where they were back in the mid eighties and continued for the last 30 years, over a thousand, fewer people would've died in this one small county. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:38 So we're getting a pretty clear picture that nuclear reactors under normal operating conditions create problems and have emissions. And according to the epidemiology impact cancer rates and leads to an increase in them. But let's look now at what happens when there has been what the nuclear industry, once upon a time assure us would never happen, which is an accident, meaning three mile island and the nuclear industry is fond of saying nobody died at three mile island. Now there is a Facebook, they three mile island survivors that has over 4,000 members who identify with that label. And these individuals claim a wide range of health impact from that nuclear partial meltdown in 1979. And there are reports of a large number of deaths and illnesses within their own families. And what does the epidemiology tell us about what really happened as a result of the accident at three mile island? Joseph Mangano 04:40:46 I'll start my answer by repeating what I said a few minutes ago. And that is the nuclear industry grabbed that, that slogan, nobody died at three mile island almost immediately after of the meltdown occurred before there had been any chance to measure how much radiation was released, how much actually got into the water and the food and people's bodies and so on. It was a, an immediate attempt to stifle any type of research. Even though I consider myself a, a health researcher and a non-political one, we all understand that this is a very, very highly politicized area. And the example I'll give before we get into our results involves two groups. The first group was some researchers from Columbia university in New York. They got some funding from a group that was commissioned by a judge after the three mile accident, their mission was to go and, and do some research on whether or not there was a connection between the radiation released from three mile and cancer in the local area. Joseph Mangano 04:41:55 Very simply their answer was no, there was no association. And they published an article in the American journal of public health. I mean, these are, these are again, Columbia is a, is a highly reputed university, and these are all, you know, PhDs and, and, and, and physicians and so on. And they gave in the articles, they gave the data that they, they used well along comes a group from the university of North Carolina school of public health, which I happen to be a graduate of headed by a gentleman, Dr. Steven wing with a, again, working with a group of his colleagues wing and, and the UNC people took the same that the Columbia people used and came to a different conclusion. They only looked at lung cancer and leukemia within the 10 mile radius around three mile island. And they found a, a high increase. As a matter of fact, it's amazing to me that Columbia came conclusion of no link, because if you look at the number of cancers of people living within 10 miles of three, my island, and you compared five years before and after the meltdown, the number of cancers went up 60% from 1700 something to 2,800 something. Joseph Mangano 04:43:16 Now you don't need a PhD in epidemiology. You don't need a, a, an MD from Columbia or UNC to say, whoa, wait a minute. Is this normally what happens in an area where are cancers going up? 60%? The answer of course is no. And what happened at, after that was essentially a fight that broke out in the medical journals. The Columbia people were agitated and called the UNC group, you know, politically motivated and, and all this stuff. And UNC just responded with explaining how, how they came up with this. Once again, I'm trying not to be political, but you, this is a, this is a, maybe the, one of the better examples of how highly politicized this is. The establishment does not want to admit to one dead, no one died at three mile island, because that means there's a lot of other people that may suffering and dying as well. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:16 Yeah. That's why this Facebook group got started. I believe it's following in the steps of north St. Louis and the just moms there with what they've been able to create by growing the awareness. Let's move this ahead. You told me that you're looking into an analysis of cancer death in Burke county, Georgia, which is a site of the Bogal plant, where they're trying to build two new reactors and coming into all kinds of problems. But do they have nuclear fuel on site yet? Are there radioactive fuel rods there, or is there some other cause for the difficulty that people are facing, Joseph Mangano 04:44:55 This is Burke county, Georgia. Now it is a county that sits on the border with South Carolina. And the border actually is the Savannah river. We need to give a little history here, right across the river from Burke county, Georgia lies the Savannah river plant. The Savannah river plant was built way, way back in 1949. It formally was a mostly farming rural area. This was not a nuclear power reactor, but it was a series of reactors that helped make nuclear weapons. At that time, of course it was the cold war and the us and the Soviet union were engaged in a, a frantic race to build as many nuclear weapons as possible. And Savannah river played a major, major role in making these bomb. Of course, now it is no longer making weapons. We've stopped that when the cold war ended in the early nineties, the it's a large area and it is highly contaminated. Joseph Mangano 04:46:04 One of the most contaminated areas in the United States. And it's been cleaned up now for 20 years and they're gonna be ated for a very long time. So let's start there right across the river is Burke county Georgia. A nuclear reactor has to be on a body of water because essentially the way a nuclear reactor makes electricity is to heat, water up. Somebody called it a very dangerous and expensive way to boil water. The so van river is a large wide river at that. At that point, it flows into the Atlantic ocean in the late 1980s, two nuclear power plants, power reactors were built in Burke county and they were called Vogel one and Vogel two, they wanted a VO three and four, but like many proposed reactors, they were canceled essentially because they were expensive. But of course, I always say that why react is expensive. Joseph Mangano 04:47:01 It takes a lot of money to build such dangerous machines. Burke county again is like across in South Carolina. It's a rural county. It's got about 23,000 people. Slightly over half are African American. The poverty rate is very high in Burke county always has been okay. The unemployment rate is high. The proportion of inadequate housing is high. All, all the standard measures of poverty occur in Burke county. It's a poor county. All right. The idea of, of building these reactors in a formerly pristine area, of course raises the question. Did it do anything to the health of local residents? Well, once again, you go back to the CDC website and look at what happened in the 1970s before the reactors opened, the black cancer mortality rate was 29% below the rest of Georgia. And that makes sense because we don't expect a lot of cancer in rural areas. We expect cancer, you know, in areas where they're coal mines or in big cities with a lot of industrial emissions. And so on that number of 29% below now in the last decade is 15% above. And these are for blacks. Whites had, it had an increased too in Burke county years ago, they were 1% below and now 12% above again, the poverty rates are considerably higher for blacks in Burke county than they are for whites. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:39 So what you're saying is that the radiation that is impacting the health of the people in Burke county actually comes from the other side of the river and this previous facility, Joseph Mangano 04:48:53 Well previously, some of it did more of it in the Savannah river plant in South Carolina. More of it stayed in South Carolina, although some got to Georgia still the cancer rate was below average. All right. It wasn't until they built those two nuclear reactors in Burke county, in Georgia, right there when the cancer rates began to change from below average to well above average. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:20 And for the sake of clarity, we know that there are two new reactors that are under construction, but are there other reactors that are on the site of vog that are iner and have been Joseph Mangano 04:49:33 The answer to both your questions are yes. And yes, the ones that began operating in the late eighties continue to operate, even though they're getting older and corroding and, and leaking and, and so on, but in the, Ooh, I guess about 10, 15 years ago, it was an effort who build new reactors building had stopped. Essentially the, the last approvals for re reactors were in the late seventies because the people had financed it. You know, the wall street people understood it to be very expensive and very dangerous. So this nuclear Renaissance, as they called it began, there was a lot of discussion in Washington. And they, all they did after years and years was I think the number was 15 billion not to help build reactors, but in case a new reactor was built and they had to stop that the builders would get their money back. Joseph Mangano 05:50:32 There was a number of reactors that were proposed every like 20 of them, almost everyone pulled out. They said, you know what, we can't do this. This is gonna take years and years to, to build these things. It's gonna take a, a heck of a lot of money. We've got types and safer types of, of energy, like solar and wind. Forget it. An exception was the Vogle plant where it reactors three and four were not completely built, but the building process began, I believe it was about eight years ago. And there have been all these promises of out when they're going to be finished and how much it would cost. Well guess what, as the years go on the expected year of opening keeps getting pushed further in the future. And of course the bill gets bigger and bigger right now. The construction is only about one third done, and this is an after about, I think it's about eight or 10 years. That's very slow. That means it's gonna take 20, 25 years or more to finish these things. And an ungodly amount of money. There is a very strong citizen based effort to stop the construction. And there's a lot of people who believe that these two reactors will never or operate. And of course, part of it is the idea of environmental injustice or racial injustice. In this case that you're picking on a very poor area with a, a large proportion of African Americans and putting these dangerous reactors, more of these dangerous reactors there Libbe HaLevy 05:52:08 That at was health researcher, Joseph manana of radiation and public health project. You can read more about his important work@radiation.org, Announcer 05:52:20 Activists, activist, shout, shout, shout, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:28 Congratulations to Carl Grossman, our Eres, who knows where all the bodies are buried and is more professionally known as a journalism professor and longtime investigative environmental reporter, he and history professor Christopher Berga have just published cold war long island in which the author explore not only the establishment of factories by firms like Grumman, Republic, aviation and Fairfield aviation to manufacture military equipment, but also the creation of military bases that housed nuclear tipped missiles. The missiles housed in facilities on long island were ironically developed with input from former German scientists under what was called operation paperclip. And Carl goes into great length to explain what paperclip was, how it brought more than 1000 Nazi scientists, including Warner VA Braun to the United States and how their work led to the development of detonating nuclear tip missiles, which carried a payload of from 10 to 30 kilotons. When the hero Shima bomb was only 13 kilotons, we'll reach out to Carl early 20, 22 to learn more about this book and were it contains the folks working on getting Congress to extend and expand the radiation exposure, compensation act Eureka still need our help. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:56 This is about the survivors and victims of the July, 1945, Trinity nuclear test, the first destination ever of a nuclear bomb, which took place in New Mexico. The downwind who are hit with radiation from that event have largely been invisible or forgotten. The expansion of RKA is a fight. They are leading asking Congress to include them and others in compensation for having had their health, longevity and genetic downline impacted by the unsought radiation exposure. So they are encouraging you, me and all of us to send more letters to our legislators. There are many more steps to attain victory and Trinity downwind has a site which includes form letters and other information. You can learn more by going to Trinity down windows.com or right to the woman who leads this fight. Tina Cordova at T like Tom Cordova, C O R D O V a@question.net and a correction from last week's show. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:03 I was speaking about the amount of water tree laced, radioactive water that Tokyo electric power company wants to release into the Pacific ocean from Fukushima. I said that it was 1 million, 280,000 gallons of Tridium laced, radioactive water, but it's not. It's 1 million, 280,000 metric of Tridium laced, radioactive water, many magnitudes of difference there. My apologies for the confusion. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear news.net ard.wordpress.com on nuclear.org, nearest.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org Trinity downwinders.com sag Harbor express.com laughing squid.com sfgate.com LA times.com westward.com yahoo.com. people.com inside climate news.org, climate cros.com USA today.com inr.com logs and Millport news.com nation dot C Y M R u.com. The ferret dot Scott, Japan times.co.jp DT. Next dot I N Stan times.com. Good news network.com EU observer.com. active.com. reuters.com France 20 four.com Chicago tribune.com.co.uk. The bulletin.org market research, telecast.com. Interesting engineering.com fukushima-diary.com, nhk.or.jp power-technology.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:06 If you would like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email each week, it's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up with your first name and an email link to the latest show. We won't bug you. We won't sell the list. We just wanna make sure you get each episode. As soon as it post. Now, you can help us out because if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info nuclear, hot seat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Once you click on it, anything you can do will help, and we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021. Libi Hal and heart street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is libi of heart street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the last thing, anyone who opposes nuclear wants to be able to say is, I told you, so this has been your nuclear wake up call now, do not whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:28 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Nuclear hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are nuclear hot seat. It's de. ### NH #546: Fukushima Radioactive Water Dump, Citizens Radiation Data Map of Japan + Pilgrim Radwater Release URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-radioactive-water-dump-citizens-radiation-data-map-of-japan-pilgrim-radwater-release-nh-546/ Published: 2021-12-08 Duration: 00:59:02 Fukushima radioactive water dump: TEPCO plans to release 1,280,000 metric tons of tritium-contaminated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean despite country-wide and international pushback. This Week's SPECIAL Features: Fukushima radioactive water dump – and more. This week focuses on the radiation dangers that Fukushima still poses – 1,280,000 metric tons of stored tritium-contaminated radioactive water that TEPCO plans to dump into the Pacific Ocean; and the citizen-science testing proram that revealed Fukushima contamination throughout Japan. This week's guests are: Tim Deere-Jones is a UK-based independent Marine Pollution Researcher and Consultant. On September 15, for Nuclear Hotseat #534, he explained the radiological problems of dredging in the Bristol channel between the UK and Wales. Recently, he gave an online presentation on what it will mean if Tokyo Electric Power Company – TEPCO – is allowed to dump 1,280,000 gallons of radioactive tritium-contaminated waste water from Fukushima out of storage tanks and into the Pacific Ocean – an act which is being widely condemned around the world. His presentation was recorded for and disseminated by Yosomono-net: the worldwide anti-nuke network of Japanese people living abroad; the group has has given permission for Nuclear Hotseat to rebroadcast it. Here is the audio of the Tim Deere-Jones presentation, which was posted on Nov 21, 2021Mari Inoue of the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World is part of the team who worked on the English translation. Here, she explains how the data was collected, what it shows, and provides instruction for any community to duplicate this process to compile accurate radiation data in communities where contamination is suspected.Citizens’ Radiation Data Map of Japan DIGEST EDITION: Grassroots Movement Reveals Soil Contamination in Eastern Japan in the Wake of Fukushima! by the Minna-no Data Site reveals the deadly impact of the radioactivity released by the Fukushima Daiichi triple nuclear meltdown of March, 2011. 4,000 citizens took soil samples to capture the data that created the full 200-page book, written in Japanese, which won a major mainstream journalism award and is a “hot” seller in Japan.The English digital version is available on Amazon. It is free if you have KindleUnlimited.For residents in the US, the group can mail a booklet by first class mail.In the EU, it is available in French.As of March 2020, Minna no Data site allowed the free use of two maps from the booklet. For more details, click HERE. Links: A Message from Moms in Iwaki who are fighting the dump of tritium-contaminated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean: Tim Deere-Jones for Yosomono-net: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:00 Fukushima radiation. The problems created by that 2011 nuclear disaster have not ended and let's face it. They never will. Now Tokyo electric power company is once more pushing to release 1 million, 280,000 tons of radioactive tritium, contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean. And they want to start as soon as early 20, 23, they're pushing hard to make us all believe that no problem here, we've been doing this kind of tainted water release for years at nuclear reactors. What are you making such a big deal out of it, but then you hear from a genuine expert on the matter a Marine biologist who tells you Tim Deere 00:00:48 The greatest volume of aggregated radioactivity as measured in terms of Tara becquerels discharge to see for most nuclear reactors does actually consist of treaty aged water. The defense of this orthodoxy has been of huge importance to the nuclear industry. However, their claim that tritium is of low radiological significance has now been shown to be comprehensively inaccurate, but sadly, the industry refuses to adopt the outcomes of recent scientific studies, which have contradicted pretty much every aspect of the official position. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:21 Well, yet again, the nuclear industry is trying to get away with long distance, slow motion murder, and yet again, it takes a Marine biologist. Who's familiar with the entire range of issues, meaning Tim deer Jones of the UK, to let us know that if Tapco gets away with this release of radioactive water from Fukushima, we will all be even more dangerously, stuck without recourse in the middle of that awful seat that we all share. Announcer 00:01:51 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:22 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as the survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, the focus is on radioactive contamination from Fukushima, both in the water and on the land. First we hear from Marine biologist, Tim dear Jones, who provides us with the real story of what Tokyo electric power companies kept CO's intended release of radioactive water from Fukushima will mean to the ocean environment and people not just in the immediate future, but forever. Then we revisit the citizen's radiation data map of Japan and the groundbreaking citizen science study of where the radiation from Fukushima has been found throughout the country. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:28 Today is Tuesday, December 7th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Here's this week's first feature. Tim dear Jones is a UK based independent Marine pollution researcher and consultant on September 15 for nuclear hot seat, number 5 34. We had him on to explain the radiological problems of dredging in the Bristol channel between the United Kingdom and Wales. Recently, he gave an online presentation on what it will mean if Tokyo electric power company Tapco is allowed to dump 1 million, 280,000 gallons of radioactive tritium, contaminated wastewater from Fukushima out of storage tanks and into the Pacific ocean, an act which they plan for 2023, and which is being widely condemned around the world. This presentation was recorded for and disseminated by your Samano dash net, the worldwide anti-nuclear network of Japanese people, living abroad and our thanks to USAA mono dash net for getting permission to nuclear hot seat to rebroadcast it here's that audio of the Tim deer Jones presentation, which was posted on November 21st, 2021. Tim Deere 00:04:48 Okay, I'm going to talk to you about the disposal of water. And the first thing to mention is that in the 1950s, when the nuclear industry started discharges of very large quantities of liquid radioactive waste to see he had no knowledge of the way radio activity would behave in Marine environments. So in the absence of any scientific data, the nuclear industry came up with a hypothesis that iniquity tritium as treaty aged water was of low biological significance because it had a short half-life. It would dissolve into infinity once in a Marine environment. And it was a low activity radioactive emitter, which they assumed would generate very low doses from the consumption of fish. Only this hypothesis quickly became fossilized as a nuclear orthodoxy, despite the absence of scientific evidence to support it because the greatest volume of aggregated radioactivity as measured in terms of Tara becquerels discharge to see for most nuclear reactors does actually consist of treaty aged water. Tim Deere 00:05:56 The defense of this orthodoxy has been of huge importance to the nuclear industry. However, their claim that tritium is of low radiological significance has now been shown to be comprehensively inaccurate, but sadly, the industry refuses to adopt the outcomes of recent scientific studies, which have contradicted pretty much every aspect of the official position. So particularly post the 1990s research published in peer reviewed journals, as conclusively proved that the tritium in discharged water quickly becomes incorporated into the sales of organic plant and micro organic material in Marine environments, that research has proved that organically bound tritium or OBT accumulates in fine sediment suspended in the water column or deposited in mudflats, especially those mudflats with a high percentage of organic material where the OBT can be enriched in the sediment by up to 250 times greater than the concentrations found in the ambient sea water Marine animals, which consume this organic material accumulate OBT at a faster rate, the nose exposed only to trippy aged water as a result organically bound tritium is far more biologically mobile through Marine to Marine food webs, the non organically bound tritium. Tim Deere 00:07:20 So organically bound tritium is most highly by accumulating in a species near the apex of the Marine consumers, such as predatory fish and sea mammals, such species typically hold concentration between 2000 and 6,000 times greater than the concentrations found in near receipt in the ambulant water. But they have been shown to reach up to 61,000 bank rails to the kilogram in some species organically bound tritium also has a far longer half-life within biological entities and is more persistent in the environment than tritium tritium as treaty aging water. So it's clear that organically bound tritium is a far greater dose significance than charity aged water. And it's also clear that there is significant risk of elevated human dietary vote doses of Marine salt sourced, tritium via seafoods and organically bound tritium as far back as 2009 independent research published in the journal of environmental radioactivity commented that nuclear industry recommendations and advice on the dosing strict system significance of TA did water was not supported by the evidence and definitely required a reconsideration. Tim Deere 00:08:37 However, it's clear from the current propaganda from the pro nuclear industry lobbyists who propose the discharge of Fukushima, that these concerns and comments have not been acted upon or the nuclear interests have not reconsidered their position or acted on the new evidence. So clearly in the context of the information I've shared with you, there is a very high potential for seafood consumers to receive significant don't reduce dietary doses of tritium, any it's organically bound form from the consumption of both Marine plant and animal products. Independent researchers now confirm that the seafood dietary pathway, however, is not the only way that human populations may receive doses of tritium and organically boundary to you because it is part of the nuclear orthodoxy that treaty or mat has treaty aging water dissolves in seawater. The industry has failed to conduct any research on the implications of this fact, however, research on the behavior and fate of other soluble radio isotopes and those which bonds, organic Marine microparticles provides a powerful indication of the behavior and fate of tritium and organically bound tritium in a union coastal environments in the UK, you study you so clearly shown repeatedly that coastal pastures, Washington flooded by high tide and storm surge become heavily contaminated contaminated with soluble and organically bound bonded radioactivity. Tim Deere 01:10:04 And this has been proven to deliver dietary doses of Marine radioactivity through the consumption of dairy and meat products from animals reared on tide wash pastures. Similarly when coastal and urban industrial environments have been flooded by storm surge and high tide events, many thousands of tons of Marine water and sediment containing soluble and particle incorporated radioactivity have exposed both residents and cleanup crews. So significant doses by contact and inhalation pathways, another significant tritium and organically bound tritium dose pathway clearly demonstrated by the behavior of soluble and organic particle radioactivity studied in the UK is the sea to land transfer of Merino souls and sea spray generated in the surfaces and blown at least 10 miles in that this mechanism is proved to deposit soluble radioactivity onto pasture grass and other crops from where it enters the agricultural food chain and delivers doses to human consumers, at least 10 miles in. Tim Deere 01:11:10 Then given the fact that there's airborne sea spray and Marine aerosols Laden with soluble radioactivity is clearly shown to penetrate up to 10 miles into the terrestrial coastal zone. It appears inevitable that coastal zone populations will also be exposed to inhalation. Doses of airborne radioactivity under conditions are prevailing all the short wins on the UK Atlantic coast, there's sea Frey and Marine aerosol Cedar then pathway has been estimated to operate for over 50% of the year. And it seems quite likely that on the whole issue coasts on the shoe coastal of the Pacific ocean, but similar mechanisms will prevail so much. PR has been given to the tap code claims that other radionuclides have been filtered out of the stored water, but this has failed to point out that the process cannot remove all of the other radionuclides. There is a broad consensus among independent workers that the water will still contain detectable quantities of strontium, 90 cobalt, 60 ID 1, 2 9 ruthenium mano six cesium 1 3, 7, and carbon 14. Tim Deere 01:12:21 And that around 70% of the water still requires additional cleaning. This should not be forgotten when discussing the proposal to see storage as an example of the impact or sea to land transfer mechanisms. We can look at a review of a study carried out in the UK coastal zone between 1979 and 1985, where the medical team composed of GPS, a hospital medical consultant, a senior hospital medical registrar, and the medical statistician carried out research on the body concentration of cesium 1 37 in subjects from the islands of north uist of the west coast of Scotland. Now north uist is approximately 250 kilometers downstream of the set of theory processes. So see discharge radioactive waste discharge from Sellafield and translate transported through the Hebridean island group and pass orthopedist by a strong northward flowing current. The research on the item made use of whole body analysis, Scottish universities, research reactors center, and 96 hour gamma accounting analysis of subjects, urine and dietary intake, including island grow milk, them, fish, seaweed, vegetables, pasture, grass, and wild vegetation. Tim Deere 01:13:42 This is the only dietary dose assessment study, which I have ever come across where such a wealth of actual empirical data has been deployed. Almost all of these studies that I've seen are based on largely hypothetical model data using a less effective 15 hour gamma account. The research on the island of north uist found that the island environment from the rich coastal farm lands through to the uncultivated more land of the interior was contaminated with cesium one through seven cesium, 1 37 was found in Ireland, seaweeds used as fertilizer and animal feed. And in Wales things such as venison and mushrooms and in the Ireland peat used for domestic cesium. 1 37 was found in all samples, analyzed foodstuff concentrations were higher in Ireland, green foodstuffs than in their main man equivalents. The radiological fingerprint ratio of cesium one-three seven to cesium 1, 3, 4, clearly implicated the Satterfield sea discharge as a source of the one for cesium that was being found. Tim Deere 01:14:49 And the Caesium was clearly from the CGIAR land via the range of mechanisms that I discussed earlier. It was found that the C the cesium concentrations in either the urine was six times higher than in the mainland controls. And the Islanders had five times higher body concentrations of cesium, 1 37, then as a maintenance control subjects, it was found that the Islander with the highest body concentration of Satterfield seen derived sees your month 3, 7, 8, no facial seafood, but lived within 50 meters of the coast and farmed sheep and dairy and beef cattle with access to coastal grassland in and grassland. And the shoreline. I then who's who consumed greater amounts of Ireland grown produce were shown to have higher body concentrations of Sellafield derived cesium 1, 3, 7. Then those who consumed greater amounts of imported shock food, half of the 30 local coastal critic group groups living next to UK nuclear sites with liquid radioactives, discharges, and receiving doses of multiple nucleotides from usually usually calculated for seven or more received dietary doses from seafood lower than 10 microsieverts by comparison, the average Islander in the sea in the north us study exposure to Marine source to dietary Caesium alone via terrestrial foodstuffs was 13.7 microsieverts per year. Tim Deere 01:16:24 So I think that kind of comparison gives you an idea of how serious and important they see to land transfer mechanisms can be in terms of dose, right? So there's the background to the discharge is let's have a look at the actual parameters that control the movement of ready radioactivity discharged from Fukushima. So the major influence there is the IOC or current. This IO SHEEO is a strong coherent Southwood flowing, current carrying polar water close in shore, along the entire 250 kilometer length of the Pacific coast. And one shoe it's highly relevant in the context of the organic bonding of tritium to note that the IO SHEEO it current is rich in organic material in general, the Han issue coast to the south of focus Shima consists of a narrow coastal plain backed by higher ground from which a number of rivers carrying yet more and more organically, rich sediment flow east into the Pacific to join me. Tim Deere 01:17:24 Oh yeah. Well, it's not urban or industrialized significant areas of the coastal zone agricultural. So urbanization of almost all of the river deltas along that coastline with extensive land reclamation and port development mean that many of those rivers no longer have recognizable Delta systems and shoreline find sediment, deposits, mud flats, and salt marshes, the unbreak broken nature of this coast with fewer shelter to low energy environments. We're fine. Sediments can be deposited also means that as a result of these factors, the coherent and southward moving, oh yeah. She, current carries very high levels of mineral and organic fine sediments, which are unable to deposit out in the coastline environment. This means that the SHEEO is very suitable for the formation and transport of organically bound tritium, clearly consumers of seaweeds, fish and mammals raised in the OSU environment will be exposed to significant undetectable dietary doses of both tritiated water and organic benefit. Tim Deere 01:18:32 In addition, during periods of onshore wind, and then a host wave activity, the Honda Hsu coasts downstream and south, and focusing on will also be subject to cease of sea to land transfer of tritium as both treaty aged water and OTT in aerosols and sea spray. And in episodes of coastal flooding, prolonged periods of onshore wind, or a strong feature of the annual meteorological cycle and the east coast of Honshu, as everybody will know, is a victim of numerous tropical cyclonic storms. I have no idea of the data on the percentage of the year, in which relevant onshore spins speed onshore onshore wind speeds with speeds in excess of 10 kilometers per hour will blow onto this coast. But since these are preventing winds, I would expect the percentage to be pretty high. So such CG land transfer to Marine deceased rays and aerosols will deliver both dietary and installation doses to coastal zone populations, at least 10 miles inland from the coast via the mechanisms discussed earlier Pacific coast or Han issue is subject to frequent coastal flooding events, which can impact both agricultural and urban areas. Tim Deere 01:19:44 And this parameter will also janitor generate dietary contact and inhalation doses of treaty aged water and OB team. And of course the other radio nuclides, which haven't been scrubbed out of that water in the context of the evidence summarized above, I can confirm that the release of the massive quantities of focus, Shima spill of water has the potential to deliver significant and major inhalation dietary doses to haunt you coastal zone populations. These populations have already been in receipt of earlier post meltdown, Fukushima doses from the Marine environment and the proposed release of will only exacerbate this point. It is a fact that Japanese nuclear authorities have, have not researched the historical impacts on these, on the holiday to distant coastal communities and their environments. And this strongly implies that they will not conduct any such investigations after dumping the trippy aged water as proposed, but he's groups along the Honshu coast have already abandoned by nuclear science. And it seems highly likely that they will soon be sacrificial victims to the nuclear industries need and desire to get rid of focus. millions of gallons of charity aged water. Thank you for listening. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:02 That was UK based, independent Marine pollution researcher and consultant. Tim dear Jones we'll have a link up to the video of this presentation, which was done for USAA mono dash net on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 46 among the ongoing international response South Korea on Friday, November 28th, expressed concerns over Japan's assessment report about this plan, radioactive water release from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean. The Korean government voiced regret that Japan has unveiled a report based on the premise that it will release the radioactive water. The south Korean government said, we also express concerns over uncertainty about the impact on humans and the environment that the discharge we'll have. Chinese scientists have mapped out the potential global effects of the Fukushima discharge, suggesting that the contaminated water, if poured forth as planned, may sprawl onto the entire Pacific ocean within 10 years and note that the Pacific ocean is not a separate entity unto itself. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:14 We don't have seven seas. We have one body of water with seven different basins. So we're talking about the entire oceanic environment of the planet. Researchers from China's ting Hua university found that the radioactive pollutants could affect China's coast as soon as 240 days, eight months after the discharge, the polluted water would spread to almost the entire north Pacific region within 1200 days. That's close to three years before spreading southward to the south Pacific ocean and the India ocean, the nuclear elements would also eventually cause concern in north America. Noticeably polluting the west coast of the United States after 2,400 days, meaning six and two thirds years, the mothers in Milwaukee, a city within Fukushima prefecture that was deeply affected by the 2011 nuclear disaster held a rally on November 13, entitled no dumping of contaminated water into the Pacific ocean rally to protect the ocean and life. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:21 They posted a short and very moving video of their event. And we will have a link to it up on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 46, and here in the U S there are tritium contaminated water releases planned that are of more immediate impact in Massachusetts, just this week. Holtec the company that is decommissioning the Pilgrim nuclear power station at the foot of Cape Cod told the nuclear regulatory commission didn't ask told that it plans to start discharging radioactive water from the plant into Cape Cod bay, sometime within the first three months of 2022, just one week earlier, a Holtec spokesperson said that there were other options, including evaporating, the million gallons of water from the spent fuel pool and the reactor vessel and other plant components, or trucking it to the Idaho national labs in Idaho. But nah, the Atlantic ocean is right there. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:24 It's cheaper and it's faster us representative William Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts said it's troubling that within a couple of days, it turned meaning the release of the radioactive water into the ocean into a shore thing. And Diane Turko director of Cape downwinders a citizen watchdog group said dumping into Cape Cod bay, just highlights the fact that the NRC and Holtec don't have a solution for what to do with nuclear waste contaminating. Our environment is part of the nuclear nightmare process. And that is immoral to which Tim dear Jones added. This is pretty damn scary stuff. Citizens of Cape Cod coastal communities should be pretty mad over this. It's clear from our work in UK waters that such radioactivity does not dilute and disperse, but actually re concentrates via bio-accumulation bio concentration and other factors and transfers from the seat. The land in Marine sea spray, Marine aerosols penetrating many miles inland and coastal flooding episodes that affect coastal agriculture land and urban settlements. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:39 As a result, coastal communities can receive significant dietary doses of Marine radioactivity by a coastal zone. Food stuffs, contact doses from radioactivity deposited on coastal zone surfaces and inhalation doses from coastal zone Airstreams. We're talking about Cape Cod here. Tim deer Jones goes on cooling pond. Water is particularly dangerous as the irradiated fuel elements fresh from the reactor may be stored in them for many years, corroding in the process and creating millions of micro particles of hot fuel, which may spread easily through the Marine environment. I repeat his opening comment. This is pretty damned scary stuff. We'll have the second of this. Week's two features on radiation in Japan in just a moment. But first I was recently asked why nuclear hot seat does not do the usual hammering away at our distribution lists for donations on giving Tuesday cyber Monday and the like the reason I know I don't getting hit over the head with repeated email requests, even by groups I esteem and regularly consult with for content. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:51 I do give modest donations when and where I can, which is not necessarily this time of year all in the hope that it will do some good in the same way. I trust that those of you who have come to value the information of nuclear hotseat will do the same donate. If when, and as much as you can, you know what this show offers, I don't have to hit you over the head with it. If you're listening, you know, and you also know that it is your support that keeps us going, why donate sane, people who are opposed to nuclear on any level, know that they need to know the off suppressed facts in order to take meaningful steps to stop the industry's worst impulses and actions before it's too late. Nuclear hotseat tries to provide that information every week, giving you the nuclear story you don't find on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:43 And that is why not going to hit you over the head here. Just making a suggestion, go celebrate whatever holiday you're celebrating with a donation to help keep nuclear hot seat going, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. You can give a donation of any size or become a sustaining supporter of nuclear hot seat with a donation of as little as $5 a month. Sam has a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S please do what you can now or soon. And as I say every week, know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here is this week's second feature on radiation in Japan. Myra, in a way is a co-founding member of the Manhattan project for a nuclear free world. And one of the team that translated the citizens, radiation data map of Japan into English, as you will hear this study tracked Fukushima radiation throughout Japan with results. So remarkable that the Japanese language book, they polished received a major award from a journalism association. Something no non journalist written book has ever before received in this interview from nuclear hot seat, number four 30 5th of October, 1920 19. The study is revealed as being scientific, thorough, and respected by scientists around the world. And after this interview, we'll give you updated information on how you can access the study in three languages, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:17 Out with a little background on the citizens, radiation data mapping project, how did it get started? And when did it get started? Mia 02:29:26 After the squishy disaster, Japanese government continued to lie to the local people. They failed to provide the accurate information in terms of the radiation fallout. They provided only limited foods, measurements, or toy measurements in terms of radioactivity. So local people, people who are affected by the fallouts, not just for customer prefectures, but neighboring prefectures story to worry about the food that they are eating about the street that children play or the wild grass they pick from a mountains. So more and more, there was a movement which started mainly by mothers who are worried about lives of their children, health in lives of their children. They wanted to make sure that they are feeding the right less contaminated food for their children. So after the squishing of disaster, many independence, citizens, or paraded, right, do activity measurement level of stories were established across Japan, mothers, parents, grandparents, who worried about children's health. Mia 03:30:40 They started asking questions like whether the food is safe, whether the soil is contaminated. And these laboratories started to measure the food in an effort to detect radioactive contamination. Now, there are 30 citizens operating radioactive measurement laboratories that are directly connected with the Mindanao data site, which is the organization that self published citizens, radiation data map of Japan. What they did was that initially these laboratories were de-centralized. These laboratories were set up in different communities. Were they in contact with each other before they set up, or this just all happened independent of each other all happening independently, sometime in September, 2013, data site was established in an effort to integrate all the radioactivity measurement data into a common platform online so that there will be one website where they can share accurate information on food contamination or soil contamination from different communities. So MI nano data site was establishing order to centralize the information so that people can go to this one platform on the website to see what's going on after this organization may not have data site was established, which is a collection of dozens of citizen operated, radioactivity measurement laboratories. Mia 03:32:22 They started the soil measurement project in October, 2014 until September, 2017. So that's like a three-year period. They started to collect data from different communities. 3,400 soil samples were collected by more than 4,000 people. And what was amazing is that they used a unified standard in collecting soil samples so that they can improve the accuracy of the data so that they can compare with the data from different communities. In the beginning, everyone was measuring in the different methods and they thought that they need to standardize measurement standards so that they can compare among each other. So Mino data site came up with this idea with the support from scientists, they used this method so that other communities can use this method in order to collect the samples, soil samples. So they conducted seminars more than a hundred seminars across Japan. They even made this like comic book kind of booklet to explain what kind of steps people need to go through in order to accurately collect foil samples so that they can practice in a certain way and send it to the laboratory for the analyzation. How, Mia 03:33:58 How much do people pay to get this soil analyzed? Mia 03:34:02 The beginning these laboratories did for free. I think recently sometimes starting from 2017, they are charging about 2000 yen, which is less than like $18 us dollars. So it's a nominal fee Mia 03:34:19 And who comes up with the money to support this? Do the various groups, is this coming from individuals? Mia 03:34:25 These us citizens operated radioactivity measurement laboratories have to have this very special device so that they can measure radioactivity in food and soil. And it's different from Geiger counters. It's quite expensive device. So people ask for donations, or sometimes people chipped in from their savings or through our donations from community members. They purchased these device and operated this kind of amazing laboratory operated by citizens. Mia 03:35:06 It's an astonishing process to realize that regular citizens, mothers, parents, who are concerned have been out in Japan and over a three-year period of time, taking these samples in such a scientific way, that you're getting an accurate map of what the radiation is throughout this region. How far away from Fukushima were the samples taken, how many areas were covered and what are some of the findings that came out? Mia 03:35:40 This English edition, which was published in September, was based on the Japanese edition, which was published in November, 2018. The original Japanese one has 200 pages and it shows the contamination map of 17 prefectures. So Japan has 48. Perfectors so 17 prefectures in Eastern pan chills, almost like one-third of the main island of Japan. So not just Fukushima professors or Miyagi professors or touching your professors, but each chose the contamination map. A soil sample is the word collected from Canada prefecture, even in Tokyo, most of the Eastern pan were covered. Mia 03:36:26 What are the findings? You said before that the Japanese government's announcements about radiation findings could not be trusted. What has been found in this three year study and how different is it from what the Japanese government has been putting out? Mia 03:36:44 The reason why they started this soil measurement project was simply because government didn't do the soil measurement project. They Mia 03:36:52 Didn't do that at all. Mia 03:36:54 They did only in limited location in Fukushima prefecture and select the locations. But that's it, as you know, that already, as you pull out affected, not only squish my perfectionists, but other perfect years, including Tokyo, which was downside of the wind, people were worried about the soil contamination in those prefectures and what the Japanese government did after Fukushima disaster was that they measured soil contamination using plain 150 to 300 yards above ground. And they estimated the soil contamination, which is just an estimate. And they didn't even take soil samples from neighboring professors to let local communities know how contaminated their communities on Mia 03:37:50 That's insane. But of course, it's in the government's interest to hide this and normalize it as much as possible, which we'll talk about in a moment. Yes. Mia 03:38:01 So local people are outraged because more and more, they started those mothers. Some of them, they don't have a college degree or science background. They started to do some research and found out that some countries from the Soviet union conducted foil measurements after the channel disaster. Like for example, in Russia and Bella Lewis, they issued this radiation Atlas, which shows the estimate of radiation contamination decades after the disaster. So they also enacted this challengeable law, which is known as a social protection of citizens, exposed to radiation due to the disaster of Chernobyl nuclear pipeline. And according to this law, which was enacted about five years after the challengeable disaster, they this, that needed evacuation zone. And they recognized right to evacuate based on the soil measurement. So government, these governments conducted soil measurement when Japanese government didn't after the Cushman disaster. So that was a piece of information that people in Japan were frustrated when the former Soviet countries did a better job in terms of enacting codifying some social protection for affected people, Mia 03:39:31 Looking at the map, which is both on the cover of the English language booklet. And also there's a clean version inside that doesn't have the writing over it. What's shocking is how many areas that have been tested are showing extremely high levels of radiation. You can tell by the colors of the dots from the various places where the radiation has been tested and that some of the strongest radiation shows many, many miles away. I would say hundreds of miles away from Fukushima itself was that surprising, was that expected and exactly how dangerous is that Mia 04:40:18 Tokyo is about 200 miles away from a squishy mud Daiichi nuclear power pipeline. It is like a distance from New York city to DC. So it's not like thousands of miles away from squishy on Daiichi, but these maps shows something that Japanese government could not provide. And also the map shows that Japanese media could not report on this type of investigation. So I think it's so significant and inspiring that local citizens collective collectively able to create this contamination map when Japanese government continue to lie and downplay the consequences of the fishermen disaster and the Japanese media failed to provide investigative journalism by sending their people to investigate on this kind of information. What we see from this booklet is amazing. Mia 04:41:24 How is this information being disseminated in Japan? You say that it's a book of more than 200 pages. How has it gotten out? And has it gotten out to the general public? Mia 04:41:38 Yes, initially they started collecting donations through crowdfunding before they started this soil measurement and projects. They had this, that last, that I'm assuming a union country created was something that they wanted to do. So they were able to gather, I believe that a 50 to 60,000 us dollar worth of crowdfunding in Japan, and they published Japanese booklet, all colors, all pages in color, 200 pages. And it was just in November, 2018. Initially they were hoping that maybe 2000 copies will be sold, but after the book was published, they gave out some copies to those who supported the crowdfunding and people started to order because they really loved the book. So in two months they were able to sell more than 11,000 copies. Mia 04:42:42 Is it available in bookstores or only online it's available? Mia 04:42:47 Well in selected locations in Japan, in bookstores and also online stores, including Amazon, Japan, but unfortunately they don't sell outside Japan. Mia 04:42:58 How is the English language booklet, which is admittedly much shorter? It's about 16 pages. How is that being made available to English readers? Mia 04:43:13 So what happened was that Rachel Clark, who is one of the core members of Manhattan project for nuclear free world, she reached out to me nano data site, the organization that collectively worked on creating the map and publishing the Japanese version. Rachel gathered a team. Rachel was a coordinator and a translation was done by Stephan and editing was done by Tony and Karen. And I was part of the team as a advisor and we are happy to be able to assist in the translation process so that the English booklet was published by me nano data site in Japan. And unfortunately it's not published here in the U S but we have some copies, Mia 04:44:03 The booklet, even though it's a condensation from the Japanese 200 page book in the 16 pages, you managed to get an astonishing amount of information, not only about how this came together and the groups that did it, you have a chart and photographs and an explanation of how to take these kinds of soil samples. And you also print full color math that push out the data. So we get to see not only what the contamination looked like in that three-year period of time, but also what it is projected to look like in 2020, and then 10 20, 30, and 100 years after the disaster began on March 11th, 2011. And I must admit that the intensity of the radiation that is shown the results of this are shocking. Were you surprised to see how the contamination was going to linger? Was that expected? And has there been any response to that set of projections Mia 04:45:14 In terms of the map for a July, 2020? I heard that, I mean, none of data's, I received many increase from overseas about radioactive contamination at the time of the 2020 Olympics. So that's why they decided to have a map which shows the estimated value of radioactive cesium 1 37 in July, 2020. And in terms of the extent of the radiation map or radioactive fallout, I will say that the figure you see is conservative. I think the situation is a lot worse than this because the soil measurement project was done until September, 2017. And I think that there were a couple of incidents after that, where radiation was leaked from the crippled nuclear pup line. So this kind of incidents were not counted in the contamination map in this booklet. So I'll say that the speaker is conservative. I think the situation is worse than the meaning of data sites data. Mia 04:46:32 Has there been any official government response to the data map and the book, or have they interfered with your work in any way Mia 04:46:42 That I don't know because I'm not the one who was part of the measurement project, but I know that our recently there was a controversy when the Korean ruling democratic party issued a controversial map of some of the locations that we'll be hosting the Tokyo Olympics. And based on this controversial map, the Korean media said that this was based on mean on data sites, data, but actually it was not. So when this article came out from the Korean media, Japanese government use this opportunity to discredit me on a data side, saying that all this data came from civil society and therefore it's not accurate. Mia 04:47:30 The Japanese government is of course flogging the 20, 20 summer Olympic games as a public relations tool to convince the world that everything is all right. And it's safe regarding radiation from Fukushima throughout Japan. Yep. Yep. This study, this citizens' radiation data map of Japan absolutely contradicts that perspective. What are the implications of this study and the booklet and the book to the Olympics? Mia 04:48:04 We know that prime minister seems though they're describing 2013, that the is under control, but actually far from under control, we have to keep in mind that at the crippled nuclear top-line execution, modality is still releasing radioactivity into the air, into the groundwater. And they have this 1 million metric, tons of contaminated water in the facilities, which they don't even know what to do. And the recent news was that Olympic torch relay will start from GA village sports complex in Fukushima, which is just 10 miles from the cripple nuclear pipeline and J village sports complex used to be the hub for decommissioning process decontamination process for the crippled pipeline. So they put the low-level radioactive waste to J village until 2017. It is problematic that this site was selected as a place to start the Olympic torch relay. And it also, I think more than 25 municipalities in Fukushima will be holding a torch relay event and nine of them, or within 30 miles from the plan. We also know that softball game will be held in Fukushima city. One baseball game will be held in Fukushima city as well. So there'll be exposing athletes to radioactivity that is really concerning. Have you been Mia 04:49:48 Tempted or has there been an attempt to get copies of either the book or the data map to the international Olympic committee to let them know what the real situation is? Mia 05:50:01 No, I don't think me non datas. I had done that and I don't know any organizations that have done that, but I think that that's my, one of the options that we can do to raise awareness. What are those? Mia 05:50:15 The things that I find shocking, if not horrifying is that the IOC, the international Olympic committee is so concerned about heat issues during the summer that the marathon that was supposed to take place in Tokyo has now changed venue to Hokkaido. And yet they're doing nothing regarding radiation except to tell South Korea that they are overreacting. If you could say something directly to an athlete or even a spectator planning to come to Japan for the Olympics, what would that be? Mia 05:50:52 The Fukushima disaster is not over, it's an ongoing crisis. And we don't know which part of the communities in Tokyo or Kushima city has. Hot-spots we can ask feel we can taste, or we can assay read your activity. That makes us very difficult to visually show two spectators or those organizations, the extent of the nuclear disaster. But this map could be a way to show that radioactive contamination from squishy Mount Daiichi affected so many communities, not just super Shima prefecture. And I hope that this information will give you some. You will be able to make an informed decision based on this information, is Mia 05:51:43 This radiation data map, is this a one off or are the tests continuing? And will there possibly be an updated version in the future? Mia 05:51:54 Do you work continuing this type of soil measurements and hood measurements? So if you go to website, you can see not only disloyal measurement data, but also more than 16,000 cases of food measurement data. And they also check the water quality from ground water, tap water, I believe, and other environmental samples such as Ash river and so on. So they do more than foil measurements and you can go to their website, but I'm not sure whether it's available in English. Mia 05:52:31 Is there anything else you would like to add about the citizens, radiation data map of Japan and the project that brought it to fruition? Yeah. Mia 05:52:40 This inspiring book fled won multiple journalistic awards, including 2019 Japan, Congress of journalists, our work, which is amazing because w just regular citizens was able to achieve this kind of procedures, a word, which is usually given to groups or individual with excellent journalism activities. And irony is that journalists or corporate media could have done this because they have resources, financial resources, human resources to conduct this type of large scale investigation, but they fail to provide information for the people. So I like to emphasize that it's not just the government, but the media after the Cushman disaster self regulated, what they informed about radiation related news so that people in Japan or not, well, he formed in terms of the extent of the squishy Mt. Disaster. Mia 05:53:42 The radiation data map provides very clear instructions along with pictures, and even a graph showing soil depth of how to take soil samples. Could this process of testing be used in areas such as those around the satis Susanna field laboratory near Los Angeles was contaminated or the Tri-Cities area around the Hanford site or the Savannah river site in South Carolina, or any other suspected or known to be contaminated nuclear site? Mia 05:54:11 I think what we see from this booklet is that something that could happen anywhere outside Japan, if there is a nuclear disaster, also there's so many communities that were affected by radioactive contamination due to nuclear testing leaks from nuclear weapon sites, contamination from nuclear power plants or waste sites and our nuclear disaster. So we can use this inspiring initiative to start a global movement, to visualize contamination level in our communities and compare with other communities. If we can all use a unified measurement methods like Japanese people did, and you know, this kind of initiative could be adopted in other communities globally so that we can visually create a map which could have impact on educating local communities, local environmental groups, elected officials, and concerned citizens, especially when we have this amazing initiative of green new deal and struggle against climate crisis. People are more and more interested in learning more about solutions. And we have to tell elected officials and concerned citizens that nuclear energy is not a solution to climate change. And I think that this kind of map could give them some visual idea as to how contaminated we are and what are we going to do with it? Because waste issues, contamination issue is happening everywhere. Mia 05:56:07 And of course, we will link to the various sites where you can purchase a copy of the digest edition in English. It's the work of the citizens who created this data map and people like yourself and Rachel Clark and the others who are on the English language committee who have made it available to those of us here in the United States. It's an invaluable contribution to what we know about Japan and about the spread of radiation and the ongoing risks. Mia 05:56:44 I just wanted to say that I'm just happy to be part of the team to make this English edition possible. And I'm very proud that Rachel Clark, Tony Sahara, Karen, and Stephan, did an amazing job assisting the translation process so that now there is an English edition so that it could be translated into different languages in Europe or Africa or other continents. I think he has so much possibility, and I'm just happy to be here. Mia 05:57:16 And we're happy that you were part of it too. And we look forward to getting further updates from you. What is happening not only with radiation in Japan, but what is happening with this report and anything we can do to help you with it, any information you want share, we will be happy to do it and have you again on nuclear hot seat for now. Thank you for being on this week's show Marie in a way, thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:43 That was muddy in a way co-founding member of the Manhattan project for a nuclear free world. And one of the team that translated the citizens' radiation data map of Japan into English, the English digital version is available on Amazon. And it's free. If you have Kindle unlimited residents in the U S may receive a booklet by first-class mail. And there is a French version that is available in the EU. We will have links to all of them up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 46, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, December 7th, 2021. If you'd like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, as soon as it posts go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box, put in your first name and an email address. You'll get it every week. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and find a way to celebrate the holidays with us. You will certainly appreciate anything you can do. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications reminding you ### NH #545: Plutonium Pits Lawsuit re: Savannah River Site in South Carolina, Los Alamos in New Mexico URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-pits-lawsuit-re-savannah-river-site-in-georgia-los-alamos-in-new-mexico-nh-545/ Published: 2021-12-01 Duration: 00:59:00 Plutonium pits – the trigger for nuclear weapons: Congress has mandated that this country produce new plutonium pits at a rate of 80 per year by 2030… but nobody's done the proper Environmental Impact Surveys to determine what this manufacturing push will mean to people and the environment. (graphic by Nature; used courtesy Tom Clements and Savannah River Site Watch) This Week's Featured Interview: Plutonium pits are the triggers necessary to detonate nuclear weapons. The United States currently has an estimated stockpile of approximately 3,800 active warheads — 1,800 deployed with approximately 2,000 held in reserve. Additionally, there are approximately 1,750 retired warheads are awaiting dismantlement, giving a total inventory of approximately 5,550 nuclear warheads. Congress has mandated that we begin producing 80 new plutonium pits per year… though it begs the question: WHY??? And how have they gotten away with not yet performing a comprehensive Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on the full project at both sites where the pits are to be manufactured – the Savannah River Site in South Carolina near Georgia, and Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. This PEIS would comprehensively analyze the full range of health, safety and environmental justice impacts of splitting the production of pits at two sites across the country. To learn more about this situation and the complex set of issues it entails, we spoke with two of the principals in this lawsuit: TOM CLEMENTS serves as the Director of Savannah River Site Watch and has worked on nuclear issues for Greenpeace International, Friends of the Earth, the South Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club, and other NGOs. EMAIL: srswatch@gmail.comLESLIE LENHARDT is Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Environmental Law Project. Previously, from 2007 to 2018, she was in private practice with her focus on environmental and administrative litigation as well as regulatory matters. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): "Health" and "exposure to radiation" don't usually go hand-in-hand… but then, with some of the other crazy things people are believing these days, is it any wonder that in some places, people think it's a good idea? Links: World Nuclear Survivors Forum 2021Kings Bay Plowshares 7Code Pink petition asking for the elimination of nuclear weapons from the Biden Budget.Where Do We Stand with Radiation and Fracking? Nuclear Weapons and Reproductive JusticeVox video on the Church Rock uranium tailings pond spill on Navajo Nation land on July 16, 1979: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear boondoggle as the dictionary explains a boondoggle is a wasteful and worthless project undertaken for political corporate or personal gain. Typically a government project funded by taxpayers. If that's not a description of the push to make more plutonium pits for more nuclear weapons, when we already have more than 1500 deployed and another 2000 to back them up, I don't know what is, but Congress has decreed that facilities be built or expanded at both the Savannah river site, S R S in South Carolina and Los Alamos national labs in New Mexico. So that's what the new stirs and their supporters are pushing ahead on. And they assure us that it's an important step. We must take for our national defense and it's well-worth the taxpayer's money, which goes directly into their pockets, but then a different kind of expert, a genuine one, crunches the numbers on just one pit production facility at the Savannah river site. And he tells you, Announcer 00:01:07 They presented an estimate of $11 billion to convert the plutonium fuel the Mox plant to a PIP plant as usual. That's a low balled figure, and we're going to continue to see cost escalations and schedule delays. This Mox plant, the plutonium fuel plant that was canceled on construction alone. $8 billion was spent. So even if they stick to the 11 billion for a new PIP plant, which will make the contractors happy, that's almost $20 billion for a single building in the United States. And it could be one of the most expensive buildings in us history. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:45 And that's before it makes a single plutonium pit. Well, when someone is knowledgeable as Tom Clemens, director of Savannah Riverside watch points out the stinking thinking that the nuclear industry is using to trick us into yet another profit swilling nuclear mess. There's no escaping the fact that it puts us smack in the middle of that awful seat that we all share. Announcer 00:02:12 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:44 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a look at a lawsuit brought against the department of energy and the national nuclear security agency by two environmental groups. This is to force them to do a programmatic environmental impact statement on proposed nuclear pit production facilities at Savannah Riverside in South Carolina, and by extension the Los Alamos national lab in New Mexico. We'll talk with Tom Clemens, director of Savannah, Riverside watch and attorney Leslie Linhart of South Carolina, environmental law project or scalp. We'll discuss the lawsuit where it stands now and what it hopes to achieve. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:48 We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than the late Stephen Sondheim ever chose to write about in any of his musicals. All that coming up in just a moment today is Tuesday, November 30th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off here in the United States with some good news. This from the Kings bay plow share seven and word is that all prison sentences are complete and all seven have finished their home confinement after prison terms, the King's bay plow shares are a group of seven Catholic peace activists who broke into the Kings bay Naval submarine base in Georgia on April 4th, 2018, and carried out a symbolic act of protest against nuclear weapons. Patrick O'Neill one of the seven and the former guest on nuclear hot seat said the military industrial complex is moving full speed ahead on a path that could lead creation to doom and worse. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:55 All of this madness has the full support of all three branches of government and the church to reverse climate change. We must abolish war to abolish war. We need humanity and especially people of faith to reject violence and war making more information, and a copy of their press release is available at the website, nuclear survivors, plural.org from New Mexico comes word that the waste isolation, pilot plant or whip has received its 13,000 nuclear waste shipment with plans for many, many more whip is the only approved repository in the country for plutonium contaminated transuranic waste, which is low and mid level radioactive waste, not the high level radioactive waste that comes from nuclear reactors to get that waste to the WIP facility from nuclear sites, the department of energy around the country, driver's logged about 15 million miles on open highways through communities carrying radioactive waste that you didn't know whether it came through your community or not, but the odds are, it probably did. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:07 The website also factors into this week's featured interview. So stay tuned for that. President Joe Biden's pledged to limit the role of nuclear weapons is facing growing resistance from Pentagon officials and their hawkish allies who are arguing to keep the status quo in the face of Chinese and Russian arms buildups Biden's top security advisors will soon review the conditions under which the U S might resort to using nuclear weapons among the options are adopting a no first use policy or declaring that the sole purpose of the arsenal is to deter a nuclear conflict and not use them in response to a conventional war or other strategic assault, like a cyber attack attempts to limit the nuclear military industrial complex is push for more and more nuclear weapons. Again, you'll hear about this on today's interview is difficult to enforce, but code pink has put together a petition on eliminating nuclear weapons from the Biden budget entirely. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:08 It points out that the house appropriations committee is a special committee that could strip funding for nuclear weapons out of the budget. So if you wish to have a voice in this, we will have a link up to their petition@nuclearhotseat.com. Under this episode, number 5 45. Also under this episode, we'll have links to two additional articles, nuclear weapons, and reproductive justice, which features much on the work of Mary Olson of the gender and radiation project. And the second article on fracking and radiation, which points out that high levels of radiation documented in fracking, wastewater from many shale formations raises special concerns in terms of impact to groundwater and surface water measurements of radium in fracking, wastewater in New York and Pennsylvania have been as high as 3,600 times. The regulatory limit for drinking water as established by the U S environmental protection agency. Check out the article for further information over to Japan and Fukushima, where in mid January, a delayed survey by robots of the damage. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:19 Number one, nuclear reactor will begin TEPCO Tokyo electric power company originally planned to start the robot survey of the reactor in 2019. But Hey, that's nuclear never on time, never on or under budget. The submersible robots will find and examine nuclear debris or deposits of a mixture of molten fuel and reactor parts inside the containment vessel. The survey is expected to take six months also in Fukushima TEPCO is still planning to release more than 1 million tons of water that has been contaminated with radioactive tritium from the nuclear facility in 2022 or 2023. And Fukushima farmers fear that the government's planned release of water could revive concerns about contamination. And again, hit the price of their produce on doing a decade of slow recovery from the nuclear disaster. Also expressing concern our fishermen and farmers from China and South Korea, neighboring countries, the water remains radioactive because to date, there is no known way to remove tritium from water in China. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:32 In August. One of the nuclear reactors at the facility in Thai shin was halted for maintenance pending the outcome of an investigation into fuel damage. The facility is operated by China general nuclear power group and French state controlled EDF. The decision to stop the reactor was taken after EDF said in mid June, it was examining a potential issue at the nuclear power station linked to the buildup of inert gases, U S news network. CNN reported that the U S government was looking into reports of leaks at a potential radiological threat, the commission for independent research and information on radioactivity or CRI rad. A French association created in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, said in an email to Francis nuclear safety authority, that it had been in contact with a whistleblower about the possible cause of the accident and the whistleblower whom it described as a French engineer who works in the nuclear industry and has access to detailed technical information about the Tai Shan reactor and had linked damage found on the fuel assemblies to what he called, quote abnormal vibrations. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:47 These vibrations could in turn be associated with a design flaw in the EPR pressure vessel, which raises the question where else has this particular reactor design been either built or is it planned to be built? Nuclear vulnerability takes many forms. And this is a report from Marine biologist, Tim, dear Jones, a previous multiple interviewee on nuclear hot seat. He says that unexpected, heavy freezes have been bringing the Arctic ocean supply routes to a standstill and the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet is under stress. Arctic industrial, urban and nuclear sites have been running low on supplies and they cannot, at this time be reached at least one of the vessels frozen in or turned back is carrying equipment destined for the academic Loman SAV floating nuclear power station in PVAC details of the significance of the equipment on board to the nuclear power station are not available. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:49 Deliveries have now been rescheduled for early January when it is proposed that the 33 year old ice strengthened nuclear power container ship seven more put rescued from decommissioning and breaking by Vladimir Putin will attempt to resupply these destinations in Italy at Basilicata in the Southern part of that country. Locals are fighting back against citing a radioactive waste dump there 18 years after they first stopped one from coming to their region in 2003, between November 13 and 27 and unprecedented and dramatic 15 days of protest had unfolded in that area, culminating in the defeat of a plan by the Italian government then led by Silvio Berlusconi to dump all of Italy's high level radioactive waste in a single site at Terraza in salt rock at a site, just in 2003, the ranks of protesters had swelled to 100,000. And after the 15 days of protest, the radioactive waste dump was canceled or rather potentially postponed because once again, the Italian government has fingered Basilicata as a place quote, ideally suited in quote to a high level radioactive waste dump. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:08 After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Italy showed a stunning boat of more than 80% of its citizens, opposed to the continued use of nuclear power that now stands as 93% of Italian saying they oppose a nuclear restart. The USN China may be facing off over the Marshall Islands. The us is refusing to engage the Marshall Marshalese on claims for environmental and health damage caused by dozens of nuclear tests. It carried out in the 1940s and fifties, including a huge thermonuclear blast on bikini atoll. The dispute has some us lawmakers worry that China might be willing to step into the breach, adding to the bruising competition for geopolitical dominance between the two superpowers in November 10, democratic and Republican members of the house of representatives wrote to president Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan about the U S compact talks with the Marshall's Micronesia and polo. They said it is distressing that these negotiations do not appear to be a priority. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:13 There have been no formal meetings since this administration began. Even as our international focus continues shifting to the Indo-Pacific. The lawmakers said that China is all too ready to step in and provide the desperately needed infrastructure and the climate resilience investments that is sought by these long-time partners. Meanwhile, China has expressed willingness to engage with the Marshall Islands stating we welcome efforts to boost economic relations and improve the quality of life between the sides. However, this is based on the one China in which Taiwan is viewed as part of China and by extension, perhaps. So would the Marshall Islands and now for the latest in outstanding nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy 01:15:14 There is a tunnel in west Germany where people pay to deliberately inhale, radioactive radon gas in an effort to, as they say, relieve chronic pain, the treatment is not regulated. And to date has not been proved effective, but you know, people believe what they're going to believe. Now, radon is a colorless odorless, radioactive gas and exposure to radiation is cumulative over one's life. Coming from the environment, dental x-rays medical tests and treatments and whatever that radio active MIS is that was secretly dumped somewhere near your home. Any level of exposure can lead to cancer and a long list of other potential illnesses. It all adds up and not in a good way, but given the kinds of things that people believe these days and how gullible they are, think of the world of commercial opportunities that this opens up. You could turn any radioactive site into a treatment center just by giving it another name and charging big bucks. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:24 So-called spent fuel pools at every nuclear reactor with the fuel not really being spent. It's still there. It's just sequestered. You could turn any of those into radioactive thermal baths or take mud baths in what's left over from the church rock uranium tailings pond spill from 1979 and has not yet been cleaned up. The possibilities are as endless as the half-life of plutonium. And that's why at Cura dub the company that runs the tunnel in Germany and all those poor gullible people who are going there and setting a really bad role model for the rest of the world. You are this week's no, Libbe HaLevy 01:17:10 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first it's the holiday time have you had a Krista Kwanzaa salsa Rama mass. It's the season that brings good cheer and we'll have a full sing along at another time, but yep. Let's face it. It's the holidays again. And despite yet, another COVID variant looming and supply chain problems and Hanukkah coming. So dang early this year, all of our holiday good cheer means absolutely nothing to the nuclear industry for them. It's Christmas all year round. And we, the taxpayers are deep pocket Santas. They pour millions of dollars into their PR propaganda to support and thus get back billions upon billions of dollars for their nuclear Ponzi schemes and boondoggles all while making more, more, more radioactive waste with not a thought in their pretty little heads as to how to safely store the deadly stuff for a quarter of a million years or more sane people who are opposed to nukes need to know the facts in order to take meaningful steps to stop them before it's too late. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:21 And that's why nuclear hot seat is here. We go. After the nuclear story, we know where to look the questions to ask and what the nuclear double-talk, the other sides fuse out really means. Then we report back to you, the ongoing ever evolving nuclear truth. This is what the industry would rather, we, the people not hear about let alone understand, and mainstream reporters don't know how to ask the right questions. And that's why the best way to celebrate whatever holiday you're celebrating is with the donation to nuclear hot seat. It will help us keep going and we make it easy. Go to nuclear hotseat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size. Know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here is this week's featured interview. Congress has tasked the U S nuclear establishment with producing 80 new plutonium pits. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:21 A year. Plutonium pits are the core and triggers for nuclear weapons. Meaning that Congress wants two facilities. One of the Savannah Riverside in South Carolina, only 25 miles away from Augusta Georgia and the Los Alamos national lab in New Mexico to bump up and get into production. So what's the impact on people in the environment? Are those pits needed or are they the pits? Do we need nuclear weapons at all? Or is this just another nuclear boondoggle to suck up taxpayer funds while providing nothing but more ongoing nightmares? Today's guests can explain at least the legal side of things. They are principles in a lawsuit against the department of energy, the DOE and the national nuclear safety administration, or N N S a. What they are asking is at minimum that these agencies provide environmental accountability and the proposed production of these pits. Tom Clemens serves as director of Savannah Riverside watch, and previously worked on nuclear issues for Greenpeace international friends of the earth and other environmental NGOs. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:35 Leslie Lenhart is staff attorney for the South Carolina environmental law project or scalp. She previously was in private practice with her focus on environmental and administrative litigation, as well as regulatory matters. A few more acronyms to sort out before we get started note, when they mentioned P E I S it refers to the programmatic environmental impact statement and NEPA N E P a stands for national environmental policy act. The existing law. We spoke about the current lawsuit and its implications, not only for Savannah river site, but Los Alamos on Monday, November 29th, 2021, Tom Clements and Leslie Lenhart. Thank you for joining me today on nuclear hot seat. Thank  Tom Clements 02:21:28 You. Great to be here. Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:31 Let's start out with an orientation to the Savannah river site. What is it and why was it created?  Tom Clements 02:21:39 The Savannah river site is a department of energy facility. It was actually established by the atomic energy commission back in the early 1950s to produce plutonium for us, nuclear weapons, as well as tritium gas, which goes in all the nuclear weapons and five nuclear reactors were built in a matter of years. And these were really military reactors operated by this precursor to the department of energy. And Savannah river site is 310 square miles, and about 5,000 people were moved out of the site. It's fully located in South Carolina. It's just across the river from Georgia. And about something like 25% of the workers live in Georgia. And the current worker population is about 11,500. And at the height of the cold war, that was up to about 25,000 all handling the nuclear materials for nuclear weapons, as well as the bi-product nuclear waste, which filled a 51 high-level waste tanks with high-level nuclear waste to by-product of separating the plutonium tritium and other isotopes. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:53 I take it that they are having the same problem as every other nuclear site in the United States, that there is no place to put this waste. So they're stuck with it onsite.  Tom Clements 02:23:03 Yes, some of the waste law circle low-level waste is actually disposed of entrenches on the site. The problem at Savannah Riverside is what to do with the nuclear waste. There's all sorts of nuclear waste. Some of it has been disposed of historically onsite, mostly so-called low-level nuclear waste, but what arguably is, is the most problematic waste, the high level nuclear waste, which was originally in 51 high-level waste tanks, million gallon tanks that is being removed from the tanks and vitrified mixed with glass in large containers, but there's no place for those containers to go under law. It's high-level nuclear waste, but there is no high level nuclear waste repository. And that repository was the same place the commercial spent fuel was supposed to go. So while it's good, the high-level waste has been removed from the tanks. There is no place to take this stuff. So right now it's stuck in South Carolina Libbe HaLevy 02:24:03 Has all the waste onsite been created at Savannah Riverside, or does any of it come from other sources?  Tom Clements 02:24:10 Yeah, that's a good question about where the waste is from. Some of it has been created at other sites. Most of it was created at Savannah Riverside in producing the nuclear weapons materials. Disposable of it was an afterthought when they were producing the materials, but Savannah Riverside receives spent or irradiated nuclear fuel that comes from research and test reactors around the United States and also internationally. And that high level nuclear waste that's stored in a cooling pool until it's reprocessed. And there's other waste that comes to the site from other places. And probably the largest hunk of that is material from the nuclear Navy radioactive components that were used in Naval reactors for ships and submarines comes to Savannah Riverside and tell you the truth. I know very little about that. They don't really like to talk about it, but it's disposed of in those low level waste trenches, I mentioned in large part, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:11 And are those trenches lined or are they somehow contained? Or they just dig a hole, dump it in and cover it up and hope for the best.  Tom Clements 02:25:20 Yeah, these are online trenches that they put large boxes that are tens of square feet in size. They just stack them on top of each other and bury them. And the design of the trenches is perhaps better now in the past, they received all sorts of materials and they have kept those trenches off with impermeable membranes. But how long are those going to last and that's to stop the radioactive material from getting in the ground water and a curiosity about some of those older trenches that are capped off is they receive materials from sites where nuclear weapons accidents occurred in North Carolina in Greenland, in Palamarez Spain's. So a lot of soil was scooped up, put in barrels, brought to the Savannah river site, and actually the equipment that dug up those places where nuclear weapons had been dropped, but not detonated in accidents is also at Savannah Riverside. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:19 Tom, what can you tell us about this foreign waste that we have in addition to our home grown variety?  Tom Clements 02:26:27 Yeah, it's a little bit complicated, but the United States has provided uranium fuel, whether it be highly enriched uranium, which is the weapons grade material or low enriched uranium for research in test reactors and also medical isotope production reactors by providing that there's been some commitment to take the irradiated or spent fuel back. These three actors are all over the place and that comes by ship because they can't fly. It comes in through the port of Charleston, South Carolina, generally there's some that has come in to Idaho national lab on the west coast, through California, but those shipments really aren't happening now. So that material comes into Savannah Riverside, there's low level nuclear waste from the U S nuclear Navy when they retrofit reactors or test reactors. And there's also a looming shipment of German high-level nuclear waste that they want to bring in. I think we may have defeated that with the greens now, taking over the environment ministry in Germany. I think there's a possibility that these graphite fuel balls that were in a special kind of gas cooled reactor are going to stay in Germany for disposal. And occasionally I hear about other materials coming in, including plutonium that's come from Japan and Europe. So there's a lot of things that are coming into Savannah, Riverside that are being disposed of in the United States. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:02 I want to hone in on a current set of legal actions that have been going on, and these all regard plutonium pit production. First of all, Tom, again, what is a plutonium pit?  Tom Clements 02:28:15 Well, the plutonium pit, which is the reason that plutonium was produced at Savannah. Riverside is a hollows fear that initiates the nuclear explosion and all us nuclear weapons. This was the, one of the challenges of the Manhattan project is to design a hollow sphere that would implode all at the same time in a uniform way to cause the nuclear explosion, which is an uncontrolled nuclear criticality. The pit is about three kilograms. The earlier pits were more. And I think there's even some that are less than that, but that's classified. The first pit was for the Nagasaki bomb and a precursor to that, which was actually tested before the Nagasaki bomb. And those are produced at Los Alamos as part of the Manhattan project. And then the large scale production of pits took place at the Rocky flats plant, which is outside of Denver, near Boulder, Colorado.  Tom Clements 02:29:16 And that site may have produced a thousand pits for year at the height of the cold war. And it was shut down around 1990 due to environmental contamination and other reasons. So right now we're left with the Los Alamos national lab north of Santa Fe that produces is authorized to produce 20 pits per year, but now they're moving to produce 30 of them per year in Savannah, Riverside. They are trying to produce 50 pits for year. It's never been done at Savannah river, but I'm sure we want to talk about it more, but it's really a poor reason for bringing the project to Savannah. Riverside is basically for jobs and to spread the money around the DOE sites. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:58 Why is there this sudden push for creating 80 new plutonium pits per year when we already have such an enormous arsenal?  Tom Clements 03:30:09 Well, I don't think it's been fully explained. There are over 15,000 pits and storage and department defense DOE would claim these for older design weapons. They need new design pits, but what are they for they're for new nuclear weapons. They're not to maintain the old nuclear weapons, all the initial many years of pit production at Savannah river, if that happens in Los Alamos would be for new nuclear weapons sits for one weapon. That's an Intercontinental ballistic missile to replace an earlier weapon. It's called the ground-based strategic deterrent and there's a submarine launched missile that would be for the second warhead. And then I guess they would want to replace all the pits and all the weapons. If you do the math, it looks like that's what they want to do, but they haven't explained it well. They haven't said why they want really analyze, reusing old pits if they really need these nuclear weapons. And we're all hearing more about a arms race with China and it's really for weapons to face off against China. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:13 There have been many lawsuits against SRS through the years. And in late June, a lawsuit was launched against the us department of energy and the national nuclear security administration alleging a violation of the national environmental policy act, claiming that the agencies failed to conduct the necessary hard look into their plans to more than quadruple the production of plutonium pits, nuclear bomb cores. As we've heard by 2030, it was filed by the South Carolina environmental law project on behalf of nuclear watch, New Mexico, Savannah Riverside, Tom Clemens, Tri-Valley communities against a radioactive environment and the Gullah Geechee sea island coalition. Talk us through that lawsuit. Leslie, if you would please and let us know, what are you trying to do? And what are the legal actions that have ensued from it? Leslie Lenhardt 03:32:07 The lawsuit is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against NNSA and DOE for asking a court to require that they conduct what's called a programmatic environmental impact statement. We're asking the court to order that they do either a new or supplemental P E I S is what we call it in the lawsuit to evaluate not only the increase in the number of pits, but also that the production will take place in two places, Los Alamos and Savannah river site. At one time, the agencies have conducted NEPA analyses over many years in a piecemeal fashion relating to just survey on our river, just Los Alamos. They have many NEPA evaluations that are way out of date that haven't considered recent developments that Tom can really kind of dig in more and explain that piece of it. We believe and know that they need to take the hard look at the environmental impacts of the entire project. Leslie Lenhardt 03:33:24 And what has happened since we filed the lawsuit in June is that the defendants DOE and NNSA have filed a motion to dismiss. The main reason they filed the motion to dismiss is, is their contention that the plaintiff's lacks standing, which means in simplistic manner, that they don't have a sufficient stake in the issues and the lawsuit to be able to bring it, which we felt very strongly was a very meritless motion. And we responded and they have replied, which is all kind of a standard procedure in federal court. And so at this point, we're waiting either for a hearing on the motion to dismiss or a ruling from the judge. And this case was filed in the district of South Carolina for obvious reasons. SRS is located here. So that's kind of the, just, you know, there's obviously as Libby, as you know, I mean, there's, there's a tremendous amount of history leading up and, and various, I mean, many, many documents that we refer to that, as I said, were piecemeal evaluations throughout, you know, many years, but that's really all we want is for them to do this evaluation. So it's not unreasonable. I mean, obviously EIS is involved process, but it's a limited relief that we're asking for. And they have just decided to come out and try to get the case thrown out, probably because they're concerned about merits of our case. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:08 It sounds like they've not done their due diligence about any safety claims or lack of danger claims that they might be making about this. Is this a standard kind of response that you get from DOE N N N S a, I mean, has this happened before? Leslie Lenhardt 03:35:28 To my knowledge, it has. I mean, you know, in, in any situation when you have environmental groups who bring an action, even if, even if it's not related to an energy issue or a nuclear issue, that's one of the first things that an agency will do. If they have any kind of inclination to allege the groups don't have this interest that needs to happen, its constitutional standing to bring these clients. That's not unusual now in terms of DOE and NNSA cases, Tom has been involved with IRS and Los Alamos and nuclear watch, New Mexico have all been involved in lawsuits. And I don't know that that's every case, but it's not particularly unusual.  Tom Clements 03:36:11 I'm mostly familiar with the cases that some of the groups you mentioned, nuclear watching New Mexico Tri-Valley cares. And another group that's a member of our coalition called the Alliance for nuclear accountability that works around the white 12 planet, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, environmental peace Alliance. They have particularly brought lawsuits and on the NEPA issue, national law and policy act, and they have certainly been challenged, but they have won lawsuits. And even on the Pitt issue back many years ago in which we a site in, in our filing. So the Christian nominal peace Alliance recently won a lawsuit about a new nuclear weapons facility at Oak Ridge. Now in an essay has basically ignored that and is continued building the, the facility. But our groups that work on DOE nuclear she's had have won lawsuits. We've lost some, but some of the principle ones have been won by those organizations. And we forced, for example, in an essay to post it's a analysis and ratings of tractors every year, they were keeping it all secret. And that has to be posted now Libbe HaLevy 03:37:24 Nuclear war New Mexico is one of the groups that is involved in this filing. They have, as you've stated their own concerns about Los Alamos national lab or Lanel that's the other site where nuclear pit production is being increased. Does this lawsuit in any way cover any of the actions in New Mexico with Lanel or is this a completely separate set of issues? Leslie Lenhardt 03:37:47 It does. It does what the NEPA P at EIS would do would be to analyze and receive comments from members of the community on those kinds of issues, environmental safety issues, the risks that are already have already been documented accidents Lanel accidents at LA Los Alamos releases of nuclear material. And so they would be required to address and analyze other alternatives and other ways to address those problems. Now they have looked at Los Alamos in some fashion, but this is a much bigger picture that has impacts producing at both sites. You have storage issues at the web facility. And so it trickles down to, to all of the plaintiffs. You know, the Gullah Geechee community for example, is a coastal native community in South Carolina and all along the Southeast coast. And they could potentially with as a result of the safety issues, suffer consequences. But to answer your question, yes, this, this evaluation, this relief that we're asking for would require them to evaluate those things Atlanta to  Tom Clements 03:39:08 They did a, what's called a supplement analysis regarding Los Alamos. They haven't prepared a new environmental impact statement document, which Leslie mentioned it's, it's a higher level document to analyze potential impacts. And one of the other plaintiffs, as you mentioned, is Tri-Valley cares that's in Livermore, California and Livermore designs, nuclear weapons, and the group out there Travali cares has found evidence that there would be plutonium shipments between Los Alamos and Livermore that have not been covered in any environmental documents. And Leslie mentioned with the waste isolation pilot plant, that's where all the plutonium pit waste would go along with other plutonium waste from the department of energy. That site has been operating for quite a number of years, but the documents that they did prepare on Los Alamos and SRS did not even review the massive amount of plutonium waste that would go to the waste isolation pilot plant in Southern New Mexico, nor did their analysis to review those low-level waste streams, which I, I kind of mentioned before that would go to probably commercial sites or could go to the DOE site in Nevada. They don't review the impacts that other department of energy sites like the Kansas city plant that makes all the non-nuclear components. So there's some gaping holes in the analysis that they have done. And thus the lawsuit that was brought for our groups by the South Carolina environmental law project Libbe HaLevy 04:40:47 With your mentioning whip, it's my understanding that it was designed to hold low and perhaps medium level nuclear waste, not the high level plutonium waste that is under discussion with the pit production.  Tom Clements 04:41:01 Well, actually whip was designed to hold what's called transatlantic waste, and that is a plutonium related materials, but there's some people that want to take highly radioactive waste, which is defined by law to those underground salt mines. But the capacity of it is kept by law and its permit only runs through 2024 from the state regulator. So there's a move to extend the licensing of that, but the volume is kept by federal law and they're already, what's called oversubscribed with all the plutonium waste from all the DOE sites and the new amounts of waste from pit production. So department of energy has a real problem with the volume at the waste isolation, pilot plant. And I think that's one reason they didn't want to cover it in any environmental documents related to BIP production. So our PEIs lawsuit would hopefully require a review of the environmental impacts of transport of the plutonium to whip and its disposal there. Plus transport a plutonium between all the sites that would be handling it. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:07 Where do things stand now with the lawsuit and what kind of timeline are you looking for for any kind of expected response? Leslie Lenhardt 04:42:17 I didn't point this out earlier, but the motion to dismiss was filed instead of an answer. So if that, if that motion hadn't been filed, they would've had a certain amount of time to file their answer, responding to each claim in the lawsuit. But since they filed this motion that has been delayed. So where we are now is as the motion has been briefed by both parties, we have submitted the memos and then it's up to the judge to do one of two things, either schedule a hearing or just issue a ruling. And she has discretion as to when she responds or issues a ruling. So I can't say for sure how long we're going to wait, you know, a month or two, maybe three, I would just kind of issue a guess. And then once that ruling is handed down one way or the other after hearing or not, and we prevail, the agencies have to produce the administrative record, which has all the documents that they determine are relevant to the case that takes a long time, then their chances to challenge the record. They I'm sure will not give us all the documents we want and we'll fight about that. So, you know, we're talking next year, maybe even into 2023, it's not going to be a quick process. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:44 And during this time, are they still moving forward with whatever they need to do to prepare the site for additional plutonium pit production? Leslie Lenhardt 04:43:55 Currently they are not prohibited from issuing the documents, the approval documents that need to happen. There's a critical decision. I think that was just recently issued that Tom can speak to more specifically, but one of the options that we would have is to follow our own motion for a preliminary injunction, which we have not made a decision on. We're still evaluating where they are, how long it's going to take. And when it, when it becomes kind of a critical question and an eminent problem. And so we haven't made that decision yet, but that is one way that we could stop them from proceeding until the case heard. Did you have something to add there?  Tom Clements 04:44:40 Yeah. A couple of things, the Los Alamos is proceeding to produce 30 pits by the year 2026. The law says 80 pips by 2030. Now in the case of Savannah Riverside, which would produce 50 or more pits by 2030, Savannah, Riverside is not required by law. There is no law requiring a PIP production site at Savannah river site. They would produce the 50 or more pits by 2030, but DOE has already admitted before congressional panels that that date of 2030 is already delayed by up to five years. So the law says 2030, but they've already said it's delayed up to five years. I think it can be longer, but they are proceeding with the design of a facility that was canceled that was designed to make plutonium fuel out of surplus plutonium. That project was canceled after $8 billion was wasted. The courts allowed its termination in 2018.  Tom Clements 04:45:40 So DOE then came up with the idea to turn it into a fit facility. And it was really to keep the money flowing to contractors. That's the main motivation here. The estimate of the new hip plant, Leslie mentioned a what's called a critical decision. They reached that back in June, that which allowed the design of the facility to go forward and they presented an estimate of $11 billion to convert the plutonium fuel the Mox plant to a PIP plant. And I think as usual, that's a low balled figure and we're going to continue to see cost escalations and schedule delays. And I would just add one more thing that this Mox plant, the plutonium fuel plant that was canceled on construction alone, $8 billion was spent. So even if they stick to the 11 billion for a new PIP plant, which will make the contractors happy, that's almost $20 billion for a single building in the United States.  Tom Clements 04:46:42 And we've done a little bit of looking and it could be one of the most expensive buildings in us history. And this is totally on needed. The 8 billion was wasted and we're poised to waste more. But let me add up from a non-lawyer perspective, the internet essay said we were challenging. The 80 PIP per year amount has been set by Congress. And there has been some attempt to change that was set in 2015. We're not challenging the 80 PIP per year limit. We're challenging that they haven't done the proper environmental documents and they basically stick their case on that. We challenged the 80 pit per year amount. We have not challenged that, but they doubled down on that and they're filing on November 15th. So it's going to be interesting to see how the court reacts to the internet says claims. Leslie Lenhardt 04:47:33 I think Tom was right to mention the, there one of their contentions that the congressional and date is out of their control to increase the PIP production, but really, and truly there's really no real basis because the claim we're talking about is an evaluation of not only the increase, but the increase in relation and in the context of the splitting up of the production to two different sites. So we're not challenging. We can't challenge the congressional mandate to do the increase. We kind of feel like that was a, I mean, both claims are meritless, but that one is particularly so  Tom Clements 04:48:12 They had since 2018, when they announced this May, 2018 to prepare the programmatic environmental impact statement, they're the ones that have delayed this. We're not trying to delay anything that they have done. We're trying to make sure they meet the law and they should have announced in May, 2018 that they would do a programmatic environmental impact statement that it would probably be over with by now, but they just did this piecemeal approach that Leslie mentioned. And I think that was a big mistake on their part. So we'll push forward and hopefully the judge will rule in our favor. Leslie Lenhardt 04:48:46 And one more thing, I mean, keep in mind that these groups have written letter after letter, after letter requested meetings with the secretary have really tried every angle to try and get some communication started with them and they have ignored every single letter. So this is not coming out of the blue for them. We've really begged and pleaded and these groups have as well. And they just have ignored us Libbe HaLevy 04:49:15 If people want more information or would like to be of assistance in some way, where would you suggest they go? And what do you suggest that they do? Leslie Lenhardt 04:49:24 A copy of the complaint is on our website. It's www.scelp.org. They can review the complaint. And, you know, at this point we would love to hear from folks who would be directly impacted or that live in the facility, live in the area. And they can certainly email me at Leslie Les, L I E scalp.org. And just keep in monitor. We will know that if there are folks who feel like they can bring some expertise to the table, our plaintiffs are extremely well-educated and live and breathe these issues. So we feel confident about their ability to be supportive. We welcome anybody who wants to offer assistance.  Tom Clements 05:50:12 I would plug the scalp website of people typed in S CLP and pits. They will find the page with the filings on it, but it also a wealth of information about the pit issue and things that we have done since original filing there's articles and news releases. They're also the groups that are involved, including Savannah Riverside, watch there's information. And one thing I'm doing now that this is not directly related to the lawsuit representative, Adam Smith is the head of the house armed services committee. And he is expressed skepticism about this increase in pet production, particularly with the ability of the Savannah Riverside to pull it off though, it's not part of the lawsuit. I'm encouraging people to write to representative Adam Smith questioning this 80 pit per year amount and the ability of both sites to produce pits. So actually I just got a bunch of letters into representative Smith over the past couple of weeks from Jackson brown and James Taylor concerts down here in South Carolina, Libbe HaLevy 05:51:15 We will stay in touch with you and continue to cover this issue on nuclear hot seat for now. I want to thank you, Tom Clements and Leslie Lenhart for all the work that you are doing and for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:51:30 Thank you for having us. Thanks very much. Tom Libbe HaLevy 05:51:33 Clemens, director of Savannah Riverside watch and attorney Leslie Lenhart, who is a staff attorney for the South Carolina environmental law project. We will have links up to both of those sites and information on this lawsuit on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 45 Announcer 05:51:55 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:03 December 2nd and third peace boat in partnership with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can is hosting an online forum with communities impacted by nuclear weapons around the world. It's called world nuclear survivors forum 2021, and it's live streaming will be available afterwards in a recorded form. And we'll provide you with a link up to nuclear survivors.org during the forum nuclear survivors, including from uranium mining production testing use and waste, we'll be sharing their stories and more about their various realities and what we can do for nuclear disarmament. It will ask that we take action for nuclear justice and a world free of nuclear weapons. It will also bring these participants together ahead of the first meeting of the state's parties for the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which will take place in March, 2022. The treaty is the first international treaty to include an obligation for states to provide assistance to survivors of nuclear weapons, use and testing and begin to clean up nuclear contaminated environments. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:17 The event is free, does not require registration. And if you want to learn more, go to nuclear survivors.org. Of course, we will have a link up on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 45. There's a video up on YouTube that has been there for a year, so it's not new, but it's new to me. It's entitled how the U S poisoned Navajo nation. And it is about the church rock uranium tailing spill, which took place on July 16th, 1979, less than four months after three mile island, but nobody paid attention. It's a relatively short video, only 12 minutes, but it will give you the background. You need to understand exactly how far back the history goes of compromising and damaging indigenous communities. We will have a link up on the website, just click on it. You can get there. And a funny story that made me smile for Thanksgiving. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:20 I always go to a particular friend of mine and, and she was speaking with a cousin of hers who lives in Oregon, right before Thanksgiving day in describing the people who were going to be attending a relatively small group this year because of COVID. She mentioned me and said, oh, I think you would find her interesting, because she does a podcast. He asked the name and she said, nuclear hot seat. And he proceeded to freak out. He said, I listened to that show. You mean, you know, and he went on to rave about the show and what it means to him to be able to hear it every week. That really made me smile to know that the show is being heard in places where I can't even predict. So my thanks go out to Robin's cousin Paul in Oregon for this unanticipated and gratefully received boost during the holiday season. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:12 As for the rest of you, I'm glad you're listening as well on whatever form you can find it, be it podcast or broadcast, or from the website, your enthusiasm and support keeps me going. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 material for the show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org code pink.org, nuclear survivors.org, urban dictionary.com. politico.com Kings bay plow shares seven.org, outrider.org, Harold standard.com NHK dot O R dot J P money dot U S news.com daily star.co.uk reuters.com laughing, squid.com, Honolulu star, advertiser.com. The bulletin.org, cnbc.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They are supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you would like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, we make it easy. Just go to nuclear hotseat.com. Scroll down for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest shows we will not sell or otherwise disseminate your information. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:41 We don't bug you. It's at it's one email a week, and you stand to never again, miss out on a single episode of nuclear hot seat. Now this is open for your participation too, because you're on the ground where you are, and I'm not there. And I want to know what's happening. So if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button and know that anything you can do to help once you follow the prompts, anything you do will be really appreciated. This episode of nuclear hotseat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but they're use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:41 So go ahead, link to it on your website, send it out to your friends. The more people who hear this, the stronger will be our case and the better the chance of getting something nuclear turned around. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with the date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it is never over. That's it. That's your nuclear wake up call. Are you awake yet? Terrific. So now don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking, clear, hot seat. The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #544: Nuclear-Free Earth: No Weapons, No Reactors - Possible? Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-free-earth-no-weapons-no-reactors-possible/ Published: 2021-11-24 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear-Free Earth: Is such a thing even possible? Listen to veteran, award-winning environmental journalist Karl Grossman explain not only why it is possible and necessary, but how we can get there. This Week’s Featured Interview: Nuclear-Free Earth – can we achieve it? Karl Grossman provides the vision. He is an author and journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, and host of the television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman. Karl is the author of six books – so far – and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper, and Internet articles. He has been covering nuclear issues for more than 50 years; in terms of knowing how things came about and where the bodies are buried – that’s a metaphor, we hope – nobody does it better. Karl has been an important early and consistent supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and here he puts forth the need to make Earth a nuclear-free zone. We talked on January 12, 2020. Karl Grossman’s important, clear-eyed, classic book on nuclear energy: COVER UP: What You Are NOT Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): WANT AD: UK town in Cumbria spends taxpayer money to hire a “Nuclear Engagement Coordinator” to help site a Nuclear Waste Pit Toilet (aka radioactive waste dump) in their own back yard. Judas goat, anyone? Links: New video with marine biologist Tim Deere-Jones on the proposed release of radioactive tritium-contaminated water at Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. Tim was most recently heard on Nuclear Hotseat #534, September 14, 2021; https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2131/ML21316A057.pdf – Vogtle report from Fairewinds.NIRS petition: Speak Out! Tell Congress: No Backdoor Authorization of Illegal Nuclear Waste Dumps PLOUGHSHARES FUND 2022 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSThis next-generation nuclear power plant is pitched for Washington state. Can it ‘change the world’? Nuclear power plant operators want to run for eight decades, but a federal lab in Washington state found ‘critical gaps’ in knowledge about how reactors age I Gave My Baby Tooth to Science: Project Sunshine's role in the Limited Test Ban Treaty and Cutting-Edge Pollution ResearchNuclear Power Won’t Save the World. It Won’t Even Help.The Setsuko Thurlow Rose: The Setsuko Thurlow Rose Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 After the atomic bombs, incinerated, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, and all those people, a horrified world pushed back against the new technology and the U S sought to find some justifications for continuing to develop nuclear, anything, and everything. That's when president Dwight Eisenhower addressed the UN general assembly on December 8th, 1953, the day after the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack and introduce the idea of a peaceful Adam one that would transform the horror of the bomb into a benefit for all mankind, peaceful, Adam, an oxymoron. That sounds like a good idea on the surface until you hear a genuine expert, a journalist who has been covering nuclear issues for decades, tell you Karl Grossman 00:00:52 Importantly, there's no peaceful. Adam. It's two sides of the same coin. And if frankly, if our children and their children and future generations are going to make it artists survive, we really have to outlook outlook, nuclear technology, put it back in the bottle, and that can be done Libbe HaLevy 00:01:12 Well. Now that we've all experienced. What a lack of peace from that atomic nuclear technology continues to inflict upon the world, both through weapons and reactor technology. You start to get a clearer picture of the nature of that devastating seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:33 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but visceral Hotsy, it's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:04 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with Carl Grossman, a veteran journalist who has been covering nuclear issues since before they were rebranded from being called atomic issues. The word atomic, having tested poorly in the public mind. You see Carl shares a vision of a world without nukes, any nukes, peaceful, warlike, or otherwise with compelling reasons for why this is a path we must follow. We will also have nuclear from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information then will be discussed even at my Thanksgiving table. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:11 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective here in the U S in Virginia, for those who live within a 10 mile radius of dominion energies, north Ana and Siri nuclear power stations know that the alert sirens will soon be replaced with wireless emergency alerts that will come directly to a cell phone. The transition will take place as of March 1st, 2022, but without this audio alert system, what has to happen with people who don't have a cell phone, maybe their cell phone has drained the power, maybe they're driving and don't answer, or they choose to ignore the phone. There's no other backup system and no way for them to know that perhaps their lives are in immediate danger. And how will local residents find out about this change in policy? Libbe HaLevy 00:04:07 They're going to receive snail mail notifications, also radio and digital ads, both of which are easy to miss. Why not keep the old system operating as you Institute the new and keep it in place. This is truly numnuts adjacent in Georgia. The cost of two nuclear reactors being built in that state is now $28.5 billion. More than twice the original price tag. And they're not done yet. Opponents have long warned at Blanton based Southern company. That overruns would be sky high. Liz coil executive director of consumer advocacy group, Georgia watch said the price tag is outrageous, but predictable. When the build was approved in 2012, the first electricity was supposed to be generated in 2016. Southern company has been whining that it has to reduce substandard construction work and contractors aren't meeting deadlines, but Hey, who's supposed to be overseeing them. Huh? No electricity is suspected of being generated until third quarter 2020. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:15 And sometime between April and June of 2023 for each of the reactors and exactly how many solar wind and geothermal genuinely renewable energy sources could have been built with that kind of money tribes, indigenous groups and conservation organization have filed a petition to strengthen federal mining rules, to safeguard critically important lands across the west and Alaska, including sacred lands in their cultural resources, vital wildlife habitat and invaluable water resources inciting the harmful effects of uranium mining, vice chairman. Matthew put a soy Sr of the Havasu tribe near the grand canyon said each day. Uranium mining threatens contamination of Havasu Creek, which is the sole water source that provides life to supine village. Our tribal Homeland located at the bottom of the grand canyon without this precious resource, our tribe and our Homeland will be destroyed. Uranium poses, a serious and irreversible threat to our survival. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:21 As a people, their petition was filed on September 16th with the U S department of the interior bill gates and Warren buffet have teamed up to launch the first small modular nuclear reactors pitching states, including Wyoming and Washington, but scientists and activists are pushing back hard. Michael Emam professor of atmospheric science at Penn state university said bill gates has continually downplayed the role of proven, safe, reliable energy technologies in decarbonizing our economy playing up instead more dangerous and risky technology like geo and nuclear Yon Haverkamp of Greenpeace said it is misguided and dangerous because it leads us down the wrong path, the obstacles to meaningful climate action. Aren't technological. At this point, they're political. These small modular nuclear reactors are referred to as PowerPoint reactors because presentations look good, but there has not been a single model yet built, let alone tested and proven out. So what gates buffet and others are saying is not verifiable tested, let alone scalable. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:35 And even if everything goes according to schedule, which given nuclear, it never does. Even gates admits that the first of these would not even be up and running until at the earliest 2030. And we need climate solutions. Now solar wind geothermal conservation, there will be two articles dealing with this issue, especially the pitch going on in Washington state up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. This episode is number 5 44, 2 other articles that we have links to one from the Seattle times on nuclear power plant operators want to run for eight decades, but a federal lab in Washington state found critical gaps in knowledge about how reactors age, and it repeats a call for autopsies to be performed on close down nuclear reactors. The other link is to the article I gave my baby tooth to science project Sunshine's role in the limited test ban treaty and cutting edge pollution research. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:37 It's by two of our all-stars Robert Alvarez and Joseph Ghana, and we will link to it, or you can find it yourself on either radiation.org or at the bulletin of the atomic scientists over to Japan, where we've just learned that between the 13th and 15th of August of this year, a submarine volcano of August Solara islands erupted about 800 miles away from Tokyo and 900 miles from Fukushima. This eruption the largest, since the end of the second world war produced between 100 and 500 million cubic meters of pumice stones. And those stones are already covering the beaches of other islands at Fukushima Tokyo electric power company TEPCO is being forced to build shielding walls in the port of the plant. As the spent fuel pools of reactors five and six, still depend on sea water to cool them. Pumice stones may damage the sea water intake equipment of the coolant system. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:38 And the original shielding facility has been left crippled since the two NAMI on March 11th, 2011 in Fukushima prefecture, evacuated, eager to finally returned to their homes near the remains of the Fukushima nuclear plant have been thrown into confusion over the way evacuation orders will be lifted. The town accepted a boundary that cuts across the mochi neighborhood of Oklahoma, creating a livable enclave, surrounded on all sides by a no entry area. Residents from the enclave will be able to return to their homes, but their neighbors, even on the other side of the street could be prohibited from returning until the end of this decade. As Koichi Sasaki head of the mochi community explains radiation levels are more or less the same on the inside and outside of the reconstruction base area. While officials in Tokyo were called upon to cleanup and lift evacuation orders across all areas of the town, the pleas of the people were in vain over to Europe, where in the wake of the cop 26 climate conference in Scotland, nuclear power battle lines have been drawn. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:50 France took the lead where French president Emmanuel Elma Cron as part of his France 2030 plan for reindustrialization announced that reinventing nuclear power was placed as the first objective in that plan, pledging 1 billion euros, the equivalent of 1.2 billion us dollars allocated to demonstrate small nuclear reactor technology. On the other side, Germany's acting environment and nuclear safety minister Svenya Scholz reiterated her opposition to nuclear powers inclusion in the EDU's green financing plans saying the upcoming government coalition refuses being placed in front of a fait accompli. The EU is in the process of determining whether nuclear is going to be considered green energy. In other words, renewable energy and a recipient of untold amounts of funds. Joining Germany to urge the European commission to keep nuclear energy out of EU. Future finance rules are Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Denmark representatives of the five countries banded together to sign a resolution, which said in part nuclear power is incompatible with the EU taxonomy regulations do no significant harm principle and added. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:14 We have plenty of evidence of how dangerous nuclear power can be. Last week, we reported on a story out of Japan that lake on pneuma showed pollution of radioactive cesium, 1 37 mistakenly stating that it was going to be radioactive for 30 years, the half-life of Caesium. Whereas the true number is 10 times that, which is 300 years now, as if calling the bluff on that lie. China's foreign ministry has asked Japan why it won't release Fukushima's water that they're threatening to release into the Pacific. Why would they release it into their own lakes? If it's really harmless? The ministry asked is the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant really inevitable, or is Japan just going its own way for its selfish reasons? That's a really good question. And now for yet another example of nuclear bone headedness, here's Libbe HaLevy 01:13:20 I think in the nuclear industry's never-ending quest to disassociate themselves from the deadly radioactive mess that they create with their nuclear power reactors among other sources, they always try to locate the nuclear waste dumps in small communities that looked like they could use a short-term short-sighted economic boost. They found that bamboozling, the local population is helped if they have some community worker dedicated to implanting their twisted propaganda in the minds and hearts of unsuspecting locals case in point plans to dispose of Britain's nuclear waste south pile underneath the Irish sea off the UKs Cumbrian coast, 240 miles Northwest of London. That campaign for building the latest in nuclear waste pit toilets will soon be aided and abetted by a propaganda flunky who will be hired and paid for by the Columbia city council that's right, their tax dollars at work. The council has posted a want ad for what they call a nuclear engagement coordinator that person's role will be quote to support the council's engagement in partnerships with government industry, business and community stakeholders, to find a willing host community and suitable site for a geological disposal facility for longterm management of higher activity, radioactive waste as a further c'mon that person gain opportunities to gain experience in a range of areas from nuclear policy to climate change or economic development and oh yes, unstated, but still intended selling your soul and earning the condemnation of any friends and neighbors down through the generations who survive this invitation of the forever contamination of your land and water. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:15 This is all part of the new Custer's ongoing campaign to kick the radioactive waste can down the road to somewhere they don't live by hiring a Judas goat from the local populace who sees this as a means of moving ahead in the world, if not shortening one's life, Hey, pay in the UK is between 27 and 29 and a half thousand pounds, meaning 37,000 to 40,000 and a half us dollars. But then again, how much do the cancer treatments cost for you, your family, your neighbors, and beyond what about the emotional damage? The DNA is that anywhere in the job description? Nah, that's because this is just another example of the nuclear industry's game plan for increasing their profits while avoiding your consequences. And that's why Cumbria city council and your overlords at radioactive waste management. You are this week's Announcer 01:16:17 Okay, your hot seat Libbe HaLevy 01:16:22 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first Thanksgiving as a celebration, it can be highly controversial, especially for those who have indigenous heritage. Those of us who have indigenous friends or just people who are aware of the ongoing suppression and persecution of the people of the nations that are native to this land, to be clear, I don't use the day to commemorate pilgrims or the genocide they engendered. I take it as a time to gather with good friends and be grateful that we made it through the past year. When so many of us did not. I'm also grateful that the numnuts who promote and condone nuclear have not yet completely contaminated the biosphere or blown us into oblivion. I give thanks for the amazing people. I've had the opportunity to meet interview and share with all of you. And that digital technology allows me to produce this program, disseminate it, amplify the anti-nuclear message and do what I can to counteract the madness that is the nuclear military industrial complex. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:30 And of course I'm deeply grateful for all of you, the listeners who care enough to want to know the truth of what the nuclear industry has really been up to. So if you are thankful for having nuclear hot seat to turn to for the nuclear news, you won't get from mainstream media right now would be the time to support us with a donation. Show your thanks in a tangible way, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size that's where you can set up a monthly donation as little as $5. The same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S will help us continue to bring the show to you every week. So if you value nuclear seat and want to help us continue do what you can now and know that however much you can help be at Thanksgiving or any other day, you have my gratitude. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:26 Now, here is this week's featured interview. Here's this week's featured interview. According to Wikipedia, Carl Grossman is an author and journalism professor at the state university of New York college. At old Westbury. He hosts the TV program in viral closeup is the author of six books and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper, and internet articles. But that doesn't even come close to describing the full range of Carl's talents, abilities and accomplishments. Kyle Grossman has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years. And in terms of knowing how things came about and where the bodies are buried, that's a metaphor. We hope nobody does it better. He has been an important early and consistent supporter of my work with nuclear hot seat. And we talk with him here about the need to make earth a nuclear free zone. I talked with Carl Grossman on January 12th, 2020, Carol Grossman. It's always a joy to have you with us here on nuclear hot seat, Karl Grossman 01:19:28 A pleasure to be with you Libby, even though the subject is rather a and Libbe HaLevy 01:19:33 Carol, you have often written and spoken on the idea that the only realistic way to secure a future for the world without nuclear war is for the entire planet to become a nuclear free zone. What do you mean by bad? Karl Grossman 01:19:47 Well, the United nations back in 1975, designated major parts of the earth, the entireties of Africa and south America, the south Pacific as nuclear free zones, where there would not be nuclear weapons. What I think needs to be done is that the entire planet has to be declared a nuclear free zone, but importantly, not just justice, it's a strong enough word here, not just nuclear weapons, but nuclear power as well because the horrific threat of nuclear war comes to us from this double-sided nuclear weapons and nuclear power, because any, any country with a reactor with a nuclear reactor has the well, the train personnel and the material, the plutonium that nuclear reactor produce to have an atomic weapon. Indeed India got the bomb in 1974, how Canada supplied a reactor to India for peaceful purposes and the us atomic energy commission trained Indian engineers and lo and behold India had nuclear weapons. So this importantly, there's no peaceful. Adam, it's two sides of the same coin. And if frankly, if our children and their children and future generations are going to make it artists survive, we really have to outlook outlook nuclear technology and put it back in the bottle. And that can be done. When Libbe HaLevy 02:21:34 I say that can be done. Putting the genie back in the bottle is one of those things that people think is not possible with nuclear, that we've crossed a line. Is there a precedent for taking a dangerous technology and dialing it back so that the danger does not exist anymore? Karl Grossman 02:21:53 Yeah, there's, there's a clear precedent. And that was the outlawing of poison gas of chemical warfare. And that came after world war II and the horrific impacts of the use of chlorine gas and mustard gas when they killed thousands and thousands of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. So after world war II, people realized that chemical warfare is outrageous. It's horrific. It must be outlawed. And there was the Geneva protocol of 1925 and the chemical weapons convention of 1933 and made outlawed chemical warfare and to a large degree, not a hundred percent, but to a large degree that prohibition has held. And I feel that before we have a nuclear war though, Hiroshima and Nagasaki should have given us a pretty good idea about what nuclear weapons can do. We must outlook just outdoor nuclear weaponry. And as I say, importantly too, is to outlaw nuclear power at the same time. Karl Grossman 02:23:05 I mean, a person who understood this ironically was a, oh, the person who was considered the father of the us nuclear Navy, Admiral Hyman Rickover. He also was in charge of the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the United States, shipping toward Pennsylvania. And somehow he must've had an epiphany. And after decades of being this big booster of nuclear technology, retired from the Navy and he made a speech. In fact, you can read this speech online to a congressional committee in which he said that 2 billion years ago, it was impossible to have any life on earth. There was some much radiation on earth. You couldn't have any life. Then gradually the amount of radiation on this planet. I'm quoting Rick over here, not Greenpeace and probably in the entire system reduced and made it possible for some form of life to begin. And he went on by utilizing nuclear power. Karl Grossman 02:24:09 We are creating something which nature tried to destroy to make life possible. Every time you produce radiation, a horrible force is unleashed. Still can hear about the efficient products produced by the breaking apart of the Adam, the splitting of the atom. And in some cases, Rick, over went on these hiring deficient products. These essentially these are a return of the very poisons that existed billions of years ago, which prohibited life from existing on earth. In some cases there'll be around for billions of years. And there says Rick over, I think the human race is gone to wreck itself and not to be too anthropomorphic. It ain't just people it's life on earth. I mean, they say cockroaches are capable of absorbing hundreds of times, the radioactivity that a human being can absorb, but I don't know if we want cockroaches to inherit the earth. And then he goes on. Karl Grossman 02:25:13 Well, he talks about having an international meeting, first outlawed, nuclear weapons. And then we outlaw, this is Rick over nuclear reactors too. And he says, in terms of nuclear weapons and the guy was an Admiral, it was an Annapolis graduate. The lesson of history is when a war starts, every nation will ultimately use whatever weapon has been available. That that is a lesson learned time. And again, therefore we must expect if another war a serious war breaks out, we will use nuclear energy in some form. And again, quoting Rick over. We will probably destroy ourselves. I mean, the fact is the reality is that nuclear war is not winnable. This whole notion that we've lived through for decades of mutually assured destruction, that we have this huge nuclear arsenal, thousands of weapons that Russian Sev thousands of weapons. And if there's an exchange, we destroy each other. Karl Grossman 02:26:20 And that somehow was thought to block nuclear war, frankly ever since Hiroshima and Nagasaki ever since the creation of atomic weapon room by the skin of our teeth, by the skin of our teeth, we have made it, there has been a number of well accidents, which could have kicked in a nuclear. Now with this Trump administration, you have a president that's Trump who's open to the use of nuclear weapon rigs. He said that we have, why don't we use them a few months ago, he was talking about Afghanistan. And he was saying, well, if they want to take out Afghanistan and a couple of weeks, I could kill 10 million people. I mean, how was he going to kill 10 million people in a couple of weeks? It would be nuclear weaponry. So we have a situation now, which, oh, it has put the doomsday clock not to sound too apocalyptic, but that's what we're dealing with. Karl Grossman 02:27:22 Just a few minutes from midnight. It's it's as bad as it's ever been. And I believe we have to, I mean, some people might think this isn't practical. So some people might think it's too radical that we can put the genie back in the bottle. But I think that's the wrong things people have done can be undone when it's understood that it was so wrong. And in the case of nuclear technologies so dangerous. And so, so awful, we've been trying, we kind of succeeded, but it ain't going to last too long with a, a carrot and stick approach, right? Rewarding certain nations. If they don't pursue nuclear weaponry, we provide them with a carrot. And then meanwhile, there'll be a stick if you go towards nuclear weapon weapons. But as the same time we have embraced this, this myth, this big chunk of bologna about the peaceful atom. Karl Grossman 02:28:25 There's no peaceful Adam and a country with a nuclear plant. As I say, with a reactor, because reactors in the process efficient produce. In fact, they produce hundreds of pounds of plutonium a year as a by-product of vision, the Nagasaki bomb incidentally at, but 20 pounds of plutonium. So whether it's a, it's a nuclear power plant, which the Trump administration wants to see built, in fact, a bunch of them in Saudi Arabia or whether it's locally about, I just saw a piece about Uganda moving ahead to develop nuclear power plants with Russian support, any country, which has a nuclear power plant, a nuclear reactor has the trained personnel like those Indian engineers who were trained by our then atomic energy commission and the material, the plutonium to build a nuclear weapons. So there's no atoms for peace. Dwight Eisenhower, president Eisenhower made a speech at the United nations in 1953, which kicked off this atoms for peace baloney program that okay, we don't like nuclear war, but Adams for I can't, it's two sides of the same coin. So back to what I was saying, that the only frankly practical way, and I don't believe it's radical. I think it's what we need is for the planet, the whole planet, we have to work for this. It's not going to happen tomorrow or next week, but we got to work and work hard on this to abolish, to abolish nuclear weaponry. And at the same time, eliminate abolish nuclear power, nuclear technology, and to survive and to live Libbe HaLevy 03:30:15 I'm in complete agreement with you on this, the nuclear industry is putting a lot of money and a PR portion talking points into its newest technology, small modular nuclear reactors, as though they are somehow different, somehow cleaner, safer, and that they are going to be the saviors of the climate crisis in your estimation, how accurate or honest is that claim and would this new technology, the small modular nuclear reactors and have the same profile in terms of, as it's been said, having a bomb in the basement, having in its waste stream, the plutonium that could then be utilized as a bomb. Karl Grossman 03:30:59 Yeah, well the small modular reactors, all these, the new improved nukes of one sort or another that they all produce enormous amounts of nuclear waste. They were all subject to accidents. They all involve. And Rick over, he used the word, which is, which is central here, radioactivity. I mean, it's like, well, what was during the Clinton campaign that slogan a new version of it would be, it's not the economy stupid, it's radioactivity stupid. It's the radioactivity produced by this machine or is it as Rick Ovis as we have to outlaw, we must outdoor nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants. And after that, these folks and the nuclear establishment, and it's the nuclear industry, it's, it's Westinghouse and general electric. And it's these huge national nuclear laboratories like Los Alamos and Oak Ridge. And essentially got their start during the Manhattan project to build weapons, to build atomic weapons during world war II, they were so scared that the Nazis were going to build atomic bombs. Karl Grossman 03:32:12 And because fishing had been done in late 38 in Germany. So it was a notion of fighting fire with fire. And so as huge establishment, a nuclear establishment, employing hundreds of thousands, billions was spent at the end of the war. You had created a vested interest. How are these folks going to keep their jobs? How are general electric and Westinghouse, which became the Coke and Pepsi of nuclear power, 80% of nuclear plants worldwide, or of GE manufacturer or design. I mean, we can build more nuclear weapons. And under Edward teller of the super was built. In fact had got his own national laboratory Lawrence Livermore to build the hydrogen bomb. You can sell an atomic bomb or a hydrogen bomb even to an ally, to France in England. What can be done with nuclear technology to perpetuate this establishment? And they thought of the kind of nuclear powered airplanes, nuclear rockets, food, or radiation to the zap potatoes. Karl Grossman 03:33:20 You can eat a potato or a strawberry 20 years after they they'd be picked. And then it was nuclear power plants, nuclear power plants too. I mean, it's the most dangerous way to boil water ever conceived using Fishkin. So there was this nuclear establishment created out of the Manhattan project and they've lied like they've breathed. I mean, there's nuclear Pinocchios through the years. It's been one claim after it. I remember when a shipping port was first opened. This is back in 57 Louis stress who was chairman of the atomic energy commission said that nuclear power would be electricity too cheap to meter. That's not. So, I mean, there's two nuclear plants I'll make two nuclear plants, thankfully being built. I mean, there was supposed to be many at this time in the United States, each one is to cause down in Georgia $13.5 billion where I live, I live on long island in New York, the Shoreham nuclear plant, and a book I wrote about Shoreham and the other, almost a dozen nuclear power plants that the long island lighting company wanted to build on long island. Karl Grossman 03:34:34 It wanted to create a nuclear park out of long island as effects Emily. I print the original press release from 1966, for sure. And Loco says it will be in the 65 to $75 million range. Well, it turns out it was stopped 6.5 to $7.5 billion range, grassroots opposition and governmental opposition stopped. Sure. It was completed. It was constructed, was stopped from going into commercial operation. And the other was seven to 11. Nuclear plants planned for long island were prevented from being constructed from being built. And then there was two nuclear reactors at Brookhaven national laboratory. It was the laboratory set up by the folks at the Manhattan project that would focus on civilian uses of nuclear technology. Very, very tied actually to the long island nuclear push when the shore and project first began. It's not just the nuclear industry, also the nuclear establishment within government and they've lied and they've lied and they've lied to promote their nuclear establishment for jobs. Karl Grossman 03:35:49 And for as I note, Westinghouse and GE wanted to keep busy with contracts and so forth and with nuclear work. So when it comes to the small modular reactors or any of this other bologna that the, the nuclear establish wants to throw at us, it's tobacco science, it's a tobacco industry, sciences it's full of false. So it's, it's all not true. And the problem here is that like cigarettes it's gonna kill, and it does kill you look at any nuclear plant anywhere in the world and the allowed emissions, the permissible, radiation emissions, and all nuclear plants emit radio activity, cause cancer clusters around I'm on the board of the radiation and public health project. People could perhaps look up their website, radiation and public health project. It's a deadly, deadly and unnecessary totally unnecessary. I mean, particularly these days, I wrote my first book on nuclear back in 1980, I began it the J of the three mile island accident, because just a quick story, you had gone a couple of years before to Brookhaven national laboratory. Karl Grossman 03:37:03 I had a television show on the PBS station, a long island. They asked me to do something on nuclear. I went to Brookhaven live for some nuclear proponents, which is essentially all of them at Brookhaven lab. In fact, they call themselves Nookie's these nuclear physicists at Brookhaven national laboratory nucleus put my microphone in front of their faces. And they said to the camera, well maybe every couple of hundred years, that might be a minor accident, but there's so much redundancy in these machines. You're not going to have a serious accident. And then I try to balance it out. This was not frankly good investigative reporting. It was ping-pong journalism. But at that point, I didn't know enough about nuclear power to when these people started to lie into the camera, say, Hey, come on. And in fact, I started that book cover up what you're not supposed to know about nuclear power. Karl Grossman 03:37:56 The day I got the news that three mile island was undergoing a meltdown and I was thinking of those scientists and how they try to bamboozle me and my viewers look at copies of the book and it's full of facsimiles. I figured better. This is before desktop publishing using a scissor, cutting out pieces of documents and reprinting the documents. For example, I mean, some people might say maybe those Brookhaven scientists didn't know the dangers there's pages and pages from the wash seven 40 update. It's a report done at Brookhaven national laboratory in the sixties about the consequences of a major plant accident and over and over grid, many hundreds of times and wash seven 40 update. And it's in the book. I cut it out. There. It is. It says a big accident could impact an area, the size of the state of Pennsylvania, the odds of a, of a catastrophic accident, not good either. Karl Grossman 03:38:55 And, and in terms of, again, people haven't been given this information in the beginning of the book, for example, and perhaps most listeners now don't know that in the United States, because there's something called a price Anderson act, which was passed by Congress in 1957, limiting liability gives event of a major nuclear plant accident to $560 million with the government paying the first 500 million, the utility that they would pay us 60 million, even though the consequences could be in the billions and billions of dollars. But if you look at your homeowners insurance, and I suggest that listeners to look at the nuclear clause, it's in everybody's homeowner's insurance in the United States. And it says that this policy doesn't cover loss or damage caused by radioactivity, by radiation and so forth. And what I did was I cut out was from my old state policy. I might be in good hands with all state, if I had an accident with my car, but if they would get nuclear plant accident at, for example, where I live on Eastern long island at millstone, which is right across long island sound in Connecticut or it's Salem on oyster Creek. Karl Grossman 04:40:09 Now in the Atlantic, in New Jersey, I would not be in good hands with Allstate and cut it out to cover up what you're not supposed to know about nuclear power. And that was published in 1980. And it's been as 40 years. And as I've given presentations through this 40 year period, I used as a slide there's nuclear clause. And actually I print a couple of not just Allstate. I also print another insurance companies. CNA is nuclear clause. And as I've presented that to groups, when people have read my book, they said, we didn't know the book cover up. What you're not supposed to know about nuclear power begins with. You have not been told you've not been informed and that has been done on purpose. And that's why I called the book cover up as to the tie-in between nuclear power and nuclear war. That's so important for people to understand that many people and that's surprising grouping of people are against nuclear weaponry. Karl Grossman 04:41:10 For example, George Schultz, who was the secretary of state he's been involved in the Hoover Institute. And here is a, an essay by George Schultz. Nuclear weapons were an all the greatest threat to humanity, survivals Schultz, very middle of the road. Republican very establishment figure says they're affected preventing wars has been overrated and reports of the damage that caused tend to be brushed aside. Great. And there's bunches of organizations that have been attempting to abolish, including abolition 2000 excellent organization to eliminate, to abolish nuclear weapons. But I say that's not enough because any country with a nuclear reactor, with a nuclear power plant could follow the example of India and from a nuclear power plant, then, then have nuclear weapons. And these days what they call proliferation, and mostly the focus has been on the proliferation of nuclear weaponry. It's not enough. It has to be the proliferation of nuclear technology period. Karl Grossman 04:42:22 And that like chemical warfare must be stopped, must be ended. And folks might say, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. That's too radical. I think this notion of continuing to try to use a carrot and a stick ain't gonna last very long. It may or may not last a generation. It's our children, their children, their children. They're not going to make it. If we allow nuclear technology to continue to proliferate on this planet, this gently technology, which precluded life as brick over set, which precluded life from existing billions of years ago, it will, again, if there's a full fledged with Russia, the U S on hair-trigger alert, the U S has triad submarines with nuclear weaponry and multiple warheads. That absolutely dwarf what the atomic bombs that were dropped in here was chamber and knock a socket web that we have these ICBM's. I mean, right now, right now, as we speak, there are soldiers in silos, mostly in the Dakotas and the United States sitting there ready to push the button on the order of God, help us. Donald Trump, you have B 52 nuclear capable bombers, the B one nuclear capable bomber. I mean, what did Trump just send to when the, this issue began with, Libbe HaLevy 04:43:49 With a rant six nuclear capable, B 50 twos have been sent to an island in the Indian ocean that is within striking distance for us of Iran, but Iran does not have the weaponry to be able to take out those bombers. So it's part of the preparation, the saber rattling, the positioning, the posturing, whatever you want to call it, that is again, ramping us up. And I believe as a sexual predator will groom a potential victim. This is part of grooming the United States, and indeed the world to expect that there's going to be the use of a nuclear weapon, because as has been said by this administration, if we've got them, why don't we use them? Which brings me to this question, Carl, with all of this danger out there, and you've articulated it wonderfully. Well, what can be done to create the pressure from the ground up to stop this March towards seemingly inevitable nuclear weapons use and begin the process of creating the earth as a nuclear free zone. Karl Grossman 04:45:07 It's always best to do it as a group to organize, organize, organize, organize as the fame labor leader once said. So the groups, I mentioned abolition 2000 there's, there's many others I'm on also on the board of a group called beyond nuclear, which is a terrific group. And it's based in Tacoma park, Maryland as for the outlawing of nuclear power plants against nuclear power. Particularly again, with these planting phones, alternatives, solar, and wind, and we don't need nuclear power period. And it's against to this notion of nuclear war against nuclear weapons. It's for the abolition of nuclear weapons. We must go beyond nuclear. We must end this dead end road that the world has been put on with nuclear. And I would recommend again, doing it in a group after grassroots is so important. And I'd recommend folks should go to the website of beyond nuclear it's beyond nuclear.org, and you'll see their programs, their activities join up, find people in political places. Karl Grossman 04:46:20 And there's not that many who understand nuclear power, and we must abolish nuclear weapons. I mean, Obama made a start at it. Obama made a very famous speech when he first took us two weeks after we took office declaring a commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons problem is it didn't take too long for Barack Obama to be pushing a modernization of the U S nuclear arsenal. Why did we need modernization? So we killed 20 million instead of 16. I mean, and in terms of nuclear power, as he started talking about clean nuclear, that's an oxymoron. And so, so we got to watch out who is support, who we endorsed politically. There are some people in government politics who understand the relationship between nuclear power and nuclear war and join up and support them. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:22 There's also the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org, which is located in Scandinavia and won the Nobel peace prize in 2017 for its work against nuclear weapons. And I would strongly urge people to go to I C a N w.org to check out their work as well. There are two corollaries to that. There is don't bank on the bomb.com, which is a highly effective international campaign for removing money, including pension funds and all kinds of financial investments from those companies that manufacture nuclear weapons. And the corollary of that here in the United States is back from the brink.org. These are all programs that are working actively to move us away from nuclear war that are structured in such a way that grassroots individuals, anyone can get involved and put their energy, their money. I don't care if it's 27 cents, but it gives you the right to talk with your bank manager and say, I don't want my money invested in anything that supports nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:40 Where is the money of this bank invested? And then put your pressure there. It can be from you. It can be from your pension fund. It can be from an investment fund, talk to your financial advisors. I mean, there are a number of ways that we can do it. There are actually a number of programs that are attempting to do it, and we must do what we can as fast as we stand, because there is a drum beat trying to normalize the concept of nuclear war to a populace that doesn't understand the full consequences of what that can do. And we need to do everything in our power to not let that happen. Because as I like to say, it's not a matter of, oh, it'll happen. On the other side of the planet. Earth is a rock in the middle of a bubble of environment in the middle of nowhere. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:34 What happens on earth stays on earth and it gets recirculated around and it will smack us upside the head as it already has been from nuclear weapons that have been exploded in the environment that the radiation is there. The radiation is the lingering danger, and the fact that people don't understand what that is and how both nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors put us in the danger of exposure to radiation, I think is the key factor in why people are not more alarmed about nukes and think that it's just a matter of, oh, it's a bigger bang for the buck. And so why can't we use it Karl Grossman 05:50:13 At this point? It's critical for so many years by the skin of our teeth, we avoid nuclear destruction just by the skin of our teeth. And they were accidents that could have so easily propelled us. I mean, I remember as a kid growing up in New York and we did duck and cover so many years, we lived under this nuclear cloud and frankly, we're there again. That was a report a couple of years ago. This is when Trump first took office of a defense science board. You could see this report, it's online Federation of American scientists and others have put this online and they talk about the need for a more flexible nuclear enterprise that could produce a rapid tailored nuclear option. They're talking here weapons for limited use such thing as limited use of nuclear weapons. But that was what was envisioned way back in the fifties. And now so many decades away. And we've done this full throttle reversal. We have a person in Trump who is all or normalizing, and considering the feasibility of nuclear weaponry, Libbe HaLevy 05:51:33 Carol, this has been wide ranging. You certainly been covering this subject matter for decades now. And you know where a lot of the bodies are buried. Thank you for the work you've done. The vigilance. You've had your perspective. And I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Karl Grossman 05:51:53 Great to be with you. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:55 Carl Grossman, journalists and MUN, all screes great gray eminence of the anti-nuclear movement. We'll have a link up to Carl's terrific book, cover up what you are not supposed to know about nuclear power, and it will be on the website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 44 Libbe HaLevy 05:52:23 Nuclear information and resource service or nears has a petition out entitled, speak out. Tell Congress no backdoor authorization of illegal nuclear waste dumps. The gist of this is that the impending energy and water appropriations bill there's a provision tucked away that would trigger a dangerous unnecessary decades, long, massive high level nuclear power waste transport campaign that would truck high level radioactive waste from nuclear reactors around the country through most of the lower 48 states. And we're not talking back roads here. We're talking about major transportation hubs, including through major population centers. That means no matter where you are, it's probably going to be going through your backyard. We'll have a link up to the nearest petition on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 44, please go there, sign and pass along to others. The Ploughshares fund 2022 has put out a request for proposals. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:33 They have a $1 million fund to draw upon as part of their expanded diversity and equity initiative. Equity rises. It aims to increase equity and justice in nuclear policies and institutions by empowering diverse voices, cultivating inclusive spaces across identity sector and geography and collaborating with new partners, both inside and outside. The nuclear field grants will be for between 10,070 $5,000, a real fortune to anti-nuclear groups. And up to one year long grant periods will be given. They will be holding seminars on the funding process on December 1st, January 14 and February seven. And it's advised that you be on at least one of those. So, so you understand what they are actually looking for and how you can best frame your request. And to be clear, this is plow shared spelled P L O U G H shares, as opposed to last week, when we talked about the film, the nuns, the priests, and the bombs, which was about the plow shares movement, which is P L O w S H a R E S to avoid any confusion. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:49 We've got a link up on the website and a lovely piece of acknowledgement for a fierce and beautiful fighter for a nuclear free world Setsuko Thurlow and hibachi who survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and whose work is most associated with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can a stunning rose. Yes, the flower was cultivated by world renowned rose breeder, Mathilde for rare in honor of SESCO Thurlow his life and legacy and her tireless action and advocacy for a world without nuclear weapons. It has been planted in the botanical gardens of the university of Valencia Spain to mark the international day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. How lovely to commemorate someone whose work is so on behalf of life with something that is both alive and beautiful. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nears.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can wwe.org ploughshares.org, fredericksburg.today. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:10 News for jacks.com, yahoo.com. Mental floss.com dw.com Seattle times.com radiation.org, the bulletin.org, civil beat.org fukushima-diary.com. And Mochizuki it's good to hear from you again, money dot USA news.com daily star.co.uk. You're active.com. AP news.com. Clean technica.com global times.cn, radiation free Lakeland, the soul dead cubicle drones who write propaganda for world nuclear news and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Now, if you want to get nuclear hot seat every week and not miss a single episode, it's easy. We deliver it by email. If you go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll around and look for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show. You'll get it. As soon as it posts. It's also somewhat of a participatory democracy here as at least as far as suggestions go. So if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or an idea of someone to interview, send that information to me in an email@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:33 And remember, if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, this is Thanksgiving week. Show your thanks. Take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Follow the prompts and anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 levy Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that nuclear weapons and nuclear energy are two sides of the same corn. It's all in the same issue. Both are dangerous, and we need to do without both. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:38 Nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #543: Nuclear Disarmament Plowshares Film & Media Strategy Tips - Emmy-winning Journalist Helen Young URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-disarmament-plowshares-film-emmy/ Published: 2021-11-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Disarmament – The Priests, The Nuns and the Bombs, a film by Helen Young. It focuses on the Plowshares movement and two key protests – the break-in at the Y-12 highly enriched uranium stockpile site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Trident nuclear submarine facility at the Kitsap-Bangor U.S. naval base near Seattle, Washington (participants pictured above). This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Disarmament: Helen Young is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist who has forged a career as a filmmaker and writer by blending a passion for investigative reporting with a commitment to illuminating critical issues of the day. She was a staff writer and producer for CBS News and NBC News for twenty years and has also produced for MSNBC and Al Roker Productions. Helen has won one National Emmy news award and three New York Emmys for her work, as well as awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, United Press International, the National Commission on Working Women, and the Red Cross.LINKS: WEBSITE: nunspriestsbombsthefilm.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nunspriestsbombs/ MARY OLSON WORK cited in the interview: GenderAndRadition.org. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) needs to “repair” corroded tanks containing radioactive materials at Fukushima… and they can’t even pop for duct tape??? Clear tape used by TEPCO to “repair” corroded, leaking radioactive waste tank at Fukushima. More TEPCO “repairs.” With thanks to SimplyInfo.org for use of these photos. TEPCO “repairs” corroded, leaking tanks of radioactive waste at Fukushima with transparent tape?!?!?!!!! Links: Women Transforming our Nuclear Legacy: Indigenous Wisdom, the Nuclear Ban Treaty and Activism – Zoominar by nuclearwakeupcall.earth.Follow-up to support MSNBC for their airing of IN THE DARK OF THE VALLEY, the award-winning documentary on the radioactive Santa Susana Field Lab site, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. November 22, 7 PM Eastern Time – Peace Action Maine follow-up on COP 26 – sign up for zoominar HERE. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear war, mushroom clouds and fireballs and radiation, laced, rain, and nuclear, winter as a legacy for our planet and our people. That's the fear, isn't it. But when the issues surrounding nuclear weapons come up, it's hard to get and hold people's attention. Many, especially in the younger generations, don't understand the total destruction created by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let alone the devastating power of today's nuclear bombs, which are up to 30 times more powerful than what we dropped in Japan. So when a veteran award-winning news woman with major network credentials makes a film about the plow, shares actions, protesting nuclear weapons, and she puts the power of those weapons in perspective, by telling us Helen Young 00:00:57 International committee of the red cross has come out and said that if there's ever a nuclear confrontation, they would not have the ability to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe that would occur. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:09 You mean the red cross couldn't help us if the nukes should fall? Well, when writer, producer, director, Helen Young shares, just that one aspect of this much larger nuclear weapons issue. There's a chance that even the most nuclear li naive among us will wake up to the fact that they are also stuck in that seat. We all share Announcer 00:01:34 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:05 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with veteran news, woman, Helen Young, the writer producer, director of the 2017 film, the priest, the nuns, and the bomb. It features the actions of the late sister, Meagan rice, and focuses on the plow, shares actions to raise awareness of nuclear weapons and the need to do away with them. We'll also avail ourselves of Helen's decades of work for mainstream media to gain guidance on how any of us might sharpen our messaging to make what we have to say more effective. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:06 We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than was used to determine the 62 billion us dollars in the build back better infrastructure legislation that will be used to shore up aging in brittle nuclear reactor facilities and invest in unbuilt unproven, small modular nuclear reactor designs, our tax dollars at non-work. All of it coming up in just a few moments. Today is Tuesday, November 16th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off in the U S here in California, where just days before the Santa Susana field lab documentary in the dark of the valley aired on MSNBC. A building on that former rocket dine site was demolished using explosives. It was done by the U S department of energy on October 1st and sent clouds of dust into the sky near residential neighborhoods of what some experts say were radioactive materials. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:19 Just last month, a peer reviewed study found radioactive dust and Ash from Santa Susanna, which were generated by the 2018 Woolsey fire migrated as far as nine miles away to cities like thousand Oaks, Dan Hirsch, former director of the program on environmental and nuclear policy at UC Santa Cruz said there was absolutely no rationale for blowing it up. You would then be tossing that potentially radioactive material into the air. Us EPA documents discovered by NBC Los Angeles showed that the agency categorize the demolished building as class one, meaning it has the highest possibility of radioactive contamination. If you wish to support MSNBC for their airing of this important documentary in the dark of the valley, send an email letter or message to them. And we will have the link up on our website as to how to do that. In Ohio. A federal judge has ruled that Ohio rate payers who claim they were wrongfully charged on their electricity bills to bail out, failing nuclear power plants in the state can Sue electric utility first energy Corp in a class action suit, former Ohio house speaker, Larry householder, a Republican who championed the law, which allowed this charge to be added to the bills was federally charged last year with conspiring to secure its passage in exchange for $60 million in bribes in Japan, the agency spearheading rebuilding efforts stemming from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is now in talks with local authorities about phasing out assistance programs that evacuees meet their medical and nursing care costs. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:01 This threatens to impact more than 150,000 residents of 13 municipalities in Fukushima prefecture and the reconstruction agency plans to begin scaling back the size of the aid as early as in fiscal 2023. Also in Japan, the math challenged writers have an article on the radiation in lake, oh, Numa said that it might be polluted with radioactive cesium 1 37 for up to 30 years and admits that cesium 1 37 has a half-life of 30 years, but that's only how long it takes for it to become half as polluted as it started out as being. And it will take a total of 10 half life cycles or 300 years before that radioactive concentration is gone. And now for even more nuclear bone headedness, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:01 Like in Japan, Tokyo electric power company has released new information about solid radioactive waste containers. 5,338 containers were inspected. And of those 304 had significant corrosion and 342 had significant dents. So how did TEPCO repair put that word in quotes? These radioactive waste containers by applying large adhesive back plastic sheets to the areas of the metal containers that had suffered corrosion damage and leaks, no other ceiling work appears to have been done to these containers. They didn't even use duct tape and no word was offered on this plastic sticker material or the expected durability of the adhesive used. Maybe that's because TEPCO is still, is kept co-planning on disposing of this solid waste, along with the radioactive water into the Pacific ocean in 2023. Well, shoot, we're just going to have to wait to find out. And that's why once again, Tokyo electric power company KEPCO, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 00:08:17 I think internationally, a new report released by the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and PACS found that the number of banks, pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies investing in the production of nuclear weapons has gone down in 2021 representing a $63 billion drop in investments in nuclear weapons. The report entitled perilous profiteering is available on the ICANN website. I C a N w.org. And we will have a link. Now here's this week's featured interview. Nuclear issues are a tough to the mainstream media, which is why when one of their own makes a film about these issues. It's both well done and significant, which is why we are so happy to bring you this week's guest Helen Young is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist who has forged a career as a filmmaker and writer by blending a passion for investigative reporting, with a commitment to illuminating critical issues of the day. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:25 Over the course of a career spanning some 30 years, Helen has directed and produced documentary films on subjects ranging from the childhood obesity crisis in America, illegal gun trafficking and the U S space program. She was a staff writer and producer for CBS news and NBC news for 20 years, and also produced for MSNBC and L Roker productions. Helen has won one national Emmy news award and three New York Emmys for her work, as well as awards from the society of professional journalists, United press international, the national commission on working women and the red cross. Today, we talk about her film, the priests, the nuns, and the bombs. It presents the story of the Ploughshares nuclear disarmament activists who challenged the security and legality of America's nuclear weapons and their break-ins to two top secret facilities. The Fort Knox of uranium in Tennessee, and a us Navy Trident nuclear submarine base in Washington state. I spoke with Helen Young on Thursday, November 11th, 2021 telling young, so good to have you with us here today on nuclear hot seat Helen Young 01:10:43 Levy. Thank you so much for inviting me. I really appreciated. I think you do fantastic job. Your work is just really top notch. So I feel very honored to be with you today. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:55 What is your background as a journalist? Helen Young 01:10:58 My background as a journalist, actually, I started in local news here in New York city where, where I am now. And I ended up working for both the local ABC station early on during there was a subway strike here in New York city back in 1979. And I went on to work at CBS news during the, when I was hired when Carter and Reagan were running against each other. And I ended up working at CBS for 20 years. I then went on to and worked at various shows at CBS, including the morning news at the time the anchors were Harry Smith and Paul is on. And following that I did work on the Dan rather evening news for a couple of years. I did a segment called eye on America, where we would travel around the country and do wonderful stories. So that, that was a fantastic experience. Helen Young 01:11:55 I then went on to NBC news, where I worked at Dateline for a couple of years, because I wanted to get into more of long form journalism. And then following that, I did a lot of freelance work. The last couple of years, I worked at MSNBC. I've also worked at for Al Roker entertainment, Al Roker, the weatherman had a production company, and now I am working independently. I am at a point in my career where I really do want to work on projects that interest me for many years. I was assigned projects. So now I get to choose them. And I, I learned the hard way, the difficulties and the challenges of being an independent contractor. And oftentimes, you know, in our current environment, having to raise money for the projects that you really want to do. So that's where I'm at Libbe HaLevy 01:12:47 Clarity. When you were working for all of these various news organizations, were you on air talent? Was this writing, was this producing? Helen Young 01:12:57 I was not on air. When I worked for the large television networks. I was a writer and a producer. So I worked with correspondence. I did do some on air work actually for some local stations kind of on the weekends at times. But my main job really was to come up with story ideas and to figure out how we were going to tell them, and then to work with the correspondent and decide how we were going to tell the story, which I will tell you kind of bleeds into my approach to when I do my work now, because I'm a storyteller and what attracts me are great stories. The giant of journalism at CBS news was Don Hewitt and Don Hewitt created 60 minutes and Don, she would had a mantra and his mantra was, tell me a story. Don't talk to me about an issue. Tell me a story. Because as you know, Leiby people do not react to issues very much. They react to because issues can be, you know, they can just be in one ear and out the other. But if there's a way for you to package the issue by telling a personal story, or to have a personal story interwoven in the issue, that's what really gets people's attention. So I, you know, I'm always on the lookout for a great story. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:19 Speaking of great stories, where does your concern for nuclear weapons come from and how has it grown or changed over the years? Helen Young 01:14:28 In addition to my work and the news media I did spend in my academic background or my educational background, I studied international affairs and actually Russian studies. So I do have a background in that area. So it was something that I was always interested in. I actually, at one time was able to speak Russian pretty well. So I wasn't interested in the area, but I have to tell you my concept of nuclear weapons really, before I got involved in making my film, it had not really come up to the present time or to what nuclear weapons are about right now. You know, my frame of reference was Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you know, 15 kiloton bombs back in 2007, I happened to read an op-ed in the wall street journal by the so-called four horsemen. And they were former secretary of state, George Schultz, former secretary of defense under Clinton, William Perry, Sam Nunn, who a Senator from Georgia and Henry Kissinger. Helen Young 01:15:32 And they wrote this op-ed calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons. I was completely flabbergasted because these were four so-called cold war warriors, and they had been advocates and proponents of nuclear weapons. And here they were doing a complete 360 saying we needed to get rid of that subsequent to that 2007 op ed, they wrote for more, op-eds calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons. That first op ed really got me thinking, it kind of planted a seed. Like why would these gentlemen who have been advocating for these weapons, do a complete about face. And so that really set me on a journey to kind of study it a little bit more and see what had really happened. And what had happened really is that we have weapons today that are magnitudes of times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We have, you know, one warhead today is 30 times one war had carried on our submarines is 30 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. And there are as many as, you know, 192 warheads on a submarine. So this was really an education that I undertook on my own to kind of understand why there'd been this change. And that really led me to my story. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:00 Were you allowed to cover these issues at all in the news broadcasts that you were either writing or producing Helen Young 01:17:07 Actually no levy. I w I it's not that I was not allowed, but my sort of focus when I was working in the television news business was on investigative and consumer type stories. You know, I did stories, for example, it was department of agriculture that was not inspecting me to appropriately. I did stories about security guards in New York who were not appropriately licensed to do the work. Some had preliminary backgrounds. So I did those types of stories. I did not travel internationally, and I did mostly domestic stories, but not on this area. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:46 Now it's about your film and how you were inspired, moved to take this on as a project Helen Young 01:17:53 Because of the interest that I had, the general interest in nuclear weapons, and because of my other requirement, that there'd be a great story. I said about seeing, how was I going to tell this story about the change that had occurred in the whole nuclear weapons in that whole environment? You know, we have many, many more weapons now we're spending millions and trillions of dollars on them. And so I, I was looking for a story and I had thought maybe I would go in one direction and profiling someone. And I wasn't really that happy. And, and the set by serendipity one day I was having lunch with a fellow named Stephen leaper, who at the time was the head of the Hiroshima peace culture foundation. He was in New York and we had lunch and he just offhandedly said, oh, by the way, I just came back from Tacoma, Washington, where I was called as an expert witness to this trial, where five activists, including an 84 year old Catholic nun and two priests, two Jesuit priests, one of whom was 82 and two grandmothers had trespassed onto a nuclear submarine base. Helen Young 01:19:06 And I almost dropped my fork because I thought, wow, you know, how come I know nothing about this? And I'd been doing all this research. And he said, yes, I was called as an expert witness. I went with photographs of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I was not allowed to show them in the courtroom because the judge said these photos might flame the jury. And so that was really kind of the impetus, I guess, you know, I said to Steve, oh, this is really fascinating. And I'm surprised that I know nothing about it. Would you connect me with these people? And he did. And so that, you know, the rest is history, as they say, it started off as a great idea, which I'd like to say turns into an Odyssey because it was an Odyssey. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:53 It seems that everything that we do against nuclear always turns into an Odyssey. I was just going to do a podcast one Tuesday, and that was 10 and a half years ago, right? The film is called the nuns, the priest, and the bum. Talk to us about the journey that it took for you to actually make this as a film. Helen Young 02:20:14 When I decided to bite the bullet. So to speak. After I heard about this story of the five activists who had trespassed onto this nuclear submarine base on the west coast, I flew out to Tacoma, Washington to meet them because I wanted to know who they were and what would motivate them to do something like this. Really? When you think about it, five people using a map, they had downloaded from Google to go on to the most allegedly secure nuclear submarine. That is the headquarters for the Pacific fleet of the United States, where eight so-called boomer submarines, they're called boomers because they're huge. And they carry, this is the most powerful nuclear weapon in the American arsenal is a Trident nuclear submarine. So this is a very daunting thing. And to think that these five elderly activists could actually pull something like this off was, was truly unbelievable. Helen Young 02:21:15 And so I really needed to find out more about them and with a religious zealots, you know, who were they really? And so I did go and I met with them and I was just so pleasantly surprised by what I met. I mean, these were highly intelligent, highly involved, highly educated people who were very conversant with the nuclear issue had spent a lot of time thinking about it and deciding w you know, to do this, what they engaged in was a Ploughshares action. And the Ploughshares movement started back in 1980 with the Catholic priests, Dan and Phil Berrigan. And people will remember that those two Catholic priests were very much opposed to the Vietnam war. They burned a draft cards and so forth. Then starting in 1980, they did the first plowshares action, which is they trespassed onto a GE plant in king of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Helen Young 02:22:15 This is a symbolic action where they go into these nuclear facilities and they do certain actions. They take little carpenter hammers, and they symbolically hammer on the weapons. They take blood, which is symbolic of human life, and they shed it on the weapons. And so this is what happened out on the west coast, in this incident that I described near Seattle, when I met them Libby, I was very impressed with them. And I thought, they're great. I'm going to do this story. So I did some interviews with them and I put together a pitch reel. I thought this is a no brainer. It's definitely going to be picked up by PBS because after all, it's about our nuclear weapons. And I promoted this hitch real, pretty aggressively. I got a lot of interest. I was a finalist at the ITVF for an ITVS grant. I went up to the, I think it's the third round of, you know, examination, but ultimately we did not get the funding. Helen Young 02:23:19 And at that point I had to make the decision, or what do I do? You know, do I just abandon this project and say, yeah, great story. But I can't get the funding. And I did something that I never thought I'd have to do. I, I, one of the priests father, bill Bixell, who's one of the main characters in the film and who is very beloved in city of Tacoma. He's considered Tacoma's Mahatma Gandhi. He said to me, Helen, we're going to do, you're going do this film. And he really helped to sort of mobilize the energy and support among the people in and around Tacoma. I have to tell you that it was kind of a double-edged sword because being a journalist, I wanted to tell the story, you know, let the chips fall where they may. So I really did want to get the other side, you know, I wanted to get the Navy's point of view, obviously, because these people had trespassed onto a nuclear facility. Helen Young 02:24:14 So I did make efforts to get the prosecutor and the Navy to speak with me. I flew all the way out to Tacoma to do my interviews with them. And they canceled on me last minute. Yeah. I guess I obviously have their point of view in the story, but it ended up taking a longer time than I thought it would. But ultimately it did come together because everybody who worked on the film is professional professional camera people, former ABC people, professional editors. And they all worked for a really a percentage of what their actual hourly wage would be because they became believers in the film and they became just lovers of these people. They wanted their story to be told. And so I just really feel gratified, you know, not only that the film was ultimately made, but you know, for me, the biggest benefit was getting to know the people. Helen Young 02:25:07 At what point was the saga of sister, Meagan, rice and Gregory and Michael Wally. At what point did that become part of this film? Yeah, that is a great question. And it's very pivotal to this, to the making of this film, because what happened was, as I say, I started out making a story about the five people on the west coast and about a year into the production. I get a call one morning from a friend of mine. Who's a writer, she's actually a playwright. And she said, Helen, have you seen the front page of today's New York times? And I said, no, not yet. She said, I think your nuns on the front page. And I said, what? So I ran to the paper and they're on the front page is sister Megan Rice, who I didn't even know I was dealing with a sister and Montgomery out on the west coast, little did I know they knew each other, but anyway, I started reading the story and of course, it's front page, New York times the biggest security breach in the history of America's atomic complex. Helen Young 02:26:12 And I thought, wow, this is really something I thought, what does this do to my film now, levy, I have to tell you when the incident happened on the west coast, there was no coverage of it, zero, because really I have to say that the us Navy really kind of clammed up. However, when the incident happened at Oak Ridge, there was massive coverage of it. Media from all over the world were covering this particular story because Y 12 is where other countries that were that for example, Kazakhstan that had gotten rid of their nuclear weapons, they sent their highly enriched uranium to Y 12 for storage. So people from all over the world were, I mean, my understanding was even the secretary of the energy was contacted when this thing happened. It was a huge, huge embarrassment that sister Meagan and these two and Greg and Michael were able to get in. Helen Young 02:27:15 So then of course there were four different congressional hearings that took place because of the sister Meagan action at Y 12. And there was just no way that I could ignore the story. It had really overpowered what had happened on the west coast, but more importantly, not only for that reason, but what I was able to do. I contacted sister Meagan and I found out that they were all connected. Basically these people, the Ploughshares activists, they are a very, very small community of people who decide among themselves when they are going to do these actions. And they keep it very prescribed because they do not want to involve other people in getting roped into a conspiracy, you know? Oh, you knew about this action. So why didn't you go to the authority so to speak? Yeah, so they were planning it while I was making my film and I knew absolutely zero about it. Helen Young 02:28:13 However, you know, sister Meagan told me that the impetus for her doing the action at Y 12 was she had gone to the trial in Tacoma, Washington, where the five people on the west coast had broken into the facility there, the submarine facility. And she was in the trial. She was in during the court, she saw the whole court proceeding. And when those five people were convicted, she said, well, we have to do something more. We can't just, they were deemed guilty. And she said, in my opinion, they're not guilty. They're trying to uphold international humanitarian law, which says you're not supposed to use indiscriminate weapons. So that was really the conduit, the connection between the two. And I thought, oh, this is perfect. You know, I really can do kind of start with sister Meagan story. And then I went back in time and I told what the inspiration was for her. Helen Young 02:29:09 That was kind of fortuitous. I must say that it worked out that way. What difficulties did you face in putting the film together and how long did it take? Well, levy, that's a great, another great question. I think I have about 12 different cuts of the film. I started the film in different ways, and I actually, as I say, I started with the story of the people out on the west coast and thought, then I could go to the wide 12 story, but, you know, it took a lot of thinking on my part on how to tell the story. You know, the narrative structure is very important. I have a number of different cuts and it took me a while for me to be happy with the final cut, which I'm very happy with. So overall, I would say I started the film in 2010 and I finished it in 2017, but I didn't work on it. Helen Young 03:30:03 Full-time. So I'd say, you know, overall seven years, where has the film been shown and what is its current distribution and availability as luck would have it when I was putting the finishing touches on the film in 2017, that was when the new treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons was being negotiated at the United nations. Over the course of my researching nuclear weapons. I had become friendly with a number of people in this area, including for example, a woman who works for the international committee of the red cross, by the way, the international committee of the red cross has come out and said that if there's ever a nuclear confrontation, they would not have the ability to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe that would occur. There were a number of people that I became friendly with, and they invited me to the UN to basically sit in on the negotiations. Helen Young 03:31:00 And based on that participation, then I was able to debut the film at the UN. So we had a fantastic debut of the film at the UN, which was sponsored by the permanent mission of Ireland because the Irish delegation was just phenomenal when they were speaking about why this treaty was important. The delegation from Ireland was composed predominantly of women, and they spoke about the disproportionate effect that nuclear weapons have on girls and women. And that really moved the audience. I would say so many more delegations got up and talked about the need to have a treaty that actually Outlaws nuclear weapons. Because right now, before this treaty was an acted biological and chemical weapons, cluster munitions, and those types of horrific weapons of mass destruction are banned by international treaties. And nuclear weapons was the only one that was not really bad. And so this new treaty closed that loophole. Helen Young 03:32:08 So the film was shown there. And then I have a distributor who passion river films has distributed the film to various streaming websites. It's currently on Sundance. Now it's on Amazon, it's on iTunes. You can see it on YouTube. My major interest levy in making the film was to get young people involved in this issue because my feeling is that all of the people who are working in this area are older people. You know, there really isn't from what I can see much activism among the young, they are very engaged in the climate issue. But like, I like to say there won't be a climate if we have a nuclear confrontation. So what I have done is I have shown the film in a number of universities before COVID hit. We were on a college tour. We showed it at Notre Dame. We showed it at Wellesley brown Fordham, Seattle U many schools pace George Washington university. Helen Young 03:33:16 And what we were doing was we had had all discussions following the film where people from various walks of life, whether it was a doctor or a person of faith or a political scientist, a lawyer would discuss the film. So yes, it has gone out to the college community. And the other thing we've done is we've had the film translated into Japanese, Korean, German, and French. So it is available in those languages as well. And you know, it's, it's a process it's being, I mean, I just, the other day I was communicating with someone in Japan, at a university who's interested. So it is getting out there. It's not the sexiest topic. Let's put it that way. It depends on which of us you're talking to. Exactly. But when you're talking about the main stream is very difficult in this country to talk about our own nuclear weapons. Helen Young 03:34:15 We can talk about Iran, not getting them, or we can talk about North Korea, but we're not really talking about the trillions of dollars that we're going to spend to modernize our weapons and really how much of our money is going into them. And why do we need to spend so much on them and what they really do? You know, just today, I got an email from the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, talking about, you know, the universities that are involved in nuclear weapon production, either through their research or other aspects that they're involved in, in creating these weapons. So there's a lot to talk about and connecting back to sister Meagan, you know, we each have a role to play. We can't break into nuclear facilities. Not all of us can do that, but we each have a particular talent that we can bring to this. Helen Young 03:35:08 If we are interested enough, like yet what you're doing with your podcast, where you are really a trailblazer on that and bringing the information to people on the nuclear energy, which I'm becoming more educated on just by listening to your podcast. So thank you. Where is the film available right now? Should people finish listening to this and going, oh, gotta do it. I'll put a link up on the website. Where would you send them? I think the cheapest way to see it is on YouTube, actually the nuns and the priests and the bombs, plural. And at the reason it's the bombs is because out on the west coast where the film really the bulk of the film takes place is where they have more nuclear warheads than any place else. So it's plural, it's the nuns, the priests, plural, the bombs, plural. And I also have a webpage nuns, plural priests, plural bombs, the film.com. As I said, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:07 We will link up to both those places on the website. We'll continue with our interview with Emmy award winning broadcast journalist Helen Young in just a moment. But first Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Trinity, a bomb test in New Mexico years of atmospheric bomb test in Nevada and the south Pacific. That was the start of what we came to call the atomic age. And the radioactive legacy of those times continues to this day. But the list of nuclear dangers and disasters is far more extensive than just fallout from the bombs. It includes radiation releases from uranium mining reactors, highly radioactive waste with no place to store it and accidents. The dangers are as endless as the radioactivity of plutonium, which lasts for close to a quarter of a million years yet, despite the known risks and health safety, the nuclear industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and of life itself. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:14 That's why you need nuclear hot seat to help, you know, what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We cover not only what the industry is doing, but how it got that way. How many brave activists around the world are fighting back and how any one of us can take action to try to stop nuclear madness at nuclear hot seat, we are dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we vet the information to provide context and continuity. You can trust so that you can understand the full, ongoing picture, but in order to continue to do that, we need your help. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:06 You can also set up a monthly donation of as little as $5. That's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S I don't think that's too small to make a difference because those $5 donations are what sustains the show from month to month. So if you value nuclear hot seat and want to help us continue, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude, as you might expect. If you listen to nuclear hot seat with any frequency, I couldn't let an experienced mainstream media reporter come on this show without asking her for some pointers about how we can better work with the media. So with the shift in focus, here's the continuation of this week's featured interview with award-winning broadcast journalist, Helen Young, you are an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:58 You've worked for both CBS and NBC news for 20 years, as well as many other news outlets. So you have experience and heavy credits. Now, for those of us who oppose nuclear, we have a difficult time getting people to pay attention to our issues. Even when the nuclear industry is not running interference on the truth. Admittedly news organizations are greatly diminished these days in terms of size staffing and reach, but there've gotta be ways. How do you think we can gain the attention of the tattered remains of the news media to report on the issues that we find so important? Helen Young 03:39:38 You know, you asked me the $64 million question, because this is something that I struggled with with my own film. And I think that as you know, the media has undergone tremendous change. It's very focused. Now when, when I was working in the television news media media was not a profit center, it was a public service. And now so many local news operations have gone by the wayside. The whole print industry has had to reassess and it's going digital as you know, I mean, I, I think the best way really is to form relationships with local reporters and to really pitch stories, and also writing letters to the editor, getting your story or your whatever you're trying to pitch as strongly as possible. And as often as possible as you can, to some of the people who work in local news. And I do believe it starts with local news and with local stories. Helen Young 04:40:40 I think that again, for something like nuclear weapons, that's a little bit more difficult to do, especially the approach that I took, which is to look at the overall issue. But, you know, maybe if I had focused on just a story in a local area now with the nuclear energy, you know, I'm learning more about certain things just in listening to your own podcast of certain reactors. For example, in Michigan, that you had talked about where the cancer level among children with thyroid cancer is extremely high. Those types of local stories, I think would gain attention. That that would be the approach that I would take, make it personal, as opposed to broad. I don't know if that's an appropriate answer, but I think that this is something that we're all struggling with. Actually, the heartening part of all this. I recently read a book by professor Lawrence Whitner called confronting the, and it's about the nuclear disarmament movement. Helen Young 04:41:38 I think sometimes those of us who are working in this area of trying to raise awareness on the danger of nuclear weapons, for example, feel wow, we're just like, you know, whistling in the wind. But the truth of the matter is that as professor Whitner points out in his book where it not for the disarmament community and citizen activism, that's really the reason why we haven't seen another nuclear bomb being used. There was tremendous pressure on Kennedy to use bombs, to use nuclear weapons during the Cuban missile crisis. And of course in general, you know, Kennedy had to push back against his military advisors who thought that he was, you know, being a little bit too complacent with the Soviets. But my point is that citizen activism has been extremely important. And I think that's really overlooked. We tend to think that, you know, we're, we're just not having an effect, but we are having an effect. Helen Young 04:42:35 And I think, you know, even like your, a podcast that goes out into so many countries, you know, people are listening and like sister man told me in my film, I asked her like, well, what did you actually accomplish by doing this? You know, you broke into a nuclear facility, you went to prison, you've done eight of these things. Like, so what gives here? And she said, Helen, you never know, you never know what the effect is going to be. You do it. And you just let it go. You can't be looking for, okay, what did I accomplish? She said, you know, Americans were looking for accomplishments or, you know, what did you get out of this? And she said, even if one person is changed by what I did, or their thinking has changed, that is an accomplishment. And that's something that I really take to heart because yeah, we're not getting the big CNN. Helen Young 04:43:28 You know, I pre pitched my bill to CNN and I know people there and they didn't air it, but we have to keep up the good fight. It's a matter of persistence. And it's a matter of passion because I'm sure that you wouldn't be doing what you're doing, where you're not passionate about it. There'd be, there's no way that you could ever be financially compensated for your work. Let's be honest about it. Right. I'd like to see my monthly expenses be covered. Yeah. Honestly, you know, for me, it was a labor of love. I know that's a cliche. And for many of the people who worked on the film too, you know, the editor didn't take his full salary, so to speak. So, but I learned a lot doing this and certainly going forward, everything is streaming now. So we don't really have to depend so much on the big broadcasters that's changing too. And I feel extremely fortunate that I have a distributor and that the film is getting out there in your dealings. If you've had any communication with frontline Libbe HaLevy 04:44:31 Activists who are trying to make you aware of some aspect of the issue, or perhaps they're trying to pitch their own, take on a story as a journalist, are there any mistakes that are being made in our outreach and of, so what might we be able to do to correct? Helen Young 04:44:50 You know, when I was working in the news business, we would get assaulted truly. We would get a flood of PR releases and people pitching stories to us. Again, I didn't do these types of stories on nuclear weapons. When I was working in the media. I can't really see any kind of problem with the way the story is being pitched. No, I mean, the refrain that you get on the nuclear issue is like you are a Pollyanna. Do you really think that nuclear weapons could ever be eliminated in this country? I mean, this is the kind of pushback that I have often gotten. Not that I'm trying to convince anybody. I am trying to tell a story. I mean, I am putting the facts before you, I don't need to convince you. All I need to do is tell you what the truth is. This is part of what I got into when I was working on the film is I was telling the prosecutor and the Navy, I'm just telling a story. Helen Young 04:45:50 You know, I'm not taking anybody's position, but the facts speak for themselves. So I don't think I really have any point. I, I'm not really sure if there's anything that you can do that to improve your chances of getting a story accepted except to tell a great story. That's my only answer to that. A great story is a great story. No matter who you are, if the story tugs it in your heart, if there's humanity to it, if there is a compelling character, if there is, you know, separate and apart from the issue, you have to be moved by the character. That's what it's all about, really. And if the character comes with a compelling issue so much the better, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:29 And I can certainly think of no more compelling issue than the one that we're currently dealing with in all of its many Hydra headed facets. Anything else that you can think of that might guide us? Helen Young 04:46:42 You know, you touched on something that I've heard a lot, you know, from the nuclear weapons community, the activists, they've also talked about this issue. How can we get in our elevator speech? And I've attended a number of meetings where they talked about, what can we do, you know, to get people worked up about this. And what they decided to do is to join forces. They're joining forces now with the climate people and seeing the climate connection. There's a climate connection to nuclear weapons just today. In fact, there's a new study that shows, you know, what would happen to the climate. For example, if the U S and Russia did go to war with each other. So you've got to find the cook into, like, if you're not living near a nuclear reactor, like I don't care, right. Let's be honest, right. But if you can make it important to me who is not living in Utah or Nevada or wherever, that's how you get people interested, it has to be personally important to you putting out a lot of numbers and graphs and things like that. Helen Young 04:47:47 People's eyes glaze over there is a trick to it in finding the catch of what is going to, as you said, interest someone in an elevator pitch, you know, did you know, you may think that nuclear energy is, is actually clean and the solution, but actually nuclear energy creates just as much carbon as other types of energy. So it has to be made personal. It has to be made relevant to that person. That's what I faced with my, like, if I did a feel about we're going to spend a trillion dollars on nuclear weapons, there are 30 times more powerful than the bombs dropped in Hiroshima. You know, if we dropped bomb in New York, a hundred, 1.6 million people are going to die. Okay, fine. But this none goes into a nuclear facility and, you know, she's able to use a bolt cutter. Wow. That's pretty interesting. Helen Young 04:48:38 Now I want to know why now I get into the issue of nuclear weapon. I mean, that's the kind of conduit now with nuclear energy. It's interesting that you mentioned, cause I was just listening to something else the other day about this very issue. That's very fact that people are not engaged in the nuclear radiation problem because then many of them don't live near these reactors. They don't think that it's affecting them really. And so I would think that the people who are living in and around that Michigan reactor that Joe Mangano talked about would be having lots of stories and local media about those children. That's a big story. And he said, even the information was on the CDC website. So as I said before, this is the trickiest question, you know, to try to, because there's so much information that people are flooded with. Helen Young 04:49:32 And especially now, how do you break through that? It is a challenge. I mean, I go back to the mantra, which is, it has to be personal to get people. It ha it has to impact. And it has to be a story that people like, wow, that gets the attention. That's my own opinion. Because there have been, for example, there was a, there was a film called countdown to zero about nuclear weapons when they had all of these great people on it, Colin Powell and the four horsemen that I spoke about before. And they were all talking about how bad it is and oh, if the terrorists get it, the film was a bomb. They spent over a million dollars on the film. It was a bomb. And they got all this money. I mean, at that time, that million dollars was a lot of money. Helen Young 05:50:17 It was like, oh, nuclear weapons. I really scary. You know? And if, yeah, all right, I knew that, but it's so scary that I can't even, I can't even think about it. It's too scary. And what has happened in the nuclear weapons issue is that there is a nuclear priesthood. The people who know about this and everybody else is like, you don't know enough about this. Don't worry your pretty little head about it. We'll take care of it. We know we'll take care of it for you. And this is another problem because if there's a nuclear confrontation, we all need to be experts because we're all going to be affected by it. That is the truth. But there is this, they call them the nuclear priesthood, but it's changing now. It's changing levy. There are more women going into it. There's a big push for diversity. Helen Young 05:51:08 Now getting more people of color involved. So there is momentum on that. And that's good because we need to look at this from different perspectives. Because when I was researching my film, everything I came across was the military aspect, the strategic aspect of nuclear weapons. It was nothing about the ethical, the moral, the humanitarian part of it. They don't talk about that. So if you can appeal to the heart, not to the brain so much, but to the heart, that's what really moves people. I believe it's a struggle for all of us who are engaged in this issue to really raise awareness on it. Thank you Libbe HaLevy 05:51:46 For bad answer, because I think there are many nuggets of advice that we can follow through on. And at least it's nice to have some commiseration on what the problems are. One of my favorite phrases about the nuclear industry, trying to talk us off the deserving panic that we have so often as to their actions, I refer to that as their, their Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it. It's that degree of condescension and lack of attention to the human aspects of what they're doing. They talk about military, they talk about strategy. They talk about security. They don't talk about what's happening on the ground and what the aftermath is. That's what my play is about and how that restriction was hardwired in immediately after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So I want to thank you for this injection of journalistic and communications, guidance, and awareness and perspective, what it is that we're all continuing to do. And again, thank you for joining me here on nuclear hot seat. Helen Young 05:52:58 Thank you very much for having me levy. It's really been a pleasure to speak with you. I appreciate it. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:03 Award-winning broadcast journalist as well as writer, producer, director, Helen, young, her film, the priests, the nuns, and the bomb is available through her website, nuns, priests bombs, the film.com. You can follow the film also on Facebook, under nuns priests bombs. We will link to these sites on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 43, by the way, in the interview, Helen spoke of the Irish delegation at the United nations, talking about the disproportionate impact of radiation on girls and women. This important, crucial work is done by Mary Olson and her work can be found@genderandradiation.org. We will link to that as well, because it's so important. And so worth your time for a visit Announcer 05:54:00 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:54:08 The award-winning film in the dark of the valley about the radioactive legacy of the Santa Susana field lab in Los Angeles and Simi valley has sent shock waves through the area impacted by radioactive contamination. The film is airing again on Sunday, November 21st at 5:00 PM Pacific time on MSNBC. You can also watch it on demand on MSNBC. If you haven't seen it, it is well worth your time to watch. And if you know anybody in west Los Angeles, the Western part of the San Fernando valley, all the way over to malleable, because these are impacted areas do let them know about the film nuclear wake up call.earth has been presenting a series of zoom-in ours every month with terrific participants speaking at length uncompelling aspects of the nuclear issue. The most recent one is women transforming our nuclear legacy, indigenous wisdom, the nuclear ban treaty and activism we'll have a link to the full panel on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 43. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:22 And once you're on the site, sign up because you'll get notifications of their webinars, their zoom in ours every month. And Cynthia Lazaroff who produces these events always does a fantastic job with them and peace action, maine.org that's peace action. M e.org is presenting a review of cop 26 featuring reports by the Reverend Richard Kilmer, who was an official observer at cop 26 and Lisa Savage who participated in the people's summit for climate justice. That took place outside of the official events. This will be held on Monday, November 22nd, seven to 8:00 PM. Eastern four to 5:00 PM Pacific time. And you can sign up at peace action, M e.org. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net don't renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org, nearest.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org nuclear wake up. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:36 call.earth peace action. M e.org w S j.com. NBC Los angeles.com urban dictionary.com msnbc.com. reuters.com. Harold standard.com Seattle times.com dw.com. asahi.com nuclear world news.com daily star.co.uk. Your're active.com the soul Ned cubical drones who write propaganda for world nuclear news and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to make certain you don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat, you can get it delivered by email every week, just as freshly as it posts online, go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:51 Click on it, follow the prompts. Anything you can do will help. And we really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as sister Meagan, rice said, none of us is out of prison. As long as one nuclear bomb exists. That's it. Your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:37 Leah Hotsy it's the bomb ### NH #542: New York Times Lies of Omission on A-Bomb Radiation Dangers - Why We Still Don't Understand: News Zero, Beverly Deepe Keever URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-york-times-a-bomb-radiation-dangers/ Published: 2021-11-10 Duration: 00:58:59 New York Times lies of omission at the dawn of the Atomic Age are the reason why we don’t understand radiation and its dangers. Front line Vietnam war correspondent Beverly Deepe-Keever spells it out in her essential, rigorously researched book, This Week's Featured Interview: New York Times Outed on Radiation Lies of Omission: Beverly Deepe-Keever is an American journalist, Vietnam War correspondent, author and professor emerita of journalism and communications at the University of Hawai'i after 29 years teaching and researching there. She is author of the essential nuclear reference book, NEWS ZERO: The New York Times and the Bomb. From 10 years of extensive research into the New York Times and the bomb at the dawn of the Atomic Age, she reveals the source of the resistance we face today in trying to warn about nuclear radiation dangers and why nuclear must never be considered “green” energy. Beverly Deepe-Keever in her Vietnam war correspondent days Beverly Deepe-Keever NOTE: The play I'm writing, ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE, was inspired by information I learned from Beverly Deepe-Keever's research and writing. It tells the story of William L. Laurence, science writer for the New York Times, who was embedded in the Manhattan Project as their on-site "historian" (read: propagandist). Laurence had unlimited access to the Manhattan Project in its waning days, witnessed the Trinity and Nagasaki blasts, and just missed out on going to Hiroshima. His resulting stories in the Times mentioned nothing about radiation or radioactivity, though he understood the subject from his years of reporting on front line science. The play will be completed by the end of 2021. Contacts to theatre companies will be greatly appreciated. – Libbe. LINKS: Greenland uranium mining ban links: Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld – CLICK ON TITLE to access free Vimeo film.Nuclear Hotseat #390 – Interview with Kannersuit/Kvanefjeld filmmaker Lise Autogena, recorded at the International Uranium Film Festival at Window Rock, New Mexico in 2018. COP 26 Videos: No Radioactive Waste Dump into the Pacific: Dr. Ian Fairlie on Tritium Dangers: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear gaslighting. Part of the problem, those who oppose nuclear have had to deal with is convincing the public, including reporters that radiation from nuclear sources, poses a genuine threat to human life and health. The proof is out there, but it's consistently ignored or distorted by pro nuclear interests. So they can keep getting away with what they get away with, which is more and more and more weapons, reactors waste, but then a former Vietnam war correspondent who spent more than 10 years researching the impact of nuclear testing on the south Pacific islands discovers what appears to be the intentional emissions of radiation facts from virtually all articles on the bomb published by our newspaper of record, the New York times and among the hidden impacts of radiation. She discovers from this test, she learns and tells you Beverly Deepe Keever 00:01:00 One of the most devastating pieces of information later on was the British medical journal. How the deaths of newborn babies and stillborn the death rate had been going down, down, down until the fifties, when you had much better care and sanitation for the newborn. And then with the nuclear testing, there's a hump up more newborn deaths. And this was a factor that the women in the Pacific islands were saying, but nobody was paid attention to them. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:35 And there's so much more so when Beverly deep Keever who wrote the landmark book news zero, the New York times, and the balm tells you what she learned and puts it in the context of what we have been led not to learn. You realize how the powers that be would much rather none of us realizes that the whole world, every last one of us has been forced into that seat that we all share. Announcer 00:02:06 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking, Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been braking clear? Hotsy the Cari Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:37 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a powerful look at the history of how we have all been manipulated away from understanding the true dangers of nuclear radiation and the bomb. I talk at lunch with Beverly deep Keever author of the book news zero, the New York times and the bomb. I believe it is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important books you can ever read on how the world has been gaslit into thinking that radiation is not a danger. So everything nuclear is a okay. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:37 We will also have nuclear news from around the world. And more honest, nuclear information than was used as the basis for the build back better bill, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, November 9th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Some good international news Greenland is preparing legislation to ban uranium exploration and mining. The country's newly formed government is proposing to ban mining at uranium mines and cease development of the neon field. Mine. If extracted the projects, uranium reserves are believed to adversely affect the country's environment. The new bill would also include the option to ban the exploration of other radioactive minerals, such as Thorin. There's a film on this by Lees author, Gina and Joshua Portway called Connor suit Kayvon field. We will have a link up to the film and also the nuclear hot seat interview with Lisa auto Gina from the international uranium film festival, that will be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 42, and Norway's largest pension fund said on Thursday, November 4th, that it has divested from 14 companies involved in producing nuclear missiles and other weapons, Oslo based K LP, which manages more than $35.4 billion in assets set. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:07 It made the decision after reviewing companies that may violate its guidelines on weapons. KLP is head of responsible investments. Kieron Aziz said, companies do not need to produce the actual weapon components themselves. It is sufficient that they contribute in other ways and said that these weapons by their nature violate fundamental humanitarian principles don't bank on the bomb strikes again in the U S tribes, indigenous groups, conservation organizations file a petition to strengthen federal mining rules and groups fire back at the Fed's move to dismiss plutonium pit lawsuit. We'll have details on both of these stories on next week's program. Here's this week's featured interview. You know how sometimes you read a book and it changes worldview even your life. For me, that's the book news zero, the New York times and the bomb since reading it about seven years ago, not a day has passed without it being part of my life, the inspiration for, and cornerstone source for a play that I have been writing. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:18 Thus, I am honored and thrilled to introduce you to both the book and the woman who wrote it. Beverly deep Keever is an American journalist, Vietnam war, corresponded author, and professor emerita of journalism and communications at the university of Hawaii. After 29 years of researching and teaching there, what she reveals to us from 10 years of extensive research into the New York times and the bomb at the Dawn of the atomic age reveals the source of so many of the problems we face today in warning people about nuclear radiation, dangers, and why nuclear must never be considered green energy. This is one of the most important and influential books I've ever read. And that's why I was delighted to speak with Beverly deep Keever on Thursday, November 4th, 2021, Beverly deep Keever. It is such an honor to have you on nuclear hot seat is my guest this week. Beverly Deepe Keever 00:07:21 I am delighted to be here and thank you for your interest in this continuingly, crucial topic. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:29 Start out with a little bit about you so people can understand who they're hearing from you were a reporter and did some very hardcore war. What is your background as a reporter? Beverly Deepe Keever 00:07:42 I was hired at the university of Hawaii to teach journalism based on my professional credentials, which were a master's degree from Columbia university, school of journalism and seven years of reporting in the Vietnam war. But I did not have a doctorate, a PhD, the gold standard for academia. And without that I realized I buy the apartment underscored. You're just a second class citizen with no future. So I did the study to do a PhD, but you have to do a dissertation. And so the crunch was my dissertation. I wanted to do something on journalism. I want to do it on the Pacific. I was in Hawaii. And what bigger topic than the nuclear testing, Libbe HaLevy 00:08:39 Did you do any reporting on nuclear issues while you were reporting from Vietnam? Beverly Deepe Keever 00:08:45 No, go. I didn't. As a matter of fact, I was stunned to find out much, much later that general Westmoreland had actually advocate using nuclear weapons in Vietnam. But of course, that didn't go anywhere. Thank goodness we'd have been very polarized for sure, but no, I hadn't followed the nuclear issue very much at all because a lot of this happened while I was just in college and journalism school, but you know, you didn't pay that much attention. You didn't know that much about it. That was basically the story. The American public didn't know very much about what was going on in the Pacific with the nuclear testing. So anyhow, this dissertation is supposed to take seven years or you're getting kicked out, but I got extensions. It took me 10 years that I finally finally did it. Now. I could only do it on the New York times because it's the only newspaper that had a decent index. Beverly Deepe Keever 00:09:53 The New York times prided itself on being the newspaper of record for the whole world. And they published every year, a very thick volume of their indexed articles. So I could go to that index. So I pulled the articles for, of course the nuclear tests. And then I pulled article on plutonium and so on. So I was just a wash in these articles, but I didn't know how many tests there were finally in the government documents room. I came across this little micro fish. I don't know if people even know microfish and here in 1994, the department of energy had released for the first time, a complete list of all of the tests throughout the country included the Pacific islands and their tonnage, the location, the kind of tests as a yield. So on the basis of that, I could see there were 86 nuclear tests in Anna. Beverly Deepe Keever 01:11:06 We talk bikini and Johnston eight halls and the surrounding Pacific islands. So then I could just backtrack had the New York times covered this and had they covered it. Yeah. I could pull the articles that they did cover and see the ones that they had not covered. What these tests showed is that the nuclear tests were just a fraction of the thousand 1,500 tests throughout the world that the U S had done, but they were 84% of the yield, which meant they were the most powerful ones, the unpredictable ones too unsafe to try on the 48 contiguous states. So they were getting the brunt of the explosive force. And of course the experiments. So what does did show though, was these weapons in just the Pacific islands and the waters accounted for 8,588 bombs that were being tested in 16 years, just to the Pacific islands. So that was 8,000 bombs. That's equivalent about one and a half Hiroshima bombs per day for 16 years in the Pacific. And nobody knew anything about to speak of, Libbe HaLevy 01:12:41 As you were coming across this information, were you aware of who the writers were or were you impressed by what the times was doing, or did you have thoughts about maybe they weren't doing a complete job about it? What was your process at the time of considering these articles? Beverly Deepe Keever 01:13:00 One summer I had spent just reviewing the history of the New York times based on the available literature and a lot of books that had been written about them. And by reading New York times, people and the New York times was a usual ahead of their time that they developed specialized reporting by science and by military, this was before the war, but in the thirties. And so they had specialized reporters because they were very interested in the international aspect. And of course in science. So Lawrence was, the name came up all the time and there was a lot written about Roy just as what a great reporter he was and how spatially was everything. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:55 And to be clear, this is William L. Lawrence. The last name is spelled with the U, not the other William Lawrence from the New York times whose last name was spelled with a w Beverly Deepe Keever 01:14:04 That's, right. They call them atomic bill, which he loved Libbe HaLevy 01:14:09 Not until much later after the bomb and after they knew about his involvement with the Manhattan project. Beverly Deepe Keever 01:14:16 That's right. So basically once I had the data with those tests, I found that in your new times reported only 56% of the tests in the Pacific because they were following the government lead. And the interesting thing about even the 56%, they did cover nine of those tests were from Japanese scientists in Tokyo. In other words, the bombs were so powerful, like an earthquake that they could detect them all over the world, but the Japanese scientists were taking note of it and announcing it. So the Japanese were actually another thing, some of these bombs. Now, the other interesting thing is the Americans and the free world and the service men working on this, the Pacific Islanders were all kept in the dark because of nuclear secrecy. They always said national security, of course, except from the Russians, the big enemy, because they had toddlers right outside the danger zone that were east dropping on all of the tests. So the Russians knew what we were doing, but our own people did that. That was pretty discerning. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:36 At what point did you become aware of William L. Lawrence as someone who is a factor in the information flow about things atomic, meaning nuclear, especially in the earliest days when we were first finding out about this after the bombs were dropped in Japan? Beverly Deepe Keever 01:15:56 Well, they made a lot of to do about how Lawrence was out of the office out of the times office and picked by the Manhattan project director to tell the story of the development of the bomb for the American people. So they were very proud that they had somebody doing this for them. So we knew that Roy was for this period. You later said 119 days working behind the atomic curtain. And he was able to travel to Oak Ridge, to Hanford, where they were making plutonium, describe all of this. And the times had him write a 10 part series. The Manhattan project, general Grove wanted that released, but it was written for the army, but the times ran it play by play of how all of this was developed and the times released it. And they gave it free to all of the other papers of the country. Beverly Deepe Keever 01:17:07 And they published it as a little booklet for school children and for adult readers. So here it was what they call the best propaganda that doesn't look like propaganda. We knew it was written for the Manhattan project and for general groves and the RB, but the times passed it off as news, which was because Lawrence had inside information and access to these places where the mom was being developed. They were developing the plutonium, the scientists, and so on. However, and the point of the book is still of endearing importance of the world. He never mentioned radiation and radioactivity, which is the defining feature that sets it apart from conventional weapons. That's kind of the thrust of the book and the people who were bearing the brunt of all of this, where the Pacific Islanders, this is where the plutonium laced moms were all tested. And the Pacific island reserves were significant. For another reason, it allowed the us to shift from the delivery system from conventional bombers to missile development. So the nuclear warheads could Dell be delivered by missiles and they are being tested by missiles. Now, still, Libbe HaLevy 01:18:39 I have an enduring fascination with points of origin. In other words, if things are this way now, how did they get to be that way? And in examining the information flow about all things nuclear and Datomic all roads lead back to this one, man, and the writing that he did, first of all, what's wrong as a journalist, as someone who was a professional journalist on the front lines in Vietnam, you were actually a war correspondent. What does it mean for a reporter who is writing under byline to actually be in the pay and the employ of an entity that has a larger interest in this case, the war department, the U S government, the Manhattan project, Beverly Deepe Keever 01:19:24 The code of ethics for journalists at the time today. But back then also explicitly says, no second employment. The most important thing is service to the public. That is your duty. I mean, unless you don't do that, the whole point of being a prepress doesn't really mean much. It's like worse than prostitution. You're selling, not yourself, but your soul, your whole reason for being the press is to tell the truth, to inform and educate the people. What they choose to do with it is up to them, but they've got to have the raw material to work with. So the point is, if they didn't know about these 8,000 Hiroshima type bombs going off in the Pacific islands, which was one and a half bomb per day for 16 years, they were completely blanked out a dark hole, black hole in their knowledge of how devastating the radiation and the radioactivity, or I know you can't see it, but one of the most devastating pieces of information later on was the British medical journal. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:20:48 How the deaths of newborn babies and stillborn, the death rate had been going down, down, down until the fifties, when you had much better care and sanitation for the newborn. And then with the nuclear testing, there's a hump up more newborn deaths. And this was a factor that the women in the Pacific islands were saying, but nobody was paid attention to them. They were having tremendous miscarriages of it looked like they say a bunch of grapes, you know, and the ones that were born were disfigured physically and mentally disabled. So it had a profound effect. And this started to roll over into the atmosphere. I mean, the tests that were going on in the Pacific radiation, rich San Francisco within a week, but the sixties, everyone on the earth had been touched by radiation and re-do activity in some way. Now they didn't all injusted and to get sick from it, it was kind of absorbed into their bones. So this is a bark that all of us now have of their topic age. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:10 Why do you think that people did not know about or understand radiation radio activity? Do you think that was planned? Was it accidental? And going back to the beginning when Lawrence, who is the only person with really inside information was writing for the times, and he did not mention radiation or radio activity, do you think that was an intentional omission on his part? Was that a blind spot? Was he under orders? What is your best take on how this omission happened? Beverly Deepe Keever 02:22:49 I have no way of knowing, except it was more than just William Lawrence that hid this fact. For example, there are two recent articles in the New York times that just go into this a little bit. And what makes this interview so timely is that these times articles just published in August this year. Both of them happen to mention my book. They were written in August nights. That's the anniversary by the way. But one, and this kind of illustrates your point when article carried the headline, the black reporter who exposed a lie about the atomic bomb. And it goes a little bit into the Dar reporter called Charles Loeb, whose papers, the black newspapers recurring his articles all over. But he, he was in horror Hiroshima shortly after the bomb. And he said radiation had killed or injured. So many of the residents there, and that was a propaganda line that the American government wanted to cover up. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:24:07 And he was there before the centers and propagandists got there. And he reported that it quotes my articles since the time sought to ignore this topic of radiation at Hiroshima altogether, Beverly Keever a professor of journalism analyze the coverage of Hiroshima and reported that out of 132 articles. She examined. She could find only one that mentioned radiation. So they were discussing the effects of the bomb in Hiroshima. They were hiding the radiation and the impact on the residents. What the times didn't say is that that one article I did found was actually a denial by Robert Oppenheimer of a story that had said the radioactivity was going to persist in Hiroshima for 70 years. And the war department and groves called on Oppenheimer to smash down that report. Well, the times hadn't published the original report about the radiation and activity in Hiroshima, but they published Oppenheimer's denial of it. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:25:22 The other article is also very interesting that the times article did not point out there was another very important reporter who got to Hiroshima before the propagandists and the American sensors got there named Wilford Burchette. And he wrote an article for the London daily express. I was also a stringer for that paper in Vietnam. He wrote an article a month after it was Shima called the atomic plague. I write this as a warning to the world and he wrote about the effects of the radiation on the people and how they got sick. Even the doctors, it says the doctors fault as they work. And they all fear this, this radiation. So the times could have also mentioned there were other reporters that countered the us government, but they didn't. There was another article that same day it was written by the current science writer of the times is talks about Joanne says double pay standard of working for the army and getting paid for the times at the same time. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:45 Actually, if we're talking about Lawrence, I did the research in general, Leslie groves ahead of the Manhattan project in his biography. And they had set it up so that it looked like the times was paying Lawrence on an ongoing basis, but the money was provided by the army, by the Manhattan project. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:27:05 That's news to me. Anyhow, the second article was based on a book called restricted data. I'm just saying that one, the history of nuclear secrecy in the United States, but Alex welder Stein, a nuclear historian, the time says over the years, reporters clashed vigorously on Mr. Lawrence's atomic reporting. Beverly D Keever a war correspondent in Vietnam who later taught journalism, denounced the quote double pay arrange, but print the times and the federal government as a brazen conflict of interest. So it was very clear that this was a conflict with the ethics of journalism. That article also quotes a book that's going to be coming out in April by a fellow named Vincent Kiernan who's Dean at Catholic university and a former reporter. He says that Lauren supplemented his pay also besides the Manhattan project of writing for the us surgeon general and later on for Robert Moses, who plan New York city. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:28:27 And the thing I looked at in particular, thanks to the index was plutonium. Now, the interesting thing about peritoneal is all the scientists knew the half-life of plutonium. It was an established fact that was, could not be classified secret or anything to do with national security. And it had such a long half-life. It has the half-life of 24,000 years, which means that half of it, the case is that like the time. And then that remaining half takes another 24,000 and then the next one, and next, in other words, a half, a million years of radioactive existence. So it could have just dropped in that little fact, hardcore fact, no implication for national security at every story that mentioned plutonium. And the first per bomb was Nagasaki. So Nagasaki and all of the Pacific island tests or petroleum laced bombs. So this was sometimes mentioned in the articles. Beverly Deepe Keever 02:29:47 Sometimes it wasn't, but they never mentioned, I pulled 128 articles from the 16 year period, 1945 to 62 during the nuclear testing period. And before the Americans and Soviets signed a limited test ban treaty in 62 of the 128 articles, only one mention the half-life 24,000 years, the plutonium 10% mentioned the deadliness of the radio tax acidity of plutonium. None mentioned plutonium and the Pacific nuclear weapons tests where most of it was been detonated, but it didn't mention the use of plutonium in other countries. By this time France and England were using plutonium for nuclear power plants and for peaceful uses of Victoria. They mentioned that, but they didn't mention the Pacific islands. And none of them mentioned the nuclear waste problem, which is another tremendous problem that we have today. Another interesting article that was not in the index, but it was written by the military special reporter Hanson Baldwin. Beverly Deepe Keever 03:31:13 So the times it set up specialized reporting for the military and for science and Baldwin and Lawrence often worked together on some of these stories. And wild one was able to go to Richland Washington state, which was a new off growth of Hanford where petroleum was first produced for all of the bombs. And he called it the world's largest platoon am production plant. And he describes elaborate safety precautions that take there, but not against peritoneal, but only I guess the short-lived iodine 1 31 radioactive gas, but he didn't mention anything about precautions for Tony. Well, 37 years later, they had to close up that plant because of health concerns. It was so dangerous. And they now say it's been called perhaps the most contaminated sites in the U S nuclear weapons complex. So early on, it was not just Lawrence. It was complicity certainly within the other editors. Beverly Deepe Keever 03:32:30 For example, there was a very famous picture of opposite hybrid groves and, and the press tour at the Trinity site where they were all given little white booties to put on their shoes to prove to journalists that there was no radiation at the Trinity site and the times cut off the white booties in their photo. So the photo editors were complicit. However, life magazine published a photo of it and groves asked his driver to just stand up there without the white booties on and let the photographers or the journalists see that it's safe. All right. He did that for 30 minutes and he got tremendously sick later on and he blamed it on leukemia. You blamed it on that 30 minutes stand up. Or he did in the subtlest Trinity site. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:32 He was doing that less than two months after the Trinity explosion, which was, I believe July 16 and the Trinity press junket that you're referring to took place on September 9th. And so it was less than two months afterwards that this man was told to stand out there with absolutely no protection. We'll return to this week's featured interview with Beverly deep Keever on her book news zero in just a moment. But first here's a Shima Nagasaki preceded by the Trinity, a bomb test to New Mexico followed by years of atmospheric bomb tests in the south Pacific. That was the start of what we came to call the atomic age. But as you're hearing from today's guest, there is no end insight to its impact. The list of nuclear dangers and disasters now, including radiation releases from uranium mining reactors, highly radioactive waste and accidents is as endless as plutonium, which remains dangerously radioactive for 240,000 years yet, despite the known risks to health and safety, the nuclear industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and of life itself. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:56 That is why you need nuclear hot seat to help, you know, what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We cover not only what the industry is doing, but how it got this way. The many brave activists around the world who are fighting back and how any one of us can take action to try to stop atomic madness at nuclear hot seat. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we vet the information to provide context and continuity. You can trust so you can understand the full, ongoing picture, but in order to continue to do that, we need your help. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:47 And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly donation of $5. That's the same, have a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S and don't think that's too small and amount to make a difference because it's those $5 donations that sustain this show from month to month. So if you value nuclear hot seat and want to help us continue, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude. Now here's the continuation of this week's featured interview with Beverley deep Keever author of news zero, the New York times and the bomb. Do you think that all of the reporters and the editors and all of those people were simply ignorant of the fact of radiation radioactivity, the poisoning, the dangers that would result, were they under orders? Was this their own decision? Was it the blind spot again, I'm trying to get back to how could so many in unison in lock step with each other almost by general agreement, decide to not say anything about, as you say, the defining characteristic of atomic weapons. Beverly Deepe Keever 03:37:05 I don't know. I just don't know what was going on at that period. I think they were just not in the know, most of them didn't have the science background. It was a completely new field that opened up and they didn't have much basis for that. The interesting thing about the sixties, though, there were public interest groups that started to come up and lobby for more information, but I didn't see that the press had done anything to try to counter the government secrecy. Sometimes even civil defense workers had to lobby to get information that they needed in order to protect the public in case they were ever called upon in a nuclear attack. So I just don't know. I think that they just were not given enough information. I think the AP did some, had a science writer who did some good stories I've been told. Beverly Deepe Keever 03:38:15 I didn't see those, but there were journalists who did it, but it didn't seem to grasp, to sink into the public's awareness until some of the Nevada shots started to get people's attention. And it was a while before, you know, they got alarmed about some of the effects of radio activity. For example, the farmers sheep were getting damaged and in the Trinity shot, some of the cattle were injured and the government had suits that they settled very quietly. So they were aware other people were aware of the danger, but they didn't let those settlements become public. The public didn't know how severe the problem was. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:10 Back to your book. You were talking about having to write a dissertation and it took you 10 years to come up with the dissertation. And it's my presumption that this dissertation either was or turned into the book new zero, is that correct? Beverly Deepe Keever 03:39:29 Yes. It was almost as much trouble to get the book published as it was to write. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:36 That was my next question. What were the challenges that you had in getting the book published? Beverly Deepe Keever 03:39:42 I just wrote to publishers all over, you know, they have this book in writer's digest and I went through that entry by entry and entry and everyone that looked like a possibility. I set them a perspective. Now wasn't a very good perspective in that I didn't have a catchy title along the line after all of this, some of my didn't even get a rejection slip, just no answer. Some of them have replied and said, thanks, but no thanks. I came up with news zero and I came across this publisher who was not listed in writer's digest. Common courage. I knew about this publisher because he had published a book by a very profound activists in Hawaii called native daughter. And I'd read the book. It was very, very feisty. So I knew about common choice. My first sentence says, well, if you published her nanny Kate trust book, you should publish my book. Beverly Deepe Keever 04:40:48 He had published books by Noam, Chomsky and others, and he was very into the whole press coverage story. And he was an excellent editor. He liked to edit. And he would say with my took my dissertation, I am not your dissertation committee. And they just work that out, out that came. So I got rid of all of the theoretical stuff you had to put in a dissertation and wrote a kind of journalistic style. And I kind of went back to the times coverage of radiation. It turns out they were great fans of Madame Curie and the reported about her and her death. They was because of radioactivity. And 50 years later, her cookbooks even still were radio active. The interesting thing was in the twenties, they had radium that they paid it into watches for the GIS to use glow in the dark and the war. Beverly Deepe Keever 04:41:58 So they, the dial Peters where these young women and then their teens, and they would put radio and it brush and dip it in the mineral and then put it on the watch. And so on in time, they got what they called radium jaw effected their jaws and they all died. Horrible deaths. And those trials were covered heavily by the times because it was in their circulation area. These three dial planning places that were in their circulation area. So they covered those. They were very sensational twelves, and the Hearst magazines and newspapers had cartoons about these ghoulish girls that have died as they worked in this place. That was kind of the prelude. That was important because they were the first victims of the radiation that were known. And they sort of alerted the government that you had to put in safety, precautious one, so to protect people, but also liability suits they were worried about. And so the most basic standards for all of the scientists working on the bomb were already in place, thanks to these dial Peter girls. So the people in the know knew how dangerous it was and how you had to take precautions, but they didn't want it to sink out because as one of them was quoted as saying, we didn't want to scare the American people out of their boots Libbe HaLevy 04:43:42 Or out of their bombs. Beverly Deepe Keever 04:43:44 Yes. I think that they would have protested much earlier. The American people had only one choice in all of this. And that was the 1956 election. When Adley Stevenson was campaigning to ban the bombs, to ban hydrogen bomb testing. And that's when you had profound secrecy by the Eisenhower administration and those documents were classified. Not all of them were released in 94. A lot of this release much later Libbe HaLevy 04:44:23 Back to your book. It was published by common courage press in 2004. What was the reaction or lack thereof when you got published and specifically, what was the reaction from the times Beverly Deepe Keever 04:44:38 In writing the book, I went to the New York times and I said, why didn't you let this happen without this coverage of Tony Liam and the Pacific Islanders and so on. And their official response was all those people are gone. They're gone or passed on. We can't comment as to the decision-making during that earlier period. Remember, we're talking 50 years after the fact, the bomb said, had gone on from, in the Pacific from 46 to 62. And here I went in the next millennium there's the response was no comment. We can't comment. And the reaction to new zero was more news zero. I had very, very little reaction. I got no reaction. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:32 Okay. So nothing from the times, any other big publications, anybody step in on this? Beverly Deepe Keever 04:45:40 No, not that I was aware of. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:43 You know, I called you, I think it was about, I don't know, 3, 4, 5 years ago, something like that, because I was at that point using your book as the cornerstone, in my investigation of William L. Lawrence for a play, I wanted to write it, wasn't done as an interview. It was more a conversation. So I never put it on nuclear, hot seat. But at one point I said to you, what was the reaction in the media to your book? And you said, I'll never forget this. You said, let me put it to you this way. And all this time, you're the first reporter who has ever contacted me. Okay. Now, is that still the case or with this growing visibility of yours? And we'll get to the expanded availability of your book in a moment, but with you being mentioned and being referenced more frequently now, has there been any growing outreach by the media, by reporters, by people with talk shows or whatever to finding out more from you and having you as a direct source or citing the book in greater detail? Beverly Deepe Keever 04:46:59 No, no, they haven't. In fact, I just recently came across a devastating book. I read cover to cover, but not in one sitting. It was so hard to take. It was called poisoning the Pacific and how, not only the nuclear, but other problems had evolved between the United States and Japan. So many problems lingering from nuclear age, the waste problem is going to cost billions and they haven't decided what they're going to do with all of the nuclear waste that is accumulated places like South Carolina and Nevada Libbe HaLevy 04:47:45 And every single nuclear reactor site in the country, because the waste is stored on site and they've got no place to put it. They keep pretending that they do or they will, but this problem has not yet been solved. Beverly Deepe Keever 04:47:57 That's right. And, and I must say, I think it is a factor in all of the hubbub about climate change in the sense that I think it's now known that the oceans are going to be rising. It's going to wipe out these little Pacific islands that are still radioactive. Bikini island will not be able to be inhabited for forever. I think, and more important to have the room night dome, where they used a crater and put in radioactive dirt and supplies and things about 300 feet wide and an eight inch crust of concrete over it. And it's sinking and it's cracking and it's subject to hurricanes and it's going to be in time covered by the rising sea waters. So all of this is going to contaminate the oceans as well as what's going on on land. So this is a problem they haven't, I think even addressed. Beverly Deepe Keever 04:49:10 In fact, some of the failed nuclear plutonium tests were only 800 miles from rural at Johnston island. And the governor of Hawaii is going to the climate change conference in Glasgow to talk about how we're going to be building wind turbines and solar par and all renewable energy in for decades. But they're not discussing, you know, what's going to happen with the radioactivity is all around us. So I don't know what they're going to do about all of that. It's going to cost much more than an infrastructure bill that they can't even get going in Washington. Now Libbe HaLevy 04:49:50 I consider new zero to be one of the cornerstone books. If people are to understand why it is that we don't know about these issues and what exactly those issues are, you've done a remarkable job of tracking down the information and providing footnotes for absolutely everything it's totally vetted. So the book was published in a trade paperback version in 2004. Now there's an e-book version available. How long has that been out there? Where can people find it? And what do you hope happens to it from point on Beverly Deepe Keever 05:50:29 It's been on Kindles for about a year. And I just notice I'm getting maybe 60 cents 60 cents return every month. So it's not a bestseller now. And I don't think it's going to be a best seller, but I think what these other two books that are coming out about nuclear secrecy, it's beginning to come out what the government was up to. And there, there may be more attention to it, but these new books are adding so much more information about Lawrence and about nuclear secrecy that I think they're going to be very revealing. I just don't know that they can do that much to roll the cat back. You know, the damage has been done. And in a way, the world is more dangerous in a nuclear sense that when you just had two super powers or even just China, you get the rogue states, you get terrorist states are miniaturizing, their nuclear weapons. So, you know, you can carry it around in a backpack in the future. Maybe, I don't know, it's becoming a much more terrifying moment, which they don't want people to think about. I don't think the politicians want to raise problems for which they have no solutions and there's no easy, no real solution to some of this, this nuclear waste is going to be there for millennia. That's what you're talking about. You're talking about grandchildren's grandchildren and, you know, it's hard for people to think in those terms and just trying to grapple with COVID. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:16 Is there anything else that you would like to share at this time? Beverly Deepe Keever 05:52:20 Thank you very much for keeping even the topic, the nuclear topic alive, and you're doing it in a way that I think is more accessible to people with radio and podcasts. If you're doing a play that is offering good, a new mode to get people's attention, you make it more palatable. Maybe I don't know what the play is going to turn out. Where's the play going to be? Libbe HaLevy 05:52:48 It's going to be in my computer until I finish writing it. And I promise you that you will be among the first people to get even a rough draft copy of it. So you can see what I've been up to for the last so far, six and a half years in writing it, because sometimes I think that by wrapping scientific and political information in the human experience and showing what it took for in the case of my play, this one individual William L. Lawrence, to in essence, as a reporter, sell his soul for the prominence and the specialness, this legacy of nuclear where his legacy is nuclear ignorance, as opposed to information. I think that makes it a much more compelling story because it's the story of where we crossed the line we shouldn't cross and what it ultimately means in terms of who we are as a human being. Beverly Deepe Keever 05:53:47 Well, I think that's very apropos now. Now, of course, the problem is that journalism has shrunk in a sense that local news is almost invisible. So instead of bad report, we're getting no reporting whatsoever. That's the void that we have to fill now. And I think there are some great stories being told, but not, not well enough and maybe not the key stories. It's hard to get people excited about nuclear waste, but it's going to be there for thousands of thousands of years. So thank you for doing this and thank you for the play. And you're using other mediums to get to people and this may capture more binds and they be more, more activists like you. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:43 One can only hope. And that's with having tremendous gratitude to those who came before us, who saw an issue such as you did and put in the years of work, it took to pull together this compelling. And in places I would say ferocious book, new zero that has my recommendation to be on the shelf and be read by every activist on this issue, every activist on the environment, and also reporters who are covering any kind of environmental beat so that they can include this information in their stories, or at least understand the context in which some of their reporting is going to have to take place. So with my gratitude to you for being just about a daily part of my life for the almost seven years that I have been writing this play, I want to thank you Beverly deep Keever for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Beverly Deepe Keever 05:55:42 It has been my honor, thank you for your good work and your interests. Best of luck to you and your play and your broadcast. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:50 Beverly deep Keever, we'll have a link up to her book, new zero on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 42, I cannot urge you strongly enough to get and read this essential resource. And for the record, the name of my plane is atomic bill and the payment due it's about New York times science writer, William L. Lawrence, who played such an enormous role in what we don't know about nuclear to this day. It should be in completed draft form by the end of year, and will be published in 2022, hopefully with a production soon to follow, that will make for a very happy new year Libbe HaLevy 05:56:40 There are two great videos coming out of the cop. 26 presentations. One is on no radiation dump in the Pacific. And the other is from professor and Dr. Ian fairly on the impact of tritium in the water. We'll have links up to both along with the link to a petition from nears nuclear information resource service, about taking nuclear subsidies and bailouts out of the build back better. Bill both will be@nuclearhotseat.com under this episode. Number 5 42, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, November 9th, 2021. If you want to get nuclear hot seat delivered via email every week, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up with your first name and an email address for a notification of the latest show. As soon as it posts, you'll never risk missing. Another one. If you have a story, lead a hot tip, a suggestion of someone to interview, or just want to give me an attagirl, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:50 And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear information around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button. Follow the prompts. Anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but various allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that when it comes to nuclear, not only what you don't know can hurt you, there's a good chance it already has. That's it? Your nuclear wake-up call, whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. No, ### NH #541: Santa Susana Field Lab Fallout from Radiation Study: PSR-LA's Denise Duffield, Melissa Bumstead URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/santa-susana-field-lab-woolsey-fire-radiation-study/ Published: 2021-11-03 Duration: 00:58:59 Santa Susana Field Lab Fallout from Woolsey Fire Study of Radioactive Releases – Melissa Bumstead (above) of Parents Against SSFL. This Week's Featured Interviews: Santa Susana Field Lab – the push to clean up the 2,680 acre site continues in the wake of findings about the Woolsey fire releasing radioactive micro-particles into the surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods. One of the ongoing people helping to lead the fight is Denise Duffield. She serves as Administrator for Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA’s (PSR-LA) and directs its nuclear threats program, which advocates for health protective policies related to nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. Denise also works on environmental health and justice issues, addressing the needs of local communities who are impacted by toxic contamination and the failure of regulatory agencies to protect them. She leads PSR-LA’s efforts to ensure a full cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL). PSR-LA’s Denise Duffield Melissa Bumstead lives within 3.6 miles of the Santa Susana Field Lab. She became an "accidental activist" for the SSFL cleanup after her four year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia in 2014. She founded Parents Against SSFL and continues to lead community efforts for a complete clean-up of the Boeing – former Rocketdyne – site. (Her daughter is now 11 years old and cancer-free.) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The United States doesn't know what to do with its own radioactive nuclear waste… so why did we agree to IMPORT NUCLEAR WASTE? Let alone from… ESTONIA??? LINKS: Call the Midwife episode with strong nuclear theme (Season 10, Episode 1): https://www.pbs.org/video/call-the-midwife-season-10-episode-1 (PBS link may not be available outside of U.S. The series and this episode has run in the UK and will be available on Netflix in January.)Nuclear power plant operators want to run for eight decades, but a federal lab in Washington state found ‘critical gaps’ in knowledge about how reactors age Climate Emergency Includes the Threat of ‘Nuclear Winter’The Push for Nukes in Space by Karl GrossmanThe nation’s last uranium mill plans to import Estonia’s radioactive wasteNuke disaster radiation continues to threaten traditional ways of life in northeast JapanAkkuyu NPP should not be allowed to start operation: In just 6 months another fire at Akkuyu NPP construction! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear contamination right in your own backyard. Yikes. When the 2018 Woolsey fire broke out at the highly contaminated Santa Susana field lab site, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It spread smoke, Ash and dust that contained radioactive microparticles into the surrounding towns and suburbs. A new peer reviewed and published scientific study confirms that these particles traveled as much as nine miles from the site. And we're up to 19 times more radioactive than the background radiation we live with all the time. While members of the surrounding communities worry that this might have caused or still cause cancer in their parents, partners or children, no one can say with complete certainty, whether or not that is the case, but when they ask a genuine expert, who's been working on Saturday Susana field lab issues for decades for their advice. And she cautiously tells, Denise Duffield 00:01:02 I told her quite honestly, I'm not able to tell you for sure one way or the other, whether Santa Susanna and contamination cause cancer. But I can tell you that the contaminants on that site, if people are exposed to them, particularly young children, particularly young girls that can cause cancer. And we do know that those contaminants get off the site. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:23 Well when Denise Duffield of physicians for social responsibility, Los Angeles delicately explains the known facts without offering an ultimate conclusion because she can't, you just might be within your rights to assume that one plus one might equal two. And this is further evidence of how closely you have been living to that dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:48 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot? Hotsy the Cari Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:19 Welcome to nuclear. Hotseat the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a follow-up to our special from two weeks ago, episode number 5 39, which presented the findings of a published peer reviewed scientific study showing the release of radioactive contamination. You might call it fallout from the saddest field lab in Simi valley, California during the 2018 Woolsey fire. We'll review the findings of that study of 360 soil dust and Ash samples, and then learn about what's been happening in the aftermath of that report. We'll talk with Denise Duffield who serves as positions for social responsibility, Los Angeles administrator directed nuclear threats program, and has been involved in the Woolsey fire study since the fire was still burning. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:27 And we will of course talk with Melissa. Bumstead a local mom who helped to found parents against Santa Susana field lab, and she tells us what's been happening in the local community. The response to the report, the questions, the emotions, which are running high and the promise of some powerful followup by those most in the line of danger, we will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we have yet heard from the so-called experts at the cop 26 United nations climate change summit. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective here in the U S decommissioning efforts for the Humboldt bay power plant unit three in California began in June, 2009, more than 30 years after the power plant had ceased operations. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:28 And now is finally officially decommissioned Pacific gas and electric company recently filed a request with the nuclear regulatory commission to terminate the power plants license, but that doesn't do anything about the waste it's currently buried in an underground nuclear waste storage facility known as the Humboldt bay, independent spent fuel storage installation, or something like that. They say it will effectively contain the 37 tons of nuclear waste for approximately 50 years, but that's not a permanent solution. When plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years to be continued again this week, a lot of substantive articles that we're going to link to. So you have a chance to read your way through it. There's nuclear power plant operators want to run for eight decades, but a federal lab in Washington state found critical gaps in knowledge about how reactors age climate change emergency includes the threat of nuclear winter. Carol Grossman's excellent. Counterpunch article the push for nukes in space. And then there's always Libbe HaLevy 00:05:46 The United States has tons of nuclear waste stored at reactors and inappropriate stores sites around the country. We've got more waste than we know what to do with. So what are we doing? We're planning to import more of it. And from Estonia to make things worse, the importing company, energy fuels resources wants to bring that material into the white Mesa, mine near the grand canyon and adjacent to land of the Havasu PI people which has already filed numerous complaints and legal challenges against the mine for polluting the water supply and harming their ancestral lands. Domestic radioactive waste has been spilled along the main highway from trucks, hauling material from Wyoming to white Mesa for processing and children can no longer play outside because of the stench and the fear of what might be causing it. Now, the company wants to import 2000 to drums, 615 metric tons of radioactive waste from Estonia, which has no licensed facilities capable of processing its waste. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:56 First. However, the company has to amend its radioactive materials, license, and Utah's division of waste management and radiation control has been very accommodating. They received a huge volume of public comments. Once people learned about this issue nearly 12,000 of them, opposed compared to only 300 in support still it granted energy fuels resources request this past summer because you know, money, according to camarones afar, former staff attorney for the environmental nonprofit grand canyon trust energy fuels resources is exploiting a regulatory framework that classifies radioactive byproducts as quote unquote alternative feed rather than conventional uranium more. And they claim that they are getting out trace amounts of uranium that are left, that other disposal facilities couldn't meaning from the Estonian waste. But what they're really doing is the fire said is getting paid to dispose of the vast majority of that waste at the white Mesa mill permanently. And because they're not a properly licensed radioactive waste facility, they can do it at much cheaper cost than the other facilities could. More than 99 point 73% of the ship material from Estonia will be stored at white Mesa. And that's why energy fuels resources and any government agencies that allow them to move forward. In this way. You are this week's, Libbe HaLevy 00:08:31 Awake. All those titles I mentioned, plus numb nuts will be linked on our website, nuclear hotseat.com. This episode is number 5 41 in Japan, industry minister Koichi hug UDA pledged to promote the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and recovery of the area. As a top priority. He told Fukushima massage Uchi body that his ministry will make best efforts to release radioactive water from the facility that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March of 2011. And he was asked to take effective measures against the reputational damage associated with the plan discharge of what they're calling treated water, which is really still radioactively contaminated with tritium water. Current plans are for Japan to begin releasing that tritium water into the Pacific ocean. As of the spring of 2023 international pushback to this plan continues and we'll link to an article nuke disaster. Radiation continues to threaten traditional ways of life in north east Japan, more nuclear reporting from Turkey by our friend. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:44 where for the second time in just six months, another fire broke out at the nuclear power plant construction site. This time due to an explosion in the transformer, the construction company claims that it was caused by a lightning strike to the energy transmission line and partially damaged the infrastructure of the power lines in the substation area. Since 2019 cracks have been detected in the foundation onsite water leaks on the ground work accidents and two explosions. But despite concerns raised the air Oregon administration still holds that the nuclear power plant, which was scheduled to be operational on the 29 October Republic day in 2020 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic will be completed before they update reporter Demir Xian responds. This will be used as election propaganda, and Scotland's only working nuclear power plant at torness shut down in an emergency procedure. When jellyfish clog the seawater cooling intake pipes at the plant blooms of translucent jellyfish with their trailing stinging tentacles are sometimes described as invasions because they often emerge on mass in a way that appears sudden often these blooms are encouraged by the warmer water that comes from cooling water that is EG acted from a nuclear facility. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:09 So the nuclear reactor is creating its own problem. Jellyfish previously, shut down the torness nuclear power plant in 2011 at a cost of approximately 1.5 million American dollars per day. Swarms of these invertebrates have also been responsible for nuclear power plant shutdowns in Israel, Japan, the United States, the Philippines, South Korea and Sweden, which gives us all hope, which gives us all hope because if spineless brainless, bloodless animals like jellyfish can shut down a nuclear reactor, think of how much more we can do once we all start working together. Now here's the first of this week's two featured interviews two weeks ago on nuclear hot seat, number 5 39, we presented a special on the findings of a peer reviewed and published scientific paper on the radiological contamination that spread over local Los Angeles neighborhoods during the 2018 Woolsey fire. The fire began on the 2,670 acre former rocket dine testing site in the foothills above Los Angeles and less than 30 miles from downtown in 1959, an experimental nuclear reactor onsite experienced a meltdown of its core fuel rods. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:33 The radiation released was not held in a containment building because there was no containment building. So they vented it out into the air without notification to the people living nearby. The accident was never reported and was only discovered 20 years after it happened after three mile island that meltdown plus numerous radioactive spills and burn pits for radioactive waste onsite created a highly toxic brew of chemical and radiological contamination in the dust, dirt, water and vegetation. The Woolsey fire broke out on the Santa Susana field lab site and burned through plants and radioactive areas though, not the most contaminated parts parents against Santa Susana field lab. The group that has been fighting for a full cleanup of the site, which current owner Boeing has been trying to get downgraded. So they don't have to pay as much money. That group immediately suspected release of contaminants into the smoke, which wafted in all directions. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:38 I live approximately 30 miles to the east of the site and the wind was blowing in the west southwesterly direction, but I could smell smoke on that first day of the fire within hours of it start, of course, the officials so-called experts from California's department of toxic substance control. DTSC for short announced within nine hours of the start of the fire when they couldn't even get on the site, that there was no radiation release. So they're there. Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it, but less than three weeks after the fire broke out, citizen scientists conducted a collection of 360 random samples of soil Ash and car filter dust within a 10 mile radius of the saddest Susana field lab. Now, after three years of testing, compiling data and writing up a report, that material has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in the journal of environmental radioactivity. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:37 The report shows that 3% of the samples were contaminated with radioactive microparticles, some as much as 19 times above background levels and found as far as nine miles away from the border of the site. So what has been the immediate impact of this bombshell report? That's what we're about to find out. Our first guest today is Denise Duffield. She serves as physicians for social responsibility, L A's administrator direct his nuclear threats program and also advocates for health protective policies related to nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. Denise also works on environmental health and justice issues addressing the needs of local communities, which are impacted by toxic contamination and the failure of regulatory agencies to protect them. She leads PSR L A's efforts to ensure a full cleanup of the satis Susanna field lamp. I spoke with Denise Duffield on October 28th, 2021, Denise Duffield. Thank you for joining us on nuclear hot seat. Denise Duffield 01:15:43 My pleasure to be here Libbe HaLevy 01:15:46 Along has PSR physicians for social responsibility, been working towards a cleanup of the saddest Susanna field lamp. Denise Duffield 01:15:55 We've been involved since the late seventies, when the meltdown was first discovered by Dan Hirsch. Our organization has always been close with committee to bridge the gap committee to bridge the gap had a role actually in our founding working with our founder, Dr. Richard Saxon, who lived in the valley. And so I was also personally concerned about Santa Susanna. The real activism began in the late eighties around the organizing to stop the reliance syncing of the hot lab. And that's also when the rocket dying cleanup coalition was founded and PSR is an organizational ally part of that coalition along with of course, community members who live near the site, we need to bridge the gap and the Southern California Federation of scientists. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:39 One of the groups that's been most active lately, or at least most visible lately is parents against the Santa Susana field lab. What has been PSRs connection with that group? Denise Duff 01:16:51 We provide leadership development and technical assistance to parents versus SFL. It was, I believe in 2015, when there was a meeting of the, which is the agency for toxic substances and disease registry. And they had been asked to come in to the Santa Susanna community by some folks who opposed the cleanup they'd been asked to come in and basically refute previous studies on health impacts and offsite contamination, and then weighing in on the cleanup, which is absolutely outside of that agency's purview. It is an agency that is known for doing sort of quick and shoddy studies to declare the all clear on contaminated sites. And so we mounted what thought at that time was going to be very hard, very much an uphill battle, but we were successfully able to get them to back out. But it was at that first meeting when Melissa Bumstead and Lauren Hammersley, and several other mothers first showed up and talked about their experience about meeting each other at children's hospital and realizing that they lived near each other and that they all live near the Santa Susana field lab. Denise Duffield 01:18:07 And at that time, those of us who've been doing this fight for a long time. We just turned white because we'd heard this story before this exact same story of mothers meeting at children's hospital. And in this case in 2006, they were mothers whose children all had retinoblastoma, which is a rare eye disease impacting young children. They even had a chemo carpool, and they ultimately ended up suing Boeing. And from the documentation we've been able to see did prevail on that lawsuit, but we're no longer able to talk about it as part of the settlement. So hearing this happening again, just felt sick to our stomach. And I approached, Melissa gave her my card and I think it was maybe some weeks after that, she sent me an email and we had further communications. And I told her quite honestly, I'm not able to tell you for sure one way or the other, whether Santa Susanna and contamination, both cancer, but I can tell you that the contaminants on that site, if people are exposed to them, particularly young children, particularly young girls that can cause cancer. Denise Duffield 01:19:17 And we do know that those contaminants get off the site and there's multiple exposure pathways. And some of those exposure pathways that happen when it's very windy and the contaminants in the soil made a loft be a dust. Of course, if you ingest that, that becomes a much higher dose than you would have. If you just walked by a contaminated particle. Also rain brings a contamination off the hill as well. And of course fires, which we know now, and there was in 2005, Santa Susanna had burned previously. We know that and development near the site, which has been my number one concern, particularly for this group of children, because we know that the development for Runkle ranch that was found in the soil by previous would be developers during the construction. We had people calling us, telling us, Hey, there's, there's dust all over my solar panels. Denise Duffield 02:20:12 They had read the articles about the strontium 90. So part of my concern is that part of what may have caused some of the recent pediatric cancers has to do with that development. But the bottom line is we are able to say with certainty, the contaminants on that site can cause cancer. If you're exposed to them and the contaminants do get offsite and people are exposed to them. And that's why our focus is on the cleanup. And so little by little Melissa began to get more involved, formed her group. It's now become a force to be reckoned with she and Jenny and Lauren and other mothers are just tremendous advocates for their community. Really know what's best for the community in ways that I necessarily don't. There's one story I like to tell, which is a good example of why it's so important to have leadership on the ground. Denise Duffield 02:21:06 When we were planning for the 60th anniversary of the meltdown event, Melissa and other parents said they wanted a fun family friendly event. And I, as it from PSR was like, I don't know if you can do that. This is a nuclear meltdown. This is great people die, you know, and they did, they pulled it off. They had an event that had rock painting and men with kids painted rocks and honor of friends that had cancer or workers who had trouble. They had postcard writing, they had Kona, ice and art, and we had moving speakers too. So to me, it was really a good example of how she knew her community. They know their community and I can provide technical assistance. I can say, here's where these reports are. This is the history of this site. This is what we know about the science, but I don't live in that community. Denise Duffield 02:21:59 And she does. And so the partnership between parents versus SSL and PSR LA has really evolved as time has gone on to the point now where they're leading everything, parents versus SFL make their own decisions on their campaigns. They know their community best and the information and the support and the information that I have to impart in terms of both knowledge and skills is still helpful, but they have grown now to the point and expanded their own knowledge sets so much that the role that we play now is really more a supportive role in whatever way we can do. And that includes being a fiscal sponsor so that they can raise funds to do the initiatives that they want to do. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:43 The study was just published in a peer review journal of the analysis of dust and dirt and Ash samples that were taken after the Woolsey fire. What was PSRs involvement in the creation of that study and your involvement since it has been published in a peer review journal? Denise Duff 02:23:06 Well, it's the backup a little bit PSR Lay's involvement was in the whole disaster. That was the Woolsey fire was first of all, we were the ones to break the news that that fire was not near the Santa Susana field lab. It was on the Santa Susana field lab. We were able to piece together information. The initial news reports kept saying, you know, alpha and eroder or near rocket dying. And we had people watching the TV news as the helicopters were flying over it and showing the flames up around the rocket test stands and a helicopter reporters do, Mondell said, oh, I've been getting some calls about radiation. You know, that's just rumors folks. And so somebody said, you know, Stewman Dallas said, these are just rumors. So I went on his Twitter page to try to contact him. And that's where I found the photo that he had taken right as the fire started, as he was flying on his way to another one. Denise Duff 02:24:00 And we know that land, and we were like, that is on the site. Proper. We'd heard that there was a disturbance at the Chatswood was sub station. And it was able to find out the Chatsworth substation is on the property that, that substation was built to deliver the power from the reactor that melted down to the city of Moorpark. And so we knew, so that was our first involvement. What really wasn't breaking that news. We received calls from concerned citizens and from Fairwinds who had been contacted by those concerns citizens shortly thereafter. And so our role then was sort of to be help coordinate the community volunteers that were going out and taking a sample studies, you'll see a Mikey Rincon, PSR leaf policy researcher, and some of the photos that have been in some of the news articles, working with Jenny knack from parents versus SSL. Mikey also lives in thousand Oaks. So it was personal to him. We helped more or less coordinate that all of the protocol, information and training, all of that came from Fairwinds and all the work itself was done by volunteers and volunteers who offered their homes. But our role was much more of an in between facilitating one. And of course, since the studies come out, we wrote a press release. We put it out there, several good pieces of coverage, including NBC Los Angeles, which did a fantastic five minute segment Libbe HaLevy 02:25:27 Among the actions that were taken with the release of this new study. There was a letter drafted that was sent to Cal EPA, California environmental protection agency who sent it, who pulled it together. And what did it say? Denise Duffield 02:25:42 There were two letters. One was a federal letter that was from federal elected officials that was signed by Senator Pedea, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Brad Sherman, whose district it's in three other congresspeople. That effort was led by Sherman and brown. These office together. Julie Brown has been fantastic on this and always has been in, so has red Sherman. And so they jointly circulated that to their colleagues. The other letter that was signed by local officials to venture a county supervisors, mayors to the council members from LA and from other cities that was spearheaded by Linda Parks, ventured county, supervisor, Linda Parks, she and her office had the responsibility for circulating that and getting all of those signatures. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:29 What was PSRs involvement Denise Duffield 02:26:31 With the letters, getting them out to the world? I mean, you know, we, we have communications with our elected officials about what some of the issues are. So we're always communicating to them the problems with, for example, the cleanup standards. So that was some of the information that was in the letters came from information that we've been talking to them about expressing our concerns, but they wrote the letters, they got the signatures, they drafted the letters, they sent them out. We just help amplify that to the media. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:00 The information in these letters, regards to the ongoing secret negotiations between the state between Gavin Newsome's administration and Boeing that could have the effect of further delaying or lessening the cleanup, allowing Boeing to walk away from cleaning up. Most of the contamination, fill us in on what that looks like and how can something this important be conducted in secret. Denise Duffield 02:27:27 It shouldn't be, I guess, in the same way that a contaminated site can allow it to remain contaminated for 60 years, things happen that shouldn't happen. There should be no secret negotiations with Boeing. The people who are most impacted by these decisions need to, if not be in the room when they're made, there needs to be an official process by which they weigh in. And that's not an environmental impact report. By the time that this information, what they're doing with their negotiating gets its way into an environmental impact report. It's almost too late. So it's an outrage that they're doing this. We can even, the cleanup happens on a very technical level. And these are some questions that you should ask Dan Hirsch. When you talk to him to explain how it is that this happens, because it's something that I get like kind of here, but people need to understand it. Denise Duffield 02:28:15 You know, here, I'm moving my hand for those, those who are listening, but basically there's factors that go into determining a cleanup that depend on the uptake value of plants in your garden, how much would be used for consumption. What percentage of that should go into calculating how much contamination can be cleaned up? And if any of those input factors are adjusted, it has dramatic consequences for how much contamination gets cleaned up. So at the end of the day, Cali, PA DTSC and Boeing can say, we're doing a residential cleanup, but not all residential cleanups are the same, depending on what you're putting in for the backyard garden, depending on what kind of factors you're using when you make those calculations. And the devil is always in the details. And that's where we really rely on experts like committee to bridge the gap and the many wonderful staff that Dan has now that can analyze these documents and, and be in conversations with Kelly PA and DTSC and pointed out to them and say, Hey, this is wrong. Denise Duff 02:29:17 And so what we've experienced with Cali PA is pretty much like a, it's almost like whack-a-mole where they propose one reason why they want to change the cleanup standards. And we say, Nope, that doesn't work, but you didn't take this into effect. They go back to their corner, they come back with something else. And the feeling that I have is perhaps the deal's already made. And now they're just in the point of trying to justify it. And that's why, if it's not one, we point out the problems in that it becomes something else. And I think there are people that work at the agency that are obviously good people that work at the agency, but there's other folks that are sort of on what we call the Weeby level, which is they can say to any administration, we be here before you, we be here after you, you know, so we do what we want. Denise Duff 03:30:01 And that's where a lot of the bad things happen. So people who are the director of DTSC, even the secretary of Cal EPA, they're going to look at those recommendations from their staff and take them as face value. And they shouldn't, and we're the ones that can point out why they shouldn't. They then are in a position of having to either go back to their staff and have some issues there, or just covering up and say, no, we're going to go with it. And unfortunately, that's, what's been happening lately. So I hope that we're in a position. I hope that these particular, that the elected officials who are really taking a stand are able to stop these negotiations and stop this funny math. And it's going into weakening the cleanup standards before it happens that the deal hasn't already been struck because the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on another environmental impact report probably in the fall or the winter. But if this bad information gets into it, it just makes it that much harder. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:59 Going back to the fact that this report was released just less than two weeks ago, as we are speaking, what has been the most immediate impact of it on the community. And has there been any impact that you know of on the official agencies that are connected with the clinic? Denise Duffield 03:31:20 The community is angry. They're not shocked because nobody trusted DTSC in the first place. It's not just seen as Suzanne. I mean, contaminated sites in frontline communities throughout the state are outraged with DTSs failure to protect them for really placing polluters over people. Nobody trusted DTSC when the fire had only been burning for nine hours and they basically gave the all clear, didn't even tell people to wear masks, which would be advisable in any fire situation. Didn't trust them, then don't trust them now. So the community's upset, they're angry, but they're not surprised in terms of the agencies, you know, from the statements I've seen so far, they're just doubling down and sticking by their propaganda that they published six weeks after the fire, and then doubled down on last year. I don't know that it's going to have an impact on them at all for the community. I think it just reaffirms that we can't trust DTSC. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:16 I was the media coverage Denise Duffield 03:32:17 Been again. I think that the NBC Los Angeles piece was fantastic. BC star daily news, both did articles that were great. They vary in terms of what aspects they focus on. I think that the world that we live in today with the multiple crises that we're facing, make a story about radiation being released over a populated area during a wildfire three years ago, far less impactful than it would have been if we weren't heading democracy on the line. If we weren't having, you know, crazy climate crises impacting us, if we didn't have so many of the other problems that we have now, it's a different environment. I think there's a certain crisis or disaster, you know, fatigue that it impacts all of us, whether you're members of the public and the media and that it would have had a different reaction and a different weight. If this would have been like say five years ago, six years ago, now we've got so many researchers with really terrible problems, environmental problems in particular. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:21 Was there any coverage from the LA times there Denise Duffield 03:33:24 Wasn't? Well, there was a little mention at semi Roth has a newsletter and it was included in that the times has had some, some decent coverage of Santa Susanna. Michael Hiltzik has run some articles we have had, I think it was an earlier piece this year by Sandy Roth, but we did not have coverage from the times on this story. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:43 What can listeners do to keep this issue in the media, in front of the public and be of support, be a genuine support to you and the families that live in the area Denise Duffield 03:33:55 For one letters to the editor are very effective. We see, for example, the Simi valley acorn ran a piece entirely about a gentleman who Brian Sujatha, who was worked for Boeing for 17 years as the project manager for the SFL cleanup, and is now repurposed himself as a concerned community member. And it was a piece just about how great the site is, how great the cleanup is, how they're protecting nature. That deserves a response, you know, and we did get some letters to the editor. So I think either letter in response, you can write a letter to the editor. You can just write one. Hey, why didn't you guys study? What didn't you cover? This? This is important news. I think parents versus SFL his Facebook page and their list is one of the best places that people can go to get, as it happens, breaking news about the site PSR only, we're not going to get update our website that quickly. Denise Duff 03:34:46 We're not going to be on, you know, we do a lot of work, but they have an amazing Facebook group and Facebook page where there's always late breaking news. And there's always when we need somebody to contact an elected official. And that's the other thing, even though we have really good champions for the cleanup, it doesn't hurt to, to let your elected no elected official, know that you care about this and you want the site to be cleaned up and you can either thank them for signing that letter. Or you can say, I really need you to stand up for us more. This site needs to be cleaned up. They're called representatives for a reason. They represent the people. And there is someone who represents you, dear listener, there are multiple people that represent you and they need to hear from you. If they're going to represent you, they need to know what your concerns are. And that means you need to tell them Libbe HaLevy 03:35:34 Denise Duffield, you have been a supporter, a resource, a booster, and an important person in the interconnect of so many people who have been working to get Santa Susana field lab cleaned up to the highest standard possible. And unfortunately the work's not over, but at least that will give us a chance to talk again in the future for the listeners of nuclear Hotsy. Thank you so much for being my guest today. My pleasure. Thank you, Denise Duffield of physicians for social responsibility, Los Angeles we'll have this week, second featured interview on the reactions and fallout from the peer reviewed Santa Susana field lab, Woolsey fire study in just a moment, but first nuclear weapons, reactors, uranium mining, radioactive waste accidents, permissible, quote, unquote, radiation exposures. The list of nuclear dangers and disasters is as endless as plutonium, which remains dangerously radioactive for 240,000 years yet, despite the known risks of this technology, the industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and life itself and disguising itself with endless propaganda. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:53 That's why nuclear hot seat is here to help, you know, what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we provide them with context and continuity. So you can understand the full picture. In addition to a much deeper and nuanced telling Ben you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. We always include a healthy dose of skepticism and a dollop of humor whenever possible. We cover not only what the industry is doing, but how brave activists around the world are fighting back and how any one of us that means you sitting there and listening to this can take action toward stopping the nuclear madness, but here at nuclear hot seat, we need your help to get doing this work. It's not inexpensive. So here's something that you can do right now. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:46 Go to nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size. You can also set up a recurring donation as little as $5 a month that Hey, that's like buying us a cup of coffee and giving a nice tip to the barista here in the U S so if you value in depth reports, like the ones we're giving you here, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week's second featured interview. I wouldn't dream of reporting on anything regarding Sadducees and a field lab without checking in with Melissa Bumstead. Melissa became an accidental activist for the SSF El cleanup. After her four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive of leukemia in 2014, Melissa founded parents against SFL and extremely active group with a well-organized highly informative Facebook group and a website. I spoke with Melissa. Bumstead about the Woolsey fire, the new study, and it's ongoing aftermath on October 29th, 2021, Melissa. Bumstead great to be talking with you again for nuclear hot seat. Melissa Bumstead 03:39:01 Thank you for having me, man. I love talking with you. Let's hear it out Libbe HaLevy 03:39:05 Again with a little bit of background. You have been working towards getting the grounds of the Sadducees and a field lab cleaned up of its radiation contaminants and its chemical contaminants for years now, since long before the Woolsey fire, what was your first awareness of that fire? And what were your concerns? Melissa Bumstead 03:39:25 I'm trying to remember who called me that day? I remember we were standing in the kid's karate studio and I said, hold on, I gotta take this call and stepped out and you could just start to smell the smoke. And the person on the phone said, the Woolsey fire is burning through the Santa Susana field lab. And my heart just dropped. That was very, very frightening. And I ended up spinning that whole night, trying to reach from one contact to another, to try to get a hold of the state air quality board, to see if they would issue some sort of warning that parents should not let their children out. Because at that point, the smoke wasn't so pervasive that kids could probably still go to school. The next day, we didn't really realize how out of control the fire would grow to be. But at the time I was worried that nobody would think twice about letting their children walk to school or play on the playground or any of those things that could potentially expose them to radioactive smoke or Ash from the fire. They said, no, they didn't do it. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:22 And your assumption from the start was that with the fire burning through that particular site, there would be radiation in the smoke in the Ash Melissa Bumstead 04:40:32 And potentially chemical contamination as well. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:35 When did you first learn that only nine hours after the flare began? The California department of toxic substance control was already issuing a statement that there was no release of radioactivity or toxic chemicals from the fire. Melissa Bumstead 04:40:49 When I got up the next morning, I read that. And of course I didn't believe them. So I actually called the Ventura county fire department hazmat unit because that's to the DTSC referenced as one of their resources for declaring it safe. They had never talked to anyone from the DGSE. They had no idea that the SFL was potentially contaminated. Then I called the Los Angeles hazmat unit. They don't have a hazmat unit like that. So I went on Facebook and shared that neither unit had spoken with the DTSC yet the DTSC referenced them as the definitive source. At that time for saying that the Woolsey fire had no chance of being contaminated the next day, there was a new release from the DTSC and had no mention of either the F D or the Ventura county fire department has met units. They referenced new sources that would declare it to be completely safe. And then they also included the fact that they had not yet been able to access their actual air monitoring equipment because of the fire, but they were already saying it was safe Libbe HaLevy 04:41:54 In the immediate aftermath of the fire, or perhaps while it was still burning, who first contacted the Gunderson's at Fairwinds energy education and or Dr. Marco called telephone of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute about conducting a study of the soil dust and Ash for possible radioactive contaminants. Melissa Bumstead 04:42:16 I believe residents in Malibu or the first to contact them. And then the Gunderson's and Dr. contacted Denise with physicians for social responsibility, Los Angeles, and wanted to know if we wanted to get involved. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:31 And of course the answer was yes. How did it proceed from there? And how soon were the first samples taken? Melissa Bumstead 04:42:38 Well, we wanted to make sure that whatever we did was completely foolproof. We didn't want the DTSC to be able to come back and point to any flaw or fault in our soil collecting or, or any of the process. So that's when we first brought in Jenny knack, who is amazing, she's been committed to helping us with the cleanup for the last three years. And she has a background as an anthropologist and has done archeological digs. So that just seemed like a natural donations from the community. We were able to hire her and she went out with several different volunteers from the community and was very strict with the protocol that that woman is organized. She either oversaw or went to herself to get almost every residential sample that we got from the Woolsey fire. I think that was happening within maybe two to three weeks after the fire. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:30 And there had been no major rain storm or wind storm in that period to affect where the samples were taken from and what the radiation was that possibly had come down and would be shown by the samples. Melissa Bumstead 04:43:45 Well, the Woolsey fire itself, I think it raged for days. I don't even remember exactly how many days, but by the time the fire was out, it was also because the winds were gone. So no, there was no big rain or when after that. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:00 So that was a pretty pure and immediate sample that was taken from all of the 360 locations. What was your involvement in the citizen science of collecting samples? I, Melissa Bumstead 04:44:12 He was not actually that involved with the collecting of samples. I joined Jenny a few times and she told me what to do. And I did it being organized really isn't my big skillset. So I let her be the boss and she was fantastic at it. What happened during that same amount of time is that my friend Stacy Hirsch, and I went on a social media campaign to try to warn residents about the potential of breathing in contaminated smoke and more of them to get in 95 masks. We wanted to make sure that they were keeping their kids inside during recess, through that the Kardashians saw one of our tweets and they retreated it so immediately. We're getting hundreds of thousands of tweets and followers. And we're getting calls from news channels who want to know who are these people, who the Kardashians are tweeting about? So, on, on my end, we were mostly dealing with press and social media. Jenny was working hard in the field. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:09 I believe the Kardashians also have a family compound that was in the smoke plume from the Woolsey fire. So it was personal to them, Melissa Bumstead 04:45:19 Kim Kardashian. So the mom also lived nearby. She had her house tested for soil samples, Jenny and I went and did that. And then also Courtney Kardashian, her children go to school in the fire zone and Kim Kardashians. So they were all very concerned. They had a close family friend whose husband had died from a very random and rare cancer. They were very well aware that the cancer rates out here already seemed wrong to them. So when the fire hit, they were incredibly concerned. We even actually got to go on a TV show with them, were on the Kardashians. How crazy is that? Libbe HaLevy 04:45:55 It's been three years now. And the study of those samples has just been published as of October 8th in the journal of environmental radioactivity press materials were released as of October 12th. And of course we've been covering it here on nuclear hot seat. What has been the response to this reveal of the impact of the buyer and the possible contamination in their own backyards? Melissa Bumstead 04:46:22 We were very fortunate. Joel Grover from the NBC four Los Angeles investigative team he's already done. I think, 10 different episodes about the Santa Susana field lab. He's very knowledgeable. So he knew immediately when this study came out, how important it would be. It was the training story for that day, I believe for a few days after. And I think it helped people understand that the Santa Susana field lab, it's not some urban legend or myth, the contamination can reach into our community, became an immediate threat to a lot of people who I think assumed they didn't need to choose a side of the fence, the results from the Woolsey fire soil study. It didn't give them that option anymore. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:03 What has other media coverage been like? Has it remained in public awareness or has it faded even this few weeks later Melissa Bumstead 04:47:12 And get a lot of press coverage? We had a front page article in the Ventura county star, the Los Angeles daily news covered it. An article by Sammy Roth and LA times mentioned it. So it had a lot of coverage, but mostly I would say that now it's the people who are still concerned and I'm getting messages every day on Facebook and through social media and emails saying, am I safe? What do I need to do? Do we need to move? You know, and it's, those are the hardest questions because I can't give a definitive answer. I can only point back to the study and say, the risks are real. That's why we need the cleanup because every day is a risk. I mean, today it's been incredibly windy out here and that puts us at risk. Hopefully people are now more educated to realize that every day is a risk at the Santa Susana field lab in the, the Woolsey fire made it much more mobile, the contamination, a larger amount than what you would normally see, but that doesn't mean that it's benign all the other days when it's windy or rainy or when the next fire comes through. Melissa Bumstead 04:48:17 So I think it's done a huge service to the community to help them realize that until the whole site is cleaned up, our families are always going to be at risk every day. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:26 And what response, if any, has there been to the report and its publication in a peer review journal by either the department of toxic substance control DTSC or California environmental protection agency, Cal EPA. Melissa Bumstead 04:48:43 I believe that Joe Grover and his story reached out to both Cal EPA and DTSC for a statement. And they declined to give one, to my knowledge, I have not heard anything definitive from them. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:57 Delay deny until you die. That's what they say about so many things that are involved with nuclear. What actions, if any, are being planned by the group that you helped to found parents against the status Susana field lab in the wake of this proof that radioactive particles were released and dispersed in the smoke of the Woolsey fire. Melissa Bumstead 04:49:19 We have several things that we're working on right now, but I'm afraid I'm not able to talk about them, but I will give you an update. As soon as those become public, what Libbe HaLevy 04:49:27 Would you like to see happen? Melissa Bumstead 04:49:29 Well, obviously I would like to see the DTSC start making some public statements towards the full cleanup to say that they're not going to negotiate with Boeing, that they're not going to accept the supplemental environmental impact statements from NASA and the department of energy, but would like to see those agencies start to protect the people. But I really believe that it's going to be up to the people to put enough pressure on our elected officials and on Cal EPA and even our governor when we stand up and we demand the cleanup, it'll take all of us. I think it will take every voice, probably in all of Southern California, put enough pressure to outweigh the pressure that Boeing and NASA and the department of energy are putting to not have the cleanup Libbe HaLevy 05:50:15 Bumstead you have done and continue to do. And I know we'll continue to do important organizational work around the cleanup of Santa Susana field lab, and as thanks for coming on nuclear hot seat and filling us in on the latest, thank Announcer 05:50:32 You so much for having Libbe HaLevy 05:50:32 Me, Melissa Bumstead of parents against the Santa Susana field lab, by the way, her daughter is now 11 years old and cancer-free may it stay that way. If you want to know more about the Sadducees and a field lab, the peer reviewed paper and actions that Melissa couldn't talk about yet, but we'll be forthcoming soon. We will have links up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 41, you can also join up with the parents against S S F L group on Facebook where all the latest information is posted and the excellent award-winning film on Saturday Susanna field lab in the dark of the valley will have its first public presentation on MSNBC on Sunday, November 14, at 10:00 PM, Eastern 7:00 PM Pacific time. This is a really well-done film. That completely explains the situation using archival footage, talking heads animation, and even Kim Kardashians. We will have a link up to the nuclear hot seat interview that we conducted with the film's producer, Derek Smith. That will also be on our website under this episode, Announcer 05:51:48 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:55 It is with sadness that we share of the passing of Sue. Now Sue Bowie. He was an influential campaigner for nuclear disarmament who survived the U S atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He died on Sunday, October 24th of arrhythmia caused by anemia. He was 96 years old to Bowie drew international attention. When he met and spoke with then us president Barack Obama in 2016, while he visited Hiroshima and the site of the atomic bombing becoming the first sitting us president to do so since the bombing occurred on August 6th, 1945 to Bowie was a student at the predecessor to Hiroshima university. When the bombing occurred, he was only 1.2 kilometers from ground zero, less than a mile when he was exposed to the blast and suffered severe burns in the aftermath. He developed bowel and prostate cancers and severe anemia. He devoted himself to anti-nuclear activities, conveying the horror of nuclear weapons for decades at home and abroad and calling for their eliminations. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:01 He said, we want zero nuclear weapons. May it be so, and sometimes we get support in truth from unexpected sources. I'm a fan of the British TV program, call the midwife, possibly the most compassionate female centric TV show that's ever been created while the first nine seasons are now on Netflix. The 10th season is available for free on the PBS online site, pbs.org. In the episode I watched last night, which is episode one of this season, one of the multiple storylines followed a woman who gave birth to a stillborn baby, which had no lower legs. It turns out her husband had been in the British military in the late 1950s and had been onboard ship next to nuclear bomb site and exposed to the point where he could see the bones in his hands, through the skin, his close friend, also from the military at that time had a daughter who was born without three fingers and he developed serious medical problems. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:09 The show presented the doctor, putting the pieces together, then asking for medical records from the government only to be denied for suspicious reasons. He even watched film footage, which we also saw of the nuclear blast that was taken by one of the soldiers, the growing horror of this doctor and his wife, who is also a nurse at the realization that exposure to radiation from the bomb was implicated in all the medical problems that they tracked down. Mutations, stillbirth, hemorrhages in the father, even someone dying of leukemia and that the government was complicit in covering up the medical details. This was stunning in its impact and totally unexpected. I watch call the midwife to get away from nuclear matters, not to get plunged into it. This is the most honest depiction I've seen in popular media of what it means to suddenly get that those nuclear bomb tests had had an ongoing, terrifying impact on life and health. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:12 And your government does not want you to know about it. And this was totally unexpected. Despite the fact that in the past, this series has regularly included passing references to atomic bombs, fears, and even protests. I don't yet know if this storyline will continue or if it was a one-shot, but I will post a link to the pbs.org site. With that episode. I don't know if that is accessible outside of the United States, series 10 is already aired in the UK and it will be on Netflix after the first of the year. So hopefully even if you can't get it on PBS, you will be able to access it. Call the midwife an anti-nuclear TV series that tells the truth who knew this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:14 The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or I cam.org fairwinds.org, radiation free lakeland.org. The bulletin.org hcn.org, Seattle times.com common dreams.org, counter punched.org, Japan times.co.jp. Yes, seal gazette.org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you would like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, it's the easiest way to not miss out on a single episode, we make it easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show. First name, email address. We don't bug you. We just get the show to you. Now you can help us out because if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. That's how we find out what's really happening on the ground around the world. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:19 And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that whatever you can do to help, we will greatly appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that when it comes to all things, nuclear, not only can, what you don't know hurt you. There's a good chance that it already has. There you go. You had just had your nuclear wake-up call. So here's the brief, don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:20 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #540: Anti-Nuclear Nun Sister Megan Rice - A Commemoration URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-nun-sister-megan-rice/ Published: 2021-10-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Anti-Nuclear nun Sister Megan Rice – seen here at the outside the prison where she was held for 2-1/2 years. She and two other Plowshares activists conducted a non-violent protest at the Y-12 "Fort Knox of Uranium" in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. That an 82-year-old nun could "break in" to what was supposed to be a high security facility so embarrassed the government that they charged her with sabotage – a charge that was later overturned by the Appeals Court. This Week's Featured Interview: Anti-nuclear nun Sister Megan Rice passed away on October 10, 2021 at the age of 91. Sr. Rice, who was arrested more than 40 times for her beliefs and protests as part of the Plowshares movement, is best known for her role in the 2012 break-in at the Oak Ridge nuclear complex in Tennessee. She was already 82 when she and two other anti-nuclear activists, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, hiked through the night over a steep ridge to the outskirts of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. They used bolt cutters to get through three rings of barbed wire and approached the complex’s newest storage building, a windowless white-concrete hulk that had been billed as the “Fort Knox of uranium.” They splashed blood against the walls and spray-painted slogans like, “The fruit of justice is peace” and “Woe to an empire of blood.” They lit candles and read an indictment against the American nuclear arsenal. The three activists were arrested and charged with trespassing and “destruction and depredation” of government property. When they refused to plead guilty, prosecutors added a charge of sabotage, carrying up to 20 years in prison. This Nuclear Hotseat interview is from Episode #205 and was recorded on May 25, 2015, just after anti-nuclear nun Sr. Rice had been released from prison. Now a new film, The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bomb, chronicles the work of the Plowshares movement, which seeks to invoke the biblical injunction, “They Shall Beat Their Swords into Plowshares.” This film follows two federal criminal cases against the Plowshares activists for their protests: the July 2012 break-in at the Y-12 National Nuclear Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – home of the largest U.S. stockpile of highly enriched uranium – and the 2009 break-in at the Kitsap Bangor U.S. naval base near Seattle. It documents the activists’ legal efforts to justify their actions under international humanitarian law and follows efforts at the United Nations to enforce the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and negotiate the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. (We'll have an interview with the film's director in the coming weeks.)The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bomb is available on YouTube, Amazon, I-tunes and Sundance Now.New York Times obituary for Sister Megan Rice. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): LINKS TO ARTICLES: ICAN downloadable pdfs on Why NATO members should join the UN Ban on Nuclear weapons: English French GermanRamana, Makhijani: Look before you leap on nuclear Things Fall Apart – Dr. Paul DorfmanWhen Climate Breakown Goes Nuclear – Dr. Paul DorfmanTo Avoid Armageddon, Don’t Modernize Missiles—Eliminate Them – Daniel Ellsberg, Norman Solomon‘Fantasy PowerPoint Designs’ Won’t Deliver Nuclear Power in Time to Solve Climate Change" – Dr. Jim GreenSmall nuclear reactors, huge costs – Dr. Jim GreenOrganized Crime Goes Nuclear – Dr. Jim GreenPoland's Nuclear FollyNuclear submarine deal needlessly raises tensions Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear heroes, those who oppose nuclear in all its various forms are a growing group of staunch individuals who dedicate some portion of our lives to turning around the insane push, to increase all things, nuclear, be it weapons, power reactors, uranium mining, highly radioactive waste, or any of the processes necessary to support and manage them. But few people have had the impact of a tiny nun who in 2012 at the age of 82, joined with two associates and easily broke into the United States, Fort Knox of uranium to stage a peaceful protest against nuclear weapons. As for her reasons for taking an action that resulted in her being imprisoned for two and a half years, sister Meagan rice explained Meagan Rice 00:00:56 Renouncing and denouncing and exposing nuclear weapons or any crime. We're all invited humanly speaking. We must expos and OPO is crimes against humanity. There's only one thing to do, and that is anybody who is available and free to expose an oppose nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:20 She makes it sound so simple and logical that when you hear a call to action like that from a woman like that, it's possible to think that maybe we can join together to eliminate this seat that we all share. Announcer 00:01:35 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Claire hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:07 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a commemoration of the life of sister Meagan rice, who passed away on October 10th at the age of 91 of congestive heart failure, a long time peace activist. She is best known for the 2012 transform. Now Ploughshares action where she and two associates easily broke into Y 12, the Oak Ridge Tennessee site of what was supposed to be U S is heavily guarded Fort Knox of uranium, a national security asset. We'll share an interview recorded just after sister rice was released from prison, having served two and a half years for what the government called sabotage. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:16 We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information than Steve Bannon could ever be bothered to share all of it coming up in just a few moments. Today is Tuesday, October 26th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off here in the U S where potassium iodide pills are going to be distributed to people near the Perry nuclear power plant. In case of a nuclear accident, this would be in Ohio 40 miles north, east of Cleveland. For those of you who don't know potassium iodide is a non-prescription medication that can protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine. If taken within three to four hours of the start of exposure to a nuclear accident and note that it is only good against radioactive iodine and not any of the other radio nuclides that are released when a nuclear reactor starts behaving badly. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:25 So while it's good for the thyroid, do not be tricked into thinking that this is an overall protection from all things nuclear, because it is not the Easter Navajo DNA against uranium mining or end Dom has filed additional observations and additional testimony on the merits of the case of at all versus the United States of America for alleging violations of human rights regarding the issuance of a license to mine, uranium in the crown point and church rock communities, which are on Navajo nation land, Jonathan Perry and Dom directors said the filing is crucial for the protection of communities, the people, our Homeland and culture, we will stand for our human rights and not allow our value as indigenous people to be diminished. The federal government must realize that we are not disposable and that water is life in Wyoming. That state is weighing plans to host a multi-billion dollar demonstration so-called nuclear power plant, Tara powers Nutrium reactor belong history of similar nuclear reactors dating back to 1950. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:39 One indicates that Wyoming is likely to be left with a nuclear lemon on its hands. This is from an article published by Arjun Maka, Johnny, who is president of the Institute for energy, environmental research, and M V Ramana, who is professor and Simon's chair in disarmament global and human security and director of the Liu Institute for global issues at the school of public policy and global affairs at the university of British Columbia. The nature M reactor design uses molten sodium as a coolant, as opposed to water, which is used in most existing commercial reactors. And it's likely to be problematic in Japan, a sodium fire within the first months of a reactor starting led to Japan's Manjoo demonstration reactor being shut down the French super Phoenix, which was the largest sodium cooled reactor was plagued by operational problems, including a major sodium leak and was shut down in 1998, after 14 years, having operated at an average capacity of under 7%. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:45 In other words, this design is definitely a lemon. We will link to the article by McKinsey, Johnny and Ramana on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5, 4 0 2 articles. We will link to by Dr. Paul Dorfman. He is an academic at the UCL energy Institute, university, college, London, and chair of the nuclear consulting group, both articles dealing with nuclear's vulnerability to climate change and state that present and planned coastal and inland nuclear installations will be at significant risk. One of the articles, which looks at risks, both in the UK and the United States sites, the UK Institute of mechanical engineers, which says that UK nuclear coastal installations together with their spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste stores are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding storm surge, and what they call nuclear island ING. In other words, waters from flooding rising so high that they surround a nuclear site and make it inaccessible by roads. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:55 Perhaps alarmingly. They point out that these us coastal nuclear sites could be relocated or even abandoned. And keep this point in mind when listening to this week's numb nuts of the week in the United States, the Pentagon reports that 79 military bases will be effected by rising sea levels and frequent flooding, including 23 nuclear installations, strategic radar stations, nuclear command centers, missile test ranges and ballistic missile defense sites, seven of which store nuclear weapons onsite. Similarly, the U S army war college says nuclear facilities are at high risk of temporary or permanent closure due to climate threats with 66, 0% of us nuclear capacity vulnerable to major risks, including sea level rise and severe storms, but try telling the left hand what the right hand knows, because in this example of nuclear bone headedness, we have new Libbe HaLevy 00:09:10 Such nuclear myopia. This week, the Biden administration released four separate reports on how climate change threatens us national security and will likely create conflict around the globe. These included a report on migration, the national intelligence estimate and separate analyses from the defense department and the department of Homeland security. And how many times did they mention anything? Nuclear just once as in some of the countries, most vulnerable to climate change like India and Pakistan are nuclear powers, climate catastrophes might jeopardize the security of their weapons. Yeah, but what about right here in the good old USA in case you haven't noticed the United States is a nuclear power and climate catastrophes might jeopardize the security of our weapons. And then there's the potential flooding of coastal nuclear reactors from sea level rise, sea Fukushima, to understand what that can lead to. And then there's the possibility of dam overflow flooding from torrential rains and dam failures, upstream of nuclear reactors that could flood out emergency cooling systems. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:29 Again, if you want to understand what that means, see Fukushima, and then there is this finding more powerful storms and more frequent flooding are threatening military preparedness domestic basis, like Tyndall air force base in Florida and Marine Corps base camp Lu Xun in North Carolina have already endured billions of dollars worth of damage and sea level rise. And the Pacific jeopardizes key quote, war fighting infrastructure. Well, we can't have anything damaging our ability to make war. Can we, all of which goes to show that when it comes to nuclear dangers created by climate change, the current administration in Washington has just as big a blind spot as the previous ones. And that's why Biden administration and all those reports on climate change and national security, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:11:33 As I said, we will link to the two articles by Dr. Paul Dorfman that contradict this numb nuts Surrey. And here's a numb that's adjacent story, a recent incident at a national Institute of standards and technology reactor is linked to staff turnover. The incident occurred on February 3rd, but was only submitted in a report to the nuclear regulatory commission on October 1st. What happened less February is that the reactor at the NIS T center for neutron research in Gaithersburg, Maryland released radiation into the surrounding facility. According to the report, during a routine refueling operation in experienced staff members failed to identify and improperly secured fuel element that caused that element to overheat and deform. In other words, inadequate training and licensing of operators was one of several factors that contributed to the accident in the usual nuclear. The dog ate my homework excuse and I S T wines that the reactors refueled manually and hands-on experiences needed to ensure that certain steps of the process are performed properly. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:51 But turnover has led to a decline in the aggregate experience of the reactor staff and the recent trainees have had less opportunity to participate in refueling operations due to the pandemic. So why don't you just shut the damn thing down, or is that too logical that will be linked along with this article entitled to avoid Armageddon don't modernize missiles, eliminate them. This is written by Daniel Ellsberg famous for his release of the Pentagon papers and Norman Solomon, who is executive director of the Institute for public accuracy and author of war made easy as well as a co-founder of roots action.org. It calls for shutting down all of the nations Intercontinental ballistic missiles, which is 400. ICBM's that dot the rural landscapes of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming missiles that are uniquely and dangerously on hair. Trigger alert. According to former defense secretary William Perry, who's quoted in this article. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:01 If our sensors indicate that enemy missiles are on route to the United States, the president would have to consider launching ICBM's before the enemy missiles could destroy them. Once they are launched, they cannot be recalled. And the president would have less than 30 minutes to make that terrible decision. There is now a code pink petition to eliminate nuclear weapons from the Biden budget. And it is meant to go to the house appropriations committee to defund nuclear weapons. Right now we will have links up to the Ellsberg and Solomon article, as well as the code pink petition, which you can click on, go to sign and then pass along to your friends. All that will be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 4, 0 in Japan, that country's new prime minister has said that there can be no delay to plans to release contaminated water. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:00 That's radioactively contaminated water from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific ocean, despite opposition from fishers and neighboring countries, the wastewater, which is pumped up from reactor basements, and despite being treated still contains radioactive tritium has built up at the site since the plant suffered the triple meltdown in March of 2011, more than 1 million, tons of water are currently being stored in 1000 tanks at the site. But teff co Tokyo electric power company has warned that space will run out late. Next year. They have been saying this every year for the past five years, it also is reported to contain 63 additional radio nuclides because the filtering system did not work fully to remove all radionuclides from the water. But prime minister coz has said that every effort would be made to reassure local people that disposing of water in the Pacific was safe. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:07 It doesn't mean it is safe, just that they're going to war to reassure the local population. And it would seem the rest of the world with a their there, Missy, you don't worry your pretty little head about it. Tactic, however, protest to this plan, just keep rolling in from around the world. South Korea will once again, call for international discussions on Japan's plan to discharge this radioactive water into the Pacific ocean at this week's international maritime gathering the London convention and protocol South Korea has urged Japan to have in-depth discussions with neighboring countries before pushing ahead with the plan and has been working to garner international support for seeking alternatives, whether because of these efforts by South Korea or on their own China and eight Asia Pacific island countries have raised a collective objection against this disposal of wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean. The nine countries adopted a joint declaration. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:12 Following a meeting led by Beijing among the eight island countries that signed are Kiribati Fiji and Paul Paul new Guinea, the European commission will decide this fall. If nuclear power will be classified as sustainable when truly the only thing sustainable about it is the amount of radioactive waste it creates. And the persistence of that waste at dangerous levels of radioactivity to life for tens and hundreds of thousands of years. But Finland has just lobbied the EU to declare nuclear power sustainable. After an unpublished cabinet decision that was supported, believe it or not by the greens, if nuclear power gets the so-called green label financing for nuclear projects will be easier to come by. And the terms of any loans will be softer than for other energy products, including those of genuinely sustainable technologies while citing the oft repeated lie that nuclear energy produces no carbon emissions because it does it every step of the fuel chain, except the split instant. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:26 When the atom is split, there is no mention of the creation of radioactive waste in the UK. On October 22nd, there was a fire at the Sellafield nuclear site at a building associated with the Magnavox reprocessing plant in what may or may not be a coincidence just three days earlier, the Sellafield site conducted an emergency exercise that warned the local populace, that it might involve the sounding of the site siren and the use of low-level pyrotechnics and blank firearms. Low-level pyrotechnics three days later, a fire. Hm, interesting. You might have noticed that there are a lot of articles that I'm linking to this week because so many of them are out and that's because the United nations climate change conference cop 26 begins on Sunday, October 31st. So some of the strongest and most persuasive articles are just coming out. Now, here are some more on international issues. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:34 Michael Schneider publisher of Schneider's world nuclear status report. 2021 said that the governments of Britain, Canada, China, Russia, and the United States are wasting time and money on plans for what he calls fantasy PowerPoint designs of small modular nuclear reactors that could never be built in time to save humanity from the climate crisis. Schneider points out that paper designs are cheap until they're actually being built. The average construction time for new reactors was 10 years after the first concrete has been poured, not including planning and the licensing processes, which took much longer. In other words, while solar and wind technologies, which are genuinely renewable, are ready to go out of the box. Anything nuclear is going to take a minimum of 10 plus years and small modular nuclear reactors don't even have a design that has been proven yet. So it's going to be taking much longer Dr. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:39 Jim green, who is national nuclear campaigner for friends of the earth Australia echoes that point in his article, small nuclear reactors, huge costs, green great name for a nuclear campaign or sites, a new report published by the country's most influential coal lobby on the subject of small modular nuclear reactors and labels it jiggery pokery of the highest order, possibly one of my favorite new phrases, because it means deceitful or dishonest behavior in UK slang. He goes on to explain that the coal industry's idea behind promoting nuclear power is that it will slow the transition from fossil fuels to renewables and believes that promoting nuclear is in the interest of some of the coal industries, companies to slow transition to other forms of energy production. In a second article, entitled organized crime goes nuclear green rights that serious insider sabotage has hit major nuclear countries in recent ears, mentioning fraud, counterfeiting, bribery, corruption, sabotage theft, and other criminal activities that are rife in the global nuclear industry. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:56 He includes a lot of corroborating information in the article. Yeah, nuclear published an article on Poland's nuclear folly that was translated from the Polish and reports that the Polish ruling law and justice party has created an official energy document called the Polish energetic policy. And it announces the construction of six nuclear power units by 2043 in Poland, this from the country that was first to detect and report to the world on the Chernobyl disaster and a joint statement by international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war and its affiliates in Australia, the UK and USA announced their agreement that for Australia to acquire nuclear powered submarines with UK and us assistance could jeopardize global health and security Australia would become the seventh country to use nuclear propulsion for its military vessels and the first state to do so, which does not possess nuclear weapons or nuclear power reactors links to all these articles will be up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 4, 0, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear weapons, reactors, uranium mining, radioactive waste accidents. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:17 So-called permissible, radiation exposures. The list of nuclear dangers and disasters is as endless as the dangers of plutonium, which remains highly radioactive for 240,000 years yet, despite the known risks, this industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and of life itself. That's why hot seat is here to help, you know, what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media, and we provide them on an ongoing basis. So you get context and continuity and can understand the full picture. We also provide a healthy dose of skepticism, as well as humor, whenever and wherever possible. We covered not only what the industry is doing, but how brave activists around the world are fighting back. As you will hear in today's interview and how any one of us, yes, even you sitting right there at your computer can take an action towards stopping the nuclear madness, but in order to keep going, we need your help. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:35 So if you like nuclear, hot seats mission, and the information we make available to you every week, here's what you can do. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can help us with a donation of any amount. And you can also set up a recurring donation for as little as $5 a month here in the U S that's the same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip. So if you value the work that nuclear hot seat does do what you can now and know that however much you can help, I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's this week's featured interview. It's one of my favorite interviews from the first 10 years of nuclear hot seat. And it's offered this week with sadness, sister Meagan Royce passed away on October 10 at the age of 91. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:28 She was a Roman Catholic nun who was arrested more than 40 times for protesting America's military industrial complex sister Meagan is best known for breaking into the wide 12 complex at Oakridge Tennessee. One of the world's largest uranium storage sites. It's a maximum security site. So how maximum is that? Security? Y 12 has some 500 security officers authorized to use lethal force within its protective area. It has five bear cat armored vehicles, Gatling guns that can fire up to 50 rounds per second, and shoot down aircraft, video cameras, motion detectors for perimeter fences, and rows of Dragon's teeth, which are low pyramid shaped blocks of concrete that can rip the axles off approaching vehicles and bring them to a dead stop. Thus, it was extremely embarrassing that on July 28th, 2012, one diminutive octogenarian nun, and two other anti-nuclear activists, Greg obit and Michael Wally, both over 55 years old, we're able to hike over a steep Ridge. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:46 You simple bolt cutters to get through three rings of barbed wire and walk stroll, perhaps into Y twelves newest George building, a windowless white concrete Hulk that had been billed as the Fort Knox of uranium. These three were not spotted by security for almost 30 minutes after they arrived. During which time they splashed blood against the walls and spray painted slogans. Like the fruit of justice is peace and woe to an empire of blood. They lit candles and read an indictment against the American nuclear arsenal. And when a security guard finally did show up, they broke a loaf of bread and offer him a peace, which he refused. It's no wonder that an extremely embarrassed government threw the book at these three activists, charging them with not only trespassing and destruction and depredation of government property, but sabotage a felony with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, sister rice, and the others served just over two years before being released after an appeals court vacated the sabotage convictions. I originally spoke with sister Meagan rice on May 25th, 2012, immediately after she was released from prison. And there is no better commemoration for her life than hearing her own words, Libbe HaLevy 02:28:16 Sister Meagan, welcome to nuclear hot seat. First of all, did you know that your case was in the process of being reviewed by the sixth us circuit court of appeals? And were you in any way expecting that the sabotage ruling against you was going to be taken away? Meagan Rice 02:28:39 I certainly knew it was happening and I can only say common sense would say, that's what would have to happen. So, you know, anything, we were always ready for every surprise in this country. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:55 And common sense is not necessarily the most common thing we have. So it was great news that was received by people throughout internationally, our community. When you learned of the court's decision, what was your reaction? Meagan Rice 02:29:09 I wasn't all that excited because I really expected that, that when I found out at three in the morning, I was listening to the BBC and it was just a tiny little announcement at the end of a six or seven minute summary of the world news. And it just said in the statement that, you know, the naming us all or are given immediate release, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:35 Let's take this back to how the action started. This has been credited, or at least been mentioned in connection with something called transform. Now plow shares. Is that a group? Is that a movement? Tell us a bit about what that is Meagan Rice 02:29:52 Since about 1980, starting with father Dan Berrigan, brother, bill Barragan started the Ploughshares movement, which has done many, many actions, direct actions to expose the illegality and the immorality that we all know in our hearts of, of nuclear weapons. And so each of the actions, I'm not sure of the number in my head, whether it's certainly more than 30, but I don't know has a special name does like every battleship has a special name. And so the last one which happened on the 2nd of November, 2009 in Kipsap Bangor, Trident submarine base was called this arm now. And it came to me that, okay, what's the next step? You know, part of the process, the main process of disarming is not to deplete the planet and stop and all the jobs for people, but to transform the whole thing into what we need. So the word transformation just came. So the next step after disarming on really part of it is transformed now into life enhancing alternatives. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:21 How was the determination made that you would target the Y 12 uranium depository at Oak Ridge? Meagan Rice 03:31:29 I was the research that we were doing mainly at that point, Greg and I, and we were moving from community to community. He lived in Duluth and so we went east. We had to go east anyway, and we stopped in Kansas city, which was the place where they were making all the non-nuclear parts to nuclear weapons. For other words, continuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. They were willing to do something for August, 2012. So we didn't need to do anything there. Then we moved on eastward and consulted with the peace movements all along the way and communities that were there. We got up to Maine even to Bangor. And I mean to near Portland, you know, bath, and that was another submarine carrier manufacturing place. And then we moved down and we realized that the one that hadn't had a good direct action was Oak Ridge. We wanted to have something for 2012, August 6th and August night. You know, something around that time too. Remember, 68 years ago, Libbe HaLevy 03:32:47 You, Michael and Greg took several symbolic actions on the site. How did you determine what those actions were and what they would symbolize? Meagan Rice 03:32:59 It was very easy. I mean, these are the same symbols that have been used and we've meditated on them and understood them. I started being connected with Jonah house after my mother died in, and I was there in 1999 and 2000 when a, an action was going on. So I was there to reflect and pray with that community and be instructed by Phil Berrigan and Liz and the people living there. I understood fully and the same way with Greg. He was living there. We understood the importance of those symbols of exterminating, a sacred life. So the sacred symbol of life, certainly as blood. And to show that to the workers, without having to say anything was very educative and renouncing and denouncing and exposing nuclear weapons or any crime, we're all invited humanly speaking. We must expos and oposed crimes against humanity. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:08 How supportive was your order as you were making these plans and going into this action? Meagan Rice 03:34:15 When I came back from Africa, I asked where I felt I could, you know, work best in this country. And I had been to the nuclear test site in Nevada, 20 years before this is 2003 and four now really mainly 2004. And I realized that they needed somebody in Nevada. So I was allowed to do community work there and help out with that peace movement for the next six, seven years. But I was then realizing that was nuclear testing and the action ChIP-seq bang bore and the state of Washington had made me see, it was two years later that nothing really had happened. So we were ready to make another message. And so I asked to be able to focus just on nuclear weapons where a year. And they were very, very supportive of that. And I, I didn't have to say what I was doing. We are an order with whose terrorism or whose mission is to meet the ones of the age. And we have been studying, what are the ones of the age since we began encouraged by our founders, Cornelia Connelly in 1846. So we've been constantly searching to meet the wants at the age. And I could see that this couldn't be a more important want of the age to meet, to try to meet. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:48 Let's take this into the action itself at the point that you were dropped off and you were facing that chain link fence, as you were about to go in, what were your thoughts? What were your feelings? Were you scared? Was this a profound moment? Did you pray beforehand? How did this get started? Meagan Rice 03:36:11 We had like an eight day retreat before that, in the area of Knoxville with the people who were very happy to be part of this designing and shaping of what would happen and just the wonderful grace of energy in our shared prayer through the eight days. And we had known from satellite, whatever. I didn't have to worry about that. Exactly what an aware. And so we were dropped off, not in front of the chain link fence, but before the woods, you know, we were able to Mount the bridge, which is Oak Ridge in the dark, and we just follow it. And we just walked through no path or anything. We just headed to the top winding our way. And obviously we were led. And then we finally, after about two hours going up, we reached in, I wasn't even thinking about being afraid because we were getting through and nobody was stopping us and we could look down on this. Meagan Rice 03:37:19 It was probably four 30. So before Dawn and we just were able to move right on down and we were inside the three, well, first the outer Vince was still in the woods that didn't take any time. And we closed it up, you know, with little plastic ties or a short right angle, two sides of a triangle so that we could slip through with a flap. And we were all rather thin people and was very easy. And then we got to the top of the region looked over and then we just kept on going. We saw that security car just drove by. We saw it drive back. And then we just started and got to the first of the last three fences. Couldn't have been five minutes to get through one, nothing was electrocuting us. We just moved on and got through three. And we were there by quarter to five. Meagan Rice 03:38:16 And I had looked last time, I looked at my watch, it was scored defy, and we did exactly what we knew we were going to do totally on unheated unimpeded. And it took maybe 10 minutes, maybe, you know, you didn't look at your clock, but not long at all. And then we had finished the three or four things we planned to do quietly, not having any, just we were all very focused and then very way down at the opposite end of the building, which is very long, this fan that had been driving around the roadway before drove right next to the building, probably 25, 30 feet inside the last fence, I guess. I don't really remember. I mean, I couldn't measure exactly. And anyway, it drove very slowly up to us and we were ready to meet it. And we bowing before them. That was just that one, man, Kurt Garland. And we read, he was willing to listen to her. We just were ready to read to him why we were there and that is available. And I hope people know that we wrote that during the retreat in the eight days before Libbe HaLevy 03:39:28 Given a link to it, I will definitely post it up on the website in connection with this episode so that people can actually read what you said. Meagan Rice 03:39:37 The two things that we brought in were the statement. And then the second one was the indictment, a list of what laws were being infringed by continuing the manufacturer testing use and storage of nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:54 So it sounds like rather than what has been reported, that you were there for two hours before a guard showed up that it was really a relatively short period of time. Meagan Rice 04:40:05 That was always, yeah. I find that it's just a mistake. We landed on the downside as a Ridge. Probably I think it was by two or two 30. So we were looking at it by four 30. Okay. So it could be like two hours to get up the hill. Okay. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:28 But the actual action itself, it sounds like it took maybe 10 to 15 minutes. Yeah, Meagan Rice 04:40:35 Certainly 20 at the outset at the most. Anybody could have done it in that little time. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:41 How did the guard respond when he suddenly came upon the three of you on this site? Meagan Rice 04:40:48 It wasn't all that sudden. It was slow. He responded just by looking at us, we could hear him saying on the phone, his cell phone are peace protestors. You better send somebody along. Something like that. He was very, he had known that we repeat, it was most obvious that we were peace protests. And he had had that experience. He had been at Rocky flats for many years and then somewhere else. And you know, you can always tell when their peace protest, Libbe HaLevy 04:41:21 How were you treated by the authorities when they did show up? Meagan Rice 04:41:25 I felt that they were, I mean, there was just, the second person was nervous and had this gun and this and that, but it was very gently. We were handcuffed and told us that on the ground and which we did, you know, this is now 5 15, 5 30. It took a little while for the more vans to come. And we were on the ground with our hands, cuffed at the back with our ankles cuffed from then on, you know, we watched the sun come up. People gradually, you know, like undressed, cause it was Saturday morning. Those that were higher up in the line of the marshals spoke very politely to us. You don't do you want to answer some questions you don't have to without your lawyer kind of thing. And then we sat there, you know, it wasn't until maybe 10 o'clock. They brought three collapsible chairs, but we would stand up, you know, just because it was stiff and all that. And they had to help me get up, you know, you'd stand maybe every 20 minutes for five minutes or something like that. Took them all that time to get their act together. In other words, Libbe HaLevy 04:42:39 You were initially charged with misdemeanor trespass and then suddenly the charges were upped to damaging the defense facility under the sabotage act, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. And there was also the charge of causing more than $1,000 damage to government property, which carries up to 10 years in prison. Why do you think the charges against you were so dramatically increased in their severity? Meagan Rice 04:43:08 Obviously they didn't want a trial. They thought we would try to get out easily with a plea bargain. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:15 Oh, is that the strategy? Meagan Rice 04:43:17 Oh, absolutely. They always want plea bargains. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:23 Was there any question in your mind about taking the plea bargain? Meagan Rice 04:43:28 No possibility of a question. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:32 And what did you hope to accomplish with the trial and the resulting disability? Okay. Meagan Rice 04:43:38 To doing what we had to do, it's the obligation of every, we're all equally responsible to expos and oppose known crimes. So it was nothing else we could do, but do it in order to make a very clear message quickly. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:57 I know you take your ministry with you wherever you go. And you ended up spending over two years in prison. What was it like for you in there and what sort of work were you able to do or you move to do with the women who you met there? Meagan Rice 04:44:15 I would say I was more minister move and ministry ministry. We believe is totally shared. It's a giving and a sharing and a receiving, and none of those can be exaggerated in order to be harmoniously accomplished. And it happened to me. I received as much as I shared as much as I gave you. We always say in west Africa go by opposite opposites. When you're in the reality of the thing, nobody could imagine what the reality is until we experience it. And I have been overawed by a nasally strong and gifted women and some compassionate men. There were not many for me to interact with at some work, very respectful and interacting that way. But of course we, I was fellow inmate and they also had a lot of time to interact with the world because I did try to respond in some way to everybody who has written either by a joint letter because people need to be honored. I mean, everybody is involved in this and equally whether they're writing leathers, whether they're sitting at home with their arthritis or whether they're just, you know, sending energy through prayer, to harmonize and heal the world. And it's just part of that grand scheme of healing, the planet of its wounds being healed, of course, Libbe HaLevy 04:45:51 In this time between your release and the fact that you're going to still have to go back to court for re sentencing sometime this summer on the one remaining charge. What are your plans for this period of time before you find out finally, whether they are going to put you back in jail or whether they're just going to declare time served and let you go. Meagan Rice 04:46:17 I haven't had time to do any planning. My time has been taken up and programmed by something ever since we were released last Saturday evening at six o'clock. So I just followed the, what was the next call for, you know, the next day? What, what had he emerged? I had a remote plan. I knew that I could, you know, get a medical checkup immediately and then some recommendations in the same building to see whatever I needed, slight checkups, which were very, very minor and everything is very mild. And I don't have anything to worry about. You know, it's just very practical things. So I'm just staying nearby and doing, accomplishing those things and trying to respond to telephone calls from people like you. We haven't even had a chance to talk to each other, Mike and Greg, you know, because Greg was in transit and there just hasn't been time for me to dial them and nor them to dial me. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:22 Were you in contact at all during the time that you were improving? Meagan Rice 04:47:26 Not really, really. We were meant to be, but Greg got his paperwork done coming from Leavenworth, but each of the places where I was just didn't respond to it, I definitely had it. We had a right to be in touch with each other, but we couldn't, they never came and told me it's okay to do it Libbe HaLevy 04:47:48 In your mind. Where would you like your action to lead? What do you want to happen now? And given that the listeners to nuclear hot seat are international. We have 38 countries that listen to this show on a monthly basis. What can we do to support you in where you want this to go next? Meagan Rice 04:48:12 I don't think I'm seeking support for me. There's only one thing to do. And that is anybody who is available and free and carrying on with what they're all doing to expose and oppose nuclear weapons of mass destruction. And I see that people have each has their own gifts of creativity, their own style of doing it. And I totally honor, I'm going to say you, and I'm speaking to all the people that you're in network with and thank you and just carry on and continued to see how we can make this and that shit, you know, more, you know, and just react to the denial of the non-proliferation treaty conference. You know, the review that just ended on Friday and let's support of that Ray of hope there, the countries that are just getting out of that thing because they failed New York times doesn't even mention what was happening at the UN for the last month. So we all need to get in touch with the people who are involved in these international treaties and what can we do? How can we speak out? Because we are the majority, we're not the minority, Libbe HaLevy 04:49:32 Mr. Meagan rice, you are one of my heroes. I am honored to be speaking with you. I support you. And if there's anything I can do to help you in the future, please do not hesitate to let me know Meagan Rice 04:49:45 You're doing it. The theory you're on it. So we it's a mutually assured admiration society. Since we say that, Libbe HaLevy 04:49:56 Thank you so much for that sister, Meagan rice, you are a hero to so many of us and I am deeply honored that we've been able to spend this time together on nuclear hot seat, Meagan Rice 05:50:10 Bless you Derry and divert to, to what you're doing. You're doing a great job and thank you. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:18 Her words meant a great deal to me. That was the late great sister, Meagan rice who passed away on October 10th, 2020, one of congestive heart failure Announcer 05:50:32 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:40 The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or ICANN has published a new report entitled why NATO members should join the UN ban on nuclear weapons. The 116 page report proposes that NATO takes steps to become a non nuclear Alliance in line with the new norm set by the United nations. Further those NATO members that are ready to join the TPN w as it's referred to the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons should be free to do so without fear of repercussions from their allies, particularly the United States, France and the United Kingdom, which still possess nuclear arsenals. The report highlights the widespread support for the TPN w within many NATO states, as evidenced by public opinion, polls, parliamentary, resolutions, political party, declarations, and statements from past leaders. It also notes that NATO members face no legal barriers to joining the treaty so long as they commit not to engage in or support any nuclear weapons related activities. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:52 We will link to PDF copies of this report in three different languages, English, French, and German. There'll be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 45, 4 0. And for those of you who want to do something in your personal life to take funding away from the nuclear industry, here is our brief interview with Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb. She tells you about a program that you can use in your personal life to strip the money out of the nuclear industry. And it's not only you by sharing this information, it will reverberate within your banking institutions, with your financial planner and with pension funds, as well as in any community religious or social groups. You frequent just talk about it. The goal is to starve the money out of companies that make and make money from manufacturing. Any portion of the nuclear weapons chain here to explain it in two very fast spoken minutes is Susie Snyder. Susie Synder 05:53:00 It's amazing. It's called don't bank on the bomb, and that's the website too. Don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon, producers, step two, contact your bank, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says. And if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to companies that make nuclear weapons, you and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallets. And how can people find out Libbe HaLevy 05:53:40 Whether the companies that were told the bank is supporting, having any connection with the nuclear weapons? Susie Synder 05:53:46 Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profile 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website. Don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in through the website, really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'm happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, tell us we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Love it. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:22 Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb, we will have a link up to their website, amazingly enough. It's called don't bank on the bomb.com. That's where you can find a list of the 28 companies that currently build nuclear weapons and links to all the footnotes that your financial advisors will want to read to understand exactly what is at stake here. It's on the website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number five 40. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, October 26th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org in eis.org. And I R s.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org Cleveland nineteen.com the ecologists.org physics today. Doug salutation.org news and the guts.com trib.com. The nation.com code pink.org. The guardian.com E N dot Y N a dot C O dot K R Y L E dot F I gov.uk Whitehead in news.co.uk renew economy.com dot a U the energy mixed.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:52 The bulletin God org, independent.co.uk, and the captured and compromised by the industry. They are supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Every episode of nuclear hot seat is just packed full of information about nuclear matters that you're not likely to find in most other places, or you might find a bit here in a bit. There we bring it all together. So of course you want to make certain that you get the show every week and it's easy for you to do so. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box, fill in your first name and an email address and bam you're in our database. We will send you the episode every week with a brief description of what's in it. And we will not sell your information, share your information. We won't even bug you with a whole bunch of email, just one a week. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:47 And because you are on the ground wherever you are with whatever you're facing in a nuclear way, and it's right there, you probably have information that I don't. And I want that information. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And remember if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts. Hey, anything will help. And we always appreciate your support. I know we have listeners around the world. We're up to 124 countries where nuclear hot seat has been downloaded and listened to. So don't be shy. Let me know what's going on. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that in the words of sister, Meagan, rice, none of us is out of prison. As long as one nuclear bomb exists. If that's not a nuclear wake up call, I don't know what is so your assignment, should you decide to accept it is to not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:29 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #539: Woolsey Fire SPECIAL: Radioactive Particles Released into LA Neighborhoods from Santa Susana Field Lab - Peer-Reviewed Study by Dr. Marco Kaltofen, Arnie Gundersen, Maggie Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/woolsey-fire-radioactive-la-neighborhoods/ Published: 2021-10-20 Duration: 00:59:00 Woolsey Fire in 2018 has now been shown, through peer-reviewed scientific study, to have released radioactive microparticles from the Santa Susana Field Lab site into Los Angeles neighborhoods. Radioactivity released through smoke and ash has been shown to have reached as much as nine miles away and 19 times background radiation. This Week's SPECIAL Interview: Woolsey Fire radioactive releases revealed: In 2018, the massive Woolsey Fire started at the Santa Susana Field Lab – a nuclear radiation- and rocket fuel-contaminated former Rocketdyne site, located in the hills of Simi Valley only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It burned through contaminated brush and debris, releasing smoke and ash suspected of containing radiation into the environment. The California Department of Toxic Substances (DTSC) hastily issued reassurances only nine hours after the fire started and as it still burned, "assuring" the public that no radioactive materials had been released by the fire and nothing above normal background levels was found. Local citizens were not convinced and took action to get the area tested. Now, three years later, a just-released peer-reviewed scientific study of dirt, dust and ash samples taken within a 10 mile radius of the Woolsey fire has revealed a very different picture of what happened. The study – Radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey Fire in Simi Valley, CA, published by the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity – was based on 360 samples of ash, dirt and dust taken in the immediate aftermath of the fire. Research and testing was conducted by the three individuals we interviewed for today's show: Dr. Marco Kaltofen of Worcester Polytechnic Institute is an environmental scientist with 30 years experience in environmental, workplace, and product safety investigations. Dr. Kaltofen's nuclear forensics work includes experience in the US, the Middle East, Russia, India, Japan, and European Union countries.Arnie Gundersen, nuclear engineer, licensed nuclear reactor operator, and expert witness, as well as the chief engineer for Fairewinds AssociatesMaggie Gundersen is a journalist, paralegal, and former atomic power industry spokesperson who serves as president of Fairewinds Energy Education, as well as a member of their Board of Directors. LINKS: The Journal of Environmental Radioactivity article: Radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey Fire in Simi Valley, CA Fairewinds Energy EducationParents Against the Santa Susana Field Lab (Clockwise from lower right): Dr. Marco Kaltofen, Maggie Gundersen, Arnie Gundersen, Libbe HaLevy Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear lies, nuclear excuses, the Santa Susana field lab, or SSF L is a nuclear radiation and rocket fuel contaminated former rocket dine site located in the Hills of Simi valley, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles in 2018. The massive Woolsey fire started on SSF L grounds and swept through the site and far beyond burning contaminated brush and debris releasing smoke and Ash suspected of containing radiation into the environment. Of course, only nine hours after the fire started while it was still raging. The California department of toxic substances issued a statement, reassuring the public that no radioactive materials had been released by the fire and nothing above normal background, radiation levels have been found, but people were alarmed. Samples were taken. And three years later, a just released peer reviewed scientific study of dirt dust and Ash samples taken immediately after the fire within a 10 mile radius of S S F L has revealed a very different picture of what happened and puts paid to those nuclear excuses as a world renowned scientist involved with the study explains DTSC 00:01:24 What's the source, what's the fingerprint who's responsible. So even if you do get the radiation data out, the first thing you'll hear is it's background it's okay. Or the second thing would be okay, you found it above background, but it's not from us. It's from atomic testing. I mean, why not? Right? Why should there be radiation around SSL? That's from SS FL, why should it be from a place that burned three years ago? And that's a few hundred yards away when we can blame it on something that happened 70 years ago, that's half a world away. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:01 Well when Dr. Marco counterfeit, who analyze the environmental samples taken in the immediate aftermath of the fire and discovered alarming levels of radioactivity, as much as nine miles away tells you how the so-called experts always work to cover up alarming, if not damning information about nuclear dangers, you see how purportedly responsible officials will scramble to cover up any public knowledge. That points to that really dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:33 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking Clare? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but linking nuclear Hotsy Libbe HaLevy  00:02:59 It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:05 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. Today is Tuesday, October 19th, 2021. And this is a special, full length interview on the just released peer reviewed report, radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey fire in Simi valley, California. It was published in the journal of environmental radio activity. So let's get to it. We have three guests this week, all of them world-class and they're the ones behind this important study. We talk with Dr. Marco Calton of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is an environmental scientist with 30 years experience in environmental workplace and product safety investigations, and his nuclear forensics work includes experience in the U S the middle east Russia, India, Japan, and European union countries. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:21 Partnering with him for the study are two figures familiar to nuclear hot seat listeners. Arnie Gunderson is a nuclear engineer and expert witness, as well as chief engineer for Fairwinds energy associates. Maggie Gunderson is a journalist paralegal and former atomic power industry spokesperson who serves as president of Fairwinds energy education, as well as a member of their board of directors. After three years of work, the report on the Sadducees Zana field lab was published on October eight. The story released to the media last Thursday, October 14, and I spoke with the principals on Monday, October 18th, 2021, Arnie Gunderson, Maggie Gunderson, Marco counterfeit. Welcome to nuclear hot seat. Arnie Gunderson 00:05:11 Maybe Libbe HaLevy  00:05:12 Let's have each of you in term. What, if any involvement did you have with the satis Susanna field lab or parents against Santa Susana field lab before the 2018 Woolsey fire? Arnie Gunderson 00:05:25 I was asked years and years ago to take a look at the quality of the cleanup. And I filed a, a report on behalf of one of the groups out there. I think it was probably 2014 or 2015, and it basically showed that they'd done a pretty poor job of first monitoring the radiation they had on site and second measuring it, and then actually cleaning it up. One of the problems, you know, when you're working in a radioactive environment, background is higher. Does it take a lot of knowledge? Well, they were proposing to determine if a building was radioactive by taking the sample in the building and measuring it in the building. Yeah, that was just one of many things they were trying to do. And then they were going to ship it to a landfill in California, somewhere, just a public landfill. That, that was my involvement before the fire. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:29 What was wrong with taking a sample and measuring it inside the building, Arnie Gunderson 00:06:33 The problem with taking a sample and measuring it at the same location is that whatever the background is at that location is going to corrupt the sample. So you really should take that sample and go to a clean lab somewhere and measure it. So that was fundamentally something wrong. And then, you know, to ship this concrete and dirt and put it in a landfill that, that gets rained on and runs down into the local water tables. It saved them a lot of money, but it sure wasn't a good public health practice. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:06 When did you Arnie Marco Maggie, when did you become aware of the Woolsey fire and the significance of it? Having started at the site of the saddest and field blam. Maggie Gunderson 00:07:18 I had several calls from different people living near that facility, asking Sherwin's if they could help see what's coming up from the site prior to that, I never had any association with the sentences Santa feel that, and I didn't know anything about it. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:35 Soon after the Woolsey fire started, did you become aware of it? And the significance of it having started at the Santa Susana field lab? Maggie Gunderson 00:07:43 I became aware of it when different colleagues and people living near the site phone. Fairwinds because of our prior work to ask if we could help with any kind of sampling or what we knew about the Santa Susana field lab. And Arnie knew a few things as he said, but I didn't know anything. I had never researched it and never been there or anything like that. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:06 And how soon after the fire started, did you receive these Maggie Gunderson 00:08:10 Within 24 hours as the fire moved and became associated with the Santa Susana field lab? Libbe HaLevy  00:08:18 What's your immediate reaction to the fact that the fire was ripping through this known to be radiologically and chemically contaminated site? Maggie Gunderson 00:08:27 I was really scared for me, for us and all the research that we've done different sites around the world and working with our colleague, Dr. Marco and we've all learned how radiation migrates it's in micro particles of dust and dirt on it can be inhaled ingested, bio accumulated on plants. It's really a huge hazard around the world. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:58 What was your response? Maggie Arnie. Marco. What was your response when only nine hours after the fire began? And it was still raging wildly out of control as it would for several days at that 0.9 hours in the California department of toxic substances, or DTSC issued a statement saying that there was no danger from radioactive particles being released by this fire. DTSC 00:09:26 I'm the boring scientist here. And one of the things I rely on is letting the data, tell the story. That's, that's what you're taught. That's what you grow up with as a scientist. And that's really what you produce. You produce a lot of data and you're trying to figure out what the story is. And that's a good way to lead when you've got a fast moving environmental crisis, but in nine hours, you don't have a lot of time to get David to tell the story. So you have to ask what's driving that. And the fear is when you come up with an all clear, so soon during an environmental release, it's possible, you're relying on your prejudices and not on your data. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:11 When and where did the idea of testing for radiation released by the fire come from? And how soon was it discussed? Maggie Gunderson 01:10:20 I think we discussed it right after we heard the news and people called us. We started discussing it because we've done this work before Marco and Arnie authored one paper together on Japan. That's on, Fairwinds a website. And then the three of us coauthored, another paper together that was published last fall in November, that talks about the Tokyo Olympics and shows how radiation migrates. I began doing the citizen science sampling work and getting in touch with citizen scientists back in 2012, when Arnie first went to Japan about Fukushima, that was the same time we met Marco and we started developing all these protocols and worked with him and the data we've uncovered. I think Arnie and Marko can speak to it better than I can because they traveled together and done this research together. Now I write and I do fundraising, but I haven't been out in the field working with either one of them. Yet. Arnie Gunderson 01:11:21 We were beginning to put a plan in motion while the embers were still warm. The fire had been put out, but I think it's important to note that the citizen scientists that did the sampling got in before the rainy season started. So we were able to get on the ground when the samples were still where they landed. And that took an enormous amount of effort between Maggie and Marco and, and me developing sampling protocols and teaching the local teams through public, through PSR LA. All of that was very quickly developed and we were on the ground importantly, because nobody else would get this data now because it's all washed away. After a couple of years where we were on the ground while the Ash was still on the ground and not running down into a Creek or down a sewer or being washed off the side of a house or something like that, our data is you're replaceable and irrefutable. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:25 You mentioned PSR LA that's physicians for social responsibility. How were they involved in this process? Maggie Gunderson 01:12:32 I first spoke with them after Marco Arnie and I had agreed that we wanted to do this process. And Dr. worked on establishing protocols that we had used overseas already on making full procedures with me that were easily understandable by lay people. Let me hand it off to Dr. to really talk about this science and what it entails. DTSC 01:13:01 I think one of the things that's happening in science right now is a real movement towards citizen science, where people who are local or indigenous to their communities are really taking a lead in helping develop the kind of data that they need to make important decisions. And there's a lot of good things happening with that. I think during the pandemic, we figured out that we do science communication poorly that there is needless death and sickness because we've failed to communicate what science can and can't do well. So when you're the person who is helping to study the problem, develop the data, and you're also the person who's talking to your community about what it means. That's a big plus. And then the, the side benefits of things like the model of sending an elite scientist from an institution out into the field to do work separates that science from the people who need it the most. DTSC 01:14:04 And it's also inefficient and it's a high carbon footprint way to proceed, and that might not be available to us in the future. And as it turns out, it's pandemic ready, it means that we aren't sending people traveling when travel is so difficult. And again, it allowed us to get the kind of samples we needed in the quantity where needed, where are the things that scientists does best actually looking at methods, developing the analyses, and then working with the community to talk about what we found, you know, it's, it's a very, very nice next we're asking to answer important questions. And the Goossens brought this up, this idea of background and, and the second idea of source. If we find radiation we're always asking, is it worse than background? Is this something that is caused by industrial contamination? Or is this just the way our planet is? DTSC 01:15:01 And a little bit finer question, what's the source, what's the fingerprint who's responsible. So even if you do get the radiation data out, the first thing you'll hear is it's background it's okay. Or the second thing would be okay, you found it above background, but it's not from us. It's from atomic testing. I mean, why not? Right? Why should there be radiation around asset SFL? That's from SS FL, why should it be from a place that burned three years ago? And that's a few hundred yards away when we can blame it on something that happened 70 years ago, that's half a world away. So it means that we're designing studies that determine what the background is that determined what the sources and then use as much of the local knowledge that we possibly can to do a better study. And luckily for us, in this case with LA PSR and others, that helped out, we managed to put all that together. And I think it's a great model. I think it's an emerging model for science and I hope a lot more people will be doing it soon. We have not copyrighted this, this is other people's work. And we've just found a case where it was just what we needed. Arnie Gunderson 01:16:21 You know, maybe it's important to remember that I've worked on a couple of nuclear reactor sites that have been contaminated. And the reflex reaction in the nuclear industry is to blame the bomb. Oh, it's fallout. It happened 50 years ago. I've seen that at Vermont Yankee, I've seen that Pilgrim all over the country. The go-to culprit is the bomb. And what we were able to do in this paper is show that that didn't work. We were able to put a fingerprint on it. That was not a bomb fingerprint. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:57 The fingerprint is various readings that come from specific nuclear sites go a little bit further into that. DTSC 01:17:06 I'm probably going to be the one to help on this question. There are a lot of different things that are happening. And the idea is that we have multiple lines of evidence that prove the point that we see in this data. Very importantly, the highest levels that we've found were all around the perimeter of the laboratory. And they tended to generally reduce as you got further away, except for areas where there was contaminated asphalt that we were able to measure. So that was an important thing because bomb follow-up doesn't know it's supposed to fall just at the center, Susanna laboratory and not in other places. The other thing that we looked for was we actually isolated the radioactive microparticles individually and looked at the one at the time, took their spectra, took photographs. So we can actually see what these particles are. And you know what? DTSC 01:17:59 The Santa Susanna fire is bad as it was. It was very hot. It's not the 100 million degrees hot you have from a nuclear detonation. The material that you release after a nuclear detonation looks very different under the microscope. It's been vaporized. It condenses. Sometimes it looks like a perfect little sphere. Our particle from nuclear follow-up is extremely distinctive. It's a rare, exotic, super high energy process. Whereas fire is common. And the things that we see from a fire look completely different. This is a step that not many people take. So because we can see what this particle looks like. We can say this one came from a fire. This one is a natural crystal. This is small metal turnings from an industrial process. This is well from a nuclear detonation, maybe in Polynesia, they're completely different. So if you say this material that we're finding is consistent with bomb, follow up. What you're saying is I either did not read their paper or I'm deliberately ignoring what the paper says. Those are your two choices. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:17 So we've been talking about testing protocols. What did they consist of? What were the materials collected? Where were the samples collected from and who did the collecting? DTSC 01:19:29 Well, the collecting of course comes from the people who were local to SSF L so it's a, it's a large group of people who've been working very hard for years on this project. We're actually extremely lucky to have been invited, to be part of their team. And I'm grateful for that. Hopefully what we had to offer was some more exotic ways of, of looking at some of these materials. I mean, in the nuclear industry, we work with very exotic materials and this helps so sexually because it helps us tease out these nuclear particles from the vast background of other material that's there. So we focused on analyses that were to help us do that once the samples arrived and Fairwinds made sure that everything was screened and everything was being done safely, we did multiple analyses on each sample. We counted the amount of beta activity. DTSC 02:20:26 These are essentially subatomic particles that are given off by these radioactive isotopes that are unique to each isotope. So if it came from cesium, it's a different kind of beta particle than if it came from another isotope. There's no quiz everybody after this, after this podcast. So please, excuse me. If I start spewing out all these names too quickly. The other thing that we do is once we've looked at beta energies, we look at alpha energies, different kinds of radioactivity from the same sample. And of course, if we've done alpha and beta and we want to do gamma, we want to do x-ray. So we keep layering these different analyses, one on top of another, making sure we're getting the maximum amount of information from each one. So when we're done, what we have is we can tell you exactly what type of radioactive particle exists at Santa Susanna. DTSC 02:21:23 How big is it? What is it made of what's its elemental composition? What's your dose. If you breathe that particle where traveled, where it landed, whose house it is, what their dose is from being exposed to that particle, what would happen if someone breathed this particle and retain that for years, remember you can go to Santa Susanna, walk on the site and be exposed for day, or you could be in one of these unlucky homes, breathe the particle, and haven't retained it in your body for years or even decades. So pretty much what we've done is we've looked at the entire life cycle of the radioactive particle from where and how it was created to what it's brother and sister particles look like that actually land on people's homes. And yes, the first answer from the state is well, background followup from Bob tests and Polynesia. You want to throw up your hands, but in the end, you know, in the boxing ring of the information marketplace, we know rich, which report is ultimately going to emerge. Arnie Gunderson 02:22:34 You know, it's important to know too, that the work that we did is cage better than, than the work that Boeing has done. The current site owner, Rocketdyne the owner before them or the state, the department of toxic substance control. They did not do this kind of detailed analysis. And instead they blamed the bomb. I think that's what one of the recommendations in our report is is that other parties, when they find this radiation should not gloss it over, but go to the sophisticated analysis that we did and make a link. And that's what differentiates our study from all the studies that went before, Libbe HaLevy  02:23:18 In terms of the system itself, how were they collected? What was done to the samples to ensure that you knew where they were coming from and that they weren't contaminated with something else. And how many of these samples were taken? DTSC 02:23:34 We had about 360 samples. The samples came to meet blind. This is important. I didn't know where the sample came from. If a sample was collected next step to Susanna. I didn't know. So what happened was the people who actually collect these individually in the field, they're recording in their notebooks, where it is, what house it is, what address it is, getting the latitude and longitude by GPS, making sure that every sample is uniquely labeled. It gets an ID number that it's referenced to at that point, Fairwinds has it, they take down all of the information they have and then they send me the samples after they've been screened for safety, but it's missing all of that personally identifiable information. And so I'm looking at what are just identification numbers, which just then get converted to a new identification number. At my end, I generate numbers that are unknown to Fairwinds. DTSC 02:24:34 So we keep the system blind. This is one of the things that is not well known about these research projects is that these people who are donating samples, they don't get anything more in return than being able to read the report when it comes out. So we've completely separated folks from the individual data and it protects their confidentiality. This was a huge fight in the prior administration, because we want to make sure that this is how science is done, or we won't be getting samples in the future. So we've worked probably hardest to make sure we've identified each sample for science and prevented any person from having the information needed to know what actual individual that data belongs to. So again, that doesn't help individuals, but the idea is that it helps the community and that the individual is protected and their confidentiality and privacy are respected. That's probably as big a part of the process as, as the actual physical going up, getting it as that, Arnie Gunderson 02:25:40 You know, Libby, there's another piece of it at the front end, Maggie put together a sampling protocol. That's still on the Fairwinds website. If a, if another group were to start, one of these up that protocol would, would work for all of them. And basically the collectors wear gloves and they take a sample and put it in a plastic bag and label the plastic bag with the GPS. First of course, if it wasn't a public location, we never took from somebody's property who hadn't approved. Our taking a sample had actually asked for us to take a sample. There are no owners that didn't want to be part of this sampling effort, except for in the public locations, parks and along the fence, posts that Santa Susanna and stuff like that. Maggie Gunderson 02:26:30 And because of my paralegal work, we've followed protocols that prove chain of custody. So the samplers have their books. It came to us, we created a database and then sent the separate to Marco and his graduate students to, to work with. And that was all protected. And they had assigned all different numbers. You know, no one looking at it could say, oh, this is near here. This is near there. The testing was done blind. DTSC 02:27:00 This is an important part of the process because there's a lot of things we're juggling. We're juggling the privacy of the donors, safety of the people who are involved in the process. There's a lot of setup time. This is why, unfortunately we can never take unsolicited samples. People will send us a package. I'm sorry, if it's not part of, one of the studies we've approved in advance and designed this kind of system, it's going to be sent back to you. I don't open. No one will see it because it's so important to do that. All of that set up maintain chain of custody and maintain safety at every step on the way Maggie Gunderson 02:27:33 You had said that there were 360 samples, is that enough to draw meaningful conclusions in the data? DTSC 02:27:41 That's an interesting question. I know that the state of California collected about 36 samples and the way I'd like to see it, that means between the two of us, we collected 393 samples as opposed to, well, then we got 360 and they only got 36. It's not that kind of contest. And that actually worked out when we looked at the data, because in our view, the data from the, yeah, I'll be at smaller sample set from the state of California, the data matches extremely well with what we found. They had the same percentage positivity rate for similar isotopes that we fought. Now, I realized that there's a difference in how they've chosen to characterize the data. I'm more confident in ours because there are far more samples in our data set, but in the end, because citizen science doesn't rely on that expensive use of elite labor hours, traveling great distances. DTSC 02:28:45 Hopefully that means that we get more samples and yes, my universal answer to, should we have done more samples? It is always yes, but the engineer in me knows that you can't take an infinite number of samples. You will always have to figure out what is the best you can do to get the data that you want. A good example is the vaccine trials that went on for COVID. I participated in trap. There were 40,000 people in my trial. We have really good data from that trial, but now we have a couple of billion people who've been vaccinated. So the data is even better. So although the trial pointed out that it was probably safe and effective. Now we know that the vaccines is certainly safe and effective because of the huge number of people that have been able to get doses. And it's better science because we have a history. Arnie Gunderson 02:29:41 So it's a, it's a nice indication that even if you go all the way to 40,000, you can still do better. There's another piece to this. The report talks about a particle attached to, to Ash in thousand Oaks and other particles in a Sumi valley and throughout the area. That doesn't mean that there's nothing beyond that. That's where we stopped looking because we ran out of people and 360 samples is a huge number to process. So when you look at this data and people say, well, I'm beyond thousand Oaks or whatever, that doesn't mean that they are safe. It just means that we didn't go out that far to analyze more samples. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:25 We'll continue with this week's special interview on the peer reviewed report, radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey fire in Simi valley, California in just a moment. But first, you know, the radiation being found from Santa Susana field lab after the Woolsey fire is a great example of one of those stories, the nuclear industry, and the government agency officials who protect them just want to go away. Eyes closed fingers in their ears, LA LA, LA LA. They don't explain themselves. They don't respond to requests for comment left to their own devices. They'll never clean it up or even apologize. And as you heard from Dr., they've got a playbook of platitudes and cliches to pacify the public. What I like to call the bare there, Missy, you don't worry your pretty little head about it. Gambit, except people, parents, residents are worried, concerned, and angry. That includes me. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:22 I live less than 30 miles from SSL and smoke from that fire reached me inside my home on the very first day. So this is personal. I, we deserve the truth. We need our officials to take responsibility. And when they don't, that's when citizen science joins with citizen anger, demonstrations, and actions, the demand for accountability in cleanup and a podcast that shares the information. That's why you need nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. This show has been on stories just like this one that may flare in the mainstream media for a moment, but then disappear. Not here. We stick with it providing context and continuity. We're the one place where every week you can hear interviews with genuine experts, news activist, acknowledgements updates, a steady drum beat of verifiable information to counter nuclear industry coverups and lies, but we can't get by without your assistance. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:24 So we can keep doing this work. Here's what you can do. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any amount. You can also set up a recurring donation as little as $5 a month. So if you value in-depth reports like this one, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now we returned to this week's special program on radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey fire in Simi valley, California, with Dr. Marco and Arnie Gunderson, and Maggie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education. You've been calling this process, citizen science, and I'm certain that there are people, especially allied with the nuclear industry who just based on that term will dismiss what you've done and cast dispersions on the results. Throw some shade on the process you use implying, or even stating that because it's citizen science, it must be amateurish, sloppy and not to be trusted. What would you say to those people? DTSC 03:33:32 And it comes down to let the data, tell the story, what story does the data say? What's the standard deviation. What's the number? What's the statistical significance? The idea of being to remove people from the process of producing meaning from all of the scientific information. And yes, we're people, people have, I don't call them frailties or problems. People have properties, they behave in certain ways. It's okay. I understand that the idea of science is to get past step. So you can have the citizen scientists somehow they're less valued to the nuclear science than say the paid employee of a, of a nuclear operation or the shareholder who wants dividends from a utility. I don't think so. The idea of science is that we're looking at physical evidence and physical evidence is physical evidence. I'm not interested in deconstructing the personality and life history of everybody who's involved in the process because we're all human. DTSC 03:34:33 We all bring ourselves to these reports. What I do know is it, citizen scientists are close to the action. They get samples in real time. They are interested in communicating results back to their community. And because they're a citizen scientists, they're always under a tougher microscope and they realize it's their responsibility to be clear and credible and truthful because people fear that maybe there's some more emotional content and a story that's told by someone who lives next to one of these facilities. They realize they have a greater necessity, to be honest, and actually carry that data's story without putting their personal flavor into it. That's what helps people understand the data better. And that's what motivates so many of these citizen scientists. You know, there's another piece to that. The teams that did the sampling did Arnie Gunderson 03:35:37 Not have Geiger counters with them. They were out looking for dust or Ash. We didn't prospect to find radioactive particles. These teams didn't go out prospecting with the Geiger counters. Oh, there's one. Let's send that on. They simply found Dustin Ash on the ground, took a sample and sent it to us. So the argument that we were looking for hotspots, I don't know how you can do that when you don't have a Geiger counter. So it's important to remember that we were not, the teams were not prospecting. Maggie Gunderson 03:36:12 Oh, I hired you to do this testing. And how were you paid Maggie Gunderson 03:36:19 Three leading scientists? You know, all of us donated our time. We have seven organizations for similar projects and we're trying to fundraise. We need donations. We're also interested in grants, both Dr. and I have written grants in the last several weeks and talked to grantors. And we're hoping that someone will come through. A lot of our funding was cut during the pandemic because rightfully so, a lot of money was from different philanthropic organizations was moved to go as a, as a COVID issue. But for the work we're doing against radiation is a worldwide effort. We've worked together in Japan. We're working together in the UK and we're working together here in the U S and it's an environmental justice issue. It's racial discrimination, racial justice, because many of the sites are indigenous or in low income areas that can't afford to fight back. And in Hispanic. Maggie Gunderson 03:37:24 And as I said, indigenous areas, the sites that are asking for this help cover everything from uranium mines to communities where manufacturing of radioactive materials is concerned and they're leaking out and contaminating water supplies and food supplies to every nuclear site, nuclear power, atomic power reactor site in the U S and overseas, because all of them leak and the monitoring Arnie and I have done this work monitoring it sites. For example, with the nuclear regulatory commission, the papers they get in are absolutely untruthful. And there's no methodology to compare site a, to B, to C to D you can't see what the industry is doing. We've looked at this, we started a study on that. We didn't have the funding to finish it, but we have more than half the sites track for a period of what Arnie is it two decades. And it just really appalling that you can look at what, when a particular site had one reactor built and what it was releasing and what was listed in all its releases. And then what happened when they put up a second reactor and even a third. And when the numbers to ever change, that's scientifically impossible. And yet the nuclear regulatory commission says, whoops, okay. They turned the paperwork in, here's the check in the box, and nobody looks at it. And it's very difficult to access. Arnie Gunderson 03:38:58 You know, your question is who paid for this? We volunteered our time, Marco Maggie, and I, that's a very poor business model I might have, but it was important to do for Santa Susanna. But when we turn on the scanning electron microscope, so you've got to take a look at the peer reviewed report, that's up on the web. And you'll see some very sophisticated photographs of these particles, the analysis of these samples outside of what the three of us did, the photographs cost tens of thousands of dollars. We had a couple of donors stepped forward and fund some of that. But then the nonprofit that Maggie founded, Fairwinds also funded as well. And frankly, it made our life financially incredibly difficult, but you know, it was important. And we made a promise to the people in California, that they would get a competent scientific analysis. At the end of the day, it's very expensive to turn a scanning, electron microscope on once, let alone the number of times we had to use it on these samples, thanks to donors and thanks to donors to Fairwinds. We did it, but we can't do it again. There's seven or eight groups that have approached us to do something similar. And we just, there's nothing in a tank to do something like this over again. Maggie Gunderson 04:40:20 And everyone in these groups that have asked for assistance from us, I live in communities that are contaminated. They're indigenous communities, where there's been mining and the mines are closed down and they're leaking and people are inhaling the dust there. It's coming out in water, the contaminated water from out of their pipes, in their homes. It's so contaminated. There's a whole film on that zero hot water. And we know the principals who made that film. There are a number of communities that have both nuclear waste dumps. Marco, Dr. Cal Topen has done an enormous amount of work at the Hanford reservation, which is a world war II facility from developing the bomb. And we have similar waste dump and repository here in South Carolina, the Savannah river, which is adjacent to the Vogel nuclear power plants. So you look at all of that area and people are really sick there we've been up there to speak Arnie. Maggie Gunderson 04:41:23 And I, we met a lot of the people that are working in the community and a number of churches are trying to get funding together to do a study like this, but it costs a lot of money, whether it's the science that Dr is doing, whether it's the collection work that we would be doing and the groups that we would work with to do the citizen science. And you asked earlier about citizen science and that's a 2000 year old process. You know, we D we didn't say that. We said how it works now, but 2000 years ago, it was started to collect samples of locusts and see how they were decimating food supplies. And it's been used all over the world, and it's being used much more now because our planet is being so heavily impacting. DTSC 04:42:14 The most important thing to get from this is that the data's very clear. We can look at the type of radioactive material that's on the Santa Susanna field laboratory. We can track where it goes. We can track where it ends up, and we understand the dose and health damages that that radioactive material can cause. So there's going to be another wildfire. There's going to be more, they're going to be bigger, hotter wildfires as our climate changes and what our responsibility is to make sure that the contamination at Santa Susanna is cleaned up before the next event that could spread radioactivity in the community. Arnie Gunderson 04:42:51 My takeaway at the end of the day is that citizens have a right not to trust their government. If you look at say the California and the misstatements they've made about Santa Susanna, or if you look at the government of the United Kingdom, talking about the releases from the Sellafield Nucor, if you look at the Japanese government and focus, Shima, citizen science takes the responsibility away from the government and puts it in the hands of independent scientists with information from people really, really have the hands on understanding of what's happening in the community. But when you want to play hardball with the big boys, you do have to spend some money. And that's what makes it so frustrating and so difficult for us with seven or eight communities lined up for the same process. We just can't do it without some help. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:44 And we'll all park. What would each of these studies cost? Arnie Gunderson 04:43:48 If the state of California hired experts to do what we did, it would be $200,000. And we did it for about one 10th of that. Maggie Gunderson 04:43:59 We'll be more than that. Arnie. It's much more than that. That doesn't involve a lot of the other tests. The last analysis I did with Marco puts it at two 50 to 300,000 at a minimum Libbe HaLevy  04:44:11 NBC Los Angeles carried an excellent report. The day the press materials were released. I find it interesting if not expected that none of the agencies involved with the story, not DTSC not Cal EPA, and certainly not Boeing were willing to comment on camera for it. What of pushback are you expecting from DTSC Cal EPA and Boeing? And what do you say back to them? DTSC 04:44:39 You know, sometimes when you use scientific data to tell a story, someone leaves you a bad Yelp review, and this is not something I worried about getting into science. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:53 How long after you started testing, did you discover radioactive particles in the dirt dust, Ash and air filters? Maggie Gunderson 04:45:01 I think it was at least a month or six weeks after all the samples were taken then, and we taught them the protocols to ship them so that if there's any dirt or dust that's contaminated, and the state had said it wasn't, there was no contamination, but if there was then anyone who was handling that postal carriers or anyone else would be protected, so everything was shielded and it was shipped on. Then we opened it in a setting that allowed the air to move. It was open air to look at all the bags, and we did have a detector then, so we could know what was coming in and whether it was safe to continue to ship it. As we did that whole process, that took time, we were setting up the database of the, the woman who helped us set up the database has run radioactive lab before. So having her as part of our crew was just really amazing. And she had already, and I would work together in person, parents, South Carolina, and then we would take everything and ship to the university that Marco was working with. That's Libbe HaLevy  04:46:11 Where the actual equipment was, Maggie Gunderson 04:46:12 All the equipment, except the scanning electron microscope. Those are private labs that have that. And so that's why we had to fundraise for that money. Separately is 750. I think it's gone up now it's $800 an hour just for one particle at the lab. So, you know, you carefully scope it by that point. You see? Okay, well, these are very similar to background. These particles are similar to background. Okay. So, but, well, this one is 19 times background. Let's do an analysis and see what that particle is. Where did it come from? Is it natural somehow? Or is it man-made? And if it's man-made, where do you tie it to? That's the sampling Dr. was explaining to you earlier in the process. Arnie Gunderson 04:46:59 You know, me, the samples did not come in as one block of 360. We would get a week short, 50 samples, and then we would make sure that they were safe to ship before we sent them to the control facility that did the sophisticated analysis. So, you know, I had a Geiger counter measure, an alpha beta gamma on the outside of the container, because we didn't want to irradiate the ups man, for instance, and was doubly packed and Tripoli pack was seals in between to make sure nothing got out. So we got, we would get 50 and then we get 40, and then we got 60. So over the course of about four months, these samples trickled in and were analyzed by Fairwinds before being shipped on to Dr. Caltough Finch university. And then every one of those samples then had to be put in a measuring device for eight hours to look for radioactivity given off. Arnie Gunderson 04:48:01 And then the more interesting ones, the ones that either emitted high radiation or had alpha beta and gamma or whatever were separated out and then sent on to the scanning of electron microscope lab, then you've got 360 pieces of desperate data that you have to make sense out of. The process took essentially three years likely with better funding. I think we cut that in half, but certainly not the nine hours that the state of California did saying, oh, don't worry. Be happy. Nothing was released from the site. It's a, it's a time consuming, accurate process, and you just can't push it too fast. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:46 Your findings were written up and submitted to the journal of environmental radioactivity for peer review. Explain what that process consists of, how long it takes and the importance of submitting your results there. Maggie Gunderson 04:49:00 During the pandemic, we noticed that the process was taking longer. We had a prior journal article published during that time with Mary Liebert publishing about the Tokyo Olympic sites that was published in November, 2020. Now we've move on to 2021. It takes a long time to break everything down, to write it for all of us to do the analysis and write different parts of it. As we each see it and discuss it and then say, okay, this is what we see as the major finding. This is how we need to present it, go through it. Then you send it out for peer review and it takes them a few weeks since people were working remotely during the pandemic to even sort it they'll, they'll acknowledge they've received it, but then they'll sort it. And then they'll find out who's available from their pure reviewers. We don't know who any of those people are and they'll pick them and ask them to review it. And it came back very positive, but with requests also for more information. So we expanded what we had done. We, we wrote more about the citizen science portion and more about the climate crisis, threat of wildfires and what that means to migrating radiation. Arnie Gunderson 05:50:23 When you submit a paper for peer review, Maggie and Marco, and I, me for a lesser degree, putting enormous amount of time into writing the paper after analyzing all this data seven ways to Sunday. But then when you send it in for peer review, you don't know who those reviewers are. There's three or five reviewers who have the credentials to take a look at this. And they took a couple months to analyze our paper and they sent back comments saying, this is a really good paper, but you've got to expand this piece, or we don't understand that. So then it comes back to us for a couple months and we rewrite the portions that they didn't understand and send it back, which is the normal process in peer review. We still don't know who those three or five individuals who had first crack at this work. And we'll never know who they were. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:20 Paper itself was published on Friday, October 8th. And the story released to the media on Thursday, October 14, what has been the response so far, be it from the media, or Maggie Gunderson 05:51:31 I think the response has been phenomenal from the public. They were waiting to hear the results of our research for a long time. And this is a community where children are sick and they're trying to find out what is causing these illnesses. It's a community that has more than a million people now in a whole proximity and the fire ravaged part of the site. It hasn't even hit the part that's heavily, heavily contaminated. That was the side of a meltdown. So as the wildfire moved across it and moved all the way to the Pacific ocean, radiation was carried there in smoke and Ash. And that means people are breathing it in and ingesting it. And they don't know where it is. One person said to me, well, how can you guarantee that our location is clean? I said, we told you, there's no guarantee to that. Maggie Gunderson 05:52:29 It would cost more than the value of your home to strip every inch of Dustin soil off that property and take away all the plants and everything else, trees. And they'd all have to be analyzed and cleaned and put back to be sure that that site was clean. And then the next major wind storm rain storm or wildfire, we'll bring it all back in. And that's the thing. Once radiation leaves the area where it's supposed to be contained it's in the environment and depending on the particle, it lasts up to 250,000 years. So it's really a problem that corporations and the government are trying to cover up because they don't want to put the funding into the cleanup. Arnie Gunderson 05:53:17 This could have been a lot worse. The Santa Susanna site has a highly contaminated area that did not burn. And, you know, we're one fire away from much worse Ash deposition into the surrounding communities because the fire swept across the Santa Susanna site, but miss the worst contaminated areas just by luck. So global warming is going to be with us. Climate change is here and we're one fire away from a much worse disaster than the one we measured. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:57 Is there anything we haven't covered that you think it's important to put in at this time? DTSC 05:54:03 I think the most important parts about what makes this study interesting and not at all unique have come up. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:10 And what would that be? DTSC 05:54:12 That citizen science is an emerging and better, more credible model for creating the scientific data that we need to help us solve the seemingly, but not really intractable problems of climate change, nuclear science and environmental justice. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:33 Anything else you want to add? DTSC 05:54:35 The American chemical society says, don't trust us, test us. And I say, deal. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:43 This has been an important study that you did a really thorough interview that you provided. And speaking as someone who lives less than 30 miles away from the Santa Susana field lab, I deeply appreciate the work that you have been doing and that you continue to do. And in addition to that, I want to thank all three of you. Maggie Gunderson, Ernie Gunderson, Dr. Marco counterfeit for being my guest this week on a very special interview for nuclear hot seat. Thank you levy for having all of us we'd greatly appreciate it. That was Dr. Marco Cal Tiffin and Arnie Gunderson and Maggie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education. We'll have links to the peer reviewed study, the press release Fairwinds energy education and the group parents against the Sadducees and a field lab up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 39, and next week, we will continue this story interviews with Denise Duffield of physicians for social responsibility. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:49 See me mother and activist, Melissa Bumstead and information on the award-winning documentary film about Santa Susana field lab in the dark of the valley, which will be shown on MSNBC on November 14. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, October 19th, 2021. Our thanks to our guests, along with each of the citizen scientists around the Santa Susana field lab, who took samples and participated in this study, we encourage you to visit fairwinds.org. And that's spelled F a I R E w I N D s.org, check out the material and they have posted there, including a history going back of articles that they have posted about the Santa Susana field lab and do what you can to help them out. As I've said, we will continue to cover the story of the Santa Susana field lab in all of its various ins and outs. And that means you're going to want to listen to nuclear Hotsy. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:51 So if you want to make certain that you don't miss a single episode, it's easy to get the show delivered to you via email every week. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box, fill in your first name and your email address. And we will send you a link every week to the show, along with a brief discussion of what's included in it. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, let me know about it. Send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat. God com look for that big red button, click follow prompts. Anything you do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leebee Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the true role of government is to manage panic. And if use anger in the population, no matter how justified that reaction is, and that especially goes for nuclear issues, that's it? That is your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all truly in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:26 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #538: Baby Teeth Hold Key to Illinois, Michigan Nuclear Reactor Radiation Exposure - Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/illinois-michigan-nuclear-reactor-radiation-studied-in-baby-teeth/ Published: 2021-10-14 Duration: 00:59:01 Baby teeth collected both in the 1950's and 60's, compared to baby teeth collected now from area around Dresden nuclear reactors in Illinois and Fermi reactor in Michigan may reveal radiation exposure from nuclear reactor emissions as a cause of spikes in cancer rates. Radiation and Public Health Project's Joseph Mangano explains background, history, and current actions. This Week's Featured Interview: Baby teeth were studied in the 1950's and 60's to determine childhood exposure to radioactive strontium 90 from atmospheric nuclear bomb tests. The results from what was called the Tooth Fairy Project led to U.S. President Kennedy and Russia's Premier Khrushchev creating the 1963 Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water, known as the Atmospheric Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Now, a cache of more than 100,000 teeth not used in that initial study has just recently been discovered. These teeth will be compared with baby teeth from communities in Illinois and Michigan near nuclear reactors. The more recent teeth are being collected now by epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, the Executive Director of the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) to determine through data analysis if radiation releases from nuclear reactors pose health problem.Mangano is a health researcher who has served RPHP since 1989. He is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants.If you live near the Dresden nuclear reactor in Illinois or the Fermi nuclear reactor in Monroe County, Michigan, and you have even a single baby tooth from one of your children, RPHP needs your help.If you're interested in helping, CLICK HERE to access a link to a downloadable PDF of the simple submission form. It explains what to do and where to send the tooth.If you have further questions, contact Joe Mangano at odiejoe@aol.com Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project (l) sharing a moment of levity with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy. Sister Megan Rice passed away on October 10 at the age of 91. She is best known to Nuclear Hotseat listeners for having broken in to the U.S. Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – a so-called high security site known as "Fort Knox of Nuclear" – as part of a 2015 peaceful Plowshares demonstration against nuclear weapons. She was convicted of sabotage – a conviction that was overturned after she’d already served two years in prison.I interviewed Sister Rice right after she got out of prison. Here's the link to that episode: Anti-Nuclear Peace Nun Sister Megan Rice of Plowshares Sister Megan Rice Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japanese government ministers keep insisting that they're going to release radioactive tritium-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi triple nuclear meltdown into the "sea" (meaning Pacific Ocean)… as though that's a good thing! Short sighted, tone deaf, brain dead… Links: (coming soon…) SSFL film – https://nuclearhotseat.com/2021/04/14/las-deadly-nuclear-nightmare-santa-susana-field-lab-documentary/ Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear radiation health damage. While the nuclear industry likes to label the release of radiation from its power reactors, as quote, not significant and direct the public's attention elsewhere, some people have made it their life's mission to watch what's happening with these releases, compile government medical data and extrapolate results. Thus, when one contemplates the health damage done by the dressed a nuclear reactors in Grundy county, Illinois, only 43 miles from downtown Chicago at a genuine expert, an epidemiologist who has crunched the official numbers for decades tells you. 00:00:45 We found that in the late sixties and the early seventies, just as the two Dresden reactors are being built. The Grundy county cancer death rate was 13% below the us. Every following decade, the gap got smaller until Grundy rate exceeded in the U S and in the most recent decade, the cancer death rate is 15% higher than the us. So Grundy county has gone from a low cancer county to a high cancer county. We also found with in terms of deaths in the last 30 years, the cancer death rate in children and adolescents, people who died by age 24 was 38% above the U S, which is the highest excess of any county in Illinois. Cancer is a red flag for nuclear powers, health damage. A childhood cancer is a double red flag for damage because it is the exposure to the fetus and the infant and the young child that is strongest and most hazardous. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:46 Well when Joseph of radiation and public health project reveals that kind of correlation between nuclear reactor operations and cancer deaths. And he has statistics for more than just the Dresden reactors in Illinois. You know, that no matter where you are, you are stuck in that dangerous seat. The one that we all share, Announcer 00:02:13 Claire hot seat, what are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking? sinking time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:44 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, some startling new information on cancer rates in proximity to nuclear reactors. This from Joseph, who is an epidemiologist and the executive director of radiation and public health project in New York. We'll hear about the Dresden reactors in Illinois, farmy reactor in Michigan, near Detroit, and then you'll find out how you, yes, you can participate in an exciting new study of radiation health damage all by providing a few of your children's baby teeth. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than you'll ever be able to get an, a timely manner through the us postal service. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:59 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, October 12th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, opening with this sad story that sister Meagan rice died on October 10th of congestive heart failure at the age of 91 in the summer of 2012, the then 82 year old Roman Catholic sister hiked over a wittered region, east Tennessee, and with two fellow peace activists intruded into a government facility nicknamed the Fort Knox of uranium on its exterior wall, the trio splashed human blood as a symbol of the cost of war and spray painted biblical message such as the fruit of justice is peace. Sister rice had her companions, Michael Wally and Greg Porsche Obad declared this an act of protest and love in the service of a higher law. But the three were convicted of intending to endanger the national defense. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:05 They each spent about two years in prison, one release and vindication on appeal in 2015 and helped inspire other activists and works of journalistic nonfiction. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. Sister Meagan rice was 91 years old in Virginia. The Supreme court of that state refused to hear an appeal on her uranium mining ban that was put to it by Virginia uranium incorporated. The company asked the court to either order the Commonwealth to let the UI exercise its quote fundamental property, right, and quote to mine uranium, or to compensate them for taking away those property rights. But in 2019, the us Supreme court upheld Virginia's uranium moratorium ruling in a six to three majority that Virginia has the right to regulate mining activities and the Commonwealth's moratorium on uranium mining now of almost four decades, duration protects the safety and wellbeing of Virginians, their lands, and their waterways. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:13 As of October 8th, the nuclear regulatory commission has issued an order suspending the general license authority under the NRC regulations to export radioactive material and a deuterium to China general nuclear. The United States has been exporting radioactive materials and deuterium to China who knew and who thought this was a good idea in the first place, two articles that we'll be linking to on the website. The first is on Hanford. It's actually a three-part report on Hanford's dirty secret, and it's not 56 million gallons of nuclear waste. This is put out by the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or I cam w.org. And it's a clear, concise overview of the problems at that site, which is deemed the most radioactive in the United States and the most radioactive in the Western hemisphere and another excellent article by Linda Pence Gunter that appeared in both counterpunch and now and beyond nuclear international, the Tennessee valley authorities, bell font cancellation as being just the latest in a long line of nuclear debacles, both will be up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 38, Korean oceans and fisheries minister moon Seong high yoke vowed to strengthen the monitoring of water and Marine products for possible radioactivity from Japan's Fukushima, Daiichi nuclear power plant. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:50 He stated we will expand radioactivity monitoring at our shores to prevent contaminated water coming from the Fukushima plant and strengthened inspections of Marine safety tests and check the origin of country that products are imported from the international atomic energy agency. Also plans to strengthen related measures. This month, the IAEA will inspect the contamination being released at unit one of Fukushima Daiichi and its effects on the ocean, but that doesn't stop Japan from going all numnuts on it. And that's why in terms of nuclear bone headedness, heres Libbe HaLevy 00:08:41 I think Japan's industry minister Koichi huggy UDA on Sunday, October 10, pledged to promote the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and recovery of the area as a top priority. During his first visit to the prefecture since assuming office, he also told Fukushima governor muscle Uchi body and the mayors of the municipalities hosting the power plant that his ministry will make its quote unquote best efforts to release radioactive water from the facility hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March of 2011. The discharge of this water is now planned for the spring of 2023. And the mayors of Futaba and Oklahoma have urged him to take effective measures against the reputational damage associated with the planned discharge of the water. Let's unpack this one, shall we? First of all, decommissioning, the word that is used most frequently in connection with Fukushima decommissioning can only be done on an intact nuclear reactor that has been in commission. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:52 This is not an intact reactor or three intact reactors. It is the wreckage of three reactors that had meltdowns. So it's not decommissioning some nuclear reactors. It's mitigating a radioactive disaster site. Secondly, in the original copy, it never referred to radioactive water. It referred to treated water. Well, they can treat the water to take out a lot of radio nuclides, but there is no way to separate radioactive tritium from non-radioactive water. It's like trying to separate water from water can't be done. And that's why the water is being stored. And just because it's been stored for a long time, and they've got a lot of it is no reason for them to dump it into the sea. They always call it the sea as opposed to calling it the Pacific ocean, which makes it as large as it actually is. And as for being urged to take effective measures against the reputational damage associated with the plan discharge of the treated water, they're asking for propaganda and lies and positive stories, and let's distract the public's attention with bright, shiny objects and promises of Nirvana to take their eyes and minds off the genuine concerns associated with the plan discharge of radioactive water into the Pacific ocean. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:18 This is the way they do it. They work on the wording. They put in distracting phrases. They diminish the importance of the important facts, which is this is tritium contaminated, radioactive water being put into the Pacific ocean. Pretty soon they'll come up with the D word. They will say it will dilute the radioactive content when it's not going to do that, it's going to disperse the content. In other words, if something is diluted, it becomes weaker, but all it takes is one Adam of a radioactive substance to be dangerous. It never becomes not dangerous. So it doesn't dilute. What they would be doing is dispersing it into the ocean, which will not make anyone safer. It will be more dangerous and it deserves to have the reputation it has, which is as something that is dirty and wrong should not be done. We should not be manipulated to taking our eyes off the prize on this thing, which is they've got to figure out something to do with that water other than put it into the ocean, contaminate the food chain and put all of us at greater risk from the radio activity. And that's why, and that's why Fukushima industry minister Koichi huggy UDA. You are this week's no. Announcer 01:12:42 Okay. Your hot seat, Libbe HaLevy 01:12:46 A series of updates from the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can, Chile has become the 56th state to ratify the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. More good news, Swedish insurance group lands for SAC ringer. I hope I did that, right, which has over 40 billion in assets has named the treaty on the prevention of nuclear weapons in its policy. As a reason to not invest in nuclear weapons businesses after receiving a letter from Hiroshima survivor and long time I can activist SESCO Thurlow the new Japanese prime minister said. I believe that the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons is a very important treaty for a world without nuclear weapons. This is definitely a good sign from a nuclear allied country that previously had dismissed the treaty. We'll have more from ICANN next week in Russia to rusty nuclear submarines will be raised from the seabed of the barons and Cara seas and brought to a shipyard for safety commissioning. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:56 At least that's what they're planning on the submarine known as K 1 59 sank in late August, 2003, while being towed to a shipyard north of Murmansk a joint Norwegian Russian expedition examined the site in 2014 and concluded that at that point, no leakage had so far occurred from the reactors to the surrounding Marine environment. However, the bad shape of the Hull could eventually lead to radionuclides leaking out in a model study by Norwegian Institute of Marine research. It showed that discharge of the entire cesium 1 37 inventory from the two reactors could increase concentrations in the Cod in the Eastern part of the Barents sea. By up to 100 times current levels for a two year period after the discharge. Now Russia's nuclear corporation Rosatom has announced the date for K 1 59 to 2030. Also a submarine dumped into the courtesy in 1982 known only as K 27 is being included in the list of nuclear objects on the Arctic seabed to be salvaged by 2030, the submarine has been corroding on the sea bed for nearly 40 years. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:15 Here's hoping they get it right in India at Tamil Nadu, the nuclear power projects. First reactor went down on October 8th. This despite having just come out of 72 days of annual maintenance and the reactor operated as it was supposed to for only 36 days, no word is to the nature of the glitch or when the reactor will be back online. And here is a numnuts affiliated story in the UK to mark the anniversary of the 1957 wind scale fire in Kamaria, two protest groups have awarded a tainted prize to a rebranded nuclear plant in Lancaster, the Cape and her's campaign and radiation free Lakeland have named the first George Monbiot award winner to the Springfield's nuclear fuel manufacturing plant. A spokesperson for the two groups said mining transporting and processing of uranium increases the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere as does the use of vast amounts of concrete used in the building of nuclear reactors. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:27 Springfield has rebranded itself as a quote, clean energy technology park. The nuclear industry is increasingly promoting itself as clean and renewable and George Monbiot and influential journalist has played a key part in facilitating this rebranding. The award itself is a tarnished gold colored cup made in low quality plastic symbolizing. The ecologically damaging nature of the nuclear industry. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first, Hey, there's no significant release of radiation from nuclear reactors. So what you're griping about, that's what the nuclear industry would like you to believe. And they spend a ton of money to help make that happen. But as you'll hear in today's interview, there's a lot about what radiation damage has been done to health by nuclear reactors. And it's all based on us government data. Of course, that won't stop the nukes stirs from continuing to pound us with their lies, propaganda, bullying, mockery, and misplaced sense of entitlement. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:37 But repeat after me, they are wrong. And we prove it here every week. That is why you need nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. Nuclear hotseat has been the one place where every week you can get a one hour hit of verifiable nuclear information interviews with genuine experts around up of international news numnuts of the week activist, shout outs, even a bit of musical theater. Where else can you find all this in a weekly counterbalance to the nuclear industry lies, but compared to the nuke stirs and limited financial resources, this show operates on a bake sale budget, and that budget is dependent on you. The listeners to help us keep going. That's why if you have come to value nuclear, hot seats work, the time to support us with a donation is right now, it's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:45 You can also set up a recurring donation as little as $5 a month, which is the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S so if you value our different perspective on nuclear information, please do what you can know and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here's this week's featured interview. Sometimes the nuclear truth hides in plain sight. Only it takes people with the eyes and training to see what's really there. That's what today's guest does. And he has been doing it for more than 30 years. Joseph is the executive director for the radiation and public health project based in New York. And he has served the organization since 1989 as an epidemiologist in the interview. He explains exactly what that means. Joe has x-ray vision to look at government health statistics and read what they really mean. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:46 That's what we talk about for this interview, which includes information on the Dresden nuclear site, near Chicago and the fermion nuclear site in Monroe county, Michigan halfway between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio. He also explains the tooth fairy project, which not only tested for radioactive strontium 90 from the 1950s and sixties, atmospheric bomb tests, but is now being used to determine the cancer causing effects of radiation from nuclear reactors. If you have a child who's been losing baby teeth, we have a way for you to put those teeth to good and lasting use. We'll cover that in the interview. I spoke with Joseph Mangano on Friday, October 8th, 2021 with men Ghana. Thanks so much for joining us today on nuclear hot seat. Joe Mangano 02:20:36 I want you to be here first, Libbe HaLevy 02:20:38 Explain what the work of an epidemiologist is and what it is you do through radiation and public health project Joe Mangano 02:20:46 Epidemiology, a lot of fancy word for the study of patterns and trends of disease. In our case, the radiation public health project does epidemiological studies of diseases near nuclear reactors in terms of cancers of infant, mortality of birth defects and other radiation related conditions. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:12 Where do you get your source material from? Joe Mangano 02:21:15 Most of our material is actually taken right off the internet from public health agencies. Like the CDC. We do a very good job in this country of collecting data on mortality by cause, and by incidents cases of cancers, unfortunately not too much analysis is done with them, but we've used these sources a lot. The only homegrown source of information is the study we are doing on radioactive strontium, 90 and baby. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:45 We're going to get to that in the moment. There are two projects you have been working on that I want to address because they ultimately merge the first. And this is material that has just been released to the public. Are your findings in Grundy county, Illinois, which is the site of the Dresden two nuclear reactor nuclear facility. What did you do? And what did you find? Joe Mangano 02:22:10 Well, first allow me to explain how we selected Dresden. For me, we've been in existence since the late 1980s and because of where our main principles are located, most of our work has been in the Northeast. However, in recent years, the nuclear plants that we have spent much time with namely oyster Creek in New Jersey and Indian court in New York have shut permanently and thus any additional radioactive exposures and emissions will no longer take place. So with our job essentially being done there, we looked to other areas in which aging and corroding nuclear reactors were an operation. And after consult with several experts, we selected these two. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:06 What were the reasons that you chose these two Joe Mangano 02:23:09 Very simply number one, they are both very old army has been operating 36 years and also has a history of a now closed reactor that had a near meltdown in 1966 in Dresden had one reactor that operated in the sixties, seventies, but two reactors that are still operating that are among the oldest in the country. They're 50 and 52 years old, which a nuclear parlance is ancient. And in both cases, I'll be honest. There are financial loss being incurred, which means that these are the are more likely than other nuclear reactors to be shoved by their operators. And thus, we felt our resources were best applied in these areas. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:04 What kind of findings have there been specifically regarding Dresden? Because that's the story that hit last week. Joe Mangano 02:24:15 Dresden is located in Grundy county, Illinois. It is 43 miles from the center of Chicago. They said these two reactors have been operating for over 50 years. Each what we did was a study of cancer deaths and cancer cases in the county compared to the United States, let's start with mortality. We're lucky that the CDC makes available mortality statistics on the internet, beginning of the year, 1968, all the way up to 2019. We found that in the late sixties and early seventies, just as the two Dresden reactors are being built, the Grundy county cancer death rate was 13% below the U S with every following decade. The gap got smaller until Grundy rate exceeded in the U S and in the most recent decade is 15% above the us. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:20 15% higher cancer Joe Mangano 02:25:22 Deaths. Yes, the cancer does are 50 rate is 15% higher than the us. So Grundy county has gone from a low cancer county to a high cancer county. We also found with in terms of deaths in the last 30 years, the cancer death rate in children and adolescents, people who died by age 24 was 38% above the U S, which is the highest excess any county in Illinois. Cancer is a red flag for nuclear powers, health damage, but childhood cancer is a double red flag for damage because it is the exposure to the fetus and the infant and the young child that that is strongest. And most hazardous. When we switched to incidents or cases, we found the following in the most recent five-year period, which is 2013 to 2017 out of 102 counties in Illinois, the county had the highest incidence rate twenty-five percent of all of the United States. And this translates into the five-year period, just over 1500 pastes. Moreover, we found the cancers that are most sensitive to radiation, all sexually hot child cancer, 41% above thyroid cancer, 60% above breast cancer, 6% above and leukemia, 38% red flag, red flag, red flag, red flag. These are issues of concern, even though causes of cancer are multiple. Our conclusion was we have to consider that emissions from Dresden all these years is a factor. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:20 Here's an old saying that correlation is not causation. And clearly we have a correlation between the years of operation of the Dresden reactors and the increase in cancer deaths and cancer incidences within Grundy county. Is there enough here to claim that the radiation releases caused those cancers? Joe Mangano 02:27:46 I think our case can be made stronger and what we're doing to make it stronger is now we are collecting baby teeth from mothers of young children here dressed, and we have enough teeth. We will have them test it in a laboratory for radioactive strontium 90, which can only be created when a nuclear weapon explodes or when a nuclear reactor operates. When we have that information, we already have two other pieces of information sandwiched around that. We know that there are emissions from Dresden, which are one of the highest in the United States, by the way, that was in our report as well. And we also have these high cancer rates. The sole question that remains to be answered is are these emissions actually getting into the body? And if we find that's the case that is as strong a case as possible for, for the emissions, from Dresden being a factor, how much of a factor is it? A hundred percent of the, of the reason? Is it 50%? That's very hard to say, but any amount is unacceptable. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:55 Sounds like there's a smoking gun here. Joe Mangano 02:28:57 We use that phrase a lot spoken. Good. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:01 Now the findings that you've had at Dresden, you said you've previously worked on two that you mentioned were oyster Creek and also Indian point, the kind of findings that you were getting addressed. And are they consistent with what you found at oyster Creek and Indian point? Joe Mangano 02:29:18 They are consistent with oyster Creek at any point and other areas where we've done analysis. However, I would say that I'm not aware of any series of excesses that I just rattled off, especially the highest cancer rate of any county in the state and the very high rates in the radio sensitive cancers. I've never seen anything quite as consistent as I have in Grundy county. The home of addresses Libbe HaLevy 02:29:47 In conjunction with nuclear energy information service, which is based in Chicago, you released press releases. And I believe there was an op ed last week, putting this information out specifically in Illinois. What, if anything has been the response to this information? Joe Mangano 03:30:08 First, we held a press conference on the 5th of October, announcing these results and announcing our intent to collect and test baby teeth. In addition, the NIS group, you mentioned in our group, our PHP submitted a letter to both the Illinois state department of health and the Grundy county department of health, including the report and its findings and including an appeal for each of them who take these results seriously and join in the efforts, understand better why cancer rates are so high in Grundy county as we speak, we have not yet had a response. Certainly we expect to have one and hope that they do take these findings. Seriously. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:00 How did the media respond? Did they cover these talking points? Joe Mangano 03:31:04 We had four media that showed up during the press conference. And one that reached out to us afterwards Libbe HaLevy 03:31:13 That doesn't sound overwhelmingly responsive to the call. Joe Mangano 03:31:18 It could have been better. There's no question about it. I don't think there's anything that's are many things that are a much more serious than this. And I say this during the middle of the worst pandemic in a hundred years, certainly COVID-19 is terrible. However, cancer was with us long before COVID-19 and it will be with us for a long time after COVID-19. It affects every family and every case. I mean, I I'm talking in statistical terms here, but it's important. I point out that every single one of these cases involved is a tragedy. Whether the person survives or not, and how long they survive cancer is is, is, is horrible. And especially when you get to cancers that can be possibly avoided. There is a call here. We need to avoid them. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:07 What actions either are being taken in response to these findings, or do you want to see taken in response to these findings? Joe Mangano 03:32:17 Nothing has been done by any outside party yet we would like to see more media attention and more response from our social media, which is something we've done as well. We posted the results on our websites, Facebook page and Twitter account. So yes, we'd like to see more response that way. Number two, we would like to see parents of young children rolling up their sleeves and submitting a baby tooth or, or more from, from their children and to contribute to the scientific effort. And third of all, we want to see the health departments and other regularly, for example, there's a nuclear regulatory commission. Each state has a viewer of radiation protection. We would like to see them publicly discuss this issue because it isn't publicly discussed ever with any regulator, because there is no regulation that imposes on the operators in nuclear plants, you have to keep cancer to a certain level. It is not addressed in any rings. Yes. The emissions have to be a little low level. Yes, the amounts in the air and the food and the water must be below a certain level cancer not addressed. We think that's wrong. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:37 Let's take a look at the baby teeth issue and the history of it as the tooth Keri project. This goes back quite a way. Please explain what the roots are of the determination to study baby teeth and what radiation and public health projects involvement in. This has been Joe Mangano 03:34:00 The origins of the baby tooth study are really the origins of the nuclear era, which of course was the original use of the atom was for military purposes. The atomic bombs used in Japan and then the nuclear weapons tests above the ground, in the race for superiority and weapons between us and the Soviet union in the 1950s, many people were very fearful and there was going to be an all out nuclear war. And they were also fearful. And even without a nuclear war that fall out from these massive bomb tests, these mushroom clouds that went all across the planet, we're actually getting into the precipitation and thus into the food chain and people's bodies. And there were a large number of protests, as you know about continuing these tests, stop the test and get this radiation out of my kid's milk in August, 1958, scientists from the national Institute of health Hermann, Cal Carr wrote an article in the journal nature where he calls for an international Milktooth census milk. Teeth is a another word for baby teeth. He outlined a plan for measuring a particular chemical in the bomb fallout cloud. There are over a hundred, but he picked out one called strontium 90, which is very much like calcium. And when it enters the body, it quickly goes into the bloodstream and attaches to bone and teeth. Like only unlike calcium. It's not good for your health. It's bad. These are radioactives and they cause cancers. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:45 And once they're in the teeth or in the bones, do they ever migrate out or once they're in the child is stuck with them until they either lose the baby teeth, or if it comes into their permanent teeth, it stays there forever. Joe Mangano 03:36:00 It stays there forever. Or for many, many years, every radioactive chemical decays at a certain rate, the half-life of strontium 90 is 29 years. And typically to represent the disappearing, we use 10 half lives. So 290 years, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:19 Well we could all outlive that can't wait Joe Mangano 03:36:22 Contri. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:24 So with the tooth fairy project, being something that was proposed, or at least the concept behind it now, did it take shape? And what form did it have and what was its impact? Joe Mangano 03:36:38 Very quickly, two groups in St. Louis, one more scientists from Washington university and the other were citizens were just formed a group called the committee for nuclear information, got together and said, Hey, this is a great idea. Let's do it. Maybe can study. And for the next, over the next 12 years, they collected at least 320,000 babies from children, many of the St Louis area, but also from around the United States, when the teeth were collected and tested in a laboratory, the scientists found that as bomb tests went on the levels of strontium 90 and babies got higher and higher. And I reached a peak in 1963, when the levels were 50 times greater than what they were for children born in 1950. And afterwards it dropped down sharply within the next five years, it dropped by half. And that was because these teeth results were used to help bring about the test ban treaty. They were sent to president Kennedy and his science advisor, Jerome waster, and they were used in testimony to the us Senate or the treaty treaty, which by the way, very likely saved millions of lives, not just in the United States, but around the world is that original two study was a landmark in public health. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:13 Now it seems that there are still baby teeth from that original study that had not been tested. Where are those teeth now? And how do they factor into the current work that you are doing? Joe Mangano 03:38:28 Our group RPH P learned about the St. Louis study years ago in the 1990s and said, you know what? We should be a to study, not for atomic bomb fault, but near nuclear reactors to measure how nuclear emissions from the reactors that we're getting to children's bodies. And we did. And during that time, I got to know a number of people in St. Louis had worked on the original study and one day a great surprise, wonderful surprise occurred when I got a call from Daniel Cole who was a biology professor. And he said, Hey, we're looking for storage space for the university. And we found some teams. And I was surprised because no one had said you were any teeth left. Yeah. We tested the teeth and they're all gone. And the next day he really shocked me when he said, Joe, there are thousands and thousands of these that are still here. Joe Mangano 03:39:24 Do you want them? This university doesn't want them. Barry commoner biologist who was prominent in the study said, no, I don't want them. But he said, why don't you try? RPH be, they're doing it to the study. And they were donated to us. There are just a little under 100,000 teeth still remaining. These are people born 55 to 75 years ago. They constitute 37,000 people. Some gave more than one tooth. There are at least 12 teeth from every single state except for Vermont with four. And they also represent people born from 45 different countries. And we took the teeth immediately with the knowledge that we're not going to duplicate what Washington university here. So we know the levels went up during testing and down after their band, what they didn't do. And what we are going to do is to answer the question, what were the health hazards from exposure to bomb fall? Joe Mangano 04:40:25 It's a question that has received almost no attention from federal authority through two small studies done in, in the 1990s, both a very low estimates of cancers and using these teeth from people who are getting in their 50 sixties and seventies and measuring strontium 90, which still is in there and compare it with death records, which is what we've we've asked for. But we are going to take a shot at that question. And may I add this was only made possible by, by the great surprise number two, one day when I got a call from mark Weiskopf, who was a public health professor at Harvard university, his interest is in heavy metal exposures, but he's used baby teeth. And he found out about our study and said, my goodness, I want to help. And it was through his grant and he secured from the NIH that the teeth were actually entered into a database before the information, as it were on three by five. Now they're in an XML file, which makes it so much easier to, to plan studies and evaluate them and sell them again. Harvard is looking at heavy metals. We're going to be looking at radiation in early life exposures. So, and we, we, by next year, we should have some results Libbe HaLevy 04:41:45 Looking forward to receiving that and talking with you on the show for it, let's bring this back to dressed in, and then we'll talk about the other nuclear reactor you're currently involved with at Dresden. You are in the process of collecting teeth. Are they going to be compared against this database? You are creating of the 100,000 teeth from the fifties and sixties. And is there anything further that you can gain from them that is beyond or other than the original studies? Joe Mangano 04:42:19 We're planning something that's never been done before. We're planning to compare early life exposures, the bomb fallout, and early life exposures to react. Your emissions never been done, and we're doing it in the following way. Number one, we're collecting baby teeth from children, young children who now live near here, Dresden. And we are going to test them for the same strontium 90 that I mentioned. And we're also going to take your teeth from the Chicago area. Only people born in the 1950s who were exposed to BombBomb. So in other words, you have grandparents exposed early to bomb full out and grandchildren exposed early in life to react our emissions, which is higher. I have no idea. Nobody has any idea we're going to find out. And of course, when we take the Keith from the earlier study and find out what the hazards of, of developing cancer, we can almost predict what's going to happen to today's children. Should they continue to live near these old deteriorating and leaking nuclear reactors? This is really unprecedented and we are very excited that it's going to make a difference in, in the knowledge of, of the effects of this toxic bunch of chemicals. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:44 I'm very excited as well on a podcast. People can't see what my face is doing is I'm responding to what you're saying, but it's very exciting. And again, potentially groundbreaking work. Now there is a second nuclear reactor that you are also looking into and examining the way that you are currently doing it with Dresden. Tell us about that. Joe Mangano 04:44:08 There we accurate you're talking about is for me too, which is located about 25 miles south of the middle of Detroit Monroe county, Michigan for me too, is also another aging reactor it's been running since the mid 1980s. It is getting older and it's leaking. The emissions are relatively high compared to other us reactors and similar to what we did at Dresden, we went out and do the study of cancer mortality near for me. And we found the same thing before for me opened in the 1970s and early eighties. The level of cancer deaths was below the us 10% below. And now it's, I think 14% higher. And again, it's, it's, this is a larger county. It's 150,000 people. So we're talking about a lot of cases involved. And of course the cancer deaths in children is the highest in Michigan. We presented the information at a press conference. Joe Mangano 04:45:14 We had Christie Brinkley, the model and actress help present. She has been a great supporter. And as a board member for many years, she also happened to have been born in Monroe county, Michigan, and still has family there. And she took, it, took a great personal interest in this. Since then we followed up with an op-ed in the Monroe county news. We are in the process of collecting baby Jesus. And finally this week, the Monroe county news is in the process of running three full page advertisements that was made possible by Keith Gunter, who is an advocate from the area describing the concerns about the cancer findings and about the need to donate Keith. So they can get, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:04 These are ads that were created or prepared by radiation and public health project. Joe Mangano 04:46:09 Actually, they were created by Gunter. His group is called opponents affirming three a I forget the exact AME, but we of course reviewed it. Christie Brinkley reviewed it as well. It's got a picture in it and we are awaiting a teeth contributions, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:29 Which brings us to a point. You talk about working on these two reactors. Does somebody hire you and who pays you to do this work? Joe Mangano 04:46:41 Nobody hired us to work at Fermi or a president. We select, and we meaning I and our board of directors, as far as getting paid, our PHP is a nonprofit organization that gets along through grants from foundations and mostly from individual donations, which makes us independent of any industry or government influence. We want to do objective research. Unfortunately in the history of the atomic era, research on health hazards has been very politicized from the very day. They, they split the atom and got the Hiroshima bomb ready. It has been very political and unfortunately it's kept us from getting the full story full answers on what the hazards are. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:34 What's next for you and RPA HP. Joe Mangano 04:47:37 For the moment we're going to use your resident and Fermi as models, where we have established concern with health, with local cancer rates, but we're going to collect the teeth, test them. And then we're going to compare them with Keith in the area, from people who are now in their fifties and sixties. In addition, we're going to do that kind of separately, a study, or really multiple studies using the original babies. We estimate that out of the 37,000 people whose teeth are in that file, about 6,000 of them are deceased at about 1600 or so have died of chance. We're going to compare people who've died of cancer, versus those who are healthy now, or have died of accidents or something. We've already done a small study 10 years ago, where we looked at 20 teeth from people who died of cancer by age 50, and compared with people healthy. And we found strontium 90 was more than double in the cancer group, statistically significant, still a small number. We want to expand on that, but you had another red flag. You know, the more strontium in your body, the more likely you are to die of cancer is the hypothesis that's that's being considered here. Again, something that no one has really looked at in the 67 year era, nuclear weapons and nuclear power, Libbe HaLevy 04:49:05 What can we do to support Joe Mangano 04:49:07 Your work? One, you can go to radiation.org. You can review the information that we have on, on all these projects. I've, I've described number two for anybody, and especially those who live near nuclear reactors. You can certainly donate a baby to this three. We've described very simply about, about the process. It's very simple to wrap a tooth up in tissue. You fill out a form which is on the website and you mail it. And that's it much like the people in St. Louis years ago, we are not just the scientific research. It's really citizen science because we rely very much on the advocacy of concerned citizens and need actual help of, and it's usually mothers who donate their children's baby teeth, which is really, I think the spectacular lesson of the original study, everyone gives the scientists credit. Everyone gives the children whose teeth were donated. It was the parents, especially the mothers who took time out of their very busy lives and did something good for the world. And we see that continuing to happen. Now we have over 5,000 teeth in the current study, near round a number that's still growing. Of course, nothing like it was years ago, but still lots of peaks. Then we've, we've published five journal articles on, on the results near other nuclear plants. More to come, Libbe HaLevy 05:50:31 Joe Mangano. This is exciting work you're doing it is unprecedented work. And it is important because of the previous baby to study. The big one actually was a crucial part of getting an atmospheric test ban treaty. There's no telling what the work you're doing now and in the future can achieve for all of us in terms of turning this nuclear juggernaut around and for all you have done and all you continue to do. Thank you. And thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Thank you. Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, executive director for the radiation and public health project. Their website is radiation.org. And you know, they've been around for a long time to have a single word for their web address. Now it's time for some audience participation. If you live in Grundy county, near Dresden's nuclear facility in Illinois, or in Monroe county, Michigan near the fermion nuclear reactors and have a child who has baby teeth that you want to donate on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 38, we will have a link to the form you need to use for submitting those baby teeth with a little bit more information. And there will also be an email address for you to contact Joe Mangano directly. Should you have questions, suggestions, or if you're a member of the media and want to get the story, let's all do what we can to help this baby tooth story. So we can take a bigger bite out of nuclear Announcer 05:52:17 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:25 First off, great news about the film in the dark of the valley, which deals with the Santa Susana field lab and what they call quote the story of a mother, Melissa Bumstead in Southern California, who finds that an abandoned rocket testing facility called the Santa Susana field laboratory near her home was the site of one of the largest nuclear accidents in the U S she examined the possibility that the site may have exposed the surrounding community to cancer causing radioactive and chemical waste. MSNBC president Rashida Jones said in a statement, this Santa Susana field lab is one of the most devastating manmade environmental disasters in our country that we rarely talk about this film illustrates the relentless efforts of mothers in pursuit of truth and heightens the human side of the poignant story and the film's director. Nicholas Mim said, MSNBC gives these mothers a voice, a voice that has too long been stifled by apathy and greed on a platform that won't let this story be lost in the shuffle. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:32 Once again, in the dark of the valley debuts on MSNBC on November 14th, 2021 at 10:00 PM, Eastern 7:00 PM Pacific time, congratulations all around a relatively new organization, LA brats, which stands for the legacy of the atomic bomb recognition for atomic test survivors is building an international register of atomic descendants. This will be to provide statistical information for campaigns and to show governments across the world that the testing program is still affecting more than a million descendants worldwide. If you are a descendant of a rotisserie patient in the nuclear testing program, please register your details on a page that we will link to on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 38, there will be an overall number for each country. And please you will need to indicate if the participant was in the military, a scientist, a civilian, or an indigenous person and nuclear information and resource service or nears has a petition out. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:47 We would like you to sign it's to protect indigenous communities and the environment by saying no to the proposed uranium reserve. President Biden promised voters to invest in environmental justice and clean energy, but uranium mining would undermine both the Biden administration is moving forward with a Trump era proposal to establish a nuclear fuel stockpile. Otherwise known is a strategic uranium reserve or Sur that would encourage more mining and put many frontline indigenous communities and treasured sacred places like the grand canyon bears ears and the black Hills at risk from uranium contamination. We will link to this petition so that you can sign it. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, October 12th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org. Any I s.org and I R s.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or I can w.org variety.com Librax international salsa labs.org, Washington, post.com Chatham star tribune.com news break.com Korea times.co dot K R Japan times.co dot J P E I N. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:15 News dot C O the hindu.com Cumbria cracked.com, reuters.com truthout.org, dw.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They are supposed to be regulated and do such a lousy job of doing so. The nuclear regulatory commission, Hey, there's no need to hunt around and try and find a link to each week's episode of nuclear hot seat. The way to get it is easy. Go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com. And you'll see a yellow box there where you can sign up first name, email address. We will send you each week's link. As soon as it posts along with a short description of the contents, we don't bug you. We don't sell your information. We just want to make sure that you get nuclear hot seat every week. So go to the website, sign up. You'll have no problems in the future. You can opt out whenever you'd want to, but why would you want to now in terms of stories, this is a participatory democracy here. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:17 If you have a story lead a hot tip or suggestion with someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, along with everything else that we put into this show, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the big red button, click on it, follow the prompts. Anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leebee Halevi and Hardy street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of hardest streak communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you. None of us is out of prison. As long as one nuclear bomb exists. That's a quote from sister Meagan rice. That's it. That's your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:30 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot. Hotsy what have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #537: Oconee Nuclear in South Carolina At Risk of Inland Tsunami from Jocassee Dam - Paul Gunter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oconee-nuclear-south-carolina-inland-tsunami/ Published: 2021-10-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Oconee Nuclear reactors – all three of them – will be in the water pathway if there is a breach at the Jocassee Dam, only 12 miles away. That would be the equivalent of SIX Mississippi Rivers in a wall of water 19 feet high. Can you say… "Fukushima?" This Week's Featured Interview: Oconee Nuclear reactors at risk of inland tsunami from Jocassee Dam – Paul Gunter has been a critic of nuclear power for over 30 years. He is an energy policy analyst and activist who worked as the Director of the Reactor Watchdog Project for Nuclear Information and Resource Service for almost 20 years. In 2007, he joined Beyond Nuclear as their Nuclear Reactor Specialist, and that’s where he’s been ever since. We spoke on Monday, October 4, 2021. Paul Gunter. Photo by Ioanna Raptis/ Seacoastonline Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA): LINK to Nuclear Hotseat #526 SPECIAL on RECA. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn't understand that "a little bit radioactive" is like "a little bit pregnant" and completely removes the ban on import of Japan's Fukushima-area food. Yet another reason to read labels. LINKS: Radiolab – Nukes and Nuclear Chain of CommandWomen Transforming Our Nuclear Legacy – Journalism, Media & Our Nuclear Legacy – webinar, October 13, 2021. Must sign up.Woodward/Costa book PERIL – Why No President Should Have "sol Authority" to start a nuclear war.How Nuclear Power Causes Global Warming – Harvey WassermanThe Record-Breaking Failures of Nuclear Power – Linda GunterThe Overlooked American Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear safety reassurances faced with the disaster that was, and still is Fukushima. The nuclear industry likes to deflect the public's safety concerns by pointing at other nuclear reactors and saying, Hey, don't worry. It's not like there's going to be at tsunami here, Yuk, Yuk, Yuk. But then you hear from a genuine expert who explains that you don't need an earthquake and tsunami in the ocean to flood out a nuclear reactor. And specifically regarding the South Carolina, oh, Connie nuclear reactor site, three nuclear reactors built downstream of two major dams. And he explained Paul Gunter 00:00:46 If this dam was to fail it you'll Cassie. It would send the equivalent of six Mississippi rivers of water within a matter of hours down the QE river to the nuclear reactor site and inundate it in estimates of 19 feet of water. So the Coney site could be under 19 feet of water. Now you get the comparison from our own Fukushima, an inland tsunami created by this dam failure. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:24 Well, if a destructive wall of water on power with Fukushima's Toonami can be generated by an inland dam break and smack into three nuclear reactors. There is no doubt that this is yet another example of that impossibly dangerous seat that we are all stuck in Announcer 00:01:46 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear hot seat. Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:17 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we consider the problems at the Connie three reactor nuclear site. In South Carolina. We talk with Paul Gunter, who is director of reactor oversight project at beyond a nuclear. And boy, does he ever have a tale to tell? We will also catch up on nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information, then anybody could post out on Facebook yesterday. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, October 5th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:19 And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting with some reactor news here in the U S according to ed Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the union of concerned scientists, the Limerick one nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania is operating without a functioning high pressure emergency core cooling system. After it failed a surveillance test, the nuclear regulatory commission will allow it to operate for up to 30 days in this condition. 16 days longer than the tech specs allow when asked, when we could expect an update, Lyman replied not likely to get an update until the system is repaired. You can try contacting the NRC, but they will just tell you the increased risk is acceptable. Is that how they're protecting people and the environment and at the north Ana nuclear facility in Virginia, a degraded condition was identified while the unit was shut down the event taking place on September 12th, according to NRC guidelines, this event is reportable in accordance for any event or condition that results in the condition of the nuclear power plant, including its principal safety barriers being seriously degraded in Illinois cancer rates in Grundy county, which is the site of the Dresden nuclear plant are among the highest Illinois and the worst for radiation sensitive cancers. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:50 These include childhood cancer up 18% thyroid cancer up 43% breast cancer up 24% and leukemia up 33% rates are taken from the national cancer Institute analysis of 2014 to 2018 with county specific data. Joseph executive director of radiation and public health project. And author of the report said, I am not aware of any county with a nuclear plant where radiation sensitive cancer rates are so consistently high Dresden reactors two and three are 43 miles from Chicago, have operated for over 50 years and are among the eight oldest reactors in the U S Exelon nuclear, which owns drugs intended to shut the plant in November of this year due to its unprofitability. But it recently received one of those large bailouts from the Illinois legislature, which will enable it to operate through 2026. At the federal level, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is renewing a push to expand Aus compensation program for people who were exposed to radiation, following uranium mining and nuclear testing carried out during the cold war. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:07 This is about the radiation exposure compensation act or Rica advocates have been trying for years to bring awareness to the lingering effects of nuclear fallout surrounding the Trinity site in Southern New Mexico, where U S military detonated the first atomic bomb and on the Navajo nation were more than 30 million tons of uranium, or were extracted over decades to support us nuclear activities. Under legislation introduced by us senators, Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat from New Mexico and Mike crappo, a Republican from Idaho. Other sites across the American west would be added to the list of places affected by fallout and radiation exposure. Eligibility would also be expanded to include certain workers in the industry after 1971, such as minors, the legislation would also increase the amount of compensation. Someone can receive to $150,000 and provide coverage for additional forms of cancer. We covered this in depth at nuclear hot seat, number 5 26 from July 21st, 2021. And we'll have a link to this up on our website under this episode and have now for the latest report on nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy  00:07:30 Wednesday, September 22nd, the United States lifted an import ban on food products from prefectures hit by the earthquake to NAMI and triple nuclear meltdown disaster that struck Fukushima as Northeast Japan in 2011, the ban following the Toonami triggered meltdowns included rice peaches and Shataki mushrooms produced in Fukushima. This decision came after the U S food and drug administration determined quote, a very low risk to American consumers from radioactive contaminated foods, imported from Japan. Now let's unpack that statement, which is a direct quote. First of all, anything that has any radioactivity in a is not no risk. It may be what they consider low risk, but low compared to what, just one atom of a radioactive element injusted into the human body that sticks there. We'll continue irradiating it up close and personal with your internal organs for as long as it stays there, which could be until you die, possibly from its effect, which could include cancer. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:48 Also, they're not saying that there is no radioactive contaminated food imported from Japan. They're just saying it's a very low risk, but they admit that there is radioactive contaminated food imported from Japan. Now this might be a Freudian slip. It might be semantic shenanigans or just another money-based nuclear decision to go, Hey, don't worry about it. It's not a problem, at least until it is. And that could take a lot of years to show up, but that doesn't mean it's not going to. So, you know, for the sake of your health and your safety, it's not that hard to read labels and just avoid anything that may have been imported from Japan. And in the meantime, this is why food and drug administration for this decision, you are this week's, Libbe HaLevy  00:09:48 Awake in the new book peril by Bob Woodward and Robert Costus. They report that in the aftermath of the January 6th, insurrection, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general, mark, a Miley fearing, what a president he deemed unstable might do told military officers. He was to be included in the nuclear launch process. If true Miley took an extraordinary step that undermines the long-held civilian military division of nuclear responsibility, but conversations on whether or not he should be removed and arguments over whether or not he is in the nuclear chain of command distract from the critical point, the U S nuclear process is long overdue for a change. And the problem was not with any one person or individual action it's with the entire system. This is from an article by the bulletin of the atomic scientists, and we will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 37 links to other terrific articles that have shown up in the past few weeks are how nuclear power causes global warming by the esteem, Harvey Wasserman known for solar Topia and so much other activism. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:01 The record breaking failures of nuclear power by Linda Gunter of beyond nuclear and an article from time magazine on the overlooked American survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which draws upon historian Nalco, walkies 86 interviews with members of the U S community who were in either Hiroshima or Nagasaki when the bombs were dropped. This is part of her newly published book, American survivors, trans-specific memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki over to Japan where video footage released by Japan's nuclear regulatory authority reveals a highly radioactive area in Fukushima Daiichi, which may affect decommissioning plans. We have no further details at this point. We'll give you them when we get them just like all nuclear powers, Japan needs to find a way to get rid of its radioactive waste. And it's come up with two really spiffy ideas. The first is that they are planning to ease regulations to allow exports of large disused equipment from nuclear power plants for overseas disposal. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:11 That's their plan to reduce the mountains of radioactive waste, accumulating at home. These components range in size from five to 20 meters and weigh between 100 and 300 tons, but where are they planning to ship it? Because there is no place for it to go. So maybe they want to follow this plan for taking care of the massive amount of radioactive steel waste that contain a quote lower than clearance level, whatever that means of radioactive substances, because in Japan, it has been melted down and processed into bench legs and other items. The bench is being installed in locations, such as universities, high schools and technical colleges. They are also contemplating using this radioactive steel for making steel cans for soft drinks or infant beds. And in the standard abusive practice of praising the bullies who make you do things you don't want to do, they are installing their benches and making the work known with bench installation, ceremonies, urging student leaders, to give a speech stating that the installed bench makes them feel closer to nuclear power generation. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:29 Oh yeah. And don't forget that radiation monitor and Japan's liberal democratic party held an election on September 29th for presidency of the party and had a chance to elect Terrell Kono minister of administrative reform, who was the only one among the candidates who clearly argued for phasing out nuclear power generation. Of course, he lost two full MEO cause Shito who is in favor of nuclear over to Scotland where the Scottish national party and the greens have vowed to block new nuclear reactors in Scotland. The pushback against Boris Johnson's energy plans is being led by Nicholas sturgeon. First minister of Scotland. The country currently has two decommissioned nuclear reactors and two, which are active hunter student B and torness in the UK to mark the United nations international day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Sunday, September 26th, members of the campaign for nuclear disarmament demonstrated against BAE systems, which designs build tests and commissions nuclear powered submarines CNDS demonstration called on the UK government to scrap plans to upgrade the Trident nuclear weapons system and displayed sign saying nurses, not nukes and treatment not tried it as Philip Gillian's of CND said, the government tells us that following the COVID crisis, the country is short of money to renew and restore our essential public services. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:10 Yet they seem to have no difficulty in finding money to upgrade nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The proposed renewal of the Trident system will squander at least 200, 5 billion pounds on an even more dangerous and ever more destructive nuclear weapon system. Their priorities are very wrong in Australia, Dr. Helen Caldicott sometimes referred to as the mother of us all for those who oppose nuclear has weighed in on the proposal by the United States and the United Kingdom to share nuclear submarine technology with Australia, Dr. Caldicott said, and here I quote, America has 18 Trident submarines powered by a highly enriched uranium, 2 35, which can be used as fuel for nuclear weapons. Each sub carries 24 missiles. Each one is armed with eight hydrogen bombs, which makes it 30 times the killing power of one Hiroshima bomb. That's enough subs to produce nuclear, winter and end life on earth. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:15 Dr. Caldicott who originally trained as a pediatrician, led an Australian national movement to bring an end to the French atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons over the Pacific you Australian government eventually took France to the international court of justice and France was forced to test underground. Dr. Caldicott continued to set China up as an enemy is ridiculous. We don't need super powers anymore. We need to reduce global warming. We've got to stop fighting and killing each other. Call the cop pointed out that most politicians are scientifically illiterate and that we need independent thinkers to stand up and run for government. Adding the human race must stop fighting and killing because if we don't, it will lead to annihilation. And from the rabidly pro nuclear nuclear energy Institute comes this article entitled Russia confirms nuclear as green and touts Russia as a role model saying the assignment of the status of a green energy source to nuclear power generation in the Russian Federation should be a signal for other countries considering the inclusion of nuclear energy and their green lists, right? Libbe HaLevy  01:17:27 Like following Russia's example in anything works out so well case in point 2020 us presidential elections, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. But first the nuclear industry never lets up with their propaganda talking points, op EDS talk, show bookers, and other tactics to brainwash our politicians, reporters and public and did giving them whatever they want, which is money, money, money, and let's face it. They have all the money in the world to fund their PR hacks and their agenda because this forms a business model with a terrific return on investment, because for whatever millions, the newscasters spend on public relations, propaganda, they stand to get billions of dollars back from ignorant politicians and hapless taxpayers with the nuclear bailouts. That's just one of the reasons why you need nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. This show has empowered listeners every week with a one hour hit of honest nuclear information. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:34 We provide in-depth interviews with genuine experts around up with international news numnuts of the week, bad puns, occasional bursts of musical theater. Where else can you find all this in a weekly counterbalance to nuclear industry lives, but up against that, industry's unlimited financial resources. This show operates on a bake sale budget, and that budget is entirely dependent on you. The listeners to keep us going. That's why if you've come to value, nuclear hot seats work, the time to support us with a donation would be right now, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size. You can also set up a recurring donation as little as $5 a month. The same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S you'll be supporting us as we keep going. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:28 So if you value the different perspective on nuclear information, you get from nuclear, hot seat bias, that metaphor a cup of coffee or more, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here's this week's featured interview. The nuclear industry loves it's smoke and mirrors when it comes to ignoring disguising or reframing its weak points as nothing important to see here, move along. And don't worry your pretty little head about that, Missy. And that's why it's so important that we hear from veteran activists who can see through the nuclear bovine feces and tell us what's really going on. Paul Gunter is one of those people he's co-founder of the clamshell Alliance anti-nuclear group and was arrested at Seabrook station nuclear power plant for nonviolent civil disobedience on several occasions and energy policy analyst and activist Gunter worked as the director of the reactor watchdog project for nuclear information and resource service for almost 20 years. In 2007, he joined beyond nuclear as their nuclear reactor specialist. And that's where he's been ever since we spoke on Monday, October 4th, 2021, Paul Gunter, always great to have you with us here on nuclear hot seat. Paul Gunter 02:20:52 Thank you very much, levy. Appreciate it. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:54 There is yet another set of problems coming up with the economy nuclear station you were explaining to me right before we got on the official into your view, what we're going to be facing in terms of understanding the information. Could you provide that for our listeners? Paul Gunter 02:21:12 You know, when we boil this down into soundbites, it's important to realize that we have to start at the very beginning of a Coney it's three nuclear power stations that were constructed and they began operation in 1973 and 74, but they never considered the consequences of building three large nuclear power stations in conjunction with two hydraulic dams. These plants are right downstream. So when duke energy introduced this project, it was a combined construction project for two electric power dams, Yule, Cassie dam, and the QE dam. And right below these dams are these three nuclear power stations, duke energy. This is in the time of the atomic energy commission, the predecessor of the nuclear regulatory commission. And they AEC lost their job because they were more interested in promoting nuclear power than regulating safety. And so duke convinced the atomic energy commission that it did not have to worry about a dam failure. Paul Gunter 02:22:46 And the Yule Cassie dam is 385 feet tall. And it's built in the mountains of South Carolina and the nuclear power stations are built right into the side of the Q we dam. So you have two large earth and stone dams that in the original design and construction of three nuclear power stations, it was never considered that they could fail. And this was in the sixties well, before climate change was even a concept. And so now we begin this dialogue with duke energy now trying to convince the nuclear regulatory commission that it can extend these three power stations operating licenses, not just for one 20 year extension, which they're operating in right now until 2033 in 2034, but we're facing a second license extension of 20 years out to 2053 and 2054. This is going to be right during major changes in what severe weather and the fact that duke and the NRC never really considered a dam over topping from unprecedented rainfall and flooding. And then that sending a wall of water. This is essentially going to be an inland tsunami and then just like Fukushima the Japanese and Tokyo electric power company. They never considered that a tsunami could be of such size that would inundate the Fukushima nuclear power station. And it was considered incredible, not a credible accident. They never prepared for it. And we're in the same identical situation. Now with the Kony nuclear power stations only they're unprepared. It was never even designed to look at protect against an inundation from a dam failure. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:21 I think it's important for listeners who might not be familiar with this to understand that it wasn't arbitrary that 40 years was chosen as the operating lifespan of a nuclear reactor. According to the engineers who originally built them, they could only be operated safely for 40 years because with the bombardment of the nuclear reaction inside that the metal parents would become embrittlement. In other words, they would become less safe and less secure in 40 years was the limit. So these extensions that you're talking about 20 years let alone 40 years is completely beyond what was initially considered the safe limit to an operating nuclear reactor. And you're saying that a Coney is already beyond that, Paul Gunter 02:26:10 You know, this whole idea of the future of nuclear power, it's becoming less and less likely that it's going to be with new construction. The cost of nuclear power for new builds is just too much. The likelihood of completion of these projects is increasingly unreliable. So the future of nuclear power now is in license extensions, which become more and more extreme. So originally licensed as you out for 40 years. 90% of the fleet is now in this 40 to 60 year extension of the 93 reactors that are operating. Now, 90% of them are either operating or approved for a 40 to 60 year extension. And they're already getting approvals for a 60 to 80 year operating license extension. And in these license extensions, particularly under the national environmental policy act, looking at the environmental consequences, for example, of a severe accident, the industry and the nuclear regulatory commission are supposed to be looking at internal threats and external threats. Paul Gunter 02:27:35 So the internal threats like you bring up, you know, the aging of materials to the point that embrittlement can lead to component failure, but in a Connie's situation, we're looking at not only internal threats, but the external threat from a dam failure, a Coneys not only needs to be concerned about aging, but they need to be concerned about locating this nuclear power station 12 miles away from a very large dam. In fact, what the earlier examinations and analysis show is that if this dam was to fail, it you'll Cassie. It would send the equivalent of six Mississippi rivers of water within a matter of hours down the QE river to the nuclear reactor site and inundate it in estimates of 19 feet of water. So the Coney site could be under 19 feet of water. Now you get the comparison from our own Fukushima, an inland tsunami created by this dam failure. Paul Gunter 02:29:02 So we're now in the process of challenging this license, renewal application process, based on the fact that the NRC and duke energy have not presented this application as the whole idea of a severe accident caused by flooding. They're saying in this application that it's small and insignificant yet the evidence that we'll be presenting, if we can get this hearing is going to be presented a retired nuclear engineer, Jeff Mittman, who in fact is quite familiar with a Coney because he worked on the safety evaluation of operating a Coney with the risk of a yoke Cassie dam failure. He helped come up with a safety evaluation that the NRC gave to duke power in January of 2011, that says you should build a wall around the power block of a Coney station. That's 19 feet high so that the water will be diverted from flooding key safety components as it was at Fukushima, for example, to divert that flood around the Coney site. However, although that safety evaluation has never been retracted and duke still needs to protect those systems structures and components against a large flood, the NRC is proceeding with this license extension on an application that doesn't recognize these earlier evaluations that indicate that the cost is interfering with their production agenda. They're trying to work around safety evaluations that were performed by NRC staff. One of whom is renowned, retired, and is very concerned that nuclear regulatory capture is jeopardizing public safety. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:42 What you mean about nuclear regulatory capture? Paul Gunter 03:31:46 We have on the record, a safety evaluation report that is now a public document. And it's important to note in this again, in this very complicated subject, that for 10 years, duke and NRC buried this safety evaluation as to security concern, they thought it was a matter of security not to make public this threat. And it wasn't until to freedom of information act requests, one by Greenpeace and one by the union of concerned scientists challenged the suppression of public documents on a security claim and the freedom of information act released these documents. So now these documents are public so that we can see that duke energy, for example, had one evaluation of a flood caused by dam failure. That would be 16 and a half feet at the Occoneechee site. And with each succeeding evaluation, particularly the one, this original safety evaluation report in 2011, came out in January, which was two months before Fukushima where a tsunami caused a triple meltdown. Paul Gunter 03:33:27 So there was another evaluation after that, that again, raised concerns, but in that event, duke, in fact, managed to lower the risk. As I'm trying to explain, this is a very convoluted subject with many moving parts and a long history. And what we're requesting is a hearing before an atomic safety and licensing board to publicly sort this out, because in fact, again, it all goes back to the fact that duke energy built a nuclear power station, three units below these very large dams and in the original design and construction never contemplated, or when they did contemplate a dam failure, they said that it was not credible enough to incorporate into the design and construction. So we're constantly back fitting this design at a Coney and they still haven't really factored in the incredible uncertainty that climate crisis is going to introduce with increasing precipitation hurricanes. You know, what they previously thought is maximum probabilities, that influence designs, those are all out the window. Now it's complicated by the fact that that all of the power companies looking at relicensing, you know, they have to be more conscious and protective of their financial investments. Then in the risk assessments that are accelerating and enlarging because of threats, both internal from aging and degradation and external threats from climate, for example, Libbe HaLevy  03:35:41 Yeah, nuclear and Sierra club are intervening on these three units at Kony to not allow to slip through what you are referring to as a regulatory Khyber pass. What does that mean? Paul Gunter 03:35:57 We've known about the vulnerability of a Kony to flooding for decades. Certainly since the 1980s it's been recognized, it's been even more recently, it's been recognized by NRC staff, conscientious members of the staff that were looking at the risk assessments and seeing the vulnerability to severe accidents from flooding. But there was no real opportunity for the NRC to address again, what we've recognized as a captured agency, where finances are more, they weigh in heavier than safety concerns. However, at the point of relicensing, particularly for the 60 to 80 year license extension, they have to come to a point in the regulatory oversight that narrows very tightly around the opportunity for the public to raise environmental concerns, particularly under the national environmental policy act and this narrow passage that duke energy and the nuclear regulatory commission must now go through the scrutiny potentially of a hearing to provide the level of transparency and disclosure of documents, public documents. Paul Gunter 03:37:37 And we're just as interested in protecting security related information as anybody it's our collective security, but we have to incorporate public safety as a transparent item as well. And again, it is this passage through this regulatory process that is narrowing down now to an opportunity for a hearing to look at the public documents that are now on the record to scrutinize just how much protection against flooding in a time of climate crisis is being afforded by duke energy. If it's going to keep these reactors operating, it has an obligation to be accountable to the cost of doing business during a climate crisis. And that means raising the flood protection levels around the Kony nuclear power station. It's this narrowing of the regulatory process where the public is now in a position to intervene to create that transparency Libbe HaLevy  03:38:49 It's been learned, the duke and the NRC withheld thousands of pages of documentation, critical documents revealing this inadequate flood protection. What did it take and what were the groups behind the foyers that got that information out? And when did that happen before Paul Gunter 03:39:11 Boys were released by David locked bomb through the union of concerned scientists and Jim Rickio with green peace, they were focused in on some disclosures that had been made by nuclear engineers at the NRC that were made public through the press. And again, this was in revelations that not just to Kony, but a number of us nuclear power stations were not adequately protected from flooding and more particularly from flooding around below dams. And, you know, we've seen flooding along the Mississippi river, for example, the Cooper nuclear power station in 93 had occurred again at Fort Calhoun in a major flood that threatened to inundate both these nuclear power stations. So flooding had become quite a concern, but again, it's this massive sudden flood created by dams that gained a lot of media attention and thus stimulated the freedom of information act requests from union of concerned scientists and Greenpeace. Paul Gunter 04:40:36 You ask about the timing. I'm not quite sure it was within the last 10 years, but I can't give you an exact date on that. It took a while, but these FOYAs redlined documents that had been withheld under security claims, the security claim was removed and the documents were made public. And that's when we actually started seeing numbers on the extent of flooding that the Kony nuclear power station could face. And these were duke energies and the NRC staff's own numbers, that it became clear that the nuclear power stations are not adequately protected from flooding. And that the agency as a whole, the NRC is not enforcing analysis to bring the level two adequate protection to legitimately make claims that they can operate a Coney for another 20 years, given all the uncertainties and the precedent, setting rain and flood and hurricanes that we're seeing now due to the climate crisis. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:01 So where do we stand now in terms of getting this hearing? Is it in the works? Is it likely, is it going to take a lot of outside pressure to force this to happen Paul Gunter 04:42:14 Beyond nuclear and Sierra club recently filed their request for a public hearing and the right to intervene based on contentions that duke has not provided adequate protection for flooding and through the expert declarations of a retired nuclear engineer who is familiar with Theo, Cassie dam and the OCONUS nuclear power station situation that is now being reviewed for the nuclear regulatory commission to impanel an atomic safety and licensing board, but they are now in the process of reviewing our claims for the request for the hearing. And they're also looking at the reply of duke energy and the NRC staff to our contentions. And so we'll get an opportunity to address the staff of the NRC and duke energy's attorneys are going to say that the hearing request should be denied and we'll then get a three hearing to iron this out. But, you know, it goes into a very, and again, this is part of the difficulty of navigating through a very arcane process, a legal process where the public is immediately faced with both the nuclear regulatory commission and the nuclear industry utility as adversaries. Paul Gunter 04:43:58 We're certainly looking at, into Wellington next year to see if we can get a hearing. Even beyond that, if we are granted a hearing, it's really a challenge to put this into lay terms, other than to say that going back to the original premise that the Coney nuclear power stations in a joint project with duke energy, the nuclear regulatory commission and the federal energy regulatory commission simultaneously built three nuclear power stations below two major dams without doing a safety analysis on dam failure. And the possibility that severe accidents multiple severe accidents could occur. Like what was demonstrated at Fukushima, we are looking at an identical threat and identical circumstances to what happened at Fukushima where the public was told in Japan that tsunami of that magnitude was not credible. And so Tokyo electric power company was allowed to remove 18 feet of natural tsunami protection so that they could facilitate pumping cooling water into the Fukushima nuclear power stations. Paul Gunter 04:45:34 So financial concerns of Tokyo electric power company lowered the natural shoreline protections from a tsunami so that they could make it more of a financial benefit. The same thing is happening at a county where they never considered a dam failure so that they could ignore the cost of safety to incorporate adequate flood protection for what turns out to be, you know, an 18 to 19 foot wall of water coming down the valley in the event of a dam failure. And now, so they're trying to make up for that lack of protection, but again, facing the tremendous financial costs to now raise the level because you probably should have never cited that nuclear power plant there in the first place, and especially behind a 385 foot wall, damn, Libbe HaLevy  04:46:48 And the dangers would include to parallel with Fukushima. The dangers would include flooding of the nuclear reactor itself, flooding of the, and taking out the safety equipment that would be there, the backup generators in order to run the cooling. And also it would flood the spent fuel pool. Is that correct? Paul Gunter 04:47:13 Well, I don't know so much about the spent fuel pool, but many of the structures were never made water tight. So the inundation will mean loss of electrical, current reliability to power control and instrumentation the emergency core cooling system. When they finally did get around to analyzing the accompany station, they realized that they were going to lose in the event of a flood, the entire emergency core cooling system for three reactors. You know, a Coney in itself has a very unique design because they never incorporated emergency diesel generators at that site. They used the QE dam hydroelectric facility as the backup power system. So if the, you know, Cassie dam fails, it's very likely almost assuredly that the QE dam will fail as well. And they will lose the emergency backup power system for a Coney by this single failure of the dam. Now, you know, post Fukushima, they did bring other emergency power systems in and what they call flex equipment, but that flex equipment, it's not safety grade, it's commercial grade equipment. Paul Gunter 04:48:50 And the analysis doesn't really include nor has it been demonstrated that they could actually use that emergency equipment in time. If in fact, you have the entire site inundated by as much as 18 feet of water that could be there long enough to cause fuel damage. And once you're in the fuel damage stage with the loss of power, you know, you might not be able to bring emergency power equipment in time to keep that reactor safe and to keep it from a meltdown. And that's the concern that all the analysis is now back-filling this chasm that was created by not doing the analysis in the original design and construction of these three reactors. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:46 Paul, what can we do to support this call for a hearing? Are there letters we need to write? Are there people we need to contact? What can the listeners to nuclear hot seat do to support this? Paul Gunter 04:49:59 We're asking for the public to pay close attention to not only this proceeding, but to all license renewal extensions for the 60 to 80 year period, because they all have a similar problem. That problem is that the nuclear regulatory commission and the nuclear industry as a whole have not done the, for the environmental impacts of operating nuclear power stations during this 60 to 80 year period, they're using federal regulation that was formulated on evaluations made in 1996 for environmental consequences that were updated for the initial 40 to 60 year operating license. And within the regulation itself, it's the letter of the law says that this law can only be used to exempt operators from doing additional environmental evaluation for the 40 to 60 year period. That law is being used to exempt plants that are going through this 60 to 80 year license extension. So the inner sea and the industry are not even following their own regulation to the letter of the law in their rush to keep extending these reactor operating licenses, to greater extreme, please pay attention to our work. Paul Gunter 05:51:57 As we proceed to challenge this bogus use of NRC, antiquated environmental evaluations, all applies to all of the second license renewals that are currently underway. So that would be Turkey 0.3 and for peach bottom two and three Surrey one and two north Ana one and two, and again, a Coney one, two and three and point beach one and two as well. So they're using an antiquated law that the plain language of the law itself says you can only apply for exempting environmental review of the environmental consequence of a severe accident for this 40 to 60 year period. When they're now applying it for the 60 to 80 and trying to ignore or stall, having to bear up to the cost and accountability of looking at what we're actually talking about 60 to 80 years, Libbe HaLevy  05:53:09 We will count on you to stay in touch with us and let us know what any new developments might be. And for now, Paul Gunter, thank you so much for this unraveling of a very complex issue and for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Thank you very much. That was Paul Gunter, nuclear reactor specialist for beyond nuclear@beyondnuclear.org. And if you know anybody living in South Carolina, they probably would be interested in hearing this. So why don't you forward this show to them so they can hear for themselves exactly what they're up against when it comes to the nuclear reactors at a Kony Libbe HaLevy  05:53:59 Women transforming our nuclear legacy is presenting another of their excellent panel discussions. This time on journalism media and our nuclear legacy, the stakes challenges and opportunities. It will be on October 13 at noon, Eastern 9:00 AM Pacific time. And we will have a link up on our website so that you can sign up. There was a really good nuclear story on NPRs Radiolab program, focusing on the nuclear chain of command, and whether there are any legal checks and balances between as they put it us or a phone call for Armageddon, we'll have that link up on our website as well. Global network against weapons and nuclear power and space has a new podcast space alert. We'll have the sign up, you know, where to look nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 37, and congratulations to the filmmaker of in the dark of the valley, the film about the Sadducees and a field lab and the fight by mothers for its cleanup, the film just won best documentary at the Catalina film festival. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:10 Unfortunately, it's only available when a film festival is showing it. At least that's the deal right now. It needs a distribution deal so we can all see it. So, Hey Netflix, where are you when we need you? This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.org in eis.org. And I R s.org, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can.org I rad.world space. Number four, peace.org, patched.com U S news.com news break.com. The bulletin.org, mental floss.com Japan times.co.jp, my nietzsche.jp progressive.org counterpunch.org. time.com asahi.com C N I C dot J P dot English, the times.co.uk. Any I magazine.com and w email.co.uk. The echo.net dot AAU reuters.com dw.com truthout.org. And as always the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. You know, you don't have to risk missing out on nuclear hot seat any week. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:43 The way you do this, go to the website, look for the yellow opt-in box and fill in your first name and your email address. We don't sell it. We don't bug you, but you do every week. Get nuclear, hot seat delivered to your inbox along with a link to that week show and a brief description. FYI, the new website is coming along. We're hoping to have it up by the end of October, no promises, but we're dancing as fast as we can. And, you know, we rely on you to tell us what's going on nuclear wise in your backyard. So if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. There's a red button there for you to click on and some prompts for you to follow. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:38 And we will really appreciate anything you can do. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but they're use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that luck is a terrible safety plan. When it comes to a nuclear reactor, especially if it's downstream of two dams. There you go back has been your nuclear wake-up call. So your job now is to not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:23 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #536: Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dump Dangers - Kevin Kamps + Nuke Info Tokyo - Caitlin Stronell URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-nuclear-waste-dump-west-texas-kevin-kamps/ Published: 2021-09-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Nuclear Waste Dump Dangers – Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear runs down what’s wrong with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granting a license for an “interim” (really forever) new nuclear waste dump in West Texas. The dangers extend far beyond the site itself. This Week's Featured Interviews: Radioactive nuclear waste dump dangers are the primary wheelhouse of Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog (bullldog?) for Beyond Nuclear. Kevin specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; environmental and public health risks associated with government and industry efforts to dump commercial irradiated fuel rods on Native American lands in the western United States. We spoke on Thursday, September 23, 2021.LINKS mentioned in the episode: New Beyond Nuclear fact sheets opposing Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities Eight fact sheets intended for members of Congress and their staff members as well as other officials at all levels of government — federal, state, county, local, and Indigenous. Beyond Nuclear's Centralized Storage website sub-section: Links to a timeline of articles dealing with West Texas nuclear waste storage parking lot, uhr, radioactive waste storage facility. Nuclear Waste Watchdog (bulldog?) Kevin Kamps Dr. Caitlin Stronell is editor of Nuke Info Tokyo, a publication that's been around for nearly 35 years (though I just learned about it last week!). This service of Citizens' Nuclear Information Center provides data, media outreach, expert testimony. and nuclear truth in a country that really would rather not know.LINKS mentioned during the interview: Citizens' Nuclear Information Center (bi-lingual, Japanese and English) Crowdfunding link English page Dr. Caitlin Stronell and a mock-up of the most recent Nuke Info Tokyo LINKS: Highly radioactive area found in Fukushima: Cold War Horse: Named as one of the offbeat "tourist attractions" in Colorado. It is the only marker at the still-radioactive Rocky Flats nuclear weapons production facility – now rebranded as a "wildlife preserve." Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear short sightedness, the nuclear regulatory commission has approved a so-called interim high-level radioactive waste storage site in west Texas, but there are lots of reasons to suspect that this will be a permanent parking lot for waste. That will be dangerously radioactive for hundreds of thousands. If not millions of years, while the mega corporations and captured government agencies involved claim that everything is safe and don't worry your pretty little head about it, Missy, it takes a genuine expert to level with you and explain how many ways this can go wrong. And he tells you Kevin Kamps 00:00:44 There's no place on earth at all, even underground for this forever deadly material that will be hazardous for at least a million years. So leaving it on the surface creates real risks, and you've got ever more extreme weather. You have the potential for terrorist attacks. You have the potential for accidents for warfare, even something as simple as corrosion as rust will eventually open up and breach these containers and release their contents. And if that happens at the surface of the earth, well, the wind will carry it away. Over long distances. Waterflow will carry it away. It will contaminate drinking water and food supplies and poisoned people and other living organisms at the surface. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:25 Well, we don't have to do anything scary for Halloween because when Kevin camps radioactive waste watchdog for beyond nuclear gives you the facts and he's got a lot more of them where those came from, you get a very clear picture of this impossibly dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:52 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:23 Welcome to nuclear. Hotsy the weekly international. Newsmagazine keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we continue our coverage of the nuclear regulatory commissions granting of a license for a so called interim high-level radioactive waste dump in west. We have an in-depth interview with Kevin camps, nuclear waste watchdog for beyond nuclear. Later, we talk with Dr. Kaitlin of citizens nuclear information center, and she tells us about the publication. She edits nuke info, Tokyo, a comprehensive source for nuclear information out of Japan. That quite frankly is new to me, even though it's been around for almost 35 years. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:27 Today is Tuesday, September 28th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Here's this week's featured interview. The nuclear regulatory commission not unexpectedly has granted a license to a site in west Texas for a so-called interim storage facility for high-level radioactive nuclear waste from power reactors. Last week we heard from of the Western bands of the Shoshone people talking about how this approval impacts on the echo mountain nuclear waste repository, which does not exist except as a legal fiction. This week, we drill down for more detail on the impact and implications of this NRC approval. We talk with Kevin camps, radioactive waste watchdog for beyond nuclear. Kevin specializes in high-level waste management and transportation, new and existing reactors, decommissioning, environmental and public health risks associated with government and industry efforts to dump commercial irradiated fuel Ron's on native American lands in the Western United States, and much more. We spoke on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:43 It's always a pleasure and a privilege to have you on nuclear, hot seat. Kevin Kamps 00:04:48 Happy to be here. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:49 The nuclear regulatory commission has granted waste control specialists in west Texas. The right to construct what is being called an interim or temporary storage sites for high level radioactive waste from this nation's nuclear reactors. There's a lot that's wrong with this picture. Let's start out just briefly give us some background on it. Kevin Kamps 00:05:11 I could go back to the year 2012 when the Obama administration's blue ribbon commission on America's nuclear future, put out its final report and recommendations. And unfortunately for us, all, one of those recommendations was consolidated interim storage facilities as a sort of plan B because Yucca mountain wasn't happening Yucca mountain in Nevada being the long proposed, but now essentially canceled, but we have to be forever vigilant, high level radioactive waste dump, or deep geologic repository in this country. So in the meantime, what Obama's panel came up with was consolidated interim storage, which means bring it from all the reactors across the country of which there are 129 altogether and put it in one place for a temporary period of time. And that's the loaded phrase as interim consolidated storage, but they've got a license now from the NRC for an initial 40 years and an initial 5,000 metric tons, but there is close to 90,000 metric, tons of commercial irradiated nuclear fuel in this country. Kevin Kamps 00:06:21 So they're actually planning additional phases that will require NRC license amendments for a total of 40,000 metric tons at this Texas site, which is very close 0.37 miles from the New Mexico border. And I said, hasten to add, there's a second proposal. It's called Holtec in Southeastern New Mexico, just 40 some miles from this Texas site where they've asked for permission to store another hundred and 73,000 metric tons of not only irradiated nuclear fuel, which is highly radioactive, but also what's called greater than class C so-called, low level radioactive waste. And the misnomer is that it is highly radioactive as well. So a grand total of more than 200,000 metric, tons of highly radioactive waste when we only have at this point 90,000 metric tons in this country, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:15 It sounds like they're planning long-term to be able to put a lot more there and perhaps not move it out. My bat being an accurate suspicion. Kevin Kamps 00:07:26 Yes, it's a very high risk that these facilities, which are at the surface of the planet would become defacto permanent dumps. We call them parking lot dumps. They would be defacto, permanent surface storage, and that's a real problem. High level radioactive waste has no place on the surface of the earth to be Frank. There's no place on earth at all, even underground for this forever deadly material that will be hazardous for at least a million years. Some of the ingredients like iodine, 1 29 remain hazardous and deadly for millions, tens of millions, even more than a hundred million years. So leaving it on the surface creates real risks. I mean, you've got ever more extreme weather. You have the potential for terrorist attacks. You have the potential for accidents for warfare, even something as simple as corrosion as rust will eventually open up and breach these containers and release their contents. Kevin Kamps 00:08:25 And if that happens at the surface of the earth, well, the wind will carry it away. Over long distances. Waterflow will carry it away. It will contaminate drinking water and food supplies and poison people and other living organisms. At the surface, we can talk more about the risks of geologic disposal. If you find a suitable geologic disposal site, which we never have thus far, and we've been looking for more than a half century, then at least releases would be underground and perhaps delayed in their release to the surface living environment. But with, you know, defacto permanent storage at the surface, these parking lot dumps, you're really taking a great risk and we don't have a repository there's nowhere for these interim sites. So to export their waste away to, although they are assuming Yucca mountain Nevada will someday open, which is a false assumption, it's objectionable and outrageous that they're assuming that Libbe HaLevy 00:09:20 We refer to Yucca mountain as a legal fiction that exists in people's minds only so that it justifies the use of the word interim, or sometimes temporary is used for the sites in west Texas. That one has already been approved. And the one that is pending for New Mexico. Kevin Kamps 00:09:38 Yeah. You know, something that really eats me up is that the nuclear regulatory commission, which just approved this Texas dump is also the licensing agency for Yucca mountain Nevada. And it's true that licensing proceeding is still underway. It's been in suspended animation for a decade for lack of funding, but there have been repeated efforts, especially by house Republicans at the federal level to revive the Yucca mountain dump. They've not succeeded, but they keep trying, but that assumption by the NRC itself, they just licensed the Texas dump. Based on that assumption that Yucca mountain will open is so objectionable because NRC is the licensing agency for the Rocky mountain dump. So obviously NRC has already ruled on the Yucca mountain license application. It is granted. They just haven't gone through the process yet, but they've just assumed that in this Texas decision Libbe HaLevy 01:10:33 the program last week. And he is what the Western Shoshone people and is passionate about. Defense of Yucca mountain is a sacred site and is inappropriate for a nuclear waste dump. And as something that has never been granted permission nor were the Western Shoshone people who are supposed to be in stewardship of that land, even been consulted about it. And Yucca mountain itself consisted at this point of a tunnel that has been drilled into the side of the mountain. So there's nothing there. The NRC knows all of this. What's behind this shell game. Is it just a matter of trickery and public relations to make people think that these sites are only going to be interim when it looks like they're going to be forever? Kevin Kamps 01:11:23 Yeah, for sure. My colleague Michael Keegan with don't waste Michigan talks about the illusion of a solution so that more and more waste can be made and that applies at Yucca mountain, but it also applies at these consolidated interim storage facilities. And just like with Yucca mountain where the environmental injustice can't be overstated. The same applies here in Texas and New Mexico, New Mexico is a majority minority state. If you take the Latin X population and the indigenous population of New Mexico, it's a majority of the state population. And like I said, this Texas stomp is immediately upon the New Mexico border. In fact, the nearest town is Eunice New Mexico, just several miles away. It's a majority Latin X community. And along the transport routes in west Texas, this has been documented by public citizens, Texas office, and the seed coalition of Texas and others. There are some stretches of the railway that would be used to get the high level waste to the Texas dump that are 94% Latin X in population. And there's real issues of low income in these communities as well. New Mexico as a state ranks towards the very bottom of many categories of socioeconomics in this country. So there are real environmental justice issues at stake here. And another major thing to mention is that neither Texas nor New Mexico have consented. In fact, at the highest levels up to the governor, the state legislatures, both states do not consent. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:00 Glad you touched upon transportation of the waste because that is a major issue, not just the distances that it travels, but that in Texas, just before the NRC, granted permission for this facility, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law, that it is now illegal for high-level radioactive waste to be transported in or through Texas. And that would defacto prevent the so-called interim store's site in west Texas from being able to operate. Is this yet another legal challenge between Texas law and federal? Kevin Kamps 01:13:40 Yes, it is. It was nearly unanimously passed in the Texas legislature. It was unanimous in the Texas state Senate. It was 119 to three and the Texas state house Abbott signed it into law. There will be undoubtedly probably court action over this because the feds don't like to be told no when they think it's their jurisdiction. So we'll see what happens in Texas already. New Mexico's state attorney general has filed a lawsuit in New Mexico, federal district court, challenging both dumps actually. And the nuclear regulatory commission has challenged that already has tried to rebut the New Mexico AGS lawsuit in a federal courtroom in New Mexico. So we'll see what happens. Both states are challenging the federal government on this, and there are also environmental coalition lawsuits against both dumps and the Texas case now that the license has been granted is really going to take off at the second highest court in the land. It's the U S court of appeals for the district of Columbia circuit. There's also an oil company and actually a coalition of oil and ranching interests in the Permian basin that are challenging both of these dumps as well Libbe HaLevy 01:14:55 With the New Mexico border being so close. You said 0.3, seven miles away from the Texas site, Mike Texas, be planning to grant an easement for that short distance. So in their minds, the nation's high level radioactive waste could be trucked and sent by rail through New Mexico. And then just that less than a mile to the Texas site. Kevin Kamps 01:15:21 Yeah, actually the Texas site because of where the railroad tracks are out there, every single shipment going to the Texas dump would have to pass through Eunice, New Mexico to get there. We're talking thousands of shipments. So this is, you know, clearly within the state of Texas, but one complicating factor is that the water flow from the Texas dump is actually into New Mexico. And you know, there's a lot of history here it's awfully dark and evil in nature. And one of the historical things that has happened with these dumps, the Texas dump was originally really set up to be a recipient of depleted uranium from a uranium enrichment facility in Eunice, New Mexico called Yanko uranium enrichment corporation of America. It's also called Louisiana energy services, another environmental injustice. So that depleted uranium was going to travel just a few miles at most from your Ranko to this Texas dump and the governor of New Mexico at the time sounded good. Kevin Kamps 01:16:25 He said, this depleted uranium waste must leave the state of New Mexico while it's just barely leaving the state of New Mexico by 0.37 miles or a little bit more where it would be disposed of permanently, but then that water flows back into New Mexico. And in fact, the Texas dump is located either very near to, or even on top of the Oglala aquifer, the largest in north America that underlies eight states and is essential to their drinking water supplies, their irrigation, water supplies, and the ultimate risk here is that once this dump starts leaking, it will be into the Ogallala aquifer. It's just a matter of time. And remember the waste remains deadly forever, essentially at least a million years into the future. So those are some of the risks being taken Libbe HaLevy 01:17:12 In terms of a tactic. You mentioned that the attorney general of New Mexico has already filed Mike, the Texas tactic abandoning the transport of high-level radioactive waste through New Mexico, possibly be implemented. Kevin Kamps 01:17:27 Certainly Texas has said no transport of highly radioactive waste within the state of Texas. They've also said that state agencies like Texas council on environmental quality should not approve any licenses required for the high level waste dump in Texas. So construction permits, pollution, permits, stormwater, runoff, permits, all of that. So Texas is doing what it can within its own state, but it's fair to say that there's a lot of cooperation between the two states. And that's pretty remarkable too, because New Mexico is ever more blue. The governor or the attorney general, the state legislature, the congressional delegation, all democratic and majorities while Texas of course is still Ruby red at the state level, governor Agee legislature, but they are cooperating. Both states are opposing both dumps because really I see them as one doc and it's not just me who sees it that way. Even the CEO of Holtec Christmas sing sat at the unveiling of the license application on Capitol hill, they held a press conference in April 1st, 2017. So it was a nuclear fool's day joke on the country. He said he sees WCS waste control specialists. One of those partners of interim storage partners, not as a competitor, but really as complimentary. So it's not just me who sees them as one dump it's even the companies involved Libbe HaLevy 01:18:52 The magnitude of the Texas pushback to this is quite remarkable because one wouldn't expect them to be so attuned to nuclear issues. But is it for them primarily a nuclear issue or is it protection of the oil in the Permian basin that's driving the Texas resistance? Kevin Kamps 01:19:12 Yeah, certainly a lot of the conservative Republicans who are opposed to this high level radioactive waste dumping in Texas are very friendly with the oil and gas industry. And it's not just oil and gas. It's also ranching and dairy other agricultural industries in that Permian basin that are being put at risks. One company who has fought tooth and nail against both of these dumps from the very beginning is called Fasten land and minerals limited. And they are also a part of the Permian basin coalition of land and royalty owners and operators. And those interests are fighting hard to defend themselves. Tasking is a family owned company that's over a hundred years old and they're fighting hard to defend their interests. And they've been joined by others. In fact, during the public comment period on the Holtec New Mexico facility last year, Exxon mobile of all companies weighed in and they provided the land deeds that they own the mineral rights to under the whole tech site. Kevin Kamps 02:20:16 They own half of the mineral rights under the whole tech site. And they have for many decades close to a century. And that's a whole other category of risk. Here is even the international atomic energy agency, which is very pro-nuclear at the United nations has said clearly that pudding high level radioactive waste storage or disposal facilities, inactive oil and gas extraction areas is a bad idea. And here you have the Permian basin, the most active oil and gas extraction region on the planet being targeted for all of the high level radioactive waste in the United States and perhaps even waste from other countries or from the U S military. Because again, that disparity at this point 90,000 metric, tons of commercial irradiated, nuclear fuel, but applications here for over 200,000 metric tons way more than probably will ever be generated by the commercial industry. So what's going on our expert witnesses, opposed to these dumps have asked that question, what's going on with this huge figure being applied for. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:24 You mentioned the public comment period. And I know that there has been a tremendous amount of pushback activism by multiple groups against the granting of either of these permits. One for west Texas, having just come through what was done in the process of fighting back that the NRC chose to ignore and what might that lead to what might some next steps look like? Kevin Kamps 02:21:50 Wow, our side broke records and these public comment proceedings going back to environmental scoping on the Texas stump in 2017 and then New Mexico in 2018. And then the draft environmental impact stages just last year, many tens of thousands. If you add it all up, it may have been over a hundred thousand altogether. Maybe not quite that much, but we came close of adversarial. We don't want it public comments in both proceedings that were essentially ignored by the nuclear regulatory commission and disregarded and thrown in the trash. So I think that the people of Texas, the people of New Mexico have spoken clearly their elected representatives on their behalf have spoken clearly. And I think it's a matter of, okay, what does a democratic society do when a rogue agency like the nuclear regulatory commission and companies who are not welcome, decide to have their way anyway. Kevin Kamps 02:22:49 So I guess the fight is on, we've been in similar fights before, and we have one, in fact, a nuclear regulatory commission. It's not the first time they've licensed a consolidated interim storage facility. They did. So back in 2006 in Utah, when the skull valley go shoots, Indian reservation was targeted by some of these same players. Holtec for example, was going to provide the storage containers. That was a private fuel storage, limited liability company. It was a dozen or more nuclear utilities. They got their license, but they never got away with it. The pushback from traditional skull valley go shoots their environmental and EGA allies. The state of Utah writ large, the congressional delegation. They just didn't get away with it. So here we go. Again, we're not going to stop fighting until these companies on the nuclear regulatory commission go away. And that's what happened in Utah. We just never gave up who Libbe HaLevy 02:23:46 Is leading the charge? How is this being coordinated? And what are some of the groups that are involved? Kevin Kamps 02:23:52 Well, you have really a nationwide coalition beyond nuclear is involved Sierra club, even in the legal fight, the licensing proceedings at NRC, and now the federal court appeals. You have the same groups, but you have don't waste Michigan and others, which is seven grassroots groups across the country in the legal proceedings, joined by groups all across the country. And that's similar to the history with skull valley, go shoots in Utah, where we got close to 500 groups to speak out before the NRC license that dump saying just don't do it. It's an environmental injustice, it's environmental racism. They did it anyway, but a lot of the same groups that fought off skull valley in Utah, a lot of the same groups that have fended off Yucca mountain Nevada. That's more than a thousand environmental groups across the country. All 50 states represented it's the same. Kevin Kamps 02:24:44 Now we're trying to build back up our movement. You know, the Yucca mountain fight Congress approved it over in Nevada's objections and the Western Shoshone, his objections way back in 2002. So that was 20 years ago. So we've got to reeducate the country that, you know, this isn't Nevada's problem. This isn't new Mexico's problem. This isn't Texas problem. When it comes to high level radioactive waste transportation, it's all of our problem. Most states in the lower 48 will be impacted mostly by rail segments, but in some cases by road shipments and in many cases by barge shipments, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:21 Donna Gilmore was the one who did the research to discover that when they talked about possibly moving the Santa, no fray nuclear waste out of Southern California or to a different location, she did research with the railroads and discovered that the infrastructure on the rail beds was not strong enough to be able to support the way of the canister in the shipping canister with the spent fuel rods in there. And that would be the case around the country. Kevin Kamps 02:25:56 Yeah. The grade given to our infrastructure in general is something like a di and rail infrastructure is degraded. There've been many derailments in this region of the country, the Permian basin just in recent years because of the degradation of the rails. And yes, these weights are very heavy. So the whole tech container being talked about these days is going to hold 37, pressurized water reactor, fuel assemblies, which is incredibly something like 50% bigger than the biggest containers just 20 years ago. Back then it was 24. Now it's 37. So these containers once loaded are going to weigh 180 tons, and that's going to take a lot of wear and tear onto the rails. And just one story from 2003, there was a granted, it was a 290 ton weight. It was the big rock point reactor pressure vessel from Northern Michigan, going down to a leaking ditch in Barnwell, South Carolina, and an African American community. Kevin Kamps 02:26:56 And in that case, the statement made it through didn't derail. But what happened in its wake, there were derailments not only in Southeastern Michigan, but also in the Carolinas and a fire chief was quoted by the local media in Southeastern Michigan saying it was that nuclear shipment that came through that damaged the rails causing derailments in its wake. Well, in this case, we're talking so many thousands of segments of high level waste that the next shipment through could well be high-level radioactive waste coming through. So, you know, even if they do improve the rails with all this talk of infrastructure renovation in this country, the containers themselves are highly suspect. I mean, quality assurance violations galore with the whole tech containers, the nuclear assurance corporation containers that would be used in Texas have many skeletons in their closet in the past. The containers themselves are at risk of severe accidents, terrorist attacks, and simple manufacturing errors. And all Libbe HaLevy 02:27:58 I take is one to either be derail, or if it's coming by truck to have a jackknife to be, Kevin Kamps 02:28:04 Yeah, you know, there is a possibility that even legal weight trucks on the interstate highways could be used with a simple license amendment that NRC would rubber stamp in a short period of time. There are more than two dozen atomic reactors in the United States. Some of them already closed some still operating that lack, direct rail access. And because they want to use these giant containers that are rail sized in nature, they either have to use heavy haul trucks or barges to get those rail sized containers from these particular nuclear power plants to the nearest railhead. But another workaround could be using these much smaller, legal weight trucks on the interstate highways that can only hold for pressurized water reactor assemblies. So four versus 37 in these whole tack rail sized casks. And I was worried about that in the skull valley case in Utah, back in 2006, after the license was granted that the companies involved with simply load up one of these smaller containers and drive at the speed limit across the country from wherever the origin site was and plunk it down on a hastily constructed, dry cask storage pad on the skull valley, negotiates Indian reservation and declare facts on the ground like Columbus planting his flag in 1492 and say the dump is open. Kevin Kamps 02:29:22 I mean, we've seen behavior like that, like at the waste isolation pilot plant in New Mexico, which has plutonium from the military where the very first segment in March of 1999, I believe it was, was actually not military. It was NASA waste, but they found a loophole in the regulations and the laws and the license. And they declared the dump open with really what was a shipment that never should have gone there in the first place, but it did. So we got to watch out for all of those kinds of contingencies with these companies and what these agencies and Libbe HaLevy 02:29:57 You say, watch out. And of course we will be called on to take actions. What can the listeners to nuclear hop seed do? And how can they help? Kevin Kamps 03:30:07 It would be really helpful if listeners would contact both of their us senators and their us representative for starters and urge that they, for one thing do not change the law because session after session companies like Holtec and interim storage partners and the nuclear energy Institute that represents the whole industry have tried to change the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 as amended to allow for these currently illegal schemes in Texas and New Mexico to suddenly be declared legal by Congress. So what that takes the form of right now is in Senate appropriations, there's a section 3 0 8. This is us Senator Dianne Feinstein of all people who is pushing the session after session to make consolidated interim storage facilities legal. So please urge both your us senators and your us representative to not allow Diane Feinstein to make these current proposals legal. That would be by blocking section 3, 0 8 of the Senate appropriations bill this session and similarly session after session about 20 million to $30 million is approved year after year for the department of energy to make preparations, to do studies, to do research about consolidated interim storage. Kevin Kamps 03:31:32 So please urge your members of Congress to stop doing that. If they are going to spend $25 million per year on high level radioactive waste research and studies and preparations, it should be for something like hardened on-site storage or hardened near site storage, which we have to do, regardless of anything else, just to safeguard and secure the waste where it is right now and where in many cases it will remain not for years, but for decades to come because that's how long it would take simply to move the waste from nuclear power plant sites to anywhere else in this country. So they should really be studying, researching and preparing for hardened on-site storage, not for these nonsensical centralized, interim storage facilities. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:19 How might we find a list of the talking points that you've just mentioned in any others so that we can have a cheat sheet when we call up our legends? Kevin Kamps 03:32:30 Yes. In fact, beyond nuclear with the help of our legal counsel, Diane Curran just prepared a set of fact sheets that are posted at our website, which is beyond nuclear.org and also posted in our centralized storage website, subsection it's eight fact sheets altogether about this consolidated, interim storage issue, the legality of it all or illegality I should say, and what some alternatives are. So folks could check those out and even, you know, hand them over to your member of Congress, to your congressional staff who are supposed to represent you and educate them. You can use them with other elected officials at various levels of the federal government, the state government county local, and just educate these elected officials as to the risks as to the laws. That would be very valuable for folks to do, to start to get these facts sheets into the hands of members of Congress. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:24 Yeah, the links to me. And there'll be up on the website under this episode. We'll do, is there anything we haven't covered in this that you feel it's important to let us know? Kevin Kamps 03:33:34 Just because we're about to embark on this federal appeal at the second highest court in the land. I just wanted to emphasize that it's not just the violation of the nuclear waste policy act, which specifically is that the department of energy can't take title to commercial irradiated, nuclear fuel at an interim site. If there's not a repository operating and licensed, which is exactly what's the case in this country, but it's literally more than a hundred contentions that were brought to bear by our coalition of environmental groups. They include the transportation risks. They include the environmental justice question. They include the unsuitability of the sites themselves and many other things. So we're about to bring as much of that as we can up before the second highest court in the land. But it's going to take more than the legal challenge. It's going to take defending any legal victories that we win on Capitol hill so that they don't change the law and pull the rug out from under us. And it's also going to take just educating people across the country about these transportation risks. That it's their problem because the court of public opinion is very significant in these fights. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:47 We'll do what we can to stoke the fires. Kevin camps. You have been doing a phenomenal job for decades now, and we've come to rely on your information base as being one of the central repositories for understanding exactly what's going on and as important, if not more importantly, what we can do about it and for all that information and for the information you will continue to share with us. I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Kevin Kamps 03:35:18 Thank you for your kind words. And for having me on Libbe HaLevy 03:35:21 That was Kevin camp's radioactive waste watchdog for beyond nuclear. We'll have links up to the talking points you can use in calling your congresspeople on this issue. There'll be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 36, we'll have this week, second featured interview in just a moment. But first here we go. Again. The nuclear industry never lets up with their propaganda to brainwash our politicians reporters and you the public into giving them whatever they want, which is lots of money and let's face it. They have all the money in the world. If on their PR agencies and their agenda as has been touted at nuclear industry events, there is a terrific ROI on this business model. It's a return on investment because whatever millions, the new sisters spend on their public relations propaganda, they stand to get billions of dollars back from the hornswoggled taxpayers. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:19 And that's why you need nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. Nuclear hot seat has been one of the only places where you can get a one hour hip of honest nuclear information every week interviews with genuine experts around up of international news. Numnuts bad puns, sometimes a bit of musical theater. Where else can you find all this in a weekly counterbalance to nuclear industry lies, but up against the new industries, unlimited financial resources, this show operates on a really tight budget and that budget is dependent on you. The listeners to help us keep going. That's why if you come to value nuclear, hot seats work, the information you get right now is the time to support us with a donation. It's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. You can also set up a recurring donation as little as $5 a month. Same as a cup of coffee in a nice tip here in the U S so if you value our different perspective on nuclear information, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care Announcer 03:37:37 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 03:37:45 You know, sometimes a planned brief interview turns into so much more, and that's the case this week, what was supposed to be a short piece for activist, shout out has turned into something much more substantial that's because of Caitlyn. She is with the Japanese group citizens nuclear information center or CNI. See, she also edits there by monthly online publication, nuke info, Tokyo, which is what I started out wanting to know about, but that I learned all the rest we spoke on Friday, September 24th, 2021. So great to have you with us here today on nuclear hot seat, Caitlin Stronell 03:38:27 Really great to be here. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:29 What is your background and how did you come to be involved with nuclear issues? Caitlin Stronell 03:38:34 I was born Australia, but I moved to Japan at quite a young age. And while I did, you know, work on mainly anti nuclear, more nuclear bombs, nuclear weapons, after it was really the Fukushima disaster that prompted me to get involved in the organization that I eventually joined citizens for nuclear information. What is Libbe HaLevy 03:38:57 The citizens? Nuclear information center also referred to a CNI. See, where is it based? And what does it do? Caitlin Stronell 03:39:05 It was founded in 1975, actually by a nuclear chemist. And that was the age when, you know, the Japanese thought that nuclear was going to be the answer to all their problems and their expanding economy. And he also started off like that. But then he realized the problems, not just the safety problems, but what it was doing, what nuclear power was doing to democracy, what it was doing to our society. So he left the industry and founded CNAC. His basic stance is one of citizen science. He believed taco Gaijin Salvador who actually won the right livelihood award for his work in this area. But he believed that what we have to do is empower citizens so that they understand what the issues are. And then citizens can make the decisions. Instead of leaving it to some government expert, to build all these nuclear power plants. There has to be some sort of citizen understanding and input, some sort of decision-making process, which, which citizens are involved with to make their own future. Really, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:12 There has been quite famously the citizens, radiation data project in Japan. They were the ones who did the testing of the food and the water and the soil after Fukushima and came up with the real data, as opposed to what the government was trying to foist off on the world. What if any association did C I C have with that project, Caitlin Stronell 04:40:40 We don't work directly with those people. Although we do our own measurements and there's lots of ground to cover. So there's lots of radiation measurements that need to happen. And we're involved in various projects doing that. But I think the concept of citizens measuring doing these so-called scientific experiments, gathering scientific data is the same, obviously the same philosophy. And that's a much wider project. Like they do it kind of worldwide as well as in Fukushima. So yeah, I think we're on the same path and there probably should be more interaction. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:20 What are some of the projects that C and I C has been involved in over the 34 years to give us an idea of the kind of work that the group does Caitlin Stronell 04:41:31 Whole point is to empower citizens? We there's lots of weed, right? There's lots of publications that we also before COVID we used to have lots of public seminars. Now they've all moved online, but there's a lot of interaction that we do with the public. We're also involved in direct action demonstrations and those kinds of things. The other side is that we write position papers. We come up with really solid data that that can challenge government ministries. So for example, Japanese diet members, if they're going to ask a question in parliament about something nuclear, they will ask us for information, for facts to back it up. If some of the anti-nuke politicians, when they have hearings with the ministries, like the METI, which is ministry of economics trade and industry, which is the main nuclear proponent in Japan in the government. So when politicians have hearings with them, the bureaucrats come in and say all these things. Caitlin Stronell 04:42:31 So the politicians like to have us there as well, so that we can ask detailed questions about the data that they're giving. So there's a lot of expert data that we collect and analyze both on safety issues in terms of nuclear reactors, as well as the economics. For example, this is a kind of a new area, which is so important because nuclear was supposed to be too cheap to meter, but we all know how expensive it is, but this myth, this, the safety myth as well. And the cheap myth is something that governments tend to, and they manipulate the data to, to show, you know, what they want. This is a really important area showing that really it's so expensive and we'd be so much better putting up solar panels and wind farms. But just saying that is one thing actually going through the details and the data to try and prove this to, to bureaucrats and, and citizens as well is our main focus Libbe HaLevy 04:43:35 And proving it to members of the media as well, because they're the ones who actually carry the message forward. And there's an old saying that there are three types of liars in the world. There are liars, there are damned liars. And there are statisticians. When you talk about the data, where, and how do you source it? Does this come from studies that are generated through CN? I see from academic group, where do you gather the information from? Caitlin Stronell 04:44:06 Yeah, there's a lot of research projects we conduct ourselves or in cooperation with, for example, groups in Fukushima we'll measure radiation levels. For example, what we also do is even government data. For example, the government puts out data annually about radiation exposure to workers in nuclear plants. And recently they've been making it so difficult to compare or to actually use this data in any way. So this involves ringing up the ministry and saying, what about this bit and how do we get this data? And how is this correlated and, and kind of really extracting it's like extracting teeth, trying to get the information there and then to make it so that people can understand, put it into graphs, put it into understandable form is another big challenge. So we use raw data and government data and analyze that the economics is another one. So the government will put out a graphs showing how cheap nuclear power is, but then going behind all of those figures and figuring out what they haven't included or how they've manipulated different areas is like a pretty specialized job. There's a members within our group who are economists and we work with other academics or other people in the field to bring that data together. But yeah, it's, it's a combination of, of, of field work and analysis. I think Libbe HaLevy 04:45:41 There is a publication that has been coming out from CNI C for what is it now 34 years, it's been Caitlin Stronell 04:45:50 35th anniversary. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:52 And I am so embarrassed because until somebody about a week and a half ago forwarded to me one of your emails, I never knew you existed. It's called new info. Tokyo. Tell us about that. Caitlin Stronell 04:46:06 And you came for Tokyo was also founded, as you said, 35 years ago by the leader of sand, I say at the time. And he went to an international conference in Vienna and was shocked that nobody knew this was in 1986, that nobody knew anything about really the Japanese situation, let alone Japanese protest groups. And, you know, Japan was becoming a major nuclear country at that point. So he decided that, you know, we really needed to get out information in English to the rest of the world, apart from the fact that, you know, the nuclear industry is global. So it requires global solidarity to beat it. And what the industry does in each country is very similar their tactics. So if citizens can get together and counted that, then that's gotta be strength, of course, right? From the beginning, there were the problems of funding and of expertise and, you know, how are we really going to do this? Caitlin Stronell 04:47:08 But he's, he started off all, let's just try and do five or six issues and then see, you know, where we can go from there. But there was a lot of support from our international Raiders and from Japan as well. Like the Japanese really wanted this story to also get out. And since Fukushima, I think that was really the point where the eyes of the world, obviously we're focused on the Japanese nuclear industry and for people who've never really thought about it before you came for Tokyo, because all of our information's on the website, journalists and citizens could go through that information and see exactly the disaster, what led up to that disaster. So they can have an understanding of the Japanese nuclear industry. And also that there were people who have been protesting all along and joined with them. And so it was, I think that was, you know, a moment where the significance of kind of paid off of, of all of those years of putting that information up. Caitlin Stronell 04:48:04 But as we all know, Fukushima is ongoing and those voices, this is one of my passions. I think that justice, the, he buck shot of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Their voices have become global and they've made such an impact. We see the nuclear weapons ban treaty and things like that. I think that the, he bucks shut off Gushi mom. Their voices also have to be totally heard. So I figured that one of our jobs is to really make those voices heard in the world. And for countries that are thinking of going nuclear, the industry gets out and convinces people. That's one of their first jobs. That nuclear is a good idea. We really need to tell people what it means to live through a nuclear disaster and the huge problems, the cost safety that nuclear entails. So getting that message out globally is really important. I think, and Japan has a lot to say Libbe HaLevy 04:49:05 Info. Tokyo started out as a printed newspaper or magazine format, kind of a thing. At some point, it switched over to being exclusively online. How often does an issue come out and what are the kinds of things that are in it? Caitlin Stronell 04:49:23 Yeah, it started off being a newsletter, very analog printed and mailed out snail mail to people overseas that was in 1987. So that was before the internet. So a bit as digital technology became better, we figured, you know, it was much more efficient to just put it on the net. Unfortunately, at that point, it meant that it made it much more difficult to get subscription fees. So from 2009, when it became a web magazine, we stopped collecting subscriptions. So that's made funding an issue. So now we've got this crowdfunding campaign to try and keep it going. But obviously being on the net means that, you know, the reach is much, much bigger and it's much easier for people to access this free information. We put a new edition out, as I said by monthly. So there's one coming up at the beginning of October. Very soon, we have all sorts of articles. Caitlin Stronell 05:50:17 We try to balance between hard data and more human type stories. So this time we have the hard data includes a list of accidents that have happened at Japanese nuclear power plants. It is very long. Let me tell you, you know, we just think that accidents kind of happen in, you know, meltdowns occur, but so many small little accidents, which could easily go into larger ones. And so this list is quite sobering. I think it's, it's hard data. It's an actual list of all the accidents that have happened over the last year. We also have Libbe HaLevy 05:50:55 Just the last year you have that long list. Caitlin Stronell 05:50:58 Yeah. There's this hard data. There's also more human stories. In fact, we have a regular common it's called who's who, or we have a group introduction. So we introduce an individual antinuclear activists in Japan or a group. We kind of alternate at this time. We're introducing Mr. Kamata, who is a huge activist. He started off at the anti Narita airport protests, and he's done a lot of work on the ground. He's written a lot of books on nuclear workers, plant workers, that position he's coming from, and that's going to be in the next issue. And yeah, in each issue we have this column of an individual or a group that's doing anti-nuclear work. We have a news column. So current news that's happening in Japan. For example, CNYC puts out statements on government moves or what's happening in government. Yeah. It's a kind of a, quite a big range comments on government policy are also there. So the Japanese bureaucracy is really hard to understand. So we have kind of interpretations of that. We also have a lot of information on the court cases because there's many antinuclear court cases that are happening in Japan. And so that's also quite detailed, but we have like articles written by the lawyers who are in charge of those court cases, lawsuits and stuff like that as well. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:25 Sounds like you're an amazing resource for anyone who wants to know what's happening on the nuclear side of Japan. Do you get any kind of pushback or difficulty from the government, from the politicians, from the media, for the work that you're doing? Caitlin Stronell 05:52:44 The media is just only grateful. Maybe it's the type of journalists that access us many media outlets of course, domestically, but also internationally will ask us, we'll come in, interview us. We had an interview from CNN recently on the water, the tritium water that the it's going to be dumped out of Fukushima Daiichi into that specific ocean. Not Libbe HaLevy 05:53:08 Necessarily if Caitlin Stronell 05:53:09 They don't maybe yeah. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Yeah. Those kind of current issues are many media outlets kind of ask us for comments on things like that. The government is very wary of our organization, but since Fukushima, they can't just dismiss us anymore. So for example, since then there's a government committee on nuclear waste, radioactive waste. And one of our members that one of our co-directors has been, become a member of that committee. So the government, while fearing us and hating us on a lot of levels, they have to now include us in some of the procedures. Obviously there's a lot of tokenism, but still, you know, getting our foot in the door has been one thing. I mean, I think it's very sad when we have hearings that the government, you know, the ministry people line up on one side and we'll line up on the other and kind of just argue with each other. I think that the idea of dialogue in Japan requires a lot more development and it would be really great if we could have more sort of civilized conversations. But I think it's, it's more of a confrontational sort of relationship, which, which is kind of sad. I wish we could move beyond that. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:25 If someone wants to subscribe to new info, Tokyo, how would they do it? How would I do it? Caitlin Stronell 05:54:33 We have a website which is C N I c.jp/english. If you go to that right up the top in the menu, there's a button which says, subscribe nit. And if you click that and register, then we'll send you a notification. Each time I, new edition is uploaded. Of course it's free. As I mentioned, there's no subscription fees. If you do that, then we can send you a notification. Each time we have a new edition, sometimes also on the website, we'll put up more timely. Like for example, if CNAC puts out a statement on something very current, we'll translate that immediately and put it up. So it's a good idea to check out the website also there's categories and stuff. So if you're looking for specific information, you can search on the website as well. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:25 This is a wonderful resource that as I said, I'm embarrassed that after more than 10 years of doing nuclear hot seat every week, I didn't know about you until about a week and a half ago. Caitlin Stronell 05:55:36 This is also our problem. Our publicity front is really lacking. I'm afraid. So it's not your fault. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:44 Well, there's certainly going to be a lot more publicity and a lot more after this interview. Caitlin Stronell 05:55:51 I'm so grateful for that. Thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:54 I'm going to be going there immediately after doing this interview so that I can get on your subscription list and I encourage others to do so. We will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, and do our best to include even more information about what's happening in Japan, because you're right, this is international. This is all of us. We all have to pull together. And the more we know about what's happening, every place, the better we will be in our own work and the better, the nature of the support we can give to others. Caitlin Stronell 05:56:30 I would just like to say that I'm really looking forward to getting more readers. And I hope that this information can get to even more people. Thanks to this interview. Caitlin's Libbe HaLevy 05:56:40 Chanel. Thank you so much for the work you're doing for the indomitable spirit. And thanks for being my guest on nuclear hot seat. Caitlin Stronell 05:56:49 Thanks so much for having me. It was really great being here, Libbe HaLevy 05:56:52 Dr. Caitlin of the Japanese group, citizens nuclear information center, as well as editor of their bimonthly online publication, nuke info Tokyo. We will have a link up to their site where you can sign up for their notification list. For that publication. It will be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under episode number 5 36. And the other activist shout out this week is to me, it's my birthday tomorrow, September 29th. And I'm celebrating with no phone, no computer, no nukes, just either mountains or beach. We all need a break. And that would be me. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, September 28th, 2021. We'll be back with our regular format next week, including including nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than Mitch McConnell will ever allow to pass the Senate. If you want to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, go to our website, to the yellow box, feeling your first name and your email. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:58 And you will get that every week, as soon as we post. And if you wish to acknowledge my birthday with some support for the show, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. It's the red button. You know what to do. Everything will be appreciated and go towards our upcoming website upgrade, which is about six to eight weeks away. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the last thing that anyone who opposes nuclear wants to be able to say is, I told you so anything but that, there you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. No, Announcer 05:58:46 Leah Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #535: Radioactive Waste Dump Connection of Yucca Mt/West Texas - Ian Zabarte + Nuke Bailout Headache$$$ - Dave Kraft URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/yucca-mt-west-texas-radioactive-waste-dump-nuke-bailout/ Published: 2021-09-22 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Waste Dump Connection between Yucca Mt. (pictured above) and its the NRC-approved West Texas so-called "interim" waste site exposed and lambasted by Western Shoshone Principal Man Ian Zabarte. This Week's Featured Interviews: Radioactive waste dump connection between Yucca Mountain and West Texas explored and exposed by Ian Zabarte, Principal Man for the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation. He rips apart the recent decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to approve a high level "interim" nuclear waste dump in West Texas and brings to the fore a range of Native American issues long-overlooked by the NRC and the nuclear industry in connection with this nuclear sacrilege. You can CONTACT Ian at: www.NativeCommunityActionCouncil.org. Dave Kraft of Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) gives us the latest unfortunate update in the ongoing saga of taxpayer-funded bailouts of unprofitable for-profit Exelon nuclear reactors in Illinois. Then he lets us know what's being planned for the nuclear honey-pot of Congress in the proposed Build Back Better Act. It's not a pretty picture! Video featuring Greg Jaczko, former chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is referenced in the interview with Dave Kraft: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The United Nations' COP 26 conference on the climate crisis has for the first time banned nuclear groups from presenting their propaganda. No, that's not the "numnutzery" – it's the nuclear industry crying in its beer over not being allowed to crash the party! Links: In the Dark of the Valley – link to get tickets for the online showing of this award-winning film about the mothers fighting to clean up the Santa Susana Field Lab site only 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles.New Nuclear: What's At Stake for Wildlife? – webinar on October 7, 2-3:30 pm Eastern Time. To register, CLICK ON TITLE. New Website coming! A personal note to everyone that the new website for Nuclear Hotseat now has the wireframe (structure) secured. Next step: fill in the blanks with tons of great new information, easier searchability, new features, and the world-class look that we deserve to match the quality of information. It's a lot of work and we're still raising funds to pay for the second half of the fee in order to be able to launch it. Approximately 6-8 weeks to completion, but well worth the wait! For those of you who have contributed to this massive step – thank you!  And for those of you who want to help us cross the finish line – please do!  Just Click Here or on the Big Red Donate Button to provide a donation of any size.  I'll post pictures in the coming weeks of what's going it's going to look like.  An exciting important step for this 10-years-and-counting weekly podcast/broadcast on nuclear issues!  Stay tuned! — Libbe. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear short sightedness, the nuclear regulatory commission just approved a so-called interim nuclear waste dump in west, Texas near the New Mexico border. That's supposed to be safe for in gathering the highly radioactive debris from nuclear power reactors around the country. You'd think that the NRC would have carefully considered all aspects of the possible problems with this model before granting a for-profit company with the ability to accept and concentrate such forever dangerous materials in one place. But then you learn about the problems of transporting that waste from existing nuclear reactors to west Texas, and a genuine expert tells you Ian Zabarte 00:00:48 There are 75 sites where some have multiple reactors up to four. Each of those communities have borne the burden of risk from their reactors. They would all come together and become a river of risk and waste that ends up in Texas or eventually in Nevada. And there's no quality assurance that these private corporations can do what they say they're doing. We have trouble when a train falls off the tracks and it happens to be a multipurpose canister filled with nuclear waste. People will die. The environment will be damaged and they don't have the quality assurance that they could retrieve the waste safely. If it falls off the tracks. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:29 And of course there's more well, if the NRC is planning to allow Holtec and waste control specialists to take radioactive waste materials out for a joy ride on our highways and our rail lines, passing that deadly cargo through more than 80% of the country, you and I are all truly stuck in an impossibly dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:56 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear? Hot? See Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:27 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we have two interviews illuminating bad news from the past week on nuclear matters. First of the Western Shoshone nation clarifies the dangers of the nuclear regulatory commissions approval of a high level nuclear waste dump in west Texas. Then Dave craft of any S in Chicago nuclear energy information service illuminates the fallout from the Illinois nuclear reactor bailout, and the potential bill to taxpayers of the nuclear aspect of the build back better GAC to the name, build back better act currently making its way through Congress. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:33 We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than anyone in national mainstream media bothered to convey to their audiences this past week. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, September 21st, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. It has been a lousy week for those of us who oppose nuclear. And here's the first of two interviews we have illuminating those issues. First nuclear bailouts, Illinois has signed into law, a bailout of excellence, nuclear plants in that state to the tune of $700 million over five years now, attention shifts to Washington where the nuclear industry is seeking bailouts in the build back better act BBB, which has nothing to do with the better business bureau build back better app in the range of 55 to $60 billion. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:42 Exelon reactors would be eligible for as much as 25 billion with a B dollars of this to bail out their soon to be spun off reactors, to learn more about this issue. We spoke with Dave craft. He is co-founder and director of nuclear energy information service, or any S which is headquartered in Chicago. Dave is a regular guest on nuclear hot seat because among his many other qualities, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the country on nuclear bailout issues here. He illuminates this shock of bad news that we got in the past week. I spoke with Dave on Monday, September 20th, 2021, Dave craft. Thanks so much for being with us today on nuclear hot seat. Dave Craft 00:05:28 Thanks for the invitation. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:30 Let's start out with my condolences. Tell us what was just passed by the Illinois legislature and signed by your governor. Dave Craft 00:05:39 Okay. Within the past week, as of this recording, the state of Illinois assigned a massive, massive energy bill, and it had many, many good things. It was 950 pages long was in the works for about two years, honestly, of all the parties who were participating, but in spite of the many, many good things in it, which included expanding renewable energy, energy efficiency, just transitions job equity for, for BiPAP communities, regrettably, there was a $694 million bailout for three excellent nuclear reactors that are losing money here in Illinois. So once again, the nuclear hostage crisis worked for Exelon. They pressured the legislature, even though they had a huge ethics scandal going on over the last two years, and the bill was signed by the governor in the past week. Now there's still a lot of work that has to be done moving forward in the fall session in terms of all the tweaks and figuring out which department pays what and manages whatever. But essentially the big pieces are in place in many respects. It's a great effort, a great bill. The environmental community should be proud of, but unfortunately the fly in the ointment is this a massive bailout, which is unwarranted in our opinion. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:00 So is this male out of the nuclear industry, excellent, a done deal, or are there other avenues that might still be taken to either forestall or derail it Dave Craft 00:07:11 In terms of the state of Illinois, these bailouts are a done deal. So there's not much you can do about them. However, the action now shifts over to the federal side of the ledger because with the so-called BBB act, the build back better act and the infrastructure package, which was proposed over the last several months, it's been calculated that the nuclear industry is slated to get as much as $60 billion over a 10 year period in bailouts. Now I bring that up because according to the law that was passed in Illinois, if excellent should apply for those federal funds, then the monies that the state was going to come up with would be canceled. And they'd be feeding off the federal trough. Now our opinion is if something is evil, it doesn't matter if you spread it out over a larger victim base, which is what you do when you go from the state, which are rate payers to the federal government, which are taxpayers. A bailout is a bailout it's turning rate payers into ATM machines for utilities. And we oppose that Libbe HaLevy  00:08:15 What tactics were used, how was it justified that with all of this money in Illinois, that was earmarked for renewables and energy efficiency and all the rest, somehow nuclear horned in there for a great big chunk of the pie. Dave Craft 00:08:31 It's been a kind of a defacto business model of not just Exelon, but the nuclear industry in general, to engage in what we call the nuclear hostage crisis. What that means is in a particular locality, the utility says, oh, these reactors that we have are not being compensated for their great environmental contributions of not producing carbon, which is true. They're a very low carbon energy resource at the point of generation, but they also produce about 20 to 30 tons of high level radioactive waste each year. So they're not exactly clean. That's their panic pedal message is, oh, we're not making enough money. We're not being compensated for our environmental benefits. Therefore we're going to close them down by XYZ date, which is exactly what Exelon did in Illinois. They had slated the Byron one and two reactors to be closed September 13th and the Dresden two and three reactors to be closed in November. Dave Craft 00:09:29 If they didn't get their weight. Now, what that does is it puts a lot of pressure on the local mayors whose budgets are heavily tied into the tax monies that you get from a company town, entity like Exelon, which is huge, and the workers who will be losing their jobs and the economic multipliers involved with that. So you have now the locals all up in arms, they put pressure on their state legislators who then go back and put pressure on the governor. And eventually you end up with a bailout now in 2016 in Illinois, excellent did this and they did much better back then they got $2.3 billion over a 10 year period. This time they only got close to 700 million. What irks us about the 700 million though in Illinois was that to his credit governor JB Pritzker commissioned an independent audit earlier this year, excellent was forced to open its books and provide numbers to this auditor. Dave Craft 01:10:28 But the auditor determined back in April that Exelon at best should get $350 million over five years and maybe less if energy market prices improved. So then that was supposed to be the ceiling, how it got up to $694 million is beyond us. But I guess you could just chalk it off to Illinois politics. So that happened in Illinois, but I mentioned this being as a business model and a number of us in the anti nuclear community stumbled across a amazing PowerPoint presentation done by a utility lobbyists and at a utility conference in New York. A lot about lobbyists actually did a PowerPoint where he puts up on the screen, what a terrific return on investment, the excellent company got in New York and their bail out for a very minimal amount of investment. So this has actually been incorporated as a kind of suit pseudo or de facto business model that the new utilities are using. We can provide you with the PowerPoint slide if you'd like to see it Libbe HaLevy  01:11:36 Loved to. And of course, we'll post that on the website under this episode of nuclear Hotsy now let's get back to the build back better act, which I just think it's no coincidence that it has the BDB of the better business bureau, just for a little bit of confusion, but be that as it may, how is that supposed to impact the nuclear industry and their attempts to build back quote unquote, better in their minds, which means more nuclear, right? Dave Craft 01:12:07 Well, you have to go back actually, even to the Biden campaign, even before the election took place, he was very clear that he supported the nuclear industry. It's one promise, I guess he's trying to keep at this point because the secretary of energy and others in his administration had been going around the country saying how we absolutely need nuclear power to combat climate change, which of course we disagree with, but that is their administration position. So the next piece is we had some of the senators and representatives and voting in the house. They're making proposals of different amounts in both of the two bills, the BBB bill, as you point out, and the infrastructure bill, the production tax credit, and the infrastructure bill would have amounted to roughly $6 billion to bail out, failing nuclear plants like Exelon's around the country, but another 6 billion would be poured into so-called small modular nuclear reactors, advanced reactors for the future. Dave Craft 01:13:09 So that's, what's happening with that bill. The bigger chunk of change though, is in the BBB because as I pointed out earlier, calculations have been done and these numbers are gonna change a lot because of the reconciliation negotiations, but estimates are as high as 60 to $64 billion would be allocated to nuclear. A good portion of that, if not, most of it to bail out, failing nuclear power plants, the excellent corporation in particular, out of the 50 to $60 billion would qualify for somewhere between 24 and 25 billion nationwide. And what is most interesting is that the champion of this in the Senate, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland just happened to have gotten $80,000 in campaign contributions from Exelon and IBW over the last five years. So I think we see how this gets manufactured, Libbe HaLevy  01:14:03 What a coincidence, and you can put the quotes anywhere you want to around them. Dave Craft 01:14:08 Well, the funny thing was I had a, I was on a radio interview and a very good reporter from downstate Illinois in Springfield when, when we were talking about the legislation and he stopped me right there. And he said, but, but aren't those campaign contributions legal, well, of course they're legal, but how are they, you know, are they ethically correct? I mean, everything in Nazi Germany was perfectly legal to, you know, we had some ethical qualms with that. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:34 What has been the response of the other environmental groups to this nuclear bailout and it's position, both in Illinois and also in the field back better act, Dave Craft 01:14:47 I'll start with the federal response because that is extremely in August. The letter was sent to the house and Senate leadership and to the president Biden co-signed by over 250 national organizations, many of them, national groups, a lot of them local groups essentially saying, do not fund nuclear support, renewable support efficiency, et cetera, et cetera. That was co-signed. As I say, by over 250 groups separately, and this is very significant to us at the end of August, Michael Brune, the executive director of Sierra club put out a statement, which I think was on Twitter. I'm not exactly sure which social media it was on, but I want to read this one point. He wrote, this is the Sierra club position, providing a broad taxpayer subsidized Dale out of existing nuclear power plants would divert resources from the most critical opportunity in front of us, which is to spur the development of the next generation of clean, renewable electricity that will serve us now. Dave Craft 01:15:50 And in the future, that's a very unambiguous statement from Sierra club national. Now also about a week ago at a press conference, the league of conservation voters LCV came out with a statement of things that they are in supportive and things that they are opposing. And one of the things that they list that they want done in the build back better act is removing additional, extra support for existing nuclear power. These are two of the largest environmental based organizations in the country, which I've spoken out against nuclear bailouts at the federal level. And regrettably, it does contrast with some of the local positions that have been taken particularly like in Illinois, where the environmental groups here like Sierra club had to bite the bullet and swallow that 694, a million dollar bailout in order to get the rest of the stuff, which was just politics. And that's the way Illinois has been going with the nuclear hostage crisis for decades. So it was a bitter pill to swallow, but it does stand in contrast with the national position Libbe HaLevy  01:16:56 In a recent email, from any I S you spotlighted and linked to an interview with former NRC chair, Greg yacht scope. I watched that. I found it remarkable. Tell us about that. Why you sought to put that out to a larger audience. Dave Craft 01:17:13 Yes. I'm glad you brought that up. A wonderful progressive show on online. I see it on YouTube, but you know, they have their own channel is the hill rising, which is a morning show. And this past week, Greg was one of their invited guests. And the day before the, the actual commentator for the show who happens to be the guy who sponsors the intercept, which is a progressive kind of muckraking organization, which, you know, ferrets out all of these nasty little details. He had an editorial where he was suggesting that if Joe Manchin in the Senate is looking for ways of reducing the cost of the BBB package, that he eliminates the $60 billion for the nuclear industry and the $25 billion for the fossil fuel industry that are in there, start there and then go. So the next day he invited a former NRC chairman, Greg yachts go to, to speak. Dave Craft 01:18:11 And Greg has been going around the country for the number of years now, pointing out from his viewpoint as former chairman of the NRC that the nuclear industry has absolutely no meaningful role to play in combating climate change. He has pointed out the flaws in the, if you call it thinking at all in investing in small modular reactors or advanced reactors moving forward, they just will have no impact on positively moving the climate arrow in any direction. And he's not alone in this. The former chair, woman Ellison McFarland has pretty much said the same thing in various avenues as well. So these are people who are in the know on these matters. They've been in the trenches. They know both the politics and the facts and are saying nuclear powers that no go and should not be funded at these levels. What we should be doing is investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency and energy storage and improved transmission. If we really want to meet the climate crisis deadline. So if you're gonna, if you're going after climate code red, and you're not going to get there through nuclear. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:20 So with the current status of the, I hate to call it BBB. Cause again, it's better business bureau gets harked up in rows. Ooh, it's a good guy. No, it's not with the current status of the build back, better act and all these bail outs, where does NIS go from here? And where does a committed activist against nuclear go from here Dave Craft 01:19:43 From this moment forward until the bills are up for a vote? The best thing people can do is be mercilessly calling the representatives and senators saying pretty much what we've said on this show. If you really want to BBB your way to the future, invest in renewables and the others and take the money and relocated it away from the nukes. Move that money around if you have to, or just eliminate it and save money and make Senator mansion happy, but do not invest in nuclear power. And this has to be a daily phone routine between now and the time of the votes. Now how speaker Pelosi had mentioned and pledge that there would be a house vote on the two bills no later than September 27th. So at least in the house, that's your target deadline? I don't know that there is one set in the Senate. At this point. We don't even have a bill number at this point, cause they're still negotiating all this stuff. But if you are to do anything, that would be the thing to do Libbe HaLevy  02:20:41 Well. We will be posting the link to the disco interview, which I thought was super purlative some of the best, less than 10 minutes about nuclear, not being green and not being a solution to climate change that I've ever seen. So thanks for bringing that to our attention. And Dave, you're always out there in the trenches coming up with trenchant things to say, so thank you for being my guest again this week on nuclear hub seat. It's good. Bad to be back. Thank you, Dave craft co-founder and director of nuclear energy information, service, or NIS, which is headquartered in Chicago. We will link to the video of the interview with former nuclear regulatory commission chair, Greg, that will be available on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 35. The other piece of bad news this week is that the nuclear regulatory commission has approved a so-called interim nuclear waste dump for high level radioactive waste in west Texas. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:47 Any use of the term interim or temporary is misleading because while the NRC says that west Texas could hold spent nuclear fuel for up to 40 years in truth, they can extend that to up to 100 years. And who knows if anyone would have the will or the ability to act at that point to move the waste, any place else, there should only be someplace else to move it. At the same time. A bill passed by the Texas legislature could ban the storage of high-level nuclear waste in the state and could prove a path to similar efforts in neighboring New Mexico. If an acted, how spill seven would express Lee prohibit the state from issuing permits to construct our operating facility to store nuclear waste within the state with the exception of existing nuclear facilities, like power plants that store the waste onsite. Karen Hadden, director of the sustainable energy and economic development or seed coalition said the Texas Bill's passage would not only protect Texans from risks associated with the site, but communities across the nation hadn't said that were threatened as the waste is transported. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:59 Thousands of miles to the deserts of west Texas and Southeast New Mexico. She said these strong bipartisan votes are a clear message from the Texas legislature to the U S nuclear regulatory commission. When it comes to storage of deadly radioactive waste in Texas, we don't want it. We will address this story more specifically in the second of two days to featured interviews, the United States along with the United Kingdom has made the decision to transfer Naval nuclear propulsion technology to Australia. Such a decision is a fundamental policy reversal for the United States, which has in the past spared, no effort of nuclear reactor technology by other countries. This is in response to perceived threats by China in the south China sea. The us UK and Australia are giving themselves 18 months to hammer out the details of the arrangement, which will include figuring out what type of submarine, reactors and uranium fuel won't be required as well as where to base the submarines. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:07 What new infrastructure will be needed, how maintenance will be conducted, how nuclear fuel will be handled and how crews will be trained. Australia has no civilian nuclear power infrastructure beyond a 20 megawatt thermal research reactor. Meanwhile, France is furious about the canceled $90 billion in Australian money quote, contract of the century with France, for conventionally powered attack submarines. It has been stated that France clearly feels backstabbed by its Anglo-Saxon allies and could in retaliation relax their position on not transferring Naval reactor technology to Brazil. As part of helping that country build its first nuclear attack submarine. In other words, nuclear proliferation all around at the same time, new Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Arden has announced that the country will not change its policy on prohibition of nuclear powered submarines. Here I quoted the prime minister new Zealand's position in relation to the prohibition of nuclear powered vessels in our waters remains unchanged. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:20 Certainly the nuclear powered submarines could not go into our waters. Thanks for being sane. Great international news out of Glasgow, Scotland, that's where the United nations annual climate change conference cop 26. This year is going to be held from October 31st to November 12th. One major feature of the conference is the green zone, which is billed as a space for organizations to host workshops, panel discussions, and keynote speeches, which promote dialogue awareness, education and commitments on the climate crisis. And for the first time ever nuclear energy and the nuclear industry is going to be excluded, which leads us to Libbe HaLevy  02:26:16 Well, a poor widow nuclear industry had their feelings hurt and they'd complained about being excluded from cop 26 prompting environmentalist to say it should have no place there, but back to the numnuts Alak Sharma, who is UK president of the world, nuclear association, a global trade body and spewer of pro nuclear propaganda has written a letter saying that every application made by nuclear groups for exhibits at the conference has been rejected. And that this was quote unquote, very disappointing Libbe HaLevy  02:27:00 In rebuttal Richard Dickson, director of friends of the earth. Scotland said the nuclear industries disastrous history of cost and time overruns show very clearly what they offer would be too little too expensive and too late and added with renewables and energy efficiency, cheaper and quicker to build and run the nuclear. They have already lost this argument and should have no place to spout their lies at cop 26, to which we say Brava to cop 26 and to the world nuclear association, which lists 193 nuclear companies as its members, as your constellation prize, you are this weeks. No. Announcer 02:27:46 Okay. Your hot seat Libbe HaLevy  02:27:50 Over to Japan where Tokyo electric power company, TEPCO operators of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant and in charge of the decommissioning process, maybe forced to reconsider what they're doing for decommissioning after lethal radiation levels equivalent to those of melted nuclear fuel were detected near one of the lids covering a reactor on September nine. It was announced that the round concrete lid called a shield plug, which is in the upper area of the containment vessel of reactor. Number two still contains a huge amount of radioactive cesium that was released during the meltdown in March, 2011. This according to Japan's nuclear regulation authority, Japan's NRA estimated that the dose from a contamination source that existed beneath the lid was more than 10 sieverts per hour, which is a level lethal to humans if exposed to it for about an hour. But the findings suggested that the actual dose would likely be dozens of seabirds per hour. Libbe HaLevy  02:28:57 Thus being far more dangerous, Cav co has also been caught out, not informing Japan's nuclear regulation authority for two years, about 25 damaged filters at the Fukushima Daiichi site. Not informing can also be interpreted as lying by omission. TEPCO claimed that they did not notice that there were holes in 25 filters for these two years, but they did replace the 25 filters with holes in 2019, something they failed to mention to Japan's NRA. Now in 20 21, 24, out of those same 25 filters again, have holes in them. Japan's NRA is investigating and TEPCO has also been caught out misplacing dozens of fire detectors at its Kasha was Zaki Curry. One nuclear plant in nit. It got to prefecture about 100 fire detectors were not placed in location set under safety regulations and the misplacements could cause delay of the detection of heat and smoke from a fire hampering and immediate response to such a potentially disastrous event. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:11 So we trust TEPCO to run a nuclear reactor when they can't even get the fire alarms right in Germany, the gorleben mine, which for decades has served as a storage location for German radioactive nuclear waste is being closed. Locals and environmental groups have protested against the facility for years, arguing that the salt in the ground could weaken containment structures and cause radioactive leaks. The site became the focus of Germany's anti-nuclear movement with activists, staging city and protest and blocking trains, bringing containers of nuclear waste to the facility in the fall of 2020 Germany's federal company for radioactive waste disposal announced that large parts of Germany met the geological criteria for a nuclear repository, but the garlic and salt dome, the site of the mine was not among them. And the mine was then removed from the list of potential permanent sites for nuclear waste due to geological concerns. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:12 And in the UK fire broke out at the Hinkley point C power station that is under construction. Spokesman said that a small fire in a temporary building away from the main construction area was burned and suggested that we pay no attention to the nuclear incompetence behind the curtain. We'll have this week, second featured interview in just a moment. But first the nuclear industry never lets up with their propaganda using talking points, op EDS, press releases, talk show bookers and all other media tactics to brainwash our politicians reporters and the public into giving them whatever they want, which is money, money, money, and more money. And let's face it. They have all the money in the world to fund their PR agencies and their agenda. As you just heard from Dave craft, it's a business model with a terrific return on investment because for whatever millions, the newscaster spend on their public relations propaganda, they stand to get billions of dollars back from the hornswoggled taxpayers. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:21 That is why you need nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. This show has been one of the only places in the world where you can get a one hour hit of honest nuclear information interviews with genuine experts, a Roundup of international news stories. You won't hear covered else, numb, nuts, bad puns, a touch of musical theater. Where else can you find all this in a weekly counterbalance to nuclear industry lies, but up against their unlimited financial resources, this show operates on a really tight budget and that budget is dependent on you. The listeners to keep us going. That's why if you've come to value, nuclear hot seats work, the time to support us with a donation would be right now it's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:19 You can also set up a recurring donation for as little as $5 a month. The same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S so if you value the different perspective on nuclear information that we give you each week at nuclear hot seat and want to help us continue, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now here's this week's second featured interview last week, the nuclear regulatory commission finally, and not unexpectedly approved a site in west Texas for a so-called interim storage facility for higher level radioactive nuclear waste from power reactors around the country in the Barta explains why this move by the NRC is illegal. Wrong-headed not thought through and a danger to the entire country and his principle man for the Western bands of the Shoshone nation, a member of the native American action council and member of the United States nuclear regulatory commission, Yucca mountain licensing support network advisory review panel. We spoke on Monday, September 20th, 2021 in the Barta. It's always great to have you with us here on nuclear hot seat. Ian Zabarte 03:34:39 Yes. Thank you for having me. Let's start out with Libbe HaLevy  03:34:42 Your background and your current status as regards dealing with nuclear issues. Ian Zabarte 03:34:50 I am the secretary of the native community action council, which is a party was standing in the atomic safety licensing board panel of the us nuclear regulatory commission in Yucca mountain proposed high-level nuclear waste repository under the 1982 nuclear waste policy act as amended in 1987 to designate Yucca mountain is the only site to be investigated. Further. Yucca mountain has been declared the most studied piece of real estate in the world, but the U S department of energy never considered the fact that they did not own the site. And that's how we came into the licensing proceedings. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:32 When you say we, who are you referring to? Ian Zabarte 03:35:37 The native action council is composed of two and pipe people that began investigating the adverse health consequences known to be plausible from exposure to radiation. And we looked at our food, which is diet. We looked at where we lived shelter and mobility, where we went and what we did there. And those were the basis for our NEPA contention, our national environmental policy at contention in the atomic safety licensing board on Yucca mountain. Our primary contention is ownership of land and ownership of water. We are the water. We are the land, and this is our identity. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:13 And the land is actually part of Western Shoshone property. That was seated you under treaty rights. And I believe that that treaty has never been rescinded Ian Zabarte 03:36:26 You're right in part and seriously wrong in part the treaty of Ruby valley in 1863, granted the United States access to Shoshone country to build a railroad, to build the Telegraph and for migrants to go across and build forts and towns in support of that, the treaty did not give us anything that we did not all ready, possess. We held in trust for the United States, the rights and interest that it sought. Now it's important to understand that property is not a thing. So when I say she's only property, property is a relationship between people with regard to things. And so it is our property interests, which the United States failed to acknowledge failed to make a claim under the treaty. And there is where the department of energy failed to even consider that they did not own the land Libbe HaLevy  03:37:18 Given that you already have these contentions on file with the government. Let's take a step to the side now because there's something that just happened that directly impacts what is going to happen or what has already happened at Yucca mountain. And that is that on Monday, September 13, the U S nuclear regulatory commission issued a 44 0 year license to interim storage partners, which is a private company to store 5,000 metric, tons of commercial high level radioactive nuclear waste in Andrews county, Texas, which is just across the border from New Mexico. What's wrong with this picture? Ian Zabarte 03:38:00 Well, there's plenty wrong with it. First of all, the amount of time that it took, they just slipped this through very quickly. And most people aren't aware transportation was not considered in this. It was outside the scope of the environmental impact statement as well is the proposed Yucca mountain high level nuclear waste repository, which in the license application, if you look through it thoroughly, you will find numerous instances where maps show the final geological repository as Yucca mountain, where the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 is referenced, but not the amendments of 1987, that designate Yucca mountain as the only site to be investigated for a deep geologic repository. And as I said earlier, it's not going to happen. It is a violation of law for Congress. It is congressional malpractice to designate somebody else's treaty defined property as a high level nuclear waste repository without our consent and without our approval. And in the long-term. This is inflicting conditions intended to bring about the destruction of the Shoshone people by placing high-level nuclear waste, the most toxic material ever created by conducting nuclear weapons testing on our treaty lands. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:14 Those are serious objections, important objections that need to be respected about Yucca mountain. Given that everyone is acting like Yucca mountain is already a deep geologic repository for radioactive waste, which is what gives the permission to an interim site to even be considered in west Texas. What is the current status of Yucca mountain as this deep geologic repository? Ian Zabarte 03:39:45 Well, there is nothing at Yucca mountain. There is a 4.5 mile tunnel. That's 25 foot in diameter, and I was appointed in 2018 to the U S nuclear regulatory commission licensing support network advisory review board because of my expertise on the licensing of domestic include facilities, I've been underground at Yucca mountain. So many hours underground that I got a letter in about 2000 from the department of energy that says because of my time underground, I am at risk of developing silicosis a miner's disease because of the tunnel boring machine was going, and they did not provide us respirators or other protective equipment. And I believe 16 of the miners that were doing that hole became ill and sued the government several have since died. And, you know, I, I hate this because my family is from the area and they're dying from radiation exposure. So I really take this seriously and passionately, and I need to see radiation exposure, compensation, act funding. And that's part of the problem with the New Mexico and Texas sites. Nobody should be asked to bear additional burden of risk without first understanding what has happened to them. So we have the Trinity site, which spread radiation across the area, and those people are getting sick already and don't know why. And then they're going to put this additional risk upon the people there. And they're not going to know why either Libbe HaLevy  04:41:08 The site that is being proposed is supposed to be built by Holtec, which has got just such a bad reputation. They like to do their work cheap and fast. And two things that we don't like to hear in connection with anything, nuclear is cheap and fast because the danger is forever. The waste we're talking about has plutonium in it, which has a radioactive half-life of 24,000 years. And 240 years is the low end of how long it's dangerous. So there's nothing interim about the danger and without a real repository for it to go to. We're talking about the waste being buried in west Texas. And if they approve the one in New Mexico, literally forever, Ian Zabarte 04:41:53 Yes, those two sites, the one in Eunice, New Mexico, and the one just six miles away, which is in Andrews, Texas, which is the one the NRC recently licensed. They are in the biosphere and will be defacto permanent and clear waste dumps because there will not be the Yucca mountain high level nuclear waste repository. It is a violation of law and it is unconstitutional under article six, section two of the us constitution treaties are Supreme, all state laws to the contrary, not withstanding the Texas site is an Aranow site, which is formally a Reba, a French corporation who do processing, who want to do waste, who have other issues. Now with the United States, dealing with small modular reactors, they want to do reprocessing. So we have foreign corporations coming here to tell us what to do with our waste. And that's not the U S policy. They shouldn't be directing policy for the United States. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:54 I refer to Yucca mountain as a legal fiction because there is no repository, but a repository has to exist for an interim repository to get licensed. So they're keeping alive the fiction of Yucca mountain, as opposed to any kind of reality for a deep geologic repository, with this being the kind of shell game that is being played with all of our futures. And you're definitely you and your people are on the front line of it. What kind of coverage or awareness is there of this being explored through the media in Nevada, Ian Zabarte 04:43:36 In Nevada, there is little media coverage of what's happening in Texas, the Texas interim storage facility, whether it's Texas or New Mexico, Eunice New Mexico, those both would be illegal because they're not allowed under the nuclear waste policy act of 1982. And another problem is that because these are for-profit corporations, they are doing this to alleviate the federal government of the liability of claims against the United States for not disposing of high level nuclear waste. And what may happen is the department of energy would take title to the waste and it would stay at those reactors. And that's a concern that a lot of people aren't aware of and have to think that they're going to take, this is a initially a 5,000 metric ton license, but over the life of the 40 years, it's up to 40,000 metric tons. It's going to remain in Texas. And the people in Texas are not going to get the kinds of value that they expect to take care of that long lived nuclear waste over the life of that project. And when there's a problem, they can't send it back to where it came from. That's the other big elephant in the room. Transportation, Libbe HaLevy  04:44:52 Explain more about what you mean about transportation. Ian Zabarte 04:44:56 Well, according to the guidelines of the department of transportation, nuclear waste is to be transported along the federal highway transportation system and the federal rail transportation system. So nuclear waste, for example, may come from California, go to Texas. And if a repository is at Yucca mountain, be sent back to Nevada and that's just too much risk. And another problem is there are 75 sites where some have multiple reactors up to four. Each of those communities have borne the burden of risk from their reactors. They would all come together and become a river of risk and waste that ends up in Texas or eventually in Nevada. And there's no quality assurance that these private corporations can do what they say they're doing. We have trouble when a train falls off the tracks and it happens to be a multipurpose canister filled with nuclear waste. People will die. The environment will be damaged, and they don't have the quality assurance that they could retrieve the waste safely. If it falls off the tracks, Libbe HaLevy  04:46:05 Right? It's like people have never heard of accidents, trains, or Jack knife, big rigs, if it comes by truck. So there are multiple problems there. And when they are labeling this, an interim site, what they're talking about is 40 years up to a hundred years with no guarantee that they're going to have the ability to move it, let alone have a place to move it. But it seems that if an area is populated by people who are poor and of color and do not have strong political ties and political power, there are forces in the world that think that they can just Trump on them and not pay any attention to what their needs and what their safety requires. What awareness is there for the people of Nevada through either their politicians or the media as to what the dangers are and the importance of this decision that's just been made down in west Texas. Ian Zabarte 04:47:09 There is enough awareness in Nevada of the general public to oppose the proposed Yucca mountain high level nuclear waste repository. However, the decision in Texas isn't well understood that the final solution is Yucca mountain. And so right now there's nothing happening. Our media are not really covering it. A national media are. And I know that Texas is very concerned about it, but it's not coming to Nevada after that. And we are aware that is the official many people. And we see this as a very serious problem. And we're of course going to do everything to make sure that it doesn't come here. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:50 One other point last week, right before the NRC made its decision to license. This site in west Texas, governor Greg Abbott signed into law, something prohibiting the transport of high level nuclear waste in the state of Texas. So in other words, the NRC says, it's going to be fine to have a facility and bring it here. But the state of Texas is now saying, nah, you cannot drive this across our roads. What is that setting up in terms of the federal versus the local versus state? Well, it's only six miles from New Mexico, so we'll take it through New Mexico and then over to, to Texas kind of a situation. Ian Zabarte 04:48:35 Well, the transportation issue was not investigated in the environmental impact statement. It was outside the scope of that process. But the big problem with transportation again, is shipping under the department of transportation's federal regulations that require using rail, but our rails are not in good shape. And these casts would be very heavy. We're talking about dedicated trains that are not going to be going that fast. Another problem is in order to use the national highway transportation system, these would have to be legal weight casks. We're talking about something that would haul this cast. We're talking a hundred tires, we're talking about five or six pivot points. And these things would be traveling at 20 miles per hour. And if we find any terrorists on the way, well, that's just a sitting duck. And there again is the issue of whether we expect first responders to go out there and protect these things. Ian Zabarte 04:49:36 The nearest capable radiological response team would probably be at the Nevada test site, hundreds of miles away. And if it's on the rail, there is not anything nearby or a way to get someone to some of these rail routes, which are very isolated in beautiful country. It's just too risky. And in the great basin here, we have the oldest life in the world, the oldest life in the world, 6,800 year old trees. These are the things that are precious to me. And again, the idea that we'll risk our aquifers pure, pristine water. I am water, and you've heard a lot about indigenous water protectors. I am water and Americans need to live up to their obligation under the constitution and the laws of the United States and learn what we're sharing. They are water to your water, I'm water. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:26 As of the native community action council, this may be premature, but what actions has your group taken or will you be taking in response to these latest developments? Ian Zabarte 05:50:41 We've been trying to communicate for a long time that Yucca mountain is illegal. It violates, the treated would be valley, which is part of the United States constitution. We entered into the treaty of peace and friendship. The intent of treaties emanates from international law. It is to maintain the existence of the parties. Signatory to those in the United States needs to live up to its responsibilities, including the U S nuclear regulatory commission to protect the Shoshone people. And that has not happened. And again, what we see in this license of Texas is the nuclear regulatory commission playing a role, which inflicts conditions intended to bring about the destruction of this is showing people. They are not unbiased. They are racist. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:29 What are the next steps ahead for your group? And what can the listeners of nuclear hotseat do to support you? Ian Zabarte 05:51:37 This is how many people have born the burden of the nuclear age. We need additional funding now in the radiation exposure, compensation act. And as I said, we've been sharing our understanding of the adverse health conditions. We suffer with other people and nuclear hot seat, I think is doing a great job in trying to communicate our position. It's important for all people. I think understanding the transportation issue, which is not in the environmental impact statement for the interim storage partners, what is in the application and the former EIS are maps that show Yucca mountain are statements, which say the deep geologic repository, which is under the nuclear waste policy amendment acts of 1987 Yucca mountain. So we hope that by communicating this and giving you an understanding, you'll share that with other people so that we can all come to an understanding. 80% of the population lives within two miles of the proposed transportation routes from reactors around the country that is important and poor people mostly live there. Ian Zabarte 05:52:46 We just had a fire this morning, downtown, which is two miles away from where I live in Las Vegas. The Ash came over this way. Six miles is not enough. And that is what they're proposing in Texas. You need 60, or maybe even 600 miles because there are near term downwinders. And we've learned that from experience from U S nuclear weapons testing, and my family who were children at the time, my mother, my aunts and uncles, they're sick and dying from the exposure to the radioactive Ash that felt in our communities. And basically we're all downwinders. So I'm concerned about reactor communities that have to deal with this problem and the accidents, the for accidents, because these companies, these independent companies are going to cherry, pick the waste and leave, whatever else is there. And they're just going to move it around. And this is the shell game that they're playing. You're gonna move it around to a new location. And hopefully hope is not a strategy. Hopefully they're not going to make a mess. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:46 Hope is a terrible strategy to have in terms of nuclear. Ian Zabarte 05:53:50 And don't forget somebody is already doing something about it. They're not talking about it. Silence is dangerous. Silence is abuse. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:59 As they said, during the aids epidemic, when it was at its height, silence equals death. And that applies for us as well in you are a passionate, knowledgeable and powerful defender of your people, defender of the planet, the water, and truly all of us. And I invite you to stay in touch as this issue goes forward as all these issues move forward. And thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear Hotsy. Ian Zabarte 05:54:29 Thank you for having me. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:31 That was principal man for the Western bands of the Shoshone nation, a member of the native American action council and member of the United States nuclear regulatory commission, Yucca mountain licensing support network advisory review panel. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:55 The award-winning documentary in the dark of the valley, which Chronicles local moms' efforts to clean up the Santa Susana field lab radiologically and chemically contaminated site from rocket dine, which is only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles has been accepted both to the Catalina film festival on September 25th and the OHI film festival November 4th through 14, to learn more and get your tickets for the online presentations go to in the dark of the valley.com. There is a webinar coming up on new nuclear. What's at stake for wildlife it's co-hosted by beyond nuclear greater Manchester and the district CND nuclear free local authorities and Chernobyl children's project UK. It will be held on Thursday, October seven, from seven to 8:30 PM in the UK, which is 2:00 PM to three 30, us Eastern and 11:00 AM to 1230 us Pacific time links to both of these will be up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 35, and I've gotten the first look at the complete reconfigured nuclear hot seat website. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:07 And it's a Wowza we're still more than six weeks away from a full launch where everybody can access it. But rest assured it is coming. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 material for this week's show has been and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com, nis.org, and I R s.org. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, NBC D F w.com. Current argus.com. The bulletin.org, aa.com dot T R the ferret dot Scott, bbc.com dw.com. History of yesterday.com asahi.com and I'll r.geo.jp, and be captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered by email every week. So you don't miss a single episode. It's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show with a brief outline of what's included. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:23 And if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. If you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear news around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button. Click on it, follow the prompts and anything you can do to help will help and will be greatly appreciated. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. So please link away. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest streak communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the decisions we make about nuclear waste today will be with future generations forever. That's it? That's your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:29 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #534: Hinkley Radioactive Waste Dredge-and-Dump off Cardiff Coast - UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hinkley-radioactive-waste-dredge-and-dump-off-cardiff-coast-uk/ Published: 2021-09-15 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive waste dumping in the Bristol Channel off Cardiff Coast from UK nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point is being carried out by dredgers similar to this one (and leaving comparable plumes of pollution). Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones has shown increasing radiation exposure in Wales, UK. This Week's Featured Interview: A jaw-dropping interview with UK Marine Biologist Tim Deere-Jones on the true impact of nuclear industry dredge-and-drop of nuclear 600,000 cubic metres (approx 780,000 tons) of radioactive waste into the Bristol Channel off the coast of Wales. He works as an independent Marine Pollution Researcher and Consultant with a client list that includes Greenpeace International, Greenpeace UK, Greenpeace Australia, Friends of the Earth, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, many citizens campaign groups, Local & Regional Authorities in UK , Ireland and across northwest coasts of Europe. He makes a point of stating he has NEVER worked for any industrial organization or national government or their agencies. We spoke on Thursday, September 9, 2021. He can be emailed at: timdj@talktalk.net. UK Marine Biologist and Researcher Tim Deere-Jones LINKS: In advance of the COP 26 UN Climate Conference, here is material to help you get up to speed on the basic anti-nuclear arguments: Article by Tim Judson, head of Nuclear Energy Information Service on False Climate Change Solutions written for Hoodwinked in the Hothouse – Resist False Solutions to Climate Change. Two videos to help your basic understanding of why nuclear reactors are not clean, green, or a rational part of any climate crisis strategy. If you want a short, to-the-point discussion of Why Nuclear Power is NOT a Climate Solution – take 10 minutes and watch this video, produced by NEIS in Chicago: Dr. Arjun Makhijani explains how the US economy can function totally on renewables without nuclear power or fossil fuels. Originally posted in 2008! What will it take for us to learn…? Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear false assurances, otherwise known as they're there. Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it. We're the experts we know while the nuclear industry sleight of hand knows how to cook the books on data to disguise the harm they do rarely has there been such bald faced manipulation as in the UK regarding the dumping of radioactive debris from the Hinkley point reactors into the Bristol bay, where it reaches as far as Cardiff in Wales, it takes a genuine expert and Marine pollution researcher and consultant to understand how the nuke stirs, disguise their trickery. And he tells you, Tim Deere Jones 00:00:45 They only count the spectrometry for 15 hours. If you count your radioactivity samples for a longer period, you get a more accurate result. So we asked our independent laboratory to count our samples for 3.5 days. And that's, I think another reason why we've got relatively high figures at such distances from the nuclear power station outfalls. And I suspect that if we could get samples of our own from close to the nuclear power stations and have them analyzed and counted for 3.5 days, the figures that we would get would be much, much higher than the figures that the official monitoring producers. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:37 And there's lots more. So if you live in England or Wales, don't believe the nuclear industry, when it tells you that it's just peachy keen for them to dump 600,000 cubic meters, which is about 780,000 tons of radioactive waste from Hinkley point into the Bristol channel. Because what they're really doing is heating up that already impossibly dangerous seat that we all share. Announcer 00:02:08 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot? See Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:38 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a jaw dropping interview with UK Marine biologist and researcher, Tim dear Jones, Tim has been getting to the bottom of what's really happening with the dredging and dumping of radioactive waste from Hinckley points for operating and to under construction nuclear reactors in the UK, into the Bristol channel, which is off the coast of Wales. This saga of nuclear duplicity manipulation and co-opting of politicians and bureaucrats is a breathtaking David and Goliath story that has not ended yet. And while there's no guarantee that our David is going to win, we do have a chance to join in some massive public pushback, which especially if you're in the UK, you are invited to join. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:50 We will also have nuclear news from around the world. And more honest, nuclear information than was mentioned by any of the 46 candidates who ran and lost against governor Gavin Newsome in the California recall election. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, September 14th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. This late breaking story, federal officials have cleared the way for construction of a dump in west Texas that could hold highly radioactive. So-called spent nuclear fuel for 40 to 100 years, if not longer, but in full contradiction mode last week, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that purports to prohibit the storage or transportation of high-level nuclear waste such as spent fuel rods through the state. We will explore this more fully on next week show and in New Mexico, a proposal to build a so-called temporary nuclear waste storage site near Carlsbad drew a lawsuit against the nuclear regulatory commission and seeks to block the project. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:59 The NRC in return has asked the U S district court for the district of New Mexico to dismiss the state's lawsuit due to lack of jurisdiction. The state alleges in the suit that the NRC acted illegally in issuing an environmental impact statement for the whole tech project and federal law stipulates a permanent repository be available before an interim storage site could be permitted. And there is none in post Ida Louisiana near new Orleans. The Waterford nuclear power plant is still at only 46% power, no word on why that is except perhaps it's because there is no grid left in new Orleans. And so there's no place for them to send any electricity that they do generate in Illinois. The legislature has approved another $694 million in nuclear power, bailout money to the for-profit and very profitable Exelon corporation, safe energy in cities, all over the country, conducted actions and wrote to their members of Congress, urging them to remove an estimated $46 billion in proposed nuclear subsidies from the upcoming reconciliation legislation as Dave craft of the Chicago based nuclear energy information service noted the nuclear hostage crisis continues in Japan. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:23 The ministry of health, labor and welfare has recognized the causal relationship between cancer and work at Fukushima Daiichi and has certified pharyngeal cancer throat cancer as a work-related injury for two workers after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, both men worked on the ruins of Fukushima Daiichi, removing debris and measuring radiation levels. One has since passed away. This marks the first time that they're in jail cancer has been recognized as an occupational injury related to work at the Fukushima Daiichi disaster site. Here's this week's featured interview. And as I said before, it's a jaw dropper. Tim dear Jones is a highly credentialed independent Marine pollution researcher and consultant with priority focus on hydrocarbons Marine radio activity, Marine hazardous waste transports, including radioactive materials and hazards associated with the nuclear submarine deployment. His client list includes Greenpeace international Greenpeace, UK Greenpeace, Australia, friends of the earth, the campaign for nuclear disarmament, as well as many citizens campaign groups, local and regional authorities in the UK Ireland and across the Northwest coast of Europe. He makes a point of stating he has never worked for any industrial organizations or national governments or their agencies. I spoke with Tim dear Jones on Thursday, September 9th, 2021, Tim Deere Jones. Thanks so much for joining us on nuclear hot seat. Tim Deere Jones 00:08:06 Hi Libby. It's a pleasure to be with you. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:10 Let's start out with a little bit about you so people can understand who they are hearing from. What is your training and background? Tim Deere Jones 00:08:19 I have lived on boats and at sea for some time, and I have also had a lot of sporting activity with the sea, a lot of sea canoeing and rowing and sailing. And I'm very fond of the Marine environment. In the early eighties, I took myself to university and did a Marine science degree in order to train as a Marine pollution consultant because I was very well aware of the ongoing problems with Marine pollution in and around the UK coast and further a field and particularly problems with oil spills and Marine radioactivity. I studied at Cardiff university, which is on the shores of the Bristol channel, which is the Marine area we're going to be talking about shortly. And I did my research there. My research dissertation was on the of land transfer of Marine pollutants and all of my Marine pollution trading actually took place on the Bristol channel, which has turned out to be very useful for the campaign that we're discussing now. And since the 1980s, I've worked for a large number of organizations and NGOs never actually done any work for industry, but I've worked for local and regional authorities, NGOs like Greenpeace and friends of the earth and WWF, and many citizens groups scattered across UK, Ireland, Europe, and down into Australasia. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:49 You made mention of the Bristol coast as being where you've been focused. Where is that? What part of the UK is that for example, how far from London and what is its history as regards nuclear waste? Tim Deere Jones 01:10:04 The Bristol channel is a site of a number of nuclear power stations. And in total, at the moment, there are eight reactors situated around the Bristol channel. You won't be surprised to hear that it's not very close to London or Westminster. It's on the west coast of the UK, and it's a long narrow title in that between south coast of Wales and the north coast of what we call the Southwest of England, Somerset and Devin share in characteristics. It's very similar to the bay of Fundy in Canada. It is a long narrow, deep water in that it has the second highest title ranges in the Northern hemisphere after the bay of Fundy. And it is characterized by having quite a high sediment loading, which is very influential on the amount and lifespan of radioactivity, which stays within that particular environmental region. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:06 What kind of radiological data is already known about the sediment in this area? Tim Deere Jones 01:11:15 Well, because we have three nuclear power sites on the Bristol channel and the seven eighth street, the UK government, and as a site operators conduct regular annual monitoring of the radioactivity in the areas close to the nuclear power stations. So we have good indications of what there might be in the areas post to the nuclear power stations. And we know that for instance, the station under particular consideration, the Hinkley point nuclear power station has nuclear sites there each one with two reactors each. So there are four reactors there and the authorities measure about maybe 10 miles, either side, they, they measure the Marine sediments seaweed, some fish species about 10 miles overside of the stations, liquid effluent, radioactive waste, discharge points. So we've got an idea of what's there. Now we, we know and guesstimate and have been loosely told by the monitoring agencies that each of those reactors discharges about 50 different sorts of radioactivity ranging from relatively innocuous materials, gamma remitters through to plutonium, which is an alpha emitter. Tim Deere Jones 01:12:42 And particularly at Hinkley point, the aid station was used for the manufacturer of plutonium for the UK and us nuclear weapons programs. And we know that those times be late seventies, the mid eighties, there were leaks of, of large policies of plutonium from that Hinckley, a site and the Hinckley ACE. I actually started work in the sixties. So we can usually sum up by saying, well, we've had 50 years worth of radioactive discharges from that site containing up to an exceeding 50 different types of radioactive isotope into the sedimentary area, which is known as the Bridgewater bay. And the Bridgewater bay is widely considered by Marine scientists, stupidly, probably the largest sediment sink in the Bristol channel. And as a sediment sink, it's a place where the sediments themselves are sequestered or kind of locked up and have a longterm lifespan and build up a bit. Tim Deere Jones 01:13:48 And naturally in association with that particular process, you get a similar sinking and sequestration of radioactive wastes, which build up and become more concentrated. And the historical style, a lot of the historical stuff, which has been discharged actually gets locked into the fairly thick sedimentary deposits within the Bridgewater bay. So what we don't know is that there are large gaps in between these various nuclear sites on the Bristol channel and seven history coast. And nobody has bothered to monitor into those large gaps. There's sort of 2030 mile gaps between these sites to find out what the situation is there. So there are quite a lot of unknowns. I mean, we have asked for various studies to be done and those studies have been refused and there hasn't been any independent academic work to tell us what the situation is and what the people living along the coastline of this Marine area are being exposed to in terms of radioactivity, other than those who are living right next to the nuclear power stations. And then just to complicate the issue, there are flaws with the monitoring work that the authorities and the power station operators actually deploy Libbe HaLevy  01:15:05 You. So in other words, there have been 50 years of radioactive releases from these nuclear sites with no knowledge of what's happening downstream or upstream from them, unless they fall into that 10 mile radius that is tested Tim Deere Jones 01:15:23 Good summary, well done. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:24 What is now being proposed for this site? Tim Deere Jones 01:15:29 Okay. Back in 2017, I stumbled upon a license application from the operators of the Hinkley C development. Now this is a development where they have they're now constructing two new PWR reactors next to the four already existing at Hinkley point. So this is called Hinkley C and they want to put in cooling water intakes and liquid radio, active waste, effluent discharge pipelines, drilling a hole. They've got a big tunnel drilling machine there. So they're drilling a hole under the seabed, but when they've done that and they've got their hold out, as far as she would, as they want, then they've got to dredge so that they can put in infrastructure on top, on the surface and through the seabed and into the tunnel. And so to do that, they've got to dredge these fines, sediments, and a certain amount of clay. And then they've got to get rid of it somewhere or others. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:31 My understanding is that radionuclides are heavier than water and eventually settle in the bottom on the sediment. So any upset to the sediment will rerelease the radionuclides into the waterflow to again, be dispersed. Tim Deere Jones 01:16:48 Yeah, you're quite right. That is the case. That was our major concern. My major concern in 2017 when I discovered this original proposal and I pointed this out because the sediments to be dredged in this Bridgewater bay area, just off the Hinckley sea site are quite deep as possibly six liters of sediment. There, there will be a lot of radioactivity sequestered into it. And as you say, any dredging activity is likely to start disturbing that sediment. So that's a local problem in the area where the dredging is taking place. But then the second problem is that they wanted to cart all the dredging material and take it to a different site and dump it into the sea, which is even worse than the dredging, because that too will create a plume. And what's law does mean then that you are taking material from an area of historical deposition of radioactivity and dropping it into an area which is distant from the deposition of radioactivity. Tim Deere Jones 01:17:56 Now, in the initial case, they came, they played a slate of hand. Actually they came to Wales. So they were doing this dredging on the English side of the Bristol channel, but they came to Wales and asked the Welsh devolved government to permit dumping into Welsh water. And that occurred at a very interesting time because we had an existing Welsh environment agency, which was in the process of being wound down and reformed into a different body. So there was a hiatus between the winding down of the old Welsh environment agency and the initiation of the new Welsh environment agency. So that meant that the license application from EDF, the French Chinese company who are building the Hinckley C's site, went direct to the Welsh environment minister of the time. And he just so happened to be an ex employee of the United Kingdom, atomic energy or authority for whom he had worked as head of their PR. Tim Deere Jones 01:19:06 So not surprisingly, he signed off the license straight away. And when the new well environment agency actually opened up and started work on the 1st of April, April fool's day in 2013, they were presented with a signed and sealed the license. They had no input into the decision-making process. Their job was then just to manage the license that had been granted. So that's what happened there. And I mean, at that stage, the nuclear company was asking for permission to dump 300,000 tons of this material into a dump site called the Cardiff grounds, which was situated at sea, just a mile off the sea front of Cardiff city. You would use the capital city of Wales. So I was very concerned about that. The nuclear company did not actually take that license and do any dredging and dumping because as you will be aware, building a nuclear power station always involves massive delays in the construction program. Tim Deere Jones 02:20:16 So that's what happened at Hinckley GLISI, but they came back in 2017 and asked for a revision of the license, allowing them to do it again because the original license was granted and closed in 2016. So in 2017, they came back and asked for a variation on the permit, which would then allow them to dredge and dump for two years by then the Welsh environment agency was working properly, but the license had already been granted. So it was just a revision and they couldn't take the license back. So my campaign that I started was asking for a postponement on any decision on the revision until such time, as we knew for sure how much radioactivity there would be in the mud to be dumped, that we knew what kind of baseline data we had on the south Wales coast. I was there any radioactivity present on the south Wales coast because we had no evidence to tell us anything about that or not. Tim Deere Jones 02:21:22 And if there was manmade radioactivity on the south Wales coast, what were the implications for doses to the south Wales, coastal population and the sea users, because they were going to be dumping this stuff into what is called a dispersal site. So that's a site where you can dump the material without creating an island or a hazard to shipping because it, the, the tidal currents, they are quick and it disperses fast. So we also requested that they produce evidence to show where would the material that was dispersed? Where would it be ending up? So that seemed to us to be quite reasonable. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:04 And what was the response to this request? Tim Deere Jones 02:22:07 The response was, you guys don't know what you're talking about, go away, no need for any of that stuff. It's all being sorted out, which is a very crude summary, but it's all being sorted out the nuclear industry and the Westminster government know what they're talking about. So, so that's what we were told initially. So I told a petition to the Welsh government, which has a committee, which looks at petitions and we quickly got 7,000 signatures within a few weeks. And you only needed a thousand signatures to get the petition committee of the Welsh government to pay attention and initiate an inquiry. So they initiated an inquiry. And then we were into a series of evidential sessions, providing written and verbal evidence. At that time, I was pretty much working on my own. So that was a very busy year, 2017 and 2018. And I gave verbal and written evidence, and we had the nuclear company EDF, the Welsh environment agency under the thumb of the Welsh environment minister, who is their boss and an agency of the British government and agency called sea fast, which does all the British government's Marine radioactivity monitoring for it, but also managed to find itself occupying the position of contractor to the new gear company. Tim Deere Jones 02:23:35 So that was a nice, a nice little set up. Anyway, we had several sessions of verbal evidence. I submitted large amounts of documents, the referenced documents, and in the end, the petition committee decided that my appeal for a postponement had enough scientific evidence and legs to it. And there was enough doubt and debate about what the other side was saying that the issue should be put before the Welsh assembly, which is a little, our regional devolved government in, in, in Wales for a plenary debate before assembly members and the first minister. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:14 And did this debate take place? Yeah. Tim Deere Jones 02:24:16 Yeah. The, the debate took place ran about mid summer in 2018, after nine months of heavy painting and at the debate, which lasted for about an hour and a half, two hours, knowing assembly elected members were called to speak and age of the nine spoke in favor of what I was asking for. Cause I would bear in mind. I wasn't asking for the whole thing to be stopped or canceled because I thought it would be more reasonable to ask for a postponement until we had this baseline data. And so they were quite happy to support that it was a very moderate call, really each of the nine spoke in favor of the motion calling through a postponement, but at the end of the debate, the Welsh environment minister of that time, it was actually by now different from the earlier environment minister who'd worked for the nuclear industry, she stood up and said, well, yeah, it was all very interesting debate, but here's my announcement. And the announcement was that she had already granted the license some weeks before and the nuclear company were readying themselves for dredging and would start dredging and disposing of the mud just off Cardiff within a month. So we lost that in explicable circumstances and felt that we'd had a fast one pulled upon us that there'd been some sort of a scam and, and a slight of hand Libbe HaLevy  02:25:43 What happened once they got permission to do that dredging and dumping. Did they go ahead at that time? And if so, has there been any stoppage of that since 2018? Tim Deere Jones 02:25:58 It was very odd. First of all, they were dredging within a couple of weeks of the end of this debate and the minister's first public announcement at the debate that the license had been granted. So it was obvious to us that they knew well in advance that they were going to win their case because you can't just start dredging. You got to hire in dredges, you've got to bring them in from, from outside the area, you got to hire the crews, you've got to set up all the logistics. So they were in there really quick. So that was the first thing that happened. And then that first year, instead of dredging and dumping 300,000 tons, they dredged and dumped 120,000 tons and then stopped quite why they stopped. We don't know, but we assume that again, it was to do with delays in the construction process at the development on the Somerset coast. Tim Deere Jones 02:26:51 And so there was a merciful high agers and we thought, oh, okay, breathing space. What will they do next? And what did they do next? They didn't do any of the baseline data that I asked. They didn't do any monitoring and analysis along the south Wales coast or any of that stuff. So we still were in a position where after they had done 120,000 tons of dumping, they didn't do any follow-up monitoring to see if there was any radioactivity in an environment that they didn't know whether there was any radioactivity in before they dredged another Welsh campaigning group was formed actually in and around Cardiff. So that took some of the weight off my piece of campaign. And what we did then was to try and look around, or what I did was to try and look around for some way of assessing how you could make a guesstimate about what the impacts of the dredge dumping at the car they've dumped site would have been on the south Wales coast. Tim Deere Jones 02:27:55 And I began to look quite closely at the Hinckley site where the dredging had been taking place. And as I mentioned earlier on every year, there is a regular monitoring program conducted by the pro nuclear government and the nuclear agencies, and also the site operators in the immediate vicinity of the Hickory area. And they're looking at those official reports of that and monitoring over a three year period when quite a lot of cyber title and into title construction activity had been going on at Hinckley. It was quite easy to see that. I mean, they had been building seawalls, they'd built a jetty. They'd been doing exploratory borehole drilling above the, where the pipelines and the cooling water intakes were going into. So there had been a lot of sediment disturbance going on. And I found that over the three years, when that had been taking place 2016 through to 2018, and that 2018 monitoring might just have caught the dredging that they did that I actually told you about after our Dubai. Tim Deere Jones 02:29:01 But I found that over that period, concentrations of radioactivity at the shoreline began to increase. And the gamma dose rate at the shoreline actually went up by 215% to representative person. So I tabulated that and reported it and postulated that this 215% increase might have been as a result of the disparate disturbance of the sediment in the Bristol channel because of the construction activity taking place. Now, the one thing that gave me confidence in that postulation was the fact that in the official conducted at the powers around the power station sites, if anything happens within the station, you know, the operation of the station, which causes a rise in the amount of radioactivity discharged from the stations, the monitoring authorities will always report it as an explanation as to why the radioactive concentrations and the doses have gone up. So in this particular case, this work I'm talking about, there was no such reporting. Tim Deere Jones 03:30:13 So there was no given reason why that dose rate should have gone up by 215%. And therefore I felt fairly confident in saying, well, it's most likely that that was a result of the dredging activity or the construction activity disturbing sediments in the Bridgewater bay and affecting the local environment. So, but if that was the case, as a result of the disturbance by dredging on the local coast, then if you took that over to the cart, if site where the dumping took place and say, oh, okay, so you drop 120,000 tons of radioactively contaminated sediment into the water, close to the cart. If shoreline, then you might expect to see rising concentrations of radioactivity and you might expect to see rising dose rates. They're parallel with what happened on the dredge salt. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:08 We'll continue with part two of this week's featured interview, including even more shocking revelations of nuclear duplicity in just a moment. But first as you hear, pro-nuclear propaganda just keeps coming thick and fast setting up talking points that the casual reader or legislator will catch in headlines and absorb as gospel truth. When it's really just the opposite. What is there to counter the lies of the nuclear industry, all the money and influence and smug, smarmy talking points that would be nuclear hot seat for more than 10 years. This show has been one of the only places where you can get a one-hour hit of honest nuclear information every week interviews with genuine experts around up of international news, never enough time for all the stories that deserve it. But we do try numnuts of the week, bad puns, sometimes a touch of musical theater. Where else can you find all this in a weekly counterbalance to nuclear industry lies as with all groups that go up against nuclear, we operate on a shoestring budget and are completely dependent upon you, the listeners to keep us going. 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Now, back to this week's featured interview with Marine biologist and researcher, Tim, dear Jones, he had just revealed that the radiation dose rate for people living on the Cardiff coast of Wales had a 215% increase after the dredge and dump of Hinckley points, radioactive waste with no accident or radiation release at the nuclear reactors in the area reported that would account for such a dramatic increase in the populous is exposure to radioactivity. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:31 Were there statistics for that, or was that something that you went and investigated? Tim Deere Jones 03:33:35 I constructed statistics on that and we didn't know quite what to do then, because remember we're small underfunded, citizens, campaigning groups, you have to raise money, you have to get things going, and then you have to do the more yourself. You can't pay people to do it, and you haven't. So there we were, and we put that out and that rumbled on through 2019, into early 2020, and in 2020 through to 2021, there was a long silence. The nuclear industry contested my postulations that I've just discussed, but the arguments they proposed were pretty feeble really, and didn't really hold water. And, and I pursued the argument and then they just disengaged, which is a common trick that we see in the UK. If you've got something strong in cases of inflammation and data, then they just disengage from it and they don't discuss it. And they just ignore it, which is easier and better for them than trying to engage in a debate with you and losing the debate. Tim Deere Jones 03:34:36 So they just, they just shut up and, and Neff me having done that piece of work well towards the end of 2020, there is things began to happen. And one was that it became slowly apparent that things had got very difficult for them in Wales because the other companion group that I mentioned called Geiger bay, which started up in late 2018, early 2019, began to make some good publicity and initiate a court case with one of the leading environmental lawyer groups in the UK. And actually as it happened, that court case never actually took place, but it very nearly deed. And one of the problems was a lack of money of course, for us, but it did scare the Welsh government. Well, it did make the Welsh government think about things. And another thing that happened was that we got a new first minister in Wales who was a bit more anti nuclear than his predecessor. Tim Deere Jones 03:35:36 And he eventually was bullied by all of us, into calling an expert committee of academics. Some of whom actually came from my old university in Cardiff to discuss these issues. And they eventually issued a quite precautionary report through 2020 saying that there were issues of concern here. They didn't actually say you must do further work and kind of implied that there were reasonable grounds for requesting further work to be done. As campaigners. We thought that was very helpful and very useful. And we awaited developments to see whether the nuclear company would come back to finish their 300,000 ton dump and drainage. And then early in 2021, having said previously that they had to use the card their site, because it was the only one in the Bristol channel that was big enough and suitable for disposing of these large quantities of radioactive mud. They came back early in 2021 having identified another site on the English side at a place called port his head, very close to Bristol city. And they put in an application to dispose of 600,000 tons. This time of radioactive waste there. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:00 What was the result of this new information and this proposal for a new site and where do things stand now? Tim Deere Jones 03:37:09 When that happened? I have been working long-term with certain citizens campaign groups on the Somerset coast anyway, so we quickly got a coalition together. I wrote up a fairly detailed submission about why port is head and the new dump was a bad idea as well, reiterating the same concerns that I had over the Welsh one. We circulated that as a warning document, if you like to a number of organizations throughout Somerset, including local authorities and the inshore fisheries conservation association on that side of the coast, asking everybody really to ask the English, environmental agent responsible for discussing these licenses, which is the Marine management organization, otherwise known as the MMO asking them to hold off until there was baseline data, how much radioactivity was there on this other coast near the dump site? What was the radioactive dose to local people? What was the radioactivity in the seafoods and the sediments and so on and so on? Tim Deere Jones 03:38:18 Where would that radioactive mud go after it was dumped at the Newport, he said, site and asking for a complete and utter a full environmental impact assessment on the dump site, which has never been done in either of the dump sites, asking for the Marine management organization to refer the license application to the relevant minister of the Westminster government, who does have the power to call a public inquiry and hold an open, transparent public inquiry at which scientific evidence can be given and heard and discussed and giving a number of other issues, details about the issues like the failings in the official monitoring techniques. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:07 And when you submitted that extensive list of requests, if not demands, what was the response you got to it? Tim Deere Jones 03:39:16 I submitted my very large document, a number of other organizations, as I said, including individuals, campaign groups, local authorities, and fisheries conservation authorities submitted documents containing kind of broadly similar concerns. I'd managed to get the consultation process extended for two weeks. So normally it's a six week process. So we got it extended for eight weeks. So it finished in the second week of April. The UK government recommends that public consultations on issues like this should be closed, sealed, publicized, and reported within 12 weeks of the closure. Well, you know, 17 weeks down the line, we'd still had nothing. I hadn't even had an acknowledgement of the fact that I'd submitted these, these documents and a number of the other groups who submitted documents also did not get an acknowledgement. So during that summer, while we were waiting for the Marine management organization to do its deliberations myself, and one of the campaigning groups, we took our own sediment samples. Tim Deere Jones 04:40:23 We managed to raise some money. We took our own sediment samples from both the wealth site of the Bristol channel and the English side of the Bristol channel, including samples from sites, very relevant and very close to the dump sites. And we sent them away to an independent radiological and analyst laboratory in France, well away from the influence of the British government and asked for analysis to be done. I then wrote to the Marine management organization who were considering this new license application and said to them, we've done this now. I formally request that you hold off on your decision making process until we have this information from the radiological analysis. And you can then input that information into your decision-making process. Well, within two days they had publicly announced that they granted the license to EDF to do the dumping. So I think that they were quite happy to hang about delaying and so on and so on. Tim Deere Jones 04:41:29 But as soon as I said that, I think that triggered them and they thought, right, we were better. We better make the decision and publicize it before these guys come up with their radioactivity data, which might throw a spanner in the works. So that's what happened. They granted the license within two days of me having sent this letter. And I can tell you that in the intervening process, we had been watching all the docs around the Bristol channel, and we had seen the nuclear companies contracted dredgers ships arriving. And some of them had been in the Bristol channel for well over two or three months. And so again, they were obviously very confident that they were going to get their license because they were paying those boats to sit in the docs, doing nothing until the actual announcement was made. So that's, that's where we are Libby. And the dredging has now started as being now, being going to the it's halfway through August. Okay. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:31 Okay. Stop, stop there for a second. Let me catch my breath. That's just horrific. What if any response has there been from the local populations and do they even know about it? Has there been any media coverage of this Tim Deere Jones 04:42:47 From the media point of view? We are very disappointed. We have had very poor coverage considering the weight these matters have on both the Marine environment, the Marine wildlife, and the coastal populations, because this is not just, just a sideline here. This is not just an issue of the radioactivity washing around in the water. One of my expertise is this is actually in the Cedar land transfer of Marine pollutants. And I know from studies that I reviewed elsewhere and work that I've done myself, that Marine radioactivity can in conditions of breaking shoreline waves, Marine radioactivity can blow a shore and travel at least 10 miles in land. And some of the radio nuclides in question like plutonium and its sister nuclear Amaris, both of which are alpha remitters and very powerful. Should you actually get them inside your system? They can actually be magnified relative to ambient seawater in this process by several hundred times. Tim Deere Jones 04:43:53 So it's a potentially quite significant phenomenon. So those are the things that we were worried about. And we tried to publicize this through the media. And basically one of the responses we got was a relatively small amount of print in any story, covering our side of it. And usually about two-thirds more covering the pro nuclear side and ample opportunity for nuclear protagonists and supporters to, to call campaign as liars to say that we were ignorant people who didn't know what we were talking about, that we were not qualified to speak on these issues and that we were alarmist. So when you know, I spoke about how radioactivity transfers from the seat of the land and can be magnified in the process by several hundred times that was alarmist and scaremongering. But I mean, that, wasn't my work that was actually work done in the seventies, by the nuclear industry, which showed that. Tim Deere Jones 04:44:53 So we were very disappointed, really both on the wealth side and on the Somerset side and even more so on a national UK wide basis that we got very little coverage. And the coverage that we did get was, was negative and biased, and often quoted people who were quoted as being independent experts. But when I delved into it, I found that they were all one way or another in hock to the nuclear industry. So we, we, you know, we were deeply disappointed, but the petition, the initial petition that I, I started in 2017, although it was a, a purely Welsh government petition, it did get 7,000 signatures. And on the back of that, two other petitions were launched by large campaigning petition bodies. And in total, in the year of 20 17, 20 18, we got 157,000 signatures, which was pretty good going really considering the whales and north Somerset are not the most populated areas of the UK. So we were quite pleased about that. And on social media, it was very obvious that there was a good understanding amongst and people who were following the story about what was happening, but that, that good understanding and that strong public support was not adequately represented by the mass media. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:18 So where do you go from here? What is the next step? What are you attempting to do? Is there anything that can be done Tim Deere Jones 04:46:29 Now we're in the situation where we're having the second dredging and dumping is taking place, the license, which was recently issued this year, this summer by the Marine management organization to the nuclear company, permits them to dredge off the Hinckley site and to Dumbo port is head this summer and next summer that's in order to get rid of their 600,000 tons, because of course, having only done a partial Drake in 2018 and then left it for two years, the hole that they dredged had naturally enough filled up with sediment because nature abhors a vacuum. And if you dig a hole in a fine sediment area, it will fill up with more sediment. You know, they've just made it, made the matter worse by leaving it alone. Anyway. So, so where we are now is that we have had the first four samples of our independent baseline sediment sampling program carried out this summer. Tim Deere Jones 04:47:34 We've had them analyzed. And what they have shown is that in areas distant from the nuclear power plants, we have what are commensurate with the highest concentrations of radioactivity monitored by the official people. So when the official people monitor very close to the nuclear power station, they get double figures, folk backgrounds to the kilogram of cesium, for instance, and then as they stretch it away, the concentrations decline with distance from the station. What we have the first thing to say is that we've got four sediment samples, one from Portishead, the dumps, the new dump site, one from Bristol docks, which is just upstream of the new dump site. One from the Welsh side of the Bristol channel at distance from Cardiff and one from very close to Cardiff. Now all of the, for the card, if one has the highest radioactivity levels, and there is no known source of the cesium, 1 37 and Amaris seem to fall one in the immediate card of area. Tim Deere Jones 04:48:42 So I am therefore postulating that the fact that we have the highest levels is due to the mud dump in 2018, because there's no other explanation as to why we should have highest levels there at the most distant site, from the nuclear power stations, except for the 120,000 tons of radioactive mode that was dumped there a couple of years ago. So that's one of the thing. Secondly, we are asked for our material, cause I had constantly been saying, look, the official monitoring is done with what's called gamma spectrometry. So it only identifies gamma images and it won't identify alpha emitters or pure beater emitters. So I can't do anything about that because beta and alpha analysis are very, very expensive and we couldn't afford it. But the other problem with the official monitoring is that they only count the spectrometry for 15 hours now, right through the whole process of complaining to the authorities and submitting evidence. Tim Deere Jones 04:49:45 I have pointed out that academics, plenty of academic university papers published in peer reviewed Marine pollution journals that say, if you count your radioactivity samples for a longer period, you get a more accurate result. So we asked our independent laboratory to count our samples for 3.5 days. And that's, I think another reason why we've got relatively high figures at such distances from the nuclear power station outfalls. And I suspect that if we could get samples of our own from close to the nuclear power stations and have them analyzed and counted for 3.5 days, the figures that we we would get would be much, much higher than the figures that the official monitoring producers and the official monitoring is based on the Alara principle, which is as low as reasonably achievable. And when you delve into what does as low as reasonably achievable me, one of the major factors is not entailing access in cost compared to the potential benefits of the nuclear power. Tim Deere Jones 05:51:07 So of course, pro you hear governments are all saying nuclear power is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful for you. But at the same time, they're saying, oh, well, if we do 3.5 day counts on all the samples we take and analyze them, it's going to cost us a note of money and reduce the profitability of our exercise through. Certainly I can tell you over the last 20 years, what the nuclear industry and the regulators in UK have been doing, they're perpetually on a cost cutting exercise. And so I think we have already discovered two things as a result of our sediment sampling. One is that the methods they're using are cheapskate and are going to give them results, which are beneficial to them, but are not going to actually be telling the ground zero truth about what's really happening. And secondly, that there is no other reason for the relatively high figures that we got in the car they've sought sediment sampling site, other than the fact that it was just, just next to the dump site, which was used in 2018. Tim Deere Jones 05:52:08 So that's where we are at the moment, what we could do. We don't know we are now exploring legal avenues and trying to see if we could a raise the money to take a legal case, arguing that the nuclear industry companies and the governments should have carried out an environmental impact assessment at the dump sites, which would have answered all our baseline questions, but they say, oh, no, no need to do that because we did an environmental impact assessment. But actually when you dig into that, you find they did an environmental impact assessment for the whole project, the building and the running of the reactor and the long-term gaseous discharge is an aquatic discharge, but they didn't do anything specifically about the dredging and the dumping. So we've been lied to, and that's our only option at the moment is to see if we can get the nuclear industry and the regulating agencies critiqued by judges and the legal system for not carrying out an environmental impact assessment. And maybe in the long run, actually get a stock on the project until an environmental impact assessment is conducted. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:23 Tim. This has been an extensive jaw dropping and mind boggling report. What I've only seen the edges of from news reports, which are the source of so much information on nuclear hot seat. And you're right. It has not been covered in any extensive manner. Certainly not as extensive as you just provided for us. I want to thank you for this. I wish you every success as you and the others move forward to getting some justice and an appropriate environmental impact assessment and keep us informed for now. Thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear Hotsy Tim Deere Jones 05:54:08 Last year levy, thank you very much and more power to your, your elbow and the work you're doing too. It's very valuable. And we're always interested to see and hear what you produced. Thank you, Libby. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:19 That was indomitable Marine biologist and researcher Kim, dear Jones for reporters who wish to interview Tim and those who wish to contact him to help support his work. You can send a message on Facebook or email him@timdjattalktalk.net. We'll have the link up on the website. And if there's some young person in the UK who can help him with his online presence, contact him and offer support because it's really important that he have better ways to get the word out Libbe HaLevy  05:54:59 With the United nations climate change conference or cop 26 coming up in Glasgow, Scotland between October 31st and November 12th. There are a lot of great webinars, articles and videos being posted. We don't have time for all of them, but some of the basics that will help you out are posted on the website and include an excellent 10 minute video by N E I S on why nukes are not a solution to climate change. The video is so effective. They've already gotten requests to translate it into German, Turkish and Hungarian. There's link to a clear, concise article by Tim Hudson of NIRS on those exact same talking points about why nuclear is not a solution to climate change. And there's also a 10 minute video by Dr. Arjun Maka, Johnny, on how the us can transition completely to renewables with no loss of power. And the international uranium film festival is offering eight films online for free between now and Sunday, September 19. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:03 You can find them@uraniumfilmfestival.org, and that will be linked as well. Finally, I've gotten a first look at the completely reconfigured and rebuild nuclear hotseat website, and it's a, wowser more details in the coming weeks. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, September 14th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net domain renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com and eis.org, nears.org and IRS the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can.org don't bank on the bomb.com Arnie Gunderson and fairwinds.org in false climate resolutions.org, NHK that O R D J P news 20 four.com practical mechanics.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you'd like to get nuclear hot seat delivered by email every week, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, go to the yellow opt-in box in your first name and an email address, click and you're set up. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:18 And if you've got a local nuclear issue that I don't know about, let me know. We'd love to cover it for the show. Be your suggestion, a story lead, a hot tip, or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and anything you can do will help us out. And we'll really appreciate it. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi had hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but various allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you all things nuclear create radioactive waste, which can cause cancer for more than 240,000 years, which is like forever. So there you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. Now don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:30 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot seat. The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #533: Blast the Money Out of Nuclear Weapons! Susi Snyder, Don't Bank on the Bomb + Santa Susana Field Lab UPDATE w/Melissa Bumstead URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/blast-the-money-out-of-nuclear-weapons-santa-susana-field-lab-update/ Published: 2021-09-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Blast the money out of nuclear weapons – and while you're at it, clean up the radioactive cancer-causing mess you've already created! Picture of recent demo in Sacramento by a coalition of environmental justice groups. Of course, the pols did not listen. Sigh… This Week's Featured Interviews: Blast the money out of nuclear weapons! Nuclear divestment means institutional nuke investments are going down — and Susi Snyder explains how any one of us can join that movement. She is project lead for the PAX No Nukes Project and coordinator for the Don’t Bank on the Bomb research and campaign. Susi’s an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades of experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. LINK to the 2020 Global Report on the Financing of Nuclear Weapons Producers HERE. To find out which financial institutions provide funding for nuclear weapons producers, CLICK HERE. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and Don't Bank on the Bomb‘s short video on how much the nine nuclear weapons countries spend on their arsenals… in one year! Melissa Bumstead of Parents Against the Santa Susana Field Lab, the group that has been fighting for a complete clean-up of the radiologically and chemically polluted site of the Rocketdyne site in Simi Valley, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Here, she provides an UPDATE on the recent state-wide demo of environmental justice groups, including the anti-nuclear groups Tri-Valley Cares (focused on the Lawrence Livermore Lab) and Greenaction (working on Hunter’s Point San Francisco Bay ). Activist Melissa Bumstead (in green boa), cleverly disguised as a rich lobbyist. Picture taken at the Sacramento demonstration by Environmental Justice groups. Activist Melissa Bumstead (in green boa), cleverly disguised as a rich lobbyist. Picture taken at the Sacramento demonstration by Environmental Justice groups. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Radiation not killing off the animals fast enough?  Hey, let's just let the hunters at 'em at Rocky Flats National Nuclear Waste Site, uhr, Wildlife Preserve!  They're so hot, they cook themselves from the inside out! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear weapons. Didn't we deal with those in the fifties and sixties. Sadly, they're still with us arsenals of 15,000 world shattering nuclear or atomic. If you prefer that languaging bombs on hair, trigger alert, ready to be launched with guaranteed destruction of not only whatever they're targeting, but of life on earth itself. And getting rid of nuclear weapons may seem too enormous a task for any one person to make a difference. But that's when you need to hear from a genuine international expert from don't bank on the bomb, telling you about what they do. And then she explained, Susie Synder 00:00:48 We examine the impact of the financial sector on companies that produce nuclear weapons. We named those companies named them and shamed them. And we encourage people to get in touch with their financial institutions so that they develop policies so that they don't have any exposure to these companies that do produce the key components for nuclear bombs. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:11 Well, that sounds easy enough, and it is, and it's effective, empowering. It's working around the world and it shows us that maybe just, maybe there might be a way to ease out of that uncomfortable seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:31 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear? Hotsy what have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:02 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with Susie Snyder of PACS, Netherlands, the group behind the international don't bank on the bomb campaign that is rapidly taking the financial props out from under the nuclear weapons industry. You'll learn not only what they are doing, but what you can do and why you must later. We'll hear from Melissa Bumstead parents against Santa Susana field lab in Simi valley, 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles with an update on that group's recent activities to force a full cleanup of that radiologically contaminated site. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:04 We will also have nuclear news from around the world, none of that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information. Then as being shared by all those kids on Tik TOK, who are busy, crashing the abortion whistleblower websites in Texas and good for them, all of this coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, September 7th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. First, a follow-up on last week special program on hurricane Ida and the impact on the Waterford nuclear reactor. This is from Arnie Gunderson, who was one of our guests on last week show. He wrote when hurricane Ida approach new Orleans on August 29th, 2021 Entergy's Waterford nuclear plant deliberately reduced its power level to zero as required by its plant technical specifications. However, even when a nuclear reactor produces zero power, it still relies upon electricity from the power grid to operate its cooling water pumps and plant electrical systems on August 29, high winds broke numerous transmission lines, which caused the electric grid to fail as a result, Waterford lost its electric grid connection and switch to emergency power from its two diesel generators. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:28 Offsite power was restored as of September 2nd, but as of September four, Waterford remained shut down and produced zero power until it started up again on Tuesday, September seven, and is now reported to be at only 16% power to quote Arnie Gunderson, who is a nuclear engineer on licensed nuclear plant operator. Fairwinds believes something strange is happening at Entergy's water for nuke, and it appears that energy and the NRC are colluding by not disclosing the extent of the damage at Waterford. If you would like to hear the nuclear hot seat interview, which Arnie labeled precedent in explaining why Waterford was shut down and remained closed for so long, you can listen to it. Nuclear hot seat, number 5 32 from last week, August 31st, 2021 in Illinois, the Illinois nuclear bailout labeled the nuclear hostage crisis by Dave craft. The head of nuclear energy information service in Chicago is limping forward, but still in limbo, the legislation provides for a $694 million bailout for Exelon's Byron Dresden and Braidwood nuclear power plants to be paid by Illinois rate payers over a five-year period. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:48 By comparison, during this period of time, renewables get only $600 million in the recently passed Senate bill, the nuclear bailout amount was nearly twice. The amount that an independent audit commissioned by the state suggested was needed in April sinaps energy economics stated that most excellent should receive a maximum of $350 million over five years, possibly less. If energy prices changed in favor of excellence, unprofitable, nuclear plants, no justification was ever publicly made to account for doubling this rate. Payer financed bailout as NIS points out, every dollar spent no wasted on bailing out aging degrading nuclear plants is a dollar not spent on brand new proven, renewable energy, resources, efficiency, storage, and transmission improvements, which will be the backbone of the 21st century energy infrastructure in South Carolina, the ill faded construction of new nuclear reactors in that state. One of two such troubled Westinghouse reactor construction projects in the United States was abruptly terminated on July 31st, 2017, but the effort to determine legal accountability for the projects colossal failure is only now hitting its stride on August 18 of this year, former senior vice-president of new plants and major projects. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:17 Jeffrey Benjamin was charged with 16 felony counts, including conspiracy wire fraud, securities fraud, and causing a publicly traded company to keep a false record. He was arraigned on August 31st. This boondoggle at the VC summer site costs taxpayers $9 billion on construction and the project delivered nothing to consumers who are also potential jury members, but a series of nine rate hikes in February, Kevin March, former CEO of SCANA the publicly held utility that was in charge of these. He summer entered a guilty plea in federal court for conspiracy to commit felony fraud and Stephen Byrne, former SCANA chief operating officer and executive vice president pleaded guilty in July of 2022 conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. And there will be more. And if that weren't enough of an example of nuclear boneheaded illness, he hears Libbe HaLevy  00:08:31 On August 30th, 2021. The department of the interior announced that the us fish and wildlife service has opened new or expanded hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 2.1 million acres, the largest expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities in recent history. And what does that include? The Rocky flats radioactive dump, excuse me, national wildlife refuge. Put that part in quotes. Yes. The former nuclear weapons manufacturing site near Denver, Colorado is open for you to shoot radiation, addled, mutant critters. These are beneficial because they will cook themselves from the inside out with the residential radioactive heat that they have ingested bad. And that's why department of the interior you are this week's Libbe HaLevy  00:09:33 Internationally. North Korea appears to have restarted a nuclear reactor in young, beyond this, according to the international atomic energy agency or IAEA, the young beyond complex is believed to have produced plutonium for nuclear weapons. In the past, this new report suggests that the country may be at work expanding its nuclear arsenal since early July, 2021 indications, including the discharge of cooling water, consistent with the operation of a reactor signs of ongoing milling mining and concentration activities at a suspected uranium, mine and ongoing activities at a suspected enrichment facility and Kang some point to a continuation of north Korea's nuclear program and is a clear violation of relevant UN security council resolutions. This news challenges, the Biden administrations expressed interest in renewing nuclear talks with North Korea quote, anywhere, anytime without preconditions and in the UK. A new BBC drama called vigil is focusing attention on the fast lane peace camp, the longest running anti-nuclear peace camp in the world. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:47 The show is a point of contention for the residents because they point to its inaccuracy, but Hey television, but at least articles are being written and we will link to one on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under episode number 5 33. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. But first the pro nuclear propaganda keeps coming thick and fast setting up talking points that the casual reader or legislator will catch in headlines and absorb as gospel truth. When it's really just the opposite. What is there to counter the lies of the nuclear industry, all the money and influence and smug smarmy talking points. Yeah, I'm pretty heated up this week. That's because while David May have won out over Goliath, sometimes this battle feels impossible and still I, we have persisted for eight years. Nuclear hot seat has been one of the only places where you can get a one hour hit of honest nuclear information every week interviews with genuine experts around up of international news, never enough time for all the stories that deserve it, but still numb nuts of the week. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:06 Bad puns, sometimes a touch of musical theater. Where else can you find all of this in a weekly counterbalanced to nuclear industry lies? Of course, the show has been operating for years on a budget. That's less than what one nuclear lobbyist gets to spend for one week of lunches with powerful legislators and our budget is dependent on you. The listeners to keep us going right now, to be honest, finances have been getting pretty thin. So if you are against nukes and want to help get the word out, help us with a donation. It's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can send a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation of any size. Please do what you can now and know that whatever you can do to help I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here's this week's featured interview. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:09 Susie Snyder is project lead for the PACS, no nukes project and coordinates the dunk bank on the bomb research publication and campaigning activities. She is an international steering group member of the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and a 2016 nuclear free future award Laureate. Previously, Mrs. Snyder served as the secretary general of the women's international league for peace and freedom at their Geneva secretariat. Now don't bank on the bomb has published their 20, 20 global report on the financing of nuclear weapons producers. And this is not only another interesting repost that you promised yourself. You'll read one day, it provides a blueprint for how we, you and I, and anyone can help leverage money out of the nuclear weapons industry. We initially spoke on Friday, May 10th, 2019 for nuclear hot seat, number four 12. And her information is as good today as it was then note that there will be a brief unplanned appearance of a young activist who underscores the reason why we do this work. Susie Snyder. Thank you so much for being with us here today on nuclear hot seat. Susie Synder 01:14:27 Great to be here. Thanks so much. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:31 First of all, what is packs and what are the organization's goals? Susie Synder 01:14:36 Well, PACS is a Dutch peace organization and what we're doing, we are working to reduce human suffering as a result of conflict. And so to, to prevent war prevent suffering, and generally to make sure that we build norms that keep people safe and keep people alive. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:58 What are some of your cornerstone programs? I'm certainly familiar with don't bank on the bomb because I've followed that protocol with my own finances. What is this? And how can people participate in it? Susie Synder 01:15:11 I don't think on the bomb is a great project. That is what we do is we, we do three things. We examine the impact of the financial sector on companies that produce nuclear weapons. We named those companies named them and shamed them. And we encourage people to get in touch with their financial institutions so that they develop policies so that they don't have any exposure to these companies that do produce the key components for nuclear bombs. So it's, it's naming the ones that have investments. It's supporting the ones that have great policies not to invest. And it's of course, identifying the companies that make the bombs, because if we don't know who's doing it, we don't know what we can do about it. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:54 Speaking of those companies, there has just been a new report that came out naming 28 separate companies as being involved in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. How did that report come about and what are some of the findings you've made because of it? Susie Synder 01:16:11 Well, let me tell you, let me, it was a good deal of research and we are extremely rigorous in our research. So we've been looking at contracts and announcements for contracts or requests for proposals and so on for the last, for the last six months. And so what we did is as we looked at these, we looked at these different issues and we, sorry, sorry. I'm sure that many of your listeners also have children they're hearing in the background. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:42 This is the reason we do the work that we knew for the children. And so this could not be more perfect. Susie Synder 01:16:53 It is just the reality, you know, working moms everywhere. So what we did is we looked at a contract. We looked at the government plans, different government plans for new types of nuclear weapons, for the weapons that are under these so-called modernization programs. And then we look to see, okay, who's actually doing this in-house so to speak, like what countries are doing it, there's only nine countries that have nuclear weapons. So it's not so many at the end of the day. And we look at who does stuff in houses and state run agencies and who contracts out now, not everybody contracts out. Russia does stuff. Mostly in house North Korea does everything in house. Pakistan does stuff in house, but India, the us, the UK, France, they all count. They all hire external contractors. So then we follow the money who bids on the contracts, who gets the contract and what are they doing? Susie Synder 01:17:48 What are they actually doing under these contracts? And that's where we found exciting. Well, it's exciting. And it's not a nice way, but you know, we've found over $116 billion in existing contracts right now for keeping nuclear weapons on the planet. And some of them until 2075, which all of these countries have said they had to state at one time, or other said, no, we need a world without nuclear weapons. And I'll tell you, you don't get to a world without nuclear weapons by hiring Boeing or Raytheon or Lockheed Martin to build a new nuclear arsenal for you. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:26 Some of the stories that I've read about coming out from the contracts are truly it's like going into bizarro land. They give us some examples. For example, when the head of Raytheon was asked, if there was a growth opportunity in the us exit from the inf treaty. Susie Synder 01:18:47 So this was really surprising. I mean, okay, usually what's nuclear weapons. Nobody's really nobody's should be really proud to be making nuclear weapons. These are weapons designed to, you know, your listeners know this already. These are weapons designed to annihilate cities. They're not for battlefields. They're not for strategic pinpoint accuracy. This is a city Buster. And that's, I think that's really important to keep in mind. And for the most part over the last, almost the last generation, people have been shying away from, from taking pride in this. But then there are a few and there's been a slight change in the rhetoric around this. So when Donald Trump took office, he asked these questions, why would we have nuclear weapons? If we could never use them? And he started saying, well, maybe we need, you know, we need to go back to make more and the biggest and the best weapons. Susie Synder 01:19:38 And he's basically inciting an arms race by withdrawing from the intermediate nuclear forces treaty this treaty from 1987, that prohibited an entire class of weapons. He opened the flood gates on this. And so in Raytheon and Raytheon of all companies, Raytheon kind of was getting out of the nuclear arms game. It was seen as a, as a losing interest, but then the withdrawal from the IMF came about and they said, oh wait, we might have an opportunity here, at least in the short term. So you, you saw the investor relations call. They said they were asked the question, oh yeah. You know, is there any opportunity for us? And over the next quarter rate, beyond that 500 million in new contracts related to Ms. Cell technology. So Raytheon starting to cash in on this new nuclear arms race. And I just have to ask the question, what are they, you know, they're only looking for short term game, what are they looking for in the long-term? Because this is not the kind of product that we should be supporting. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:38 It's a terrifying thought that nuclear weapons are looked at as a growth industry and an opportunity for investor profits when really their end game is the destruction of everything. And their profits will mean nothing. There are other programs that have been brought up in the reading that I've been doing. And another one had to do with bowling and a new program that the company that brought us the twice crashed 7 37 max, is being asked to develop what is a flight termination receiver and what are the implications of the attempt to develop it? Susie Synder 02:21:15 Okay. So this is something that within the nuclear policy community, there's some debate, right? So the flight termination receiver is the idea is you, you can call the missile back because it takes about 25 and 40 minutes for an Intercontinental ballistic missile to be launched and hit its target. And that means that once you press the button, there's fish two hours until the end of civilization, as we know it, because any target they're gonna, they're gonna see the incoming missile and they're going to launch and return. They're gonna try to take everything out before you take out what they've got. That's the whole, that's what there was this whole concept behind mutually assured destruction. So with what bullying is doing now is they're making this missile technology so that if you launch and you decide, oh wait, whoops, our information was wrong. Oh, actually it was a weather balloon. Susie Synder 02:22:11 Oh no, that wasn't an incoming missile. It was, you know, it was a pigeon, whatever it is. And I don't mean to make light of it, but seriously, there's been so many near misses. It could be anything. The idea is that the missile would then go off course or with self-destructs. So it wouldn't have the same. It wouldn't hit its target. So it is to be able to shift it in flight. Now on the one hand, you know, this could be great. Cause then it, you know, it won't hit its target and you could, you could stop some insanity. But on the other hand, if you see the missile coming in, you're going to fire with everything you've got. And so it's a losing situation. It's a losing proposition. And honestly, as you said, how much can we trust Boeing right now? Libbe HaLevy  02:22:57 It's how much do we trust anybody who is working in nuclear arms because they can somehow justify it. I've also seen that one of the problems with having a flight termination receiver is that it might call for a launch of a weapon and then using it just as a scare tactic, because they think, well, we can pull it back and there will be no harm, no foul when indeed you're right. The retaliation could be volleyed out before we could pull it back and they might not be able to do so. And there goes the planet, or if not the planet, at least the people in the life forms on it. Susie Synder 02:23:35 Exactly. And what we've learned from new climate research from new modeling just the last 10 years is that it doesn't take a thousand bombs going off to destroy the civilization that we, that we know it would take a hundred weapons between, for example, India and Pakistan, and 2 billion people, 2 billion people were at risk of famine. It would cause grave environmental catastrophe. It would, it would be a nuclear winter. And in the eighties, we are totally aware of this. So like, okay, this is not going to happen. We're going to stop it. We're going to shut this down. This is insane. And right now it's our time to stand up and say, Hey, this is insane. There are so many more things that we could spend the money on the U S government alone is spending $70,000 on minutes on producing nuclear weapons, 70,000 a minute. Imagine what $70,000 a minute could do for public education, addressing climate change, the nuclear weapons problem. It's complicated, but it's, it's a relatively easy fix. And it's just a matter of deciding to do it. And now's the time for people to, to demand that we do, Libbe HaLevy  02:24:57 You know, you're right. On the one hand, it's a terribly depressing image for those of us who oppose nuclear and have managed to become conscious about it yet in the intertwining of the private sector and nuclear weapons, there are potential points of leverage. Explain what you mean by that. Susie Synder 02:25:17 This is what I'm finding is very exciting. So two years ago, most of the nations in the world adopted a new treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. They said, you know what? This has gone bonkers long enough. And the consequences of any use of nuclear weapons are so great. We need to prohibit everything to do with them, prohibit all the making, having using preparance use prohibited, make it illegal, make sure that we are collectively responsible. If any weapons get used, you know, reinforce the nonproliferation standard by doing so protect the environment. This is the most Everence in the world said, yes, we're going to do this. And after that financial institutions, banks, pension funds, insurance companies, they said, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. If the weapons are illegal, the companies that are making the weapons, they're going to start to go down, let's get out, let's get out. Now let's prevent any reputational risk or regulatory risk. Let's end our financial involvement with these companies. And 10% of them dropped out. It was amazing Libbe HaLevy  02:26:33 When you said 10% of them dropped out, explain a little more about what that exactly means. Susie Synder 02:26:38 We've been doing this kind of analysis of the environment, financial sector and whoever producers for, for a while. Now, since 2013 and we track every year, how many, how many banks, how many financial institutions and best, and from the adoption of the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons until a year later, there was a 10% reduction. It's an actual number. There's 30, fewer financial institutions that had investments in the companies that produce nuclear weapons. And some of these are really like this is blue cross and blue shield that previously had some investments and then got out. This is, you know, the Norwegian government pension funds that said, oh, wait a minute. We better change our relationship here. This is ABP, which is the fifth largest pension fund in the world. And they said, oh, hang on. Nope, nuclear is illegal. Now, got to get out of that game, which is quite impressive. We're putting together the numbers for this year. And I think we're going to see some, some additional positive change. This Nope, even though a few companies are starting to make money off of new contracts. And most of the world, this is seen as a bad investment. Libbe HaLevy  02:27:52 I often think of PACS and the Nobel peace prize, winning international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons or I can, which was behind the treaty in the United nations, the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. I often think of you two as kind of either conjoined or somehow being under the same umbrella. What is the relationship between the two groups? Susie Synder 02:28:18 PAX is a partner of the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. And I can as a campaign coalition, and we've got over 500 partners in more than a hundred countries around the world. And it was, I can working with these partnerships also with, with concerned governments, with international organizations like the global red cross that got this treaty to happen. It was, it was through partnership. It was through a movement. And PAX is that as a part of this bigger movement, we're really proud to be a member of this campaign coalition because it means that we're, as we said in the local papers here, the Nobel peace prize got one in our little town, at least a little bit. It's quite amazing. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:03 Let's switch over to talking a little bit about ICANN and the impact that that is having and can potentially have the entire nuclear weapons landscape in the world. It is not a campaign to ask the nine nuclear countries to get rid of their weapons. It's a campaign to get all of the countries that don't have nuclear weapons to agree, to not get nuclear weapons. And then there are other provisions involved with it as well. Can you explain what those are and how those would mess up the nuclear countries? Susie Synder 02:29:37 Sure. So the thing is with, with icon is that we're working at over a hundred countries to raise the stigma against nuclear weapons. And most countries of the world have already rejected nuclear weapons. It's just this nine that are, seem to be a bit stuck and seem to be kind of a, I dunno, it's a little bit of old thinking and that doesn't quite relate to the current world order, but that I can is working even in the nuclear armed countries to say, Hey, we have a plan to get to no nuclear weapons in the world. We know the nuclear armed countries, they're clearly not ready yet. They haven't quite matured to the level of, of many others to be able to, to take a more realistic and pragmatic approach to their security, but the other countries have. And so countries like Austria and Ireland, South Africa are fully on board with this treaty because they recognize that there is no, no benefit to them and only risk from supporting nuclear weapons. Susie Synder 03:30:37 What this means is that financial institutions in those countries have seen what happens with other weapons, prohibitions, and they get out of the, of the game when it comes to investing in companies that produce the weapons companies like Airbus, Airbus is a com as a Dutch registered company. Airbus has operations throughout Europe. Airbus is known for making airplanes. Airbus also makes missiles for the French nuclear arsenal. And what this does is it says that if Airbus, for example, when Germany signs on to the ban treaty, the operations that Airbus has within Germany, can't be involved in the production of missiles for France or for anybody else because that's prohibited under the treaty. And that would change the landscape for France. France doesn't have another capability or they have to move manufacturing capabilities. And that's, that's really important also, but she also has this great impact because it makes the question of it challenges. Susie Synder 03:31:43 The assumption that nuclear weapons would benefit anyone's security. And in fact, puts the onus on those who have the weapons prove it. You've been saying this for so long with no evidence. You've been quite hysterical about your security concerns. No, be rational, become, prove that this is the only way forward. And if it is in fact, the only way forward, why are you so United against other countries getting the same weapons? Why does North Korea use the same language as France and defending its its decision to get nuclear weapons? You know, be a calm, rational actor in this field and not the hysterical nuclear armed countries that we've come to know. It seems that this Libbe HaLevy  03:32:27 Program, the treaty for the prevention of nuclear war and the countries that sign onto it would really signify a grassroots erosion of the ability of the nuclear industry to operate unimpeded. In other words, putting perhaps if not a block in the road, a stone in the shoe that they can't move forward as they planned on it. And here in the U S we are starting to see some changes, at least on the state and the local level in January, a bill was introduced in the Massachusetts state legislature that would require the state's pension funds to divest from nuclear manufacturers. The city of Cambridge has already done. So, and here in California, OHI will not make any future investments in the makers or funders of nuclear weapons. Do think that the best way for us to proceed is to work on the local grassroots level rather than going for the big guys in Washington DC, or the heads of whatever countries, people listening to this show in 123 countries that listened to it. I'm not going after the top of the governmental food chain, but starting local is the path we need to follow. Susie Synder 03:33:40 Well, I think it depends on where people are. So in the U S you know, one out of every eight Americans lives in California. So when the California state legislature passes a resolution calling on the U S federal government to endorse and embrace the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, that is significant. And that is a demonstration of the will of the people. Nuclear weapons are the opposite of democracy. They're the opposite of people's movements. And it's going to take people's movements, being creative in the locations they are to get change. We just had today, which said, Berlin, both the city of Berlin, as well as the federal state of Berlin, come on board and call on the German governments to join this treaty. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:31 That's fabulous. I hadn't gotten that news yet. Susie Synder 03:34:35 Yeah. And it's happening every day. There are new cities joining. There are new there's new state resolutions being discussed there, conversations happening. And the key thing is nuclear weapons are an anachronism and we can move past them, but we have to talk about them. And we have to talk about the, not just with our friends, that it's comfortable to talk about them with, but to talk about them in other places and reach out, because I'll tell you, we ran a petition campaign a couple of years ago in the Netherlands. And what we found is that nine out of every 10 people we asked said, of course we don't support nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are dumb. Wait, there's still a problem. I thought they were gone. Most people don't know. And as soon as they know, they think, oh my gosh, this is ridiculous. This is a problem of the eighties. Let's, let's send it to the dustbin of history, that attitude and that emphasis and that is starting to catch like a wildfire throughout the world. And it will change the minds of those sitting in the high political offices. If you are friends with the head of state, by all means, call your buddy and tells him to get on board with this treaty. If however, you are not friends with the head of state, think about other ways you can, you can help support this, this effort to make nuclear weapons history. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:01 That brings us to the practicalities. What are things that people on the ground can do? And what tools do you have? Because the research is extensive and it is impeccable. Everything is footnoted. Everything is accurate in it because we can't, our side can't afford to make mistakes. What do you have available that we can use to support anything that we are saying or doing on the ground? Susie Synder 03:36:27 Well, the first thing I would encourage your listeners to just sign up to our newsletter. We're constantly putting information out. It's at nuclear ban.org, and there's tons of info there. Well, now it depends again where people are. If you want to figure out how to make sure your personal finances are in no way, connected to the companies that produce nuclear weapons, whether it be through your bank or through your pension investments or other things, we have checklists on our website for people to use. We just quickly scan the websites. See if your bank's listed, send them a message. We have tools you can directly send your bank a message. And a lot of people these days, myself included use 'em to banking on our phones, right? Mobile banking is the thing. And I encourage people all the time, pull out your phone, go to your banking app and just send a message directly to your bank right now and just say, Hey, are we in any way connected to companies that produce your bonds? Susie Synder 03:37:27 When you ask that question through your mobile app, through walking into your local bank branch, whatever it is, you're starting a chain reaction of the good kind, the person on the other end probably has no idea. So they're going to have to ask somebody is going to have to ask somebody is going to have to ask somebody. We saw a number of financial institutions get out of this type of investment because people started asking questions on their Facebook profiles. And there's this like, oh, that's not good. We can't have this. Oh, wait, wait, let's check. Let's check. Okay, well, let's get that. They divested first. And then they put into place a policy to make sure that they'll never have any kind of investments and connected to the producers in the future. And it's part of their internal due diligence. Now it wasn't a huge number of people that did this. It was three or four people that saw something in a newspaper that saw a tweet that heard something on the radio. And they took action because it truly is. As Margaret Mead said, it truly is a small handful of thoughtful and committed people that can change the world. And there are many people who would love the extra energy and attention. And the quick question, do we have anything to do with the nuclear bomb? If so, how can we avoid it? And we can, and we will. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:52 The brilliance of this program is that any individual can make an enormous difference simply by taking a few steps that are already brilliantly strategized and plotted out and framed as you have done, as the people with PACS have done. And I can as well, if you have any final thoughts to share with the listeners today, what would that be? Susie Synder 03:39:20 I would ask your listeners to tell a friend, each one can reach one and each one can teach one. And that is how we will get this change. And that is how we will be able to retire from working on nuclear weapon issues and put our energy into dealing with the new challenges that face a new century. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:42 Susie Snyder, you have been doing brilliant work. I've been aware of your work since Helen Caldicott conference. I believe it was five or six years ago and the progress has been astonishing and breathtaking. I always report on any positive steps that we find out that have been taken by either PACS or I can on nuclear Hotsy. Cause we've got to get our new good news from somewhere. And it seems to come inordinately from these two groups. Susie Synder 04:40:09 Thank you so much. It's been a great pleasure speaking with you. It's always a great pleasure and I really appreciate the opportunities today. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:17 And I appreciate you being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. I love this woman's energy. Susie Snyder, a PAX Netherlands and don't bank on the bomb. We will have a link to that website where you can download the 20, 20 global report on the financing of nuclear weapons. Producers make certain that you do download it, send a copy to your bank, your credit union, your pension fund, financial advisors. And if you find out that any of them or their organizations support any of these nuclear weapons producers, take your money someplace else and talk with your friends about doing the same. It really can make a difference. speaker 3 04:41:05 Activists Libbe HaLevy  04:41:13 Fighting against the nuclear juggernaut is never a one and done experience. It seems that every time we make a step forward, the pushback from the nuclear industry and his cronies, take us back at least one step, if not more, that's why we need to persist this next activist. Personifies that persistence. Melissa Bumstead is head of parents against the Santa Susana field lab, a radiologically contaminated former rocket Dyne site in the Hills of Simi valley, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. We've covered the work of this group and Melissa and its fight to obtain a complete cleanup of the site against staggering political pressure and odds. Here we talk about the most recent demonstration to push for cleanup and what happened? I spoke with Melissa Bumstead on Monday, September 6th, 2021, Melissa. Bumstead thanks so much for joining us here on nuclear hot seat. Melissa Bumstead 04:42:16 Thank you so much for having me. What Libbe HaLevy  04:42:19 Is the current status at the Santa Susana field lab as regards the, Melissa Bumstead 04:42:25 The cleanup at the Santa Susana field lab is looking pretty dire right now. DTSC the department of toxic substances control is still having, as far as we know private negotiations with Boeing about the cleanup, they are refusing to show us some of the data that we need to see what's happening. It's just a big mess. It feels very frustrating. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:47 What has been the latest action? What has been the most recent action that was taken by those who are trying to get the cleanup pushed forward? Melissa Bumstead 04:42:57 About a week ago, a big group of us over 20 EGA, environmental justice communities from across California. We all have been working together for weeks now held a protest in Sacramento, right in front of the California EPA building. And that was an opportunity for each group to bring out specific demands for their sites that have not been cleaned up the department of toxic substance control. We call them the DTSC they're the regulating agency over Mike cleanup and also all these EGA communities across California. And again, and again, we've come to them as our own group, trying to make sure they're not going to compromise with Boeing and leave up to 90% of the contamination onsite. And it turns out this is the same exact story. Every single group had when they shared their demands, their children are sick. Their children have cancer. They've lost whole communities and the same exact story that they come to Cali PA and they come to the DTSC looking to be protected like the agency is meant to, and they get the same run around the exact almost like they've written our script. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:09 And that's not an unusual response to have to the way the officials operate. We've certainly seen that with the nuclear regulatory commission and EPA is infamous for it. So about how many people were at this demonstration, Melissa Bumstead 04:44:26 I think because the fires that are happening up in Northern California right now, the air quality was very, very poor in Sacramento that day. So unfortunately we had about, about 40 people show up, which isn't bad, but we had been hoping for hundreds. Nevertheless, I think we were still enough of a force to actually have the director of the DTSC Dr. Meredith Williams and the secretary for Cal EPA, Jared Blumenfeld. They actually came down and they addressed our group. How satisfactory or not was the way that they addressed you. And the information that they shared patronizing is not even the word for it. They said that they understand our suffering. They appreciate the accountability. They're so glad that we're here sharing what we need from them that we're motivating them to do more better. I mean, it was the exact, all the nice words, all the nice words. Melissa Bumstead 04:45:22 And I have to admit, I was pretty irate that day. I had driven six hours straight from Los Angeles to Sacramento. I'd been up since three that morning. I don't normally try to interrupt speakers at protests. However, I wasn't going to let them leave without calling them. Don't change the cleanup standards at the Santa Susana field lab. It's called this Fram, that deals specifically with the chemical contamination. And Boeing's part of the cleanup and Meredith Williams. The director shot back at me saying, you don't understand, you don't have the latest updates. I believe she actually said, you're not up to date with those changes and you don't know what you're doing. It was definitely the implication. I mean, it was not, I mean, I was shocked just from the perspective that somebody would say that out loud in public, you know, like to an EGA community, but just really, again, shows they don't want us to participate in how they're doing their job. Melissa Bumstead 04:46:22 And they're a public agency. They're supposed to be servants of the public. And I've been only working with the Santa Susanna field. I've cleaned up for five years, but I've been entrenched daily. It's probably out of balance that I know so much about the Santa Susana field lab cleanup. And she hasn't, you know, she's, she's a director. She's got to do all these sites. And each one of us there knew everything there was to know about our site. And for her to say that the EGA community is not up-to-date. I mean, essentially she was saying that we're a nuisance, we're part of the problem of getting these cleanups. I mean, that was heavily inferred. And afterwards I went to speak to her and secretary Blumenfeld who I thought that I had a relationship with. I thought he was on our side for years now. I thought I thought things were going really well. Pretty much said that because I don't have the degree. The other people who've been advocating for it don't have a degree. He said, Meredith Williams, Dr. Meredith Williams is the only one with a PhD and we have to listen to her, but it doesn't sound Libbe HaLevy  04:47:29 Like she a PhD in humanity or common sense. Melissa Bumstead 04:47:33 Well, apparently she has it in product safety. Apparently her degree is in product safety. And so that's quite a bit different than, you know, regulating nuclear sites. And so that was it really coming me to the court. To be honest with you, I was depressed for days because it was so emotionally draining to hear about all these children's suffering all across California, their helplessness, how they've tried every venue. I mean, they've jumped through like us, every hoop at the DTSC has put before us to try to make sure we get the right cleanup. And instead we're treated like we're just angry little children who can be pat on the head and sent back to our rooms. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:12 They're there, Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it. That's my phrase for it. What, if anything, was the media response to this demonstration that you and the other environmental justice groups had? Melissa Bumstead 04:48:26 Well, we did get coverage on the Los Angeles daily news, which was great. Again, we knew that the couldn't have been a worse time for this protest. I mean, Afghanistan is falling apart. The east coast is being hit with storms. COVID is raging school just started. I mean, everything is bad, but here in California, there is an election in two weeks. If governor knew some should be recalled or not. And we thought that if we were to make show up before that election, it might put a bit of extra pressure on secretary Blumenfeld because he's a Newsome appointee. And maybe that would work in our favor. But unfortunately the timing, I mean, we pretty much got swallowed up and the world falling apart, which it makes sense, but we still have, you know, we can't wait. We can't wait for the right timing. Our children are literally sick and cleanup agreements are being signed. So Libbe HaLevy  04:49:19 Despite your best efforts to bring this important issue up to the officials who are supposed to be taking care of it and protecting us, it sounds like it's been an exercise in futility once again. So what do you do with that kind of ignorance and deafness and blackout? Melissa Bumstead 04:49:40 I don't know. I know we can't stop, but the thing I don't understand, the thing I can't get to the root of, and I don't know how we can fix it if we don't know what the root problem is, but why is our government working against the people and for the polluters? I mean, that's, that was our big visual that really showed exactly the way we're feeling. We brought a giant bed and a bedroom set, and we had people dressed up. I was a fancy lobbyist and we had people who were dressed up as polluters and also as Cali PA and DTSC and corporate developers. And we were all in bed together, drinking champagne, smoking cigars. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:18 That explains that picture of you in the green feathered boa with the champagne glut. I was wondering, that's not unusual for somebody who's to be at a protest, but now this makes perfect sense. Melissa Bumstead 05:50:31 Right, right. And so that, but that is the problem. It's not just even a matter of getting the cleanups that we need. The agency itself is toxic. The people who are working there and who have worked there through numerous directors, numerous Cal EPA, it just seems like it's still never changes if Obama's in office or if Trump is in office or now we're back to Biden again, it's just, I don't understand why the agency itself is so broken. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:59 I understand that there is now thinking about starting a podcast on behalf of the Santa Susana field lab cleanup, where are you in that plan? Melissa Bumstead 05:51:14 Kind of in the hopeful panicky, scatterbrained, but that's how we do everything here. We're not professionals at any of this. We just kind of throw ourselves out there, kind of like spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks, but we have to have a way to share the heart of what the problem is. And I don't have time to write novels every day of what's going on. So we're hoping that a podcast, I mean, look at what you're doing. I mean, it's just, your podcast is so remarkable. So if we could be like 1000000th of a time, as good as you, then I would be very happy. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:48 I think we can get the numbers up higher than that. And I agreed that the way for any movement to move forward is to have your own channels of communication and let people know so that they can get the unfiltered truth about what's going on. We spoke earlier today about this and you know that you have my support to help get this going, hopefully in the very near future, because you don't have to be perfect. You just have to be there. Melissa Bumstead 05:52:19 Thank you. And, and I think that a podcast brings people together and that sharing of knowledge and sharing of information. I mean, that's what we really saw at this environmental justice protest. You know, we really were stronger when we were together and sharing that knowledge. And we were enough of a force to make the director and the secretary come down and feel like they had to address us. I don't think they got the warm reception. They were hoping for, it felt to me like they did walk away, like wound the dogs. I don't think that'll be enough. But if we, if we keep going, you know, and keep working together and keep sharing information, it's, we're going to get to their Achilles heel eventually. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:56 Well, it sounds like those other groups that were at that demonstration would be a great place for you to have a whole series of interviews available to you over the coming weeks and months for this. And when you get not, if when you get this podcast up and running, we will, of course feature you and promoted here on nuclear huts. Melissa Bumstead 05:53:18 Oh, thank you so much. I can't tell you how much that means to us. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:22 Well, you guys are only 30 miles away from me, so this is my neighborhood, nuclear nightmare. I mean, I've got JPL and I've got sand and fray also to worry about, but you guys are like right there. Melissa Bumstead 05:53:35 And you know what? I was kind of shocked to nuclear contamination and America. It's just not part of the news. It's not something we're seeing on television. And yet, even in the small environmental justice protest, we have three groups coming from three different radioactive contamination sites. It's just shocking to me that there is so much, even in California, we're supposed to be the environmentalist of the whole nation, maybe even the world. And there's three sites with radioactive contamination, hurting people, and we can't get the government to clean it up. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:08 You know that I've got open ears and always time on nuclear, hot seat for you and the concerns of the parents and others around Santa Susana, field lab, and Melissa Bumstead. Thank you for all the hard, important work and the heavy lifting that you are doing on behalf of the children, the parents and the environment life. Melissa Bumstead 05:54:30 Thank you so much. And I keep rocking on, I love your show and thank you for having us. Anytime, Libbe HaLevy  05:54:36 Melissa Bumstead parents against the sadness Susana field lab, we will link to them on our website, nuclear hotseat.com. Under this episode, number 5 33 on September 30th, international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war is sponsoring a webinar internationally called eliminating the existential threat of nuclear weapons participants in this high level discussion will include you and under secretary general, Izumi NACA me-too and the hens of two NGOs with official UN status. Peter Maurer, president of the international committee of the red cross, and checar Maita president of rotary international. They will discuss the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and other steps that we can take to eliminate the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons. Again, this will be September 30th at 11:00 AM, Eastern daylight time and happy birthday to Greenpeace 50 years old Jews. You don't look a day over. Where would we be without you? Libbe HaLevy  05:55:46 This has been nuclear Hotsy for Tuesday, September 7th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dune renard.wordpress.com beyond a nuclear.com the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can don't bank on the bomb.com IPP and w.org fws.org, Arnie Gunderson, and fairwinds.org, nuclear energy information service NEI s.org, the bulletin.org manager, Joe Green, the mirror.co.uk and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Now, if you'd like to make certain that you never miss out on another episode of nuclear hot seat, it's real easy. Go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com go to the yellow opt box, put in your first name, put in an email address. Shazamm you will get one email a week, which has the link to the episode and a brief rundown of some of the material that's in it. It's the easiest way for you to make certain that you get your hit of honest nuclear information. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:01 And before long, it will all be available on our new upgraded snazzy website, which I've just had a first glimpse of, and it is gorgeous and has a ton of new features that I know you'll appreciate. Won't tell you about them yet. We'll let that be a surprise. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email with that information to info@nuclearhotseat.com. That's where I get some of my best leads. And it's all dependent on you telling me what's going on in your nuclear neighborhood. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided or just link to it. That's the easiest way. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that when it comes to all things, nuclear, not only what you don't know can hurt you, chances are it probably already has. There you go. That is your nuclear wake up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear, hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #532: Nuclear New Orleans: Another Fukushima? Post-Ida Dangers at Waterford Nuclear - Arnie Gundersen, Maggie Gundersen, Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-new-orleans-another-fukushima-post-ida-dangers-waterford-nuclear/ Published: 2021-09-01 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear New Orleans: Another Fukushima? Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education spells out the dangers. This Week's SPECIAL Interviews: Following the devastation to New Orleans by Hurricane Ida, mainstream media has failed to cover the situation at the Waterford nuclear facility only 25 miles west of the city. The facility is shut down, without grid power, and currently cooling the reactor with emergency back-up generators. But is this enough? Will the fuel last long enough? Does this emergency system have enough “juice” to do its job until grid power is restored? And what is the exact nature of the other problems this nuclear reactor is facing in the days, weeks, even months ahead? We talked with three of our most reliable sources to learn the extent of what we might be facing: Arnie Gundersen is a nuclear engineer and expert witness who serves as the chief engineer for Fairewinds Associates, Inc, a paralegal services and expert testimony firm, as well as a member of Fairewinds Energy Education’s Board of Directors.Maggie Gundersen is a journalist, paralegal, and former atomic power industry spokesperson who founded Fairewinds in 2008. She is the president of Fairewinds Energy Education as well as a member of the Board of Directors.Nancy Foust is Communications Manager & Research Team Member SimplyInfo.org, a not-for-profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. She has been following Hurricane Ida’s progress and damages from the first, and here provides a clear overview of the current situation as of the time of our talk, noon Pacific time on Monday, August 30. Nancy Foust of Simply Info Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Los Alamos National Laboratory threatening to "nuke" any drones that fly into its air space. I guess they've been following how Greenpeace used drones to prove that nuclear facilities in Europe are not secure. LINKS: Cleaning up nuclear waste at Hanford: Secrecy, delays and budget debates ‘A combination of failures:’ why 3.6m pounds of nuclear waste is buried on a popular California beach (San Onofre)Holtec’s corporate shell game, and why it is unfit to handle nuclear waste at Indian Point Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear new Orleans in the wake of hurricane Ida, are we at risk of a Fukushima style meltdown? Waterford nuclear is only 25 miles from new Orleans. And along with 1 million residents of the area has lost all grid. Electrical power Waterford is currently cooling its one nuclear reactor with emergency power from diesel generators. But is this enough? Will the fuel last long enough, does this emergency system have enough juice to do its job until grid power is restored? And what is the exact nature of the pro problems? This nuclear reactor is facing. You won't hear it from owner operator energy or the nuclear regulatory commission. It takes a genuine nuclear expert to understand all the implications and be willing to share them with you. And when he tells you Arnie Gundersen 00:01:01 When a nuclear chain reaction happens, when nuclear reactor Fiss a uranium atom, 93% of the heat comes when the uranium atom pops apart. And if that's all that happened, we wouldn't worry about nuclear power. But the problem is that the pieces left behind the radioactive rubble left behind all also contain heat about 7% of the heat. And 7% is tens of thousands of horsepower worth of heat. That has to be controlled even after the reactor shuts down. So Waterford shut down, but unless it's kept cool for months, the heat from this radioactive rubble will be so significant that it can lead to a Fukushima style meltdown. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:53 Well, when licensed nuclear engineer and expert witness a Gunderson tells you that the post hurricane Ida problems at Waterford nuclear near new Orleans have only just begun, you know, deep in your gut that this, this is the manifestation of that terrible, awful seat that we all share. Announcer 00:02:16 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? New Claire hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? New clear, hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat it's de bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:47 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Hal. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a special report on the post hurricane Ida damage to the Waterford nuclear Powell power plant located only 25 miles west of new Orleans. We'll talk first with Nancy Faust of simply info, who provides a concise overview of where we stand and what was known as of Monday morning, August 30th, then a Gunderson and Maggie Gerson of far one's energy education. Expand on the known facts into the history of Waterford energy and the range of possibilities for post Ida problems on site. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:49 Arnie explains the complex workings of post emergency nuclear safety precautions in plain English and points out flaws in energy's assumptions while Maggie the COVID implications to energy workers. Are we at risk for a Fukushima style meltdown, keep listening and you'll find out. We'll also have a bit of nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information than mainstream media has bothered to mention this week, even with the situation at Waterford in play, all of this coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, August 31st, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. We are going to hit the ground running on this week's to hop story. The post hurricane dangers faced by Waterford nuclear power plant only 25 miles from new Orleans with the energy power grid for this city completely destroyed and more than 1 million people without electricity mainstream media has been covering the storms impact without a single mention of water. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:02 Herford that's why nuclear hot seat reached out to the individuals we trust to give us facts and fact based interpretations of the news so we can understand, should we be afraid? And if so, how afraid first Nancy Faust, she is communications manager and research team for simply info.org, a not for profit research collective that holds and manages the world's largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. She has been following hurricane Ida's progress and damages from the first and here she provides a clear overview of the current situation as of the, of our talk noon Pacific time, 3:00 PM Eastern on Monday, August 30th, 2021, Libbe HaLevy 00:05:51 Nancy Faust of simply info. Thanks for joining us in such short notice here on nuclear hop seat. Nancy Foust 00:05:57 Yeah, thanks for having me. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:59 We are looking at the situation with the Waterford nuclear reactor, which is only 25 miles away from new Orleans, which has been experiencing hurricane Ida catastrophic flooding and a loss of the energy grid system. What do we know first about the steps that energy took before hurricane Ida here to protect the nuclear facility? Nancy Foust 00:06:24 They didn't really put out any sort of information other than a very vague we're set. We're ready. We have a crew sequestered on site, us nuclear plants have kind of a standard procedure. If they're hurricane zone of things they do for, you know, to protect from water intrusion and that kind of thing. And to make sure they can keep a crew on site for an extended period of time in case they need 'em, but they really didn't provide any details. They did eventually shut down the plant. They were running at a hundred percent or until the hurricane approached. Then when it became clear that the winds were gonna be over, I think 125 miles an hour per NRC rules, they shut down. So where they're at right now is they shut down, but the reactor had been running at a hundred percent. So they have to deal with all that residual heat eat and cool the reactor down to get it to what's called cold shutdown. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:24 How long does that take? And do we know when they shut down the reactor, Nancy Foust 00:07:30 They shut it down. As the hurricane approached. If I remember correctly, it was Sunday afternoon around 6:00 PM and it takes about 30 hours under normal conditions to cool a reactor down to what they consider cold shutdown. But at the point of cold shutdown, they still need to maintain cooling to keep that reactor fuel. Cool. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:54 And the need for cooling is ongoing, Nancy Foust 00:07:57 Correct. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:00 What do we know of a, the impact of the storm and the flooding at Waterford? Nancy Foust 00:08:07 We don't have exact flood readings yet from the plant site, but we've gathered some information from areas nearby. So we have kind of an idea what the area looks like. The plant sits about to 19 feet above sea level. The storm surge predicted for the area around the plant was 10 to 15 feet was the predicted storm surge from the national weather service that doesn't include flash flooding from rain. You know, the level of water that's going to rise from the rain or the rise in the level of the river. So those were things we looked at as far as that goes. So we have the storm surge prediction for the plant. Also, we look at the storm surge in the flooding in nearby towns. The closest town to Waterford is called LA plant. And it is currently underwater reports. We read this morning, showed single story homes were flooded up to the robs. Nancy Foust 00:09:07 They're doing water rescue. This is on the other side of the Mississippi river from Waterford, but it gives an idea of the nearby area is like there are areas that are low lying that are having some real severe problems. We looked at road closures in the area. The roads to the west of Waterford are still open. So that's a good sign things that are to the west and north of the plant. Didn't get the severe side of the hurricane didn have near the storm surge. So there are some roads to the plant so they can get equipment in as long as they can get through the plant site from the, the county highway. And that we don't know yet. We don't know if like the access roads are underwater. So there's some concern there. And in previous hurricanes, there was a plant over in Texas where the ended up as basically an island and they couldn't get gear in because the roads were all underwater. So, you know, this is something we worry about, even though the roads open, we don't know if the plant is accessible. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:09 Trees could be down. There could be other blockage as well from debris. Nancy Foust 01:10:13 Correct. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:15 Now we know the entered G electricity grid for the entire city of new Orleans has been destroyed. And the company is warning. There will be no power for a minimum of three weeks. Waterford is in St. Charles parish, which is on the new Orleans energy grid. And there are reports that there are areas of St. Charles parish, where the electric grid is down, is Waterford connected. Do we know to the energy grid? And if so, how might this protracted loss of grid energy impact the facility? Nancy Foust 01:10:48 Currently the entire region is without power. We looked at some of the grid maps this morning. There are little pockets of a open power lines that are generating electricity, but these seem to be in very isolated areas. There's one across the river from Waterford that appears to be self-generated electricity from the shell refinery. That's across the river, that doesn't have the ability to transmit power through the grid across the river, over to water for. So even if they wanted to somehow make it so they could send power back across the grid, there's no lines to do it with. And the other part of why all this power is down is most of the power lines are damaged in the region. So to get power restored, to Waterford, they're going to have, have to rebuild repair the electrical lines all the way from Waterford to the next available working generation source, which is all the way up in Baton Rouge. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:53 What do we know about the potential vulnerability? Not just at the reactor, but at the spent fuel pool. Nancy Foust 01:11:59 The reactor at Waterford is a pressurized water reactor. They have a, a spent fuel pool. That is it, it needs cooling. It is sitting in its own building. This is better than the design of the boiling water reactors like Fukushima. Dichi where it's up on the fourth floor. So maintaining the spent fuel pool at this reactor is a slightly safer operation. It has more margins for things to challenge it without having a problem, but it needs cooling as does the reactor. They have to keep water coming into that plant. And that requires electricity and industrial water pumps. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:43 What is the current source of electricity that they would be using? Nancy Foust 01:12:47 Waterford has two diesel generators, and these are used as backup power. And this is okay. It's keeping the fish amount of power. They're able to pump and cool. But if either of those generators go down, they start having a problem. They can run with one, but then if that last one goes down, they're in a station blackout. And that's when you start getting into situations where you can have cascading failures and start getting into scenarios, like what they thought, focus, where they lost all power, they were unable to pump water. And then you start looking at fuel damage, potentially a meltdown. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:23 Do we know how long the fuel on site would be able to last should no additional fuel be able to come across the road to the site, to run the generators. Nancy Foust 01:13:34 If they were to go into a station blackout, we have seen estimates of loss, of cooling to meltdown as short as an hour and a half. Those are the very extreme examples. The longest we've seen I believe was 56 hours, but still when you're talking about a series of days, you know, that's what, and three days, Libbe HaLevy 01:14:01 This silence is just me being stunned With the amount of fuel that they have on site, how long each of the generators is capable of running. If it doesn't get more fuel, Nancy Foust 01:14:16 We're not completely sure how many days worth of fuel they have on site. The standard NRC rule was 72 hours worth of fuel with the assumption that they could bring more diesel fuel in as needed. And if they weren't a really worth case scenario where they did run out of diesel fuel, they can airlift it in infrastructure to the north and the west is still functioning. So, I mean, there is some potential to do that, but you're now talking about these big interventions, just to keep this fuel cool, Libbe HaLevy 01:14:47 Just to prevent further catastrophe and an area that has already experienced catastrophic impact, right? Nancy, we will stay in touch with you. And if there's anything to report, please get it to us on nuclear hot. We'll get it to the listeners as soon as possible. We'll do Libbe HaLevy 01:15:05 That was Nancy Faust of simply info@simplyinfo.org. We'll of course, link to that group on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 32. This next interview is with two of the stalwarts who provide honest, detailed, vetted information on nuclear reactor issues and work to educate us. So we can understand what is going on. A Gerson is a nuclear engineer and expert witness who serves as the chief engineer for fairy's associates, Inc. A paralegal services and expert testimony firm, as well as a member of fairy's energy educations board of directors. Maggie Gunderson is a journalist paralegal and former atomic power industry spokesperson who founded phys in 2008. She is the president of Fairwinds energy education, as well as a member of its board of directors together. This team has helped people around the world gain an understanding of nuclear issues that we would not have had without them. This interview was planned with just AIE, but Maggie decided to step in at one point, and we're always happy to have her perspective with us. We spoke on Monday, August 30th at 7:00 PM Eastern time. And that's the reference point for what they share about Waterford nuclear, hurricane Ida a GSON thanks so much for joining us on short notice here on nuclear hot seat. Arnie Gundersen 01:16:40 Oh, I'm glad I quit. I, I love your show. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:43 We love having you on it. First of all, I know that you feel it's important to give listeners a brief rundown on some of the challenges that you and Maggie been facing lately. Arnie Gundersen 01:16:56 Oh yeah. Well, the, the good news is we're both looking down on the days. Maggie had a couple of cases of shingles, including in her eye, which is pretty one rare and two pretty awful. And I had cancer surgery and then complications coming out of that. But again, the good news is I am now cancer free and the, the last test they've have been ND nondetectable. I like that word. Yeah. We've had a rough since February, I guess, a rough half year, but we're on the opposite side of it now. I hope, Libbe HaLevy 01:17:32 I hope as well. Now, when I was talking with Maggie earlier, she also mentioned that you have concerns because your daughter is an RN and has been working in the midst of the pandemic. How is she doing Arnie Gundersen 01:17:45 Well? Our daughter's in ICU RN, and she had been in the emergency room and occasionally ones up working down there anyway, cuz they're so short staffed. You know, the pandemic is hitting to all the healthcare professionals. It's, it's very tiring and you've gotta lose sympathy. When you know, all the people you're now dealing with have refused to become vaccinated. She, she had a, a father who died of COVID and he was UN vaccinated before he died. He got to say goodbye to his kids and his wife after he died, the wife and kids still refused to get vaccinated. I just can't figure it out. And you know, by prolonging the, the epidemic are actually creating new variants of making a problem a lot worse in any event, our daughter is COVID free and she's exposed pretty much every day, but she's had her shots too. So we count our lucky stars every time we see her. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:45 And may that stay that way, moving on to the problems in new Orleans, which is the reason and why I called you today, specifically the status of the Waterford nuclear reactor, which is only 25 miles away from new Orleans. What do you currently know about the status? Arnie Gundersen 01:19:06 I actually had a crew of several dozen engineers working on Waterford back in the eighties. So I know the site pretty well. It's built on mud, which is kind of an interesting construction technique and they drove pilings into the mud to tighten it up so that it would be firm enough to put a nuclear plant on. It turns out that over the last 40 years, the plant has sunk one foot. So I'm not sure that the piling technique is completely successful, but the NRC is allowing it to continue to operate. I was concerned initially about the storm surge and the fact that the plant is a foot lower than when they built it. The arm surge, as it developed was less than the initial projection showed. And while there was a lot of rain and, and certainly the river's incredibly high, it did not inundate the plant and the mud held. Arnie Gundersen 02:20:09 So I guess it didn't sink on us either. So that the good news is that from a storm surge standpoint, which was my first concern of the plant survived well, what's going on there now though, was also, we anticipated that when you have high winds, you lose the transmission lines and these aren't the little lines that run down your street. They're the big, the big steel things that look like giant people standing in a field. Those are transmission lines and there's eight corridors of transmission lines going into new Orleans. And every single one of them has failed now. So there's no power going into new Orleans and there's no power going into the Waterford plant. So, you know, people say, well, it's a nuclear plant. It sends power out, but a nuclear plant needs power to make power. It has probably 80 megawats out of its whole thousand megawat output of running these huge pumps and, and, and things like that that keep the, the water flowing. Arnie Gundersen 02:21:18 So you have to maintain power in as well as power out. And while the plant shut down before the, the hurricane hit, what happened was that they were still relying on offsite power to keep it cool and that's routine also. But then they lost the offsite power because the grid collapsed. And now they're in a situation where the, the backup to offsite power and, and that's called the loop loss of offsite power, L O O P. So now they're in a loop and they turned on the diesels and both diesels are working and they're not able to run the plant, but they can run the safety related equipment in the plant. The smaller pumps that cool the plant will once it's shut down. So remember the plant needs about 80 megawats of power to run the, the big pumps. But each of these diesels is about five megawats. Arnie Gundersen 02:22:19 So it's much less load. Now a nuclear plant can't start up unless there's a lot of other power plants on the grid that are already running. It, it doesn't have the ability start itself up and that's called black start a nuclear plant, cannot black start. It needs the grid. So the grid is down and will be down for the foreseeable future perhaps a week, or, or I've heard estimates of three weeks, which means that the plant will stay down. What that requires obviously is that the diesels continue to run for three weeks. They have enough diesel fuel on site, usually to last about a week. So they'll have to get a, a couple truck loads of diesel fuel delivered by this time next week. And perhaps this time, the week afterward, but diesels are extraordinarily reliable once they start up and we'll get back to that caveat there in, in a minute, the diesels in a power plant are identical to tugboat, diesels or ferry, diesels or something like that. Arnie Gundersen 02:23:38 And, and they run for for days and days and days and days, and seemingly never fail. But the nuclear diesels are different because the nuclear diesels have to start up and go to full load in 45 seconds and a diesel on a tugboat. Now the captain starts it up. He has a smoke or has a cup of coffee or something like that. When the engine's warm, he goes out into the Harbor. That's not true with a nuclear diesel. So the duty cycles on a nuclear diesel are much more severe, you know, think about firing up your car and slamming the accelerator on and, and going full speed down your road on a cold engine. Now these diesels are 40 years old and that's happened repeatedly, but they started up and now that they started up, likely they'll keep running fingers crossed here. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:33 I talked with Nancy Faust earlier today. And one of the things she pointed out is that the roads have been washed out or are flooded. There's still some infrastructure of roads that are operating to the north and to the west of Waterford. The point being that in places there may be flooding, it may be washed out. And the other danger is if there are down trees or power lines, so that if more diesel is required by Waterford, it's going to be difficult for it to delivered. How long before we have to be concerned about that aspect of the problem Arnie Gundersen 02:25:13 About a week. It's interesting cuz this wraps around and something that fair winds put up on his site years ago about solar flares. If a solar flare knocks out the grid, you'd have perhaps 16 nuclear plants shut it down at the same time. And the military has promised that the highest priority would be to get diesel fuel to the nuclear planes. And that seems to be a public priority anywhere. So it certainly would be difficult, you know, given the conditions of the infrastructure, but by hooker, by crook, they'll, they'll get diesel in. Even if they have to bring it in on a helicopter, it's absolutely necessary to keep those diesels running or else you'll lose new Orleans. And nobody wants to do that. The, the interesting thing is that the plant is owned by energy and the utility that controls Orleans is a, is also energy, but they're two separate affiliates. And when Katrina hit Orleans, it was so severe. It, they declared bankruptcy Libbe HaLevy 02:26:26 Energy or this offshoot of energy Arnie Gundersen 02:26:29 And energy, new Orleans, the energy division that provides power to the city of new Orleans declared bankruptcy. And until they got it straightened out politically, they refused to fix things. And this seems just as bad. These big transmission lines and stuff are, are energy owned and they're not cheap. And either they'll wind up with public funding from the state of Louisiana or they can easily say, Hey, we're not fixing this on our dime. They've done it before. History is 16 years ago, they declared bankruptcy and walked away from a city in, in need. So I hope that more reasonable souls, I was gonna say mines, but this is more about souls are at the control system. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:18 The big question in people's minds, you may have had an implied answer to this, but I'd like to get it to, could we potentially be facing a Fukushima style meltdown at Waterford Arnie Gundersen 02:27:31 When a nuclear chain reaction happens when a nuclear reactor Fiss a uranium atom, 93% of the heat comes when the uranium atom pops apart. A if that's all that happened, we wouldn't worry about nuclear power. But the problem is that the pieces left behind the radioactive rubble left behind also contain heat about 7% of the heat. And 7% is tens of thousands of horsepower worth of heat. That has to be controlled even after the reactor shuts down. So Waterford shut down, but unless it's kept cool for months, the heat from this radioactive rubble will be so significant that it can lead to a, a Fukushima style meltdown. The longer it stays cool, the better it is. So, you know, obviously the first week is more critical than the second month. So as long as the diesels keep working and the pumps that feed the cool water into the nuclear core, keep working, they'll be cooling that radio active rubble. Arnie Gundersen 02:28:45 If the electricity fails, if the diesels fail it's game over, even after a month, you can still have a Fukushima style meltdown years ago in the seventies, probably before 90% of your audience was born. I was working for a power plant in Connecticut and we had a hurricane hit. You know, it was the same scenario. The, the plant had shut down and anticipating the hurricane, but was relying on the grid. And then the grid collapsed. And then we had two sources of electricity and they hit the button and one of 'em didn't work. So we were down to our last DS old generator and it made for a long stressful night. I'll tell you to be down to the last of the last line of defense and it ran all day and then the grid was reestablished and things were fine again, but it was a harrowing time to have the last line of defense was, was, was all you had. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:48 And if that line of defense goes down completely, how long before we start getting into mission critical situation? Arnie Gundersen 02:29:59 Well, hooks DII for was shut down for four months and it almost had a fuel pool fire cuz it had no, no power Fukushima DII unit two blew up in about four days. So if you lose the ability to cool plant and the plant has been shut down for a week or so, you've probably got several days to rectify it before you get a meltdown. If it happens, you know, this week you've got, you know, less, you've probably got 12 hours to fix it before you get the, the beginnings of a meltdown. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:44 And you mentioned the spent fuel pool. What additional danger, if any, is there to the spent fuel pool? Arnie Gundersen 03:30:52 Well, the NRC has in its infinite wisdom said that the fuel pool cooling system is not safety related. So it's not on an emergence C generator. And so what's happening now is that the fuel pool is warming up at Waterford. Now, you know, perhaps they've brought in extra generators to run the fuel pool, but it's not powered on an emergency circuit. The theory being, and I've actually heard the NRC say that right. Well, well, as it boils, you could get a couple garden hoses and keep pumping water in to make up for the water. That's boiling off Dave Al and I have all prob sorts of problems with that because of course it introduces humidity into the building and all the circuits starts a short circuit. It, it becomes a real mess. So within a matter of days, the fuel pool can begin to boil unless they get the cooling system on some sort of a generator, not an emergency generator, but maybe they'll go down to a local rental store and, and buy a few. I'm not sure Libbe HaLevy 03:32:02 Home Depot gets more business And G did shut down Waterford as the hurricane was approaching. Did they do that in a timely manner? Is that what triggered their notification of an unusual event? And is it normal between shutdown and the filing of an unusual event for, to take two hours Arnie Gundersen 03:32:29 Chatting the no didn't fire off the Noe? The, the notice of unusual event, it was when they lost the power into the plant. That was the criteria that fired off the unusual event. You can shut down a plant whenever you want, and you don't have to declare, you know, some, an emergency classification, but you have to notify the NRC. If one, the plant shut down and two, you have no offsite power, which you means the only thing left are the diesels. And when that happens, you file a notice of UN unusual event. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:07 What has energy been saying and how transparent have they been with their communications? Arnie Gundersen 03:33:15 Well, energy's position is everything's under control. And of course, you know, Maggie and I were instrumental in catching energy executive line in Vermont. So it's not unheard of that. They have not been transparent in the past, but their position is that the plants under control and everything is evolving as could be expected. You know, they also own the next two new nuclear plants up the Mississippi. They own the Riverbend plant and that's another separate limited liability corporation. And then up in Mississippi, they own the grand Gulf plant commonly called grand goof plant as well. So energy in that part of Louisiana, Mississippi is the major provider of electricity. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:08 Maggie, I'd like to call on your expertise here with the pandemic, still raging, what problems might be facing the operating crew at Waterford? Can they get offsite if they need to, can replacements come in for them? What are they facing inside that facility? Maggie Gundersen 03:34:27 First off with COVID it's, it's a nightmare down in the south. The vaccination rates are very low and Louisiana has the lowest vaccination rates in the country. People are not vaccinated. They also tend to create variants. COVID will have variants. The big variant right now in the south is the Delta variant and it's surging in every Southern state. On top of that tonight medical university of South Carolina announced on its social media site that they've discovered a new variant in South Carolina. So it's horrible to think that all these people are in this reactor are at the Waterford plant, trying to control a really difficult situation from the hurricane and they don't have to mask. They don't have to be vaccinated. And there are two really bad variants of COVID these states down in the south. So what does that mean? That's a lot of danger. I think Libbe HaLevy 03:35:33 This sounds similar to the problems in 2020 with the refueling of nuclear reactors being done by traveling part-time or contract workers coming into the reactor community, into the reactors, doing their work, and then leaving and traveling after four to six weeks of work, meaning that they became potentially a, this Z vector that carried COVID from one location to another. I believe that you and Fairwinds had quite a bit to say about that. Maggie Gundersen 03:36:07 We did have a lot to say about that. And it's that type of scenario is still quite a concern several weeks ago in Texas, just when school's opened one teacher, sun vaccinated contaminated 26 kids in her classroom. So when you're looking in a nuclear reactor, for example, in the control room, you have five operators and they're all in close proximity and, and here they don't need to mask. And now they're going to be in, in their longer. If the other operators can't get in other personnel that are working at the site, all the engineers and the operators of the heavy equipment and the operators of the regular equipment, they've all gotta be there. They're in close proximity. They're, they're eating in the cafeteria. They're sharing places that they can bunk there. It's made for spreading COVID for spreading of pandemic. They are going to watch the virus explode there. I know our daughter every night is treating incredible amounts. The entire ER, and the entire ICU are filled with more than 98% patients with COVID who have not been vaccinated. So I think a plant can face a lot of problems if it doesn't have adequate backup staff who are healthy Libbe HaLevy 03:37:30 Arnie, let's turn this over to you. We need to know what is it that we should be watching for in connection with Waterford. And what further thoughts do you have about it? Arnie Gundersen 03:37:46 Well, there's a couple things. There was a hurricane two years ago here on the east coast and it flooded the city of Wilmington, North Carolina, so that no one could leave. And Wilmington is about 10 miles from a nuclear play plant that was also flooded so that no one could leave what the nuclear plant did in that case was they had no food. It's not like a nuclear plant. They keep diesel fuel, but they don't keep food for the people who work there. So they had to bring the food in on helicopters. And, you know, as Maggie was saying, you you've got the load on the cafeteria is higher. The people are sleeping there, there's no bedrooms. There's, you know, cots in the middle of some sort of a common area. So the, the possibility of contamination from COVID is a lot more significant when the plant is isolated like this, I suspect they'll bring in helicopter deliveries of food for the staff, assuming that the infrastructure so, so destroyed that people can't get in and out it's happened before, you know, as long as a helicopter doesn't crash or something like that into the power plant, things will be fine. Arnie Gundersen 03:39:00 My fear of course, is diesels. I I've worked on diesels for 45 years and I can remember gross failures of diesels. And, and you know, when something, the size of a they're probably twice as long as a car, you know, and when something like that goes wrong, it really goes wrong in a, in a big fashion. So the key is to keep the diesels running and keep the juice from the diesels, powering the safety systems, as long as they continue to work. They'll be fine. That the other thing though, is that when company, even as big as energy, new Orleans has a major failure. They draw on line crews from all over the country. You know, you'll get people coming down from Vermont or new York's, you know, Iowa, Illinois in line trucks to do major repairs. So you've got people coming down from high, high vaccination rate states to work with people in low vaccination areas. Arnie Gundersen 04:40:03 That's not a good mix. These guys will be working 16 hours a day. They make incredible money triple time. And, and they work 16 hours. It's very lucrative, but it's not safe. You working with electricity, but it's not safe because they're all bundled up together in, in line trucks and, and things like that in an environment. So I'm also concerned, not about just the workers in a plant, but about the workers who are trying to restore these transmission lines and their personal safety, cuz they're working with credible electricity while voltages, but also their physical safety because they're in a COVID environment, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:44 R GNON Maggie goon. You are two people who are on the front lines of understanding what's going on and helping interpret it for the rest of us. I thank you for what you've shared today. We'll stay in touch. And if anything changes at Waterford, we'll wanna hear it for, of you and for now be well, be safe. And thank you for being my guests this week on nuclear hotseat. Maggie Gundersen 04:41:07 And thank you for having us. Arnie Gundersen 04:41:09 Thanks li Libbe HaLevy 04:41:11 Always a pleasure, a Gerson and Maggie Gunderson of fair winds, energy education we'll link to fair winds as well as simply info on our website, nuclear hots seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 32, we'll continue with this week's news and activist shoutouts in just a moment, but first let's face it. You are never going to get information like this from mainstream media, they either freak out or more commonly give you a blank stare. When you bring up the various nuclear issues, lots of excuses, excuse me, reasons. It's too complex. A problem too hard to plane. Radiation is invisible, which makes for bad graphics damage from radiation can take years to show up and who has got the patience, blah, blah, blah. In our fast-paced world of click bait media impersonating journalism where ratings, demographics and advertising money count more than the desperately needed truth. Getting our issues noticed and accurately reported upon can be an exercise in heartbreaking futility. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:22 And that is exactly why you, we, all of us need nuclear hot seat. Every week. This show looks at nuclear issues around the world to give you information on what's going on, presented with context continuity and accuracy. And we do what mainstream media doesn't think, not take a look at all those post hurricane Ida stories that are printed and online and broadcast. See what, if anything you read, see or hear about Waterford and compare it to what this show has just provided. No comparison is there. That's why we do what we do here. And if you've come to value, nuclear, hot seats work, the time to support us with a donation would be right now. We make it so easy for you to do. Just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:24 You can also set up a monthly donation of any size as little as $5 a month. That's the same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip here in the us. So if you value the nuclear information, you get every week from nuclear hot seat and wanna help us continue. Please do what you can. Now don't delay now hit the pause button. You can come back, we'll be here and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here is the rest of this week's news, starting in the us where federal authorities say a fourth executive has been charged for his role in a failed multi-billion dollar project to build two nuclear reactors at the VC summer site in South Carolina, former Western house executive Jeffrey, a Benjamin faces felony counts of fraud. According to an indictment filed on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 under an agreement Westinghouse electric company will contribute 5 million to a program intended to assist low income rate payers affected by the project's failure. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:36 And another payment of 16 point 25 million will be due before July 1st, 2022. So according to Paul Gunter of beyond nuclear Westinghouse will pay back more than 21 million in restitutions for its kind contracting role in the boondoggle at canceled new construction in South Carolina and still pocket change for the $9 billion heist from electric rate payers, we're going to link to an article about cleaning up nuclear waste at Hanford and Washington state secrecy delays and budget debates. This is about a plan to turn radioactive waste into glass logs. And it has raised a lot of questions, many of which don't appear to have public answers, Hanford site of plutonium manufacturer for the bomb at Nagasaki. And so many of the bombs since that point is generally acknowledged to be the most PO Lood spot in the nation. Another link will be up to an extensive article from the UK publication. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:40 The guardian on Santa Noray in Southern California. The headline is a combination of failures is why 3.6 million pounds of nuclear waste is buried on a popular California beach. Leave it to a publication, not in the United States to give one of the most comprehensive reports on San Nore. That will be on the website as well, along with a related article, dealing with whole tech. That's the corporation that has been in charge of decommissioning at San Nore, the end point in New York, Pilgrim and Massachusetts, and so many others. It comes from public watchdogs.org, which has been focusing closely on the legal aspects of the San Noray case. What public watchdogs has researched and uncovered is a list of 30 shell corporations that at whole tech uses to protect itself along with a video, which is an explanation of how shell companies work. As you heard in today's interview with a Gerson energy used shell companies to protect itself after hurricane Katrina. And we can probably look forward to more of that in the future. In the wake of hurricane Ida here, public watchdogs lays it all out and ends with the advisory. Feeling confused. Don't feel bad. Confusion is the objective. When you are playing the corporate shell game, we'll have a link to this and the other articles up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 32. And now in case you haven't had enough nuclear bone headedness to satisfy yourself, heres Announcer 04:47:25 Nuclear, hot seat, nuclear, hot seat, nuclear hot seed. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:34 The Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico has warned that it might shoot down drones that fly into their airspace. This was in response to a recent unauthorized drone flight, detected it in restricted airspace in the area. This is a typical move by green piece in Europe, over nuclear reactors. Be that as it may, the senior director of lab security said we can detect and track a UAS unmanned aircraft system. And if it poses a threat, we have the ability to who disrupt control of the system, seize or exercise control confiscate, or use reasonable force to disable damage or destroy the UAS. So how many millions of dollars is that costing the United States, taxpayer, you know, birds can do the exact same thing. Eagles Hawks, you could train some Falcons. We've all seen the YouTube videos of birds taking down drones. So instead of having space lasers and mini atomic bombs set to take down these hobbyist pieces, why don't you just hire a bunch of falconers, they'd call it sport and enjoy it. But low tech is never the way to go when there's a possibility of defense contractors earning another dozen million dollars. And that's why over amped, testosterone driven senior director of lab security at Los Alamos national laboratory, you and anybody else behind this policy are this week's Announcer 04:49:18 Nuclear hot seed, none sound week Libbe HaLevy 04:49:23 Over to Japan, where we got a tweet from Dr. Paul Dorfman, who is honorary senior research associate at the university college London energy Institute. He wrote Japan's economics ministry has formally acknowledged for the first time that renewable power sources such as solar and wind are cheaper than nuclear. The full article is behind the pay wall, but we will keep searching to get you more detail on this very, very interesting and potentially important admission. And we receive word that radio AF give snakes may monitor Fukushima fallout. And no, this is not a Nunu story. It's for real, it comes from the bulletin of atomic scientists who report that scientists have enlisted the help of snakes in the Fukushima exclusion zone to make sense of the disaster's impact on the environment. Ha Gerke a lead author on this study said because snakes don't move around that much and they spend their time in one particular local area. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:26 The level of radiation and contaminants in the environment is reflected by the level of contamination in the snake itself. The scientists findings reinforced their 2020 study that found a high correlation between levels of radio cesium. I radioactive isotope cesium in the snakes and levels of radio in their environment in the decade, since the nuclear reactor at Fukushima, most of the contaminants have settled in the soil snakes whose long bodies slither in and bur under the soil can help determine the degree of contamination. Also snakes live a long time, which means that the data gather provides information about environmental contaminations over time, or at least they did live long until Fukushima DII and will find out how long they survive in the coming years in Russia. This story from August 24th, authorities have declared an interregional state of as tough to contain forest fires, threaten the country's top secret nuclear weapons research center wildfires have raged in the ni no region, roughly 500 kilometers or 310 miles east of Moscow. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:46 This since early August, the fires have reached the closed city of Sarov, which has been a center for nuclear research since the Soviet era and was the site of the first Soviet atomic bombs development today, the research center makes nuclear warheads and is believed to be developing Russia's strategic missiles, including its highly talented hypersonic arsenal, a whole slew of stories out of Canada. There have been more stunning revelations about the safety of Ontario's nuclear reactor this according to a story in the globe and mail, which is Canada's most widely read newspaper. So the word is getting out there. The newspaper reports that inspections of pressure tubes from two shutdown, Bruce nuclear reactors show damaging hydrogen equivalent levels that are twice the allowed level under Canadian nuclear regulations. These levels are a flashing red light about the conditions of these critical safety components. The measured numbers far exceed what experts at Bruce nuclear that the levels would be based on their computer modeling and are violating their reactor operating license. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:58 Canadian nuclear operators are running reactors without a correct understanding of what's happening inside the aging reactor course. The Pickering nuclear station has already had a past history of two splitting and cracking leading to dangerous loss of cooling situations. Thanks to Angela Boff of the Ontario clean air Alliance for the following stories. First billionaires are leading the push for nuclear reactors in Canadian mining. And of course that includes bill gates. This billionaire nuclear boys club has been working closely for years with natural resources, Canada in the push for small modular nuclear reactors, especially for use in off grid mining. The a Canadian budget may reveal the extent of federal support for risky new nuclear reactors, more than 100 indigenous and civil society groups across Canada are now opposed to the new nuclear reactors, which are being pushed by the federal government and for provinces, Saskatchewan, Ontario, new new Brunswick and Alberta in 1978, prime minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau banned the extraction of plutonium from used nuclear fuel in Canada. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:17 But last month, just in Trudeau, also prime minister lifted that ban handing over 50 million taxpayer funds to a private company from the UK to develop a technology that proposes to again, extract plutonium from used nuclear fuel. From the point lepro reactor on the bay of fundee in new Brunswick. Meanwhile, first nations people are strongly opposing nuclear and energy, including the wall stock grand council resolution. It opposes nuclear energy and nuclear waste and traditional wall stock territory. And to show how much they understand wall stock. We elders were asked to describe the word nuclear they deliberated, and then came up with the word ask, come with qua, which means forever dangerous to life. And in the UK labor leader, ki Starmer vows to help nuclear test veterans win justice. After a 70 year scandal, veterans have a legacy of cancers, blood disorders and rare disease while their wives report three times the usual rate of miscarriage and studies have found that their children have 10 times the normal amount of birth defects and are five times more likely to die as infants starter's historic meeting marks. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:42 The first time any party leader has met with those affected by the UK's nuclear testing program, which ran on from 1952 to 1991 in America, Australia, and the south Pacific. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, August 31st, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to ard.wordpress.com. Be on nuclear.com the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Yakima herald.com, ed Lyman of union of concerned scientists. Paul Dorfman, the Moscow times.com the guardian.com public watchdogs.org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. My gratitude to Ernie Gerson and Maggie Gerson of fair winds, energy education, and Nancy Faust of simply info.org, all of whom made them so available to the show on the shortest possible notice. Thanks to all of you for listening, a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:53 And here's some messages for you to pass along to others. Anyone who wants to get nuclear hot seat delivered via email every week, just go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box and sign up to receive a link to the latest show, along with a brief rundown of some of the material that's in it. And you guys who are listening, you are my eyes and ears on the ground. So if you run across a story, lead a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And of course, if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear hotseat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts. Anything will help, and we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hotseat is copyright 2021 libi Halabi and artistry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is libi Hal of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can all come up with the date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date when it's over, because once it starts, it is never over. There you go. That's it. That is your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep as we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:31 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Nuclear hot seat. The car is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking nuclear, hot seat. It's de. ### NH #531: Pilgrim Nuclear, Holtec Safety Lies: Diane Turco, Cape Downwinders URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/pilgrim-nuclear-holtec-safety-lies-diane-turco-cape-downwinders/ Published: 2021-08-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Pilgrim Nuclear, Holtec Safety Lies: Dry cask storage is not secure when anyone can walk up to them, this close, without any restrictions. So much for Holtec's claims about "safety." This Week's Featured Interview: Diane Turco is Director of the Cape Downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that’s been fighting against the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. Here, two interviews: Post-shutdown problems at Pilgrim, including site security issues and her pending trial for trespassing to demonstrate to two NPR reporters how lax security is on the site. From NH #472, July 9, 2020. New interview on recent revelations of Holtec lies to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on "safety" issues at the Pilgrim site, along with lack of upgrades in security. We spoke on August 20, 2021. Pilgrim Nuclear activist and Holtec's biggest Massachusetts foe, Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Water, water everywhere… and with TEPCO in charge at Fukushima, you know it's more radioactive danger to the Pacific Ocean, rebranded as… radioactive danger to the Pacific Ocean. LINKS: Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education: An Open Letter to Bill Gates About his Wyoming Atomic Reactor from Counterpunch.org. "Full Body Burden" sneak preview – Kristen Iversen's memoir is the source for this eagerly awaited new documentary. Watch a sneak preview, then take part in the discussion – click on title to pre-register (required)August 30 Environmental Justice Groups in California to Protest State Agencies' Failure to Clean Up Contaminated Sites, including the Santa Susan Field Lab, site of nuclear meltdowns and radioactive contamination. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 The nuclear industry counts on. We, the people to be easily confused by their double-talk and they love to play the game of the right hand. Doesn't know what the left hand is doing case in point recent meetings on the decommissioning of the Pilgrim nuclear reactor in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and what's going to happen to the highly radio active so-called spent fuel rods, which are filled with radioactive plutonium. While the decommissioning company Holtec is under intense political and public pressure to not build a consolidated so-called interim storage facility or C I S in New Mexico as a dump per highly radioactive waste up in Boston at a public presentation. They're implying if not stating outright that it's a done deal and we'll be taking the dangerous waste away from the urban Boston area by misleading the public in many ways, including, Diane Turco 00:01:03 And on one of the slides, it said that Holtec was planning to open a CIS in New Mexico and should be taking waste shortly after in 2024. So they're setting up the people to believe that, and that's what everyone wants to believe. It's going to be out of here. That's not happening. And so people aren't really hyper-focused on what's really happening with the waste and Plymouth. Well, Libbe HaLevy  00:01:29 When you hear a genuine expert and eye witness to these events, catch out a major nuclear industry player in such a blatant, let's not call it a lie. Let's just call it a misdirection for now. It, once again, points out how insidiously we are all being manipulated to remain sitting in that terrible seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:54 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:25 Welcome to nuclear. Hotseat the weekly international news magazine keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is libi Halevi, I'm the producer and host as well as I survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we catch up with the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which was shut down more than two years ago. But the decommissioning by Holtec is still embroiled with safety issues and ongoing dangers. We'll share two interviews with Diane Turko. She is director of the Cape downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting against Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. The first interviews from 2020 a full year after the shutdown and provides a clear picture of the problems faced in the decommissioning process. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:27 The second is an update with new information on more recent Holtec lies to the nuclear regulatory commission, just because we shut them down. Doesn't mean the battle is over. And Diane fills us in on the latest Holtec headaches. We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than has shown up in the $3.5 trillion budget bill and infrastructure plan. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, August 24th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in New Mexico, a proposal to build a so-called temporary nuclear waste storage site near Carlsbad drew a lawsuit against the nuclear regulatory commission by the state of New Mexico, which sought to block the project. The NRC has asked the U S district court for the district of New Mexico to dismiss the state's lawsuit due to lack of jurisdiction. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:34 The state alleges that the NRC acted illegally in issuing an environmental impact statement for the Holtec project and a New Mexico attorney general Hector Baldez cited the nuclear waste policy act and argued that federal law stipulated a permanent repository be available before an interim storage site like whole techs could be permitted, no resolution yet. We'll keep you informed fair ones, energy educations, Arnie Gunderson, their chief engineer, and one of our most reliable sources has taken on bill gates in an open letter in counterpoint, he states you have made a huge mistake by proposing to build a sodium cooled small modular reactor in Wyoming saying that it follows in the footsteps of a 70 year long record of sodium cooled nuclear technology failures. He called it an unproductive techno solution and a techno fix scheme, and we'll link to it on our website on August 30th, environmental justice groups across California, we'll be going to the state legislature to protest state agencies. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:45 Failure to clean up contaminated sites included in this group will be Melissa Bumstead and parents against Santa Susana field lab in Japan at Fukushima Daiichi, radioactive water has been leaking from the main building for unit three, which is outside of the reactor containment. Tokyo electric power company admits that it contains notable amounts of alpha radiation. It is fine particulate, and that means that fine fuel particles are leaking out along with the water, a July, 2021 study estimates that a buried zeolite wall and intended to block contaminated water from leaking into the ocean is expected to last 70 years while the cesium 1 37 has a half-life of 30 years and will last in its contaminated state for 300 years. And in more Fukushima radioactive water news Libbe HaLevy  00:06:50 I think Tokyo electric power company has found a new way to frame its release of radioactive water from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean. In the hopes that people won't notice that they're releasing radioactive water into the Pacific ocean, they decided to build a new submarine tunnel about one kilometer long run pipes through it and release the water from Fukushima nuclear power plant off shore. The water is contaminated with the radio active substance Tridium. And while TEPCO said the treated water will be diluted by releasing it offshore. What they're actually doing is dispersing it over a wider area. It will not make it any less potent. It will just make it less concentrated. It's just more smoke and mirrors and radioactive blah-blah-blah from the company that brought you Fukushima Daiichi, triple nuclear meltdown. And that's why KEPCO. Once again you are Libbe HaLevy  00:07:58 We'll have this week's featured interviews on the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts in just a moment. But first well we are off and running with the nuclear hot seat website, redesign and rebuild. I had to wait for my web genius, who is based in Thailand to clear enough of his schedule for us to get started, but we are on our way. We'll have a new wire frame for how the site is going to operate by later this week and spend the next two months tweaking the structure and functionality as we load in the content. This is not a mere template to make the site prettier. It's a full blown ground up restructuring of the site to make certain that Google doesn't bury it in its new algorithm. The site will be easier to find in searches, load faster, be more secure, and all future upgrades will be easily managed. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:52 This has been necessary for a while now, and all systems are go, however, it's a big step for nuclear hotseat. And of course this level of website development is expensive. Very I'm grateful to those who of you who have already donated to help with the 50% upfront deposit, but before the site can go live, it will need an equal amount of funding. And for that, we're going to need your help. If you've come to value, nuclear, hot seats work, providing you with nuclear stories, you can't find in mainstream media that had fact context and continuity. So you can understand the full picture. The time to support us with a donation would be right now, we make it easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. You can also set up a monthly $5 donation, the same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip here in the U S so if you value the nuclear information, you get every week from nuclear hot seat and want to help us continue. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:58 Please do what you can now. And it know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here is this week's feature just because a nuclear reactor gets shut down does not mean that its problems and dangers go away case in point Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, located at the foot of Cape Cod. It was shut down permanently on May 31st, 2019, but the problems at the site and the problematic actions of Holtec the company tasked with decommissioning it, our Legion, to give you a sense of what's going on, including the most recently revealed problems. Here are two separate interviews with Diane Turko. She is director of the Cape downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting against Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. The first interview with Diane is from episode number 4 72 from July 9th, 2020. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:02 That was one year after the shutdown. It spotlights whole techs, decommissioning lies, misstatements, and Diane's still pending trial for trespassing because she demonstrated to two NPR reporters, just how lax security is on the site. I am Turco, it's always a pleasure and an eye opener to have you on nuclear hot seat. So welcome. Thank you for having me Pilgrim nuclear in Massachusetts was shut down on May 31st, 2019, and is now facing what every nuclear reactor and community faces decommissioning the facility. And then what do we do with the deadly radioactive waste that left behind? Let's start with a little bit of history of the site. What were the problems there? And give us a picture of what happened at Pilgrim. Leading up to the shutdown Diane Turco 01:11:58 Pilgrim was ready by the nuclear regulatory commission for four years as the worst reactor in the United States. And as the NRC completed this special inspections and found more and more problems, systemic mission mismanagement, not fixing equipment, not filing reports, but the more oversight that the NRC provided, the worst Pilgrim became, and it's just systemic mismanagement. And we're seeing that transferring over to Holtec right now. And we're very concerned about now, the decommissioning, I thought when they shut down Pilgrim, I could retire and play with my grandkids. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:38 What has been happening at Pilgrim since the shutdown it's a little over a year now, Diane Turco 01:12:44 Holtec Holtec is a major problem. And the lack of the nuclear regulatory oversight as we know is historical. So Holtec came into town and profess that they would be open and transparent with the community about what they would be doing during the commissioning, how they would be handling the waste when in fact they were not. And so we're seeing a corporation that has a reputation for corruption, bribery, and scandal, and patting themselves on the back for the settlement, with it, the attorney General's office in the state of Massachusetts, Libbe HaLevy  01:13:18 What were the issues involved between the state and Holtec that led to them having to negotiate their way into a settlement? And what, and how good or bad is that settlement? Diane Turco 01:13:33 The attorney general and the state of Massachusetts determined that Holtec really didn't have the funding available to do a safe and complete decommissioning, a Pilgrim. And they felt that there were financial, environmental and public safety concerns that weren't being addressed. So they, the attorney General's office filed a petition to intervene in February of 2019, to make sure that we were protected here in the state of Massachusetts. Well, it took over a year for this to be resolved. The NRC staff approved the license transfer and that happened, and they hadn't even addressed the attorney General's concerns. And so Holtec has just been moving forward on their own without considering what the needs were of the community and the state. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:20 Is it typical that the NRC, the nuclear regulatory commission, our national regulators would ignore the concerns of the attorney general of a state that is dealing with a nuclear reactor that has to go through decommissioning? Diane Turco 01:14:39 Well, the NRA, these regulations don't protect us and our state is trying to, so the NRCS is feeling that they, you know, what they're doing is the right thing and it's not happening. Luckily our state did get some good concessions in this agreement, but dealing with Holtec, we know that, you know, again, a corporation that's known for bribery, corporation and scandal, can we trust that this is really going to be upheld? So when the whole tech came to Plymouth, their vice president, joy Russell stated that Holtec had an impeccable safety record and we had to turn around her and say, well, how many reactors have you decommissioned zero? And second, we said, you know, what have you been following what's happening at Santa Ana fray? So we already know that we can't trust this corporation to do the right thing by our communities. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:30 What was their response to the San Onofre query? Diane Turco 01:15:34 A dirty look to me, no answer, no answer, no. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:41 Now Holtec and I find this to be laughable. Holtec has said that they can handle the entire decommissioning job in about eight years. How realistic is that? And how confident or not confident are you that they can do the job properly? Let alone in that timeframe, Diane Turco 01:16:02 I have no competence in Holtec upholding what they say. Holtec had a slide presentation at the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel and Plymouth. It's a public event it's broadcast. And on one of the slides, it said that Holtec was planning to open a CIS in New Mexico. It should be taking waste shortly after in 2024 Libbe HaLevy  01:16:26 And C I S is consolidated interim storage site, which is a whole other subject we've been covering on nuclear, hot seat as well. I caught that reference and I was wondering whether they were trying to say, oh, it's a done deal. We'll just ship the waste. When there's no approval, there's no site. There's no legality behind it. Diane Turco 01:16:45 Exactly. So they're setting up the people to believe that. And that's what everyone wants to believe. It's going to be out of here. That's not happening. And so people aren't really hyper-focused on what's really happening with the waste and Plymouth. Now, Plymouth is America's hometown. They were going to be celebrating their 400th anniversary this year and having millions of visitors come to Plymouth. And this waste site, this waste dump is not protected. You know, I have gone on the property with multiple reporters where we've been on the property for 30 minutes, eyeballing the dry cast, waving to the security cameras and no one comes out. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:23 So safety is a word that should be put in quotes when it comes to Holtec dealing with Pilgrim. Yes. Diane Turco 01:17:31 Yes. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:33 You mentioned the Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey. She's the one who first called Holtec plan for decommissioning quote, a wholly misguided premise that asked local and federal officials to trust that the plants be commissioning trust fund had enough money for Holtec quote on its first attempt to decommission and restore the site at a pace never before it achieved. Now, she has said that the agreement which was come to only this past June provides environmental, public safety and financial productions during the dismantling and cleanup of the plant. What changed or did anything change? Diane Turco 01:18:15 That's a really good question because we do see that they did get some concessions from Holtec, but the bottom line is, and I'll go through those concessions in a minute. But the bottom line is this agreement is signed by two LLCs. Holtec decommissioning international, and Holtec Pilgrim legal entities responsible for this agreement. What happens if they go bankrupt? Libbe HaLevy  01:18:39 So it's a legal entity. That's responsible for the cleanup, but there's no legal mandate for the company to come behind it. Is that what you're saying? Diane Turco 01:18:51 That's what we're questioning. You know, they did look for financial assurance and they're asking for $193 million to be kept in the decommissioning trust fund. That's Libbe HaLevy  01:19:02 What the state is asking. Yes. Diane Turco 01:19:04 Yes. That's in the plan. Yes. This is in the agreement because if you look at what Holtec has for assets, it's just the property and that's it. Their parent company, as you know, is Holtec SLC lanolin, but they're our parent company. They're not part of the LLC. So we're concerned that they could become bankrupt. The attorney general has suggested that when Holtec files to get the money back from the spent fuel storage font, reimbursements, they will use that DOE money to put back into the decommissioning trust fund to keep it at Libbe HaLevy  01:19:39 That level. It sounds like a shell game. Diane Turco 01:19:43 Yes, it does. It does. It does. And somebody even asked, I think they asked the AGS office what would happen if they don't put that money into the DOE fund? The attorney General's office said, well, we'll have to chase them down. You know, I just love Maura Healey, our attorney general and that whole team. They're a great group of people. But when I look back at who they're dealing with, it's very disconcerning. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:05 You said you were going to go through the terms of some of the concessions that were gotten from Holtec or this whole tech, what are they? Diane Turco 02:20:17 There were three kinds of points that I'll bring up because it is a pretty long document, but you know, all of these issues should have been resolved without having to have this long settlement agreement that took over year to be signed. One is the financial assurance and keeping those funds $193 million in the decommissioning trust funding for contingency plans, the partial site release I, and then $38 million after the partial site release for the spent fuel, they're getting detailed reporting. Now the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel has been asking for, give us updates, let us know what you're doing. What is going on here and help? Nope, Nope. That they just did not cooperate in the most minimal way with the citizens group. So now they have to provide monthly reports and then to site restoration, the department of environmental protection, and the behalf of public health has asked for historical site assessments. Diane Turco 02:21:16 They wanted ongoing monitoring of radiation and they wanted a site assessment and that's all going to happen. They're also hiring a site, licensed person to oversee this. The person will be paid for by Holtec, but they're licensed by the state and this supposed to help with the reports to DEP and DPH. There will be an initial Pilgrim environmental site assessment that will be overseen by this licensed professional. Who's licensed by the state of Massachusetts, but works the whole tech and is paid for by Holtec. But that person will be providing reports to the department of public health and the department of environmental protection, which they should be doing. Anyways. That's just kind of communicating with the state on this huge disaster and I backyard. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:07 And what is the potential of this person who while maybe hired by the state is working for Holtec and in that whole tech environment of being in some way, compromised or impacted or influenced in the accuracy of his or her reports, Diane Turco 02:22:31 This is the same person who's being hired, who was part of the Yankee road, decommissioning, and another person who was involved with that said he wasn't that good. So with the citizens, it's still going to have to be on top of this. We're just going to have to be reading all these reports and making sure that they're complete. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:50 One of the points that I found particularly disturbing is that Holtec seems to believe that once they are done with decommissioning or what they're calling decontamination, which I don't know is possible, they're talking about possible reuse of the site. What in the world could they possibly mean by that? Diane Turco 02:23:11 It sounds like just a sales pitch to me who is ever going to build on that site. And when the NRC came to Plymouth and talked about reusing the property, they actually said they would build a elementary school next to the ISSI Libbe HaLevy  02:23:29 Meaning next to the site of Pilgrim, Diane Turco 02:23:32 Right? We are Pilgrim is now they would allow a elementary school to be built there. It was at a, the November meeting. I think I asked them and I said, could you repeat, did you just say, you would say it's okay. Once the site is released at an elementary school could be built right next to the ISSI. And they mentioned Rancho psycho. And I said, well, that's still all there, but we would recommend to elementary school be built there on that site. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:57 I've also seen that there are certain things that Holtec has said that they're going to do for the local community, a Plymouth to assist them. What are these steps Diane Turco 02:24:09 In true NRC fashion? And Holtec follows that line. They will be putting trees around the, I S they independent spent fuel facility to hide it. Instead of protecting us. They want to hide it as if nobody would know it was there, you know, bad actors know that site is so open. And we feel that we're much at risk to acts of malfeasance, because there is no protection there, but trees, if you go down the driveway of Pilgrim, there's under the no trespassing signs. There's another sign that says danger, poison Ivy. It's true. I'll send it to you. It's true. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:49 Are please send me that picture. Diane Turco 02:24:51 Are you kidding me? Danger, poison Ivy, right under the trespassing signs. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:56 Well, of course that's the worst thing one can get from a radio active site. Diane Turco 02:25:02 So maybe, maybe they're planning to plant poison Ivy all over the property. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:06 That would probably be more effective than what their current security levels are. Right. And let me ask you about that. What security is Holtec going to be providing during this decommissioning process, Diane Turco 02:25:21 Right? We asked Holtec and the NRC, what is the security, but it's kind of what does that word? They can't release it because it's proprietary, but what the agreement did, and you'll be shocked at this, or maybe not what the agreement did was look at cybersecurity, which there is none. And they did get in the agreement that they will improve their cybersecurity and get this. They will use secure remote access methods. Like they don't have that. Now they will use only strong passwords change, default passwords and consider other access controls. I mean, this is common sense security, and they don't even have it. Now it's part of this agreement because the NRC doesn't require, Libbe HaLevy  02:26:10 And this is outrageous. And when they talk about cyber security, excuse me, I don't know what cybersecurity is going to do when you've got a physical facility there with spent fuel rods, which are highly radioactive, all the radio active material that is from the containment vessel and all of the contamination that has leaked out during the decades of its operation. Right. Diane Turco 02:26:37 Right, right. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:39 So I know that you have been protesting against Pilgrim for how many decades is it now? Diane Turco 02:26:47 Since the early 1980s, when I went to a lecture by Dr. Helen Caldicott and she just changed my life, Libbe HaLevy  02:26:55 She has a habit of doing that. Yes. More recently, there has been a lawsuit filed against you, or there are charges against you that are calling you in for actually, is this going to be a hearing or a trial or explain the circumstances under which these charges were filed and what it has led to thus far Diane Turco 02:27:20 In November of 2018 to national public radio report is called me and asked if I could take them to Pilgrim to see the site. As I had been writing about how this was security, I had gone on the site previously in August with Walter Robinson of spotlight fame. And so I wrote about being on the property with Walter Robinson, standing there, and no one, no security came up for about a half an hour. So we went on to the site in November and we stood around waving to the security cameras. No security came out. So about 20 minutes later, we got in our cars and drove to the main entrance on the other side of the property and went into the building to find the security. And they finally, finally came out after we were like calling them and we were told to leave. And we said, okay. Diane Turco 02:28:11 I said, let's take our time because I want to see if they're going to look out the window to make sure we really go down the driveway. And they finally did come out, looked at us. We waved and left. And three hours later, there was a knock on my door. And there was a Howard police officer. Now I live 50 miles from Pilgrim about an hour away. And Howard police officer knocked on my door and asked me if I had been at Pilgrim that day. And I said, yes. And he said, well, you shouldn't go there. You could be arrested for trespassing. I just started laughing. I'm like, are you kidding me? You're in my home telling me not to go to Pilgrim when I was eyeballing those dry casks hours ago. So a few weeks later I received a call from the Plymouth police. Diane Turco 02:28:51 Again, asking me if I was on the property. Yes. Well, you would be charged with trespassing. You will have to go to a magistrate's hearing. So I actually was never arrested for trespassing. I had to go to a magistrate's hearing and say, yes, I was on the property at this date at this time. And then I was charged with trespassing. Could you imagine if I was a bad actor? And that's what we were trying to show is, you know, this isn't the first time in 2014 with Cheryl fee and doc, or I investigative reporter filmed us on the property while I'm gods walking by us, going off the property, looking for people who are in the area. Yeah. And then with Walter Robinson later on. So we were trying to expose the fact that there's no security here. I mean, if the NRC requires cameras, the cameras may be there, but they're not being monitored. Diane Turco 02:29:43 And I don't even know if they're working, but the police report said that we set. I said that we went into an area that nobody could see us. And I never said that. So anyways, fast forward, the pretrial hearing was in September, but the district attorney wasn't prepared. So they moved that up two months, another pretrial hearing the district attorney wasn't prepared again, they moved it up again. Well, when they moved it up, they set a date, which some of my witnesses couldn't make Walter Robinson. He teaches at the university of Arizona, Michael Dukakis, former governor Michael Dukakis is at UCLA. These are the Libbe HaLevy  03:30:20 People who are going to bear witness on your behalf. Diane Turco 03:30:23 Yes, yes, yes. And so we asked that the trial be moved to the spring when they come back from their teaching positions out west, but then COVID happened. And so it was postponed to July and I was best been postponed again until September. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:41 So there's no way to do this virtually over zoom. You can't see a magistrate or beyond trial Diane Turco 03:30:47 If whole is actually a trial yes. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:50 With a jury and a jury box. Diane Turco 03:30:52 Yes, yes. Yep. Told jury trial and Dave locked bomb will be another witness to form a union of concerned scientists. David Locke bomb will be a witness. And he wrote a really fabulous piece on the necessity, defense and Pilgrim that I very appreciative of. So anyways, having trees is not going to prevent an act of malfeasance. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:14 I can just imagine the potential for ill under these circumstances. I know that as regards Indian point, somebody I know here who is a filmmaker, showed some footage he had from a documentary that's not fully edited yet. And he was on the river facing Indian point and very close to the intake and it just went, they already parked the boat. And he said, well, we expect to have security out here any minute. And he kept on checking in. It's like every few minutes and then every five minutes and then every 10 minutes and then every 20. And it was a couple of hours and nobody had come out yet. Wow. Yeah. Diane Turco 03:31:59 So Libbe HaLevy  03:32:00 This is a security risk within our country, but yet I think teach us, don't take nuclear seriously for the weakness and the potential for devastation, but it does help. Diane Turco 03:32:15 Right? Absolutely. And especially with the spent fuel pools, you know, the union of concerned scientists completed that study with their Princeton peers that found if there was a bed fuel pool fire at Pilgrim, the contamination could extend from Manhattan to Nova Scotia. I'll send you that map. And we have brought it to every elected official. Every testimony that we've presented has involved this map, actually, Senator Maki requested it from the unit concerned scientists to look at what was in the spent fuel pool at Pilgrim and how that would be impacted. And when we were at the Pilgrim site, when the NPR reporters and I were on the site, they didn't call the police until we walked into the building because the police report said they will call it at 11 o'clock that's when we left, Libbe HaLevy  03:33:06 This is all terribly upsetting. But at the same time, not unexpected. When one looks at the risks that are taken to our health safety, to the security of this country, based on domestic nuclear reactors spent fuel pool, inappropriate storage of waste, and even the unremediated uranium mines in Navajo nation and on other native lands as well on the Lakota reservation as well. So we are at risk from all directions. And I think Pilgrim is a particular object lesson. If people are willing to pay attention to it. So what is being done now to snap people out of the, oh, well it's closed or problems are over frame of mind and to realize that this is ongoing and it's not going to go away by itself. Diane Turco 03:34:02 Oh, and that is a huge issue because now with this agreement, even people who kind of are in the know say, well, now that that's resolved. And I thought, no, it's far from resolved. This is a good start. The state has a little bit more oversight, but Holtec is still going to need to be under heavy scrutiny. And the citizens are still going to have to be picking and checking out all of these reports, going to meetings, doing the research and connecting with people across the country to make sure that our communities are protected because our government is failing to do that for us. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:40 What has been the hardest part for you in all of this work? Especially after, shall we say for decades of doing it? Diane Turco 03:34:49 The hardest part is the disappointment in our government in listening to our citizens. And we're seeing that now in full bloom, everywhere, it should be about our communities. And we are stakeholders in what we say and what we ask should be holding more weight than a corporation making profits. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:10 And how do you deal with this when perhaps it Wells up and feels unbearable? Diane Turco 03:35:16 Well, I feel privileged that I have the time and I have a supportive family and I can do this work. So I feel very privileged. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:25 So it's gratitude that gets you out of any sense you might find yourself in. Diane Turco 03:35:30 Right, right. Because you know what it's about. We, the people and it's about govern with our consent and we do give our consent to this nonsense. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:41 Anything else you would like to add at this time that we haven't had a chance to go into? Diane Turco 03:35:45 I would recommend people read this agreement because this is the start of what's happening for decommissioning. And particularly with Holtec buying up a lot of nuclear power reactors. I think this is there's some really good stuff in here that other states might be able to model, but there's also warnings about wiggle room and that we have to stay ever vigilant to being on top of this issue. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:11 And if listeners to nuclear seat were to come to the support of the work that you and the others are doing, what might that look like? What can we do for you Diane Turco 03:36:22 Stay on top of everything in your own communities and let's stay connected because we're all in the same boat. We are redoing our website to update it for decommissioning. So I can't send people to the website, but I would just say, continue working in your own community, talking to your neighbors, writing your letters and stay on it because you know, it's about our future Libbe HaLevy  03:36:45 And not only our future, but our children and our children. Children's grandchildren. Diane Turco 03:36:51 Yes. We have a responsibility to make sure the next generations are safe. And again, do we have a campaign safety as a human, right? Libbe HaLevy  03:37:01 That was Diane Turco from our interview from July of 2020. Now for the update recorded on Friday, August 20th, 2021. What is the current status of the Pilgrim nuclear facility? And then we'll get into, what's been happening since the shutdown. Diane Turco 03:37:21 Okay. Well, you know, we're calling it the Pilgrim nuclear waste dump for what it is. And we're really concerned that Holtec is presenting this as a very safe, kind of secure it's okay. Kind of thing. It's going to be leaving soon, so we don't need to worry about it. And so there's kind of a, an attitude of it's okay. For now, when in fact it's more alarming than ever, the more we have finding out about what's happening there, the more serious it is becoming, we have found that the security there is still very, very poor. Recently. Some people went on the property again for quite a length of time, you know, right up to the dry cast onto the property, beyond the no trespassing signs. And no one came out again, we had a letter from a whistleblower come out and talk about the port security there in the poor following, through of security regulations. And then this last situation was when I read about a report that the NRC was asking for additional information regarding ambulance services at Holtec Pilgrim. Yeah. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:30 Tell us about that. Because that relates to the safety on the site or in the area, should there be a breach of the spent fuel pool or the storage cask, Diane Turco 03:38:43 Right. And the interesting part of this story is it reflects the safety for their workers. This isn't even about public health and safety. This is about safety on site and how whole tech so negligent to their own workers. The NRC sent a letter to Holtec requesting additional information regarding their ambulance services and safety plans at the ISSI or their spent fuel dump. And one of the questions was asking them to clarify that the American medical response provides transportation for contaminated injured personnel. And that was the big point contaminated injured personnel. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:22 And by contaminated, you're talking about being contaminated by radioactive materials. Diane Turco 03:39:27 Yes, yes, yes. And the NRCS position is that an injury precedes contamination that the injury needs to come first. So I thought, well, that's kind of an easy question. Why don't they just say, yes, it will. So I thought I'll just call up the American medical response, ambulance service and ask them. So I called them up and asked, you know, would they transporter contaminated, injured personnel from Pilgrim? If there was an accident there? And they said, well, we haven't serviced that area in over four years. And like what you're listed in their NSC report as the service provider over four years. So I thought, whoa, I can get to find out who is the service provider and will they transport a contaminated injured person? Libbe HaLevy  04:40:17 So in other words, Holtec actually gave documentation to the nuclear regulatory commission say, oh, these guys have got it covered and they're doing the workforce, but they haven't done it for four years. Diane Turco 04:40:29 Exactly. So I contacted the Plymouth police department to follow up on who was the service provider. I spoke with the staff person there and they said, Brewster ambulance service was a current provider. And I said, so would they transport contaminated, injured personnel? And so the fire department said, no, they would not. It would have to decontaminate somebody first do some gross decontamination, but no, the answer was no, they would not. So I called Brewster ambulance, their main office. And they said, well, the person who can answer that question, isn't here. They'll get back to you two days later. No one got back to me. I called again, oh, they'll call you later. Another day. They never called me. And I thought, well, that's odd. It's a simple question. So I called the local Brewster ambulance service rate in Plymouth, right. To the horse's mouth and asked an EMT. They're the same question. That's right on the NRC report, would you transport contaminated, injured personnel? And he said, no, they needed to be decontaminated first. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:33 So that does no good. If there has been a radiological release in somebody who has been contaminated with who knows how much radiation as a result, they're basically stuck on site with the need to call an Uber in order to get to a hospital. Diane Turco 04:41:50 They probably have something there to decontaminate people. I'm sure they do, but that they didn't answer the question on to the NRC made me really suspicious. So subsequently I went to the nuclear decommissioning citizens advisory panel to ask in public on the TV. And they, of course, somebody had called them and said that Bruce was the updated service. So I knew they would have that, but they said it was immaterial. That's an immaterial question. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:18 Now, is that the position of the NRC or that's what whole tech was doing to say, they're, they're missing you. Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Diane Turco 04:42:25 Holtec because actually you won't believe at the NRC. I did get the definition of exactly what they were looking for. And that's when they said the service needs to be able to transport some who's injured above contamination because the injury might be so severe. That's the priority. And so that's what they were looking for. We even had somebody from the state kind of backup Holtec and say, well, you know, we know we have a contract, an agreement with this ambulance service. So later on I emailed that person said, well, can I have a copy of that? Oh, we don't have the document. So, you know, every time you ask a question, you get a dead end. So I filed an allegation with the nuclear regulatory commission, Libbe HaLevy  04:43:03 Explain to us what it means to file an allegation with the nuclear regulatory commission. And what's significant about the way they have handled it so far. Diane Turco 04:43:13 Usually an allegation comes from within the industry and people can file anything. Their identity is kept secret. So nobody gets any blowback. It's an avenue to file a complaint about something that somebody has seen. And I just put it out in public. I actually sent it to the N D cap. I sent it to Senator Markey, Senator Warren. So it's out there. They don't have to hide my identity, but it's usually protecting, whoever's going to be like kind of a whistleblower kind of thing. So the NRC said, they're going to dismiss the first allegation that they use the wrong ambulance service. And it was over four years old. They dismissed that because Holtec corrected it, but they off going forward with the second allegation that they still don't know if the ambulance service would do what they are required to do. And I said, this is an emergency situation right now at Holtec they're putting the waste into the cans, those cheap cans, moving them up a hill. They've never done this before they tested the, the big transporter in the hydraulic system broke down twice. So the NRC hasn't even had to be able to view a dry run yet. And they're doing that right now, right here in Plymouth while I'm not in Plymouth, but in Plymouth. And we don't know if those emergency are appropriate for any of their work is, and that's the bottom line. They're not even protecting their workers. Yeah. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:38 Are there other false statements that you found that Holtec has made Diane Turco 04:44:46 That just made my day? You know, when they first came to town, joy Russel, the vice president of Holtec sat in an auditorium at the Plymouth middle school and said, we have an impeccable safety record. And I said, so tell me what's going on. It's in an old fray. That wasn't the exact time the NRC was having this special inspection, but the near drop. And I sit in how many nuclear reactors have you decommissioned? She said zero nice safety record. You've got none. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:19 And was there any further response to that or was it thank you very much for sharing next person? Diane Turco 04:45:24 No, it was just a really bad stare. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:28 So what are some of the other issues? I know we've gone over Plymouth in previous broadcast, but there are, are there any more, shall we say, newer, false hoods that you have caught Holtec in that are reasons for concern. Diane Turco 04:45:45 Recently, Mary Lambert of Pilgrim watch received a letter from a security worker at Pilgrim stating concerns about the lack of security at the site. And he did not think it was was appropriate. And that's one thing that we've been very concerned about for many years. And secondly, a friend in a video tography went on the property, CyPass, no trespassing signs, guards, security area, no parking, and went right up to where the dry cats being stored. You can see these canisters from the street, it's a public road, it's an invitation. I said, all you need is a few picnic tables to be more inviting. And Holtec keeps saying, everything's fine. Everything's good. And you know, it's just magical thinking. So they want the property and no security ever came out. They walked around to the side where the reactor is and nobody came out once again, once again. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:45 So where does this currently stand in terms of what Holtec is doing? What Holtec is saying, what you and your group and Mary Lambert are seeing as the truth of the situation? Diane Turco 04:47:00 Well, number one, we're all concerned about the canisters, the Holtec high stone, 100 canisters of thin walled cams, Libbe HaLevy  04:47:10 The five eighths of an inch thin canisters that are being used at San Diane Turco 04:47:14 Onofre. They're half inch here. Oh Libbe HaLevy  04:47:17 Wow. Well, they sh they managed to shave off an eighth of an inch from, Hey, it's only nuclear waste. Diane Turco 04:47:23 Right? Right. So all very concerned that the substandard cans are being used. We're concerned that the security is very lacking. And also here in the state, we have legislation, that's asking for the canisters to be monitored for radiation temperature. They only monitor one, and then they have those LTDs out in the field, but it's too late. It's too late. We need to be having cans that prevent radioactive release, not trying to mitigate after we also know too, that there is no mitigation plan for damaged leaking, or even potentially leaking canister. I asked at one of the meetings, what whole tech would do if Ken was leaking. And they said they would put a larger canister, concrete camp cast over it. And I said, well, you have already the mountain, the field here. Do you have one of those onsite? No, they don't have one on site. It's in New Jersey. I think it must be just a mock-up. I said, so was that approved by the NRC? And they said, no. So if anything happens there, there is no mitigation strategy or plan. And as you know, they're making the emergency planning, shrink rate to the fence, right. To the fence, because we all know Libbe HaLevy  04:48:35 Well that when radiation is released from anywhere, it looks at the fence and goes, Ooh, we can't go any further. Diane Turco 04:48:41 All you need is a chain link fence to keep it in. You know? So I didn't ask, you know, what? The waste here is next to a public road. There's a big field in front of it. There's a four foot concrete, fake Stonewall, but on the hill of the canisters, and then there's a chain-link fence. And above the chain-link fence, you can see the vents of the cans. It is just a sitting duck. It's a sitting duck. And so we're really concerned about that. But the AGS agreement, the attorney General's agreement said that they would put shrubbery around there. And I asked him, I said, this is a public meeting. Holtec could you shoot through that shrubbery? And he said, yes. And then nobody says anything. We're really concerned. We're really concerned that there's nothing being done in the effort to make things more safe. We see this way, staying here forever. That's our opinion. It can't be sent out to New Mexico and Texas. We can't do that. That's not right. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:43 And it's also not legal yet. Diane Turco 04:49:45 Right? Exactly, exactly. But Holtec had a public meeting where they had a slide that said, if all goes, well, the waste will be leaving Plymouth by 2024. That was a public meeting. So I just think the people in the area of thinking, we don't need to worry about this whole tech set, it's going to be gone. Holtec says it's safe. Holtec says everything's fine. And you know what? People that believe in that, Libbe HaLevy  05:50:11 And it's nuclear industry gaslighting all over again. It's the way they operate. So what is it that you are asking or what is the next step that you are taking? What can be done? Diane Turco 05:50:27 That's big question. We've been in touch with Senator Markey's office. We've got legislation at the state house. We're asking them all the cans. Each individual can, is monitored. And it's, real-time monitoring to the state, open to the public viewing in the state of Massachusetts. There is a state law that identifies a 10 mile area as a nuclear power plant area. That's on the books. That's not federal that state. We filed a bill or two bills, actually one in the house and one in the Senate at the state level to increase that nuclear power plant area to 50 miles and include nuclear waste dumps until the waste leaves the site, because nobody is recognizing that we are still a risk area with the waste here. It's not safe. And so we're trying to push that through. And so that's what we do in here in the state. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:21 What can we do to support you? What can anyone listening to this do to help Diane Turco 05:51:25 If you know anyone in Massachusetts, ask them to ask their state legislator, the state Senator, or representative to sign on to our bill S D 2 6 2 2. Okay. It's an app to improve public health and safety standards in communities around aging, nuclear, power plants, and high level nuclear waste dump sites. It's I think the first one in the country and it's at the state level, we feel our federal government has failed us, both Senator Maki and our representative Keating have introduced legislation that talks about 50 miles. The dry cast act says if they don't move the waste out of the pool within seven years, the emergency planning expands to 50 miles. That's gone nowhere. And the nuclear decommissioning act says communities within 50 miles should have some say in decommissioning. So we see at the federal level, there's already recognition of that 50 miles zone, whether it's an operating reactor or a shut down nuclear power plant site with a waste dump communities need to have voices and what's going on. We need to get the public to be engaged in this. It's not an industry run issue. It's really a public run issue. And that's where we're going to get safety because you know, the industry is about the bottom line and it's not about public safety. And until the people step up and start speaking out about what they want for their communities, it's not going to happen. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:55 That was Diane Turko director of the Cape. Downwinders on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It's a group that for more than 40 years has been fighting first to shut down the Pilgrim nuclear reactor, and now to have it safely decommissioned Announcer 05:53:11 The business. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:18 Good news about the King's bay plow share seven. Patrick O'Neill is out of prison on April 4th, 2018, seven Catholic Ploughshares activists entered the Kings bay Naval submarine base in St. Mary's Georgia. They went to make real the prophet Isaiah's command to beat swords into plowshares, carrying hammers and baby bottles of their own blood. The seven attempted to convert weapons of mass destruction. They hope to call attention to the ways in which nuclear weapons kill every day by their mere existence and maintenance. Patrick was found guilty and had been in federal prison since January of 2021. Now he is out, he still has three months to stay in a halfway house in Raleigh, 550 miles away and expects to have PTSD from his experience being in one extremely loud room with 115 men since January and then 35 days in pre-release isolation with 30 other men and 27 loudspeakers blaring announcements that reverberated against the walls. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:28 But for a moment, he was out eating chocolate, chip ice cream and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We wish him well. And look forward to his full release. On November 19, you are invited to join Kristen Iverson for a sneak peek of scenes from her forthcoming documentary, full body burden. Based upon her award-winning memoir. This will be available to stream on September 15 and 16. You can join the public discussion, examining the legacy of the Rocky flats, nuclear weapons plant that contemporary issues confronting Colorado and our shared nuclear future that will take place on September 16 at 4:00 PM. Mountain standard time. We'll have a link so that you can register on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 31, that's where we will also have a link to a petition by code pink women for peace, which states that new money for nuclear weapons is outrageous. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:27 And that we need to tell members of the powerful house appropriations committee that we need to defund nuclear weapons and invest in our communities. And I'm last week show number five 30. We thanked Robin Collyer of KCI radio in Taos, New Mexico for use of the recording she did of the town's environmental film festival panel. We may live in gender fluid times, but Robin has since informed me that she is actually a key and sent me a picture to prove it. My apologies for the mix-up and gratitude for your graciousness in setting me straight. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dot wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Kings bay plow shares seven.org. Current Argus com portside.org cross-cut dot com counterpunch.org, Melissa Bumstead and parents against Santa Susana field lab nuclear disaster on Facebook, Tokyo dash N p.jp, the bulletin.org, simply info.org and to the captured and compromised by the industry. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:42 They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. Now, if you want to make certain that you never miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat subscribe, it's easy to do. Go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box, put in your first name and email address, but bam, every week, as soon as the show post, you'll get a link at a short summary of the material that's included. And just for the heck of it, go to the nuclear hot seat, Facebook page, click like make a comment, share with friends. It helps us get the word out. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:43 Click on it. Follow the prompts at anything will help. We always appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that every nuclear reactor creates deadly radioactive waste that lasts forever. So for any green new deal to be genuinely green, it must not include nuclear. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:31 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #530: New Mexico Nuclear Activists Brainstorm on How to Stop LANL, WIPP Expansion - Taos Enviro Film Festival URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-nuclear-activists-lanl-wipp-taos/ Published: 2021-08-18 Duration: 00:59:01 New Mexico Nuclear Activists Brainstorm on a panel on how to stop Los Alamos plutonium pit production and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) expansion and extension, and promote the United Nations Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons. (Picture a still shot from Taos Environmental Film Festival sizzle reel.) This Week's Special Feature: New Mexico Nuclear Activists – On August 8, as part of the commemoration of the atomic bomb being dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Taos Environmental Film Festival produced an important panel discussion. Anti-nuclear and peace activists shared their views on the problems and possible solutions for nuclear dangers at two New Mexico sites: the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) – which is being tasked by the government with producing 30 plutonium pits a year for mega-bombs we do not needand the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) – which is already storing low- and mid-level radioactive nuclear waste, but is being proposed for expansion far beyond its intended storage capacity and its use-by date of 2025. Six activists offer strong perspectives and some practical suggestions that anyone, whether you’re fighting nukes in New Mexico or your own back yard, can use to up the amps, attract members, and put pressure on politicians to get these potential disasters under control. The participating activists are: Joni Arends – She serves as the Executive Director of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS), which she co-founded in 1988 to address community concerns about the proposed transportation of radioactive, toxic and hazardous waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).Scott Kovac is Operations and Research Director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico. NWNM, along with other watchdog groups, recently filed a lawsuit against the US government over its expanded production of plutonium cores for the U.S. nuclear weapons “modernization” plans.Erich Kuerschner is a noted Taos Peace Activist whom writes important editorials on behalf of peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.Ken Mayers founded Veterans for Peace Santa Fe in 2002. In 2012, he was named a Santa Fe Living Treasure. Since he resigned his commission as a U.S. Marine Corp Captain in 1966 he has worked as a peace activist. Ken has promoted a variety of causes, including a freeze and cutback of worldwide nuclear weapons. As a global peace promoter, Ken has been active overseas. His professional life focuses on administration, consulting, communications systems and helping large organizations function better.Bud Ryan (Modertor) is a Peace & Justice Activist & made an antinuclear documentary with Stuart Overbey called The Forgotten Bomb which won Best Documentary from the Irvine International Film Festival in California and is a featured film at The August Peace Pilgrimage.Serit Kotowski is a Taos Artist. She is the founder of the Embudo Valley Environmental Monitoring Group, based in Dixon. EVEMG organized following the May 2000 Cerro Grande fire. EVEMG collected air samples every two weeks for years to protect the community from LANL emissions. She is well informed about emergency response at LANL, as well as using her art to express concerns about nuclear weapons. Our thanks to the Taos Environmental Film Festival and Jean Stevens for putting the Festival and this panel together. Audio of this panel discussion was produced by Robin Collier of Taos radio station KCEI and is provided for our use. KCEI is a long time supporter of Nuclear Hotseat and carries the show every week. Our gratitude for your support. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's Evil Numnutz time when it turns out that the 20-year Afghan war was really just a full-employment business strategy for weapons-producing companies. LINKS: KCEI website with full program. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 The anti-nuclear movement. How does one become involved in fighting against nuclear issues in the first place? Does it really require a personal experience of nuclear dangers and terrors in order to move a person into action? What does it take to grow that movement against nuclear? It's a hard set of questions, but then you hear a woman who cares so much about the environment that she organizes, the annual Taos environmental film festival, and Jean Stephens introduces a panel of activists who are fighting against nuclear by telling you speaker 1 00:00:39 We're now going into a new cold war. And unfortunately it's happening 45 miles up wind from towels. We are downwinders and it is very important that everyone realize the danger that we all face in case there was a meltdown of some sort or an accident. Libbe HaLevy  00:00:57 Well, if you need a personal involvement and experience with nuclear issues to kickstart your activism, and you suddenly discovered that there you are in New Mexico, only 45 miles downwind of what could easily be the site of a life-changing nuclear incident or accident or disaster. Then you two just might find the focus, energy and anger to fight back in an effort to get out of that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:31 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:02 Welcome to nuclear. Hotseat the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as the survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we celebrate the work of the Taos environmental film festival, which put on the Taos August peace pilgrimage on August 8th, 2021. That was to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the United States dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki included in the event was a panel discussion where anti-nuclear and peace activists shared their views on the problems and possible solutions for nuclear dangers at two New Mexico sites, the Los Alamos national laboratory, which is being tasked by the government with producing 30 plutonium pits a year for mega bombs. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:08 We do not need, and the waste isolation pilot plant, which is already storing low and mid-level radioactive nuclear fuel, but as being proposed for expansion beyond its intended storage capacity, and it's used by shutdown date of 2025, you'll hear from six activists with six strong perspectives and a lot to say, including practical suggestions that anyone, whether you're fighting nukes in New Mexico or your own backyard can use to up the amps attract members and put pressure on politicians to get these potential disasters under control. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than could be heard over the noise of the airplanes leading Kabul airport, all that coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, August 17th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting here in the U S where the nuclear regulatory commission slapped the risk of new Hampshire's Seabrook station nuclear plant saying that the staff did not adequately account for future progress of, of alkali silica reaction or ASR in their prompt, operability determination for several Seabrook structures. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:41 The 30 year old atomic reactor has concrete infected by ASR and irreversible type of concrete degradation caused by water reacting with the concrete. It has been called concrete cancer. So it's not just people who can get cancer from nukes. Nukes can give it to themselves. The NRC imposed for new license conditions that direct next era, the owner of Seabrook to conduct much more frequent and stringent monitoring and engineering evaluations. This ruling was in response to a suit that was filed. A legal challenge brought by C 10 research and education foundation and its executive director. Natalie healed treat, who was interviewed on this issue for nuclear hot seat. Number 4 83 of September 23rd, 2020 at issue was the fact that three structures at Seabrook had widening cracks that exceeded their design limits. And the fourth one had cracks that were approaching the limits. And now for some evil numnuts, that goes way beyond nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy  00:05:59 As that old song goes, Natalie 00:06:01 Wor good God. Y'all what the heck it good for? Absolutely. No, Libbe HaLevy  00:06:08 Unless you're a weapons maker, in which case, Yazoo break out the champagne, the Washington DC based advocacy group, public citizen sent out a tweet last week saying entrenching us forces in Afghanistan was the military industrial complex has business plan for 20 plus years. The group added Hawks and defense contractors. Co-opted the needs of the Afghan people in order to line their own pockets. Never has it been more important to end war profiteering in today's tweet, public citizen highlighted returns on defense stocks over the past 20 years as calculated in a jaw-dropping analysis by the intercept and stated the military industrial complex got exactly what it wanted out of the war. Focusing on the five biggest defense contractors, Boeing Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and general dynamics. It was calculated that a $10,000 investment in stock evenly split across those five companies on the day in 2001, that then president George W. Bush signed the authorization preceding the U S invasion that $10,000 would be worth $97,295 this week put a different way. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:31 Defense stocks outperformed the stock market overall by 58% during the Afghan war. This may be the very definition of blood money. The intercepts John Schwartz, who examined the returns on these stocks and came up with these numbers, said that the number suggests that it is incorrect, that the Taliban's immediate takeover of Afghanistan upon the U S is departure means that the Afghanistan war was a failure on the contrary, from the perspective of some of the most powerful people in the U S it may have been an extraordinary success. And that's why warmongers weapons manufacturers and those who support them with your investment dollars. You are this week's no Libbe HaLevy  00:08:24 That was evil, no nuts. And if you want to know a good way to fight back against that, listen to our 92nd PSA from Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb is going to be in the activist shoutout section at the end of the program, over to Japan, where we learn once again, that smoking is bad for you, especially when you're a nuclear power plant. The company that operates the Homolka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka prefect, Southwest of Tokyo confirmed on Tuesday, August 17, the presence of smoke in a building that houses a turbine of one of the reactors. This was noted after fire alarms went off. This was in addition to a report that last Thursday, August 12th, the plant reported a fire in which smoke emanated from an electrical wire on the premises. The company Chubu electric power company has not reported any injuries or leakage of radioactive material at the plant and its surroundings at the moment, which implies that more may be revealed the Homolka nuclear power plant has been considered for years as one of the most dangerous atomic facilities in the world because of its location in an area where two major continental plates meet it suspended its operations in may of 2011, two months after the nuclear triple meltdown in the Fukushima nuclear facility was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:57 Many citizen organizations have called for the permanent shutdown of the harmonica plant. The decision regarding its final closure remains in the air, along with all that smoke Japan's nuclear regulatory authority said that it will stop its evaluation of the number two unit and the surrogate nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture. After discovering that its operator Japan, atomic power company tampered with key geological data related to a fault underneath the facility. This puts in doubt the restart of the reactor after a 10 year shutdown in February, 2020, Japan, atomic power had been found to every written data, analyzing a drilling survey conducted on an area below that surrogate complex premises. And most of the altar data involved geological data collected at points that are critical in determining whether the fault running underneath the reactor is active or not. We'll have this week special feature in just a moment. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:59 But first, when I was just starting nuclear hot seat, I attended a Hollywood industry event and ran into some women producers I hadn't seen for several years. When I told them I was doing a weekly show on nuclear issues, they kind of sniffed the air is if a rank order had just made itself known and asked, is there even enough nuclear information to fill an hour long program every week to which I can only respond? Is there ever a week without a lot of nuclear somethings to grab our attention, stoke our fears, motivate our activism, fires, floods, human error, the decay of aging technology, or just terrorists gaining control of a country and the possibly the means to steal themselves some radioactive goodies from the country. Next door nuclear is a mess. One that mainstream media tends to avoid as too difficult to story to tell, to not sexy enough, to grab a viewer's limited attention span in 30 seconds or less. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:05 And that is why nuclear hot seat is here to help, you know, what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it at nuclear hotseat, we're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we provide vetted facts with context and continuity. So you get the full picture, but in order to continue to do our work, we need your help. And that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help with a donation of any size by dollars a month. Same as a cup of coffee, buy us a cup of coffee every month. I promise it. Won't go to caffeine, please. If you value nuclear hot seat, do what you can now and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:57 Here's this week special feature New Mexico is pretty much ground zero. When it comes to nuclear dangers and potential atrocities. That's where Los Alamos was invented as an isolated home for scientists trying to create and build the world's first atomic bomb, which they did. And then they exploded the first one in New Mexico on July 16th, 1945, the Los Alamos national laboratory known by its acronym. Lanel has been now tasked with building 30 plutonium pits a year to create 30 cores for more nuclear bombs, any one of them, more than 500 times the destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb, then there's the waste isolation, pilot plant, or whip. It couldn't be an official government site without an acronym. Could it whip is supposed to request your loan and mid-level transuranic waste meaning materials that have become radioactively contaminated through nuclear manufacturing and handling of the materials. But now even as it's supposed to be shut down within four years, whip is being proposed for not only expansion, but an extension to operate for another 60 years with waste being shipped to it by truck and train from all over the nation so that all the nation's radioactive nuclear waste converges in New Mexico. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:27 As you might imagine, there are citizens in New Mexico who are really upset about these developments and have been working for years to stop them. Six of them were brought together on August 8th, 2021 to speak on a panel at the annual Taos environmental film festival. The panel featured six knockout activists from a range of, and was recorded by Robin Collier of KCI radio in Taos for broadcast. Casey EEI is one of the earliest and most robust supporters of nuclear. Hotseat carrying the show every week. And we are pleased to be able to reciprocate by making excerpts of their program available to you. The moderator for the panel is bud Ryan. He is a peace and justice activist and made an anti-nuclear documentary with Stewart Overbey called the forgotten bomb. This film won best documentary from the Irvine international film festival in California, and is a feature film at the August peace pilgrimage in Taos, but begins with a question to the panel and the answers start off with Joanie errands. Joanie has been a guest many times on nuclear hot seat for her work as the executive director of concerned citizens for nuclear safety or CC N S this is a group she co-founded in 1988 to address community concerns about what was then the proposed transport of radioactive toxic and hazardous waste from Los Alamos national laboratory. First, bud, then Joanie, Bud 01:16:09 What brought you to this point about nukes? What was the spark that got you involved for myself? I'm from New York city. I attended the million person March in central park when Reagan was president, but after that happened, it was out of my consciousness for the most part. It wasn't until I went to Hiroshima and got to go to the peace museum in 1991. And that changed my life. So Joni, what got you? Joanie 01:16:42 So this is a true confession. Before I moved to New Mexico, I was a registered Republican living in San Francisco. When I moved here in 1986 on March 24th, 1988, I attended a department of energy and New Mexico environment department, and I'll call them they and med. They were going to talk about the proposed transportation of nuclear waste from Lanel to the then unopened waste isolation, pilot plant. The meeting was held at the old Sweeney center, downtown Santa Fe. And the DOE officials said, trust us, everything's going to be okay, but they couldn't even get the slide projector to work properly. And then the PR person from the environment department stood up and he stood like Nixon. When Nixon said, I'm not a crook and said, trust us, everything's going to be okay. And then Don Hancock from Southwest research and information center in Albuquerque said, don't believe a word heard tonight. Joanie 01:17:51 And he went through point by point about all the problems with not only the WIP site itself, but also the transportation issues. So a few nights later, I got together with my friend, Tom O'Dowd in Santa Fe. And because we were both St John's students, we asked the question, what would Socrates do? And we agreed that he would create a dialogue. So Tom and I made signs that said whip route, and it had the nuclear symbol on it. Our plan was to put the signs on St. Francis drive to create the dialogue. And we went to see Mr. Martinez, who sold chili and Latinas on the corner of St. Francis and Camino Sierra Vista. And we went up to him and we said, do you know about whip? And he said, yes, it's bad for my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. And we said, we have a sign. Could we put it up on your property? And he said, I'll go get my hammer. And so after that experience, it was like, oh my goodness, there's so much community support for this. And that's how I got started. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:01 Next. We hear from Sarat Kotowski, she is a Taos artist and many other things, as well as founder of the valley environmental monitoring group, based in Dixon, New Mexico, the group organized following the May, 2000 Cerro Grande day, fire it collect air samples every two weeks and has done so for years to protect the community from Lanel admissions. She is well-informed about emergency response Atlanta, as well as using her art to express concerns about nuclear weapons here. She discusses how she got involved in nuclear issues. Sarat Kotowski 01:19:40 I don't really want to go way back. I mean, I grew up in a military family and you know, that pretty much sets the stage for a lot of rebellion. You know, when you hit about 11 or 12, and so rebellious teenager father that was in Vietnam, dating Vietnam veterans and understanding what was going on, you know, with the peace movement, just being on the fringes, mostly of any kind of activism. My big training started in 2000 after the settled, the Sunday fire, I was living in a place in real and medio and out of my bedroom window, where actually first we were sitting outside and saw the giant cauliflower of smoke coming off of Lanel. And then at night, for many, many nights, I could see the transformer towers exploding and the trees exploding on the horizon. And it was really pretty horrifying knowing what was up there. Sarat Kotowski 02:20:50 And at the time I was also working for a woman who had environmental illness and had a lot of anxiety besides having to deal with her health issues. And I was taking care of animals at the rodeo grounds, the horses and the dogs and the cats. And that's where I started. And then Johnny came up to Dixon and did a presentation. And after the presentation about the set of grounding fire, I came up to her and I said, well, what can I do? And it was really snowballing and very eyeopening and training and so many things. That's how I got started. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:33 Sarah Kotowski next came Ken mayors. He founded veterans for peace Santa Fe in 2000 to two, in 2012, he was named a Santa Fe living treasure. Since he resigned his commission as a us Marine Corps captain in 1966, Ken has worked as a peace activist. He has promoted a variety of causes, including a freeze and cut back of worldwide nuclear weapons. As a global peace promoter. Ken has been active overseas. His professional life focuses on administration consulting, communication systems and helping large organizations function better. So when it comes to nukes, he's got a lot to say. Ken Mayors 02:22:20 I grew up during world war II. My dad was in the Marine Corp. Ironically, he was in the Marshall Islands when the bomb went off and he was very thankful for it because at the time, of course, the word was that this was going to prevent the invasion of the whole blanche, Japan and abelian death. Ironically, the very first newspaper headline that says a bomb. And I said, well, what's that about? Well, quickly found out about what that was about in spite of the fact that my dad will be coming home. I said, this is a pretty horrible thing, but I grew up drinking the Kool-Aid that all Americans grow up with. My dad was called back into service for Korea. He was a gun home Marine. I drank Marine Corps Kool-Aid as well as the standard us school. And so I was very proud when I won a scholarship Princeton and took a commission in the Marine Corps. Ken Mayors 02:23:22 I entered the Marine Corps as a gung ho America as a great force for good in the world. And I spent eight and a half years on active duty as a Marine Corps officer, while the Marine Corps steadily showed me what America really does. So I resigned my commission and started by a lifelong avocation as a peace and justice activist, returning to the Cal university of California at Berkeley, they get a doctorate in political science, but the nuclear focus became clearer in 1983, a group of high-powered business executives and professionals in the San Francisco bay area started a movement called beyond war. And their intention was to impact the conversation around the presidential primaries in 1984. So they set out 11 teams that different parts of the United States, where there were early primaries. And one of the teams came to Vermont where we were living at the time. And a team came down to Bennington, Vermont to give us an orientation to a world beyond war. And their immediate goal was to get a group in Bennington to start giving these orientations on a weekly basis. And the orientation was a three-part series. And the first orientation was using Helen Caldicott bill about nuclear war and my late wife. And I gave that orientation about 10 times a year for the next three years. And that was really my start and at the nuclear activist, Libbe HaLevy  02:25:17 Ken Myers, Scott Kovak is operations and research director for nuclear watch New Mexico. This group, along with other watchdog groups recently filed a lawsuit against the west government over its expanded production of plutonium cores for the U S nuclear weapons modernization plans. His explanation of how he got involved in nuclear issues is to the point Scott Kovak 02:25:43 Early two thousands. I've raised my family, the kids were out of the house. I had some spare time that I didn't have before. And I ended up one day helping to put address labels on a newsletter for nuclear watch, New Mexico, and I never left. That's how I got involved. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:03 Scott Kovak of nuclear watch New Mexico also on the panel was Eric. Kershner a noted Taos peace activist who writes important editorials on behalf of peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. One of the big questions under discussion at this panel was what is the biggest problem at Lanel Joni? And Sarah had kicked off the answers followed by the men. I think, Joanie 02:26:31 I think they're growing attempts to further colonize Northern New Mexico for their benefit is the biggest threat. At this point in time, besides the plans to pit production, I do want to say that as a community, we stop three big weapons, nuclear weapons projects during Bush to the R R w the reliable replacement warhead, the, our nap, the robust nuclear earth penetrator and the modern PIP facility, which we called the bomb Plex. We were able to defeat with colleagues regionally and nationally and internationally to defeat those projects. But the impotence was really in Northern New Mexico to stop those efforts. And we need to re-engage ourselves to stop these plans to further colonized Northern New Mexico. Sarat Kotowski 02:27:30 There's lots of problems. Expanded pit production is huge because we're talking about producing pits more than Rocky flats produced. What a contaminating, absolutely thoroughly environmental contaminations and contamination of humans issues are how we collected soil samples, water samples, produce samples. And we were a little tiny organization. And no matter what we sampled, we always found radionuclides associated with nuclear weapons, production cesium, 1 37 S strontium 90 plutonium, 2 38 to 39. It was all there besides the whole array of heavy metals and how could they collect samples? And they never found anything that was above regional levels. So it's the way that they whitewash everything. They water it down, just like a good patriarch. They pat you on the head and tell you to go away and say, oh, this is just how it is. And don't bother me anymore. Don't ask any more questions. And so I think as Joanie said, it's the culture. It's the, it's the patriarchy community involvement, big issue Bud 02:28:53 For me, it's the smiley face that Lana puts on everything that there's nothing wrong, really going on up there. We're smart enough. And we've got your best interests at heart. So don't worry. Scott Kovak 02:29:07 They think that you're gumming up and don't understand the economics enough that you can confuse the dollars going into Los Alamos is somehow translating into benefits. Although basically the lie of false precision, you know, you throw so many numbers and datas and experts and everything at somebody that there's no effective opposition, but as Joanie said, the danger is as they're stupefying us, we're going to eventually be ended up with a pile of trash and nobody's going to help us clean it up and pay for, and they're just going to say suckers, they can't get rid of the ring. I'm a nuclear weapons are the vehicle for world domination. As far as I'm concerned, Ken Mayors 02:29:55 The biggest challenge is overcoming the lies. You know, that we are continually fed about the need for what goes on up there in the first place to just constantly get the truth out as these folks do. Scott Kovak 03:30:12 I been lately, I've been looking at Los Alamos laboratory as a dirty bomb. That's exploding in slow motion because it's a laboratory. They disposed of basically every type of contaminant that you solvent. They do radionuclides, and they've been letting it go, you know, releasing it into the environment for 75 years. Now that's a main problem. The other problem is the money. The money is very attractive. People do and say things to continue to keep their jobs. Currently. It's the supposed that need for pit production Atlantel and it's Savannah Riverside. And in South Carolina, both of these sites are being proposed to produce 80 pits, plutonium pits, which are the cores of nuclear weapons. They're planning on 50 at South Carolina and 30 at Los Alamos. And, you know, they've been allowed to do 20 the last time they did any that they produced 11 one year back in 2012 and haven't produced any. And so it kind of shows that we don't really need them. I mean, we physically, we didn't make any for 10 years. You know, we made 30 for a few years in the 2010s and 2011 and 2012, we made a total of 29 or 30 and it just goes to show how much we don't need them, how much it's all about money and why, you know, Los Alamos should stop making plutonium pits. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:48 Then moderator, bud Ryan got into the nitty-gritty and the discussion took off. Bud 03:31:55 What can we do to wake the public up? Look, everybody on this stage at one time or another, or all the time is working to get more of you people involved and create a groundswell. I said that I was there for the million person event in New York city. And it kind of melted after that to an extent. So what can we do to re-engage the public Joni? Joanie 03:32:27 I would encourage folks that it's time we need to stop web expansion. DOE is planning to double the size of web, and they're in a very incremental way to avoid having to show us the full picture of what they have planned. And so I'll say that. And number two is that we have a new tool on January 22nd. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons went forward and 50 countries ratified, signed and ratified the treaty. So it's ineffective and it needs to be something that we're talking about is how are we investing? You know, there's been a billion dollars extra that is in Lamaze budget for nuclear weapons in the last two years. So there's $2 billion on the table right now. And we need to stop that money by saying, if we have $2 billion, we need Prague ban in Northern New Mexico. We need help with education, healthcare, all of these roads, the whole thing. Joanie 03:33:36 And we don't want you to spend that money on pet production. We want that money to be available for the community that has suffered since 1943, with the irresponsible handling of these materials that Scott described and Sherry described that are throughout Northern New Mexico. So thank you for signing onto the stop forever whip. And I'm just going to say one more thing. In my view, the department of energy is holding new Mexicans hostage with this whole thing that they need to expand PIP production, but they also need to expand whip. And the important thing is, is that when I started back in the day, whip was supposed to close 25 years after it opened. And that year is 2024. And they're trying to keep whip open till 2080. Thanks, Jeremy, Sarat Kotowski 03:34:40 What we can do is we have to have more community outreach. People have to get educated about what the cost is, the human cost, the environmental cost. I'm really happy to see all of you people here, but next time you come to one of these events, bring somebody else. You know, you have to spread the word. If you're not spreading the word, it's not getting out. Use your social media, the new generation of our congressional delegation. They got elected through social media and you know what don't say, I'm too old to do that because you're not too old. I can do it. Anybody else can do it. You know, don't argue with people about nuclear weapons. What you have to do is present them with facts, details. Did you know that to make 150 tons of weapons grade plutonium, you have to enrich 10,000 tons of uranium. Sarat Kotowski 03:35:51 What are you going to do with all that tonnage of depleted uranium in the processing? There are so many questions you can ask. Did you know, the first nuclear weapon was exploded in the Tularosa basin and that people continue to suffer from that. Did you know that Lanel is crap at emergency response? They don't know what they're doing and your emergency managers in the county, they aren't participating participation, community outreach. This is the only way that we're going to get anything done. And finally, Joni's petitions. CCNs look at our websites, look at Scott's website, look at the websites. They're going to give you a lot of information. These people are experts at what they do. Scott Kovak 03:36:42 Yeah. I concur with everything that said so far. I am aware that as a great deal of harm, that comes from the production of the bomb in terms of medical, both in the mining and the transportation and the manufacturer. And so the inability to somehow engage the community and an honest discussion, because it basically comes down one pit cost about $50 million in this day and age of climate change, school issues, housing issues, food issues, and so on to allow greedy people to use the atomic bomb is a big cash cow. And to hold the rest of us hostage, when there's so many better uses that money, we have to engage in that conversation. And some of our commissioners are, I think at the county level, we have a majority of politicians that understand that. And anyway, I'll stop there, but I just do want to put in a plug for new quartz. If you go to Pitt production and modernization, nuke, watts.org, very succinct, I work more closely probably with the Los Alamos study group. I've got to say that's for people that want to do a deep, deep, deep dive in is Sherry said, that's not really necessary. I think you'll get all that you need from nuke watson.org. Ken Mayors 03:38:10 Thanks Tim. I wonder how many new Yorker cartoons that have been over the years that feature a bedraggled looking person on a street corner, holding a sign that says the end is near well folks. The end is near in two ways. I mean, we are facing two existential crises. One, obviously the global climate change crisis and the other is the insanity crisis of continuing to build these weapons that can't be used and sucking up all our resources that need to go to places where we can make a positive difference. And we simply have to wake up the community and wake up our neighbors any way we can think of. And I'll say right now, the next time our congressional representatives come up for reelection. I'm going to be out there, charging them with betrayal of the American people, for continuing to support the ridiculous waste of money. That's only going to poison us and to create weapons that can't be used. And it's absolutely reprehensible. Bud 03:39:29 Thanks, Kim, Scott, Scott Kovak 03:39:31 I would just say support your local activists and there's several ways to do that. Sign petitions, send money, show up at meetings, bring your friends, you know, that's one level, give Joanie, or give me a call and ask, you know, is there some report because we spend a lot of time reading environmental reports and we can use some help. You know, that is the hardest part of my job is to translate the technical jargon from the department of energy, into something that, you know, what it means, what it means to the average person on the street. And that's what we try to do. Bud 04:40:11 Thanks, Scott. And the Joanie 04:40:13 Challenge is that there's a lie on every page. Bud 04:40:16 So there's anti-nuclear activists from around the country that once a year go to Washington DC to lobby elected officials to stop this madness. I went one time with Stewart, the woman I made the film with Joanie was there. I think Scott was there that year. Jay was there and I would never go back again. I was so frustrated. There was a point where Bingaman I wanted to wring his neck. But my question to everybody up here on the panel is should we engage with our Congress people and our senators? And if you think we should, how should we engage with them? Because I've watched Joanie and Scott, you know, talk to these people and I see them nodding to them and then they support the labs 100%. So what do you think, Joanie? How do we engage politicians? Or should we, Joanie 04:41:23 I think we have to get more of a grassroots effort going so that they can't dismiss us. I don't know. Pitchforks might work. Sarat Kotowski 04:41:34 You have to engage them. And I don't know how you do that mean these elected officials for the most part are politicians and they're slippery and slimy. And it's really hard to have respect for them. But other than just masses of people, outpouring, I don't know how many postcards I've counted, how many postcards I've signed and you know what postcards are effective. When you hand somebody a stack of postcards, that's two feet tall. They can't ignore that. There's a lot of ways you can engage them. Besides issues. Issues are always good. And what do you call that bird dogging? You got a bird dog. These people, you go to the meetings where they're there and you, you lay out some information and then you force them to answer the question in a way where they sound really bad. If they agree with it, you got to shame them into it really. It's about all I can think of to do with a lot of them, right? Bud 04:42:39 Too often, money is obviously the big thing with politicians and Lanel is giving them money or telling them there's jobs, blah, blah, blah. And they see if they're going to cut any program, it's going to lose them jobs and they won't get reelected. So we have to be there on the other side, showing them there are other voters who were concerned about this other stuff, Eric, what do you think? Scott Kovak 04:43:10 I kind of wanted second, what Joni said to me, it's all grassroots. I mean, politicians follow. They don't lead, you know, and then till we have a large enough group to kind of put any real pressure on a politician, they're not going to listen to us. And because of the money that Lanel has and the way that the whole constitution is organized or whatever, I've even stopped voting at federal elections, I no longer vote for the president or Senator or representative because I think that it's so controlled by money. It's just a waste of time. I don't feel that way for the round house and for the local people. I mean, like right now we have a majority, I think on the Taos county commission that understands that I think Santa Fe city is getting close to the county is getting so much close. The town is still up in the air, but till we have the support of our local politicians, I don't think anything above and at our round house in Santa Fe, I don't think anyone in Washington. I mean, we just can't compete. I mean, to me, I don't see how that's productive. Ken Mayors 04:44:26 Three of the bird dogging is as a way of educating, not the Congressman, not the Senator, but the other people in the room who may be susceptible to education. And similarly public demonstration outside of our elected official offices, get as many people as you can to go. And again, it's educate the public, not the Congressman. If we've got enough people in the public educated, that'll take care of the Bud 04:44:54 Congressman. Thanks Kim, Scott. Scott Kovak 04:44:57 We need to educate the politicians also. And that's kind of our new coaches job. And, and some of the, some of the activists job is to educate the politicians. We need to make our issues, political election campaign issues. So when you ask them about taxes or infrastructure, we need to ask them, you know, what is their stance on nuclear weapons production at Los Alamos? We need to, we need to get that out of our politicians and vote for them accordingly and let them know that we are doing that. Bud 04:45:31 Thanks. Thanks Scott. So there have been a lot of positive outcomes that have happened recently in terms of nukes. I would say that the UN declaring them illegal is a huge thing. You know, when Scholtz and Kissinger and that group came out against nukes and said, we can't use these weapons, especially with Kissinger that blew me away. So are you positive? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about where we're headed with nukes? Joanie 04:46:11 I'm really excited. There's a lot of young people that are involved in this effort around the world. And you can go to the international campaign on the abolition of nuclear weapons. So it's, I can w.org. And there's a lot of things going on around the world where young people are taking the lead to push for abolition of nuclear weapons, including the no first use campaign. And Ken can talk about that more. So I'm really excited. I think we're at a transition point where the teeter-totter is getting balanced out. And so we're waiting for more countries to sign onto the treaty and for more countries to make statements. Bud 04:47:04 Thanks. Sarat Kotowski 04:47:06 I can't say that I'm optimistic, but I'm also not pessimistic about it. I see that there's some hope and yes, the next generation, the younger generation is getting involved, which is really positive, still in the middle, on the teeter-totter, whether it's gonna flip one way or the other. Bud 04:47:28 Thank you, Scott Kovak 04:47:29 Eric. Yeah, I actually kind of optimistic. I think it was a Unitarian minister said the arc turns toward justice or something like that in the long run and with what's happening at the UN. And I think people are waking up and I think with climate change and COVID and homelessness and all the problems that we face pretty soon, people are gonna understand the big economic engine is supposed to be in Los Alamos. We've got 70 years of data and in Mexico's always at the bottom, at what point it's just like erections used to do this, you know, rather than produce good food. They tell you we are producing good food. And rather than producing good schools, they'd say you have good schools. Well, that's what we've come to. We're down at the bottom. And so many things. And I think just eventually people are going to wake up. I mean, Los Alamos is going to float on its own. I don't believe it has the capability of making 30 pits a year safely. So by that token, I think people will slowly wake up as I, and things will change for the better, Ken Mayors 04:48:39 Neither optimistic nor pessimistic I'm engaged. You know, it appears that in many ways, the world's going to hell in a hand basket. It's a little less depressing if you're engaged and trying to do something about it. So I encourage everybody to get engaged and veterans for peace. We have a nuclear abolition working group that has a seven point statement of purpose that begins with no first use putting pressure on president state department to declare a policy of no first use and making that policy real by deactivating our missile, our ICBM's that can only be used in a first use. And it moves on from there taking all the weapons off of air trigger alert, storing the war had separately from the missiles to gain time, because they're going in exactly the wrong direction to get hypersonic missiles and so forth. So nuclear abolition, I think there's getting more interest in it. The question is, do we have enough time? The literally have enough time for enough people getting engaged? Scott Kovak 04:49:57 Thanks. I still think there is time to change things. And I believe that we have not passed the point where, you know, it's futile. I think that, you know, there is time, there is hope to keep at it, but it's going to take a lot of work and it's probably gonna take as much work as we've done. And it's going to seem like, you know, we're doing the same thing 10 years later that we did 10 years ago, 20 years ago, but you know, it all works together. And I think that, you know, it's going to take the community and it's going to take us all to flex our political muscle. Joni, do you have something want to add? Joanie 05:50:38 So we need to be asking our politicians. What's the transition plan. What's the plan for transition of Lanel from nuclear weapons to something else. What's the plan. Everybody say it in unison. What's Scott Kovak 05:51:00 Well, thank you everybody for being here and thank the panelists for all the work you do to rid the world of these awful weapons. Thank you Libbe HaLevy  05:51:10 To which I add my thanks on behalf of myself and the listeners of nuclear hot seat to the activists, Joanie errands, Scott Kovac, Eric Kershner, Ken Meyers, Sarah and moderator, bud Ryan for participating in the August 8th panel discussion of the annual Taos environmental film festival, additional and essential, thanks to Jean Stephens and the talus environmental film festival poor putting on this event and to Robin Collier of KCI radio in house for producing this audio for her station and by allowing nuclear hot seat to benefit from her hard work, we will have links to the activists, websites and a few others where you can listen to the entire recording of the panel up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 3, 0, and no matter where you are, but especially if you're in New Mexico. After listening to this get involved, we need a groundswell of concern, citizens putting pressure on our legislators to turn this insane nuclear expansion around and the time to start doing it is right now Announcer 05:52:27 Activists. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:35 And while you're at it, here is another easy elegant action you can take to disempower the nuclear weapons industry by hitting them where it hurts most in the money don't bank on the bomb is a system for divesting funds from those companies that are actively involved in the design and manufacture of nuclear weapons. This brief explanation of how the campaign works is abled voiced by Susie Snyder. She coordinates the research publication and campaigning activities for the group and is on the steering committee of ICANN. This brief explanation was recorded app Dr. Helen called the con's symposium on possible nuclear extinction on February 28th, 2015. Susie Synder 05:53:21 It's amazing. It's called don't bank on the bomb and that's the website don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon, producers, step two, contact your banks, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says. And if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to the companies that make nuclear weapons. You and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallet and how Libbe HaLevy  05:54:00 We'll find out whether the companies that we're told the bank is supporting Susie Synder 05:54:06 The clear weapons industry. Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profile 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website. Don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in through the website, really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'm happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, tell us we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:44 I loved it when I first heard about it and I love it. Still Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb. The website is don't bank on the bomb.com. And if you need a link, you'll find it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5, 3 0. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, August 17th, 2021. Our thanks again to Robin Collyer of K CEI, 90.1 FM in red river, New Mexico, a member of the nuclear hot seat broadcast network that gets our show from the Pacifica audio port network. Robin recorded the panel discussion. We featured today for K CEI and then offer the program to us for use by nuclear hot seat, for which we are grateful. We're also grateful to gene Stevens and the talus environmental film festival for putting on this event to begin with other material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, doing renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:50 The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons don't bank on the bomb. The times of India op ed news, the Barents observer.com Bristol post.co.uk nuclear information resource service, or nears.org, Kyoto news.net town, common media.com. Strange sounds.org dot com. Common dreams.org, cypress-mail.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. You should all know by now that you don't want to miss a single episode of nuclear hotseat because who knows it might be around some site that's right around your corner. So what you can do is go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com. There's a yellow box there, where if you put in your first name and your email address and send it to us, you'll be on our database. And we will send you one email a week, which has that week's link to an episode. And they brief summary of what's included. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:59 We don't sell our list or give it away or beat you over the head with it just one a week. And you get the show. It's easy. Do it. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send that information in an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Please don't use Facebook messenger things just get lost there. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of harvest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with a date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it's never over. That's it. There you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:29 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #529: Ohio: Radiation Releases from Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant - Dr. Michael Ketterer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-contamination-in-ohio-radiation-releases-from-portsmouth-gaseous-diffusion-plant-dr-michael-ketterer-nh-529/ Published: 2021-08-11 Duration: 00:58:59 Nuclear Contamination in Ohio: Radiation releases from Piketon, Ohio's Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant into local community are being tracked by Dr. Michael Ketterer (above) This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Contamination in Ohio is being tracked by Dr. Michael Ketterer, who has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, taught at John Carroll University, Northern Arizona University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and at University of Denver. Since 2000, Michael has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment, publishing and lecturing extensively, and has analyzed samples from locations worldwide. He is currently studying plutonium dioxide particles in soils near the former Rocky Flats facility in Colorado, and fingerprinting off-site contaminants near the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. Michael is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. We spoke on Friday, August 6, 2021.LINK to NH #413, May 22, 2021: Radioactive Contamination in Ohio School SPECIAL: Whistleblower Vina Colley Exposes Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant History https://nuclearhotseat.com/2019/05/22/radioactive-contamination-ohio-school-whistleblower-vina-colley-exposes-truth-nh-413/TV Report by Duane Pohlman, WKRC-TV Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Radioactive Ranger badges part of Historic Manhattan Project's ongoing con job! LInks: Episode on nukes from Nature Bats Last, with three of my favorite activists: Skipper Kevin Hester of NZ, Ecologist Guy McPhearson, and poet/activist Mimi German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIZ5VmXdeps&t=2101s Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Radioactive nuclear legacy waste. The Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant in pike county, Ohio made enriched uranium to support the nation's nuclear weapons program and create the fuel used by commercial nuclear reactors. It operated from 1954 until 2001, but even now today, 20 years after the facility last produced enriched uranium. The danger of radiation contamination continues, especially with the department of energy's current efforts to tear down the half mile long buildings that housed the equipment, you'd think DOE would take every precaution to protect local residents from being exposed to radioactive materials released during the demolition process. But then you learn about recent tests of the surrounding communities and hear a highly credentialed researcher tell you Dr. Michael Ketterer 00:00:58 Enriched uranium is something that I found basically from day one in the offsite environment. And there's lots of examples of finding it and soils in the dust in zones corner school, in the dusts, in private individuals, residences offsite, it's present in the water, draining the site. There's a Creek called little beaver Creek, which goes into the CYO river. We found enriched uranium and sediments of the cyto river downstream of the facility. Well, Libbe HaLevy 00:01:32 When someone who holds a PhD in analytical chemistry and who has worked for the U S environmental protection agencies, office of enforcement, Dr. Michael Ketterer tells you of radiological releases he's found through not only his own research, but also DOE publicly available data. You realize that there's probably a nuclear disaster lurking, no matter where you live and that we are each of us stuck in that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:06 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:37 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week. A look at the latest findings in Piketon Ohio, where the department of energy is pushing through the demolition of the highly radioactive pike. Didn't gaseous diffusion plant, much to the detriment and anger of the local community. We talk with Dr. Michael Ketterer, whose research broke the story of radioactive contaminants in the Piketon Ohio Xons corner, middle school three years ago. And he's added again, analyzing and presenting data that shows radioactive materials have been released into the air and water of communities surrounding the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:44 It's a chilling tale from a brilliant, deeply committed scientist. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than anyone working on a COVID ward in Florida or Texas has the bandwidth to even consider all of it coming up in just a few moments. Today is Tuesday, August 10th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting here in the U S where Nevada governor Steve Sisolak announced on Tuesday, August 3rd, that president Joe Biden has promised to block shipping of nuclear waste to Yucca mountain. He quoted Biden is saying, I assure you as president, there will be no storage at Yucca mountain period. Every Nevada governor, since the first nuclear dump was first proposed has fought to prevent the federal government from moving high level waste to the mountain. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:46 90 miles north of Las Vegas on treating land that has never been seeded by the Western Shoshone people. Sisolak said the latest agreement with federal officials also promised to remove plutonium that was illegally shipped to Nevada by the Trump administration in 2026. And to require 30 days notice before attempting another shipment. Governor Sisolak said, this is a monumental step forward in ensuring that the people of Nevada are protected from nuclear waste. However, that does not extend to the people of New Mexico or west Texas in an article that jumps the gun just a wee bit that appeared in power engineering, a pro-nuclear publication. It states that the U S nuclear regulatory commission staff is recommending granting a proposed license for a planned spent nuclear fuel, interim pay attention to that word, interim storage facility in west Texas. The NRC issued its final environmental impact statement on the application by interim storage partners, LLC. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:55 And if granted the owners would a facility to store 5,000 in the beginning up to 44,000 tons of high level spent, you can put that word in quotes too, cause it's not spent, it's got plenty of radioactivity in it spent commercial nuclear fuel, and a small quantity of mixed oxide fuel for about 40 years. Here's the problem with that? The word interim is based on the fact that there is a long-term facility for storage, that it will be shipped to. The assumption is that it's Yucca mountain, but as you've just heard, according to this administration, Yucca mountain will never be used. So the basis for the moving forward of the so-called interim sites, both in west Texas and in New Mexico, is that they have someplace to ship it to and they do not. They are keeping the legal fiction of Yucca mountain alive and ask for them moving it. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:55 After about 40 years, it is widely believed that the waste will be allowed to stay there for the full 100 years, that it is possible. And beyond that, who knows if we will have the will the money or the ability to take that waste and put it anywhere else. So it would be defacto, a long-term storage facility. This proposed so-called interim site would be in Andrews county, Texas, which is less than a mile from the New Mexico border, a mixed metaphor in Utah, where the bears ears, uranium mines are being seal, but new mining is planned. The good news is that dozens of abandoned mine shafts have been sealed and toxic materials removed. But meanwhile, in the spring of 2020, a plan of operations was filed for a new uranium mine in the original bears, ears, national monument on deer flat, and exactly the same area that is the subject of ongoing cleanup. The new mind calls for digging out a mind portal, constructing vent shafts, disturbing ground for a man camp, never a good idea and widening roads before gating. At least one of them to lock out the public from this area inside the original bears ears. Meanwhile, indigenous communities are unanimous in their demand that uranium be left in the ground would that those in power would listen. And now for your weekly dose of nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy 00:08:41 Hey, fun lovers action seekers, and kids of all ages want to earn a really cool junior ranger patch or badge. Then come on down to one of three Manhattan project, national historical parks, yes parks. That's what they call them. Meaning Oak Ridge, Tennessee, home of the uranium enrichment plants, the liquid thermal diffusion plant and the pilot plutonium production reactor. This is where the uranium 2 35 for the bomb dropped on. Hiroshima came from then there's Hanford Washington, and the beautiful Columbia river, where beginning in 1943, the site was used to produce plutonium for the bomb we dropped on Nagasaki. It's now considered the most contaminated location in the Western hemisphere. And of course there's Los Alamos in New Mexico, the top secret atomic weapons laboratory, where the first atomic bombs were designed and built lots of fun for the whole family. So heck why not visit all three? Libbe HaLevy 00:09:49 All you have to do for your patch or badge boys and girls is go to the visitor center at any of these sites, pick up your junior ranger, booklet and tour the site while you're there. Be careful not to inhale any radio active dust, fill in the answers and either hand it in at the visitor center or mail it to the Manhattan project, national historical park, and bam, you will get our really cool patch or badge. It's much more exciting than a boring forest or a cookout with marshmallows. You'll get to see nuclear waste experience our history of ecological and human disaster propagated on the world and received some propaganda that will neutralize any critical thinking by the younger generation. And that's why Manhattan project national historical parks put that word in quotes and your sugarcoated history of planetary destruction. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:10:57 By the way, those ranger booklets come in, English, Spanish and Japanese moving right along. And there's a major article from the orange county register, OSI register.com entitled our sand erosion and rising seas. A concern for Santa, no phrase ocean front nuclear waste storage. The short answer to that is yes. And for a longer answer, you can click on the link that we will have on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 29, over to Japan, where that country was in possession of a total of some 46.1 metric, tons of plutonium at home and abroad as of the end of 2020, the most recent year for which we have information. This marks the first increase in three years of the amount of plutonium that Japan has. The plutonium is mixed with uranium to produce mixed oxide or Mox fuel for USAC nuclear power plants. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:04 However, none of the nuclear plants in Japan used Mox fuel in 2020 in the wake of the triple nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi in 2011, only four reactors capable of using this Mox fuel have been reinstated. And there were no prospects of being able to activate other reactors or local body because of the resistance of local government bodies and residents giving the green light for such a move. So what is Japan doing with all that plutonium and in a final slap in the face by the international Olympic committee, they refused an international request for the Olympics to observe a moment of silence for a bomb victims on Friday, August 6th, the anniversary of the first of two nuclear bombs being dropped on Japan in Hiroshima. This is supposedly in line with the IOC policy, not to allow or facilitate political protests at the Olympics, which some athletes were challenging in the UK. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:11 A coalition of deeply concerned Bristol channel researchers and campaigners has undertaken a pre dumped radioactivity survey because EDF, which wants to dump radioactive material into Bristol channel refuses to do it. The coalition representing interest from both Welsh and English communities along the Bristol channel appeal to the CEOs of the Marine management organization, the natural resources Wales and the Westminster and Welsh government ministers who oversee those two agencies to postpone any dumping decision until the survey results are published. The coalition has also formally requested a public inquiry to discuss the radiological issues. That's right. Look before you leap. And this information came from Tim, dear Jones, a Marine radioactivity research and consultancy for the coalition August always brings such sad, horrible nuclear anniversaries, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and both of those were preceded by the Trinity atomic blast in New Mexico, which harmed and continues to harm people, living downwind from it. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:23 That was the start of what we came to call the atomic age. And there is no end in sight, nuclear weapons, manufacturing, reactors, uranium mining, radioactive waste accidents. Permissible put that in quotes, radiation exposures, the list of nuclear dangers and disasters is as endless as plutonium, which remains dangerously radioactive for 240,000 years yet, despite the known this industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and of life itself. That's why nuclear hot seat is here to help, you know, and understand what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We cover not only what the industry is doing, but how brave activists around the world are fighting back and how any one of us. Yes. Even you can take action to try and stop this atomic madness at nuclear hot seat. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:29 And we provide them with context and continuity so that you can understand the full ongoing picture, but in order to do our work, we need your help. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com. There's a big red donate button. You can't miss it, click on it and help us with a donation of any size. That same red button is where you can set up a monthly donation and even $5 a month. The same as a cup of coffee will help us keep going. Please do what you can now, please do what you can to support us now and know that whatever you can do, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here's this week's featured interview. Nuclear hot seat has been covering radiation issues surrounding the demolition of the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant in Piketon Ohio, a manufacturing site for uranium 2 35 in 2019 radioactive neptunium, Emory Siham and uranium 2 35 were found inside and on the grounds of zones corner, middle school, that's a story we covered for nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:42 Number four, 13th of May, 22nd, 2019 central to that story. And more recent developments was based on the work of Dr. Michael Ketterer. And he is our guest today. Dr. Ketterer holds a PhD in analytical chemistry and has worked for the us environmental protection agency's office of enforcement. He has taught at multiple universities and since 2000 has been conducting studies of plutonium in the environment he has published and lectured extensively on the subject and has analyzed samples from locations. Worldwide. Two of his current research interests are studying plutonium dioxide particles in soils near the former Rocky flats facility in Colorado and fingerprinting offsite contaminants near the former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant in Southern Ohio. Dr. Ketterer is currently professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona university. We spoke on Friday, August 6th, 2021, Dr. Michael Ketterer. So great to have you with us today on nuclear hot seat. Dr. Michael Ketterer 01:17:55 My pleasure. Thank you, Libbe Libbe HaLevy 01:17:57 Let's start out with a little bit about you. What is your background and what has your training? Dr. Michael Ketterer 01:18:04 Well, my background is in chemistry. I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a PhD in analytical chemistry. And I made my career in the area of environmental chemistry and specifically looking at tracing various contaminant elements in the environment, such as led and uranium and plutonium. And I've had experience working for USCPA in the office of enforcement and then an academic career at three different institutions. And now I'm a professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona university. And I'm continuing to do work in looking at sources of radionuclides near us nuclear sites. And there's a variety of them that I've studied. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:55 And you become involved with testing and monitoring the radiation levels from the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant. Dr. Michael Ketterer 01:19:03 It's an interesting story. I have a long familial connection to Ohio. My parents lived there for several decades and I actually lived in Ohio myself for five years, but in both cases, we were in the Northeastern part of the state and something that's rather different about Ohio is there's kind of a cultural and economic divide between the north of the state and those Southern counties around where Portsmouth is. And, you know, as a result of that, I, I felt until 2018 as I was wrapping up my father's estate, that I had been familiar with Ohio for decades, but I really knew nothing about this Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant. And so in September, 2018, I made a trip to Ohio and I decided to drive down to the vicinity of the Portsmouth plant. And I took some surreptitious samples and I had been reading about it. And I kept thinking, you know, this place is a mess and how is it that I've been coming to Ohio for decades and even lived there. And I really didn't pay any attention to it. So I took some samples. I found most clearly that there was offsite contamination with radionuclides that were rather uniquely attributable to the Portsmouth plant. And then I took it from there. I started reaching out to community members and began collaborating with the community to collect samples and analyze them and try to interpret what we're seeing in the offsite environment. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:42 One thing I want you to make clear, who was it who asked you to do this work? Who hired you, who paid you? If anyone, Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:20:51 I was the one that initiated this and the nobody really asked me to become involved. I did this voluntarily and I have not received any salary from anyone to date on this particular project. So everything that I've been doing is what you might say, pro bono or voluntary. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:12 Your findings have been central to the story starting in 2019. That's when the information surfaced that at the zone's corner middle school, there was radioactive neptunium Emory cm and enriched uranium discovered inside the school or on the grounds. Were these the samples that you took surreptitiously and how did it play out as you made this information available to the public? Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:21:42 The samples that I analyzed from Xeljanz corner, there's two different sets. One was collected by a community member in late 2018, early 2019. And there's another set that was collected by the us department of energy through Savannah river national laboratory. And I've analyzed both of those sets of samples in order to more or less look into the question about the enriched uranium. Are we able to find enriched uranium inside the school? I did not analyze any of DOE air filter samples from the monitors, for example, there's this monitor a 41 a which the neptunium was detected in from 2017 samplings, and then DOE released that information in early 2019, and then the community, their level of concern rose quite a bit after learning there's neptunium in the air outside of the school, but in my early studies, going back to September, 2018, no, I didn't go in the school. I was taking samples from publicly accessible locations outside of the facility. And I have to make clear that all of the samples that I've analyzed are off plant site off us government property. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:04 Is it possible that neptunium or these other radionuclides could exist? Shall we say wild in the environment? Or can they be traced specifically back to the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:23:19 Uranium occurs in nature and that's to be expected. It's a natural component of soils and rocks and water and so forth. The neptunium less. So there are some very, very narrow circumstances where neptunium has been found in nature in particular, very small quantities, a few atoms here and there, you might say in uranium or, but other than that, you know, neptunium is pretty much naturally occurring. Neptunium is to be expected from nuclear weapons testing during the 1950s and sixties, the U S and the former Soviet union. Did these open air open to the atmosphere, tests, skull, atmospheric tests, those released a lot of radionuclides into the atmosphere in particular, the stratosphere. So then there's been this global deposition of those guys during the fifties and the sixties. So you can find neptunium anywhere in the environment at various, at very low concentrations, as a result of this nuclear weapons testing. Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:24:25 However, there really isn't any in the atmosphere of significance blowing around, so to speak. And so the finding of neptunium in an air monitor is a very, very unusual thing. What I've concentrated on in this work with respect to the Portsmouth facility is to try to distinguish the fingerprint or the signature of what we're seeing in the environment versus what can be expected from nature. So kind of like the default hypothesis, the null hypothesis is that uranium that we find in the environment is from nature. And the way that we test that hypothesis is to measure its isotope composition or isotope ratio in particular, the ratio of 2 35 to 2 38 atoms. And that's just a simple numeric ratio of the number of atoms of each kind. That value is quite constant in nature. It only deviates by a couple of parts per thousand. And if you see a higher abundance of uranium, two thirty five, we call that enriched uranium and enriched uranium is something that I found basically from day one in the offsite environment. Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:25:45 And there's lots of examples of finding it and soils in the dust in Psalms Karner school, in the dusts, in private individuals, residences offsite, it's present in the water, draining the site. There's a Creek called little beaver Creek, which goes into the CYO river. We found enriched uranium and sediments of the river downstream of the facility. I found it in air monitors, I've been analyzing with a community member, a series of biweekly air filters, enriched uranium is present nearly all the time and those filters. So we can so to speak, reject the null hypothesis and say, Hey, this is not explainable as nature. Now, similarly for the neptunium, there's something else that you can do. And you'd say that if you find neptunium, we could take the null hypothesis as being well it's from global fallout. It's from this nuclear weapons tests, legacy stuff from the fifties and sixties, and what you can do then to evaluate that is measured. Neptunium 2 37 relative to plutonium, 2 39, again, a ratio of a number of atoms. And this is the work that I do in the laboratory with what's called mass spectrometry. It's basically counting numbers of atoms. Anyway, the relationship in this global fallout between neptunium 2 37 and plutonium 2 39 is relatively constant. The null hypothesis is upheld. If you find a neptunium 2 37 plutonium, 2 39 ratio, about 0.48, that's been established by DOE zone studies, Pacific Northwest laboratories published that in 1999. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:37 So that would be considered the normal ratio Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:27:40 That would be considered the normal ratio. Exactly. So the default or no hypothesis, or the normal ratio of neptunium to 37 plutonium, 2 39 should be about 0.48. In contrast, what we're seeing at Portsmouth is much different. There's a lot more neptunium men could possibly be accounted for by global fallout. So without question, there's, neptunium present in various offsite locations that comes from Portsmouth. I think most notably we saw in the sediments of it's called little beaver Creek. It's a small Creek, that's draining a good part of the us government reservation. And it's known that those sediments are contaminated. You know, we found the same thing, essentially, that department of energy has reported in their site evaluation reports. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:39 When you came out with this information, what was the response in the community? And what was the response of DOE? Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:28:46 It was April 27th, 2019, that this information was first publicized. So type county general health district had arranged a public meeting to discuss the neptunium 2 37 in the atmosphere. And we organized kind of like a presentation. I was out of state and sent them a PowerPoint. And then I presented via audio via telephone, I guess, in the pre zoom days. That's how we did it. But I made a public presentation and released a report which showed a lot of this offsite contamination with the enriched uranium that Tuni and et cetera, and various places. And there was a kind of two different reactions, more or less outrage from the community, just sort of a reaction of lying to us. And we don't believe anything. You have to say that sort of thing, Libbe HaLevy 02:29:46 Meaning they were saying that to the DOE, Dr. Michael Ketterer 02:29:48 Correct. And from the department of energy, there were two DOE representatives at the meeting, Greg Simonton and Jeremy Davis. And then there was a floor BWX T representative J D dowel at the meeting. My recollection is that Davis and dowel may basically false statements about where the neptunium was from. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:14 What did they say? Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:30:15 I'd have to go back and look at the transcript, but it's to the effect that neptunium can be expected to be in global fallout. If it's in the air monitors, it's coming from soil that was previously contaminated with atmospheric testing debris from the fifties, and, you know, statements to that effect, Libbe HaLevy 03:30:39 The wake of this revelation. What, if anything was done to clean up the problem or attempt to clean up the problem? Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:30:49 To my knowledge, there hasn't really been any attempt to clean up the problem in response to some of these findings, with the enriched uranium in the zone's corner school, the local school district made the decision to close the school. And to my knowledge, it's more or less there in undisturbed fashion. I don't think that there's been any cleanup done to my knowledge. Also, the department of energy is quite occupied with cleaning up. They have a term for it. That's abbreviated D and D commissioning and something. Anyway, they're occupied with the site itself, not the offsite environment. And so there's nothing really being done offsite Libbe HaLevy 03:31:35 There have just recently been new findings that have been central to the questions and concerns of local residents. And you are again, involved in this. Tell us about the more recent findings. Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:31:48 There's two sets of more recent findings that I've come out with. One of them is from DOE zone data in April, 2021. I sent a report to Matt Brewster. He's the commissioner of the pike county general health district. And I've used dos data that are obtainable by anyone through their system called Pegasus. So there's a government website. I went to the Pegasus website and I started looking at neptunium in water. And one of the findings was that the DOE data were showing that on the plant site, in the vicinity of a building former building called the X 7 0 1. So the sort of on the east edge of the site, there's a plume of neptunium contamination in the groundwater, and also appears to be discharging into little beaver Creek. And then from there, it flows to the west towards the river, this contaminated areas upstream of where we had found the neptunium in the sediments. Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:32:55 So I wrote a memo notify the general health district so they can inform the public that there's this groundwater contamination issue. And I also said that it seems like the state of Ohio, Ohio EPA should said unenforceable standard for how much neptunium 2 37, it's a hazardous substance under super fund. It's a radio new glide. How much is allowable in water? And I'll note that near Rocky flats in Colorado DOE has stipulated to a standard of 0.15 Pico curies per liter for plutonium and Amarie Siham. So I made the suggestion in this report to Matt Brewster, well, Ohio EPA needs to put in a standard. Why not a similar one here for neptunium what's the issue? You know, do you have different standards for different states or, you know, are the people of Ohio somehow not good enough for environmental protection? So I made that point and finally, to cap that it's part of the story. I had been given some documents that showed that the DOE and its predecessors going back to Goodyear atomic in 1976 and 1977, they knew that this particular area of the X 7 0 1 area was contaminated with neptunium. And so essentially the DOE has known about this problem for 45 years and Libbe HaLevy 03:34:22 They let it go Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:34:24 And they have not been forthcoming to the public for sure about what's going on. And this is, you know, this is a bipartisan thing. Every administration Carter would have been president at that time, or maybe the end of the Ford era. Every administration going back to Eisenhower has kind of taken the same posture, this particular facility. So I pointed all that out. I had obtained a copy of the actual original Goodyear atomic correspondence from 1976 to 1977, that shows that Goodyear, atomic, who was DOE contractor to run the plant at that time, Goodyear atomic knew all about this neptunium contamination in this area and typewriter type text on paper, Libbe HaLevy 03:35:16 The old fashioned way. So you said that this was part of one report that you submitted. What was the response of the Ohio officials that you sent this chip? Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:35:29 I haven't really heard anything from them effectively, no response. And I've brought this neptunium issue to attention of Ohio EPA also who should have statutory authority for setting environmental standards offsite. You know, I'd say that there's been very little response. However, the DOE has not disputed. They've seen, of course my calling them out on the neptunium plume in the groundwater. They've not disputed it. I think that if I was saying something that was wrong in their eyes, they would have disputed it immediately. So that, that has not happened. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:08 You mentioned that you had made a second set of discoveries or a second report. What was in that second set of information? Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:36:21 I've been working the last two years with a community member if she wishes to keep a low profile, but this community member has been operating a high volume air monitors, similar to what DOE uses for their monitoring on her own residential property, as well as two townships cyto township and seal townships. So these are communities right in the periphery of the facility and these monitors collect aerosols. So they're in the air and get them onto a piece of filter paper. And then I cut out sections and analyzed sections of those. So in may of this year, I released some reports that showed essentially a time series of what's found in the air. And basically there's enriched uranium found in the air all the time at all, monitors with the exception of what I'll call the COVID hiatus, Libbe HaLevy 03:37:18 Explain to us the COVID Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:37:20 Hiatus. It appears that around the middle to end of March of 2020, right when the whole world was really, really getting concerned about the pandemic, the department of energy shut down, essentially halted or mothballed the, the cleanup operations at Portsmouth, then reinitiated in July of 2021. And I've found some documents from Ohio EPA and correspondence with Ohio EPA and DOE that confirms that timeframe pretty well. What, what we see in the air monitors is more or less the enriched uranium emissions disappear. And there's a return to naturally occurring uranium in the atmosphere during those COVID months. So I call that the COVID hiatus, there's a hiatus of air emissions from the D and D work. And then in late July, 2020, then the operations commenced again. And that's when the enriched uranium returns in the air. And so we've seen this in what we now have is about a two year sequence of air filters. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:36 There's an old saying that correlation is not causation, and it's compelling to see the correlation that you have come up with between the timing of the demolition shutdown, the COVID hiatus and the levels in the environment. Are you prepared to say that those are definitely linked with each other? Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:38:56 Yes. For sure. Because if this goes well beyond correlation or just an anecdotal association, this is, this is causation. We're looking at either the presence or absence of enriched uranium, which is identifiable by this isotope ratio, 2 35 and 2 38, which is quantitatively measurable. And there really isn't any other explanation. I would like, you know, if the department of energy is going to say, well, this isn't from us. Well, give us, please a alternative explanation that makes any sense. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:35 And that has not been forthcoming as yet. Dr. Michael Ketterer 03:39:38 They have not said anything like that. I think now the dialogue is shifting a little bit more towards, yes, we'll admit that there's offsite contamination of this and that nature. However, it's not at levels that are hurting anybody. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:53 That's the one that makes me nuts because nobody understands about radiation. And the first thing that anyone says is either there's no radiation, or if there is some, there's no damage, there's no harm to you. Don't worry about it. They're there. Missy, don't worry. Your pretty little head about it. Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:40:11 I'm not specifically an expert in the health effects of radiation or dose, or what are the anticipated risks of exposure to various levels of radio. Nuclides however, I would point out that just sort of in a general type of manner, this is sort of a textbook statement. I've taught general chemistry, umpteen times in any general chemistry book, there's a chapter on nuclear chemistry. And it says, if this is an alpha emitting radio isotope, the way that that can hurt you is by ingesting it. So inhaling it or ingesting it, drinking it or eating it is the way that these radionuclides harm you. So there's definitely a pathway for that exposure to occur. How much that's not something that I can clarify about, but I'll add one more thing. If I may, Libbe HaLevy 04:41:07 Of course, Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:41:08 There's more to the story than these are the radio isotopes, and this is how they decay. And this is how that radioactive decay can hurt you. The other thing we really should consider is that these elements, these chemical elements are also chemical toxins. Uranium is chemically toxic, which is something independent of its properties as a radio radionuclides. So uranium chemically has been shown to bind to DNA and to cause strand breaks in DNA. And other words, it will have mutagenic effects. I'm not doing research in that area and I'm not really the right expert to talk about those papers, but I know of their existence. And, you know, I can read them peripherally and say, it looks like this is how DNA is going to be affected by uranium. So these additional elements like technetium, which we haven't talked about, really the neptunium plutonium, those are all, they're all chemical elements, and they're going to have the potential to act as chemical toxins. There's some concern that technetium, and there's abundant. Technetium 99 and the proximity of Portsmouth technetium may interact with the human thyroid. There's not a lot of, there's not a thick file on the literature, on these things Libbe HaLevy 04:42:32 With this new revelation of the COVID hiatus, as you call it has DOE resumed the demolition or the decontamination attempted decontamination of the site. And how has the community been responding to this set of information? Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:42:56 Well, I haven't really heard any feedback from an official representative of the community, such as the health district. And I've not heard any feedback from the DOE either about any of this. However, it looks like the decommissioning of the plant, the tear down is going at full speed. They are taking down at present. It's my understanding the so-called X 3 26 building, which is one of the three gaseous diffusion plant buildings. These are enormous buildings, occupying acres and acres and acres. And in may of 2021, a community members shot a little roadside video showing the open air demolition of this X 3 26 building with a wind event where workers were attempting to cover what they were doing with a tarp. And the tarp was just flapping around like a kite in the wind. It's clear that the DOE wants to push ahead with open air demolition. And that has not changed one bit since Jennifer Granholm became secretary of energy, Libbe HaLevy 04:44:06 How far away have the radio nuclides been measured? Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:44:11 That's a good question. The DOE has a set of air monitors and they have one that's 14 miles Southwest of the plant at a small community called Artway OTW a Y I believe, and there's data on this Pegasus. I believe that P E G a S I S there's data on this Pegasus for air monitoring results. And one of the things I also did was I looked at technetium 99 in the air and in 2015 and 2016, there's an astounding, a set of results. And basically at this art way, you see the same concentrations of technetium 99 as you do right next to the plant. And what that's saying is that there's stuff being admitted probably as a gas. And so it's diffusing throughout this whole lower CO2 valley. And it's widespread. How far does it go? I don't know, but it's certainly making it 14 miles Southwest of the plant. Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:45:20 The technetium 99 is another contaminant. That's almost essentially a hundred percent synthetic. It could be associated with nuclear weapons testing fallout, but in this case, there's a causal relationship between technetium 99 and the facility itself. So the tech 99 is from the Portsmouth plant. It is not from some other conjectured source. And so to answer your overall question, I think that these radionuclides are widespread. The truth is we really don't know, because I think until I came along, there was not a lot of offsite data that the DOE published some in their annual site and environmental reports, Acer reports, but it's kind of presented in a way to, you know, not really hit the nail on the head about what's going on. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:16 This is clearly an ongoing story. That's not going to go away. What is your awareness of the media's coverage of it and has that been consistent or do they pop up and then go away and wait for your next report? Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:46:33 It comes in ebbs and flows and sort of pops up and goes away. There was certainly a lot of attention focused on Portsmouth in may of 2019 after the school district made the decision to close the plant. In fact, I found newspaper articles all over the world about that event. I found one in Spanish from Argentina. I found one in Portuguese from Portugal. I found one in German from Germany, South Africa, Poland, Canada, the U S all over, and then that coverage kind of waned. And there has not been a lot of attention focused on it since then. A bit more recently, investigative reporter Duane Pohlman of Cincinnati is channel 12 has broadcast a series of investigative stories, which I've been interviewed for, but there has not been continuous really intense media scrutiny of things happening there. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:35 Moving forward. What is your intention in terms of ongoing involvement in this story? Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:47:44 I am committed to continuing to assist the community members in an informal pro bono way. I think a lot more is needed. There is finally a little bit of attention from Washington, Ohio representative, Tim Ryan. Who's a Democrat from one of the Northeastern Ohio districts has paid some attention to the facility and has on the record, asked secretary of energy grant home to pay some attention to it as well. There's been a little bit of that happening. However, you know, the community needs a lot more. I think what the community really needs is the ability to produce their own information independent of the department of energy. I think at this particular site, with the nature of these contaminants, they're not under control and the site, you know, there's neptunium and enriched uranium offsite, and it's appearing in the air. It's not under control. The community needs perpetual environmental monitoring. Dr. Michael Ketterer 04:48:49 We have to kind of characterize what's there and what's coming out on an ongoing basis to begin to understand it. I think that needs to be under community control. The DOE initiated what they called an independent third party study in 2019, which has been underway. And essentially the intent of that study is to demonstrate that there's no significant radiological risk from the stuff that's out there in the environment. You know, that's not really what the community needs. And I don't think that the community has a lot of faith or confidence in that. I think the community needs to sort of organize its own effort. Maybe through the county health district, you know, have a couple of employees and perhaps a testing laboratory. The types of testing I do at Northern Arizona university is something that could easily be set up in a community-based laboratory. They need to be able to produce and interpret their own information and act on it with entities like Ohio EPA, rather than, you know, asking DOE to tell them what's happening. I think community control of environmental monitoring and oversight is essential. And I really welcome the opportunity to work with them, to assist them with getting that going. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:14 Is there anything that we haven't covered that you'd like to add at this point? Dr. Michael Ketterer 05:50:18 There is a little bit of an opportunity for DOE to change their culture a bit here with new leadership coming in and the office had science. I think that there's the opportunity to change how things are done a little bit. So these next couple months, these next few months are going to be critical as those new people come in and there's new leadership in the office of science. I think that there's the opportunity that people like me as well as the community can confront DOE and say, Hey, look, this is what you've been saying for 45 years. And this is how it really is. You know, there's a disconnect here. Let's talk about what's really true. I see the fulcrum moving a little bit with respect to DOE and this particular site. But then on the other hand, you know, they are going as fast as they possibly can to tear down that X 3 26 building. Dr. Michael Ketterer 05:51:16 And they really do not want to address the fact that there's open air demolition is releasing all of this contaminated dust into the atmosphere. That's probably the most serious concern that's happening right now in real time. And they need to be confronted about that. You know, I've written some emails along those lines and I wrote, who knows if they read it, but I wrote secretary grin at home and I said, Jennifer, I called her Jennifer. You know, Jennifer, how the F would you like it? If this contaminated dust was wafting in the air outside of your lake house in Michigan, how would you like it? You know, this is what the community gets to live with due to your actions. You know, the, the new leadership, a DOE needs to understand that they are accountable for all of this stuff that's being done right now on the ground with their contractors. And they can't hide behind their $200,000 salaries and their genteel manners and clothes, and coming in to work with their Starbucks in hand, they can't hide behind that. What they have going on in Portsmouth is no freaking chocolate factory. They need to recognize that and they need to bring truth and support to the community. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:36 One final thought, would you be willing to live in that community? Dr. Michael Ketterer 05:52:42 That question kind of puts me on the spot. I would say if I had a choice, the answer would be no. And I'll give you a similar example. In 2013, I moved from Flagstaff to the Denver, Colorado area and my wife and I made the deliberate decision not to look for a place to live in the immediate proximity of the Rocky flats plant, because I knew about the plutonium contamination in the offsite soils there and the ongoing transport, a plutonium contaminated dust. I think that I would have similar concerns at Portsmouth. And, you know, if I had a choice, I would not choose to live there. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:23 Dr. Michael Ketterer, you have brilliant and crucial work on your own motivation on behalf of the people in Piketon Ohio and in the surrounding area to the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant. You're continuing to do so, which is so important. And we look forward to talking with you in the future about any new breakthroughs and new information that you find for now. Thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Thank Dr. Michael Ketterer 05:53:55 You for interviewing me for nuclear. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:57 Hotsy Dr. Michael Ketterer. We will have a link up to some of his work on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 29, speaker 3 05:54:09 Activists Libbe HaLevy 05:54:17 After Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The next set of atomic atrocities that were committed by the United States were against the people of the Marshall Islands were between 1946 and 1958. The U S exploded 67 nuclear bombs, not in war, but as tests, the full story of the mangle, like way that we behave towards the Marshalese people is as ugly. A chapter of American history as exists. One that the Marshalese are still suffering from. There is a website, atomic dot org. And it's a place where you can go to read the history testimonials by survivors and descendants and learn how before the bikini was a bathing suit, there was an island, a toll that we destroyed with 23 separate bombings. It's an important website telling an important story. And I encourage you to take a look and hats off in kudos to two of my favorite activists, Kevin Hester, and guy MacPherson, who continue to produce their podcast. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:25 Nature bats. Last, the show deals with all aspects of the ever unfolding climate catastrophe, but this particular episode deals with nukes and includes the fabulous Mimi Gurman who lives in Oregon and joined them. Please take a look. They've got it up on YouTube, and we will link to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 29, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Nevada appeal.com, power dash E N g.com grand canyon trust.org, post register.com O C registered.com. My nietzsche.jp Basel, peace office.com and the totally captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening with a big shout out to nuclear, hot seat listeners and followers around the world. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:40 Now, if you'd like to make certain, you never miss a single episode of this show, you can get it delivered via email. Once a week. We don't bug you. It's just the one which will have the link and a short outline of some of the material that's in that episode, it's easy to do. Go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt in box, put in your first name and email address. We'll send it out to you. And if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email with that information to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Yes, it gets read and yes, it gets considered seriously. And a reminder that if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to help us out, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:32 Anything you can do will help. And we really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear Hotsy is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but various allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of harvest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that minimizing the impact of nuclear radiation on our lives and health might make some people feel safe, but the lies don't change scientific facts. They just keep you trapped within the danger of your own ignorance. There you go. You've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So please, whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear hot seat. Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #528: Hiroshima Nagasaki at 76: Prof. Yuki Miyamoto, Daughter of A-Bomb Survivor URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasak-prof-yuki-miyamoto-hibakusha/ Published: 2021-08-04 Duration: 00:59:01 Hiroshima at 76: Professor Yuki Miyamoto, second generation Hibakusha, whose mother survived the A-bombing of August 6, 1945 This Week's Featured Interview: Hiroshima Anniversary – 76 years after the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the effects of that bombing persist. Survivors – who are known as Hibakusha – went on with their lives as best they could, but the legacy of the a-bomb persist into second and now third generation.Hiroshima born Yuki Miyamoto is a second generation Hibakusha. Her mother was in Hiroshima one mile from the epicenter of the bombing, yet survived it with what seemed like little physical damage… though other truths later emerged. Yuki's story of what it was like to grow up in Hiroshima, the illnesses around her, the judgments made by others in Japan, makes for a gripping little-known narrative of the atomic bomb's aftermath.Yuki Miyamoto is a professor at DePaul University in Chicago, where she introduces a new generation of young people to the hard truths about the atomic bombing and its continuing impact on survivors – especially women – their children, grandchildren, and beyond. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and teaches nuclear discourse and environmental ethics at DePaul University in Chicago. 2011’s Fukushima nuclear accident urged her to examine environmental ethics, which led to her most recent work, A World Otherwise: Environmental Praxis in Minamata (Lexington Books, 2021). Miyamoto’s current work is on the formation of postwar nuclear discourse both in Japan and the United States. She has taken DePaul students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki since 2005 and has been appointed Nagasaki Peace Correspondent (2010) and Hiroshima Peace Ambassador (2011). We spoke on Friday, July 30, 2021. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Olympics – the Numnutz that Keeps On Giving! LINKS Referenced in This Week's Show: FRACKING: The Oil and Gas Industry Produces Radioactive Waste, Lot of it.Why the U.S. Once Set Off a Nuclear Bomb in SpaceMary Stamos – Warped Plants Inspire Local Woman's Decades-long Effort to Examine Effects of Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident – https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/warped-plants-inspire-local-womans-decades-long-effort-to-examine-effects-of-tmi-nuclear-accident/article_44cb65b6-ebff-11eb-9cbd-f30ade0e900f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR1wz7mz4LDjXZ4WusqE-hZbrxzHIX5okhVdyXocF2wSqSrSvg-in4rzudk Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Hiroshima Nagasaki, the two atomic bombs used on Japan that left a legacy of death devastation, and the one persistent problem that was never talked about radiation, Japanese survivors of those two bombings known as he bok HSA carry the legacy of that day. And so do their children. But what did it mean to grow up in Hiroshima after the atomic bombing on August 6th, 1945? What does it mean to be a second generation hibachi? The child of a survivor 76 years after the bombing took place? How does that still impact a life? What is even known about what happened by young people today in order to learn, it takes a native of Hiroshima, a university professor who was also second generation Hibakusha and she tells you, Yuki Miyamoto 00:01:00 There are very few students who know about the atomic bombings and its consequences. Their understanding tends to be the horrible bomb. It's a big bomb, and we don't talk much about radiation exposure and its consequences. I would like to emphasize the consequences of radiation exposure and the atomic bombings and not just one big blast. And there is no quote, unquote survival. It's just a distraction. And once you get exposed to radiation, you have to carry it for the rest of your life. And most likely you have to worry about your kids and grandkids. So the consequences are multi-generational Libbe HaLevy 00:01:47 Well, more than almost any other people on earth, atomic bomb survivors, the hibachi HSA, and their children and grandchildren continue to be haunted by and know within their hearts and histories all about that awful, terrible nightmarish seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:09 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:40 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week for the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August six and Nagasaki on August nine, a very special interview with Yuki Miyamoto. She is a second generation. Hibakusha a professor at DePaul university in Chicago, and an active presence. Introducing new generations of young people to the truths about the atomic bombings and its continued impact on survivors, especially the women, their children, grandchildren, and beyond. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than Andrew Cuomo can manage to come up with just now all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:03 And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting in the U S in pike county, Ohio, where the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant is being demolished and workers are removing siding from a massive half mile long building. That once was part of fueling America's atomic race, but radioactive dust from decades of enriching uranium, there has built up high on the now exposed rafters and is being released into the air, the us department of energy, which oversees the demolition insist that it is safe. But Dr. Michael Ketterer, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona university studied the data from dos own air monitors and uncovered big spikes in technetium 99, a radioactive element formed in the heart of nuclear reactors. The amounts Ketterer found were hundreds of times higher than detection limits. And it was at all the monitors, no matter how near or far they were from the plant, including up to 14 miles away, we will have an interview on this for next week's nuclear hot seat, a new report from the national resources defense council and published in rolling stone magazine confirms that massive amounts of radioactive waste brought to the surface by oil and gas. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:27 Wells have overwhelmed the industry state and federal agencies that regulate it and pose significant health threats, including the increased risk of cancer to oil and gas workers and their families, and also nearby communities at issue radioactive oil field waste left over from fracking. It is piling up at landfills across America, and at least some documented cases is leaching radioactivity through treatment plants and into waterways. It is also being spread on farm fields in states like Oklahoma and Texas and on roads across the Midwest and Northeast under the belief that it melts ice and suppresses dust. It also seemingly suppresses life. We'll have a link up to this article on our website, nuclear seat.com under this episode, number 5 28 here in California, ready or not the Diablo canyon nuclear reactor is closing the source editorial from San Louis obispo.com gives quite the mixed message. But what's important for us to know, is that in a recent development, the California public utilities commission has ordered utilities in the state to acquire 11,500 megawatts of additional clean energy between 2023 and 2026, which is more than enough to replace the output generated by Diablo canyon owner operator Pacific gas and electric is proceeding with plans to decommission the plant after it's closed and through the efforts of a regional planning organization reach, there are ambitious plans to transform the county into a green energy pub, both an offshore wind farm, and a large battery storage facility in Morro bay are both in the early planning stages. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:20 And we're going to link to a very interesting article entitled why the U S once set off a nuclear bomb in space. The blast from that 1.4 mega ton bomb was 500 times as powerful as the bomb that we dropped on Hiroshima, a resulting electromagnetic pulse washed out radio stations, set off an emergency siren and caused streetlights to black out in Hawaii. The following year, the United States, the United Kingdom and the USSR signed the limited nuclear test ban treaty and outer space has been H-bomb free for almost 60 years. There's much more to this article. It is a fascinating read, and that's why we're going to link to it in Japan just weeks before the 2021 commemoration of the August 6th, 1945, us atomic bombing of the city of Hiroshima, a Japanese court has ruled that victims of the radioactive black rain who are living beyond the officially recognized contamination zone at the time should be included in the group considered bomb survivors or HSA and receive the same benefits. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:33 Black rain was described in a CNN story as a mixture of fallout particles from the explosion carbon residue from citywide fires and other dangerous elements. The black rain fell on people's skin and clothing was breathed in contaminated food and water and caused widespread radiation poisoning Japan's minister. Yo Shahida Suger declared that his government, the defendants in the case would not appeal it, and even suggested that relief might be extended to other effected people beyond the plaintiffs. According to the Asahi Shimbun, this may even include those exposed to radiation as a result of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear triple meltdown disaster. And now for a look at this week's nuclear bone headedness, Libbe HaLevy 00:09:34 When it comes to nuclear numb nuts, Surrey, the Olympics in Tokyo is the gift that keeps on giving a south Korean TV station M BC issued an apology for its quote unquote inexcusable use of offensive photos and captions during the Olympic opening ceremony. Was it nude or porn? No. When Ukraine's athletes entered the Tokyo Olympic stadium, MBC showed a photo of Chernobyl, the Marshall Islands, which were occupied by the United States from world war two until 1979 were introduced as quote one sane nuclear test site for the U S not exactly the world brotherhood image that the international Olympic committee is trying to promote. MBC wrote in a statement, the images and captions are intended to make it easier for the viewers to understand the entering countries quickly during the opening ceremony. And it looks like that's exactly what they did. The initial women's softball matches were indeed played on July 21st and 22nd at focus schema's Azuma baseball stadium in Fukushima city. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:49 And what did head coach Ken Erickson have to say about the location and the fact that the radioactive Fukushima meltdown site was so close. The peaches in Fukushima were delicious. Then Australia coach Lang Herro chimed in by saying that he liked the scenery and Fukushima describing it as a very beautiful town with very impressive mountains and more than anything, the peaches were by far the best. Well, that's just up peachy commentary that unrecovered still depressed, still radio active city next to the triple meltdown, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor site. And finally, Japan has been so proud of boasting that the gold, silver and bronze medals that they are giving out were all made from metals that were reclaimed from used and discarded electronics, but they didn't say where those electronics came from. So it's entirely possible that they were claimed from radioactive areas. So for you athletes who were terrific enough to have nettled at all, we warn you that before you kiss your metal, lick your metal or wear it for long periods of time against your chest. You just might want to get them checked out by a really high quality radiation monitor. Let's just be safe out there. You're too precious for us to lose in such a thoughtless manner. And that's why yet again, 2020 Olympics marked down from 2021. You are this week's Announcer 01:12:32 Okay, your hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:37 And one more Olympic related thought beyond the bomb reminds us that August 6th, 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and atrocious moment in human history where 140,000 lives were instantly stolen and countless others forever altered. As you will hear in this week's featured interview, the Olympic games have been referred to as a festival of peace. And with Japan hosting this year, the Olympic committee has a unique opportunity to highlight the peaceful cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and honor the victims of nuclear and ongoing violence around the world. It asks for a moment of silence to be held, to honor the victors, to honor the victims and survivors of past wars and highlight the need for a world without nuclear weapons. We'll have to wait and see if that actually comes about in China. The number two reactor at the ghoulish song, nuclear power plant in new Taipei city experienced a malfunction on July 27 and triggered an automatic shutdown Thai power. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:45 The operator would apply with the atomic energy council for the unit to be restarted. As soon as the malfunction is resolved, a process that will take at least three days before the reactor reaches maximum output. The number one reactor at power plant went offline on July 1st after the facility ran out of space to store spent nuclear fuel. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first Hiroshima Nagasaki. And before that the Trinity test in New Mexico, that was the start of what we came to call the atomic age, but there is no end in sight, nuclear weapons, manufacturing, reactors, uranium mining, and milling radioactive waste accidents, permissible, radiation exposure levels. The list of nuclear dangers and disasters is as endless as plutonium, which remains dangerously radioactive for 240,000 years and is produced by every reactor in the world. Yet, despite the known risks, this nuclear industry perpetuates itself, making obscene amounts of money while threatening the future of the planet and of life itself. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:02 That's why nuclear hot seat is here to help, you know, and understand what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We cover not only the industry, but how brave activists around the world are fighting back and how any one of us can take action to try to stop the atomic madness at nuclear hot seat. We're dedicated to giving you the nuclear stories you can't find in mainstream media. And we provide them with context and continuity. So you can get the full picture in order to continue to do this work. We need your help. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is where you can set up a monthly $5 donation, the same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S so if you value nuclear hot seat, and what a help us continue to bride this information for you, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help, we are deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:12 Now, here's this week's featured interview. There are many ways to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, which killed 140,000 people outright and Nagasaki, which killed 74,000 people immediately. And in both cases, there were many more tens of thousands who were sickened with radiation, and it continues to impact lives today. The true nature of the aftermath of that bombing is not widely understood. And it takes someone who has lived it to provide a detailed nuanced telling of how Hiroshima and the bomb played out in the lives of the people who lived there and their offspring. You gave me a Moto is a second generation, had bok HSA survivor of the atomic bomb and an educator on nuclear history and issues. She earned a PhD from the university of Chicago and teaches nuclear discourse and environmental ethics at DePaul university in Chicago, 2011, Fukushima nuclear accident urged her to examine environmental ethics, which has led to her most recent work, a world, otherwise environmental practice in Minamata Miyamoto's current work is on the formation of post-war nuclear discourse, both in Japan and the United States. She has taken DePaul students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki since 2005 and has been appointed as Nagasaki world peace correspondent and Hiroshima peace ambassador. I spoke with Yuki Miyamoto on Thursday, July 29th, 2021. You gave me a Moto, thank you so much for joining us here today on nuclear hot seat. Yuki Miyamoto 01:18:01 Well, thank you so much for having me on this program. I'm a big fan of this Libbe HaLevy 01:18:07 A little bit where you're from and your background. Yuki Miyamoto 01:18:11 I'm originally from Hiroshima. And I was there until I graduated from high school, and I went to college outside of Hiroshima, different city in Japan until I was there in Japan, until I came to the states at the age of 27 to come to the graduate school, the university of Chicago and not knowing the history of the university of Chicago, which is that place of the Manhattan project. I felt so stupid because I wanted even before coming into Chicago, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to learn why, you know, in Japan, especially growing up in Hiroshima, the atomic bombs are so inhumane weapons and every time any country, any nuclear country conducted the nuclear test, the mayor of Hiroshima sent out Telegraph saying that please do not continue the nuclear tests. And then, you know, people demonstrated or people protest yet. It kept going. So I was always wondering why there are so the understandings of the atomic bombing, so, so different. And so I wanted to learn about it. So I knew what I wanted to do. And yet I was kind of oblivious about the history of the university of Chicago. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:37 One of the things that I've discovered is that there is so much to discover that none of us has the full range of information, because there's so much of it out there, so complex, and so both frightening and saddening. Yuki Miyamoto 01:19:53 Exactly. And then once you discover you also discover everything is related, which is also scary, but also kind of an eyeopening. Why didn't, I know Libbe HaLevy 02:20:03 Let's go back a little bit further into your background because you've referred to yourself as a second generation Hibakusha is that correct? Yes. What does that mean to you? And what does that mean in terms of your family's background? Yuki Miyamoto 02:20:19 My mother was six years old at the time of the bombing, and she was only a mile away from the hypo center, but fortunately she was not injured as far as I remember. She doesn't have any external scars and she just doesn't tell me what exactly happened, but she wanted me to know about it at the very end of her life. So I asked her sister what had happened to her that was much later. So she was there in 1945 at the age of six. And since then, as far as I know, I knew that she was in her thirties. She had some dizzy spells and they, in her forties, she had to get some blood, the booster kind of thing. She, her blood system was not working or producing proper blood cells. So she needed a to get some help, kind of, I V to get some boost in her blood production, which she had to take it every other week. And then eventually in her fifties, she got cancer and she passed away six years after her half-assed diagnosis. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:40 Did she have children other than you? And were there any problems you were aware of in her ability to give birth? Yuki Miyamoto 02:21:49 That's a good question. I have an older brother who is six years older than I am, and I'm not sure I've never been told if there was any miscarriage or any kind of difficulties for her to conceive between him and me, but my brother knows a little bit more about her experiences of the atomic bombing. And I suspect that partly because we simply, she doesn't want to remember by retelling and revisiting her experiences. And although she was telling us that she doesn't remember. And another reason is that she also probably wanted to protect me from any kind of discriminatory treatment, especially women. He backs her women. They had a, sometimes a harder time finding their spouses because people suspect that they are fragile. They are not able to give a birth to healthy kids. And especially all year in the forties, 56 is a couple of decades after the war, still the culture, Japanese culture, having a son and the handing down the family name, continuing family name was considered as considered important. And because of that reason, it was important to have a healthy woman so that they can produce healthy offsprings. So I think that might be the reason Libbe HaLevy 02:23:29 In general, from your knowledge of the culture in Hiroshima and for the hibachi, was it considered an act of bravery for these women to give birth or was it luck or foolishness, or just attempt to return to normalcy and ignore the fact that the bomb had happened? Oh, Yuki Miyamoto 02:23:50 I think that's probably a mixed feelings because giving birth and being able to conceive is also a relief, I suppose, for women, especially who are concerned about their health, but also once they got pregnant, of course, the next step is that am I able to bring a healthy child to this world? So that's also understandable, but I think that's a sign of normalcy, which they really hoped and aspired. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:21 I've recently learned through research that I'm doing for a play that I've been writing that general MacArthur. When he brought the occupation forces into Hiroshima, he put the entire country under censorship that Japanese people were not allowed to speak about what happened to them. You're nodding your head, as we're saying this, what is your knowledge of that? And how do you think that impacted your family and the culture at large Yuki Miyamoto 02:24:49 Actually before September 2nd and the war formally concluded actually the Japanese government plays the censorship because the government was afraid of demoralizing the people. If people knew that Hiroshima was completely obliterated and three days later, I think it was completely gone. Just one single bomb, which would have demoralized the people already, they were exhausted. They were exhausted from the shortage of everything, food clothes, and any kind of resources. So I guess for that reason, the Japanese government place the censorship on Japanese media, and then there was taken over by the allied powers, which actually took only the four years, meaning in 1949, this division of controlling informations, I think it's called the CDC. I'm forgetting what the acronym is for stands for, but this was actually disbanded in 1949, although Japan was still under occupation, which went until 1952. So this informs us that it's actually the censorship work, the sole well that people started censoring themselves in Japan. So there are a couple of books and many articles about how censorship work that which was imposed, but also there was some kind of self imposition on people in Japan as well. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:30 Now we've talked about your parents and especially your mother and how this played out in her life. What about you? When did you become first aware of the fact that Hiroshima, which is where you're from? It had the bomb dropped on it. Yuki Miyamoto 02:26:48 And when I was growing up, I was born in 68. So growing up in the seventies, in my neighborhood, everyone has a family member or two who are affected by the bombing. So we are all second generation. So it was not necessarily the, a special thing for us. And you know, when we go to downtown area, which is sort of close to the hyper center, there was still, I wouldn't say houses. It's actually called the atomic bomb, slum those hats and small houses while lined up by the river and in the neighborhood. I remember that a woman who never wears short sleeves in summer and back then, I didn't think anything, but now come to think of it. She might've have scars keloid, or some people become very sensitive to the sun. And so she might have had that symptoms after exposure to radiation and actually a friend of mine who is a second generation. She also had power face, wherever she was exposed to the sun, her skin, her body gets red and swollen. So she was not able to attend P classes with other kids. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:14 What about you? How has this played out in terms of your physical life? Has it come to another generation or are you pretty much, okay, Yuki Miyamoto 02:28:26 So far, luckily I do not have any symptoms or any illness I suffered so far. Those ones considered it to the radiation induced. However, I was very aware, even though my mother never told me about her experiences, I was aware that I was a second generation and partly because growing up in Hiroshima, as I mentioned earlier, everyone has a family members or relatives who was affected by the bombing in my generation and in that area. So it, wasn't not so rare or unusual. And also growing up at school, we had to go to school on August the sixth, the day of the bombing. And still when I was, you know, maybe first or second grader, we had a couple of teachers who are and they sometimes invite another chef friend and she, or he would tell us about their experiences on August the sixth. And also we had books. Yuki Miyamoto 02:29:40 Have you heard of barefoot this graphic novel? That's a kind of a classic in Japan, but a very graphic. And some people very concerned about showing the graphic novel to little kids, but we had them in almost each classroom from the first grade. So we are very, in a way maybe decent-sized, but at the same time, it was a great education because I still I'm still scared. I remember that I was very afraid of going to peace park and seeing the atom bomb dong, which is the kind of symbol in Japan of the atomic bombing. I was very afraid of just having a sight of it growing up. So during summer we had to read a book. You know, there are a couple of books recommended books that the kids should be reading during summer break. And one of them was the story about a second generation of a tobacco HSA boy who got leukemia and passed away. And now come to think of a, you know, most of us are second generations and reading. The second generation boy is dying from leukemia. I was thinking, okay, so this is something I should be prepared for. And I don't know how to prepare for it, but you know, like somehow psychologically I was aware, however, at the same time I was not alone. Right. As I said, everyone was somehow related to this a historical event. So it was a very strange experience. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:27 You spoke of your psychology. How did your knowledge that you were second generation hypoxia, that you were from Hiroshima and living in Hiroshima? How did that affect your thinking about your place in the world? Yuki Miyamoto 03:31:44 My place in the world. That's a interesting question. That's very insightful because my first experiences was perhaps when I went to college and I was actually shocked outside of Hiroshima. August six is not a special day because if you go to Hiroshima or if you are in Hiroshima on August the six, it's a very different time and space, right? For example, city related facilities are often closed to just commemorate the event. And lots of people come to Hiroshima from many different places. And at eight 15 that the bell is called and everyone observes a moment of silence. There are so many people, but also it's very quiet moment. It's, it's just one of the very special moments of the year. You cannot just dismiss it. So I was quite surprised there was nothing in other cities, even in Japan. So that was my first realization. Yuki Miyamoto 03:32:59 But, you know, coming out of my friends, all second generations and coming out of that circumstances or the environment, this was actually a little bit different or special. And then even more so once I came to the United States, however, I'm always, I still am hesitant to tell people where I'm from, because I've never met anyone who doesn't know Hiroshima or who has not ever heard of the city name. So everyone knows the smallest city in east Asia, which is good, but also, I don't know how it's taken. And sometimes I made friends with people and talking, and then, so by the way, which city of Japan are you from? And I said, Hiroshima, and sometimes a person would say, oh, I'm sorry. But you know, that was in during the war and pain of justification, I had it to here and I just don't know how to deal with it. Should I stand up for my fellow Hiroshi, murky buckshot, but I don't think I was well equipped to do so. And I just felt so isolated part of the reasons I wanted to come here to the states to learn how the bomb has been narrated, how the bomb has been understood part at school. So that was good experience. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:35 What have you found as to how the bomb is discussed here in the United States versus your experience growing up in here is shameful. What's the difference? What do we do well? Or what do we do not so well Yuki Miyamoto 03:34:50 In Hiroshima, it is also changing, especially those people who have the firsthand experiences. There are fewer and fewer people who can talk about experiences. So it's definitely changing. And I haven't been back to Japan for the last two years. So I don't know how it is now, but at least when I was growing up, the understanding is that this is such an inhumane in discriminate weapons. And we were puzzled why this has not been banned, whereas biological and chemical weapons who are at least internationally agreed upon that it shouldn't be used, but until recent, the UN nuclear ban treaty came into effect last year, it was not happening. So I think people are still kind of wondering why this was not considered as bad or why this has been justified. And is this because of the generations, once the generation who remembered or who fought for the war and who were liberated from the bombing, or who believed that the bomb ended the war swiftly? Yuki Miyamoto 03:36:17 So it's because those people who believed that myth, we call it the myth because, you know, historians think that that was not the case. I came here in gradually and especially I started a teaching and learning from younger generations. It's actually not that obsolete and good news is that more younger people don't think dropping the atomic bombs was justifiable, but still close to 50 50 in general. So good news is that the younger generations, their understandings are changing, but at the same time, interacting with my students, there are very few students who know about the atomic bombings and its consequences. Their understanding tends to be, it's a horrible bomb. It's a big bomb. And we don't talk much about radiation exposure and its consequences. And especially for those people who are now with us and sharing their experiences with us, their lives after bomb their lives so much longer than the lives they had before the bombing, right? Yuki Miyamoto 03:37:42 Most of them were kids back then. So they had a difficult time in finding a spouse or not, not that marriage is the happiest thing, but taking into account the social pressure or women were had difficulties in just being independent, financially, all those reasons. So because of those reasons that they must have had difficulties and anxieties about their conceptions pregnancies and their kids. And I know one, he backed Shaw, who I was friends with. She suddenly passed away. This may very sudden me, but she was also talking about those experiences, not just the bombing, but also how she felt, sorry for her daughter, who actually was told that once that she couldn't have kids Libbe HaLevy 03:38:40 Physiologically could not, or should not because of possible mutations or birth defects. Yuki Miyamoto 03:38:47 What I hear was that because of a her blood disorder, she probably couldn't so physiologically. She couldn't conceive. And if she did, if she was able to, it's not like totally impossible, but she would have difficulties. And if she was able to be pregnant, it might jeopardize her health. So that was what she was told. The daughter of my friend that was told, and my friend was so devastated by this because she took creative on her. She thought that it's because my experiences of the atomic bombing, my daughter is suffering from the consequences. So the second generation issue there. So those stories are not much known here as well as in Japan. So I'm, I'm concerned about the atomic bombing is just a big bomb so that, you know, we could quote unquote survive, but witnessing my mother's illnesses and passing away, I don't think payback HSA can tell that they could survive Libbe HaLevy 04:40:00 Again. In the research I have been doing for my play, what has become very clear was that there was an intentional repression of all information, about radiation as being the after effect of the bomb. And the fact that it wasn't just this one big blast. There was an after effect that goes on for generation after generation, after generation. And it's still not generally known because the information was so suppressed at the beginning of the atomic age, as we learned to refer to it, that we've never been able to pick up with that information. And my belief is that's part of what drives the ongoing acceptance of the atomic bomb because they think, oh, it's just a really big bomb without understanding the ongoing consequences from the radiation. Yuki Miyamoto 04:40:53 I totally agree with you. And as you know, there was an ABCC being established after the bombing in 1946 in Hiroshima in 1947 in Nagasaki atomic bomb in casualty commission, which is not actually treating the Habakkuk HSA, but they were collecting data. Now it's called the radiation factor research foundation. And both Japanese and American governments are funding. But until then it was the American institution. And the ABCC was the one which was gathering those or adults as well. And they are just collecting the data, which of course disappointed the people in Hiroshima, those Americans who dropped the bomb, they came and established this medical facilities. They understandably expected that they would receive some medical treatment, but it was not about treatment. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:57 It was really about using them as Guinea pigs after the fact just as was done in the Marshall Islands. Yuki Miyamoto 04:42:04 Right? Exactly. And at ABCC of course there was some concerns about internal exposure, but that was not ever been systematically examined among the people, which I think as you were saying, it's also with data to this ignorance about consequences of the atomic bombing or in any kind of radiation exposure, Libbe HaLevy 04:42:31 Let's bring this forward to your work. And what you're doing, you were obviously very influenced by your family's history, by your country's history and what you had learned. What is it that you studied and what is it that you teach now? Yuki Miyamoto 04:42:50 After I graduated from the grad school, I started a teaching at DePaul university, which is also located in Chicago. My first quarter here, I taught the atom bomb discourse. So since then, for 17 years by now, I keep teaching this course, the atom bomb discourse, which examines how the atomic bombing has been understood. So that's exactly what I was trying to find out when I came here or before I came here, this was for liberal arts class. So anyone can take, and that's fun. Students come from different disciplines. And earlier on, I still remember that one student who was very upset about this learning about the consequences of the atomic bombing and he stood up and then he was kind of yelling at me. This was so one-sided Libbe HaLevy 04:43:53 Meaning what you were teaching was one sided Yuki Miyamoto 04:43:57 That was kind of expected. So in my syllabus, I always had some kind of atrocities that the Japanese army is dead, a unit 7 31, and I was not able to go into the depth, but I definitely mentioned comfort of women. So it's not like I'm, I'm just singling out this atomic bombing as a war crime. But rather my focus was how this has been understood and because of this sort of ignorance. So what cover up what we are suffering from right? There are so many sites in the United States that people are suffering from radiation exposure, from uranium mines or nuclear tests, or just simply experimentation. Another one, which I developed after Fukushima is a seminar called the atomic age. So this was not just about the Japanese atomic bombing and discourse around it, but rather from even radium girls, even before the Manhattan project to how radiation or radioactive materials were considered or what taken or became a consumer products, students actually can relate to it. Yuki Miyamoto 04:45:20 This sort of excitement, this new technology and new beauty products back then, and they were looking into some advertisement on their own research and they were kind of excited about this discovery and can relate to that excitement about technology and science. But of course they know the consequences. So it's also fun to discuss that consumerism in the atomic age, not just the science or international affairs. So we start with that pre Manhattan project era through the Manhattan project and the cold war and the post-Cold war nuclear accidents, and try to cover all nuclear issues. But of course, it's always like, oh, I could have talked about this or I could have invited this scholar or this activist. So it's always evolving, well, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:18 Get them to subscribe to nuclear hot seat and look at updates every Yuki Miyamoto 04:46:21 Week. Exactly. Yeah. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:24 Since 2005, you had led groups of students to go back to Japan and to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What has been their response when they actually are there and get to see and learn on the ground in Japan? Yuki Miyamoto 04:46:43 Understandably, the students were nervous before going there. They were excited about going to Japan. Usually my group has more or less 20 students in one group. And one third, I would say they are just interested in Japan, anime and some culture food over there. Music cosplay. One third is Japanese language students. So they want to exercise their skills, their command of language. Once they get there. One third is not so much about Japan, but interested in the nuclear issues or international relations. So I like this combination coming from different interests and disciplines, but those students who have some familiarity with Japanese culture, even. So they were kind of nervous going to Hiroshima and even more nervous stepping into the museum. They usually take a load of time, contemporary plating in front of each panels, each picture, each video, they were very serious about learning. Once they get into the museum, which was moving, you know, they were not just going through, walking through, chatting through the museum, they really try to absorb the information. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:13 And did you see any changes in their understanding or their orientation towards nuclear and atomic weapons once they had gone through this experience? Yuki Miyamoto 04:48:24 Definitely, definitely. So one thing which affected them was definitely going to the museum, learning more and firsthand about this weaponry and the consequences. And you know, what they are familiar. The images they are familiar with is usually the mushroom cloud or obliterated a city is there is no human saw. Most of them had never seen human talls and consequences on the human body or consequences on the environment. So the actual distraction, so that definitely affects them, but also they were very moved by people who welcomed them. Cause you know, people in Hiroshima were very excited about having the young Americans to their place because there are so many places they could go. You know, we have the study abroad programs at DePaul, Paris, London, Allan Teaneck, Kenya. There are so many places they can choose and they chose to come to your show. My neck psyche for two weeks. I think people in Hiroshima were very excited and wanting to interact with my students. And they were very kind. Sometimes I feel like me too, including myself, we are so spoiled and that kind of human interactions, relationships, friendship, that also affects them as well. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:59 Every year when August six, the anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb and August 9th, the anniversary of Nagasaki come up. Is there anything in particular that you do to commemorate on those dates? Yuki Miyamoto 05:50:13 I have attended this commemoration that a group of anti-nuclear groups and sometimes religious groups collaborated and they have this Memorial at the movers nuclear reaction sculpture in a hydro park. I sometimes attend, I have enormous respect for those people who make efforts to make this happen, to organize this commemoration. But I also like to stay home and be myself or being alone. I'm actually very grateful that people are commemorating it, but somehow being a part of it is not always comfortable to me. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:04 I think that's understandable given the fact that this is something that was very personal for you, but those of us who didn't have a personal experience of it need that external gathering and connection with others who understand at that time. And I'm glad you take time for yourself because sometimes that's the most important thing that we can do. If, as a result of your history, your mother's experience, the studying, you've done the teaching that you've done. If you could deliver a message to the world that the world would actually listen to, what would you want to say? Yuki Miyamoto 05:51:42 I love to fantasize that the world is listening to me. That that is wonderful. And if that happens, I would really say that I would like to emphasize the consequences of radiation exposure and the atomic bombings and not just a big one big blast and there's no coat and for survival, it's just a distraction. And once you get exposed to radiation that you have to carry it for the rest of your life. And most likely you have to worry about your kids and grandkids. So the consequences are multi-generational and that's only on the human side, but also the environmental side, as we know that some radioactive nuclides it's half-life is 24,000 years or more. So it's definitely multi-generational. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:40 You came me a motel. I'm so grateful that you were willing to share some personal aspects of your life, as well as what you do professionally to put forward a balanced understanding of what the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki meant to a generation that has many generations removed from it. I'm grateful that your students are going to go out into the world with this expanded understanding and for that, and so much else. I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Yuki Miyamoto 05:53:14 Thank you so much for having me. I've been listening to this program every week. So this is a great honor for me to be here. Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:23 That was professor educator and second generation HSA, Yuki Miyamoto. We will have links up to her work on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 28 Announcer 05:53:39 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:46 First, my apologies to many of you, my email was hacked on Tuesday, August 3rd. If you got a strange looking email from me with an attachment, do not open it, delete it. And if you did open it, contact your service provider about what you need to do to secure your email and your computer at minimum change your email password. And really my apologies about this, but I'll take it as a sign that I must be doing something right, because I'm obviously getting under somebody's skin. And there was a great encouraging article in Lancaster, online.com on the work of three mile island alerts, Mary Stamos, a long time resident of the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area next to the three mile island nuclear reactors shortly after the accident and radiation release, Mary Stamos discovered what she described as weird looking dandelions. Growing in her yard. The stems were two inches wide and flat Stamos suspected that radiation released during the accident caused the dandelions to mutate into their warped forms. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:56 From that point on for the next decades, she found collected and documented hundreds of similarly misshapen plants in the area surrounding the accident site. Now researchers at the Smithsonian institution in Washington, DC had expressed interest in permanently housing. Her collection of samples. Our thanks to Scott ports line of three mile island alert for his efforts in accomplishing this. Now we're just awaiting final word, unacceptance of this important documentation of the aftermath of the three mile island accident. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Lancaster online.com local twelve.com and our dc.org. San Louis obispo.com national geographic.com. Rolling stone.com S F gate.com Marius Paul japan-forward.com globe and mail.com simply info.org. The register.com Tai PEI times.com and he captured and compromised by the industry. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:17 They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening and no matter where you are around the world and listeners are around the world. If you want to get nuclear, hot seat delivered by email every week, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down for the yellow box and sign up with your first name and your email address for a weekly link to the latest show and a little bit of information about the content. And while you're at it, if you're on Facebook, go to the nuclear hot seat, Facebook page, click like share comment. It all helps to get the show noticed in the all important algorithms. And there are other ways you can help the show as well. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send the information in an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:14 And if you appreciate this weekly hit of verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021. Leiby how lady and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but their use is allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that is Hiroshima survivors SESCO Thurlow said upon accepting the 2018 Nobel peace prize on behalf of the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, the nuclear arsenal represents a self-destruct button for the human race. So let's not push it. Okay, there you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:27 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy it's bomb. ### NH #527: Trinity A-Bomb Test, Church Rock Uranium Tailings Spill Anniversaries - Still Devastating New Mexico URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trinity-a-bomb-test-church-rock-uranium-tailings-spill-anniversaries-new-mexico/ Published: 2021-07-29 Duration: 00:59:01 Trinity A-Bomb – First photo of the birth of the Atomic Age: Trinity atomic bomb test blast on July 16, 1945. Fallout from this "dirty bomb" is still harming Downwinders, who were exposed and are still exposed to the radiation. This Week’s Featured Interviews: Trinity Downwinders advocating for justice: Trinity Downwinder Tina Cordova grew up in her family home in the Tularosa Basin, 40 miles from the explosion of the first atomic bomb on July 16, 1945. A cancer survivor like so many in her community, in 2005, she co-founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. She and her community have been working for compensation for New Mexico atomic downwinders for the past 15 years. Trinity downwinder Tina Cordova (l) being interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat’s Libbe HaLevy Video produced by the long term victims of the Trinity atomic bomb blast, Tularosa Basin Consortion Downwinders: Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Spill Disaster It's been 42 years since the July 16, 1979 uranium tailings pond spill/disaster that contaminated Navajo Nation land, adding to the radiation burden already there from abandoned uranium mines. Two brief interviews from Nuclear Hotseat #423 from July 23, 2019, where Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy covered the 40th anniversary events. Edith Hood grew up in the Red Water Pond Road Community, on land which had her living between two uranium mines and just down the road from the 1979 tailings pond spill. Edith worked at a different mine than the UNC facility that had the accident, but faced all of the same dangers. Terracita Keyanna has lived her entire life in the Red Water Pond Road Community on Navajo Nation. She was not even born when the Church Rock uranium spill happened… but that did not stop her being exposed to uranium mining waste from what was released and deposited by the spill. Edith Hood of the Red Water Pond Community on Navajo Nation land – between two uranium mines and just down the road from the site of the Church Rock uranium tailings spill Terracita Keyanna next to sign warning “no uranium mining” in Navajo Links Referenced in This Week's Show: Nuclear Hotseat #423: Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Disaster – full show.Piketon, Ohio Radiation Spikes from Demolition of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion PlantFirstEnergy to pay $230M in agreement in Ohio bribery caseNuclear Power's reliability is dropping as extreme weather increases. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nuclear lies when Trinity, the first test of an atomic weapon took place on July 16th, 1945, there was no warning given to the surrounding population, no acknowledgement that there even was the surrounding population. The area was considered uninhabited, but there were people living not only on the land surrounding the test site, but in towns within a 150 mile radius, all of which were hit by radiation released by this equivalent of a massive, dirty bomb. The government is still denying that anything bad happened to those who were exposed or their children and grandchildren, and that the radiation release meant nothing. But then you hear a Trinity downwind or tell you that other than the bombs that exploded at Hiroshima and Nagasaki Tina Cordova 00:00:54 Extrapolated, knowing what we now know about the type of blast that it was at Trinity and everything else, and said that the people in New Mexico were exposed to somewhere between 10 and a hundred times more radiation than anyone ever has been from any other nuclear incident in the world, including Chernobyl Fukushima, Nevada test site, et cetera. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:15 Well, we know that that kind of radiation exposure can and did create all kinds of health problems for the people of New Mexico and beyond. And when you learned what happened there in the aftermath, you will realize beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are all stuck. And when you hear more about what happened in the aftermath of that atomic bomb explosion, you will realize that you and I and everyone are stuck in that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:47 To clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking news clear, hot, save the car, Ms. Sinking out time to act as shrinking, but linking nuclear. Hotsy Libbe HaLevy 00:02:18 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we look to New Mexico, the site of two major nuclear events, which happened on the same day, but 34 years apart on July 16th, 1945, the Trinity test, the first explosion of an atomic bomb took place. It left a legacy of radioactivity released into the environment that continues to damage the health of downwinders to this day, we'll hear from Tina Cordova of the Tularosa basin. Downwinders on what that experience was, what it has meant to the people who lived through it, including her family and their offspring and what still needs to be done. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:24 And we'll also hear from two members of Navajo nation who were directly impacted by both the July 16th, 1979 church rock uranium, tailings spill disaster, and the legacy of unremediated uranium mines, literally in their own backyards. We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information. Then the sexist, racist, prejudicial Fukushima denying white men of the international Olympic committee will ever let you know, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, July 27th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in Piketon Ohio, the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant, which was once a company that fueled America's atomic race is being dismantled and exposing 31 years of radioactive dust, which is, which has been building up in the rafters, which are now exposed to the elements. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:33 According to one veteran worker, it's been quote blowing to the four winds. Now, Dr. Michael Ketterer, professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona university has been studying the data on the releases from the department of energy's air monitors and uncovered that the amount of technetium 99, a radioactive material was hundreds of times higher than detection limits. And it was happening on all monitors, no matter how far they were from the plant or in what direction we will link to a video report on this, on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 27 in Ohio first energy corporation, the energy giant at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio admitted to using dark money groups, to fund their efforts and agreed to pay a $230 million fine to avoid criminal charges being brought against them. The case led to the arrests one year ago of then house speaker, Larry householder, and four associates, government officials say householder orchestrated a plan to accept corporate money for personal and political use in exchange for passing nuclear bailout legislation and scuttling the effort to repeal the bill. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:53 A coalition of energy and environmental groups is warning that the nuclear regulatory commission may complete a quote unquote safety analysis and final environmental impact statement by the end of July for an application to store deadly nuclear reactor waste in Texas, despite strong local state and national opposition, the NRC could license the facility possibly within the following 30 days, this Texas high level radioactive waste quote unquote interim storage would hold nearly half the nation's commercial irradiated nuclear fuel, and would be at high risk from train truck or barge shipments that would pass through most states, carrying the waste, potentially leading to what some have called a mobile Chernobyl. We're going to have a link up on the article. Nuclear powers. Reliability is dropping as extreme weather increases and also information from the nuclear energy information service or any I S in Chicago as to how droughts floods and other weather extremes will impact the ability of nuclear reactors to remain cool. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:03 A spokesperson for French atomic giant EDF said on Thursday, July 22nd, that the Tyson shin nuclear power plant, which has an EDF reactor in it was a quote serious situation that is evolving. If the reactor was in France, the company would have shut it down already because there has been detected and increase in noble gas in the reactor. These are radioactive gases and would further degrade the fuel rods. This is an ongoing situation, links to this and other stories up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 27. And now for this week's venture into nuclear bone headedness, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:54 The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marked down from the current year 2021 because Hey, they already printed the merchant last year is going off with narrow use of the F-word Fukushima. However, mother nature is doing her best to warn athletes away from the most dangerous venues at Azuma baseball stadium in Fukushima, less than 20 miles from the site of the nuclear triple meltdown, only hours before the first women's softball game was set to start. A black bear was spotted by guards. It was seen both the night before and the morning of the Japan versus Australia softball match the bear, which has been nicknamed radiation for her ability to be dangerous yet invisible. Most of the time was on a mission of mercy to warn the women away from the danger. Softball is a woman's sport. And perhaps the bear was aware of the fact that women are twice as vulnerable to the same radiation exposure as men. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:57 Thank you, gender and radiation, project.org radiation. The bears visibility at Azuma stadium was preceded last month by an incident in Sapporo, which will host the Olympic marathon running and racewalking events that was when a brown bear injured four people and was shot and killed. Was it also trying to warn athletes away from radioactive areas? No definitive word yet. And the suspect in the case at Azuma stadium has not yet been apprehended. Nuclear hot seat is following the story of radiation in Fukushima for the Olympics. And for upcoming details, you will have to bear with us and that's why Tokyo 20, 21 or 2020, or whatever year you decide upon Olympics, whatever you're calling yourself, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 00:09:55 Okay. This week's featured interviews, focus on both the Trinity bomb test and the church rock uranium tailings spill disaster, both of which took place on the 16th of July, but 34 years apart. First Trinity Tana Cordova grew up in her family home in the two LaRosa basin, 40 miles from the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945, a cancer survivor like so many in her community in 2005, she co-founded the Tularosa basin downwinders consortium. She and her community had been working for compensation for New Mexico, atomic downwinders through the Rica act for the past 16 years, I spoke with Tina Cordova for nuclear hot seat on July 18th, 2020 Libbe HaLevy 01:10:48 Tina Cordova. It is so good to have you here with us on nuclear hot seat. Tina Cordova 01:10:54 It's great to be with you levy. And I'm a very grateful that you've taken an interest in our story because it's a story that should be told and that as many people as can hear it should hear it. So I'm grateful and glad to be here. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:09 Now you are clearly too young to have been alive when the Trinity tests took place. So tell us about your family's background. Where did they live? How close they were to the blast site and a little about what their lives were like before the Trinity blast. Tina Cordova 01:11:24 You're absolutely right. I was born in 1959 so much later than the Trinity test, but my family has, I can trace my family back about seven generations in the tuberosa basin, but my father was a four year old child living in the little village to the Roesler about 40 miles. The way the crows fly from the test site. At that time, my mother was not living in Tularosa. She, her family had lived there, moved away and then moved back. But my mother wasn't there on the day of the test, my grandmothers and grandfathers, and great-grandfathers most of my family, aunts, uncles, many, many relatives were living there at the time. And our history with the test is that we have been, I have been told for many, many years the stories that were passed down in my family about the daily event. And, but my elders, my grandmothers, my grandfathers remembered about the tests. Tina Cordova 01:12:20 And that basically there was this explosion that the sky lit up like daylight before daylight and that this explosion rocked the village. And that for days afterwards and Ash fell from the sky, it's a story that gets repeated over and over by people who were alive at the time and can tell the story. Now, although those people are few and far between, and when the Asheville from the sky, it became unfortunately a part of the environment that the people so depended on for their life, for their life and their livelihood. And obviously it had devastating consequences. I try to remind people that life in one of those rural communities in 1945 was very organic. First of all, we didn't have running water. So we depended on the rain that fell from the sky to charge up, fill up our systems, our lakes, our rivers, our creeks, our ditches, our holding ponds, where people went and utilize those sources or their entire water source. Tina Cordova 01:13:30 And that meant they're drinking. They're bathing, they're cleaning, they're doing laundry, they're cooking source for water. It also became part of the environmental in a way that that had a far reaching consequences, because there were no grocery stores, no one had refrigeration. So you couldn't go to a grocery store and buy dairy. You couldn't buy me. She couldn't buy produce. All of those things you've produced yourself. So people had gardens, they had orchards, they had a local dairy, or they had their own account for the purpose of milk. And also for the purpose of protein. And they raised chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, we hunted small mammals and birds. We gathered, hunted, grew, raised everything that we ate. And now that was entirely negatively impacted by the Ash that fell from the sky. And, and obviously contaminated everything. We were maximally exposed. There's basically three routes of exposure, inhalation, ingestion, and absorption. And we were maximally exposed. We received all of those. And I always tell people also, don't forget that if you don't have running water, you don't bake as often. So if that Ash got on your skin or in your hair, it likely remained there for many, many days. And so you had a chance to be maximally exposed. What were you told at the time Libbe HaLevy 01:14:51 Had actually happened? And what were you led to believe? The Ash that was falling this gray Ash was all about. Tina Cordova 01:15:00 We were told nothing beforehand and we were told very little afterwards at the time of the test, the government had basically concocted multiple stories that would be released through the press, depending on what the outcome was, which is very crazy. When you, when you think about it, the final story that they utilized in the news a few days after the test was that an ammunition gun out on the missile range had exploded and that there was no loss of life and no damage done. But the thing that everybody also has to remember in 1945, no one had a television. There were few people had radios. There were newspapers printed. Usually once a week, they got distributed and shared people didn't have access to information. So for many, many people, they didn't know what had happened. And it was huge. It was enormous. I mean, it knocked people out of their beds in the morning. Tina Cordova 01:15:57 People told me, they thought it was the end of the world and that their mother made them all dropped to their knees and start praying the rosary because they were certain with the end of the world. And people were left with PTSD. By the way, as a result of this, it broke people's windows, cracked their walls, everything fell out of the cupboard. I mean, it was enormous. And if you and I experienced something like that, right now, we could get on the internet and we'd know within minutes, what just place. And then after the bombings that took place on August 6th and ninth in Japan, the government did finally admit that they had tested the device in the desert of New Mexico that produced the bombs that they took to Japan. That still meant nothing to anybody. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:39 It was intentional. When you mentioned the multiple press releases that were written, they were actually written by an embedded reporter from the New York times, a man named William L. Lawrence. Why no, you have cited for some of his other writing, but he was the one who wrote the range of press releases. Everything from oh, nothing happened to we're evacuating the state. Now he knew about radioactivity. There was nothing in there. And then after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he's the one who wrote the majority of articles that came out about it. And again, completely eliminated any mention of radiation or radioactivity. So there was no sense of the long-term damage that was done now, in terms of that long-term damage to health. When did that start showing up? And when did people start connecting that with the gray Ash that fell from the bomb going off from the test Tina Cordova 01:17:35 Before I get into that, let me just say that the government counted very heavily on the people who lived in the area to be uneducated, unsophisticated, and unable to stick up for themselves, even after they came back and said that, that there might be radiation. I know there's a, a story in the literature that I've read many times about one of the ranchers who encountered some of these soldiers that came back to take a look at the radiation on his ranch. And he said, what are you doing? And they said, we're checking for radioactivity. And he said, you won't find any here. We don't have the radio turned on. And so there was no understanding of what this meant, but your question in regards to when did the disease manifestation start in 1955, both of my great-grandfathers died from what they called stomach cancer. And that was at a time when no one in these little towns had ever heard the word cancer. Tina Cordova 01:18:32 And it was a terrible, terrible thing because they didn't have treatment. People didn't have insurance. There certainly was no access to healthcare in the little town that I grew up in. There was no way to be diagnosed. There, there was no treatment. People even wondered if they could catch this from people who had it. And so my great grandfather suffered a great deal before they died. They were, I believe, put on morphine from the stories I was told. And they basically laid in a bed and died a few months after they started to get sick, but no one was putting it together as related to the bomb and people continue to die. I'm a thyroid cancer survivor. And when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the first thing I asked you was when were you exposed to radiation? Did you work with radioactive isotopes? Did you work in a lab? Tina Cordova 01:19:23 Did you ever work in an x-ray facility? Have you had a lot of x-rays, but I will tell you the truth. I started to connect these dots. When I was in college, I have a degree in the sciences and I started to realize the reason there's so many people in my community sick and dying is because we were overexposed to radiation. It has to be that. And people started talking about it, but you have to also realize that you don't bite the hand that feeds you and the government did an incredible job of controlling the messaging. Always, yes, they said the area was remote and uninhabited, but in reality, tens of thousands of people live in a 50 mile radius and per their own admission. They said, we can never do this here again because we've so overexposed people to radiation. And if we do it again, we have to find an area with a 150 mile radius uninhabited. Tina Cordova 02:20:15 They went to Nevada to establish that. But if you draw a radius around Trinity, 150 miles, it encompasses Albuquerque to the north and past El Paso to the south and to almost art Eastern and Western border in New Mexico, that's our entire state. So now you're talking about hundreds of thousands of people that were exposed. The other thing that the government did a really good job of is creating the idea inside of these communities, that we should be proud of. The fact that we participated in this event that brought an end to the war. And for some people that was important. A lot of people that was very important because number one, their husbands, their brothers were off serving in the Pacific. So this was going to put an end to that and bring these men home. And not only that, but these facilities, these government facilities employ a lot of people. Tina Cordova 02:21:09 And I have to tell you on more than one occasion, people have told me, you keep this up and they're going to close those bases and we're not going to have jobs. And I've said, that'll never happen. That will never happen. And we can't be fearful of those sorts of things, but that will never happen. Our government doesn't have the resources to reestablish that bombing range. That's the largest anyplace that has the largest airspace to any place in the world. And so they made us fear for our jobs. They made us feel some level of pride because we were in my mind, enlisted into the service of our country without consent or knowledge. And then they minimized it. Oh, it's remoted. I didn't have it. Oh, nobody was affected. And the fact that the government never came back also gave this sense that there was no reason to come back. Tina Cordova 02:21:57 It wasn't dangerous. Nothing happened that could possibly have caused problems, but people always talked about why are there so many of us sick? Why are so many of us dying? And it wasn't until 15 years ago when we started our work, that people just started coming out of the woodwork and saying, you know what? I knew this all along. I thought this all along, you know, everybody in my family is gone. Now everybody's sick. And now it's affecting my children and my grandchildren. And so, you know, everybody now has, has embraced this now understands it to be true. And now science is in our favorite as well. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:39 So let's roll this back slightly as to how you made the connection from being in college and studying the sciences and starting to become aware to this time 15 years ago, when you founded the group. And we'll explain about that too, but how did you take that journey to enough realization that you helped with the founding of the two Aerosa basin consortium? Tina Cordova 02:23:05 So I read an article in the reader's digest about the Nevada test site downwinders and this probably happened, I would say at least a good 20, maybe 22 years ago that I read this article and I saved it because I, I, the minute I read it, I said, this is us. This is us. And this now explains. And it also explains the fact that there are other people trying to be recognized. And then I read a letter to the editor in the newspaper from back home from a gentleman who said, I'd lived my whole career away from here, and now I'm back to retire. And my mother just died after having three cancers and everybody is sick and dying. And when are we going to hold the government accountable? And I knew this gentleman, he was older than I, I didn't go to school with him. Tina Cordova 02:23:55 I went to school with some of his brothers and sisters and I, but I knew him. And I contacted him. I said, Fred, we have to do something about this because it is absolutely the truth. And there are downwinders and other parts of the country as well. And I've read about this and I've done some loose research on it. And, and I know because of the science that I know and understand it had to have had an effect on us. And so we started the organization and then immediately started doing a lot of research. And that really did lead to a realization of how this could have potentially been so devastating or the people who lived 12. I always say we've identified ranchers that live 12 miles away. Imagine that, but the people that lived in communities, you know, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40 miles away, I mean, those people were have great, basically for 75 years been relegated to nothingness. We counted for nothing. I had somebody tell me one time. We're not even Guinea pigs because they checked back on Guinea pigs. And I said, you know what? That's like the most profound thing. I never even thought of it in those terms, they, they didn't even consider us to be test subjects because they've never come back check. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:11 Has there been any kind of government testing or epidemiology or checking into this to try and find out what the impact actually was? Tina Cordova 02:25:23 No epidemiological studies have ever been done, which is incredibly unfortunate because our government could probably at this point, understand a whole lot more than they ever have about the effects of radiation on the human body and not just on the human body, but on, on your genetics and how that affects future generations. Right? It may be because nobody really wants to know that you've heard about that. But having said all that, there are only two things that I know about the Los Alamos historic document, retrieval and assessment, or the Hydra project, which was a ten-year project paid for by the department of energy requested by Congress as a result of the people in New Mexico, wanting to know what were the releases from Los Alamos as they develop and, and did the little bit of testing that they did in Los Alamos, the elephant in the room as they conducted that year test was the Trinity site. Tina Cordova 02:26:17 And we know now because one of the primary investigators, Dr. Joseph Shunka has now challenged the false narrative that exists, that nobody lived here and nobody was harmed. And he has extrapolated taking what he knows from those ten-year study that he did on LA Hydra. He's taken the information that he had access to there, extrapolated, knowing what we now about the type of blast that it was at Trinity and everything else, and said that the people in New Mexico were exposed to somewhere between 10 and a hundred times more radiation than anyone ever has been from any other nuclear incident in the world, including Chernobyl Fukushima, Nevada test site, et cetera, which is mind boggling, try wrapping your mind around that, that study the largest study in chapter set, 10 clearly states that the CDC believes that the exposures, the day of the blast could have been as much as 10,000 times. Tina Cordova 02:27:20 What's considered acceptable today to some of the population that lives in the vicinity to the test site that is unforgivable. How long ago was that test? How long ago were those results found that report was published? I want to say in 2015, five years ago, and there was actually some, the CDC actually put forward recommendations that they thought someone the government should follow up on. And there were a number of recommendations around the Trinity test site. And most of those recommendations had fallen on deaf ears and after spending spending, I believe the entire process was an over, over $10 million. And to not follow up on the recommendations is, is insanity above and beyond that though, and national Institute of health has been conducting a dose reconstruction that they started. I want to say five years ago, and the dose reconstruction we've had very little to count on in the beginning of this dose reconstruction. Tina Cordova 02:28:28 They consulted closely with members of community, for specific reasons, to help them get the tribal entities, to invite them to come here and do this, which they absolutely had to have to move forward with the study. We delivered those statements from the tribal entities. We also help them develop your questions that they would ask. But imagine trying to conduct a dose reconstruction 70 to 75 years later, depending on people's recollections, when they're somewhere older than 70 years old, when they first came here, they told us, and I remember this very distinctly that they wouldn't consider anybody to participate unless they had been 13 years or older at the time of the test so that they would have some real recollection. And I said, those people don't exist anymore because they've all died from cancer. I mean, you're never going to find people like what you're looking for. Tina Cordova 02:29:24 They're so few and far between. And if you find any people like, like that, that you can recognize you won't have enough of them for this study to be considered scientific. But anyway, having said all that, they moved ahead with this dose reconstruction and I've had many scientists. I count on that. I trust who have amazing reputations have told me it's impossible to do a dose reconstruction this far down, you know, this late in the history of the incident, in other words. So they relaxed their qualifications and said, if you were alive at the time. So I know somebody that was born eight days before the bomb, they would consider her somebody they could rely on, but she doesn't remember what life was like in 1945, where she got water or how her family got food. And actually, when you think about it, everything changed dramatically after the war because our government put all the money into infrastructure and building the infrastructure in our country. Tina Cordova 03:30:22 And now we had running water and we had refrigeration because we had electricity, et cetera. And so things changed dramatically though, the woman I know who was born eight days before the bomb, she wouldn't remember that they gathered water from a sister or that they got their milk from a milk. How necessarily. And then the other thing we know about is that this last summer, a year ago, there was an article published in a scientific journal about how we had a huge spike in infant mortality in the months, right after the Trinity test. That's the Bob Alvarez, kitty Tucker research that was done absolutely. And many, many thanks to kiddie Tucker and Bob Alvarez. Kitty is the one that contacted the New Mexico department of health and received the information many, many years ago. And she sat on it for many years because she wasn't, I don't think certain how she would use that information or work when it might become important, but they publish those findings. Tina Cordova 03:31:26 And what's absolutely unforgivable about it is that when the Manhattan project was contacted by health care worker from New Mexico and asked what could explain the infant mortality that we're seeing, we're losing babies. We hear it's worse. This woman was from Roswell, New Mexico. She said, we hear it's worse in Alamogordo. And she said, it doesn't seem to matter what we do. We can't keep these babies alive. And the Manhattan project decided to deny. And they basically said, we've looked at the statistics and the statistics don't show that. And that is an absolute lie because kitty Tucker has the department of health statistics that show that in those months, following Trinity, after a steady year decline in infant mortality, because of the advent of antibiotics, medical practices, hygienic practices, keeping babies alive changed dramatically. But having said all that, they decided to deny and lie and look the other way. And we had casualties from Trinity, they were babies, they were children and that's just unforgivable. And that was the infant mortality rate that spiked Libbe HaLevy 03:32:39 In the months in the, certainly in August of 1945. And beyond that for the next few months, Tina Cordova 03:32:47 That's correct. From August through October, we saw these huge increases and knowing what we know about radiation exposure. Now that would make perfect sense because your exposure to radiation is a factor of distance and time. One of the reasons why we were so overexposed because we live so much closer, your exposure is also based on your body mass. So if you're a child or a baby, because you have a smaller body mass, you would have received a higher dose exposure. It all makes sense. And it's not outside of reason to be able to draw a conclusion. It's probably what they saw. And I'm not an expert on this, but I'll bet I'll bet. Most of what I have, that it's the same thing they saw on Parotia and Nagasaki after the bombings in August, the babies that were alive at that point, couldn't sustain the radiation doses. And they probably had babies die as a result. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:45 It's significant that after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that there was no real study, no real epidemiology done until it was started five years later, meaning the earliest of the deaths and the most severe rate of death would have already been long past. So at five years they picked it up and that's the hibachi study that's been going on since. Tina Cordova 03:34:08 Yeah. And how, how unfortunate, because if you want to know the truth and if you want to get at the truth, then especially as it relates to this sort of an issue, you take that up almost immediately so that you can understand the full scope of the impact. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:26 Let's take a look now at the work that is being done is still being done by the two Aerosa base and downwinders consortium that you helped to found. And that is still ongoing. Where are you focusing your efforts? These days? Tina Cordova 03:34:44 Our entire focus these days is on getting the amendments to the radiation. Exposure compensation act passed the amendments, specifically those house bill 37 83 would extend compensation to the people of New Mexico for the first time ever. That fund has been in place for 30 years, and we've never been included. We were the first people exposed to radiation, any place in the world and how we were left out. I always say as the $2.3 billion question, that's, what's been paid out in compensation so far Libbe HaLevy 03:35:22 Now, who is included in that. But if that includes the Navajo uranium miners, Tina Cordova 03:35:30 It includes the Nevada test downwinders. And, and let me, let me also state, this is, this is something that's very important to you. The history of all this New Mexico was downwind of the Nevada test site. That is very well-documented. When the government did the testing in Nevada, they put up monitors in different states, and one of them was New Mexico. It's very well documented that through the summer of 1962, when they did above-ground testing New Mexico received radiation exposure because of that. But the compensation stops right at the Arizona New Mexico border, as if there's some led curtain there that offers us protection. So I always say, if you live five feet over that border to one side, you get compensated. If you live five feet over that border, to the other side, you do not. That's how unjust this is, but it includes uranium miners. And there are many of them in New Mexico, but only if you mind uranium before 1971, if you mind uranium after 1971, you're not included because that's when uranium became publicly available for the use in the production of energy, for example. Tina Cordova 03:36:42 And so the government said, we're no longer going to accept responsibility for the damage that's done to human health, because that'll take care of itself, you know, private industry, which you well know never, ever happens. So we have all of these miners that continue to work in the uranium mining industry that aren't taken care of. And it's such a very sad history for them because you might have a gentleman that lives on one side of the street being compensated, and a gentleman that lives on the other side of the street not compensated. And, you know, I I've been to these communities. They often asked me to come speak about the downwinders and I can't believe the stories I hear. They're just like, I can't believe the stories I hear in the downwind communities about people having the whole bake sales so they can buy their pain medication or the uranium miner that I heard speak in Laguna Pueblo, who said, my wife walks the Pueblo every week and asks people to, to gift us money. So we can put gas in our car to get me to Albuquerque so I can get my treatment that is also unforgivable. And so the fund now takes care of the downwinders from Nevada. And it includes people in parts of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, nobody from New Mexico and then men and women who worked in uranium mining industry before 1971 Libbe HaLevy 03:38:06 With the work that you're doing and trying to move this forward. And now that we have hit the 75th anniversary of the start of the atomic age, when all these horrors began, there's been a lot of media coverage, both raw nukes, and talking about how deadly the test was and the radioactivity with this bump in visibility. I know that your group was to put together an event that unfortunately COVID took down, but you still put together a video. Tell us about that video and what it consists of. Tina Cordova 03:38:46 So part of our, our goal has always been to educate as many people about this issue as possible. And our in-person annual candlelight vigil is a beautiful cathartic event that we developed 10 years ago to offer support and comfort to those people. Who've lost loved ones and to forever memorialized them their names. I always said, if the government's not going to come back and care one bit about these people, it's our job and our duty because they are our families and our friends to make sure that at least once a year, once a year, their name is acknowledged because they were true Patriots that literally gave up their lives in service of our country. And so we have this annual candlelight vigil. We like what's called a lumen, Adia, a paper sack with a candle in it. And we call out their names. Well, because this, she couldn't do that. Tina Cordova 03:39:42 We decided to put together a video that we could share widely. And it's been seen all over the world actually. And the video consists of us giving an explanation of the Trinity test and what made it so devastating to human health. And then a group of very brave individuals told their own family experiences with the sacrifice and suffering. And then our elected officials who support us. We have huge support from our governor, our Lieutenant governor, and our entire congressional delegation. And then they all came forward with the video as well. We received videos from everybody except the two senators who were unable to actually participate. But then as a follow on to all of that, we read the names of those people as part of our video. And you can't watch this and not have those names are provided to us by family and friends of these people who've died. Tina Cordova 04:40:40 We add names, many, many, many, many names every year. And it's through a voluntary process. I always say that if we went door to door in these communities, we wouldn't call out, you know, 800 and some odd names. We would call out thousands of names. It would take us probably the better part of four or five hours to list all the needs. It's a wonderful video. We're very proud of how it all came together. The other reason I think it's important for us to remind people about the effects of testing is because there's been this idea floated recently in our country that maybe we should resume testing nuclear devices. And I always say that what they tell you is it's perfectly safe and it is until the moment it's not. And then when it's not, it's catastrophic. And if you think somebody is going to come back out of the goodness of who they are to take care of you think again, because we've been appealing to their better angels for 10 years. Now, there have been bills entered into Congress to add us to the radiation exposure compensation act, which we so much deserve. And for 10 years they've looked the other way, but, but for 75 years, they've chosen to and acknowledge the suffering and sacrifice the people of New Mexico experience. So if there is a catastrophic catastrophic event, don't ever think somebody is going to come back and take care of it, it's not gonna happen. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:09 So we're at the 75th anniversary. And right now is the low between when the Trinity test happened and then the dropping of the bombs on Japan, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, with this bump of visibility that the issues have gotten, the Trinity has gotten, what can you do? And what can the listeners of nuclear hotseat do to help you benefit from the visibility and from the awareness bleeding though, it is in the new cycle to be able to help you gain the compensation that you believe you deserve. Tina Cordova 04:42:44 First of all, everybody out there has somebody who represents them in Congress, in the house and the Senate. And the first thing that people can do is contact their members of Congress, wherever they are, and let them know that they support house bill 3,783 and the passage of that bill and that it, it is high time that that bill is passed. The thing they tell us year after year about these bills is that they don't have the money to add us to the radiation exposure compensation act. Can you imagine the insult that is added to the injury by saying something so incredibly without compassion or empathy? You know, like I said, we've been appealing to their better angels, and that is the result of appealing to their better angels. If people start contacting Congress and their members of Congress and start putting this on their radar screen, then this bill will gain momentum. Tina Cordova 04:43:45 The other thing that they can ask their, their members of Congress to do is to become co-signers to these bills. Both bills have bipartisan support, and we won't take the excuse any longer that there's not money for this. When they're passing trillion dollar bills in relief of COVID, which I fully understand, and we know are necessary, but when they have political will to do these things, they do them, they do them. And so when you have a defense bill every year, that's in the trillions, when you have the idea of building more plutonium pits and money going into doing those sorts of things, they're certainly as money to fund and take care of the problems that exist from the past. And we're not going to settle for that excuse any longer. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:32 Tina, is there anything we haven't covered that you'd like to mention at this time? Tina Cordova 04:44:37 I just want to express to people how grateful we are for the support we have received. I am so grateful for the exposure from the 75th anniversary, but it has to be this exposure, this knowledge that people have gained because of everything that they know about the Trinity downwinders, they have to take action on this. You know, the average person has to take action on this. And what I mean by that is that if you become complacent in these types of issues, you're then complicit. And the truth of the matter is this is nothing more than a moral and an ethical issue. There's a moral and an ethical issue to right this wrong and to extend justice to the people of New Mexico. And I just want to say that we are grateful for the support, and we hope that everybody out there will be moved to become active in this fight. We need people from all across the country to do outreach to Washington DC, and make sure that their representatives understand how important it is. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:43 Tina. We will of course, link to your website on nuclear, hot seat.com. Under this episode, we will also have the video up and other information that we think is going to be relevant so that they can continue this for now. I was deeply moved by the video. I'm deeply moved by your passion and your focus and your drive and what you've been able to accomplish thus far. And I'm extremely grateful that we found the time for you to be my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Tina Cordova 04:46:17 Well, I thank you. And I know that you reach a lot of people, and these are people who are activists by nature, and we identify with each other. And I just appreciate this opportunity greatly. Thank you so much, Libbe HaLevy 04:46:31 Tina Cordova of the Tularosa basin downwinders consortium, we'll have two more interviews. These focusing on the impact of the church, rock uranium, tailings, ponds, spill, and uranium mining on Navajo nation land in just a moment. But first the Trinity test church, rock uranium, mining, radioactive waste dumps Nevada test site, Chernobyl Fukushima, three mile island, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and too many more. The list of nuclear dangers and disasters is as endless as plutonium, which has a radioactive half-life of 24,000 years. And that's just the start of it. Every week. There are stories about how this industry perpetuates itself and how any one of us can take an action and make a difference in trying to stop atomic and nuclear madness. That's why nuclear hotseat is here to help you understand what's going on in the nuclear world and what you can do about it. We get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as the healthy dose of skepticism with a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:51 We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective and even one possible humor, but we need your help. Not only to keep the show running, but to help fund the website revamp, which is happening so that we don't get lost in Google's new search algorithms. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation. It's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with the donation of any size. That same red button is where you can set up a monthly $5 donation. Now, Hey, that's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S so if you value nuclear hotseat and want to help us continue, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:49 I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here are this week's second and third featured interviews. The church rock uranium tailings pond spill in 1976, also July 16 released 94 million tons of uranium laced water into the adjacent Porco river, a disaster, which has never been cleaned up while it happened only four months after the partial meltdown at three mile island, this nuclear disaster was ignored by major media and unknown until recently, even by dedicated anti-nuclear campaigners. In 2019, I traveled to Navajo nation to report on church truck and the ongoing contamination from abandoned uranium mines. That was for nuclear hot seat. Number 4 23 of July 30th, 2019. My trip was timed to be able to attend the 40th anniversary of the church rock disaster, which the land and the water has still not been cleaned up while there I spoke with many who had grown up with these dangers and were still suffering from what it did to them, their families, their livestock, the land, and the water here. I share with you two brief interviews that have stayed with me through all this time. The first is with Edith hood. She is a Navajo nation elder who grew up in the red water pond road community on land, which had her living between two uranium mines and just down the road from the 1979 tailings pond spill, Edith worked at a different mind than the UNC facility that had the accident, but faced all the same dangers. We spoke on July 18th, 2019, about how she found out about the accident and what was done in the immediate aftermath. Edith Hood 05:50:47 No, I didn't know about it till about two days later, it had happened. I heard reports that there's already the damn breach happening, but nobody did anything about it. I don't think anybody had an idea of what to do or how it would affect people, maybe down the way, especially for us, you know, never even me having to work in the mines. Did I ever hear the word unsafe? Something's going to happen to you, especially no physical here, body. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:16 She didn't learn about the dangers until more than 20 years after the spill prob Edith Hood 05:51:21 Probably in 2003, the mines have been posed for like 20 years. And I guess most of our talking was about the mine sites, where they were left as is not fenced in not covered no signs, nothing. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:41 When the first testing was done around red water pond road, community, the results were shocking. What did they find? Edith Hood 05:51:51 But this is along the highway. And then somewhere they got into the ditches. As he kept going up through here, up into our little, or is by in the center of the community. They showed hotspots their rehab. They never say it was unsafe. Everything's clean. And they left after that time. That's when I was diagnosed with lymphoma, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:18 Edith hood Teracita SITA, Kiana has lived her entire life in the red water pond road community. She was not even born when the church rock uranium spill happened, but that did not stop her exposure to uranium mining waste by what was deposited by the spill and the two surrounding mines. I asked her what she'd been told about the accident while growing up. Edith Hood 05:52:43 Nothing. I wasn't aware of it. I didn't know much about it as a child. I played in these abandoned uranium mills and mining areas and my grandmother owned sheep. So sometimes I had to herd the sheep or get the sheep when they got onto the mining areas, the million areas, and there was no fencing up. And so I just walked right in, got our sheep, came back through, got the back at home. Nobody ever said you don't go in these areas. That's dangerous, nothing like that. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:25 The first signs of impact from the spill came from the livestock Edith Hood 05:53:31 Sheep that had been butchered years ago. And the entire insides, the internal organs all are tinted yellowish. And that's due to the radiation. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:45 The problems continue to this day, Edith Hood 05:53:48 PA they won't allow us to plant crops because we can't eat them. Can't keep our livestock. The reason why we have our lifestyle is because we utilize them is an economic way and also a cultural way. We don't just keep, just to have as white folks like to have horses and cows just to be there. We like to utilize everything. So our sheep, we eat it. The wool, we use it to create rugs Libbe HaLevy 05:54:21 Through the years. The impact on her family's health has been extensive and devastating. Edith Hood 05:54:27 We have had cancers, respiratory illnesses. We've had some people pass away from respiratory illnesses, pulmonary fibrosis. So basically these people who have passed away from respiratory illnesses, we had to watch him suffocate to death, and it was very traumatic. And it's something that we have to live in endure just because it's almost a norm here because of the radiation and the impact that the dust and the water and the land has done to our bodies done to our community. You know, you hate to say it, but it's kind of just like environmental racism, where our community is somewhat seen as expendable. You hate to say it and you hate to feel that way, but that's how it feels for our entire community, that we are the expendable people, because it took so long for anybody to acknowledge what was going on here. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:39 Tara SITA, Kiana of the red water pond road community on Navajo nation. For those of you who wish to know more about the church track uranium mining disaster, I will have a link up to the 40th anniversary program, the full program on the website, nuclear hot.com. Under this episode, number 5 27, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, July 27th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, travel and leisure.com. CBS news.com local twelve.com AP news.com. Seed coalition.com. ARS technica.com ntis.org, San Louis obispo.com. Lancaster online.com post register.com simply info.org, Anglia trust.net, CC, and r.org. The propagandists at the world, nuclear news and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission, put regulatory in quotes. Thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:01 Now, if you would like to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week to your inbox, that's the guaranteed way of getting it. As soon as it's posted, it's real easy and it's totally free. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, go to the yellow box and put in your first name and your email address. You will have it every week and you'll never risk missing out on a single episode. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button click on that. Follow the prompts and really anything you can do will help. And we always appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leebee Halevi at harvestry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that there is no way around it. Nuclear sucks. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we're all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:32 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's. ### NH #526: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act - RECA - SPECIAL: Time Running Out for Downwinders of Trinity, Nuke Tests, Uranium Miners URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-exposure-compensation-act-reca-special-time-running-out-for-downwinders-of-trinity-nuke-tests-uranium-miners-nh-526/ Published: 2021-07-21 Duration: 00:59:01 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Extension Needed for Downwinders of Trinity and Nevada A-bomb Tests, Uranium Miners: Map of U.S. areas hit by fallout from at least three of the 100 atmospheric bomb tests done above ground in Nevada. Used by permission of Richard Miller This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interviews: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was enacted by Congress in 1990 to provide one-time benefits to persons who have likely developed cancer or other specified diseases after exposure to uranium mining, milling or transport, and from radioactive fallout from atomic weapons testing in certain areas of Utah, Nevada and Arizona. But uranium workers after 1971 are not currently eligible for compensation, despite most of the uranium mining production happening after 1971. An extension of RECA to increase compensation and extend the people to whom it applies is currently being considered, but it has to pass within one year or RECA will completely go away. To understand these issues, I spoke with three activists working on getting the RECA extension passed: Mary Dickson is a Salt Lake City journalist and writer whose award-winning play, Exposed, puts a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her downwinder information talks. We previously interviewed Mary for Nuclear Hotseat #494, on December 8, 2021. Here, she talks about RECA, what it is, why it’s needed, and what is going to be required to pass it before it expires in 2022. We spoke on Thursday, July 15, 2021.LINKS: Contact Mary Dickson: Exposed.Downwinders@gmail.comThe Downwinders of Utah Archives at the University of Utah Marriott Library – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HzxDhcOA2M Downwinder Sherrie Hanna grew up in Arizona without understanding the consequences to her family and community from radioactive fallout from the 100 Nevada test site above-ground nuclear bomb tests. She is now a Downwinder Advocate, taking it as a personal mission to inform and educate as many people as possible. We spoke on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – Mary Dickson Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – Downwinder Advocate Sherrie Hanna Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – Downwinder Advocate Sherrie Hanna Linda Evers a former uranium miner and is President of the Post 71 Uranium Workers Committee. She worked in uranium mining and production from 1976 to 1982, including during both her pregnancies. As you will hear, her working conditions while a miner were often harrowing, and the resulting consequences for her health and the lives of her two children graphically represent just some of the dangers of radiation exposure. We often speak of the dangers of radiation exposure, but rarely are we allowed to understand the magnitude of that impact and what it means in human terms. Linda allows us a glimpse into that world – and just know, it’s strong stuff. We spoke on Friday, July 16, 2021. LINK: Petition to Extend Radiation Exposure Compensation Acthttps://swuraniumimpacts.org/post-71-uranium-workers-committee/Downwinders, Inc website: http://www.facesdownwind.org/dwindex.html Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – Uranium miner Linda Evers Radiation Exposure Compensation Act – Uranium miner Linda Evers Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  Being held in 2021, but hey, branding… Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Radiation exposure. It's not just something that happens to people after a bomb goes off and there's fallout. It's an inescapable part of every step on the nuclear fuel chain, starting with uranium mining miners who worked in uranium mines up to 1971 had been somewhat covered for their resulting health problems by the government under the radiation exposure, compensation act or Rica. But uranium mining continued after 1971 until some of the mines shut down in 1987, others in 1990, and those workers have had no recourse to government compensation for their radiation related illnesses. So when you hear a former uranium mine or tell you, Linda Evers  00:00:49 There is no difference between the illnesses between the guys that worked before 71 and us guys that worked after 71 were sick with the same stuff and war, because we started at a younger age, we're more affected. We get weird things along with the same regular diseases. We'd really like them to just do what's right by the American people that gave their lives for this effort. Because even though the cold war was over, we were told every day we were still doing what we needed to do to keep our country safe from the bad guy. So call it cold war or don't. We did our part. We shouldn't be happened to fight these people, to get our compensation. We shouldn't have to argue with them at all. They should do it because it's the right thing to use Libbe HaLevy 00:01:36 Government doing something because it's the right thing to do. Well. If that's what you've been counting on to compensate for illnesses, you developed as a result of radiation exposure from doing cold war work in U S uranium mines or being downwind of atmospheric, a bomb test by now, you know, without a doubt that you are stuck in that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:02 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear, hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but have the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:32 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a special report on the people most impacted by the radiation exposure, compensation act or Rica. It's the government program intended to provide a one-time payment to uranium miners and unsuspecting civilian downwinders. But the areas covered were limited to certain counties and only three states and only uranium miners who worked before 1971 were eligible. Now there's a proposed extension of Rica in Congress that would correct some of these omissions, but Congress has only one year to pass the bill or all of Rica's benefits will go away. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:35 Where does that bill stamp? Now we will talk with downwinders a uranium miner, all of whom are activists who have been campaigning for its passage. And you'll hear some difficult truths about exactly what radiation exposure actually does to people's bodies and their babies. We will also have numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we will ever get out of the international Olympic committee. All of that coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, July 20th, 21. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off with Libbe HaLevy 00:04:26 Like the Tokyo Olympics with women's softball games being played in Fukushima's Azuma stadium, only 20 kilometers, 11.2 miles away from the still radioactive remains of the Fukushima Daiichi triple meltdown, to learn more about the elevated radiation risks that women face, as opposed to the male standards that are used. Check out last week's nuclear hot seat, number 5 25, and you'll understand exactly why evil numb nuts is posed by the Tokyo Olympics. And they are no Libbe HaLevy 00:05:07 Now here's this week special feature on the radiation compensation act or Rica we're featuring three interviews with people directly involved in working to get the expanded Rica passed by Congress. They'll provide you with both the political and the personal side of what Rica is supposed to do, what it hasn't hasn't done and why the time is short to get this extension passed. First, Mary Dixon. She is a salt lake city journalist and writer whose award-winning play exposed, puts a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for nuclear responsibility for her lifetime of work on behalf of downwinders like herself and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her down winter information talks. We previously interviewed Mary for nuclear hot seat, number 4 94 on December 8th, 2021. Here she talks specifically about Rica, what it is, why it's needed and what is going to be required to pass it before it expires in 2022, we spoke on Thursday, July 15th, 2021, Mary Dixon. Thank you for joining us this week on nuclear hot seat. Mary Dixon 00:06:25 It's a pleasure to be here again. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:27 We're going to be talking about the radiation exposure compensation act or Rica, but first let's get a little bit of background on you. And even though we had you featured on episode 4 94 of nuclear hot seat in December of 2020, remind us about your background, the source of your concerns on nuclear issues and specifically downwinders Mary Dixon 00:06:51 All right. Sure. My story is a common one where I'm from. I've told it a lot of times, so we won't be forgotten. I am a down winder from salt lake city, Utah. The neighborhood I grew up in, there were many people who had cancers and tumors. My sister and I counted 54 of them in a five block area. She died in 2001, have an autoimmune disease that she always thought was related to fallout. I had diarrhea cancer. I'd done this work for three decades. I've worked to advocate for and support downwinders and increase awareness. I have been working on expanding the radiation exposure compensation act for decades again, and I wrote a play called exposed that told my story. And it's basically all true. It lays out not only what happened to me and my sister, but also the kind of background of nuclear testing and all the people who were affected in America by that Libbe HaLevy 00:07:57 Tell us about Rica, what it is, what it is intended to do and how well it has fulfilled that mission. Mary Dixon 00:08:06 The radiation exposure compensation act finally passed in 1990. This is years after people have been suffering living with the effects. It was very limited in scope, primarily that was for political reasons. They decided that 23 rural counties in Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Southeastern Nevada could be compensated. If people could prove they lived in those areas during certain time periods and got one of 18 kinds of cancer, they were entitled to $50,000 in compensation. Basically the government decided that this would be presumptive. In other words, there's no way you can prove definitively that's where you got your cancer, but they knew enough and had enough background to say that your cancer likely was caused by fallout. And we will compensate you. So that's the act. It never was broad enough. For instance, I grew up in salt lake city, which is Northern Utah. So Northern Utah was never covered. Mary Dixon 00:09:17 Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico were never covered. Even Trinity downwinders were not included under Rica. And obviously a lot of them have already died. In fact, we say that we are literally dying, waiting for justice. So it was a start. I applaud them for doing it and for making it presumptive, but it was never brought enough. It also the $50,000 as anyone who's had cancer knows it doesn't even cover a chemo treatments. There'll be amount was very small. It was also non-inclusive enough. And I am really happy to see that Senator Crapo and Senator Lou Hahn are introducing a bill to amend that act. It would up the amount to 150,000. It would change the timeframe so that it begins September 24th, 1944, which would include Trinity downwinders. It also would add all of Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Montana. It's a bill. We've waited a long time for we're hopeful. Mary Dixon 01:10:38 It also includes uranium. Mine workers you'll hear more from them. They can give you more details on that. But as far as for downwinders, we are veterans of the cold war. We never enlisted no one level fold the flag over our graves. And those of us living downwind should be seen as Patriots. We sacrifice for our country not knowing we were so there's no question. The government killed and sickened. So many Americans. So many of its own people. It's definitely a bi-partisan issue. I'm happy to say that the amendments to Rica that are being introduced in the house and Senate are bi-partisan people from both parties are signing on. This is not a political issue. It's a social justice issue. And to me, it's a matter of morality and there's a real urgency right now to expanding this and extending it because without action, the funds for Rica expire in July of 2022, they're just gone. So one thing we do know is that people are still living with the effects. They're still getting health problems. They're still developing related illnesses. Their cancers are returning. And when you look at the genetic damage, we've got more generations being affected. So I think that a lot of people are still facing staggering medical bills. So this app will go along way to writing a huge, wrong. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:10 What is the content of this extension of Rica and where are we in terms of the timing of the implementation? Mary Dixon 01:12:22 Sure. Well, the bills are being introduced. There's a draft bill. They have sent us, the language is not solidified. They're trying to get an extended for another 19 years beyond when the bill was passed. So we still have to see it introduced and they are right now gathering sponsors for the bills that they're hoping for. Bi-partisan, they're looking toward the justice committee of the Senate because the justice department actually administers Rica. So they're the ones who have the fund. So we are just hoping that this time it will finally pass that it will be introduced it. They will get widespread support and it will pass. Interestingly, there was a subcommittee in the house that had a hearing on this, and I was a little nervous about how they would respond to the bill. Every one of them said that they were supportive, extinct justice done, which to me was very helpful, very helpful. So I'm hoping that that happens again. I'm hoping that more sponsors sign on. I'm hoping that it sees the light of day that Rick is expanded, that it is extended. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:40 What can listeners of nuclear hot seat to, to support you in having Rica extended for the additional 26? Mary Dixon 01:13:49 You know what? It would be so wonderful if they would contact their senators and their house of representatives, offices, to say that this is an important issue, that it's a matter of social justice that it's doing the right thing and express the urgency of it because it's, it's never been more urgent given that it's going to sunset. So I would hope they would do that if any of their senators are on the Senate judiciary committee, that is an extremely important committee to reach. So whatever they can do to help get that word out, we have congressional fact sheets. We're happy to share. There's a lot of material we can share. And again, there's plenty of research to say, this is warranted. When that bill was passed in 1990, some of the studies were not even done yet. So that the huge national cancer Institute study that was in 1997, that was not factored into this bill. There've been studies since. So they show that it's warranted. That it's time. So if they would do that, that would be so wonderful. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:01 Okay. Listeners, you've got your marching orders And Mary Dixon, thank you for the work that you're doing by the way. How is your health now? Mary Dixon 01:15:14 My health is good. I'm a lucky one. My health is good, which kind of makes me feel like I have more of a responsibility. I had one down winter friend she's since passed, but she always said to me, you've got to keep doing this. The rest of us are too sick. Luckily my health is good. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:31 I'm glad to hear that. May that continue. And Mary Dixon, I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Mary Dixon 01:15:40 Thank you. Thank you for having me. I appreciate what you Libbe HaLevy 01:15:42 Do on winter activist, Mary Dixon. This second interview is with downwinders Sherry Hannah. She grew up in Arizona without understanding the consequences to her family and community from radioactive fallout from the 100 Nevada test site above ground nuclear bomb tests. She is now a down winder advocate and takes it as a personal mission to inform and educate as many people as possible. We spoke on Thursday, July 15th, 2021, Sherry Hannah, welcome to nuclear hot seat. Sherrie Hanna 01:16:19 Thank you for having me Libbe HaLevy 01:16:20 Sherry. You're very involved with the entire Rica program. Give us some background on yourself first though. Where are you from? And growing up, what did you know about nuclear testing and possible radiation? Dangers? Sherrie Hanna 01:16:36 I am a native Arizona. I was born in Winslow and I grew up in Flagstaff and Prescott. And when I was growing up as a kid, I heard bits and pieces about nuclear testing and what was going on in Nevada, but it wasn't until later on in my life that I fully understood the ramifications and the outcome of what the nuclear testing that was done in Nevada was going to bring about, Libbe HaLevy 01:17:06 You had very personal experiences with the impact of this radiation on members of your family. If you wouldn't mind care that in Libbe HaLevy 01:17:22 He simply live in the area or was he working in the nuclear industry? Sherrie Hanna 01:17:27 No, he was a newspaper reporter and Winslow, Flagstaff and Prescott area. So he, he was in Northern Arizona, which is one of the affected areas from the fallout. And he was a down winder. But at that time, nobody knew anything about it, as much as they do now about the downwinders. And when he was diagnosed in 1982, he took chemo treatments for a year, but then he lost his battle with cancer. And then it wasn't until 1990, when Rico was passed. And the information about Rica started filtering out to the public that we became aware of that and what the Rica bill covered. And we started doing our research and discovered that because my dad was in the affected area during the 1950s and that he tackled one of the cancers that is covered under the Rica program, that we were eligible to receive compensation. Sherrie Hanna 01:19:28 Luckily, I, I am in good health. I haven't had any serious illnesses or any cancer, but I do go for my cancer screenings every year that are supported by the Rica program they're free. And the early detection is your best protection. So if they find anything through these cancer screenings, they notify me. And then it's up to me to follow up with the doctor on that. But you always have that in the back of your head, you know, that you grew up in the effected areas. And so you are, you know, you could be contract one of the 19 cancers that are covered under the Rica program. Sherrie Hanna 02:21:32 So that has been the fight that I've been working with congressional and senatorial representatives. And also I went around through Arizona and Nevada and Utah, and met before city councils, board of commissioners county supervisors and asked them to submit resolutions in support of bringing Clark county and Mojave county. That portion that was left out, bringing them into compensation. And there was a great support for that. And I submitted all those resolutions to Congressman Paul Gosar, who at the time was supporting a bill in support of bringing those areas that were left out into compensation. And he attached them to the original bill to show that not only Arizona and Nevada, but also Utah who's been greatly affected by the downwinders was in support of that. And unfortunately that bill never passed. So I'm so glad to see now that we're trying to, through other agencies, through other groups, we're all coming together to try and help these areas that were never included for one in the original Rica bill and the areas that were left out of the Rica bill will be covered also. So that I'm so glad to be helped to be a part of that. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:56 Give us a picture of what the services or benefits are of having Rica covered these areas, these geographic areas, you've mentioned compensation, and you've mentioned cancer screenings. Are there other benefits as well Sherrie Hanna 02:23:10 That I know of that I'm aware of? I think the screenings are very important because you go to these north country, healthcare and Flagstaff, and they have satellite offices around Northern Arizona. So you can go to one that's closer to where you live. And that helps because a lot of these people now that are showing up as downwinders, we're older, we're the baby boomers. And so, you know, we don't like to travel long distances. These screenings are so important because they get you into the downwinders system and they provide a chest x-ray blood work, where they look specifically for cancer markers. And I've been told that when you have blood work done, if you're not specifically looking for certain cancer markers, a lot of times they're not detected. So they test for certain cancer markers, they do a stool sample, they get a history of you and you're in the system. Sherrie Hanna 02:24:06 So if you ever have to apply for compensation, then it already shows that you're in the system as a down winder. And they also at the Flagstaff location, they have an individual there that helps people fill out their application because the application is 25 pages long. Wow. Very intimidating, especially for older people. And so once you have to start going through the application and see what is required, the information that you have to provide the department of justice, who makes the decision on whether you get compensation or not, there's a lot of things you have to provide. And so what they do is they help you fill out the application. Now, what I mainly do in Yavapai county is I put people in touch of the resources that can help them get the information they need. And that's a big help, because like I said, when you look at that application and everything that you're having to supply to send in with your application, not only medical records, that proof that you were here during the time where those school records religious records or your parents, you know, if you were a child, obviously like I was, it'd be my parents' information. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:03 That is a profoundly simple and elegant way to find out if someone has lived in a location to look in phone books for what somebody's address was. And that works, even if you're going back decades. Now, looking at the work that you're doing now is that specifically, and only for people in Arizona who might be downwinders or is it applicable to other states that would be covered by this extension of Rica? Libbe HaLevy 02:29:07 You're doing very important work. That is a direct and immediate importance to a large number of people. And we will post links that you had just mentioned. We will post the links on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode for now Sherri hammer. I wish you every success with your work and if nuclear hot seat can be a service to you in the future, just let us know. Sherrie Hanna 02:29:34 Thank you so much for all you do and helping us. Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:38 That was downwind, your advocate, Sherri Hannah. We will have links up to all of the contact points for this week show on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 26. And we will be back with our third interview in just a moment. But first nuclear hot seat is now in its 11th year of weekly programs. And quite frankly, there's no end in sight because it obviously fills a need to get our voice together and out to people who want to hear it after 10 years and more than 525 programs, nuclear hot seat has grown to become an important resource for people wanting to know the truth about the nuclear threat to our future and what we can all do to help fight against it. But as I've said before, the online world keeps evolving and Google is changing its algorithms to favor websites. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:32 That load fastest. That means that if nuclear hot seat doesn't do the necessary upgrading and reconfiguring of our website, even people who put in the proper search terms, you, we, and our important message will not be found. That's why nuclear hot seat is embarking on a total website, rebuild, not a cosmetic, moving around with the pieces into a pretty new template. It's a backend rebuild and upgrade to bring the website into alignment with how the internet works now, with all these episodes, it's a massive job and the biggest expense undertaken in the history of the show in order to accomplish it now more than ever, we're going to need your help. Here's how right now go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and follow the prompts. That's where you can donate any amount or set up a monthly donation of $5. speaker 0 03:31:27 Now look at the same as a cup of coffee and a tip here in the U S so if you value nuclear hot seat and want to see us continue to be found online, now's the time to support us with a donation, know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's the third of this week. Special featured interviews on the radiation exposure, compensation act or Rica. Our third interview is with Linda Evers. She is a former uranium miner and president of the post 71 uranium workers' committee. She worked in uranium mining and production from 1976 to 1982, including during both her pregnancies, as you will hear her working conditions while a minor were often harrowing and the resulting consequences for her health and the lives of her, two children graphically represent just some of the dangers of radiation exposure. We often speak about danger, but rarely are we allowed to understand the magnitude of that impact and what it means in human terms. Linda allowed us a glimpse into that. And just so you know, it's strong stuff we spoke on Friday, July 16th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:49 Let's start out with you and your personal story as regards uranium mining and what it did to you. Where are you from? And when did you first start to work in uranium? Linda Evers  03:33:01 Well, I was born and raised right here in grants, New Mexico. And as soon as I graduated high school in 1976, I graduated at the end of may. I went to work in the ma in the Kerr-McGee mail in July of 1976, because well, they were paying crazy money for kids right out of high school. It was a lot of money. What was the Libbe HaLevy 03:33:22 First job that you had there? Linda Evers  03:33:25 I started on the labor gang, which was about, oh, I don't know, 35 40 of us. We were in charge of all the crap jobs. We shoveled fours. We scraped junk out of acid tanks during shut down. We were just kind of the, do it all group until we had to spend 90 days on the labor gang or the bull gang, whichever they called it. And then we got placed. I went from 90 days on the labor gang to the crusher, but part of our jobs on the labor gang was to check the level of the tailings pond waters. And at the time in 76, the way we get that was we got a little dinghy real book that we wrote out to the center of the tailings pond and took a reading from a group that was out there in the middle of the pond. Linda Evers  03:34:14 And it happened every shift. So it happened three times a day. And one afternoon we were working swing shift and we went to go get the reading before it got too dark and the wind was blowing and it actually flipped our little dinghy over. And me and another employee got thrown into the tailings pond and had to swim back to the bank. And we got in the truck and drove back down and told the foreman what happened. And we didn't even get to go take a shower. He was upset that we lost the boat and we went back to work. We didn't shower. I mean, the best we did was wash our face and hands and went back to work. I didn't shower until I got home. So there was instances like that that should have been dealt with a little better. I feel Libbe HaLevy 03:35:01 And explain briefly what the contents of a tailing pond are and what the danger might be in being exposed to it and being dunked in it. Linda Evers  03:35:11 Well, it's everything that they use chemically to leave the yellow cake out of the, or so I'm not sure what the list of chemicals is totally, but it's got to be some pretty hard stuff because they leaked yellow cake out of dirt with it. And then, you know, it has a radioactive capacity as well because, well, it's leaching yellow cake out of dirt, basically. I'm not sure what all is in there, but it's acid is a part of it because they Kerr-McGee had their own acid plant on site. That was between the rod mill, where they added water and liquified the ore. And then it pumped to the male side where they put it in giant, giant, giant that says a chemical mixture to start the leaching process. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:03 And just to be clear, when you say yellow cake, you're referring to the uranium. Linda Evers  03:36:09 Yes. Yellow KC is a mineral that's leached out of the order that the comes when it's finished product is the consistency of flour and it's yellow, Canary yellow, bright yellow. And that's what they dropped into 55 gallon drums and sent to Oklahoma city for processing into further products like plutonium and such Libbe HaLevy 03:36:34 And yellow cake is uranium. Yes. What kind of radiation protective gear did the company provide for you and the other workers while you were doing these jobs that exposed you to the yellow cake? Linda Evers  03:36:48 There wasn't any radiation protection. What we were provided was occasionally the same masks that we're wearing for COVID. We were supplied those a couple of months, even though they get clogged up in about an hour in the crusher, we were supplied hard hats, safety glasses, steel, toe boots. We were not supplied radiation, protective equipment. We were supplied with just regular protective equipment. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:15 And was this lack of attention to radiation exposure, typical of the way Kerr-McGee the mine you were with at the time operated Linda Evers  03:37:23 All of them, everybody in this area operated that way, United nuclear Homestake Chevron. So HIO all of them because the government who is constantly responsible for our safety doesn't hold their feet to the fire. They don't make them protect the workers. The government has always been responsible for our safety, always no matter who was buying the yellow cake. Cause that's one of their favorite things to say as well. We cut you off at 71 because United States, wasn't the only buyer of the yellow cake. Well, I'm sorry. The government was still responsible for our safety, no matter who was buying it. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:04 What were some of the other jobs you had that exposed you to radiation? Linda Evers  03:38:08 Well, it's a part of the labor gang. I also worked in the yellow cake dryers, which were just humongous dryer drying machines that dried this yellow cake from a moist mud, like substance to a powder, fine that we could dump down to shoot and put in a 55 gallon drum. And when we worked in the yellow cake area, we were supplied a paper, white paper overalls, and a secondary mask. If we didn't have a dirty one that we had had in our pocket for a month, but that was the end of that. I mean, gamma radiation componetry to foot three foot concrete, like nothing's there, like nothing's there. Well, the results speaks for itself. Our people are dying with weird cancers, the same and worse things that our predecessors that get compensation. And we're dying at a much younger age because we started working at a younger age. So we were affected more. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:09 Oh, you were on this job in 1978, you became pregnant. What was the response of management when you told them, what were you asking for and what was their response? Linda Evers  03:39:20 Well, at the time I was unaware of any kind of maternity leave. So I went to HR to see you what was going on with pregnant people. And at the time I was working in the crusher and their response to me telling them that I was pregnant was that I would say baby was safe, nothing wrong with working until my belly got so big. I couldn't reach the belt to pick trash off the bill Libbe HaLevy 03:39:45 When you gave birth. And what were some of the problems that you had with your first baby? Linda Evers  03:39:52 Well, he seemed like he was hungry all the time. So I had him to the baby doctor several times and they said, well, just feed him more feeding more. Well, then he just started puking everywhere. So he could eat until his stomach was full. And then he throw up, there was some muscles and intestines that were not lined up in his gut properly. He was born May 12th. And on the 4th of July, they had him doing surgery on him to straighten his guts out because he was literally starving to death. The muscles had cut off the tube that goes from the stomach to the intestine. And so he could eat until his stomach was full and get a little bit of nutrition, but then he throw it all up and he was starving to death. Basically, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:36 I asked for the cause of this, you got two different sets of information from two different doctors who were they? And what was it that they said, Linda Evers  04:40:46 The doctor that was treating my son in an Albuquerque hospital said that, yes, this is a common birth defect, but the way his intestines were rolled up, he could not explain that. And when I asked him if it had anything could possibly have anything to do with radiation exposure, he's like, oh, well that explains everything. Your son's probably not a common birth defect. It was probably the exposure. When I told that to the doctor here in town that screens us at the time screen does for exposures and such. He basically called the doctor in Albuquerque or both face liar that radiation does not make people sick. And I'm sorry, the government's been experimenting on people since the thirties and forties. They're fully aware of how sick it makes people and how badly it damages children. And in general, Libbe HaLevy 04:41:41 What motivation did that other doctor have for telling you that your baby was safe and putting down the doctor who told you there was a danger from radiation? Linda Evers  04:41:52 Well, the one doctor was employed by the companies that did our physicals and made sure we were healthy enough to go to work. And the doctor in Albuquerque had no little knowledge of radiation exposure in our lives. When he found out that we were being exposed, he himself, Lanny Harris was the doctor's name. So somebody should be looking into the children that we were having back in the day. And that was 40 years ago. Of course he didn't do it. No doctor in this town would do it. As far as I know, nobody looked into the baby's stuff until here the last five years or so. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:34 You also had a second baby. What was the impact on her? Linda Evers  04:42:39 She was born without hips. Totally. The leg bone was like the end of your finger. There was no protrusion off to the side with a ball joint for pelvis was flat. There was no cup to put a ball joint in. So from nine months old, until almost five years old, she had six surgeries to simply place the bones where they were supposed to be in her body. And her body started growing the right parts. But then after they started growing them, then they started growing like the ball joint wasn't all the way in the socket. So it was B forming the ball joint. So she had to have more surgeries to cut the top of her CIBO and off and angle the ball joint into the socket. And they took a wedge of bone out of her pelvis and made a slit and then certed it lower. So the outside of the cup would come down a little bit more and pins and screws and plates to hold that all together. And they fixed one side and then they had to go in and do the other side. So she learned to walk about five times. And then by the time she was about six, she could was out of that zone. She had hips and were working. And then at 29, she had to have the right one replaced. And now she's going to the doctor to have the left one, replaced it 39. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:07 That is painful information to hear. We often hear that there are birth defects, there were problems. And I thank you for being as honest as you are about the extent of this, because it really paints the picture. Linda Evers  04:44:22 It needs to be heard because they were telling us that we and our babies were totally safe. There was nothing for us to fear, you know? So you're making a lot of money. It's real easy to hear stuff like that and go with it. And they could have been just as honest about the effects, because they're still people that would come and got the money. I'm going to be sick in 40 years. Give me the money. Now Libbe HaLevy 04:44:49 In 1993, when you were 35, you dislocated your thumb and went to see a specialist about it while he was reviewing your x-rays. What did he ask you? Linda Evers  04:45:01 Well, he asked me about my family, history of arthritis, which at the time we do have arthritis, but it's not crippling at the time. My 93 year old grandmother still crocheted and knitted beanies for us at Christmas. So I had a little arthritis, but genetically we don't have any bone or joint issues or anything like that. And he says, well, what about exposure to radiation? And I looked at him because I lived in Kansas at the time, the east side of Kansas. I said, well, yeah, I mean, I went to work in the uranium mill when I was 18, right out of high school and worked for 7, 8, 9 years. Something like that, why? And he says, well, it looks to me like we better x-ray everything because your joints are grinding away, like degenerative joint disease. So we started x-ray and things, and I have degenerative bones and degenerative joints and the thumbs in my right hand, they fused the end, knuckle replaced two joints and then went in my wrist and certainly the ligaments to tighten everything down on the joints. And about the time I got my right hand finished, my left hand did the same thing. So as to have that done was that two vertebrae in my back is doing it. My right knee is doing into the chiropractor for a week now trying to get my right shoulder to stay in place because well, it's degenerate in two and it doesn't want to stay in place. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:33 And this degeneration can be caused by exposure to radiation. Linda Evers  04:46:38 It can. And because of my age, when I was diagnosed at 41, that's absolutely what they contributed to because I wasn't old enough. I had a little bit harder to write is coming on, but I was not eight up with arthritis. There's no family history of any kind disease. These kinds of diseases are unknown in our family, both sides, my mother and father. So I mean, that's what he directly correlated it to because of my age and my lack of other things that would have caused it. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:11 So you began working in the uranium mining industry in 1976. Rica only extends to workers from 1971. And before that people who were working in the industry before that, what help, if any, has Rica been regarding the problems faced in your various illnesses? Linda Evers  04:47:33 If you worked after 1971, there is nothing in place for that. And in this little town where everybody knows about uranium, there's a big sign in the emergency room that says, don't come here asking for your uranium field tests. We don't do that. So our people are being totally ignored. And the thing that strikes me as so ironic, or maybe that's the wrong word, is it seven or eight years before 1971 is when the compensation stops with the peak of uranium. Mining was in 19 79, 20 9,872. People worked between Laguna and Gallup in 1979. So why did they cut off the compensation before the peak of uranium innovation was over? Libbe HaLevy 04:48:25 Very good question. Now you are currently working on getting the Rica extension and expansion path. What is the work you are doing and what are you seeking to have included in the bill? Linda Evers  04:48:43 Well, we just like to see them extend the compensation to include everybody by rich. I mean, right up until they shut down in 1985, I mean, there's already a program in place for the guys that cleaned it up. Everybody around us has had got a compensation program of some sort. They have simply excluded the post 71 workers. We have done everything that a political office has told us to do. We've done petition drives, let her drive. We've organized. We've grouped up with other grassroots groups that are trying to protect water and land and people we've traveled to Washington. We were lobbied, we've baked. We've borrowed. We've stolen to try to get these politicians to do the right thing by this one group of people. If you didn't know better, you'd think we were Vietnam vets. They shun us. They treat us like crap. They won't help us with our medical issues. Linda Evers  04:49:41 Everybody acts like we're trying to get something we don't deserve. We busted our butts for that uranium. We busted it every day. If you didn't show up for your shift, if you didn't make quota, you got fired. We busted our butts every day, no different than the dice. The forest and Dr. Esky sued over at UNM hospital has done research and shown that there is no difference between the illnesses between the guys that worked before 71 and us guys that worked after 71 were sick with the same stuff and war, because we started at a younger age. We're more affected. We get weird things along with the same regular diseases. And the other thing we're asking, well, we'd like to see the Rica program expand the compensated diseases right now. They only five lung diseases and three kidney diseases. Uranium destroys entire bodies, not just lungs and kidneys. Linda Evers  05:50:37 So we'd like to see an expansion on that. We'd really like them to just do what's right by the American people that gave their lives for this effort. Because even though the cold war was over, we were told every day we were still doing what we needed to do to keep our country safe from the bad guys. So call it cold war or don't. We did our part. We shouldn't be having to fight these people to get our compensation. We feel them have to argue with them at all. They should do it because it's the right thing to do. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:09 Are you doing this work on your own? Are you with a group? Are you in a coalition? Linda Evers  05:51:16 When we started this back in 2007, a friend of mine and myself were working on it, winging it on her own. And then we met with Southwest research and information center, a gentlemen by the name of Chris shoe, either the advices we'd make more of a statement if we'd organize. So we organized, we generated a committee, the first committee meeting, we had 35 people show up and 10 years later it was me and my friend again. And that's what we've been doing for the last seven years. It's just me and Lizzie and mostly me. I do what I can that, you know, I have some health issues that have to be taken care of. So sometimes I have to take the time out and then sometimes you kick the wrong politician and their little staffers get all hurt and won't let you talk to them anymore. So there's that too. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:11 If people wish to support you in this work, do you have a website? Is there an email? How can they get in contact with you Linda Evers  05:52:20 Now we're doing everything through the Mesa Alliance. Well, it costs money to keep websites open and we run on donations and the donations dried up leave before the mission did. So we got Southwest uranium with Susan Gordon. She has some stuff online, my contact information there, her contact information there, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:43 We will, of course, post your contact information up on the website with this episode, Linda Evers. First of all, I'm so sorry that you have been exposed in this way, had your health and the health of your children damaged by the legacy of uranium mining and that you are continuing to have to deal with these issues. Let alone push for potential compensation through this extension of Rica. And I want to thank you for all that you have done on behalf of yourself and the others who have been harmed by uranium in your area. And also thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear Linda Evers  05:53:25 Hot. Well, thank you so much for helping us with this. Sometimes it's just what you're doing that helps us more than anything. I appreciate the time you've given to us lady. Thank you very much. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:37 Former uranium miner and president of the post 71 uranium workers committee, Linda Evers, we will have links up to contact information for Linda and all of today's interviewees on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 26, to be clear, what is being asked for in this extension of the Rica bill is to extend Rica for an additional 23 years through 2045 increased compensation for all claimants to $150,000. Expand eligibility to all uranium workers who were active from 1972 to 1990. Expand the geographical eligibility for compensation, for exposure to atmospheric atomic testing, to cover all of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah, and expand the geographical eligibility to cover persons present in Guam. During the atmospheric testing in the Pacific and making veterans who participated in the cleanup of the inner wood top eight hole eligible for compensation. Remember that while Rica is at risk of going away, the impacts from radiation exposure are not Announcer 05:55:01 Activists. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:09 Two places for you to become involved this week. Nuclear games is a new animated web documentary in Monga format. It's designed to educate and engage and it's going to be launched on July 23rd. We will have a link up to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 26. And that's where you will also find the link to a petition to tell the white house and Congress don't sacrifice our economy and environment to a nuclear bail out easy ways for any of you to become more involved and more informed. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, July 20th, 2021 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, grand canyon trust.org, finance.yahoo.com. Main public.org fairwinds.org. My nietzsche.jp insider.com. reuters.com Marianne wild arc.wordpress.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:20 They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Hey, make certain that you don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat by getting it delivered to your email inbox every week. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box, putting your first name and an email address. Bam, bam. You automatically get a link to the episode and a short outline of what you will find inside. Couldn't be easier. Our gratitude this week to longtime supporter of nuclear hotseat Tara Johnson, Douglas, who has been instrumental in the posting the show on social media for several years now, she's leaving us to travel around the country in a retirement situation. We wish her well, and there's an opening on the team. If you would like to help us get nuclear hot seat out on Facebook and other social media platforms, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. speaker 0 05:57:16 We'd love to have you be part of the team. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to that exact same email address info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button click on it. And anything you can do to help, we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest re communications. The heart of the art of communicating reminded you that when it comes to all things, nuclear, not only what you don't know can hurt you, chances are it already has. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:26 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The missing our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #525: Reference Man Standard for Radiation Exposure Inadequate for Women, Girls, Boys - Mary Olson, Dave Lochbaum URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/reference-man-standard-inadequate-for-women-girls/ Published: 2021-07-15 Duration: 00:59:00 Reference Man, used as the basis for evaluating radiation exposure risks, ignores the fact that girls are 10 times more vulnerable to the exact same radiation exposure, and women are 2 times more vulnerable. A Radiation Girl standard would provide better protection for men, women, girls, and boys. This Week's Featured Interview: Reference Man is the standard first developed in 1949 to establish maximum permissible amounts of radioactive materials in the human body. BUT because humans are so diverse in age, gender, weight, height, lifestyles, geographic locations and other factors, no Reference Man definition can possibly reflect anything other than a scant few individuals from the total population, however he is defined. But there is a better standard that can be developed to protect the health of us all, and that's what this week's interviewees talk about. Mary Olson is founder and Acting Director of the Gender and Radiation Impact Project. She served from 1991 to 2019 as Staff Biologist and Senior Radioactive Waste Policy Analyst at Nuclear Information and Resource Service. Her work on radiation education lead her to the question of whether biological sex is a factor in radiation harm, and she has presented her findings at Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impacts of Nuclear Weapons; the UN Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review of 2015; the International Committee of the Red Cross Asia regional meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, and twice at the EU Gender Summit, in Brussels in 2016 and in London, 2018. In 2020 Olson served at an expert consultation on an update on the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons for the International Committee of the Red Cross / Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland.She founded the Gender and Radiation Impact Project in 2017. Mary Olson (pictured) is currently raising funds to support a 2021 project to define a new, female-inclusive basis for radiation protection standards to help prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and reduce radiation harm. Reference Man would be replaced by Reference Girl, providing greater protection for all. Learn more at: www.GenderandRadiation.org/reference-girl Dave Lochbaum was, for more than 20 years, Director of the Nuclear Safety Project of the Union of Concerned Scientists. He is a certified nuclear engineer who has taught reactor technology for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and co-author – with Edwin Lyman and Susan Stranahan — the book, Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster. He’s a board member of Gender and Radiation Impact Project. Dave Lochbaum (r) LINKS: Collapsed Florida Condo Sends a Giant Nuke Warning by Harvey Wasserman Nuclear Stockholm Syndrome by Robert JacobsThe Experimental ITER Nuclear Fusion Reactor: A Titanic and Energy-intensive Project by Celia Izoard, Reporterre, Translated by Dennis Riches Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Whenever there's even a hint of a radioactive leak at a nuclear site. Be it a reactor, uranium, mine, weapons, manufacturer waste, storage, dumper. Anything else? The first thing the public is told is that there's no danger and whatever happens is not significant. So there's absolutely nothing to worry about, especially as regards to your health, but the standard for interpreting the relative dangers of radioactive exposure on the human body is something called reference, man. And the problem with reference man is that as one genuine expert explains Mary Olson 00:00:41 Our regulators, our scientific bodies, our governments never stopped to look, listen, or reconsider when the same basis of radiation measurement and regulation was applied to the general population, including pregnant women, including infants, including elders, including girls. There should not have been the 60 year wait for enough data to be able to now say yes, female bodies are harmed more than male bodies, no matter what age. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:17 Well, when you learn how the entire system for evaluating the dangers of radioactive exposure is a Western Caucasian adult male with very specific physical characteristics. And that he in no way represents the dangers. The exact same amount of radiation can pose to a person of a different gender, weight, race, ethnicity, and so much more. You begin to realize that all those official reassurances from experts might just be diversions so that you don't realize how you're trapped in that terrible radioactive seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:58 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? our time to act is shrinking, but it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:31 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week is what I considered to be one of the most important interviews I've ever conducted. It's on the concept and usage of reference, man, the model for understanding the relative dangers of any radioactive exposure, but who is reference, man? What is he, where did he come from? And how accurate is any assurance of safety? Based upon this theoretical being, we explore the concept and assumptions that underlie all of our beliefs about radiation dangers with two top experts, Mary Olson, founder, and acting director of the gender and radiation impact project and Dave lock bomb, former director of nuclear safety project of the union of concerned scientists. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:48 We'll also have nuclear news from around the world and more honest nuclear information than all of the programs that got nominated for an Emmy this week. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, July 13th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting in Japan where Fukushima prefecture will bar spectators from the Olympic events that had hosts this summer. They're claiming it's because of rising COVID-19 infections and not giving a single mention to the radiation that is still exists from the 2011 triple meltdown of nuclear reactors. In that prefecture, Japan has been hoping to use the Olympics to showcase its so-called recovery from their triple meltdown, earthquake and tsunami, but it's not to be Fukushima is hosting softball, which is an all woman's sport and baseball games at Azuma stadium in Tokyo for officials from Tokyo electric power company TEPCO and operators of Fukushima's nuclear plants were summoned to Tokyo district court as part of an ongoing trial, despite a government ordered to bring all nuclear power plants in Japan, up to safety standards, especially to avoid tsunamis tap call. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:09 And the Fukushima plant officials did not consider it necessary to improve anti-D tsunami measures with deadly results during the trial TEPCO vice chairman Sekai, Muto denied knowing about the reports that recommended to raise the anti-D tsunami wall. He said he was not competent in this area. Yeah, thank the judge. Reprimanded him reminding the accused of his responsibilities when he was vice-president in France EDF, the multi-national electric utility company has allocated hundreds of millions of euros to launch a construction program for new reactors called the EPR to despite the latest safety failures in Tyson, China of an EPR and endless delays and cost overruns in France, Finland and the UK, as well as plans for six EPRs in India. One site at Flamanville in France has been under construction since 2008 and president Macron, despite being fiercely pro nuclear has declared on several occasions that the EPR in would need to be operational before any decision to build. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:18 Other reactors could be made. We'll have a link up to Harvey Wasserman's op ed on the collapsed Florida condo sending a giant nuclear warning because south Florida authorities have now ordered inspections of large buildings over 40 years old. And however, he points out the majority of nuclear reactors in the United States are also around 40 years old and deserve to have the same kind of examinations. We'll be posting links to this article on nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 25 and two other articles as well from Robert Jacobs of the Hiroshima peace Institute, a counterpunch editorial brilliantly smacking down another editorial opinion piece that appeared on counterpunch extolling the virtues of nuclear power and castigating its opponents as paranoid and ill-formed ball made short work out of that one. And the other link we will have is to Dennis Rich's translation of a French report on the experimental nuclear fusion reactor, and the problems with it. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:21 The first of three articles. Now here's this week's very special interview. Sometimes I am privileged to interview people who reveal core information that pertains to every aspect of our nuclear awareness. That's the case this week with two very special interviewees, Mary Olson is founder and acting director of the gender and radiation impact project. She served from 1991 to 2019 as staff biologist and senior radioactive waste policy analyst at nuclear information and resource service. Her work on radiation education led her to question whether biological sex is a factor in radiation harm and she's presented her findings at the Vienna conference on the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons, the UN nuclear non-proliferation treaty review of 2015, the international committee of the red cross Asia regional meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, and twice at the EU gender summit in Brussels in 2016 and London in 2018, she founded the gender and radiation impact project in 2017. My second interviewee is Dave locked bomb, who was for more than 20 years director of the nuclear safety project of the union of concerned scientists. He is a certified nuclear engineer who has taught reactor technology for the us nuclear regulatory commission. He's the author with Edwin Lyman and Susan Stranahan of the book Fukushima the story of a nuclear disaster. And he is also a board member of the gender and radiation impact project. We spoke on Thursday, July 8th, 2021, Mary Olson, and Dave lock. Bob, thank you so much for being my guest this morning on nuclear hot, Mary Olson 00:09:16 Thank you for inviting us. Likewise, living glad to be here. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:19 We're going to be talking about the concept of reference man as a standard for measuring radiation exposure. But before we get to specifics about the model, I think it's important that people have an understanding of the context from which this concept emerged. So let's start at the very beginning one. Was it first known that there was such a thing as radiation and that it was dangerous Mary Olson 00:09:41 In Western science? We go back before the curious, but not by much just a decade or two into the discovery of particle emissions. And pretty quickly people started noticing that this had an impact on living tissue and actually plastered radioactive materials onto tumors and saw tumors shrinking with it. So one of the first understandings was that radiation did in fact make a difference to living cells in this case, particularly cancer cells, which is still today. One of the places where radiation is applied, but I want to just add that. I am aware of through having been to Australia and made friends with Aboriginal peoples that their traditions and understanding of the natural world have an understanding of radioactivity that goes back eons. And likewise, the Western Shoshone people that I know talk about uranium as part of the living system of the planet as ancient knowledge for their people. So, you know, we can always say that Western science is the be all and end all. And our transit through knowledge is what we pay attention to. And certainly it's the bulk of the story we're going to tell today, but I just want to acknowledge that we're late comers to understanding radio activity. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:03 I would just add that in doing interviews and getting to know people from Saskatchewan who are first nations, Dennis Uline, they have said that in their tradition, they talk about the black rock, which is dangerous and needs to be left in the ground. And it's only dangerous when it's brought above ground and for them, the black rock is uranium and they were absolutely correct about that. That's ancient knowledge going to a more recent, if you can call it that set of knowledge, what was it that we learned about radiation radioactivity from Madame Curie and her experiments in isolating radium, Mary Olson 01:11:44 Others had discovered radioactivity, but Marie Curie spent the time to concentrate enough radium to have one gram of it. And then to figure out how to measure precisely the number of radioactive events coming off that one gram of radium per second, and the number is quite astounding. It is 37 billion disintegrations per second. Today the more common unit is a Becquerel rail, which is defined as one disintegration per second. So the curious and an enormous li large unit of measure it is 37 billion becquerels. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:30 Was there any awareness during her lifetime of the danger posed by exposure to this level of Becquerel's Mary Olson 01:12:40 It was all new to these people. There were people who got radiation sickness in the course of their experimentation. There were people who died young because of their exposure, including potentially a couple of her children and Marie herself did not live to be a terribly old lady. But at the same time, medicine was one of the first applications because there's records of people applying radium and other radioactive materials directly to tumors that were visible on the external part of a person and seeing the tumor shrink. So there was some recognition that the radioactivity was dangerous to the tumor. Unfortunately at that point, our understanding of medicine and cancer and tumors didn't include therefore danger to the person as well. So some of these early activities did not go well, including the famous case of using radium to paint dials on the first airplane equipment for the world war one airplanes, the women who carefully painted the numbers on the altimeters and other dials for the airplanes suffered horrific consequences of radiation sickness. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:54 Sure. The radium girls who also through the 19 teens and twenties, we're painting luminescent dials on watches, and they were told to lick the brush between their lips to get a really good point so they could get a really fine painting the dial. And as a result of that, they were directly poisoning themselves with the radium paint. Now that was a well-known story at the time before world war II, though, how well known was the fact that there was such a thing as radiation and that it was dangerous. If one was exposed to it, Mary Olson 01:14:35 Say that at this point in history of Western society, radiation was almost completely unknown. It was a very, very small group of people who had any knowledge of it at all. And certainly during the run-up to the second world war, it became secret. If you were working with radioactivity, nobody was supposed to know that that's what you were doing. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:57 That brings us up to the Manhattan project to build the first atomic bomb. Officially. It began in 1942 and general Leslie groves ahead of it knew that radiation was a danger because he knew about the radium girls. He admits this in his autobiography. He also sought ways to get insurance coverage in case of radiation exposure to his workers, to the scientists, to the engineers. But there were security reasons why the coverage ultimately could not be done by a private firm and had to be covered by the government. And we all know the problems that have come from that ever since now, groves put radiation protections in place to protect his scientists at Los Alamos. Yet there is no comparable caretake and to protect the local population from the dangers when they were downwind of radiation exposure because of the Trinity test in 1945. And the existence of radiation was not even mentioned in press materials prepared before that test blast. Do you think that this blanking out of information about radiation in the wake of the first blast was a blind spot caused by ignorance, willful neglect, intentional manipulation, wartime expediency, or was there perhaps some other, Mary Olson 01:16:12 And maybe it's all of the above where there's motive. You can't extend it in a blanket way. I've worked with people in the nuclear industry, in the nuclear regulatory commission in Congress and all kinds of places. And certainly there are individuals who've had motive have had liability who should be engaged with as having not adequately fulfilled, whatever oath they had taken or, or whatever Hippocratic oath they should have taken. But we have now people who were told by others that this was the truth. This was the fact, this was the information that those other people were given. And there wasn't a way for them to check it because of the secrecies that were imposed. So in a very broad way, you have to ask who what, where, when and why you can't just plaster everybody with any one of those assertions that you made. They're all true. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:15 The suppression of information about radiation was especially true after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because there was almost instantaneous blackout of all information, total censorship put in place by general MacArthur that the damage caused by radiation exposure was completely censored. Journalists were restricted and could not enter Hiroshima or Nagasaki without military approval, escort and manipulation as to where they could and couldn't go. They were told they could only report the damage and the power of the bomb, not on the human side of it. And the Japanese people were not allowed to speak about what had happened and was continuing to happen to them. The censorship was only broken by one Australian journalist, a man named Wilfred Burchette who published in a London newspaper. He had managed to get into Hiroshima a day before MacArthur and the occupation army. So before the censorship clampdown happened and he subsequently published an article with an enormous headline largest lettering, I've ever seen her in a headline saying atomic plague. I write this as a warning to the world about the people of Japan dropping dead, even though they were not harmed by the initial blast. This was a month later. And they were still dying. Given the fact that all of this was happening before people's very eyes in Japan, but yet none of the information was able to get through how did this blackout impact our perception of the bomb and what it was meant to do and what we certainly, as United States wanted it to do? Dave Lochbaum 01:18:52 I think part of that was explained by lack of knowledge, where the human consequences of exposure to radiation, weren't known well enough to establish what, what the limits were. People knew if you got too much exposure, you might die, but there wasn't much awareness of what exposure less than that could cause cancer incidents and things like that. So there's a reluctance to be concerned about something until you know, what the answer is until you have a solution, you kind of downplay the problem because you don't want to inflame the populace until you can come up with, it's not real good politics to explain you have a problem with, and don't have a solution for, you're not going to get elected, or you're not going to get promoter. You're not going to get whatever it is you want. You won't do it if you don't have a solution to today's problem. So you don't have a problem today, two, you have the solution. And I think that kind of explains some of the testing we did in the Pacific of Arconic weapons, the Marshall Islands, and so on. We, I don't think we intentionally tried to wipe out those populations or that we're more concerned with the development of the bomb than their health. It was ignorance is bliss situation, or we were late and coming up with a blitz reduction program. Mary Olson 02:20:04 Well, I'd also say it's military operation. And the minute you say military, you're implying it's either before, during or after war and war is never been about human rights, human health, human protection. It's, it's put all of those things aside and justified its activities through military imperatives. And I use the data from Hiroshima and Nagasaki in my work, and it is a blemish worse than a blemish. It is a tarnish in a deep cut into my immortal soul. As my mother would say that I use data that really results from what is a war crime. These were actions during a war, and yet they were unconscionable to use the first weapons on studies full of people. So before we start talking about the blackout of information, let's talk about the event itself, which was the decision to use the very first nuclear weapons on cities, full of people after testing them in New Mexico, in areas that were populated without evacuation notices, without provision for the people and to this day, no compensation for the people who were impacted as downwinders. Mary Olson 02:21:15 So there's just a huge break in our claim on civilization and being compassionate. People it's as if we just either ignore it or we somehow get into justifying it, or we jump over it and get into the nerdy details of it. And in any case, I personally know that the data that I use comes from the tremendous suffering and the deaths of hundreds, of thousands of people, and that those actions should never have happened and they must never happen again. And yet the testing in the Marshall island islands was effectively the same and the people weren't blown up the way they were in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but they've never been able to return home. They've had huge health consequences. Their islands are pretty much disappearing. So the Marshall E's are now basically in Arkansas. So to me, there is no way to mend this. There is no way to make it okay. Mary Olson 02:22:15 There is no way to say that if we had handled the information differently, it would make it okay. My parents were young adults and it was common in California, which was closer to Japan and other parts of the United States to assume that this action was going to lead to a reaction. People were terrified whether they had the information about radiation sickness or not. The destructive capacity of the weapon was sufficient for people in the United States to be reacting in horror and fear in terror. And then somehow that all got named over into the 1950s, and everybody has a Turkey in their refrigerator. I mean the denial of our popular culture of these events, and then turning them into almost like cartoon pre features, which is, I think a segue into talking about reference, man, he's basically a cartoon let's get to Libbe HaLevy 02:23:13 Reference span because after Hiroshima and Nagasaki was radiation exposure measured at all. And if it was, how long did it take before, Mary Olson 02:23:23 Or it was, they did dose reconstructions. Do I think a dose reconstruction is a valid idea. I don't do. I think that the kind of epidemiological work that I have relied upon for being able to draw the conclusions I've drawn about gender and radiation are solid. I actually don't, but everybody does them day in and day out and ignoring a huge, huge, huge piece of what they're looking at would just, there is a female body. In addition to a male body, there is a child, in addition to an adult, they are absolutely got blinders on and only looking at the male adult male data. So, you know, in terms of exactly the history of this data, I hate to frustrate you, but I can't tell you anything more than there were dose reconstructions done. There were, whereas their actual measurement of radioactivity in the postpartum time, it was a U S occupy military occupation. I think there probably are published accounts. I haven't looked at them Libbe HaLevy 02:24:23 Referenced, man, who was first named standard man was created in 1949. What was the thinking behind the creation of this point of reference and how might it work in application? Dave Lochbaum 02:24:38 Well, the motivation for developing standard man was to allow various radiation studies and the effects of radiation on the human body to have a standard reference plane, to be able to look at a study on radiation, to the spleen, to another study about radiation effects on the, on the lung, unless you have a common denominator, then you have all these numerators. It's more of an apples to oranges comparison. The reference man concept or standard man concept was attempt to come up with an equalizer that are allowed results from one study to be compared on a more apples to apples comparison to the re radiation results from another study. It didn't turn out that way, but that was the motivation behind. It was to facilitate the development of radiation standards and limits that would be meeting. Mary Olson 02:25:29 In addition, you can measure radiation as an energy field. You can measure actual down to individually emissions. Now, if you have the best equipment available, but that doesn't tell you about the impact on living tissue. So if you're going to calculate dose, you have to ask those to home. And in the early years of an institutional commitment to working with radioactive materials, the whom were military males and paramilitary males. There were certainly females in the Manhattan project. I don't mean to, to overlook that part of history, but the primary engagement with radioactivity was pretty much universally male and pretty much universally young male, and pretty much the definition of standard and then reference man. So it was somewhat appropriate at the time to define the reference individual as the ones who were being asked to work and serve in radioactive environments of the Manhattan project as referenced man, that was appropriate in reading, Libbe HaLevy 02:26:38 Hang on your website, gender and radiation.org about reference, who was originally named standard. Man, I was taken aback by how specific it was in terms of how much blood was in the body, how much air was breathed. I mean, there are some very precise, I would say, nitpicky from the outside, but very precise demarcations as to who this individual was, who created this model and what were the groups behind it? Dave Lochbaum 02:27:12 Well, initially in 1949, it was 23 scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada who met to develop the standard man that was later morphed into the reference man in 1963, by the international commission on radiological protection, a larger body of individuals, but still largely males, fairly young, 20 to 30 years old of pretty much the same ethnic and geological background. It was a fairly small slice of the overall human population. Mary Olson 02:27:47 That's really where my concern is, is the evidence that our regulators, our scientific bodies, our governments never stopped to look, listen or reconsider when the same basis of radiation measurement and regulation was applied to the general population, including pregnant women, including infants, including elders, including women and female bodies, girls and women across the board, because there should not have been the 60 year wait for enough data to be able to now say yes, female bodies are harmed more than male bodies, no matter what age we have that information. Now in the gold standard of the Abe bomb lifespan study of survivors, it shouldn't have taken 60 years of data from the H-bomb bomb survivors and the national academy report in 2006 called the biological effects of ionizing radiation. There was a paper based on biological sex published that year by Dr. Arjun, Mecca, Johnny, and two coauthors. I didn't see that paper. And so I did my own work independently and in 2011, it should not have taken that long for someone to see this. And it is society's responsibility, not mine and gender and radiation impact project to take care of everyone when it's federal licensing of activities that will impact the communities that they're located in. And the communities are not composed solely of reference men. And at some point, we need to read that definition for Libbe HaLevy 02:29:33 You. Why don't you read that definition for us now, Mary Olson 02:29:37 I want to emphasize that there are eight parameters and I'll read the parameters, there's age, their sex there's height, there's weight temperature, which corresponds to respiration and metabolic rates, race, lifestyle, and environment. So the official definition of reference man is defined as being between 20 to 30 years of age, weighing 154 pounds, which is also 70 kilograms. He is five foot seven inches tall, which is 170 centimeters. He lives in a climate with an average temperature between 10 and 20 degrees C, which is somewhere around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. He is a Caucasian, white and a Western European or north American in habitat and customer. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:32 And also on your site is the reference to the fact that with radiation being attracted, especially radioactive iodine, going to the thyroid, that the thyroid gland can be a different size based on the level of nutrition a person has had growing up with this particular male Western model, being most likely to have the largest and most robust thyroid gland, as opposed to someone from say the Marshall Islands, and that's even referenced in the piece that Dave wrote for the gender and radiation impact project that said that there could not be a comparable study done for other peoples of other backgrounds, because it was not feasible to undertake a similar study for the many ethnic or regional populations of the world. So there's an institutional racism component to reference man as well. Mary Olson 03:31:30 Obviously he specified as a single race, obviously. Dave Lochbaum 03:31:35 Yeah, I was more than a little bit disappointed when I did the research to find out that, that the reference man protocols and limits were established not based on science, but on convenience, Libbe HaLevy 03:31:46 Explain what you mean by convenience. Dave Lochbaum 03:31:48 They took the data that was available to the researchers from those various countries, knowing that it wasn't applicable to people with different diets and different backgrounds and different ethnicities, but because it was available. So they took it and applied it to everybody. You knew it wasn't applicable to everybody, but because that was the easy way out and you could meet a schedule, you went with it and applied it to everybody, knowing that it wasn't applicable to everybody. I'm glad that my name's not in of that paperwork. Cause I would've had to refund my college degree because I didn't earn it. That's what I do with it. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:23 Given what has been learned it, has there been any attempt made to retroactively apply the reference man exposure guidelines to the people of Japan or an adjustment to compensate for women, little boys and little girls so that there is some understanding of what the radioactive exposure actually was Dave Lochbaum 03:32:46 Kind of just the opposite after the few Shima accident in 2011, because the radio she got out and was affecting the general population, the Japanese government increased the limit and basically made every worker, every citizen in Japan, a nuclear worker, and they applied to nuclear worker limit, which was basically the reference man limit to every man, woman and child in Japan, which was not the right answer to that problem. Mary Olson 03:33:13 It had increased levels at 20 times higher and applied them to children specifically because there was never an actual Japanese nationwide government action to do this. But there was a guideline that came actually recommended by someone who was working for the United States government during that time that the worker limit be established as the in-school exposure in Fukushima prefecture. So walking to school and all the exposure at home or playing was not even included in this guideline of what we would say to Rams a year or 20 millisieverts per year, which isn't it phenomenally high level for a developing child. This was as very, very regressive, not what you're looking for in terms of the human value maybe, and, and your questions are right on, but I don't know of anybody that has the authority or the inclination to do any of the steps that you are pointing towards. Mary Olson 03:34:15 But I want to be clear reference. Nan is not a radiation limit. Referenced. Nan is the individual used to evaluate whether a radiation limit is being met or whether it will be met reference, man is the basis for us protection standards for every licensing decision, whether to grant a license to a new nuclear power reactor or to a research lab at a university or any of those things. And it says right in our code of federal regulations in the section chapter 10, a, which is the nuclear regulatory commission, it says repeatedly that reference Nan is the basis use today. And my dear friend, Dave lockdown sent me a archive of documents from the nuclear regulatory commission library over 900 documents. Each of which uses reference man as the basis for whatever it's doing. And this includes things like computer codes for risk analysis. They're all based on this individual who is standardized. My new project is to offer a new reference individual. I just think referees man, isn't the right one Libbe HaLevy 03:35:32 In order to correct this model to more closely reflect the realities of radiation exposure or give us something to compare against that will be more protective for the more vulnerable. Tell us about what this next project of yours is. Mary Olson 03:35:48 Yes, gender and radiation impact project is the organization that I founded. And Dave black bound is one of our board members. And I am now leading in conjunction with a second organization beyond nuclear and it's staffer, Cindy Folkers, a project to define reference girl. Now the very first thing I say, when I bring up reference girl is she's not good enough, but the reason she's not good enough is because we have a life cycle. And the huge portion of our life cycle is the reproductive portion, which has to do with protecting our primary germline, which nobody knows what that means, but it means the genetic material that transmits from my parents to me and for me to my children, that is the part of our life cycle. That everybody just kind of pretends it doesn't exist when it comes to radiation and reference girl will help protect it a little better, but it'll take a whole new regulatory model to actually protect that genetic material. Mary Olson 03:36:50 So reference girl is an improvement. She's a first step, but I don't want to ever make it sound like she's the solution to the overall situation and with, with radiation as part of our society. Now, the thing is that reference girl will be based in the area of our post birth life cycle, where the greatest harm happens from ionizing radiation, which is a girl under the age of 10. And if we do this, we can keep the same regulatory model that we have today, which is all based on doing calculations on a reference individual. If we choose to define a girl that has the eight parameters of reference, Nan, we can slot her right in. We don't have to change the regulatory model at all. And my guess this is just a guess is that adult males will be protected times 10 and girls will be protected at all because the data shows that harm to girls is about 10 times greater than harm to males. So if we're going to keep the level of protection we have today and base it on the girl, everybody else will be protected better and she will be protected at all. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:04 What will it take to have this new model, this reference girl replace reference, man. Mary Olson 03:38:12 Oh, let's talk about getting referenced girl. Before we talk about the replacement step, because ultimately we want to give reference man a gold watch and thank him for his service and, and just retire him. That's what we would like to see happen with reference man. But the process of defining her, we think should be an open consultated process that reaches to the frontline communities that have been impacted the most. We already understand that the Western European north American industrial society idea isn't right, because the people who are living with the most radioactivity are around mining areas and nuclear bomb factories and nuclear reactors. And so we need to look at girls in those areas and talk to people in those communities. And when we get enough information to do a draft, then we need to have expert review of it, including people who may not agree with us. And then once we have the review draft, then it'll be time to start talking about adoption and adoption is never straightforward. However, and it's, as we've already said in this conversation, highly political. So do I intend to start by going into a rulemaking process? No, but we want to get our reference girl drafted, reviewed, and ready for adoption. Before we start talking about where that should happen. Dave Lochbaum 03:39:36 Unfortunately, there's, there's a lot of inertia associated with the status quo. It's hard to break through and lead to meaningful change, fairly recent examples that the nuclear regulatory commission a few years ago was going to study the statistics around operating Copart plants to see if the federal limits on routine releases or radiation to the air and water sufficiently protect those exposed populations. They canceled this study because it costs too much. It costs less than a million dollars a year and would've taken about eight years and that was too much for them. They just didn't want to fund that project. Their annual conference costs about a million dollars a year, where they meet with the industry to figure out what to do and how to do it. So they could either schmooze in a conference or figure out if they're protecting the American population. They chose the former. Mary Olson 04:40:28 We had a problem with that, that study, in addition to wondering about how much it costs simply that we didn't think that the NRC was the appropriate body to conduct a study of its own effectiveness and it's doing its own report card. So we would have rather just see the money go to a federal agency that would put out a request for proposal and RFP and independent researchers could respond and they could be peer reviewed and you know, actually have some science. But interestingly enough, we also believe that in addition to costing too much money, that it was going to cost them too much public approval because the initial surveys were showing that those communities are not well. And we can't actually say that there was an outcome from that initial survey, but the communities where they were looking are not well, people are sick. So I think they may have also decided they couldn't afford the hit on their public image and possibly their operations Libbe HaLevy 04:41:33 Saving face as opposed to saving lives. Have there been any early proposals as to age or weight or any other specifics about reference girl? Mary Olson 04:41:46 No. There are what are called Phantoms and the people I know at the international committee on radiological protection, it is a nonprofit and they make recommendations that then national committees pick up and then the federal regulators in each nation based their stuff on what the NCRP national committee for radiological protection. And they give advice to various regulators. So they have what they call Phantoms, which are used for things like cancer treatment to evaluate standardized doses of radiation, treatment of cancer for other nuclear medicine procedures. And so there are standardized email bodies, including young girls, but they're not regulatory. And they don't include all the parameters of reference, man. They don't include things like lifestyle, environment, climate, the factors that could genuinely change the order of magnitude of a exposure. So yes, there are some girl models. No, they are not regulatory models and no, they are not the same as the reference individual is. Dave Lochbaum 04:42:58 I think there's reason for hope that the appropriate changes can be made. And an example of that would be not too long ago, it was decided that pregnant female workers or nuclear workers who wanted to become pregnant could declare that and then be exposed to a different occupational radiation exposure limit. Then otherwise recognizing that the fetus was particularly vulnerable to radiation exposure. So that change was made. And it wasn't the reference man, obviously. So I think changes can be made, but that change probably took longer than it needed to be, but it did happen. So it gives me some hope that comparable changes can happen in the future and not just beating the head against the wall. Mary Olson 04:43:40 So Dave share with us the suggestion you made to me about civilian women and pregnancy. Dave Lochbaum 04:43:48 If you're a nuclear worker and you're pregnant or want to become pregnant, you can inform your supervisor and therefore not be exposed to the same radiation limit as a male coworker or female who doesn't want that protection. So I just suggested why not have the people who live within 10 miles or 50 miles of and operate equal power plant also say I'm pregnant or I want to become pregnant. And therefore also be subjected to a lower radiation hazard than otherwise. If it's good for a female nuclear worker, it should be good for a female person who lives in the nuclear community. That's the same concept. Why not apply it across the board. Mary Olson 04:44:26 And this takes us though to another point that I really want people to hear. When we about a reference girl, we're not talking about a new standard or rule or regulation that applies to girls. And in this example about a woman in the community, having a higher level of protection or a lower level of exposure, how do you do that? You can't do it in either case, which is why I am proposing a new reference individual that will require that reference man be retired. And that reference grow be used in the exact same way that reference man has been used to represent everyone. And likewise, if a pregnant woman needs less exposure than the entire community should have less exposure because any woman has the capacity to become pregnant without even knowing it for some amount of time. So, you know, this is about how we envision health, not about limiting illness, right? Mary Olson 04:45:34 We need healthy people. And if we're talking about reference, mans exposures do result in cancer, current regulation of, you know, federal licenses for nuclear activities allow radiation at levels that we know have the capacity to cause cancer have the capacity to cause in fertility, birth defects potentially even contribute to things like heart disease. That's when it's a little bit harder to prove in the civilian population, but radiation is harmful. We are having activities that emit it. We're having federal regulators that are creating rules to allow those emissions. So if we're talking about all of that in the context of needing to have a healthy community, then we need to look at where the greatest harm occurs. And that is in female bodies. And most particularly in female bodies who are young, we don't yet know why, but there's a new hypothesis that it has to do with a difference in the amount of stem cells in little boys compared to little girls circulating freely in our bodies and that the exposure of the stem cells leads to Layton cancer. Mary Olson 04:46:43 That is then across the lifetime. We're not talking about little girl cancer. We're talking about female cancer originating from exposures in childhood and male cancers, originating in exposure in childhood. And even if we just took a reference, boy, if there's so much misogyny in our culture that we have to go for low reference, boy, we'll be halfway there because he is five times more likely to be harmed than the adult. Male just happens. That little girls in the dataset that we have of people who live 60 years after all sharing a big, huge flash on a day in August in 1945, the little girls who lived over the next 60 years got twice as much cancer as did those who were little boys, 1945. So that twice as much as how you ended up with 10 times more than reference, man. So if you're going to be actually having integrity and say, it's science-based, it's not a little boy, it's a little girl, but she now needs to be where we aim all of our effort to reduce exposures, reduce emissions, and deliver even the crappy, excuse me. Did I say that? Yes. Crappy level of protection that we have today for her at that point Libbe HaLevy 04:47:59 From everything you've said, it sounds like this is first of all, a necessary step. And secondly, one that will have a protracted period of time before we have any hope of implementation of it. As you move forward, what can we, the listeners of nuclear hot seat do to be of support and assistance to you? Mary Olson 04:48:24 Well, we're completely volunteer. We don't have a budget that supports paying me anything. So money would help, but I'm not going to stop just because I'm a volunteer. And so people need to protect their girls, protect their boys. I don't want a little girl to have to face down her physician. So it's not about educating the girls. It's about taking care of them. And then start talking to everybody that, you know, who's connected to this picture because in order for reference girl to be adopted, we're going to need a massive team of support. Dave Lochbaum 04:48:59 I'd echo what Mary said. And also, I appreciate you having a son to nuclear hot seat, because I honestly was not aware that females were more suffering, more harm for the same exposure until I heard Mary talk about it at a conference in 2015. So I think increased awareness that there is a problem that needs a solution we'll shorten the timeline it takes for that solution to be implemented. Mary Olson 04:49:23 A possibility levy is that somebody who's an enlightenment surgeon general could require warnings on everything and that everything would be including airplane tickets. And x-rays at the dental office and CT scans and nuclear reactors and buying a house near a nuclear reactor. I mean the warnings would be quite substantial if they existed like the cigarette warnings, would they change the world? I don't know, but it's a different route than trying to go up against the nuclear addicted community. That is pretty much on both sides of the regulated and regulated tour at this juncture that could change. But at this juncture, there's kind of one community. And like Dave says, they get together once a year and schmooze, but they're in every licensing procedure I've been in and I've gone into four of them, myself as an intervener. And you know, people are trying to do what they're doing well, it's just that what they're doing. Mary Olson 05:50:25 Isn't good enough. Is there anything you haven't covered that you'd like to get to now? I think there's a lot of resource available on the gender and radiation impact project website, which is www.genderandradiation.org. And under the tab that says, learn, we now have a whole page for reference girl, which is going to be growing and we're going to be adding some other tabs there for more general radiation background information. But there's also videos of talks that I've given and not the one that Dave heard, but similar talks. And I really commend people to check out how much has already been done and consider supporting the work. Dave Lochbaum 05:51:08 A few years ago, I looked at what the occupational radiation exposure limits were over the left past a hundred years. And I noticed that they've been changed about four or five times over the century period. Every time the radiation limits were lowered, the more we knew, the less we could be exposed to the radiation hazard, which implies that perfect knowledge would be zero exposure. It's not a matter that we started out conservatively protecting people or protecting workers. And with time we were able to relax that standard based on science, it's just the opposite. Science informs us that we need better protection. And I think Mary and grip have shown that the population that really needs protection is the female and the young females, which are being under protected by current standards Mary Olson 05:51:55 And tag that population is the basis for another federal agency, the environmental protection agency. And you know, it's okay to talk about a population. That's basically what we have in epidemiology is, you know, groups of a hundred thousand people is how things are modeled, but we are a lifecycle. I'm a biologist. You don't have a reference man or a population without every single piece of the life cycle. So I was giving a comment to the EPA and I asked them when they were going to start writing regulations based on the most impacted part of the human lifecycle, being little girls. And the immediate response I got was that little girls are a subpopulation and they were going to get to subpopulations later and I was on a phone bridge. So I just came back with, well, wait a second little girls in Chicago and little girls in Moscow are subpopulations, but little girls are an inextricable link in the human life cycle and colleagues who were present in person in the meeting. Mary Olson 05:53:02 I was actually there with the guy who was, I was talking to on the phone bridge. He was silent and later they told me he literally sweat through his clothes because I counted. I didn't bail him out. Usually I'm nice. And I, I say something else, but I waited. And it was four minutes of silence in this federal meeting. Unheard of. And he finally said, you are correct. And also thank you. And then they went on to the next person, but they haven't done a darn thing about it. They still view little girls as a subpopulation, which is basically a formula for extinction. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:41 This is clearly some of the most important work we can do in terms of coming up with a system that does more to safeguard us and our future from the dangers of radiation, we will have links up to your site and to some of the specific pages that you mentioned, Mary, and for now, I want to give you my gratitude for the work that you're doing and Dave, for your support of the work that Mary is doing and your contribution to it. And thank you both for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Mary Olson 05:54:14 Thank you, Libby. Thank you for the work you do. And for your book, Libbe HaLevy 05:54:18 That was Mary Olson acting director of gender and radiation impact project. And Dave locked bomb, formerly director of the nuclear safety project of the union of concerned scientists. Mary Olson is currently raising funds to support a 2021 project to define a new female inclusive basis for radiation protection standards to help prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and reduce radiation harm. You can learn more by going to her website, gender and radiation.org. And of course we will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 25, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, op ed news.com. Gender under radiation.org. The guardian.com counterpunch.org, Arab news.jp Dennis riches.wordpress.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:38 If you'd like a foolproof way of getting nuclear hot seat, you can have it delivered via email every week. It's easy. Go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll for the yellow box and sign up for weekly email links to the latest show. You'll get it. As soon as it's posted, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com and we promise we take all of them seriously. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button. Anything you do once you click on it will help. And we really appreciate your support. Nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the last thing that anyone who opposes nuclear wants to be able to say is I told you, so there you've got it, bats. It you've all had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear Hotsy ### NH #524: Radiation/Radioactivity: Dr. Gordon Edwards, Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-radioactivity-edwards-mangano/ Published: 2021-07-07 Duration: 00:59:14 Radiation/Radioactivity – learning the difference, getting it straight: Dr. Gordon Edwards, Joseph Mangano This Week's Featured Interviews: Radiation/Radioactivity – it's all nuclear madness, no matter what you call it. But here, two experts give us background on each term, as well as some of how the nuclear industry does not want us to know or talk about any of it. Dr. Gordon Edwards, a Canadian scientist, mathematician, and nuclear consultant, is head of of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.Joseph Mangano is a health researcher, an epidemiologist who has served as a director of Radiation and Public Health Project since 1989. Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): To the International Atomic Energy Agency, radiation dangers are not radiation dangers… until they think it's convenient to frighten people with the ongoing, ever-present threat of them. Links: Collapsed Florida Condo Sends a Giant Nuke Warning by Harvey Wasserman. Nuclear Weapons Have Always Been Illegal; It’s Long Past Time to Abolish Them by Jacqueline Cabasso is Executive Director of the Western States Legal Foundation, an affiliate of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.  Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 If you follow nuclear issues at all, you've undoubtedly heard the line. Nobody died at three mile island. It's a means of dismissing any concerns we might have about what happened because of that nuclear meltdown, just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979. But then you hear an experienced researcher into nuclear health consequences. Say Joseph Mangano 00:00:26 The nuclear industry grabbed that slogan. Nobody died at three mile island almost immediately. After the meltdown occurred, before there had been any chance to measure how much radiation was released, how much actually got into the water in the food and people's bodies. It was an immediate attempt to stifle any type of research. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:50 When you hear a genuine expert, say something like that, you start to see how we've all been gamed. When it comes to understanding nuclear dangers. And you start to realize that you are in the seat, that we all share Announcer 00:01:07 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:37 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Lee. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, it's time to refresh our understanding of what nuclear radioactivity is and what it does. We'll revisit an interview with Joseph executive director of radiation and public health project. Joe is an expert researcher and epidemiologist whose examination of medical statistics in the areas around nuclear reactors reveals a much different picture of health impact than the nuclear industry wants you to know. And to help you understand exactly why nuclear reactors and dumpsites and radioactive fuel rods and all the nuclear waste are bad for humans and other living things. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:44 We hear Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility. Explain what radiation is and what it does. That's the reason why so many of us fight so long and hard against nuclear. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than could penetrate the rocket's red glare of last weekends. 4th of July fireworks. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, July 6th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting with this ongoing story out of Saskatchewan, that there is an uncontained forest fire near the cigar lake uranium, mine, chemical corporation operates the mind and it at one point evacuated about 230 workers leaving 80 people to remain onsite in the facility to try and keep it in a safe state. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:50 Not that it was safe before the fire though, the fire is still burning and is releasing radioactive, contaminated smoke and Ash into the environment, threatening the local indigenous Denae community, which considers this a dire threat to their health chemical has called back its employees. And they will be working on the mine again. By the end of this week in Europe, a group of five EU member states led by Germany had sent a letter to the European commission, asking for nuclear energy to be kept out of the green finance taxonomy or categories for funding. The letter was signed by energy ministers of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, and Spain, and points to shortcomings in a report by the European commission's joint research center, which concluded that nuclear energy is safe. The ministers wrote nuclear power is incompatible with the taxonomy regulations, do no significant harm principle urging the commission to keep nuclear out of the EES green finance rules. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:58 The ministers further stated, we are concerned that including nuclear power in the taxonomy would permanently damage its integrity credibility, and therefore its usefulness and argues that the European commission's assessment of the safety of nuclear power installations is flawed in the UK. A new report suggests massive expansion of offshore. Wind will drive new power needs in the UK right now, approximately 16% of UK power comes from nuclear reactors, which are almost all due to close soon. And the UK government has gone quiet about nuclear renewal. This article suggests investors might want to consider the risks of investing in nuclear technology now, and instead consider the rise of companies involved with offshore wind in India. For the second time in less than a month, Indian authorities have captured a gang attempting to sell uranium illegally. And authorities believed these events might be linked a national gang involved in illegal uranium trade Indian officials state that this means that local Indian uranium reserves radioactive nuclear materials and facilities are not protected and are prone to black marketing. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:13 And India is not adhering to international bindings of nuclear safety and security here in the U S and Illinois PJM. The regional grid operator, which supplies power to 65 million people in 13 states held its semi-annual capacity auction and Exelon corporation reports that three of its nuclear plants in Illinois, Byron Dresden and quad cities failed to sell their power at the auction. As a result, Byron and Dresden are currently slated to be retired. This fall and quad cities is on life support based on previously approved subsidies. And now for your weekly dose of nuclear bone headedness, Libbe HaLevy 00:07:05 The international atomic energy agency, or I a is a great defender of all things, nuclear, including helping to cover up the true impact of Chernobyl's radiation release. No matter the circumstances, there were prime promoter of immediately announcing not enough radiation to be a significant danger and continuously downplay radiological dangers, which it makes it curious that the IAEA recently published an emergency preparedness and response guide for medical physicists and the press release announcing it starts with the line. Radiation emergencies can occur anywhere at any time. Really. Could you repeat that out loud? And often radiation emergencies can occur anywhere at any time, but this admission of danger is only specific to getting a training for medical physicists adopted the I a even provides a compact and user-friendly packet guide to carry around with you. So you're always prepared. Just the thing you need, if your local nuclear reactor restored cider unmarked Manhattan, project materials, dumper, any of the other radiation dangers is leaking radioactive materials into your environment. And that's why I a for your double-talk you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 00:08:35 Now here's the first of this week's two featured interviews. I think much of the reluctance to take action on nuclear issues is because people don't understand the nature of radio activity and the damage it does to our bodies, our DNA and our future. This information has been blanked out of most stories on atomic antinuclear subjects, starting with the first series of articles on the atomic bomb after Hiroshima and Nagasaki and continuing on to today as a result, most people don't understand what radiation is and what it does to help clear that up. Nuclear hotseat is happy to share with you a speech given by Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility or CC and R it's a 10 minute talk prepared for the science for peace forum. How to save the world in a hurry that was held at the university of Toronto on May 30th, 2018. This is a brief masterclass on the difference between radiation and radioactivity, the exact mechanism radionuclides take and how they damage our health in this speech. Dr. Edwards makes some quick references to Canadian issues. Pickering is a nuclear generating station on the north shore of lake Ontario. Bruce is Bruce nuclear generating station on the Eastern shore of lake Huron in Ontario, poor Ontario, and can do is not a can-do attitude, but the CANDU C a N D U, which is a Canadian nuclear reactor design. Here's Dr. Edwards Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:10:20 Because of crippled nuclear reactor is dangerous, not due to its invisible rays, but because it disseminates harmful radioactive pollutants. So I prefer to use the word radioactivity rather than radiation. So what is radioactivity? Well, it's not a thing, but a property of certain materials while there are a handful of significant naturally occurring radioactive materials. There are over 1000 human made radioactive materials. Most of these were not seen in nature in measurable amounts prior to 1939, when they talk about background radiation, it doesn't include most of these materials. They are created in large quantities as byproducts of nuclear fishing, whether in bombs or a nuclear reactors, each of these hundreds of radioactive elements has its own particular physical and chemical properties. Therefore each following its own distinct ecological pathways through the environment and biochemical pathways through the body, every radioactive Adam has an unstable nucleus that will eventually disintegrate or explode giving off one or two subatomic projectiles. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:11:29 And of course the unit of radioactivity indicates one disintegration is occurring. Every second, each radioactive emission coming directly from the nucleus is one of four kinds, an alpha particle, a beta particle, a gamma Ray, or a neutron. These projectiles are all ionizing, meaning that they are able to break molecular bonds quite easily, thereby killing or crippling nearby living cells. If the cell is crippled, it can reproduce and possibly develop into a biologically harmful cluster later in life, which we generally call cancer alpha and beta particles are primarily internal hazards because they are less penetrating. Whereas gamma rays and neutrons are both external as well as internal hazards because they are highly penetrating, large exposure to any of these types of radioactive emissions can cause deaths within days or weeks while chronic low level exposures over time can cause cancers years later, damage to aches or sperm can lead to genetically defective offspring. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:12:37 As Richard mentioned, such defects kind of appear in the immediate offspring or in several generations after the original cellular damage, chronic exposure to radioactivity can also compromise the immune system increase the incidence of cardiovascular diseases cause a decrease in intelligence among young children and a as Richard also mentioned accelerate the aging process. Most sources of radiation non-ionizing or ionizing in our experience can be shut off with a switch, an x-ray machine, a microwave oven, a tanning bulb, all can be turned off quickly and once they are off, they're absolutely harmless not. So with radioactivity, radioactivity is in fact, a form of nuclear energy that cannot be shut off. That is why meltdowns kind of occurred even after a nuclear reactor is completely shut down three mile island and Fukushima are examples of this ongoing radioactive disintegrations in the core of the reactor provide enormous heat and drive the temperature of the fuel up to 2,800 degrees Celsius twice the melting point of steel, just due to radioactive disintegrations alone. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:13:51 At that temperature, the ceramic fuel begins to melt like candle wax because radioactivity cannot be shut off. The effects of radioactive contamination can be very long lasting leaving for example, no man's land around the Chernobyl site, the Fukushima site, the Marshall Islands test areas and the site of the Kesh CIM disaster over 60 years ago in the Euro mountains of the USSR, when it comes to radioactive waste, since radioactivity cannot be shut off or rendered harmless waste disposal is actually a euphemism for waste abandonment. Nuclear agencies say that waste disposal means that they have no intention to retrieve the stuff, but that's not a scientific definition. That's a political definition. In fact, there is no scientific definition of disposal. The long-term confinement of radioactive post patient waste remains an unsolved problem of mammoth proportions catastrophe potential in 1976, British nuclear physicists or Brian Flowers wrote a report for the UK government on nuclear energy and the environment in it. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:15:04 He pointed out that if nuclear energy had been deployed in Europe before the outbreak of world war two, then large parts of Europe would be uninhabitable today because of world war II. That's because Chernobyl like meltdowns can be brought about by acts of malice warfare or sabotage. Even if the reactor is shut down. It is estimated that the Chernobyl accident released about 80,000 terror Becquerel's of cesium 1 37, just one of the many re radioactive materials released black. Pearl is one disintegration per second, as I mentioned, and of course a terrible girl is a million million Becquerel's for 20 years after the Chernobyl accident, sheep farmers in Northern England and Wales could not freely sell their sheep meat for human consumption because of residual radioactive contamination by cesium 1 37 from Chernobyl to this day, wild boars killed by hunters in Germany, Sweden and Bella ruse are unfit for human consumption because of radioactive CCM contamination. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:16:16 The same thing as observed for wild boars and the Fukushima area of Japan. So you think 1 37 is a powerful emitter of penetrating gamma rays, as well as a dammit. You met her brown concentrations of cesium. 1 37 are often used to decide which areas need to be evacuated around Chernobyl. It is expected that land in a 30 kilometer radius will be uninhabitable for at least 300 years. Now. Just think there are two and a half million people living within 30 kilometers of Pickering. Can you imagine that radius, those families being permanently displaced and that that land would become uninhabitable for centuries. A single irradiated can-do fuel bundle freshly discharged from the reactor can deliver a 100% lethal dose of radiation to any unshielded human at a distance of one meter in about 20 seconds. And there are over 2,500 such bundles in each picker and reactor. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:17:19 Moreover, there are over 400,000. The radiated fuel bundles in the Pickering spent fuel pools, underwater being pooled because they continue to generate heat. They have to be cool for about 10 years. This pool, these pools contain at least 4 million terror. Becquerel's at cesium 1 37 that's 50 times the amount of cesium, 1 37 that was released from Chernobyl, which was about 80,000 caravan girls. Now, if, for example, God forbid a nuclear explosion were to occur near the Pickering. Plant the water in the pool would be vaporized by the fireball. There's a cornea metal cladding on the fuel bundles would catch fire and virtually all of the cesium. 1 37 would escape into the atmosphere in the form of radioactive vapors and aerosol particles that would create a no man's land of mammoth proportions by releasing 50 times more cesium, 1 37 than the amount release from the Chernobyl disaster. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:18:22 And these spent fuel pools, not only a Pickering, but all around the world are not protected with very heavy structures. Unlike the dome of the reactor, a building, which is very thick concrete, this is not the case with spent fuel pools. So frightening as these considerations are, we'd have to think about the long lasting implications at Fukushima seven years after the triple meltdown. Now we're seven years later, there are some 800,000 tons of radioactively contaminated water that the nuclear authorities would like to simply dump into the Pacific ocean. In fact, they're building one new 300 ton tank for every four days. They used to be building one per day. About four years, three years ago, then have now removed about 70 different species of radionuclides from this water, but they cannot remove the radioactive tritium that's because radioactive tritium is chemically identical to ordinary hydrogen. Dr. Gordon Edwards 01:19:23 It is incredibly difficult to separate a radioactive isotope from a non radioactive isotope of the same element because chemically they're like Siamese twins, wherever one goes, the other one goes, tritium is radioactive hydrogen. And it forms radioactive water molecules, which are identical with ordinary water molecules, except that they are radioactive no municipal water treatment client can remove the tritium because you cannot filter water from water also because hydrogen is one of the most common elements in living things being present in all organic molecules. For example, including DNA molecules, radioactive tritium becomes incorporated into all living things. And some fraction of it are sort of Damocles bound into all sorts of molecules in the body. It has been known for decades that Tridium has at least three times more biologically harmful than gamma radiation per unit of energy absorbed by tissue. But our nuclear regulator pays no attention to that fact, indeed two independent scientific bodies appointed by the government of Ontario have found that the permissible levels of tritium and drinking water is about 350 times too high currently in Canada compared with other cancer causing agents that are regulated. Dr. Gordon Edwards 02:20:41 But again, our nutrient regulatory machinery pays no attention to such inconvenient scientific, but this example of tritium points to a much larger problem, nuclear efficient creates radioactive versions of many elements that are otherwise. Non-radioactive such as cesium, strontium, gold, silver to learn magnesium and countless others. Once these radioactive varieties are disseminated into the environment in significant quantities, they become inseparable from the non-radioactive varieties or most of the naturally occurring radionuclides uranium, thorium, radium and polonium are chemically distinct. And can therefore be separated out by chemical means from non-radioactive materials, such as not the case with the deluge of human made radioactive elements created by efficient already. It is proving very difficult to find uncontaminated metals with which to fabricate radiation monitors such as Geiger counters. Evidently if the metal from which the monitor is made is already radioactive. It will interfere with the operation of the machine, making it increasingly difficult to determine where the radioactive emissions are coming from. Dr. Gordon Edwards 02:21:55 There are many other important topics about radioactivity, but time does not permit. I'll just mention two of them. Number one, half lives can be very deceptive. As some radioactive materials become more radioactive as time goes on. Not less examples are include radon gas, depleted uranium, and even irradiated nuclear fuel after 50,000 years and plutonium, which has a 24,000 year half-life one that disintegrates transforms into another material, which has a 700 million year half-life. So that lives can be defective. A D deceptive, excuse me. The second point is that some radioactive materials are very difficult to detect even in a well-equipped nuclear plant because they give off non-penetrating radiation yet they can be extraordinarily dangerous inside the body. Examples are carbon 14 dust, which workers at Pickering tracked into their homes in the 1980s and plutonium bearing dust, which over 500 contract workers inhaled on a daily basis for almost three weeks at Bruce in 2009, Libbe HaLevy 02:23:02 Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition on nuclear responsibility. And if this information went by a little too fast for you to get all of it, don't despair. We have a full transcript of Dr. Edwards talk available and linked on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 24, we'll continue with this week's special focus on radiation and radioactivity issues in just a moment, but first nuclear weapons on hair trigger alert. The framework of international treaties demolished the seeming inevitability of a new nuclear arms, race space force, aiming to introduce nukes in space. And now the upcoming anniversaries of the atomic bombs falling on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. All of this is the basis for pro nuclear pop. Again, that to come out in force to keep pushing onward and industry intent on gobbling up money for the few and polluting planetary resources for the mini. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:06 We are facing a wider range of nuclear dangers than ever before. And the only way to fight against them is to know what's going on and what you can do to change things. That is why you need nuclear hot seat. We look at the nuclear aspect of our world every week and not just the issues related to weapons, but uranium mining, nuclear reactors, radioactive waste, and the politics surrounding them all. You're not going to be getting this information from mainstream media. Nuclear hot seat is the only place you can count on to report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth about all of the nuclear mess that is out there surrounding us. And won't go away for a half-life of 24,000 years, but here's where I need to ask for your help to keep the show running, takes time, effort, energy, and funding. And I hate to relate this, but ever since COVID hit over a year ago, things have been ever more challenging and fundraising, and now more than ever, your help is needed to keep the show going and to help us with our necessary website upgrade. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:17 That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. That's also where you can help us by setting up a monthly $5 donation. Now that's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S. Now that the baristas are back in business. So click on the big red donate button, follow the prompts and do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's the second of our two interviews in the special program on radioactivity and radiation. Joseph Mengana is a health researcher and epidemiologist who has served as director of radiation and public health project since 1989. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:12 He is the author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health. And as the author of the books, low-level radiation and immune system danger and atomic era legacy and radioactive baby teeth. The cancer link. He managed the study of strontium 90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian point, New York and oyster Creek, New Jersey nuclear plants. Here, we talk about radiation at disproportionate impact upon children in an interview from June 25th, 2019. Joseph Mangano is a health researcher and epidemiologist who has served as a director of radiation and public health project since 1989. Men nano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books. Low-level radiation and immune system damage and atomic era legacy. That's a 1998 book and radioactive baby teeth. The cancer link from 2008. He managed the study of strontium 90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian point, New York and oyster Creek, New Jersey nuclear plants. This interview was originally heard on nuclear hot seat, number 3 54 from April 3rd, 2018, Libbe HaLevy 02:27:41 Jonah and Ghana, always right to have you with us on nuclear hot seat. Joseph Mangano 02:27:46 Likewise, glad to be here. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:48 First of all, let's give people an idea of your group. What is radiation and public health project, and how did it come to be? Joseph Mangano 02:27:58 We are a non-for-profit research and educational group. The truth is that we shouldn't even have existed in the first place, had the nuclear industry and government been honest when nuclear reactors were first built in the 1950s, there were several questions concerning the health of local residents. Number one, can we guarantee that there isn't going to be a major meltdown. Number two, how much radiation is going to be routinely released to the air? And number three, what are we going to do with the waste? The waste products produced to making electricity, but there has to be kept safer hundreds and thousands of years, what happened was the industry and government kind of colluded, and just said, we're going to set some limits of safe limits, permissible limits. They call them, you know, if you release below a certain amount of radiation or if the air and the water in the soil has below a certain amount, you're allowed to keep your license. Joseph Mangano 02:29:04 You can keep running the reactor and we call it safe. Now we are a public health group. This isn't very good public health. All right. As a matter of fact, the radiation at low levels may be safe, but you got to do this studies. You've got to prove it. You can't just assume that these are very dangerous chemicals. We're talking about the same that are created and released when atomic bombs explode. So it's just about 30 years ago to retired gentlemen, one, a physicist, and the other statistician put together this group. And we have been added ever since 37 journal articles, eight books, 57 first. So op-eds lots of media attention. And so on. That's a bit of background of what we do. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:54 What kind of information do you examine when you are coming up with your reports on what's going on around the nuclear reactor? Joseph Mangano 03:30:05 Two things dose and response are the formal names for them. By dose, we look at how much radiation is released from a reactor, how much exists in the local environment, the air and the water and food and the body. We did a study measuring how much radiation were in the baby teeth of 5,000 children. Most of them living near nuclear reactors to date. This is the only study ever done looking at how much radiation is in the body of Americans living near reactors. And that's the dose side. The response side very simply is disease rates and death rates, new nuclear plants, which our public health departments actually do a very fine job of collecting data and making them available on the web, both the state health departments and the centers for disease control. That's what our work really has entailed. We haven't gotten to all reactors, but we've done studies near a number of them. And we find consistently that red flags are raised about unusually high levels of cancer and infant mortality, and other other disorders, especially after a nuclear plant opens, Libbe HaLevy 03:31:23 Where do you find the numbers that you base your findings on? Joseph Mangano 03:31:27 The big one is the us centers for disease control. They haven't gone out and done studies. They're new reactors, but they've done a fine job in collecting data. In fact, there are 50 years worth of statistics on mortality, on deaths in the United States, beginning in 1968, right online. It has it by state, by county, by cause of death by age, by gender, by race. It makes it rather easy for us to do a lot of analysis down to the county level. That's the major source that we use. And for the other side, the radiation side, how much is released and how much is in the environment. Those come from the environmental protection agency companies that run nuclear reactors are required to make these measurements every year and to report them. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:24 What you've been working on is called epidemiology. And you're actually the reason that I have any familiarity at all with the term it's the study and analysis of the distribution and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined population. In other words, trying to work out why certain people in certain locations are getting ill. So let's take a look at some of the reactors that you have been studying. Let's start with oyster Creek in New Jersey, which is scheduled to be closing in October of this year 2018. How did that formerly low cancer county rise to become a high cancer county after the reactor started up? Joseph Mangano 03:33:09 Yeah. Olivia, I hope we haven't scared anyone with a big word, like epidemiologist let's make it simple. These are basic questions. Like what are cancer rates like near nuclear reactors? Like Lego used to Creek. Very simple again, if it weren't for us and our group and our work, the answer would be, geez. We really don't know. Nobody does studies on this oyster Creek is a case in point. It is a reactor that is in central New Jersey. It's about 60 miles from New York city. And it's about 50 miles from Philadelphia, obviously lots and lots of people nearby strike two on oyster Creek. It is the longest running nuclear reactor in the United States. And I believe the world the day it first started operating and generating radiation and emitting radiation was May 3rd, 1969. So we're coming in on 49 years here. Yes. Even though reactors are where we're supposed to go to 40 years at maximum 0.3 with oyster Creek, is that even though the statistics on what was admitted from reactors are a little thin. Joseph Mangano 03:34:24 Unfortunately, the requirements are, are not very stiff because there are over a hundred separate radioactive chemicals produced by reactors and emitted into the environment. A good system would be to make counts of each of them. There's only several that are counted, but one of them, I had done 1 31. We'll talk about it later. It's a chemical that affects the thyroid gland. It goes right. You know, when it's drank in the water and eating the food or breathe in the little metal particles go right to the thyroid gland, where it attacks and kills cells and leads to diseases like cancer. We found the seventies and eighties in the 1990s oyster Creek had the highest level of emissions than any us reactor. Matter of fact, it had five times the amount that was officially released from the three mile island partial meltdown, 1979. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:25 And this was just part of its normal operating. It wasn't like they had an accident that happened there that created some radiation late. Joseph Mangano 03:35:33 There was no meltdown. There was no shutdown. The government saying that you're releasing too much. None of that. These were all part of normal operations. How did Libbe HaLevy 03:35:44 That impact the cancer rates in the area? Joseph Mangano 03:35:48 Well, we took a look. We've actually been working on oyster Creek for a, for quite a while because our, our group who's based in New York and this is not very, is very close to New York city. We did a whole educational campaign, you know, in conjunction with, with local citizen groups. We even had a couple of celebrity supporters, Alec Baldwin, and Christie Brinkley. And we went to that area of central New Jersey and gave a number of public talks. We collected 600 baby teeth from the area and found a high and rising amount of another chemical strontium 90, which goes into teeth and to bone. As far as the cancer goes there, there's been suspicions for a long time near oyster Creek. Back in the 1990s, the health department, the state health department found a childhood cancer cluster and a very long story short after about 10 years of, of meetings and discussion, no official cause of cancer was, was ever admitted to by the health department. Joseph Mangano 03:36:57 In fact, they gave oyster Creek the nuclear component, very little attention at all years ago, when the oyster Creek first began operating the cancer death rate in the county where it's located, ocean county was just below the New Jersey rate. 1% below as the 1980s and nineties, when all along, it grew a couple of percent above the state rate. And in the two thousands, it was 8% higher. Now going from 1% below to 8% above may not sound like very much, but let's turn it into real numbers and real people. If that original rate of 1% below the state had stayed, you know, all, all these past 49 years there would have been over 2,500 fewer cancer deaths in this one county. Okay. Dropping that 2,500 is all a lot of people. It's a very populated county. It's about 600,000 in the county. We also found too that the largest increases occurred in the youngest residents in the area. Joseph Mangano 03:38:07 We know if science disagree that while every human who is exposed to radiation is affected. The greatest harm is caused to the very youngest. That is the fetus, the infant and the child. And we found that the childhood cancer eight years ago was 23% of below New Jersey. And now it's risen to 15% above. Again, we're converting, we're converting a low cancer county into a high cancer county. Are there other possible reasons? Sure. There might be, but we don't know of any that that would make this before and after switch like this. And we feel that it should have been more studies done the health departments and the industry that ran the plant basically either ignored us or called our work. You know, they'll use terms like junk science. Do they have any proof that always decree is safe? Nope. Not one Libbe HaLevy 03:39:07 Given that this situation was found around oyster Creek, are there other reactors where similar patterns have been found and were populations are suffering from similar consequences? Joseph Mangano 03:39:20 Oh, sure. I could give you several, but the one I'll focus on is the other nuclear plant in New Jersey. And that's called Salem hope Creek. It's a little different than oyster Creek. Oyster Creek has one reactor sale and hope Creek has three oyster Creek is relatively small. Salem not only has three reactors, but each is about double the capacity of oyster Creek. This is a big place. The reactors came online later than oyster Creek from the mid seventies to the mid eighties. Okay. So we did a similar study of Salem county where this reactor is located a little bit different. Oh, his degree is 600,000 people. Salem only has about 65,000 people. It's largely rural farming is, is the primary industry. If you will, which should mean that there's no real worry about industrial pollution in the area. So let's go back. As the reactors were opening in the mid 1980s, the Salem county cancer death rates just like ours. The Creek was 5% below the rest of New Jersey. Now in this decade, that's 5% below. The state has turned into 20% above the state. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:37 That's a 25% Joseph Mangano 04:40:38 Change, a 25% flip. And it, once again, it is highest in children, in young adults and middle-aged adults. Like we would have expected this nuclear emissions or a factor. We even found that there was a jump in death rates for causes other than cancer, right? From 2% higher to 23% higher. And once again, we'll go to the, what we call the excess cancer cases. Since, since the mid eighties, we estimate that over a thousand people died because these, these rates went up all right. If they had stayed where they were back in the mid eighties and continued for the last 30 years, over a thousand, fewer people would have died in this one small county. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:30 We're getting a pretty clear picture that nuclear reactors, normal operating conditions, three eight problems, and have emissions. And according to the epidemiology impact cancer rates and leads to an increase in them. But let's look now at what happens when there has been with the nuclear industry. Once upon a time, shortest would never happen, which is an accident, meaning three mile island and the nuclear industry is fond of saying nobody died at three mile island. Now there is a Facebook based group, three mile island survivors that has over 4,000 members who identify with that label. And these individuals claim a wide range of health impact from that nuclear partial meltdown in 1979. And there were reports of a large number of deaths and illnesses within their own families and communities. What does the epidemiology tell us about what really happened as a result of the accident at three mile island? Joseph Mangano 04:42:37 I'll start my answer by repeating what I said a few minutes ago, and that is the nuclear industry grabbed that, that slogan, nobody died at three mile island almost immediately after the meltdown occurred, before there had been any chance to measure how much radiation was released, how much actually got into the water and the food and people's bodies and so on. It was a, an immediate attempt to stifle any type of research. Even though I consider myself a health researcher and a nonpolitical one, we all understand that this is a very, very highly politicized area. And the example I'll give before we get into our results involves two groups. The first group was some researchers from Columbia university in New York. They got some funding from a group that was commissioned by a judge after the three-mile accident. Their mission was to go and, and do some research on whether or not there was a connection between the radiation released from three mile and cancer in the local area. Joseph Mangano 04:43:46 Very simply their answer was no, there was no association. And they published an article in the American journal of public health. I mean, these are, these are again, Columbia is a, is a highly reputed to university, and these are all, you know, PhDs and, and physicians and so on. And they gave in the articles, they gave the data that they used well along comes a group from the university of North Carolina school of public health, which I happened to be a graduate of headed by a gentlemen, Dr. Steven wing with a, again, working with a group of his colleagues, weighing in, and the UNC people took the same data that the Columbia people used and came to a different conclusion. They only looked at lung cancer and leukemia within the 10 mile radius around three mile island. And they found a, a high increase. As a matter of fact, it's amazing to me that Columbia came to that conclusion of no link, because if you look at the number of cancers of people living within 10 miles of three mile island, and you compared five years before and after the meltdown, the number of cancers went up 60% from 1700 something to 2,800 something. Joseph Mangano 04:45:07 Now you don't need a PhD in epidemiology. You don't need a, an MD from Columbia or UNC to say, whoa, wait a minute. Is this normally what happens in an area where our cancer is going up? 60%? The answer of course is no. And what happened after that was essentially a fight that broke out in the medical journals. The Columbia people were agitated and called the UNC group, you know, politically motivated and, and all this stuff. And UNC just responded with explaining how, how they came up with this. Once again, I'm trying not to be political, but you, this is a, this is a, maybe the, one of the better examples of how highly politicized this is. The establishment does not want to admit to one that no one died at three mile island, because that means there's a lot of other people that may be suffering and dying as well. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:07 And that's why this Facebook group got started. I believe it's following in the steps of north St. Louis and the just moms there with what they've been able to create by growing the awareness. Let's move this ahead. You told me that you're looking into an analysis of cancer deaths in Burke county, Georgia, which is a site of the Bogle plant, where they're trying to build two new reactors and coming into all kinds of problems. But do they have nuclear fuel on site yet? Are there radioactive fuel rods there or is there some other cause for the difficulty that people are facing, Joseph Mangano 04:46:46 This is Burke county, Georgia. Now it is a county that sits on the border with South Carolina. And the border actually is the Savannah river. We need to give a little history here, right across the river from Burke county, Georgia lies the Savannah river plant. The Savannah river plant was built away way back in 1949. It formerly was a mostly farming rural area. This was not a nuclear power reactor, but it was a series of reactors that helped make nuclear weapons. At that time, of course it was the cold war and the U S and the Soviet union were engaged in a frantic race to build as many nuclear weapons as possible. And Savannah river played a major, major role in making these bombs. Of course, now it is no longer making weapons. We've stopped that when the cold war ended in the early nineties, the it's a large area and it is highly contaminate. Joseph Mangano 04:47:55 One of the most contaminated areas in the United States. And it's been cleaned up now for 20 years and they're going to be at it for a very long time. So let's start there right across the river is Burke county Georgia. A nuclear reactor has to be on a body of water because essentially the way a nuclear reactor makes electricity is to heat, water up. Somebody called it a very dangerous and expensive way to boil water. The Savannah river is a large wide river at that. At that point, it flows into the Atlantic ocean in the late 1980s to nuclear power plants, power reactors were built in Burke county and they were called Vogel one and Vogel two, they wanted a Vogel three and four, but like many proposed reactors, they were canceled essentially because they were expensive. But of course, I always say that why they react is expensive. Joseph Mangano 04:48:52 It takes a lot of money to build such dangerous machines. Burke county again is like across in South Carolina. It's a rural county. It's got about 23,000 people. Slightly over half are African-American. The poverty rate is very high in Burke county, always has been okay. The unemployment rate is high. The proportion of inadequate housing is high. All, all the standard measures of poverty that occur in Burke county. It's a poor county. All right. The idea of, of building these reactors and the formerly pristine area, of course raises the question. Did it do anything to the health of local residents? Well, once again, you go back to the CDC websites and look at what happened in the 1970s before the reactors opened, the black cancer mortality rate was 29% below the rest of Georgia. And that makes sense because we don't expect a lot of cancer in rural areas. We expect cancer, you know, in areas where their coal mines are in big cities with a lot of industrial emissions. And so on that number of 29% below now in the last decade is 15% above. And these are for blacks. Whites had it, had it increased to in Burke county years ago, they were 1% below and now 12% above again, the poverty rates are considerably higher for blacks in Burke county than they are for whites. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:30 So what you're saying is that the radiation that is impacting the health of the people in Burke county actually comes from the other side of the river and this previous facility, Joseph Mangano 05:50:43 Well previously, some of it did more of it in the Savannah river plant in South Carolina. More of it stayed in South Carolina, although some got to Georgia still the cancer rate was below average. All right. And it wasn't until they built those two nuclear reactors in Burke county, in Georgia, right there when the cancer rates began to change from below average to well above average. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:11 And for the sake of clarity, we know that there are two new reactors that are under construction, but are there other reactors that are on the site of Vogel that are in operation and have been Joseph Mangano 05:51:24 The answer to both your questions are yes. And yes, the ones that began operating in the late eighties continue to operate, even though they're getting older than corroding and leaking. And then so on, but in the, who I guess about 10, 15 years ago, there was an effort to build new reactors building had stopped. Essentially. The last approvals for reactors were in the late seventies because the people had financed it. You know, the wall street people understood it to be very expensive and very dangerous. So this nuclear Renaissance, as they called it began, and there was a lot of discussion in Washington and they, all they did after years and years was think the number was 15 billion, not to help build reactors, but in case a new reactor was built and they had to stop that the builders would get their money back. There was a number of reactors that were proposed every like 20 of them, almost every one pulled out. Joseph Mangano 05:52:29 They said, you know what? We can't do this. This is going to take years and years to, to build these things. It's going to take a heck of a lot of money. We've got new types and safer types of energy, like solar and wind. Forget it. An exception was the Vogel plant where the reactors three and four were not completely built, but the building process began, I believe it was about eight years ago. And there been all these promises of about when they're going to be finished and how much it would cost. Well guess what, as the years go on the expected year of opening keeps getting pushed further in the future. And of course the bill gets bigger and bigger right now. The construction is only about one third done. And this is after about, I think it's about eight or 10 years. That's very slow. That means it's going to take 20, 25 years or more to finish these things and ungodly amounts of money. There is a very strong citizen-based effort to stop the construction. And there's a lot of people who believe that these two reactors will never operate. And of course, part of it is the idea of environmental injustice or racial injustice. In this case that you're picking on a very poor area with a large proportion of African-Americans and putting these dangerous reactors, more of these dangerous reactors there Libbe HaLevy 05:53:59 That was health researcher, Joseph Mengana of radiation and public health project. You can read more about his important work@radiation.org. And that link will be up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 24 Announcer 05:54:19 Activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:54:27 There is a great article up in in-depth news.net, entitled nuclear weapons have always been illegal it's long past time to abolish them. It's written by Jacquelyn cabasa, who is executive director of the Western states legal foundation and affiliate of the international association of lawyers against nuclear arms. Did you know that the international association of lawyers against nuclear arms was a thing? I certainly didn't until I read this, Jackie has put together a comprehensive article that should be part of our resource list. Anytime we want to talk about nuclear weapons and why they need to be gone, it starts with an important quote by Hiroshima Mayer to Kashi, which he made before the international court of justice on November 7th, 1995 in park, he said history is written by the victors. Thus, the heinous massacre that was Hiroshima has been handed down to us as a perfectly justified act of war. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:38 It is clear that the use of nuclear weapons, which cause indiscriminate mass murder, that leaves survivors to suffer for decades is a violation of international law. We'll have a link up to this article on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 5 24, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. Op-ed news.com. And however you want sermons writing nuke, watch.org, utility dive.com. Maria's Paul and Candace Paul up in Saskatchewan, cbc.ca your're active.com seeking alpha.com, modern diplomacy.edu, mirror.co.uk, and to the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to all of you on the nuclear hot seat audience. You are in 123 countries on six continents, and I'm grateful for every last one of you. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:00 Now spread it around, send it to your friends. Let's get more hits from more countries and more people listening so that they get a chance to know the difficult nuclear truth to make it easy. You can get nuclear, hot seat delivered to you free every week. Just go to the website, look for the big yellow box, put in your first name and an email address we can use. And as soon as the show posts, you will get the link plus a short outline of some of the material that's in each show. And you can help us out with your local stories. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest three communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that luck is a terrible safety plan when it comes to anything nuclear, that's it. That's your nuclear wake-up call. Now don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:39 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #523: Plutonium Pit Production Lawsuit: Jay Coughlin, Marylia Kelley, Tom Clements URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-pit-production-challenged-by-lawsuit/ Published: 2021-06-30 Duration: 00:58:59 Plutonium Pit (revered to above as the "core") is the detonator at the heart of nuclear bombs — and the United States is planning to make up to 80 pits a year for NEW nuclear weapons, in addition to the 1,500 ready-to-use devices already in our arsenal. This Week's SPECIAL Feature: It's not often that I prep a show's interviews and then throw them out on Tuesday morning because something more important has happened — but that's the case this week. On Monday, June 28, a coalition of community and public interest groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding plans to more than quadruple the production of plutonium pits – the detonating core of nuclear weapons – and split production between the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico and the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. Today, June 29, representatives of this lawsuit held a press conference on a lawsuit filed against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb core (pit) production plans. Nuclear Hotseat attended, asked questions, and was so impressed with the clarity of the information, we asked for permission to carry excerpts on this week's program. The speakers on this show include: Jay Coughlin, Executive Director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, who explains what plutonium pits are and what’s wrong with the plan to create more of them.Tom Clements is director of Savannah River Site (SRS) Watch in Columbia, South Carolina. He speaks about the specific problems and inappropriateness of selecting SRS as a site to produce plutonium pits. Queen Quet, the Chieftess and head of state for the Gullah/Geeche Nation and founder of the Gullah/Geeche Sea Island Coalition. Her people live in proximity to SRS and she speaks on the human toll of ramping up nuclear pit production.Marylia Kelley of Tri-Valley CARES in Livermore, California, connected the dots as to how a new, untested change in nuclear weaponry developed at the Livermore Labs is being used to push through these new plutonium pits – and why they are not needed.LINK to Full Press Conference: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=864853474103335&ref=watch_permalink Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Note to Chinese water distributor:  "Fukushima" is not positive branding for your product, whether true or not.  Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear is the pits. Well, actually, if we're talking about nuclear weapons, they're each triggered by a plutonium pit. That's the trigger. And when it's detonated, it compresses the plutonium enough to make it super critical. And then, well, that's the end of life on earth. As we know it, one of the legacies of the past two presidential administrations is the push to create more plutonium pits. So we can make more nuclear weapons because Hey, the 1500, the United States currently has couldn't possibly be enough, could it, but that's hardly the only danger we face from this plan, because along with many other issues, it doesn't account for the high level radioactive waste created by this plutonium pit production. So when a genuine expert has read this frying print and she tells you Jay Coughlin 00:00:59 And a table in a mirror table, and NSA says it will send pet material from Los Alamos to live or more for quote unquote material testing. There is no accompanying text to analyze this action. Livermore and Los Alamos are about 1100 miles apart. According to that table, plutonium pit material of some size not specified will be shipped from New Mexico by some method not specified to the San Francisco bay area. Some number of times not specified for material testing, not described. My community has a right to know. My community has a right to comment on this proposal. It is workers in the public who will suffer the risks of accidents, spills weeks and exposures, the NSA's refusal to undertake the appropriate program wide analysis. What this means across the country is robbing fence line communities like mine of our right under the law to participate in decisions that will affect us. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:13 Well, when you hear Mary Leah Kelly from Tri-Valley cares and a whole lineup of nuclear experts, explain why this proposed plutonium pit production truly is the pits. And that's why they have joined together to file a comprehensive lawsuit against the government to stop it. You see how thin the human line is between survival of the species and bit dangerously radioactive seat that we all share Announcer 00:02:43 To clear hot seat. What are those people thinking, Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been? Braking? Claire. Hotsy the Cari Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:14 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as the survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we bring you highlights from a high powered press conference held earlier today. It was held to announce a lawsuit that has been filed against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb, core production plans. You will hear today from Jay Coughlin of nuclear watch New Mexico, Tom Clemens from Savannah river site watch in South Carolina, Mary Leah Kelly of tri valley cares, which watchdogs the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory near San Francisco and queen quit. The chief does and head of state for the Gullah Geechee nation about the human cost of the Savannah river site on the local community. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:25 We'll also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information. Then you can find in that trillion dollar infrastructure bill, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, June 29th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting out in the U S in California, where NASA has made the announcement that it will dismantle two test sites at the toxic Santa Susana field lab area. Toxic is an understatement because that's where rockets were tested and were nuclear reactors without containment vessels around them were also tested including one that had a partial meltdown and vented its radiation into the environment with no notice to the local people and many places where radioactive material was just dumped as to this cleanup. Critics say that NASA has already agreed under the terms of a binding agreement with the state in 2010 to clean the soil up to the most stringent standards and a tearing down of these two sites is not aligned with that agreement. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:41 The on-site testing, which was done primarily in the 1950s, left the area contaminated with radioactive and chemical toxins affecting nearby communities of Chatsworth thousand Oaks, Canoga park, west Hills and Simi valley, which are the, that are closest in proximity to it. And nearly 400,000 people currently reside for decades. Activists have been calling for the cleanup of the sprawling area, but a full scale cleanup has not yet been launched west Hills resident and leading activist, Melissa Bumstead who has been on nuclear hot seat on this issue, wondered whether quote NASA is testing the department of toxic substance control. That's the California agency in charge of all cleanups to see if they can quietly abandon their legal cleanup agreements and apply their version of a suburban residential cleanup standard. Even though it would leave 95% of the contamination at the Santa Susana field lab permanently in place, the residents official pushback will be chronicled on the show in the coming weeks. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:51 In another example of radiation contamination, being the gift that keeps on giving in Apollo, Pennsylvania, more than 30 RV campers have been parked at the site of Apollo's former Babcock and Wilcox nuclear fuel site. Since early may. This has prompted some environmental activists in the area to question whether that vial is land use restrictions on the site, the RVs are parked on part of the 22 acre parcel that was home to the former nuclear materials and equipment Corp or new MC and its successors, the Atlantic Richfield company and Babcock and Wilcox, which was also the company behind three mile island. The site has a history of radiological contamination and litigation. Several hundred area residents have sued Babcock and Wilcox and Atlantic Richfield claiming radioactive emissions from the former nuclear processing plant caused cancers and property damage. They settled for more than $80 million in federal court. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:58 More than a decade ago, Patty amino and Apollo native, who has been featured on nuclear hot seat said she believes that disturbing soil on the site violates the covenants of that agreement. She said any disturbed soil might have contamination. And the last thing that people of the valley want is to be exposed to nuclear material again, in a story that almost made it to numnuts of the week, but it's too important and deserves more of a news focus. The vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff stated in a letter on June 22nd, that his greatest infrastructure concern is quote, any delay that translates to miss deadlines for plutonium pits, the nuclear weapons course to be produced as proposed in both South Carolina and New Mexico general, John heighten wrote to a member of the house armed services committee stating as our nuclear weapons, stockpile ages. It is essential that we continue to modernize our aging DOE department of energy infrastructure. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:05 The lies in his letter are revealed in depth in today's special feature, plutonium, Pitt production and everything. That's wrong with it. As for the word infrastructure general, you should look it up because it means public and private physical structures, such as roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, water, supply, sewers, electrical grids, and telecommunications, including internet connectivity and broadband access, which nowhere states that the expansion of the ability to blow up the planet and all life on it does not appear. And the propaganda drum beats keep beating for bill gates and his earth 300 a nuclear powered, $700 million yap that wants to save the world except they spelled it. Y a T C H or Yatch, which wants to save the world that sounds ever so much better in phrasing, obviously lifted directly from a press release the article states to make sure something is monolithic. Is this doesn't further harm the planet it's powered by a zero emissions energy source. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:22 Get this derived from an onboard molten salt reactor developed by bill gates, Tetra power company. But it's a, yeah. If you can't get your copy editing, correct. What makes you think you can get something like a, like a nuclear driven seagoing vessel, right? But as they say, the devil is in the details over to Japan where the national Federation of fishermen's cooperative associations held its general meeting in April and unanimously adopted a resolution against the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean sand that unacceptable that it had promised to quote, dispose of any contaminated water without the understanding of the people concern. But the government has reversed. This promise and fishermen across the country are voicing their anger. Also in April, the Japanese government decided to release the contaminated water from the Fukushima plant, meaning radioactive water, holding tritium into the Pacific ocean for about 30 years after quote, reducing the concentration of radioactive materials below the legal limit. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:45 Two things wrong with that. First of all, dilution is not the solution to nuclear pollution because a single atom can be dangerous. B it releases neutrons. That's like the little bullets, a little machine gun coming out from it. So you're not diluting it, which usually means to make weaker, but you're diffusing it. Meaning it's just going in smaller quantities, over a larger area. Secondly, legal limit is a human construct. Easily manipulated does not mean that it's safe. And speaking of not safe, Japan is rebooting the aging Mahama nuclear reactor, even as experts have been expressing concern, Kansai electric power, which serves Osaka has restarted the number three nuclear reactor at its Mohamad station in Western Japan as of Wednesday, June 24th, the reactor is the oldest to be restarted since the 2011 Fukushima disaster and needed special approval to have its lifetime extended beyond the standard 40 year limit. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:56 The 40 year limit is there because when nuclear reactors were first built engineers, estimated that was the longest they could be run safely before the nuclear reactions. So in brittle the metal that it became dangerous and there could be a major accident. This reactor has also been standing idle for 10 years. Tatsu Jiro Suzuki, former your deputy chair of the cabinet offices, atomic energy commission told Reuters. It looks like the industry and the government have not learned the lessons of Fukushima regarding nuclear safety and Japanese opinion polls regularly show that the public remains opposed to nuclear power over to Pakistan where that country's prime minister, Emory Khan has said that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is quote, simply a deterrent to protect the country. And there will no longer be any need for it. Once the cashmere issue is solved. Pakistan has 165 nuclear warheads, and it appears to be expanding its nuclear arsenals this according to a study by Stockholm international peace research Institute, prime minister Khan did say that he was quote completely against nuclear arms, but went on to say any country, which has a neighbor seven times its size would be worried on a hopeful note. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:21 He added the moment. There is a settlement on Kashmir. The two neighbors would live as civilized people. We will not need to have nuclear deterrence. And now in the latest edition of nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy  01:14:46 I think in China, the JJ king based bottled water brand known Fu spring has received backlash from its Chinese netizens. After its peach flavored, sparkling water was marketed as sourcing peach ingredients from Japan's Fukushima prefecture tastes good and it glows in the dark, a Chinese netizen posted a photo on social media platform. Weebo showing an advertising board in a supermarket saying a peach flavored sparkling water from spring uses Kuti peach from Japan's Fukushima prefecture as an ingredient along with screenshots of the drinks introduction from Springs, official Weechat account stating the peach is from Japan, Fukushima prefecture upon learning of this citizen led outing of their ingredient. Non-food spring updated their website saying that the company just used a recipe to imitate the taste of the peach later. They changed their story to emphasize that it was the type of peaches mentioned in the advertisement that originated from the Fukushima, but they had been introduced to China in the last century. Still no word from the company, whether they were using artificial ingredients to imitate the flavor of Fukushima peaches, whether they were using originally from Fukushima peaches that were now in China or whether they had been caught out in something else. Meanwhile, the shares of non-food spring fell 1.5, 8% on Monday following the online backlash that started on Sunday, using anything from Fukushima as a sales promotion point, what were your advertising people thinking? And that's why knowing Fu spring you are this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:16:51 Here's this week special feature. I had another set of interviews, all prepped for this week show, but a press conference held earlier today, presented information that is urgent and requires our attention. It's on a lawsuit filed against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb, core production plans, generally known as plutonium pits, a coalition of community and public interest groups filed a lawsuit against the us department of energy, the DOE and the national nuclear security administration known as the N N S a. This legal action is prompted by the agency's failure to take a hard look required by the national environmental policy act at their plans to quadruple the production of plutonium pits and split their production between the Los Alamos national laboratory in New Mexico and the Savannah river site in South Carolina, the following are excerpts from a much longer press conference, and we will have links up to the full press conference. If you want to take a look at it, plus the PowerPoint visuals, it's all available on nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 23, but these explanations I'm about to share were so well crafted and delivered by the participants that I wanted to bring it to your attention. As soon as possible. First, you will hear from Jay Coughlin, he is executive director of nuclear watch New Mexico, and here he explains what plutonium pits are and what's wrong with the plan to create more of them Jay Coughlin 01:18:28 Just to start with the basics of what a pit is. And I once went to Russia with effects sheet I wrote, and the word PIP got mistranslated as a hole in the ground. So I ended up with a very puzzled Russian audience. So in this case, the pit is like the core, like the pit of a peach. So a plutonium pit is the fizzle core of a nuclear weapon. And it's surrounded by conventional high explosives that when detonated compresses the pit into a critical mass creating nuclear fission, which in turn creates fusion in the secondary component of the nuclear weapon, creating the immense H bonds of today. Now regarding the current state of play in going back in history, first of all, the department of energy lost the capability to mass produce pits when FBI raid investigating environmental crimes shut down production in 1989 at the Rocky flats plant near Denver, Colorado in 1996, the department of energy relocated PIP production to Los Alamos after following or fulfilling its legal requirements under the national environmental policy act to conduct, what's known as a programmatic environmental impact statement. Jay Coughlin 01:19:55 Now having done that DOE explicitly limited production at Los Alamos to more, no more than 20 Pittsburgh a year. However, following that DOE is newly created national nuclear security administration tried four times in between the years of 2003 and 2008 to expand PIP production through various processes under the national environmental policy act. And all four times DOE was defeated primarily due to overwhelming citizen opposition. Now fast forward to 2018 in may when MMSA announced its plans, its overly ambitious plans to begin production of at least 30 pits per year at Los Alamos by the year 2026 and at least 50 pits per year at the Savannah river site by 2030. And we know that schedule has already slipped by up to five years. It should be noted. This is a crucial point. None of this future PIP production is to maintain the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear weapons, stockpile. Jay Coughlin 02:21:11 Instead it's all for speculative new designs that can't be tested thereby perhaps undermining confidence in stockpile, reliability and in the extreme, even creating pressures for the U S to resume nuclear weapons tests. So what lessons has an in a safe learned apparently it's to duck its legal responsibility under the national environmental policy act to complete an new programmatic environmental impact statement. And then the essay has learned again to try to cut the public out. And that's why today we have filed this lawsuit to seek, to enforce the public's right to comment on the tens of billions of dollars that are going to be put into expanded pit production and the growing nuclear arms race Libbe HaLevy  02:22:02 Coughlin went on to speak about issues specific to Los Alamos national laboratory. In Jay Coughlin 02:22:09 First of all, within the last month, the government has committed that PIP reduction will be delayed at the Savannah river site, which Tom will address, but it's questionable as well that mantle our Los Alamos national laboratory can meet the stated goal of 30 pits per year by the year 2026. Now, first of all, I want to mention how unnecessary all of this is independent experts have concluded that pits last, at least a century. And we already have some 15,000 pits stored at the Pantex plant near Amarillo, Texas. Now regarding the lab's ability to produce 30 pits per year, it should be noted that the most it has produced to date has been 11 in the year, 2011. And since then the laboratory has produced zero pits for the stockpile. It has reduced so-called practice pits, but again, getting pit certified to go into the stockpile has been incapable of doing that since the year 2011. Jay Coughlin 02:23:17 And do note that mammals pet production facility cause goes by the moniker PFR it's aging. It began operations in 1978. There's also a number of other major Pantonium operations that compete for floor space and all of this, I have to wonder whether the known delay at SRS will have a boomerang effect on the already stressed capability of Los Alamos to produce pits. Now, needless to say, there's been a number of problems with PIP production at Los Alamos. There's a long track record of chronic Nixon or credit quality safety issues, which even shut down PS4 for three years, with respect to the national environmental policy act, it's often said by aficionados of NEBA, that risk analysis is at the heart of NEPA and it should be noted that the highest dose that NSA has calculated to the public today is 8.2 milligram, which is roughly equivalent to a typical chest x-ray and contrast the independent defense Nicanor facilities. Jay Coughlin 02:24:29 Safety board has postulated potential doses to the public of 24 rooms, which has some 3000 times higher than an NSA is ever calculated. And in fact, the safety board postulated occupational doses of 760 rim to workers, which is lethal again, going back to risk analysis twice over the last two decades, the laboratory has been seriously threatened by catastrophic wildfires and in the year 2000 even had to evacuate the entire lab and the town site yet I find it completely egregious that the DOE inspector general found just this February, that laboratory neglect was increasing the potential for a devastating wildfire. That's just outrageous. Finally I'll note the serious environmental justice, you know, she was here, the Biden administration has purportedly begun to pay a lot of attention to environmental justice. And in fact, president Biden issued an executive order towards that end, but do know that in Lamaze so-called region of influence, which is a 50 mile radius, that the population is 68% people of color. Jay Coughlin 02:25:50 So needless to say, we have some serious environmental issues. The final question, and this is relevant for both Los Alamos and the Savannah river site is where real, all this new PIP production radioactive waste go and note that the laboratory already has from years of nuclear weapons production, some 300,000 cubic meters of existing waste that it plans to leave permanently buried without cleaning them up. As a result we have in this arid state, a serious surface and groundwater contamination, and can't be stressed enough that our water resources are absolutely vital with respect to where the waste would go. They supposedly would go to the waste isolation pilot plant, which is the nation's only dump four to Tony and waste in New Mexico. But in 2014 in improperly prepared waste barrel ruptured underground at web contaminated 21 workers and shut it down for three years, costing the taxpayers $2 billion to reopen. And with all this PIP production will double labs. Antonian wastes for whip. Finally note that whip is permitted by the state of New Mexico only through the year 2024, and it's already oversubscribed. So it's not clear where all these increased radioactive waste scrum on necessary expanded bomb production is going to go. So we can only conclude that all of these issues and more demand, very careful, deliberate programmatic review, which the national Nixon, our security administration is deliberately and illegally avoiding Libbe HaLevy  02:27:43 Jay Coughlin of nuclear watch New Mexico in the press release that was made available. Once the conference began, Coghlan said the national nuclear security administration has tried four times to expand plutonium pit bomb, core production, but failed each time due to overwhelming citizen opposition. And then S a is now cutting the public out by refusing to complete nationwide review of expanded pit production for controversial new design nuclear weapons. We filed this lawsuit to enforce the legal rights of citizens to speak out on the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars. That will be squandered in the new nuclear arms race. Tom Clemens is director of SRS watch, which stands for Savannah river site. Watch in Columbia, South Carolina here, he speaks about specific problems and inappropriateness of selecting SRS as a site to produce plutonium pits. Tom Clemens 02:28:48 I'm from Savannah, Georgia, and as a child lived across the Savannah river from SRS, the Savannah river plant was established in the early 1950s to produce plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons since the five nuclear reactors per closed by the mid 1980s, SRS has not produced plutonium. Plutonium from SRS was shipped to the now closed and contaminated Rocky flats site in Colorado for Pitt production. So most importantly, SRS has never stored processed or produced pits for nuclear weapons. Production of pits at SRS will be a daunting technical challenge that has not been properly reviewed. Choosing SRS for Pitt production was done for parochial political reasons due to the failure of the mixed oxide plutonium fuel project by 2018, over $8 billion have been wasted on construction of the Mox plant. And you can see it in the photo there and the cost escalated to 28 billion and the operational date slipped to 2048, but no congressional investigations into that debacle have ever been conducted rather than first preparing their required programmatic EIS, which we're talking about today. Tom Clemens 03:30:14 DEO, he skipped it and rushed to preparation of site-specific E EIS or SRS, which was released in September, 2020. And that analyzed the capability to produce 50 to 125 pits for year in the retrofitted Mox plant. That EIS is inadequate. It brushes aside environmental justice concerns fails to review the impact of onsite disposal of low-level nuclear waste utterly fails to analyze all DOE sites involved in pit production fails to analyze plutonium waste disposal is J just reviewed and fails to review the cumulative impact of processing plutonium SRS from three major plutonium projects. The next slide, please. Additionally, the need for new pits for new nuclear warheads, starting with the bit for the w 87 dash one warhead for the controversial ground-based strategic deterrent has not been adequately analyzed in the last month. We have learned that the estimate for the SRS plutonium bomb plant is more than doubled from 4.6 billion in 2022, up to 11.1 billion in the NSA budget request of may 28 and also in critical decision one, which was released yesterday, adding to the troubles for the project. Tom Clemens 03:31:42 It was recently revealed in congressional testimony that the date for pit plant operation has slipped from 2030 to as late as 2035, the fiscal year 2022 budget requests for the SRS pit plant construction is 475 million. If construction begins in a few years, $1 billion per year will be needed causing havoc in the, in an essay budget and further stalling. The project enclosing storm clouds for pit production at both SRS and Los Alamos or gathering DOE must deliberately slow down, prepare the mandated P E I S, and rethink the folly of its current approach that could play a key role in a dangerous new nuclear arms race. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:35 Press-release Clement said, DOE is rushed planning to unnecessarily expand nuclear bomb. Production has already resulted in a massive cost increase and significant delays in the SRS plutonium bomb plant. While more delays and cost increases appear likely it is essential that DOE slow down and comply with requisite environmental laws before jumping into ill-conceived plans to expand plutonium PIP production, which would be a key part of a dangerous new nuclear arms race. That was from Tom Clemens, director of SRS. Watch in Columbia, South Carolina, speaking on community objections to the planned plutonium pit production at Savannah river site was queen quit. She is the chief deaths and head of state for the Gullah Geechee nation and founder of the Gullah Geechee sea island coalition. It is in close proximity with the Savannah river site Queen Qwit 03:33:41 Today. I'm here because we have joined this lawsuit to ensure that the programmatic EIS has done because we are calling for peace. We want there to be protections of environmental actions and community engagement. The entire process that we are accustomed to is allowing our community to know what impacts things will have on our environment. Many people in our community have never before heard of a plutonium pit quite naturally, then they would assume we're talking about mining again, because we have this onslaught of mines coming up in South Carolina, not realizing this is a nuclear warhead. And for it to be created, the plutonium that is utilized is a radioactive material. Anything that happens at the Savannah river plant will end up impacting those that are down the watershed. One would say down to curriculum and anything like that. So we'll reach us in the Gullah Geechee nation. Queen Qwit 03:34:50 It will reach us on the coast and not just by water, but by air. And it has already been discovered in studies that I have reviewed that having this level of radioactivity in communities, that people are ingesting not only through their surface of their skin, but by breathing it in can lead to cancer in some cases. So why is it that the NEPA regulations aren't being followed? Why is it that our community is not now being engaged so that we are well aware of any injustices and negative environmental impacts that will take place as a result of the creation of these pits. We do not want to have the community pitted against the government, but we see that as what is happening. And so therefore I am here today because we have major concerns about what this will do to the natural environment of what we call the state of beautiful places and smiling faces because no one spaces will be smiling when the environment is harmed permanently. Queen Qwit 03:36:05 And definitely when it harms the community, ultimately there's no dollar amount that you can pay to heal communities after they're harmed. And they are having an onslaught of cancerous things that can get into this system. So we are here to stand up for not only to delegate your nation, but the communities of people of color in South Carolina that are in and around the Savannah river plant and from which the winds and the waters will flow. And so we, again, hold on the government of the us to stand up and follow your own regulations and bring about some peace Libbe HaLevy  03:36:46 That was queen quit. The chief, Dez and head of state for the Gulag Geechee nation for the press release. She stated the people of South Carolina are more valuable than plutonium, and we shouldn't have to use our energy in being pitted against a government agency. We need to protect our communities, and this is best done. When there is transparency in the process concerning any land use, the public should be able to fully engage in determining what happens to the land and to the environment, because this will have irreversible impacts on our quality of life. We are digging for the truth about the impacts that this proposal will have on the environment on us and our communities. Queen quit. We'll return to this special report on the lawsuit filed today, June 29 against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb, core production plans. But first nuclear hot seat just started its 11th year of weekly programs. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:53 And there is no end in sight because Hey, it fills a need. The show is cited in more than 80 academic books and journals and articles. And there are more than 10,000 back links to specific episodes from websites around the world. In its first 10 years, nuclear hot seat has become an important resource for people wanting to know the truth about the nuclear juggernaut and what they can do to help fight against it. But the online world keeps evolving and not for the best. As I've mentioned before, Google is changing its algorithm to favor websites, that load faster. And if you don't do the necessary upgrading and of your site, even if people put in the proper search terms, you and your issue, meaning us will not be found. That's why nuclear hot seat is embarking on a total website, rebuild, not a cosmetic moving around of the pieces into a pretty new template. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:53 It's a backend rebuild and upgrade to bring the website into alignment with how the internet works. Now with more than 520 episodes, it's a massive job and the biggest expense undertaken in the history of the show in order to accomplish it, I'm going to need your help. It's easy. Go to the website, nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can donate any amount, your choice, or set up a monthly donation, even as little as $5 a month. The same as a cup of coffee and a tip here in the U S will be an enormous help. And there will be bonuses for donations of $100 or more. We can discuss the specifics of what would be best for you. So if you value nuclear, hot seat and water, see us continue to be found online. Now is the time to support us with donation, go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button, do what you can to help and know that however much you can help. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:57 We are deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now back to our special report on today's filing of a lawsuit against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb, core production plans, otherwise known as plutonium Pitt production. We next heard from Mary Leah Kelly of tri valley cares in Livermore, California. This is the group that watched dogs, the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory in Livermore, California. Marilena connected the dots on how a new untested change in nuclear weaponry developed at the Livermore labs is being used to push through these new plutonium pits and why they are not needed. Marry Leah Kelly 04:40:44 I'm married Leah Kelley I'm executive director at tri valley cares, which stands for communities against a radioactive environment here in Livermore, California, right next to the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory. And I want to dive first into the question what's driving and NSA pit production plans. And the answer is a new warhead that's being developed at the Livermore lab here in California called the w 87 dash one. This is driving the schedule and need for 80 plutonium pits annually, all of the pit to be produced at both sites, Los Alamos and Savannah river for at least eight years. We'll all be the the w 87 dash ones. Novel design features, including its Pitt are elective. There are design options that would not require a new pit production. It's notable that no pit production is scheduled for nuclear weapons in the stockpile or for any of the warhead types undergoing what's called refurbishment under the national environmental policy act and an essay must analyze reasonable alternatives, avoiding elective design choices that require new pits is a reasonable option alongside pit reuse, which is a tried and true concept in the nuclear weapons complex. Marry Leah Kelly 04:42:21 Today's filing asked the court to compel the agency to examine reasonable alternatives before spending tens of billions of dollars and adding potential harms to human health and the environment at multiple sites across the country. So to look at some of the unexamined consequences in the final supplement analysis, NNSA lists seven sites across the country that will be involved in pet production. In addition to Savannah river site, Los Alamos and the whip dump facility, however, the agency failed to examine the environmental and health consequences at any of them. The sites are Pantex in Texas, the test site in Nevada, Y 12 and Tennessee, the Kansas city complex and Missouri Sandia lab in New Mexico and in California and the Livermore lab in California, I'll give one example of an unexamined consequences that Livermore lab in my community, in a table in a mirror table, and NSA says it will send pet material from Los Alamos to Livermore for quote unquote material testing. Marry Leah Kelly 04:43:44 There is no accompanying texts to analyze this action Livermore and Los Alamos are about 1100 miles apart. According to that table, plutonium pit material of some size not specified will be shipped from New Mexico by some method not specified to the San Francisco bay area. Some number of times not specified for material testing, not described. My community has a right to know my community has a right to comment on this proposal. It is workers in the public who will suffer the risks of accidents, spills, leaks, and exposures, the NSA's refusal to undertake the appropriate program-wide analysis. What this means across the country is robbing fence line communities like mine of our right under the law to participate in decisions that will affect us. And as described in the complaint in greater detail, Livermore lab has a history of environmental contamination and health risks. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:57 Mary Leah Kelly of Tri-Valley cares in the press release. She added the N N S a national nuclear security administration is robbing the public of its right to comment on alternatives. Get those of us in frontline communities will bear the brunt of this refusal. It is workers and the public who will suffer the risks of accidents, spills, leaks, radioactive exposures, and the production and transportation of plutonium waste. Mary Leah Kelly of tri valley cares the watchdog group for the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory in Livermore, California. At that point in the press conference, the call was opened up to questions, and of course I jumped right in those responding, RJ Coughlin, Tom Clements, and Merrill Leah Kelly. First of all, someone spoke about a bill being passed in 2014 when Obama was president that pushed the pits into production or mandated that they happen. And I would like some clarification on that. Jay Coughlin 04:46:09 It was the fiscal year of 2015 defense authorization act that was passed at the end of 2014. So that was the specific legislation that required at least 80 pits per year. Again, the fiscal year of 2015 defense authorization act. Tom Clemens 04:46:32 And let me add, it did not specify to pit sites that basically is in an essay policy. It's not mandated by law to pursue the SRS Libbe HaLevy  04:46:46 And the follow-up question, which also relates to this is the old adage follow the money. What has been the motivation behind it? This goes back to 2014, who, and what is the motivation behind and where is all of this money actually going? Because if we don't have the need, if there's no reason for them, then the only answer that I can think of is the money. So who's behind this, how did it get started? And maybe that can point to some ways that we can help to derail this. Tom Clemens 04:47:25 I can say a few words than I think both of my colleagues near the sites who are members of the Alliance for nuclear accountability can comment the current site manager at SRS, Savannah river nuclear solutions prepared the documents on converting the Mox plant to the pit plant. Beyond that, we really don't know who are the contractors? Who are they going to be at the various sites? And most of the sites are run by contractors. This project at Los Alamos and Savannah Riverside would be run by contractors and Jake and comment. But I really have no idea who slated to receive that up to $11 billion. And the reason I made a comment in my presentation was the construction of the Mox plant wasted about $8 billion and the administrative costs and the lead in from 1994 was a lot more, where did all that money go? We know the principal contractors who received the money, who I think performed an abysmal job, but Congress has never investigated. So here we are about to throw tens and tens of billions of dollars to contractors who we don't even know who they are. And Congress has not investigated the waste of eight plus billion dollars. It's just the way governments should not be functioning. It's really stunning that this is the situation and that this money is going to, it's probably going to ban it. Dan is just like for the Mox project, I'm quite concerned about this. Jay Coughlin 04:48:58 You know, we get into motivation, which is that's dangerous territory to tread to go into, but I would point out the Frank was pretty good about this pointing out how there's no real need for pit production. What I want to suggest to you Libby that this entire stockpile stewardship program that's been in existence since 2004, its purported purpose was to keep the stockpile safe in the absence of underground testing. But now as Mira, Leah has pointed out and the Nisei is becoming more aggressive about instituting elective changes to the stockpile that could undermine confidence in reliability and could leave the us back into full-scale testing. So I want to suggest to you that this whole stockpile stewardship program is a bit of a Trojan horse for the naked or weapons designers to keep on advancing and evolving new designs. Marry Leah Kelly 05:50:05 I would just say the direct driver of the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory design weapon that they're currently undertaking called the w 87 dash one. I would add to what I said, that it's the first warhead being designed in the United States since the end of the cold war that will use all new components, including pet. And as I stated in all state, again, these design features are elective. There are alternatives. And our hope is in obtaining a programmatic environmental impact statement that we will get a full and fair analysis of other reasonable alternatives as the law requires. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:51 Those answers were given variously by Jay Coughlin, Tom Clemens, and Mary Leah Kelly. This was all from a press conference held just this morning. I'm the lawsuit which was filed yesterday, June 28th, 2021 against the Biden administration over nuclear bomb, Corp plutonium pit production plans. I need to mention that there were other representatives on the panel as well. And we simply did not have time to give them the space to be on this program. They provided even more detailed information as well, including attorney Leslie Lenhart of the South Carolina environmental law project, which was instrumental in drawing up and filing the lawsuit and Frank Von Hippel, who is a senior research physicist and professor of public and international affairs emeritus with Princeton's program on science and global security, which he co-founded to watch the full press conference. There will be a link to the video recording up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 23, we will also have links to the press conference and the full 42 page legal complaint. Announcer 05:52:11 Activists Libbe HaLevy  05:52:19 Managed Joe Green of Riverkeeper in New York, sent us a great article by Simon Butler out of Edinburgh. It's entitled 10 reasons. Climate activists should not support nuclear. It's extensive it's long. It's really well thought out and very clear, and we will link to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 23 nuclear information and resource service or nears sent us a petition put together on clean energy future, no national bailout that's because last week three senators proposed a new nuclear bailout bill that could become the energy blueprint for president Biden's $2.3 trillion American jobs plan. They were senators Cardin from Maryland white house from Rhode Island and Carper from Delaware, all of them Democrats, and they want Congress to include a massive subsidy for nuclear power plants in what is currently a good renewable energy bill. The senator's amendment would give between 50 and $100 billion to dangerous, expensive nuclear power plants. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:32 There's information on who to write to about this. Another link up on the website. And there is a zoom in are coming up on July 8th on the 25th anniversary of the 1996 international court of justice advisory opinion on the legality of threat or use of nuclear weapons that 1996 decision was the first authoritative international judicial opinion on nuclear weapons since their development in the 1940s. And it is generally considered one of the most important opinions that the ICJ, the international court of justice has delivered that's because it functions as an important reference for civil society in its work towards the elimination of nuclear weapons for this digital event, leading international lawyers and activists, professors of international law and experts on arms control and disarmament law. We'll discuss the importance of the opinion and its relevance for the present day. Struggle towards nuclear disarmament. Again, link will be up on the website you have to register before you can access. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:40 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, June 29th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com nuclear information and resource service.org. The international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons managed Joe Green, Patty amino, I allana.info daily news.com post and courier.com. Hype beast.com, reuters.com. Business stash, standard.com, rethinking security.org.uk, the international atomic energy agency at dot org. How did the international atomic energy agency get to be a.org instead of a.com global times.cn, the bulletin.org. And of course the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission, thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. You know, the show has been downloaded in 123 countries on six continents and still we are counting more. So if you've got friends overseas, turn them onto the show, let them download it as well. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:02 Let's keep building the international presence. And for those of you on our growing network of broadcast stations around the west, thank you for listening. And if anyone knows of a community radio station, a nonprofit that would like to have nuclear hot seat, we can make that arrangement and it will cost them nothing. All it takes is an email to me@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. Now you can guarantee you get the show every week and you can get it in your email. As soon as it posts. It's an easy thing to do. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com scroll until you see the yellow opt-in box, put in a first name, put in an email address, that's it. And you will have every week the show with the link, as well as a short description of some of the material that's in it, real, simple and easy way for you to get your weekly hit of nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:58 If you'd like to learn more about our upcoming website upgrade, which is necessary. So nuclear hot seat does not get excluded from Google algorithm searches. There's a way that you can help send me an email at info nuclear, hot seat.com, or just look for that big red button where you can support the show and specifically support the website. Redo. I promise any answer you get will not come from a bot will not come from AI, but will come from a real human being named me. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotsy.com. This is how I get some of my best leads for the show. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leebee Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that luck is a terrible safety plan. When it comes to a nuclear reactor, there you go. That is your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:21 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's bomb. ### NH #522: Nuclear Justice Sought for "Nuclear Guinea Pigs": Marshall Islands' Desmond Doulatram URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-justice-sought-for-marshall-islands/ Published: 2021-06-24 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Guinea Pigs – Marshall Islanders in the south Pacific were bombarded with 106 nuclear bombs, getting hit by the radiation equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima atomic bombs every day for 12 years. Now, they want their story told and "justice" – whatever that can possibly mean. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Guinea Pigs:Desmond Narain Doulatram, a citizen of the Marshall Islands, is co-founder of the nonprofit organization REACH-MI (Radiation Exposure Awareness Crusaders for Humanity- Marshall Islands), where he serves as Research Director and Advisor. REACH-MI provides information and explores ways to address unresolved nuclear issues to improve community conditions, people's lives, and achieve "Nuclear Justice." Desmond is an in-kind researcher for the Republic of the Marshall Islands' National Nuclear Commission and has presented at anti-nuclear related conferences, workshops, trainings, and seminars at the University of Basel in Switzerland, Oregon State University, University of San Francisco, Melbourne University, University of Tokyo, Toronto’s Humber College, and College of the Marshall Islands. He is currently a Social Science Instructor at the College of the Marshall Islands teaching Issues in Pacific Studies and Contemporary Social Issues in Micronesia, where the Nuclear Legacy of the Marshall Islands and the greater Pacific Region continue to be hotly debated issues amongst its people. We spoke on Sunday, June 6, 2021. Desmond Narain Doulatram (l) and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy (r) Other Marshall Islands contacts, information: Keyoka Kabua, Secretary for the National Nuclear Commission secretary@rminuclearcommission.net Arianna Tibon, Education Coordinator for the National Nuclear Commission educate@rminuclearcommission.net Adam Jonas Horowitz' powerful documentary Nuclear Savage, which tells of the https://www.nuclearsavage.com/ Locations of atomic bomb blasts in the Marshall Islands. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): UFOs and Fukushima? Hey, why not…! (Oy!) Links: Tooth Fairy Project on Fermi Radiation – article by Radiation and Public Health's epidemiologist Joseph Mangano and Christie Brinkley ### NH #521: 10th Anniversary! San Onofre Lawsuit = Last Line of Defense for So CA? + Exelon Illinois $Billion Bailout UPDATE & China Radiation Leak URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-lawsuit-exelon-bailout-china-radiation-leak/ Published: 2021-06-16 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Hotseat 10th Anniversary, and there's more nuclear news than ever: San Onofre lawsuit, China radiation leak info contradictions, Exelon Illinois bailout may be scuttled by French EDF's concerns. This Week's Featured Interviews: San Onofre owners Southern California Edison plan to dismantle spent fuel pools – the last line of defense in a radiation accident on the California coast. Now a lawsuit filed by Samuel Lawrence Foundation seeks to retain spent fuel pools and have a "hot cell" – repackaging unit – built on-site in case of future radiation accidents. To learn more, we spoke with Cathy Iwane. She has a post-graduate degree in Japanese, taught English in the public and private sector in Japan for 25 years, and co-founded Gaia English Academy in Wakayama, Japan. Since moving to Southern California from Japan after Fukushima, she was interpreter for Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan for the public education panel entitled, “Fukushima: Ongoing Lessons.” Cathy is a Board Member of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation and remains engaged in the effort to educate the public about the risks of nuclear waste, especially at San Onofre. We spoke on Sunday, June 13, 2021. Lawrence O'Donnell report on San Onofre problems and lawsuit: LINKS from the interview: San Onofre One Pager on the SLF Lawsuit, going to trial June 16 in LA Superior Court: *Includes Petition (click-to-send email form letter; can be edited) to each CA Coastal Commissioner telling them why the issues in the lawsuit are important to listeners: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-our-coast/California Coastal Commission Meeting Agenda & Speaker Submission Request link for listeners: Meetings are held each month over a period of 3 days. Unless San Onofre is already on the agenda for future meetings, speakers must specify that they will speak in General Comments. Link to sign up to speak and/or attend Southern Cal Edison's Community Engagement Meeting on June 17, 5:30-8:30 to voice support for SLF Lawsuit : Dave Kraft, Illinois Exelon Bailout UPDATE: BLOCKBUSTER DEVELOPMENT: Exelon‘s New York nuclear business partner, France's EDF, is not pleased with the company's plans to spin off all their money-losing nuclear reactors into a separate company… for which EDF would continue to be liable. Dave Kraft of Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) in Chicago gives us a five minute update. LINKS from the interview: Downloadable PDF of the Crane's article: Exelon's corporate partner seeks to slow down spinoff train.Downloadable PDF of article outing Exelon lobbyist bragging about how lobbying pays off, big time, in taxpayer dollars. China Reactors Radiation Release: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Information, being interviewed on Al Jazieera regarding the nuclear radiation leak at China's Taishan Nuclear Power Plant. CLICK ON PICTURE OR THIS LINK TO ACCESS VIDEO. LINKS: Karl Grossman article: Automation of Space Warfare Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 When Southern California is San Onofre, nuclear reactors were finally shut down in 2013 residents throughout the region, breathed a sigh of relief because the threat of a radiation accident was over. Wasn't it? Well, fast forward to right now, as owner operator Southern California, Edison is attempting to get out of Dodge and leave behind just a little souvenir of its time. Running those reactors. The so-called spent fuel rods, which were riddled with plutonium, and in order to learn the truth about what's really going on at the Santa Ana fray site, you have to go to a deeply committed local citizen who has been working on Santa no fray issues. Since she moved from Japan after Fukushima, and she tells you Kathy 00:00:52 We were left with 6.3 million pounds of nuclear waste. It is stranded at Santa Fe beach and spin walled Holtec international canisters with a defective loading system, scratching and gouging. The canisters. These canisters are only warrantied for 25 years, nor are they seismically rated. So essentially Southern Cal Edison purchased the cheapest canisters. They could. This waste is buried 100 feet from the Pacific ocean and one foot above naturally occurring water tables, climate change predicts that rising seas and extreme weather events like flooding tsunami and the Marine layer environment will only hasten the corrosion of these canisters. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:39 Thanks Southern California Edison. That's quite a legacy. What a long lasting reminder of your incompetence and lack of care for people and the environment and we, the people don't appreciate it. So when we learn about attempt to Barre, what's nothing short of multiple Chernobyl's worth of high level radioactive waste, dirty bombs on the beach in the middle of 8 million people. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we have all been forced into that dangerous radioactive seat. The one that we all share welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:15 It's our 10th anniversary of weekly podcast production. And we celebrate by checking in with two of our ongoing stories. We talk with Kathy Ahwahnee of the Samuel Lawrence foundation about how Southern California Edison is preparing to walk away from its legacy of high level radioactive waste created while it was operating the San Onofre nuclear reactors and how close they are to getting away with it. Citizen activist alert, grassroots actions are the only thing that can stop this from happening. And we'll tell you how to get involved. And we check in again with last week's featured interviewee Dave craft, head of nuclear energy information service in Chicago. I'm a new and possibly hopeful piece of breaking news that might slow or stop the intended $700 million plus bailout of Exelon's unprofitable nuclear power plants. In that state. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than was officially and publicly mentioned at the G seven conference. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:28 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, June 15th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. First, an update on a still evolving story last week on nuclear hot seat, number five 20, I interviewed Dave craft director of the nuclear energy information service, or N E I S on the propose Illinois state bailout of Exelon's nuclear reactors. And wouldn't, you know, it at the exact moment that I was putting the show all over social media news came through of an important new development in this story. One that has national and perhaps international implications, and it could slow stall or perhaps even stop the bailout. So of course, I contacted Dave craft to learn the latest which we recorded on Saturday, June 12th, 2021, Dave craft. What was that piece of information? And what does it portend? Dave Kraft 00:05:34 The information was a filing that took place by one of Exelon's business partners. If you can believe they have them company called EDF, which is related to the French EDF, of course, and they do business together in the state of New York. The strange filing though, was that their partner EDF filed with the state public utilities commission in New York, asking them to slow down. This proposed been off company that Exelon was attempting to create out of its nuclear plants. Earlier this year at their annual meeting, they announced to their shareholders that the company was going to be divided up. They were going to put all the nuclear plants in one company, which they don't have a name for us. So they call it spin co meaning they're spinning them off. And the other one was going to be all of the regulated utilities like Commonwealth Edison and the ones in the regulated markets, which have a guaranteed annual profit. Dave Kraft 00:06:28 So their partner, you got very nervous about this and pointed out a number of interesting facts, which we have been attempting to point out to the legislators here in Illinois as well, that this company is a virtual unknown. There is no board of directors. There is no street address. There are no assets. And if you do set up this company is if you set it up as an LLC, there will be literally no financial backing for those nuclear reactors that are already losing money, except the rates that they can charge in the markets that they exist in and their property assets, which are useless. If you don't use them as a nuclear plant. This is very interesting to us that if their own business partners, they slow this thing down, that should send red flags up everywhere in the Exelon market, that something is not quite right. It needs to be examined in much more detail. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:21 What extent do you believe that the legislators in Illinois who will be within weeks, if not days, considering this bailout, how aware do you think they are of this latest development and its implications? Dave Kraft 00:07:36 There's two answers to that. Many of them should be very aware because we sent the article on to them and said, pay attention to this for us. It's a good reason not to blindly grant bail outs to the Exelon nuclear reactors here in Illinois, because we don't even know who's going to own them. In a few months. We have gotten no responses from any of the legislators or from the governor's staff about this. Now, as of this taping, we've been told that in the coming week on Tuesday, the 15th, the Illinois Senate will be voting on the Illinois energy legislation. And on the following day, the Wednesday, the 16th, the house, we'll take it up and vote. As we have heard. Now, the bill is this kind of, sort of a Frankenstein of everybody's input over the last several months. We say that they dropped all the legislation in alleged matter and turned down the switch and something will be coming out this week. Dave Kraft 00:08:30 We still hear that there are competing versions and competing bills though. Governor Pritzker has his own idea of what it should look like. And apparently the Senate is writing its own draft as well. So we don't know how this competition is going to get resolved. The final development that we did here though today is that the Illinois clean jobs coalition has formally voted to support the governor's version of whatever legislation comes out, which will include a nuclear bailout. And one of the concerns we've raised is that this proposed bail out from the governor has escalated from the $350 million over five years, that was recommended by his hired independent auditor earlier this tier that ballooned out to around 540 million in the second iteration, then it went up to 600 million. And just the other day, a news account came out that they're talking now close to 700 million for five years. So this thing is expanding a little bit slower than the rate that the universe is expanding, but it is expanding inexorably. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:37 What impact might the EDF filing in New York state as regards their partnership with Exelon have Illinois. And might that be a way of slowing the vote, stopping the vote, reconsidering, what is being voted on? Anything at all in that range? Dave Kraft 00:09:58 What the filing is about are the licensed transfers of all of these nuclear plants that the nuclear regulatory commission has to approve. And excellent has nuclear plants in four or five states. So in order to put all of these into this spin code or whatever it's called, the nuclear regulatory commission has to approve it. However, the state of new York's attorney general, I believe is going to be filing some comments with the nuclear regulatory commission and the business partner EDF has filed with the public utilities commission in New York to slow things down because they want more detail about what this company is going to look like, how it's going to operate, what are its financial backing. Now you asked what the impact would be in Illinois, the same for other parties who have to be signed off and give their approval as well. We do understand that the Illinois attorney General's office has entered this filing with the nuclear regulatory commission. We don't know the details of it, but it does sound like there are a lot of skeptical observers who are required to sign off on this in order for the deal to go through. So it's, it definitely could slow things down a lot, particularly for business partners that has pulled up you'll know, by next Wednesday or Thursday with the situation in Illinois is Libbe HaLevy 01:11:17 Thanks so much for giving us part of your Dave Kraft 01:11:19 Saturday. Great. There'll be thank you very much. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:22 That was Dave craft of nuclear energy information service, N E I S headquartered in Chicago, a link to a downloadable PDF of the cranes story will be available on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 21. And we will, of course, stay in touch with Dave and bring you all the developments in this story as they happen. The big story in this week's news is out of China. On Monday, June 14, a report revealed the presence of a rare gas leak in the first nuclear power station in the world, equipped with a French third generation EPR or pressurized water reactor designed according to CNN and increase in the concentration of certain rare gases was discovered in a circuit of the nuclear power plant of Tai Shan in Guangdong province on the north shore of the south China sea. Earlier that morning, CNN reported it as a possible radioactive leak from a tome, the EDF subsidiary that participated in the construction of the Tai Shan reactors sent a memo to the American department of energy on June eight, mentioning a possible leak in this plant and requested authorization for us technical assistance to resolve what they called an imminent radiological threat. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:46 The response from Chinese safety authorities is to raise the acceptable limits of radiation outside the Ty Shan nuclear power plant to avoid having to shut down the reactors. These new levels exceed French standards. It is currently unclear as to how that compares to us limits. Both reactors remain in operation. According to Paul Gunter, a beyond nuclear earlier in June, a BBC story reported on the deterioration of a coating material on some of the fuel rods at Thai shin unit one, the degradation resulted in the buildup of noble gases in the reactor, predominantly Xenon and Krypton, both of which are radioactive and which can reduce power generation efficiency. Consequently, according to the BBC report, the Chinese state owned operator deliberately released the gases from the reactor after treatment. It wasn't a massive release of radioactivity, but this was not a routine event as for the American response. The Biden administration believes the facility is not yet at a quote unquote crisis level. However concern was significant enough that the national security council state department and department of energy held multiple meetings last week as they monitored the situation. This raises concerns in the UK because the new reactors, the new designs are run by EDF who are also building a new reactor at Hinckley to the exact same specifications and speaking of nuclear problems in the UK, here's this week's outstanding example of nuclear bone headedness. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:38 I want to know what to do with that plutonium contaminated waste from decommissioning nuclear reactors, if it's metal and your in the UK, why not consider it scrap and recycle it as well, just plain metal radiation free Lakeland reports that up to 160 shipping containers of radioactive scrap battle have shown up at the cycle life EDF metal recycling facility at the port of Workington in Cumbria, the lake district about 300 miles from London. And did this radioactive mess was shipped in with absolutely no public warning discussion or even a vote by city councilors to permit it nor has there been any assessment of the radiological risk to nearby residents. They just, oops, forgot to mention it to the public. So the environment agency could imply that there was no interest in the issue from the locals and approve the permit, but there is plenty of interest, especially from radiation free Lakeland still until they get this turned around, make certain that the next time you shop for a belt buckle, you take a Geiger counter along just in case. And that's why you K environment, agency, cycle life, and wherever this radioactively contaminated pile of metal was sourced. You are this week, Announcer 01:16:07 Nuclear Hotseat. Numnutz of the week! Libbe HaLevy 01:16:12 EDF energy, the owner and operator of the UK is operational nuclear fleet is closing and moving to defuelling to gas, cooled reactors at Dungeness B nuclear plant in Kent 50 miles from London, both units had been in an extended outage since September of 2018. And with the current summit taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, between us president, Joe Biden and Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Beatrice, Finn, head of the Nobel peace prize, winning international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons said she believed it was possible that it could mark a turning point and yield a pledge for new nuclear arms talks. She said, these two countries hold over 90% of the world's nuclear arsenals. These two individuals basically have the ability to end the world. As we know it, what is important is that there is an ambition expressed to reach zero and start chipping away at the nuclear arsenals. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:16 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first 10 full years of weekly nuclear hot seat production, who could have imagined it. Not me. When I started this show on June 14th, 2011, I had no idea how long I'd be able to do it, or even if anyone was interested in listening little, did I realize that a full decade later the show and I would be up running and listened to every week in the furthest reaches of the planet. We have listeners on six continents from Brazil to Saskatchewan Mongolia, to France, Japan, to South Africa, New Zealand, to Portugal. I even had someone visiting aunt Arctic who tried to get us that elusive seventh continent, but she couldn't get a decent wifi signal. The show is now cited in over 80 academic books and articles with more showing up every month, there are 10,000 plus back links to specific episodes from websites around the world. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:20 Nuclear hot seat has evolved into an important international resource for nuclear information, but now the online world is evolving and it is not in our favor. Google is changing its algorithms to favor websites that load the fastest. And if you don't do the necessary upgrading and reconfiguring of your site, even if people put in the proper search terms, you, we will not be found and neither will our issues. That is why nuclear hotseat has committed to going through a total website rebuild. This is not a cosmetic moving around of the pieces into a pretty new template. It's a backend rebuild and upgrade to bring the website into alignment with how the internet works. Now it is a massive job. And as you can imagine, it's not inexpensive to get that work done. I have found the right company with the right skills and the willingness to cut the show. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:19 An amazing deal. I believe it has something to do with the company's founder, being a new father and understanding that nuclear hot seat is fighting for his daughter's future. Still it's a chunk of money and I need your help to raise it. Yes. Go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and do what you can. Every $5 is a help in getting us in that direction. I'm developing bonuses for donations of $100 or more. And if you have the ability to donate $500 or more, we can discuss a specific bonus tailored to you and your group's needs a private webinar consultation, radiation protection advice. We'll figure out something that will work for you. So if you value nuclear, hot seat and want to see us continue to be found online now is the time to support us with a donation, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:21 The red donate button that's where you leave a one-time or a monthly donation of any size. And if you'd like to discuss making a larger donation, contact me@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. And we'll set up a time to talk. Please do what you can now and know that however much you can help you have my gratitude. Now here's this week's featured interview. The Santa Ana free nuclear reactors are a story that won't go away to explain what we're up against. I spoke with Kathy. She has a post-graduate degree in Japanese and taught English in the public and private sector in Japan for 25 years since moving to Southern California from Japan after Fukushima, she has been an interpreter for former Japanese prime minister now to Alcon for the public education panel, entitled hookah Shima, ongoing lessons, Kathy, as a board member of the Samuel Lawrence foundation, and remains engaged in the effort to educate the public about the risks of nuclear waste. This is what she does with us now. And we spoke on Sunday, June 13th, 2021, Libbe HaLevy 02:21:33 The Aloni. It is so good to have you back with us here on nuclear hot seat. Kathy 02:21:38 Thank you for having me back would be it's a pleasure. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:41 Let's start with some background about the center and Oprah and nuclear generators. They were permanently shut down as of June 7th, 2013, which is almost exactly eight years ago. What were the circumstances that led up to that shutdown? Kathy 02:21:57 The circumstances leading up to the shutdown. Number one, we had fortunately for the public, there were several whistleblowers and we found out that they were keeping undercover, a radiation leak. I think it was end of January, 2012. And basically with the worst safety record in the United States of all nuclear power plants, they were really digging their own grave. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:26 And when you say they you're referring to the owner operators of Santa Ana, which is Southern California Edison or FCE, correct. And what were the circumstances that came up that led to the shutdown? Kathy 02:22:41 Southern Cal Edison had a steam generator defect, defectively installed defectively designed leading to a radiation leak in 2012 and problems left and right regarding their safety record regarding whistleblowers left and right coming out against unsafe work practices. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:02 You say unsafe practices. Can you be more specific about how I dunno freight was ranked in terms of nuclear reactors around the country? Kathy 02:23:13 This is even after shutdown, they were found to have almost dropped a 50 ton thin-walled canister while loading. It was held for about 25 minutes on a quarter lip Ridge part of the loading system. This was not made clear until someone who was our whistleblower at that time, came out in a public meeting, community engagement panel meeting sponsored by Edison, came out and said, you won't, I'm surprised it's been week. You haven't heard any any of this. And so that was one of many foibles. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:51 I understand Santa no fray was ranked as the worst run or the worst safety record of any of the nuclear reactors in the country. That's Kathy 02:24:00 Correct. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:01 Looking back eight years ago, I think some of us, myself included were naive in thinking that the shutdown would mark the end of the problem, that standard oh, fray. And we would all step back and relax and have a good time of it. But the journey since closure has been fraught to put it mildly, it's impossible to overstate the case, but I'm trying to not go hysterical with it. What has happened since that announcement of the permanent shutdown that we need to be aware of? Kathy 02:24:32 You're exactly right. We thought, oh, it's closed. The, you know, the witch is dead. The biggest uphill battle started in June of 2013 when it was closed down. So we were left with 6.3 million pounds of nuclear waste. It is stranded at Santa Ana, Ray beach and spin Wald. Holtec international canisters with a defect of loading system scratching and gouging. The canisters, these canisters are only warrantied for 25 years, nor are they seismically rated. So essentially Southern Cal Edison purchased the cheapest canisters. They could. This waste is buried 100 feet from the Pacific ocean and one foot above naturally occurring water tables, climate change predicts that rising seas and extreme weather events like flooding tsunami and the Marine layer environments will only hasten the corrosion of these canisters. It not only that, but it sits on the intersection of Newport, Inglewood, Elsinore, and San Andres fault lines. Kathy 02:25:36 And so we have proof that it's located in a tsunami inundation zone. There are geological markers, proving history of tsunami, inland from San Onofre and much to our joy and surprise Lawrence O'Donnell and his show. The last word last week, he covered the problems of Santa no fray. Last week on his show explained that this area was originally on an 1855, the year 1855 map entitled earthquake bay. So it's not, it's no coincidence that we don't have this in the news, nor does Southern Cal Edison speak to the fact that this map is in existence. So, Libbe HaLevy 02:26:17 So when you say thin wall canisters, how's it going? Are we talking here Kathy 02:26:24 Five eighths of an inch steel canisters? Libbe HaLevy 02:26:28 That's it between us and how much waste and what is the half-life of the radiation and the way Kathy 02:26:37 There've been a lot of scientists who have actually spoken on this. And what we do know is that it is high level, high level waste means it is hotter than hot. The NRC actually has increased the level of hotness as it were the level of radioactivity in these canisters. And so everyone says, get the waste out of there, get the waste out of it. But the real problem being is that everything is buried in dry waste canisters. However, they are much of this waste is even too hot to even move still. And, and much of it will not even be cool enough to move until 2030. If I'm not mistaken, a lot of people have said in each canister, we have 3.6 million pounds of it on the beach there in each canister, there is enough radiation. If we were to have an outlier event, let's say terrorism, let's say a terrible tsunami. Kathy 02:27:32 Let's say the big one, the big earthquake that will, of course never happen. S C E Southern Cal Edison would have you believe it will never happen. It's a non-issue on non event. If that were to happen in each canister, you would effectively have the leaking of radiation for one Chernobyl accidents. So they often refer to these in the media as a mobile Chernobyl, each canister is referred to as a mobile Chernobyl. And that of course is an outlier event. No one wants to look at the possibility, but it does take one bad day for an outlier event to happen. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:09 I remember growing up that the edict was always hope for the best and plan for the worst don't ever assume. The worst won't happen. Just make certain that if it does, you're prepared for it. And this seems to turn that adage right on a kid. Kathy 02:28:24 Exactly. The NRC lack of regulations allow Southern Cal Edison to end offsite emergency planning for any nuclear emergency. As soon as the plant shut down, this is something that they say, oh no, no, no. They, they tell us at the community engagement meetings. No, no, no. We have people on staff. We have a nurse on staff. We have people on site to help in case of an emergency. Well, let's take a look at this scenario. We have the one outlier event, a terrorist event, a cyber attack event, or God forbid an earthquake. What is the general public with it living within 50 miles of Santa, no fray. What are they going to do? When 8.4 million people hear about the radiation leak because they always tell you there's no, no harm. You know, it's not a long-term serious problem. That's always the first media event. I'm sure you're very well aware of that. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:22 That's at the top of the playbook, the list of things that they automatically say, no matter what happens before they know anything. Kathy 02:29:29 Exactly. And so you have highway five and good luck. That is the only corridor. Okay? It's a huge corridor for trade. It's a huge corridor for evacuation. And imagine that imagine 8.4 million people trying to evacuate on highway five, it's as bad as it gets during regular traffic. So this is just silliness. One issue is that there is no proven repair method for a canister, let's say in an outlier event, this is what we are very concerned about. Southern Cal Edison says they will use a metallic spray paint to repair, but this metallic alloy spray paint has never been used in the industry nor has the NRC approved this method. No one will talk about how to repair canisters in an outlier event like earthquake, terrorist attacks, cyber attack, or tsunami, because it's never happened before. And therefore it's a quote unquote nonissue. Don't worry about it. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:30 Don't worry. Your pretty little head about it missing. Kathy 03:30:33 Exactly. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:34 So Edison is trying to say that, well, if there's a radiation leak, not saying what the nature of it is, or how large a crack or a breach in a canister might be, they're just going to spray some paint over and it should be fine, even though there's no proof of this. What if any other provisions have been made in case there is such a thing as a leak, a crack, a breach, a compromise of the containment system. Kathy 03:31:03 That is the crux of the problem. Southern Cal Edison's plan was to deconstruct the spent fuel pool. That was their original plan. And what's the spent fuel pools are essentially cooling pools where these fuel rods spent fuel rods are placed in these, in these pools to cool them down enough so that they can then be packaged into dry waste canisters. And so everything has now thus far been packaged and it's underground. According to nuclear experts. The last available means to mitigate a problem with helium pressure loss in the canisters and other unforeseen events is by retaining those cooling pools. Fortunately, Samuel Lauren's foundation's public interest lawsuit proceedings called for a temporary restraining order, essentially preventing Southern Cal Edison from touching the cooling ponds. The good news is that SCE agreed to leave one pool. This is a May 28th. This year, the utility agreed to halt any work that would demolish, dismantle or remove or make dysfunctional. The unit three spent fuel pool. So that was an early victory for us. We have to definitely celebrate the tiny victories because this gives us any time. You can get some time. You go back to your team and you go back to the drawing board and you try to work with that. Edison offered the partial settlement after our attorney applied for a temporary restraining order to halt and the utilities mad dash to scuttle this T R O temporary restraining order shows just how nervous they are about the merits of our public interest lawsuits. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:44 What this public interest wants to is what it intends to do and how far down the line it is. Kathy 03:32:52 Very good. Very good. And the timing of this interview is impeccable. I'm thrilled about the SLF lawsuit. It goes to Los Angeles superior court. Next week, June 16th, I'll speak to the three main things that we are claiming and asking for we're demanding in the lawsuit. First, the overarching claim in 2019, when the coastal commission gave permits to Southern Caladis and to bury the nuclear waste on the beach. And again, in July, 2020, when the coastal commission unanimously okayed Southern California inspection and maintenance plan to continue decommissioning all visible structures. That sound enough, right? Our claim is that they went against the coastal act. The coastal act is the very ruling that gives the coastal commission, its purpose and its mission. Essentially in two sentences, the California coastal commission is a state agency within the California natural resources agency with quasi judicial control of land and public access along the state 1,100 miles of coastline. Kathy 03:34:05 So the coastal commission mission is defined in the California coastal act, including to protect and enhance California's coast. So our first lawsuit issue is that they are going against this coastal act, the very ruling, the gives its purpose and mission. Second of all, the lawsuit seeks retaining the spent fuel pools until I dry transfer facility sometimes called the hot cell can be built to safely repackage the waste into FIC walled cast. By the way, these big wild casts are used all over the world. They were the same casks that held, spent fuel in Fukushima. And it is very important to note that that's spent fuel was left unscathed after the huge disaster ensued in Fukushima. These thick wall casts are good for a hundred years and can safely be transported once there is infrastructure to transport them to higher ground third, our lawsuit calls for state-of-the-art offsite monitoring to act as a check and balance for Southern Cal Edison's rudimentary onsite monitoring. Kathy 03:35:16 They have two stations. One is in their parking lot. One is actually on the site of the waste, very rudimentary. And so we need the best monitoring to act as a check and balance for their monitoring. This technology, by the way, is up and running through UCS D. And it was the first system to confirm Fukushima radiation in 2011 on the west coast. So these are the three things that the lawsuit is, that's our purpose. And then what we're calling for and what we're trying to gain public support for. Where does it down? Now we have gone back and forth. Luckily we did get the 90 day agreement from Southern Cal Edison to not, this is just 90 days to not touch the bet fuel pool in unit three. So that's where it stands. Now it goes to court on June 16th, LA superior court, the judge Mitchell beckloff, he will have 60 days to respond. Kathy 03:36:21 And so that's where we stand right now. And there's just too much at stake, our precious coastline, our economy, and the health of 8.4 million people living within 50 miles of the plant. There have been so many actions to try to bring this issue to the fore. You know, I mean, I don't know if I'm sure you're aware that it's very, very rare, at least in the last seven years, since the closure of the plant, that you would find issues of nuclear waste it center, no fray, even in the paper, never front page. And so recently what we do find is that we are ruffling the feathers of Southern Cal Edison, myself and staff at Samuel Lawrence just gave a presentation to the instant Nita's environmental commission. And it was very well attended. It was a 15 minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of questioning from the commissioners who then implement suggestions for climate action to the city council. Kathy 03:37:22 Well, lo and behold, Southern Cal Edison got on the horn and they said, we want to respond to every single, you know, we want our own presentation, which is fabulous. We need an open court, a transparent open court. We want them to. And so that's another story they gave there. They said we will go up and down the coast and we will respond to everything. Samuel Lawrence foundation, all they, of course, they call it all lies. They call us fear mongers. However, it's very, very interesting Libby during there. I think they were given 25 minutes of presentation during their PowerPoint presentation. They claim to have hyperlinks, which the public could click on and download information for scientific data-based answers to their claims. Well, there was none of that. And at the very end, one of the presenters said, it just go to our website. Songs are songs, community website. You will find all this data that is their tactic, it's smoke and mirrors. It's buried. It's hard enough for most people to find out when the next community engagement panel meeting is, by the way, please attend all of you listeners. It is June 17th, five 30 to eight 30. You have to go to their website and sign up to listen, but you can also send a letter and you can also speak to these issues as a person of conscience and as a citizen who cares about what's going on Libbe HaLevy 03:38:50 For clarity, when you're referring to these times, you're referring to the Pacific time zones. So listeners that we have around the country and in other countries will be able to do the conversion and figure out what the climb is for them locally. That's Kathy 03:39:04 Correct. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:05 I want to point out that when you say 8 million people live within 50 miles, just to give people an idea of what the impact would be. If there were a radiation accident that happened at San and Oprah, we're talking about it impacting the port of long beach Los Angeles to San Diego, you have your cultural community. Some of the most expensive real estate on the face of the planet is that on the bluff, overlooking the Pacific ocean in proximity to standing over it and would go so far inland, that it would be beyond Disneyland. And that's just the first 50 miles. It doesn't just stop at the border of 50 miles. It would keep going. Kathy 03:39:49 Exactly. Radiation has no borders. The plume is continuous and it would affect obviously our food system. We have an amazing agricultural bounty here in California. And when the plume goes up, it's a circular situation. It rains back down, it goes into the ocean. It goes into our drinking water. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:08 When judge beckloff comes out with his decision and he gives his ruling, is that it is that the end of the line, or are there other steps that are possible beyond then if he doesn't get it and allows it to move forward? Kathy 04:40:25 That's a very good question. We are anticipating years and years of continuing this fight. This is no one day in court and it's over. And that's very, very difficult for us and for you and for our cause. But this is what we are resorting to because it is that important. So illegal victory would set a precedent for all us nuclear power plants in decommissioning. And I'm sure all of the listeners at nuclear hot seat are aware that in the United States we have 74 such sites and it's not just, I mean, this is a California issue. However, this could set a precedent for all other sites that have no place to put the waste because our federal government has failed us in designating a permanent repository. So the coastal commission would be forced to withdraw the coastal development permit that allows Edison to destroy the spent fuel pools, which for now are the only working facility to handle the waste stranded standard off, right. Edison would then be required to reapply for, Libbe HaLevy 04:41:34 And you could count this every step of the way. Kathy 04:41:37 Exactly. We need the facilities at San Onofre to handle this radioactive waste. And here's the issue. It's really kind of a beautiful slogan that finally Southern Cal Edison, as the result of another citizen's lawsuit, they were required to consult on putting pressure on the federal government to move this waste. And so their battle cry is let's move it out of there. However, that's all deflection. It's all taking a public's eyes away from the real issue in our lifetimes Libby, we will not see this waste moved for the full reason. There's no place to move it. And of course the government has interim consolidated, interim facilities planned. They're not legal. They go against NRC is complete ruling that you can't have a consolidated interim storage facility until you have a permanent repository designated. And so we have one in Texas and then we have, they're trying to, they're trying to build this one in New Mexico and in Texas. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:39 There's another point about these so-called interim sites. First of all, that's the reason that Yucca mountain is being kept alive as a legal fiction so that what we've got this permanent one that we're going to do, and all it is is a big hole. It's a tunnel in a mountain is not a repository. It's nowhere near it. And it's also illegally on land that belongs to the Western Shoshone people. Second of all, they are attempting to place these so-called interim dumps and areas of poverty, people who they are counting on, not to be able to fight back. There is an element of environmental racism in terms of the people who live there are native or Hispanic in their backgrounds. And the interim means that they can leave it there for up to a hundred years and a hundred years from now. Nobody's going to be interested in moving into that. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:29 It's kinda like it's there, leave it. And that does not even take into account the transportation that it would take to bring the waste from all these places through communities around the United States, something in excess of 40 different states would be impacted by the transport either by rail or by truck. And if you think there, isn't going to be an accident, just Google the term, Jeff, the big rig, and also look at some of the rail accidents that have happened. And I've heard from certain sources that the weight of these canisters in their protective canisters is too heavy for the infrastructure of our trains as they exist now. So this whole thing is a nightmare. And anybody who claims that there's any place to put this waste, other than reading it exactly where it is, is blinding. Kathy 04:44:20 Exactly. And to your point, Libby, it's very well-stated to your point. I have sat in on NRC meeting after NRC meeting for the environmental impact reports. You have people that are relying on other people just to get a phone, to call in and speak their mind and mind you they're holding these public meetings during a global pandemic where much of the constituency, they don't even have access to a computer. And when they do have access to the computer, the wifi is so spotty that these calls are dropped left and right. And you end up with just voices for the chamber of commerce for we welcome the way some ridiculous elected official, who does not speak nor represent his constituents. It's a crime that these interim storage facilities are being fast track during a global pandemic and not every state. And especially these communities, namely disenfranchised communities of color, native communities. They don't have the best vaccination rates. They don't have the best health scenarios to get them to a live meetings. And those won't be held for awhile because let's face it. We're not open yet. And so this is what these people have been dealing with for at least the last year and a half. It's it, it's a crime, Libbe HaLevy 04:45:44 The owner Morgan and the group hall, no, and several others in New Mexico have been fighting this virulently. There's also a group out of the Sierra club that is fighting the ones in west Texas. And we've covered this periodically on nuclear hot seat. We will keep going with it. But what you were just talking about raises one big elephant in the living room, which is with all of this going on, what is the position, the action or the non-action of the nuclear regulatory commission. Kathy 04:46:16 The nuclear regulatory commission has. As many of us know, we call it the nuclear rubber stamp commission because they have continued to exempt utilities, not only Santa, no fray and not only Southern Cal Edison, but they have gone against their very own rulings to exempt utilities left and right to you. Don't have to appeal to that. You can, we'll let you go ahead with, for example, a metallurgic alloy spray. That's never been tested. We'll allow that, but we won't come out in public and say that we approve it. That is exactly our issue. We have been appealing to the federal government for years and years and years. And it's time that states take responsibility for oversight. The states that do have these decommissioning plants, as well as nuclear waste dumps. It's time that the states have oversight, that the people living in these reactor communities and waste communities can have representation locally. Kathy 04:47:18 You know, it's all wonderful and well that Mike Levin has put this on an issue. He's created a task force. He's created various bills that have gone through Congress. However, when you ask him to speak about something, he'll come to your event and he will speak about getting the waste out of there. And I'm not, we have a lovely relationship with him, but we're very clear Samuel Lawrence. I'm speaking about Samuel Harris. We're very clear about what we agree with and what we don't agree with and what is safe, what is appropriate for our coastline and what is not in terms of the health of our planet. So it's time for us all to appeal to our governor, to the state legislature, to your local city council offices, to democratic and Republican clubs, to have them come about with resolutions that not only will provoke our elected, municipal and local leaders to look at this issue, but to act on it. And that is the power of grassroots and nothing has ever been done unless the people are involved. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:24 Speaking of the people, what is it that listeners to nuclear hot seat can do to support the lawsuits, to support what has happening around Santa and El fray and to strengthen the activist voice so that we are heard and hopefully prevail. Kathy 04:48:42 Presently. We have on Samuel Lawrence foundation.org, we have a letter to California, coastal commissioners that has been sent short of 400 times to every commissioner. You can go online, you can put your zip code and your email address on line on that page that I just mentioned, you can edit the letter. That is our form letter asking essentially for the spent fuel pools for monitoring and for a dry transfer facility, asking them to revoke their permits, or you can write your own letter to the commissioners. That's one thing you can attend community engagement panel meetings. I believe these meetings are set up by Southern Cal Edison. They have all these commissioners speaking from the economic point, speaking from, you know, let's get the waste out of here. They do not have one person on the panel that speaks to the health effects of radiation that speaks to the health effect. Kathy 04:49:43 Long-term health effects on fetuses on women living close to the plant. So it's sort of a puppetry situation where they give us the illusion that they are engaging the panel. But the more that we are aware, the more that the listener is aware of the issues and of the risks of this waste, we can actually speak to them at the CEP community engagement panel meetings. And like I said, California, time, June 17th is the next one from five 30 to eight 30. You have to go to community engagement panel meetings on the S O N G S website and register either to participate as a listener and or to speak at that meeting. Another thing of course is to stay up to speed, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media, Samuel Lawrence foundation. We have the hashtag protect our coast. This is also the name of our lawsuit because it's a public interest lawsuit contact the members of the coastal commission use our email. Kathy 05:50:50 That's just a click and Sandy email to them to tell why the issues in our lawsuit are important to you. You can also sign up to speak during public comment portion of the monthly California coastal commission meetings. It needs to be said, Libby, that our whole coalition was set and ready to speak at this meeting last week, they have them every month for three days and lo and behold coastal commission, we would sign up to speak and they send you an okay link because we're in a pandemic. They send you the link to it's only your special link to allow you to speak and to log in online to this major meeting. Well, I find it very, very, it's just ridiculous. And we lose confidence when we're looking at a state agency, such as the coastal commission, sending us the link to a meeting for may Libby may. Kathy 05:51:44 And do you know when they changed that they changed that the day before the meeting. So for all of the coalition, all of the public, wanting to voice their opinion for a publicly funded institution in California, we were unable to do that until the day before. So in essence, we would sign up to speak and they would say, great, here's your link? It's to May 12th, May 13th, and may 14th of May. We're signing up for June. And so then they sent out, oh, sorry, we made a mistake folks. And they did this the day before. So we really have to be on our toes if we would like to communicate with them during this pandemic situation. But that has happened. We received apologies, but no formal public apology. So it just seems like that in itself needed to be called out. Of course, contact Congressman Mike Levin. He is our representative for the 49th district in California. Kathy 05:52:41 He needs to hear your viewpoint. You can write him, go to his website. You can also send your comments to us. We have an open relationship with representative Mike Levin, and we are always meeting with his staff to communicate concerns from our community. That would be very, very important because even though he only deals on the federal side, he needs to hear from his constituents, he needs to support his constituents. He has opened up the dialogue for this. And though he is a politician, he has put this issue on the forefront way, way, way more than the previous representative, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:23 Kathy. Thank you for all the terrific work that you are doing. We will post the link up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. We'll be back in touch with you for an update as this moves forward and for now, thank you for being my guest today on nuclear hot seat. Thank you so much, Libby. Kathy 05:53:42 I really, really appreciate it. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:45 That was Kathy Ahwahnee, a board member of the Samuel Lawrence foundation and a tireless educator on the risks of nuclear waste. We'll have links up to the information she referenced on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 5 21, we will also have posted the Lawrence O'Donnell feature on the Santa. No fray lawsuit in six minutes, the guy got it really right. Here's today's final thought. 10 years of weekly nuclear hot seat production. Wow. I could never have imagined this. And if I had, I don't know that I would have committed to it, but as they say in this 12 step world, one day at a time, one week at a time, one episode at a time, and here we'd hit the magic number 520 completed episodes with this being 5 21. This represents 10 years of one episode a week. If you want to find out how the show came about, it's chronicled on episode number 500 from January 19th, 2021 for now know that as I launch into year 11 of nuclear hot seat plans are being made to take the show to a whole new level of visibility, best symbolized by the website overhaul we're doing so Google can't bury us in their new algorithm. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:09 There are plans taking place for more visual and visible format for the show. We are forging new alliances and through it all, we will continue to provide you with your weekly dose of nuclear news from a different perspective until it's not needed. Of course. So let me see. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years. It takes 20 half life cycles for it to lose its radioactivity. So that's 480,000 years. Yep. It looks like I'll be around for at least a little while longer. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Marianne wild art.wordpress.com, simply info.org, RNA news.edu, cnn.com, bloomberg.com S P global.com. The barons observer.com, reuters.com, Cal Grossman and counterpunch fairwinds.org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:31 If you'd like to make certain you don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat, I'm a website. You can sign up to get an email delivered every week. Just one, it will provide a link and a short summary of some of the material that's in the show. Just look for the yellow box, putting your first name and an email address. Bam you're covered. And if you would like information about our upcoming website upgrade necessary. So nuclear hot seat is not intentionally excluded from Google searches and how you can help us get there. Send me an email@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. I promise that the answer will not come from a bot or from AI, but from a real live me. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview my door is open. Make me aware, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:30 And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Once you click on it, anything you can do will help, and we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and harvest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of harvest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that when it comes to nuclear, not only can, what you don't know her too chances are it probably already has. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:28 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #520: Exelon's Nuclear Bailout Scam in Illinois: Dave Kraft, NEIS URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/exelons-illinois-nuclear-bailout-scam-dave/ Published: 2021-06-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Exelon’s Nuclear Bailout in Illinois – This cartoon from 2020 shows the exact same scheme, only the dollar amount for Exelon is waaaaaay higher! This Week's Featured Interview: Exelon's nuclear bailout in Illinois is yet another in a series of scams to trick the public out of billions of taxpayer dollars with no guarantee of increased nuclear safety. We talk with Dave Kraft, Director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), headquartered in Chicago He is a veteran of the battle to rein in nuclear industry excessive greed. He is a safe-energy/anti-nuclear advocate, and co-founder of NEIS who has served as its director since its inception in 1981. Prior to becoming a full-time energy activist, Dave's academic background and training was in astronomy and psychology at Northwestern University and Northeastern University in Chicago. Kraft’s interest in the environment moved him to found NEIS with seven other people, to provide the public with credible information about the hazards and effects of nuclear power and waste, and the viable means to replace them. We spoke on Monday, June 7, 2021. LINK to Article where Ex-Exelon Exec brags about the profitability of money spent lobbying on behalf of the company's nuclear reactors: LINKS AND INSTRUCTIONS related to this week's Featured Interview: Tell your State Senator and Representative that the final legislation MUST include these:1.) No bailouts for Exelon’s unprofitable nuclear plants: You can’t build an energy future by bailout out the past. These reactors are solely the assets of a profitable private corporation – Exelon. It is their responsibility, and that of their Board, to find ways to run their assets profitably. Illinois ratepayers should not be viewed as an ATM machine for their corporate choices and failures. Nuclear bailouts have been shown to actually impede implementation of renewable energy. It’s the communities and workers affected by plant closures who will need the bailout, not profitable Exelon. 2.) Significant equity clauses and “just-transitions” packages for nuclear, coal, and other fossil fuel generator and mining communities faced with severe economic disruption as a result of their inevitable closures. Ideally, these programs should be initiated prior to facility closure when possible, and the funds escrowed to be available to the communities and workers to protect their tax base and create replacement economic opportunities when the facilities finally cease operations. 3.) Maximal financial support for an aggressive build-out of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and improved electric transmission. If you want a 100% renewable energy future, then build one. Get to the State’s goal of 100% renewables by 2050 directly. Don’t waste more of OUR time and OUR money on soon to be extinct fossil fuels and nuclear power plants. To insure energy equity, make sure these buildouts are given priority to communities already economically disadvantaged or damaged from dirty fossil fuels and nuclear power.WHAT YOU MUST DO:Contact your State Senator and Representative, and the Governor and tell him/her that you want these three demands included in the final energy legislation, due to be completed by Friday, May 14. Even if you are from another state or country, you can write to the Governor of Illinois: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/contactus/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx Dave Kraft (l) and you-know-who, mid-Zoom call. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Words, words, words… (as Shakespeare wrote for Hamlet). How in one article, the nuclear industry's talking points word list plays itself out ad infinitum. Links: 4 Lessons for Climate Organizers from the Anti-Nuclear MovementSupport Diné Community Resisting "Unacceptable" Uranium Mine Clean-upNuclear Subsidies May Be Slowing Transition to Clean Energy, Advocates Say The late activist and beloved friend, Gene Stone. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear greed wild, the nuclear industry, and especially Exelon corporation continue to gobble up millions and billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out their aging failing, dangerous technology. One of the many questions becomes how do we know exactly what they're doing with these taxpayer generated funds? You'd assume such massive amounts of money would require strict reporting checks and balances, audits, oversight that kind of rigorous monitoring. But then you learn, Dave Kraft 00:00:40 Government agencies have said that the NRCS formula is inadequate and that most of these funds will be underfunded. The point is there are no state regulations which allow anyone, any transparent access to see how the money is spent. So we don't know if the money is being spent on decommissioning or Dunkin donuts. They do not require an audit. They do not require that standard accounting principles based in the United States be used in accounting for the money. There's nothing and the NRC doesn't care and the state has nothing in place. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:12 Well, isn't that special when you hear how once again, the nuclear industry is going to be allowed to play loose and fast with billions of taxpayer dollars. You begin to recognize that your pockets are being picked clean by that voracious money hungry industry, while you're still stuck in that dangerous radioactive seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:39 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:10 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we catch up on the latest developments in the nuclear industry, manipulated bailout of aging, failing unprofitable and dangerous nuclear reactors. This time in Illinois, Dave craft, who is head of nuclear energy information service, or any I S based in Chicago, fills us in on the latest smoke and intended to hide the nuclear industry's insatiable demand for money to bail out their failing reactors and industry, and the decisions being made by the Illinois legislature in perhaps the next two weeks will have implications for years, decades, and beyond something the states legislators seem unwilling to learn about before they vote. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:23 Well, maybe we can get them to listen to this program. We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information then seems to be evidenced by those working within the Biden administration. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, June 8th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting with the U S where on Sunday, June 6th, energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm said the government must work with private companies to block cyber attacks, capable of shutting down the nation's power grid. What she refrained from mentioning anywhere in that talk was that the thing that resulted in the meltdowns at three nuclear reactors in Fukushima was loss of power from the electrical grid that was needed to run the pumps for cooling. So power grid, vulnerability equals nuclear vulnerability. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:29 Anyone who thought the Biden administration might take a saner approach to nukes. Think again, Gina McCarthy, former head of the EPA, and now president Biden's climate advisor said now, I don't expect those old ones, meaning nuclear reactors to be around a long time, but I do expect them to be safe. And I expect them to continue in a way that's going to allow us to keep the greenhouse gas emissions down with really stable base load capacity. But as we all know, when it comes to nuclear expectations are quite often disappointed, dangerously. So, and climbing on the nukes are green. Bandwagon is no guarantee that Gina McCarthy's expectations will be fulfilled. We've learned that Exelon's nuclear lobbyist bragged about the profitability of New York state governor Cuomo's nuclear bailout. We'll have more about that on this week's interview. And now for your weekly dose of nuclear bone headedness, Libbe HaLevy  00:05:45 Nazi propaganda minister, Joseph followed the edict. A lie told often enough becomes the truth. At least it's perceived as the truth. And that's what the nuclear industry continues to do with its well-funded talking points and languaging hacks case in point and May 24th article by one Steven Ashby published in the Tri-City Herald in Richland Washington home of the Hanford site and all those yummy high paying radioactive jobs in an obviously biased article, not unexpected in this publication entitled how Tri-Cities national lab research is fueling a carbon free nuclear future among the only 569 words in the article, not even a page and a half Ashby uses the terms carbon free four times between the headline and only the first six paragraphs. After that, he switches to advanced in describing the nukes as if this makes them any better. That's used five times. These terms, alternate by paragraph with additional sprinklings of new clean, efficient, less expensive. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:59 He does everything except Chuck nuclear under the chin and tell it how cute it is. And they do everything for you, but wash the dishes and take out the trash as for radioactive waste. What radioactive waste it's referenced once in the term radioactive dash resistant, and then in a late passing reference in the article to storing it for quote decades until the radioactivity decays ignoring the fact that it will take hundreds of years for the cesium to decay and tens of thousands for the plutonium, but Hey, jobs yet gotta be able to pay for your cancer. Here's the bottom line, nuclear is not green. Nuclear is not carbon free. So-called advanced nukes are unproven designs that have never been built or tested. And this so-called special to the Tri-Cities Herald article is riddled with nuclear lies that don't hold up, but mass hypnosis works by repetition and for the millions of dollars that nuclear invest in public relations, they're getting billions of dollars back taxpayer subsidies, and they're going to keep repeating and repeating these words, catch phrases and soundbites ad infinitum to keep the ignorant enthralled and the money rolling in. Remember the definition of public relations is the manufacture of consent. And that's what the nuclear industry is doing. Manufacturing consent to a deeply deadly flawed technology. And that's why writer Steven Ashby and Tri-City Herald. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  00:08:54 We'll have links up to two articles, one an urgent action alert asking for support for the DNA community resisting unacceptable uranium mining, clean up on native lands, including the north east church rock uranium, mine and another on nuclear subsidies may be slowing transition to clean energy. Yes, Inc. Learn more@nuclearhotseat.com under this episode. Number five 20 over to Japan where 31 containers of highly radioactive sediment at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have exceeded their lifespans. This according to the Japanese nuclear regulatory authority, which has notified operator Tokyo electric power company, TEPCO the nuclear regulation authority blamed the problem on TEPCO underestimating. The radiation, the 31 plastic cylinders were exposed to KEPCO has as many as 3000 of these canisters onsite, which measure 1.5 meters times 1.9 meters or five feet by six feet, approximately. And by measurements of radioactivity, they calculated in 2018 figured that the containers would last until at least July of 2025, but a TEPCO representative recently admitted. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:16 We did not have accurate data. They're moving the contents to new containers, but not until August. Despite the concerns of other nations, Japan has yet to reconsider its unilateral decision to discharge, radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean nations, which have voiced their concerns include Russia, China, the democratic people's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, New Zealand, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Pacific island nations on Monday, June seven, fishery workers and people in watersports businesses in Korea held a rally using fishing boats and yachts to protest Japan's plans. The country still plans to release more than 1.5 million metric, tons of contaminated wastewater into the Pacific ocean with the first discharges beginning in about two years and a new report from the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons re reveals that the nine nuclear arms states spent $72.6 billion on their nuclear weapons in 2020, this during the worst pandemic in the century. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:31 And when the treaty banning nuclear weapons has already become law, we'll link to the report complicit 20, 20 global nuclear weapons spending. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is government and industry gone mad, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking that they are immune to the consequences of their actions when they certainly are not. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever, unless you plan to live half a million years, in which case, yeah. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:33 Then you've got a chance. So let's be honest. Nuclear is a deadly mess, and that is why you need nuclear hot seat. We get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as skepticism and as much humor as this ugly situation will provide. We give you a much deeper and nuanced telling of the facts than you would ever expect. On mainstream media. We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective. And as I said before, whenever possible humor, that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size that's where you can set up a monthly $5, the same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S so by nuclear hot seat, a cup of coffee, I promise you I won't drink the caffeine, but it will go to help the show. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:43 Keep going, please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here is this week's featured interview government bailout of nuclear power reactors is trending across the country in contrast to the need to move to a genuinely renewable, sustainable energy future. The money's going to nukes chief among the nuclear welfare recipients with their perpetual handout is excellent corporation. No amount of money seems enough, let alone too much for this nuclear behemoth. And with them spending millions of dollars on PR and lobbying efforts, we're close to an irreversible course in Illinois of them slurping up the funds better spent on genuine renewables. The story is long convoluted and easy to get confused by, which is why I sought out one of the best people we've got to explain the situation. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:50 Dave craft is of nuclear energy information service headquartered in Chicago. He's a veteran of the battle to reign in nuclear industries, excessive greed, and bad decision-making here. He explains the current situation in Illinois regarding yet another bailout of Exelon's unprofitable, aging, evermore, dangerous nuclear reactors, and how a vote coming up in the state legislature could commit Illinois to an energy path. It will come to regret. I spoke with Dave craft on Monday, June 7th, 2021. And my apologies for the construction noises in the background, Dave Kraft have any I S so good of you to be available on such short notice here on nuclear hot seat. Dave Kraft 01:15:39 Glad to be here as always, Libbe HaLevy  01:15:41 Let's start with a little bit of background about what's happening in Illinois. What was the 2016 Illinois clean energy legislation and what was its intention? Dave Kraft 01:15:51 The 2016 legislation that was the future energy jobs act. FIJA was a end result of about two, two and a half years of both an Exelon comment and manipulating. So I actually have to go back as far back as 2013, because that's when Exelon in Illinois first announced that, oh, poverty, our reactors, aren't making money for us. They're not making enough. Maybe the legislature should bail us out. If you don't, Illinois is going to become, you know, the middle ages all over again. So they started that belly aching in late 2013 into 2014. And I know Illinois around that time, a group called the climate table emerged, and actually the climate table emerged to create comments for Obama's clean air act. We wanted to make sure that fossil fuels was addressed in the Obama rules that were coming out, but the project morphed into becoming the team that developed the environmental legislation at the state level for what to do about energy and how to save renewable power. Dave Kraft 01:16:59 So from 2014 to 2016, there were a lot of negotiations going on between the environmental community, the utilities, the legislators, and that resulted in the 2016 FIJA bill, which ended up giving excellent two nuclear reactors that they claim were money losers, $2.3 billion in bailouts over a 10 year period. So what makes the situation different now is fast forwarding to 2021. It became clear that FIJA was a good start, but it underfunded the renewables dramatically that we really needed to up the ante on that quite a bit. In the meantime, what has changed though is number one, we have a new governor. He's a democratic governor. JB give you places. And Bruce Rauner, who was a Republican businessman who negotiated, helped negotiate the tenure $2.3 billion bailout. The second major change though has been that Exelon and Commonwealth Edison's lobbyists have been indicted. And in some cases pled guilty to lobbying irregularities, poor ethical choices, which resulted in literally commented the subsidiary of Exelon pleading guilty and paying a $200 million fine to the federal government further though, the FBI continues to investigate the previous Illinois speaker of the house, Michael Madigan, who had been the other architect of the FIJA bill, the $2.3 billion bail out. Dave Kraft 01:18:36 He was house speaker for 50 years. He set an all-time national record for how speaker consecutive years. And he ran the show. He was more powerful than the governor. He was in with Exelon and comments. So anything they wanted, they got, and he's gone. He resigned finally at the beginning of the year or late last year. I forget which so that's another thing that's different now. So we have a new governor. We have a new speaker of the house. We have a company that used to have a lot of political sway down in our state Capitol, under indictment, and perhaps more, the FBI continues its investigations. So the final piece that's different also at the national level begins in 2016 with the Trump administration is FERC. The federal energy regulatory commission was given marching orders to bail out coal plants, fossil fuel plants. And so they came out with some ridiculous rules and regulations on ways to do that. Dave Kraft 01:19:36 And the folks here in Illinois saw that as a real threat to the continued expansion of renewables here, you know, based on what they wanted to build on from 2016. So they looked at a loophole that existed in the first regulations, which would have allowed Illinois to establish its own market call a capacity market, which would allocate money to power plants so that we would ensure that we would have the power available in the future. That's one of the ways that utilities make money it's called the capacity market. And the other way they make money is to sell electrons. So one is an insurance policy. The other is actual manufacturer of power. So the deal though, they had to get cut as always was that excellent had to get a pound of flesh out of it. So they had been working on this language within its own bill. Dave Kraft 02:20:29 The current bill called CJ, the clean energy jobs act. And there was a little bit of a carve out on this capacity market, which would have benefited both renewable energy and nuclear plants. Everything else in CJ is just magnificent. It is a work of art, really a of the art piece of legislation that integrates environmental justice and community concerns, just transitions, community, solar, community, distributed energy. It really took a comprehensive look at how energy integrates into your whole economy, your whole fabric. And at the same time, you know, it was promoting much bigger build-out of renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, and transmission improvements. So honestly, there are thousands of personnel, hours of work that was put in by the environmental community, the environmental justice community, community activists, to create this bill, but for 20 pages of crap, all a that bails out nuclear plants, we could not support that. Dave Kraft 02:21:33 And that brings us to the current situation down in our state Capitol. So our legislative session was scheduled to end May 31st, and it did at midnight. And there were five major energy bills in the hopper. There was the CGI bill, which I just described by the environment. The governor put his own bill in the hopper. Both of those by the way, were both 900 pages plus of legislation, the Exelon folks, because they become so toxic, did not put their own legislation in, but they were able to get labor, especially the trade union laborers like IBW pipe fitters, boilermakers, and stuff like that to carry water for them. So they put a bill in the hopper. There was another bill put forward by the new blend energy industry called path to 100. And there was one other fifth one, which was big. And then there were two other smaller ones from downstate utilities. Dave Kraft 02:22:30 So you can imagine the legislators had to Wade through 4,000 plus pages of competing legislation to come up with something at the end. And of course, what's the old statement by Bismarck. You know, the two things you don't want to see made are law and sausage. So we realized that all of this stuff was going to get dumped into the legend Matic and chopped up and reassembled as a final piece, and nobody was going to get everything, but we want it. We eat meaning nuclear energy information service wanted to be sure that something we dubbed the nuclear hostage crisis finally ends. We coined that phrase back in 2014 to describe the process by which excellent and the other nuclear utilities, panic pedals, state legislators, into bailing them out. And the way they do it is they announced that a plant is economically distressed and not being rewarded by the market for their environmental benefits of being low carbon. Dave Kraft 02:23:25 They of course get their workers all upset. And there was families of the workers who then get the mayors of the towns nearby, whose tax based depends on the company town industry, which is excellent. And they get their legislators all worked up in a frenzy that if you don't bail out, excellent, we're going to lose all these direct jobs. All these indirect jobs, the tax base is going to go down the toilet. So this has been a blueprint that excellent has milked very successfully since 2014. And I presume other utilities have done a variation of this and their communities as well. It's based on the premise though, that reactors are going to live forever, that they're never going to end that nobody knows when the termination is supposed to be. So these jobs have to be protected at all costs. And that's simply not true. Dave Kraft 02:24:12 We point out every reactor has an operating license and on that operating license is the closure date. So everyone knows in advance when the plants are going to close. And we urge mayors and workers and labor unions to protect their constituents by being adults and getting a retirement program in place called just transitions. You always save for a rainy day and when those plants go away, that's the rainy day. So if you don't have something in place ahead of time, for sure, you're going to end up with a destroyed tax base with jobs lost. So you plan ahead. That's all we've been saying since 2014. So finally in this round of legislation, just transitions is being talked about, but only primarily for the fossil fuel industry, coal plants, gas plants. We worked really hard to try and incorporate the nuclear communities as well, but there's some difficulties with that, but they may, they may be able to get around it. Dave Kraft 02:25:10 So this is the mess that legislators had to pull together into legislation by the end of the session, and they failed to do it. So we have no energy bill. We do know that the legislators and negotiators, while the parties are working together on a new draft of something, which has not been released and the governor and the legislators have mentioned in the public press that they anticipate within the next two weeks, they're going to call a special session and enact an energy bill, but nobody knows what's going to be in it at this point. So this is the crazy situation we have. We have the opportunity to be the premier energy legislation in the country or the absolute nothing, because we won't have any energy legislation. And in the meantime, excellence still goes on its Merry way, claiming poverty claiming they need money. Now, one other little quirk to this go-round came about when the newly elected governor Pritzker said, because of the scandal here with Exelon and comment, utilities will not be writing energy legislation anymore. Dave Kraft 02:26:14 And when Exelon cried poverty this time, he said, we are hiring an independent auditor who has never done business with you before, and you will open your books and prove that you need money. So that was a real plus the company that he tapped was sinaps energy from, I believe they're back east and they have a very good reputation of being independent and doing thorough work. They released their report at the end of April. And at that point, Exelon and the union people had been saying, we need 500 million a year for anywhere from nine to 15 years. That's what their target was for available out. So you're talking a pretty good chunk of change. There, $5 billion. Perhaps the audits stated that the two reactors that excellent claimed were losing money, shouldn't get any more than on the average of 70 million a year for five years, a total of 350 million. Dave Kraft 02:27:13 And that was based on information that Exelon provided to the auditor to put in their black box and, and create these results. So they announced this at the end of April, of course, excellent said, that's ridiculous. You know, we need much more, but the governor stuck to his guns until this last week before the session ended, when the law and sausage principle applied. So suddenly there was informal leaking of information that, well, now we're talking maybe 600 million over five years instead of the 350 million over five years, this past weekend, which is the weekend of June 4th and fifth. Another report came out of a group in Washington, independent report, which indicated that if Exelon were to get a bailout, the amount of money they could reap over that same period could be as high as a billion dollars. So we've gone from a fact-based audit, which cost a quarter million dollars to do from an independent auditor saying no more than 3 52 up to a billion. And at this point we do not know where the legislative dark is going to hit on the target. That is the craziness of the situation here in Illinois. And I suspect it will be played out in any other arena where excellent has reactors again, like New York, Maryland, anywhere else around the country. Libbe HaLevy  02:28:35 It's almost as if Exelon is counting on bailouts to be consciously adopted and very profitable as a piece of their business. Dave Kraft 02:28:45 That is correct. In fact, in 2018, there was an industry conference fellow. I forget where it was exactly, but one of the presenters at the conference was, I don't know if it's audacious or stupid enough to actually put a slide up, announcing that this notion of bail out, if they didn't use the word Dale out, but that this was a very profitable source of income. And he used the New York bail out as an example, which on his slide said for an investment of, you know, a couple of hundred million dollars, we're getting something on the order of six or 7 billion back. So the return on investment is, you know, 11 times and they talk about it as a return on investment. I consider that part of your business model. If you're going to use that kind of language, we actually do have the slide. We'd be happy to share it with anyone who wants to see it. And we did send it to our legislators in Illinois saying, Hey, is this the business model you want to deal with? When you're, you're afraid to deal with this company, that's already been indicted, pled guilty has been dealing with unethical and illegal lobbying practices. So, you know, that's just the status of politics. You know, you need a rain coats and hit boots. Every time you go down to the state legislature, it seems, Libbe HaLevy  03:30:01 And the close pin for your nose as well. What kind of response, if any, have you gotten from legislators from your outreach with this information, Dave Kraft 03:30:11 We have received a thunderous round of indifference early on before they were even down to legislation, going through Pritzker, commissioned a number of working groups to deal with various facets of what would be in an energy bill. We had petitioned to be a part of that discussion, seeing as how nuclear only gives 45 to 55% of the state's electricity. We thought that might be a topic worth discussion discussing, but no, we were not allowed to participate. So then we contacted the governor's assistant who was kind of monitoring this process and said, if we send you information, when you at least have the courtesy to distribute it to the working groups, and he agreed to do that. So as far as I know, we dump this information into the black hole and it gets distributed or not. We're not sure we have no way of knowing. Dave Kraft 03:30:59 And what we decided to do was to give them information about the pieces, which we knew they were not going to discuss in the energy legislation, but which is going to have tremendous impact moving forward. And I'll list a few of those now. So you can get an idea. There has been no discussion and will be no discussion of radioactive waste production. We did a testimony several years ago when CJ first came out saying, let them close. That means that Illinois will not produce somewhere between 250 and 350 tons of high level radioactive waste over that period of time. That's great. You know, that's a societal burden. We won't have to pay for it. So there's no discussion of radioactive waste. It's continued production. What's how we're going to deal with it. Another thing that is totally absent and Illinois regulations and laws totally absent on this front is reactor decommissioning, which is the tear down and the cleanup of the site. Dave Kraft 03:31:57 Once a reactor closes, we've already experienced that with the Juul reactors north of Chicago called Zion, took them 11 years and they finally got the site down to grade level. They haven't gotten certification that they're radiologically clean yet, but they tore down the reactors. And that process taught us a lot of things about reactor decommissioning. There were funds of money for every reactor that are set aside for the day when they will eat shut down. They have to be torn down. The site has to be cleaned up. It's called the decommissioning fund, but the nuclear regulatory commission at the federal level is largely absent in terms of how that money gets used. They only require that the utilities put money into a fund, and then they have own little black box, which determines whether that's enough or not enough at that particular moment in time, government agencies have said that the NRCS formula is inadequate and that most of these funds will be underfunded, but that's tough. Dave Kraft 03:32:54 The point is there are no state regulations which allow anyone, any transparent access to see how the money is spent. So we don't know if the money is being spent on decommissioning or Dunkin donuts. They do not require an audit. They do not require that standard accounting principles based in the United States be used in accounting for the money. There's nothing and the NRC doesn't care and the state has nothing in place. So that was something we mentioned to the legislators, Hey, if Exelon is going to threaten closure, that's going to start the clock ticking on decommissioning. And there's about a six or $7 billion pot of money sitting in somewhere that will have no oversight. And no transparent means of seeing how it's spent. We thought you might want to know two other pieces that came up just since the beginning of the year though. And these are scary. Dave Kraft 03:33:44 Is that excellent. Early on this, this year at the annual meeting in April announced that it is going to split the company up so that nuclear reactors are going to be put into this one company called spin co. They don't have a name for it yet spinning it off. And all of their other regulated utilities like Commonwealth Edison though, the folks who deal with the wires and the transformers and all that stuff are going to be in the other company, which I forget what it's called. But the point is, all those folks are profitable because they're in a regulated market and they're given a guaranteed rate of, you know, your investment, all of the reactors. However, the things that are the troubled assets, the ones that don't have money, the ones that are losing money. So if you dump all of those into a separate company, and let's say they set them up as individual LLCs, limited liability corporations, if those reactors in the future ever have serious safety problems, or they need to replace steam generators, or the NRC requires them to change out the reactor vessel heads, which are hundreds of millions of dollars in expense, there's no company backing you up with assets to pay for that. Dave Kraft 03:34:57 So where are they going to turn to get the money? The rate payers once again? So we thought the legislators ought to know that if you're going to sign a contract for five years or 10 years or whatever it is for these bailouts, they're going to dump all of their losing assets into that company. And the repeaters are still going to be stuck paying for it in the future. So that was one piece. And then the other piece is at the federal level. And that's the Biden administration's announcement of trying to get this, whatever it is, $1.9 billion infrastructure bill going friends of the earth did a back of the envelope calculation and looked at the numbers. They were at least initially putting out and determined that over the next decade, the Biden administration tends to spend up to $200 billion on the nuclear industry, 190 billion. I think so you're talking 19 billion a year. Dave Kraft 03:35:48 And one of the programs that divided the administration is looking at is to set up a national, they call it Zac zero emission credit program, which would bail out troubled nuclear power plants with federal money. So this is essentially what Exxon is trying to do at the state level here in Illinois, but Biden wants to do it federally. So that may be set up in a way that they're mutually exclusive. In other words, you can't double dip, but the point is we need to know and build in the legislation here in Illinois or anywhere else stating that if you take state money, you can't apply for the federal money or vice versa. If you take the federal money, you have to give back the state money. And if you don't put it into law, then there's nothing really stopping you from doing it. So that was a warning flag that we did send up. Dave Kraft 03:36:39 Now, I have to say that at least I've seen in a couple of recent press accounts, a couple of these items being flagged and the governor's office, making statements about this. So whether it's our efforts that have resulted in that, or whether they finally grew a brain. So these are the four items that we pointed out that are serious issues they'd have to be discussed because there's so many devils in the details yet, you know, we're in a situation you're Illinois, where they're going to enter into a contract that will be binding for a number of years without looking at the contents. And we don't even know if it's going to be with spin co, which is this imaginary company at the moment, which has no board of directors, no officers, no site of incorporation. And yet the NRC is discussing with excellent transferring the reactor licenses into this company. It's surreal. It is just absolutely surreal. What is going on right now? This is similar to you buying a house and you don't know who the bank is on the other end for the contract. And you don't know who you're buying it from, and there's nothing in the mortgage contract yet, yet you're required to pledge, you know, so many thousands of dollars or hundreds of dollars, thousands of dollars or whatever. That's the situation that we are engaging in with this legislation, right? Libbe HaLevy  03:37:57 I have it tricked out in every possible direction. It seems. I'm wondering with all of this being so impactful to not only the energy future, but to the environment and our ability to continue to live within it. What has been the position of other climate change and clean energy groups regarding the nuclear aspect of this upcoming legislation? Dave Kraft 03:38:25 As I mentioned earlier, my organization, nuclear energy information service. We are members of the Illinois climate table, but we have told the table, we cannot support legislation because of the nuclear bailout. I mean, it's just, it's a non-starter for us. The other organizations involved though, are still operating. I think in the same mode of politicking that was going on that characterize the previous generation when corrupt Michael Madigan was the speaker of the house for 50 years and an Exelon and con ed owned Springfield, those days are over, but we're still operating. I think in a mode that they feel they have to negotiate and compromise and whatever, cause they don't, no party feels strong enough to win legislation on their own. And that includes excellent. And that includes labor. So there does have to be some sort of give and take and compromise. However, it's been clear all along that at this juncture, the climate tables first priority is to shut down the fossil fuel industry. Dave Kraft 03:39:29 They have a hard stop on shutting down coal plants, which is the year 2030. I don't know if that'll remain in the final bill, but that was the goal. And they wanted to make sure that if there were a need for more energy, that it wouldn't be replaced by natural gas. So shutting down the nuclear plants to the coalition seemed like a non-starter. They don't have the faith that we can build enough renewables and efficiency and storage and transmission in time to either keep rates low or actually have enough electrons. We dispute that and we've recommended that they at least take a look at the work of people like Mark Jacobson of Stanford university, who we, we recently did a program and invited legislators to view and they didn't. But you know, he did a state-by-state analysis, which showed how you get to a hundred percent renewable energy future. Dave Kraft 04:40:23 In fact, that's been our mantra all along Libby is we point out to the legislature. You can't have a clean energy future by bailing out the past. And that's what they're doing. You know, we, we joked with them even when we were giving our testimony, asking them will the next bill be a bill that bails out blacksmiths or Coopers, or kind of still go wagon makers who were lost their jobs and their tax base because the automobile came in or automation came, you know, it's that stupid. And we try and get that across. In fact, there've been recent closures of enormous industrial impact in Illinois, which did not get bailed out. We pointed out that a number of years ago, Mitsubishi corporation closed the plant in downstate, Illinois, which resulted in the loss of somewhere around 1600 or 1800 jobs overnight. They didn't get bailed out the community didn't get bailed up. We just heard recently, I believe Jeep, which manufacturers vehicles out in Belvedere, Illinois, which used to be a Chrysler plant is also going to be laying off something like 1400 workers. I don't hear any of these people saying, oh God, we have to bail out Belvedere. You have to bail out Rockford. It's only excellent. It's only comment. They get the special treatment. And that's ridiculous. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:39 So given all the challenges that you're facing with this new legislation coming up, it sounds like rather rapidly. What items does NIS think must be included in the final legislation Dave Kraft 04:41:53 Early on when we announced that we couldn't support any of the bills that supported nuclear power, we took the tack of saying what should be in a final bill. And there were three very simple, but very critical cases. The first is of course, no nuclear bailouts. And I told you our mantra, you can't have an energy future by bailing out the past. The second is you aggressively take whatever money you were dumb enough to consider using for the bailout and put it into not just renewables, but energy efficiency. We are talking energy storage. We're talking about improving transmission because each of those, if they were improved on and maximized have significant climate impacts and significant economic impacts for local communities, the third piece, and this is very important. We have been championing this for eight years. Now. There must be a very rigorous just transitions package put together, which protects the local tax base over a period of time and gives workers an opportunity for job training, bring new jobs to the community. Dave Kraft 04:43:02 You know, an economic transition package, which is funded by the utilities that are outgoing to ease that transition because we saw what happened to the Zion community in 1998, when then Commonwealth Edison closed down the Zion plant, that community lost 55% of its tax base. Overnight. You can imagine what that did to the school system, to public services. It totally disrupted the real estate market. As jobs were lost. People moved out, it's totally devastated the community and they haven't recovered. Since we had tried to get people to say, look, talk to the ex mayor of Zion, talk to the present mayor of Zion, learn the lessons so that it doesn't get repeated and enact adjust transitions. If you do that, that's prudent planning the final thing. And it's not something we demand, but we've harped on this since Fiji days, 20 14, 20 16 is the legislators don't understand that we are not in an energy transition. Dave Kraft 04:44:01 Transitions are incremental steps. One forward, half back. You know, everybody gets a little of this, a little of that. It's very gradual, incremental and linear. That's not the way the world is operating right now. We are in a place of energy. Transformation and transformations are a totally different phenomenon. They are not linear. They do not take little baby steps. They leap, they jump and they do it at unpredictably and people get left behind unless they plan ahead for contingency. That is the way energy is going on worldwide. Right now we pointed this out in Europe, back in 20 14, 20 16 with the Aidan company and others showing the in their corporate documents that they recognize that energy is. We thought of it in the past is over and we have to re totally rethink how energy has done. So we're trying to get across this notion that you can't successfully meet a transformation by these transitional baby steps and in business as usual and incrementalism, that hasn't flown very well because the job of a legislature is to please everybody and write legislation, which is all compromised. Well, there are some things that like you don't compromise that surgery comes to mind, you know, well, take out 60 per cent of the appendix. And I don't know if I can afford the rest. I'll come back in two years. You know, some things just are not amenable to that kind of analysis. And that is what a transformation is about. Okay. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:34 How soon is this bill going to be coming up for a vote? And how does it, Dave Kraft 04:45:39 The word on the grapevine is again, the legislators themselves said they had hoped. We called back within two weeks of May 31st to come back on final language and vote on it. So that is the last word we've heard. We have not gotten any more briefings on content or negotiation or anything. We've seen no text. So we really don't know what's going on behind closed doors at this point, but that is the timeline. Next two weeks, June 14th, maybe Libbe HaLevy  04:46:09 What are the implications of this vote for other states and other energy policies? Dave Kraft 04:46:13 There's good news and bad news here. Absent the bailout. Of course, if CJ were to have gotten past or many of the important provisions get incorporated in whatever is the final bill states around the country will have an exceptional model on how to deal with this transformation to community-based power and how to protect your economy and how to bring equity into the energy industries, where people of color are given a better crack at introducing entrepreneurial opportunities and jobs and community programs and stuff. It's a blueprint. It is a masterpiece on those levels, but we hope the other states will also learn that don't bail out someone who is holding your community hostage. You're negotiating with hostage takers. They are not utilities. They are not your friends. They will sell out your workers as soon as it's profitable enough for them to do that. So don't bail them out at one point. Dave Kraft 04:47:14 And I guess folks thought this was a little bit too drastic. We were actually referring to this as nuclear terrorism, because if you look at the definition of what a terrorist does, a terrorist makes threats in exchange for some sort of desired outcome, whether it's financial or political. And that's exactly what is going on in this circumstance. The threat of economic devastation is being held over the states over these communities, unless we pony up and pay off the hostage makers. I guess folks didn't like the extremity of that language, but if you go back to Webster, sure. Reads true to us. So what we're hoping other states will learn the lesson here that if you want to go somewhere, go there. If you want a hundred percent renewables, go there. In fact, our friend and colleague go, I think you've had on this show, Argent Maka, Johnny from the Institute for energy and environmental research wrote the book in 2007. Carbon-free nuclear free a roadmap for us energy policy. So this is not rocket science. It's not something new. It's finally getting around to implement what we really need. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:18 Is there any way that listeners to nuclear hot seat can be of assistance to you and the people of Illinois on this issue? Dave Kraft 04:48:27 Well, as we've been doing in Illinois, we have urged people to write their legislators and the governor and just articulate the three things we do want in energy legislation, no bailouts, aggressive, renewables, inefficiency, and just transitions. It's very simple. In fact, it's convenient too, because governor Pritzker does have a website and on the site and the contact page is an area where you can leave these messages by email. You don't have to live in Illinois. I mean, energy. Future is energy future. I mean, all of this has tremendous impacts on climate and folks. Aren't recognizing that if you waste money on nuclear, that's money, not spent on dealing with the climate crisis through renewables and efficiency, anybody can play. It's a big planet, we're all here. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:13 And of course we will post the information on nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number five 20 for now, I wish you and any, I S every possible success with turning this bill around so that it doesn't continue to protect and pay Exelon. And I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Dave Kraft 04:49:38 It's great to be with you again. Thanks a lot. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:41 That was Dave craft of nuclear energy information service, N E I S headquartered in Chicago. We will have links up to some of Dave's articles, as well as information on how to write directly to the governor of Illinois and specific legislators. All of that will be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 520 Announcer 05:50:05 Activists. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:14 There's an interesting article from waging non-violence dot org called four lessons for climate organizers from the anti-nuclear movement. It goes into a bit of history about the clamshell in new England and the abalone Alliance in California in 1977, the clamshell Alliance organized over 2000 people to demonstrate against the Seabrook nuclear power plant in Seabrook, New Hampshire, over 1400 people were arrested for trespassing and were incarcerated for days in national guard, outposts around New Hampshire. More than 500 of them refused to pay bail and were ultimately released without consequence. National reporters descended on this previously obscure project and awareness of the anti-nuclear movement. Skyrocketed overnight. This so-called trigger event was spread by the clamshell Alliance to newly interested people across the country. And the most prominent of these new alliances was with the abalone Alliance in California. Abalone achieved a breakthrough in its fight against the proposed Diablo canyon nuclear facility, when an organized over 500 people to risk arrest in 1978, and then held a rally with over twenty-five thousand people in 1979, among the advice enumerated in this article, fight the war, not just the battle, go big, go for the numbers in your events, feed off each other's momentum, don't resent. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:55 What other groups are getting use it to help you springboard ahead. Know what success looks like. Success means growing the movement and winning public support for the cause. If we're doing those two things, even lost battles can pave the way to ultimate victory and national and local is a two way street. National organizations need to become more adept at supporting local campaigns, and they need to work strenuously to ensure that the local activists get credit where it's due. Hello, they're friends of the earth. We're going to link to this article because it's got some real juicy points and great motivation for us. As we move forward here in California, beloved long-time activist, Jean Stone has passed away. He did so in his sleep peacefully and comfortably his wife, Joyce Fournier expressed how grateful she was for all who are able to participate in his unique and much treasured. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:00 I'm still alive celebration on zoom about a month and a half ago of that call with more than 80 activists from around the country and the world Chi-Ming in. Jean said, first, thank you for putting this together. Who else gets to speak at their own celebration of life? It will be wonderful to see and speak with so many people that we have all come together with the circle of life. We have set on the earth together to say prayers for each other and mother earth. Then putting our prayers into action by working on issues like water, nuclear weapons, and nuclear waste, and so many other things that are important to us and life on our planet. It has been an honor to walk with all of you in this life. Please continue working together and always walk in your own good and continue to do this social and environmental work until we make the world a better place. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:03 Plant more trees and spread more love. I'll see you on the other side, where the mountains meet the oceans. Sincerely gene stone, three trees cloud gene stone was one of the kindest, gentlest, most compassionate and loving activists and human beings I have ever met. And one of the first who reached out to me when I was a newbie to nuclear issues, 10 years ago, he was always available with some words of advice and emergency interview. When I came up short for the program and spiritual grounding for this forever battle in which we are involved, may he find peace with spirit and much comfort to his wife, Joyce Fournier and his son, Micah stone, my own footnote. Jean died of esophageal cancer with multiple throat tumors. It makes me wonder about the number of times he was out at Santa Ana fray, walking around, taking readings right next to the five eighth inch thin canisters each carrying more than a true Noble's worth of radiation. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:17 I guess we'll never know if there was a connection and a heads up that next week. The program of June 15th is episode number 5 21, which means it is the start of the 11th year of nuclear hot seat. It's our 10th anniversary. I don't know that I have time to put together anything special, but know that the date is special to me. And hopefully it will be for you as well. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own Renard that wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can huffpost.com VOA news.com truthout.org haul. No try dash city herald.com may nietzsche.jp China, daily.com, Korea times.co dot K R S P global.com. The Barron's observer.com waging non-violence dot org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission, thanks to all of you for listening. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:39 And if you want to make certain that you never miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat, there's an easy way to do so. Just go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt inbox. That's where you put in your first name. You put in an email address, simple as that. You will be getting an email with the show as it posts every week. That also includes a short summary of some of the material that is in that show. You can also find us on any one of the podcast channels that are out there, and here's where I need and have come to rely on your help. You're up close and personal with your nuclear issues wherever you happen to be. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send me an email info@nuclearhotseat.com and I'll see what I can do about it. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:32 And of course, if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment. That's all it will take. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for the big red button. That's where you can really help us out with a donation. And we will appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that with nuclear, the number one issue is, and a must be long range safety for people and the environment. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we're all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:31 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's bomb. ### NH #519: Chernobyl Lies, Cover-Up by World Health Organization URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-lies-health-cover-up-by-who/ Published: 2021-06-01 Duration: 00:59:13 Chernobyl Lies, Cover-up by World Health Organization with Alison Katz of Geneva Switzerland-based Independent WHO – A Nuclear Hotseat Classic Above: Child born with multiple birth defects caused by Chernobyl radiation. This Week's Featured Interview: Chernobyl Lies, Health Cover-Up by World Health Organization (WHO) Revealed – Interview with Alison Katz, a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. This international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and, later, Fukushima. The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Given the visibility and popularity of the HBO series on Chernobyl – it now ranks as the most seen television program in the world, ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of the devastating impacts of the nuclear disaster reinforced. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered has in no way gone out of date and is just as ignored as always. Scenes from Independent WHO’s ongoing Chernobyl vigil in front of the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Chernobyl Lies, Cover-Up by WHO – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of this nuclear disaster, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:00 The world health organization tells us there have been no major health consequences from the nuclear accidents at Chernobyl or Fukushima, but then an international expert tells us the, Alison Katz 00:00:12 The health consequences of nuclear activities, whether they are civil or military or not known to the public. And there has been a very high level institutional and international coverup, which includes governments and national authorities, but also regrettably the world health organization itself. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:35 When you hear things like that, you know that you are in the seat that we all share Announcer 00:00:41 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The car Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:10 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. Today is Tuesday, June 1st, 2021. And here is an Encore presentation of one of our most important interviews ever with Alison Katz, head of the Geneva, Switzerland based independent, w H O she's a sociologist and psychologist who worked inside of the world health organization for 18 years here. Alison dissects, the history, politics, and manipulations of the UN agency. We're supposed to be able to trust, to safeguard the world's health, especially in nuclear matters. We originally spoke for nuclear hot seat number one 18th of September 17, 20 13. Talk to us about independent hu health and nuclear power. Alison Katz 00:02:18 But first let's explain what the name means. We are asking for the independence, the world health organization. That is what is wh and the world health organization is a specialization. So the United nations, the health consequences of nuclear activities, whether they are civil or military are not known to the public. So we're talking about things like the accidents of Chernobyl, even three mile island, and of course, Fukushima now, and there has been a very high level institutional and international coverup, which includes governments and national authorities, but also regrettably the world health organization itself as our name independent, who suggests we demand the complete independence of a who from the nuclear lobby and in particular from its mouthpiece, which is the international atomic energy agency. We are demanding that independence so that the who may fulfill its constitutional mandate in the area of radiation and health. Alison Katz 00:03:25 No, we're absolutely convinced that if the health and environmental consequences of whole nuclear activities were known to the public, the debate about nuclear power would end tomorrow. In fact, the public would probably excluded it immediately as an energy option. So what really is our gripe with the who the, who provides and how has done for 50 years, really now, a clean bill of health for nuclear activities. Our angle is really public health. We want people to understand that this clean bill of health is not based on serious independent science. In fact, it's based on a very crude pseudoscience, largely controlled and directed by the nuclear lobby. How does this Libbe HaLevy 00:04:11 Nuclear lobby meaning the international atomic energy agency prevent the world health organization from telling the truth about nuclear power? Alison Katz 00:04:20 First of all, the I, so the international agency for energy isn't is only part of the nuclear lobby. It's actually only, it's a month piece. It's not the most important part, but we'll talk about that in a minute. The who in practice in reality is subservient to the IAA within the hierarchy of the United nations family and the IAA reports to the security council, which as you probably know, consists of the most powerful notions on with the veto power of these powerful nations. The security council is really the top of the power hierarchy. The world health organization itself is very much lower in the hierarchy and only reports to the economic and social council. And that has very little geopolitical power. I think it might be important to have a little look at the respective mandates that these two United nations agencies and I'll quickly start with the IAA. Alison Katz 00:05:17 There are two Monday it's. One of them is to prevent proliferation of nuclear power. And that of course is a very laudable objective. But the other part of the IAA and Monday it is, is very problematic. Indeed. It is the promotion of the use of the atom peaceful use of the action. But nevertheless, it is promotion of use of the atom. In that way. It is actually an industrial or a commercial lobby, and yet the IAA is responsible and controls the who in everything that concerns health consequences of nuclear activities. That means that what we are looking at is the conflict of interest. The IAA in a nutshell is judge and jewelry and its own industry like to that is under the safety of those industrial activities. Let's have a quick look now at who is Monday. The world health organization is the leading and coordinating, oh, the authority in the world on all health matters, including radiation and health. Alison Katz 00:06:19 It sets norms and standards. It coordinates research. It does a lot of job on statistics and epidemiology. It advises member states and it coordinates research and so on, and it formulates health policy. So the debate show should have the competence as regards health consequences of nuclear activities. The IAA has neither competence non-mandated in this area. And yet it is the IAA that is deciding on health policy in the place of who. In fact, it simply dictates this health policy to who and it has done for the past 50 years. The source of all of this is an agreement that was signed in 1959 and agreement between the international atomic energy agency and the world health organization. And basically what happens in practice is that the who cannot undertake any research, cannot disseminate any information, cannot come to the assistance of any population without the prior approval of the IAA. So really it does not fulfill its mandate at all. And it does not fulfill its mandate in an independent way. And we are seeking its independence so that it can fulfill its constitutional mandate in the area of radiation and health. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:43 This is almost painful to hear because whenever an international incident happens, a nuclear accident who statistics and reports are the first to be referenced by mainstream media and use to reassure the public that there's no danger. And yet it is very clear from what you're saying, that the statistics that they are coming up with, the reports they're coming up with are not honest to the existing science yet. They are seen as the ultimate experts. Alison Katz 00:08:11 They are indeed. And you've made a very, very important point that it's very important for us strategies in our movement of independent duty, precisely because the world's people have faith in who as indeed they should. If who was fulfilling its mandate, the trouble is that who is very influenced by all kinds of outside bodies. That we'll talk about that in a minute because it's a considerable obstacle that people have faith in, who we do need to produce the evidence that they have been heavily influenced. In fact, they are directed and controlled in this particular area by the IAEA. So let me give you a few examples of this evidence. After the Chernobyl accident, the world health organization was absent from CHIRLA bill for five whole years. Now this is really another rash because part of who his mandate is to be there the day after a catastrophe, it would send a team in the days that follow a catastrophe in order to evaluate the exact nature of the crisis and so on and to provide assistance who was not there for five whole years. Alison Katz 00:09:21 That's one thing. Now here's an interesting thing in 1990, the USSR, as it was at the time made a request to the world health organization. It was a request to develop a research project for them. It was not the who that replied. It was the IAA and the IAA indeed designed the research project. And it did something absolutely extraordinary to anybody who knows just a little bit about radiation and it's dangerous if permitted from its research project genetic effects and it made dental care is a priority. It makes absolutely no sense, no sense whatsoever. It is almost laughable. Now another piece of evidence is that there are no independent reports being issued by who they are all identical to IAA reports, or they're simply written by the IAEA and then published in the name of who here's another very important piece of evidence. There were two very important international conferences on Chernobyl. Alison Katz 01:10:27 One held in Geneva in 1995 and one in care in 2001, the proceedings of these conferences proceedings is just the final report were never published and who has lied about this until extremely recently, they have insisted even to journalists or very major newspapers that these proceedings, these reports were published now, they simply were not, and who cannot produce them. Another interesting example of how we know that the, who simply has not been taking its responsibilities. This is one of its former director generals. It was Dr. Nakajima. This was the Japanese director general, who was for eight years, the head of who he actually very candidly explained that the reason why the two reports hadn't been published was because of the legal constraints that the agreement with the IAA of 1959 puts on who he actually stated this openly in an interview on Swiss Italian television. So in other words, he was recognizing this subordination, but that is an extraordinary admission from someone who was a former director general, even that is denied by the world health organization today, which is a little bit ridiculous because of course this testimonies is on film. Anybody can consult it. So Libbe HaLevy 01:11:48 It seems that as regards nuclear, radiation and health, the world's people have no competent authority to turn to in this critically important area, public health. Alison Katz 01:11:57 I have to say that, unfortunately, that is indeed the situation. People have no national or international authority to turn to. There are independent scientists and there is a huge amount of information. The public also needs to know is that today the, who has absolutely no competence in this critically important public health area, which is radiation and health. They used to be a department of radiation and health who at least at headquarters, and it was closed about two, three years ago, even when it existed, it was not ideal. There were three units and they're all very interesting. One of them was on mobile telephones, one on electromagnetic fields and the other on nuclear power. Now all three of these units were highly compromised and there was a director Dr. who had been recruited from industry. And he worked as director in who for 10 years, and then left to go back to industry at the end of it. Alison Katz 01:12:59 And so we have a classic example of the revolving door, which of course is also a part of conflict of interest. Apparently scientists did complain to who about Dr. Reaper Charlie, about two or 3000 scientists signed that sort of complaint because he was accused of withholding essential evidence on depleted uranium. Unfortunately, this accusation never came to anything, but it's a reflection of the power of the nuclear lobby. Rapid surely has gone. The department of roads has closed and has not been reestablished. It was one of the questions that we asked to the current director general, which we'll talk about in a minute. So at the situation today and who that is, that there is no senior radiation scientist or even radio biologist. And it is very, very important that the world's people do know that at this moment, there is no international authority in this area. It's quite useful to note that who does not have actually deny these things. And Maria naira, who is the director of a department that's called public health and environment, and who did very candidly stage two, the newspaper Lamond, which is the major French newspaper that who gets all its information from the IAA. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:20 It's clear that who has no competence in the area of nuclear radiation. And that alone is pretty shocking. But what about other authorities and institutions in the world? There must be some competence somewhere. Alison Katz 01:14:33 Yes, there certainly is. There are independent scientists carrying out medical scientific research, and this is indeed the only source of reliable information. But as you can imagine, they face enormous obstacles. You know, with funding, cutoff research, not published, this is control of academic and resections. Did you expire the lobby, et cetera. And that's why one of our aims is to bring together citizens and independent scientists, because it's terrible to say so, but we can't rely on our own authorities and public institutions. And that is a pretty shocking state of affairs. It's why we organized a citizen and scientific forum on radio protection in 2012. And we'll be in organizing another one in 2014 on the genetic effects of radiation. Both of these forums, I should say, are fully supported by the city of Geneva, a hundred finance largely by them because Geneva is quite interesting has an anti nuclear constitution, which is a rare thing. Alison Katz 01:15:35 Let's first look in terms of competence at the nuclear establishment. And just a word about why I prefer to call it the nuclear establishment to the nuclear lobby. A lobby really suggests only a commercial or industrial interest, but what we have to remember that the nuclear establishment actually includes our own governments and our own national and international authorities. And therefore it's truly an establishment, which sort of has a veneer of respectability. Now within the nuclear establishment, the IAA is only its mouth picks the power behind all of that is the international commission on radio protection. The ICRP, this is the body that sets norms and standards and radio protection. But since it was set up public health experts, I've really been absent from the ICRP and it's a closed incestuous family. The nuclear establishment it's made up of the ICRP on the skier. That's the UN body IIA national authorities, like the one in the USA, which is the BIR your biological effects of ionizing radiation you're at in Europe. Alison Katz 01:16:44 And then of course there's a British national territory, the nuclear establishment, the ICRP bubble, as I said, it's a closed and insects, just family and their point members among themselves. And in addition to the directing industry, the ICRP and its family also control these academic and research institutes, even in the area of medical radiology, which is really a terrible, terrible thing. So what situation do we have in terms of competence? Public health specialists have been excluded from the beginning who are these ICRP members, they're all from the military or the nuclear industry or from the medical radiological societies as Rosati Patel. Who's a, the most fantastic writer on nuclear matters have said the ICRP is actually a club of users. It is not a neutral objective body. In fact, they almost a nuclear physicist members of the ICRP. There are no public health specialists. There are no radio biologists. There are no molecular biologists. And remember that extremely important when we consider that ionizing radiation is mutagenic. It always causes mutations and causes damage at the cellular level. So the very idea that we do not have molecular biologists in the body that determines radio protection, norms and standards, it is another action and no other body, not even the world health organization can place one of its people on the ICRP standard Libbe HaLevy 01:18:18 Policy. Alison Katz 01:18:19 Absolutely. It is. It's very, very shocking. You don't know who is to the marginalized. And I think the world's people needs to know that so that they can defend their international health authority, because it is their international health authority. I could add to all of that, but what happens in the international level, unfortunately, is we produced at the national level, whether it's the USA, the UK or Europe, the nuclear authorities dictate to the health authorities. That is a pretty terrible situation, Libbe HaLevy 01:18:49 Completely backwards. I want to move this over to the relationship between independent who and what we might refer to as dependent who, how much contact has there been between the two and what, if anything has been the response of those who work for the world health organization? Alison Katz 01:19:08 Well, the world health organization does admit, and even states that all its information comes from the IAA, it simultaneously claims to be completely independent, but how it explains that a, that contradiction might have no idea. We have had two long meetings with the who, but I won't talk about the first one because we didn't meet the director journals, but we did meet with the director general in 2011. In other words, just after Ashima. And we met with five of the highest ranking officials and who, so if you'd like, they really did give us full attention. We were accompanied by the mayor of Geneva because as I've said, Geneva, the city of Geneva, but it has actually an anti nuclear article in its constitution. The main outcomes of that meeting was that we have concluded that who has totally abdicated its responsibilities. So in a way we don't, we don't seek any more to gain any changes in who, but our meeting with Dr. Alison Katz 02:20:07 Chan, that is the name of the director. General was extremely interesting. And she did concede a number of very important points. And I might say that because she is not an expert in any way on nuclear power, she may not be aware of the significance of these concessions that she made. But for example, she did state that all radiation causes damage. Now it might be very surprising for you to learn that, but that has been denied in the past. In other words, there is no safe threshold. She also finally conceded that there is a difference between internal radiation and external radiation. And that is one of the major scientific controversies that has the efforts to expose health consequences. So her recognizing the distinction between internal and external radiation was quite something. She said that she didn't believe herself, that only 50 people had died following the Chernobyl accident. Alison Katz 02:21:03 And that is quite an admission considering the ductal now. And it's all it's documents. That is the final total of deaths that who was attributing to the Chernobyl accident, which of course as it is, it is an nonsense and an absurdity and has been perceived as such by the public in a way we've given up on the world health organization. That doesn't mean we've given up our Hippocratic vigil in front of the who in Geneva. In fact, we're into our seventh year, which is a permanent presence, but we're no longer interested in persuading, the current office holders and who there's no point nothing is going to happen. This is not where the power is. So that's why today we've sort of shifted our focus to the responsibilities of individual members states. They are the governing bodies. And in fact, it's the ministers of health. So we have started a vigil in Paris in front of the French ministry of health. Obviously we would like to start one in various capitals of the world. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:02 Tell us about this vigil, the protests that you've been running in front of who headquarters in Geneva for seven years. That's quite impressive. Alison Katz 02:22:12 We're quite amazed that we've lasted this long. It started in 2007 on the 26th of April, which of course, if the date of the terrible accident in 86, 19 86, our group, as you can imagine is, is well over middle age, we're all over 63 middle-aged protesters with some vegetable boards stood at the main reception of the world health organization headquarters in Geneva. And then there was a group of about 20 pacifist protestors who came up from town to join them. And if I tell you that the Geneva police were called by the world health organization, and when we arrived, there were barricades, there were even anti riot vans. It's kind of exaggerated response to pacifist, to middle aged protests. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:00 We had the exact same thing here on the first anniversary of Fukushima demonstration at the Santa Ana free nuclear power plant. They had the Marines on call at camp Pendleton helicopters overhead, and I swear, police outnumbered the middle aged protestors by a factor of two or three to one. Alison Katz 02:23:19 It just absolutely extraordinary the overkill. But I have to say that the buddies in Geneva were actually very sympathetic to us and they have helped us ever since, you know, the Hippocratic vigil is the symbolic part of our action. We've been there as I say for seven years, where there every working day from eight o'clock in the morning until six. So all the employees, but also visitors coming to who see us, we are extremely, and we've got a very, very large notice boards with signs that have quite strong messages on them, such as complicity in a scientific crime focus, humor, the same cover up as for Chernobyl, that kind of thing people might say, well, what does who care if you are outside in a silent protest and you are all passive protest as a, you might well say, sir, but in a way we take our inspiration from, to the mothers of the Plaza. Alison Katz 02:24:12 They might look at what happened in Argentina after the dictatorship, when many young people and young political dissidents were just disappeared by the regime that mothers held, one of these silent pacifist protests in a square, in, in, in Argentina. And they were there for 10 whole years and they did win their case. So, you know, we have to be patient, but there are other aspects of our action. I mean, we work with the United nations. Human rights spot is particularly with the special rapporteur on the right to health, the special rapporteur on the right to food. And we work with member states. They would their missions in Geneva. And of course we write articles and we try to get as much media attention as possible. There have been many, many short TV reports, but for the moment, what we would be hoping for, obviously as a documentary, we've had many offers of documentaries, none of which have materialized so far, if I don't think they will. And then on the 26th of April, and now, unfortunately the Fukushima, every 11th of March, there are special actions. And we coordinate these with Japanese groups in Japan, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:17 As someone who was one mile away from three mile island, what had happened, I would encourage you to also include March 28th as one of your signal days to commemorate the fact that three mile island happened and that there have held consequences from that that have again, been suppressed much as all the ill health information has been suppressed by. Alison Katz 02:25:38 Absolutely. It is incredibly important that people understand this. This is not history. None of these things are sort of anniversaries. In fact, anniversary is a bit of an inappropriate word. It's the same for three mile island. I'm quite sure that what we should be saying is that the health consequences are continuing. And in terms of genetic effects, they are increasing. It's a very terrifying thing. And it's sort of difficult to take that on board, but the sorts of studies that have been done on genetic effects, and it must be the same around three mile island and indeed around any nuclear reactor, the genetic effects far from diminishing with time, they increase. Now, we don't quite know, or scientists don't quite know the reasons for that. But the research that has been done around Chernobyl is indeed showing that these are in fact, the animal experiments they're in, they're in mice or field voles and thing. Alison Katz 02:26:27 And then, and breaches like that, that the genetic effects after 28 or 30 generations are much, much worse. So it's not only, it's a continuing catastrophe, but it is a worsening catastrophe. Yeah. I think that what strikes people, when we tell them that we have been in front of headquarters for seven years, it is just the very fact of a permanent presence in front of the headquarters of who, in other words, it doesn't matter that the people who've never been to Geneva and never believe been to the headquarters of WHS, it doesn't matter just that they know that there is this protestor and husband there for nearly seven years now. I think it is quite impressive to people. What does say about Chernobyl and what is the whole truth? Let's look at what, who hoped would be the final word on a Chernobyl. I think what happened was that the nuclear establishment began to be a little bit worried that there was controversy over the health consequences. Alison Katz 02:27:28 And so they organized what they called the churnable forum, which produced its report in 2005. This forum was designed to end the debate. That is what they hoped it hasn't of course now incredibly the who on the IAA and on scare, which is the UN body. And so on. They still maintain today that 50 people died as a direct result of the accident that you can see that there are 4,000 cases of fibroids cancer. They claim that 99% of them have been successfully treated and they then admitted, but then maybe maybe a further 4,000 deaths from other cancers in the future. And they do underline that these are potential deaths. So the, what they're trying to do is to sort of end the debate and say, that's the final turtle, even worse and who and the nuclear establishment dismisses any health problems at churnable as the results of radio phobia. Alison Katz 02:28:29 In other words, it's just because people are afraid. They fear, they believe they have been subjected to radio contamination. In other words, it's all in their imagination. It is hard to credit. Now, here is the final conclusion of the Chernobyl forum from a whole group of UN organizations, including the who, including the AIA, including UMDP it's in the charitable forum, which is their definitive document. It says the mental health impact of churnable is the largest public health problem unleashed by the impact on individual and community behavior populations in the effected areas, exhibit strongly negative attitudes and self-assessments of health and wellbeing, and a strong sense of lack of control over their own lives associated with these perceptions is an exaggerated sense of the dangers to health of exposure to radiation. Now just make a couple of comments if they are really claiming that radio phobia is the main problem and that mental health problems are the main problems. Alison Katz 02:29:40 How do they health effects in children, in rodents, in insects, in plants? It is the most extraordinary city plain, but unfortunately it is still banded about, and it's being banded about that in Fukushima. The major problem is rodeo phobia. It really is an absolutely dreadful it's almost criminal. And I would like just to point out one particularly odious aspect of this is that when they talk about a mental health impact, I mean, of course people are worried, of course people are anxious, but it isn't because to say that they have imagined that they have been subjected to radio contamination, they have been subjected to radio contamination. And so naturally they are anxious. And on top of that in amongst all the enormous numbers of health effects is very serious neuropsychiatric damage there's damage to every little system, including the neurological system. So not surprising that you are going to have an, an enormous increase in your neuropsychiatric disorders, but to put that down to radio verbiage rather than to the fact that radiation actually has damaged the neurological system, it is an unspeakable dishonesty. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:58 We'll hear more from Alison cats in just a moment, but first, a reminder that nuclear hot seat is listener supported and relies on your donations to keep us in production. Please give what you can to support our work by going to nuclear hot seat.com and clicking on the big red donate button, whatever amount you can offer is deeply appreciated. Now, back to Alison Katz of independent, w H O Alison Katz 03:31:24 Let's have a look at the massive discrepancy between the figures that emanate from independent researchers and the figures that emanate from the nuclear establishment, there is an order of a hundred or even a thousand times larger when they emanate from independent research. Now such a massive discrepancies is far, far larger than we would accept as a sort of normal margin of scientific controversy. In fact, it is indicative of a cover and of course, the very low figures all emanated from the establishment and the much higher figures all emanate from independent researchers. So I think we're quite obviously looking at a coverup, the figures, as I've said, from who peer absurd, even to quite a large section of the public journalism is even recognizing that knowledge is the world's worst industrial accident with emissions of a several hundred times greater than Hiroshima and Nagasaki to get, I could give you one example of the real absurdity. Alison Katz 03:32:26 Let's have a look at the liquidators, the liquidators, just to remind your listeners where the men and women who were brought into initially to fight the fire that took 10 days to extinguish at the reactor. And then for years and years afterwards, they were involved in the cleanup operators. They are known as liquidators, which is a terrible name, but, but there we are, there were about 800,000 liquidators from the former USSR. And there were men and women, they were large the recruits from the army. And so they were very young average age of 33. I think that's important to take into account. When you look at the mortality, the chief medical officer of the Russian Federation already reported that 10% of its liquidators were already dead by 2001 similar figures, 10% were reported by the Ukraine and Belarus as well as the Russian Federation. So if you're talking of 10% of 800,000, that is already 80,000 liquidators dead, that's just in the group of liquidators. We're not talking about the group of the most contaminated people or the group of evacuees. And so the figures of 50 become even more ludicrous. How can Libbe HaLevy 03:33:42 These massive discrepancies be Alison Katz 03:33:44 Explained? It's very important question because of course that's what the public wants to understand. They are just confused by these huge, massive discoveries. And I don't blame them. The emissions, the floors, the manipulation of data. These are the most important part of the explanation is simply that the who and the IAA only take into account three various specific population groups in the three most effected countries. There is absolutely no scientific or moral justification for emitting from consideration the rest of the population in those countries, the rest of Europe, which was very serious to contaminated and the rest of the world. It's very important for us to remember that 57% of the fallout came down outside those three countries that were most effected by the reus Ukraine on the Russia in 13 European countries, 50% of the territory, it was dangerously contaminated. So how is it that the, who has no interest whatsoever on reporting on health consequences in European countries? You could say, why is it not interested in reporting and all countries, including the USA. And there are reports from the USA of effects, even though the USA, the Americas in general, where are the continents that were the least affected, but there have been extremely well designed studies in the USA, but probably Joseph Mangano. I believe you, you, you talked to the other day, actually Libbe HaLevy 03:35:15 Talking with you as part of a two-part series. I have a long interview with Joe completely on the epidemiology of the who I, a connection where he goes into great detail about the studies and about how the statistics have been raised. Alison Katz 03:35:29 This is the kind of evidence that actually could not be refuted where it known to the public. Another reason for, you know, heart Kennedy's discrepancies be explained is that who only considers cancer and then more or less only thyroid cancer. And I just want them to say something about thyroid cancers and children, because when they claim that 99% of these have been cured, it is a disgusting, the dishonest thing to say, tyroid cancer in children, even if they have had, or the malignant tumor removed, even if they are taking by Roxanne to compensate, it is an extremely serious condition in children. And if they have hearted as children, knowing the long latency period of development of cancer, they are going to have extremely serious health problems, all of their lives. And it is a disgraceful thing for who to claim 99% of these are cured. Alison Katz 03:36:23 There is no such thing as cure in that sense. These are children with very, very serious health problems. But as I say, thyroid cancer is not at all the only cancer. It is the one that who could not deny because it had increased by, I don't know, 50 or a hundred fold rather than just doubling who does consider certain congenital malformations. But again, it has extremely carefully defined these malformations in order to reduce the number two is strictly limited, very tiny number. What's interesting is that the who and the nuclear establishment dismisses all other estimates. Of course, they dismiss other estimates from independent scientists as unscientific, whether it is Greenpeace, whether it's medical doctors from Russia, scientists, from the whole of the former Soviet union, who would always say, and these are people who they don't have very high standards of science, but it's very ironic because actually, if there's one criticism you cannot make of the former Soviet union, they had extremely high standards of science and medical science. Alison Katz 03:37:28 And it's particularly ironic because actually the establishment side is so flawed. It is so full of emissions that it can justifiably be defined as pseudoscience. Can you give us some examples of these flaws and omissions? The most important one is the fact that they are using the wrong model and they have been using the wrong model for health consequences for over 50 years. In fact, since he rushed him or we call it that he rushed him a model, what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Obviously it was a one time massive external exposure. Now after nuclear accidents, the exposure is continuous. It is internal contamination and it is very low dose. The major disinformation relates to the refusal to consider low dose internal radio contamination. These two kinds of exposure are simply in comparable in terms of the biological damage at the molecular level, Dr. Chris Busby, who's a British scientist has been responsible for denouncing. Alison Katz 03:38:33 The cover up in the UK has made a fantastic comparison in order to explain to the public. He says, it's like the difference between warming yourself in front of the coal fire and taking a hot coal from that fire and swallowing it. We have to remember that internal contamination at Chernobyl accounts for 95% of the contamination. And that is because radionuclides are in the soil, they're in the air, but above all, they are in the soil. And these people are eating food products that have been raised and produced in contaminated soil. So we're talking about the meat. We're talking about the fruit, we're talking about the vegetables. We're talking about the food from the forest mushrooms, berries. This makes up their diet, and they have been eating contaminated food since 1986. And that gets concentrated inside people's bodies. And it's that concentration inside organs that is so dangerous. Alison Katz 03:39:31 Some particularly of course, in children, because children are so much more vulnerable to radio contamination. Although for years, the nuclear establishment denied any difference between internal and external radiation today, they recognize they have to, they would be laughed at because all nuclear physicists do understand that there is a huge difference between internal and external contamination. And it is the central control seat. Even the ICRP recognizes that there's no state of safe threshold for analyzing radiation. And how could that be? Because all ionizing radiation is a mutagenic. There's a fundamental emission in terms of simple biology of radio contamination. That is that all organ systems are affected. I think I said a few minutes ago that cancer is the only problem that is considered. That is absurd. We all know, well, most of us should know that radio contamination affects the immune system. If it affects the immune system, it affects every organ system, cardiac digestive, respiratory endocrine, molten, skeletal, neurological reproductive. And of course it results in malformations and genetic damage. All of that is in addition to the cancers, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:48 This is of course devastating information. You mentioned manipulation of the data. Could you explain further about that? Alison Katz 04:40:57 There's a huge range of different kinds of manipulation of data, and they sort of range from the flagrant and the outrageous to the subtle undecided, let's start with the flagrant and outrage. So there has been falsification and suppression of data. There are attacks against independent researchers. And then of course, there's the example of professor Bunder Chesky, who was a prisoner of conscious of conscience, of amnesty international. He was released in 2005 under international pressure. There's simple censorship of studies. Well, just cut off the funding. He did thousands of studies from the country's most just ignored. They've never been translated from, from Russian or from Slavic languages. The initial dose has been ignored. It's been averaged across populations. They have excluded entire scientific domains, such as internal low dose, hot particles. They have studies after 10 years. So that illnesses with a long latency period can be ignored. Alison Katz 04:41:59 They have claimed decreases in childhood cancers when actually they'd become adults and are no longer in that database and so on. And so on. That has been the most extraordinary manipulation of statistics on cancer in everywhere in the world, whether it's in the countries concerned, but also in England. And I don't doubt in the United States in France, absolutely everywhere. There's another interesting aspect to all of this. And this is a particular despicable sort of reasoning that is used by the nuclear establishment. And unfortunately, it's rather difficult to deal with. Basically what they say is you'll never be able to prove it. You will never be able to prove that people's illnesses are connected to radiation and, and in some ways they are right. It is extremely difficult to prove against the background of so many cancers, for example, because we have cancers that are caused by chemical pollution. Alison Katz 04:42:55 So it is often extremely difficult to attribute cases with certainty to radioactive rather than to chemical contamination. However, it is not impossible. Professor Yabloko does explain the epidemiological methods that are used in order to relate illnesses to radio contamination very clearly. And basically you hold socioeconomic factors constant, and you compare the illnesses of populations in high, medium, and low radio contaminated areas. This is really very basic epidemiology. It's easy to do, and he has done it. So to claim that you cannot attribute illnesses to radio contamination is actually it is wrong. It is scientific. And that is why we call it pseudoscience. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:44 The book that you're referring to is Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and the environment. And it was written by professor, who is a previous interviewee here on nuclear hot seat, as well as professor Nesterenko and a Dr. Nesterenko who were all eminent scientists. It was edited by Dr. Janet Sherman. Who's also been against several times on nuclear hot seat. Talk to us about what that book is and why it is so important. Alison Katz 04:44:13 It's a huge toe 330 pages, 800 references. It draws on at least 5,000 scientific studies. Although I have to say there are apparently at least 30,000 scientific studies available on the internet for anybody who would like to go and look up, think it would be useful at this point, just to summarize what this book says about the health consequences. It's a short quote, but I think it's worth citing in for thousands of independent studies in Ukraine, Belarus, and the Russian Federation. And in many other countries contaminated to varying degrees by radio nuclides from Charlottesville have established that there has been a significant increase in all types of cancers and diseases of the respiratory cardiovascular, gastrointestinal urogenital, endocrine, immune lymphoid, and nervous systems, prenatal, perinatal, infant, and child mortality, spontaneous abortions, deformities, and genetic anomalies disturbance, and retardation of mental development, neuro-psychological illness and blindness. These increases. Alison Katz 04:45:24 This is me now commenting on the quote. These increases are not trivial. They cannot be dismissed. They are not increases of a few percent. There is a doubling a trebling quadrupling more in some cases now, why is it so significant? It is a real threat because the world health organization, this time cannot dismiss the New York academy of sciences publication. It is a vulnerable institution, and I would like to pay tribute to Janette Sherman for getting this thing through, because I don't doubt that there was considerable opposition. It is a major coup that she got it through. It's very interesting to know that the world health organization tried to pretend that the New York academy of sciences was kind of withdrawing from this publication. This is an absolute nonsense. The New York academy of sciences say it's itself, that it only publishes material, that it considers her scientific validity. Alison Katz 04:46:23 So I will dismiss absolutely all of these sorts of slights directed at this publication. It is a publication of the NYAS and it will remain so for the historical record. And that is because they judged it to be scientifically valid. You know, the kinds of criticisms that who has made against this publication, it just said the book is not peer reviewed. And I do want to comment on that because I think it's very significant. That is crass nonsense, because books are not peer reviewed. What are peer reviewed are the scientific and medical articles that are published in peer reviewed journal. So it is not a book that is peer reviewed. And we decided, because we were so angry at this comment, we decided to actually analyze the respective chapters on mortality in the Chernobyl forum, remember that see final verdict of the nuclear establishment on Chernobyl. Alison Katz 04:47:22 And we compared it with the NYAS book. And what did we find? 40% of the references in the New York academy of sciences book are from peer reviewed journals. And a very small 18% of the references are from peer review journals in the nuclear establishment book. So when who says that this is not serious science in the NYAS book, they are completely wrong. And if any book could be criticized for not being based on peer reviewed science, it is the nuclear establishment charitable forum book. We only compared the chapters on mortality. There are lots of other chapters. I couldn't do all of the chapters. It takes far too long. So I decided just to make a comparison of those two respective chapters on mortality. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:11 Now that we have a clear picture of who you've given us background, we have a context for understanding their actions. Talk to us about how, who is dealing with the disaster at Fukushima Alison Katz 04:48:24 Credibly, given public scepticism, it's dealing with it in exactly the same way to our astonishment. Two days after the Fukushima accident, who actually stated that there was no public health impact. That is a statement that is based on zero science. There was none as a matter of fact, though, independent research has had already understood that there had been called meltdowns in three of the reactors, and they knew that because of the composition of the emissions and they have been proved, right? Furthermore, many of those independent researchers knew of the terrifying possibility of a much, much worse scenario with the containment pools, holding huge quantities of used fuel. And for that, anybody wanting to know further about that, they just have to go to Arnie Gunderson's Fairwinds site. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:19 Arnie was interviewed last week on nuclear hot seat, specifically about the situation in Fukushima and what he would do if he were in charge of the site and making it as safe as is humanly possible at this time. Alison Katz 04:49:35 Oh, that's very interesting. And I miss look better, but I'd love to see that interview just to say that a who made this ludicrous statement about no public health impact on the basis of no information whatsoever. And I think what is very important to note is that they had no information and yet information was available from independent researchers elsewhere in the world who has produced two reports now on focus, Sheila, the first one is to evaluate the exposures it's on the preliminary dose estimates. And the second one, which is simply based on those dose estimates is on the likely health effects. So in fact, they are based on the same data and these reports have been very heavily criticized by all kinds of people, but I'm particularly interested in the critique that was issued by IPP and w which is the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war. Alison Katz 05:50:29 And two very excellent critiques have been made by Arctics Rosa. And they are very worth well. Looking at his first criticism is that who is estimates of the amounts of radionuclides admitted are lower. They're considerably lower. They are low about 50 to 80%. Then everyone else's estimates, including the estimates of tech. You really do have to say my goodness, who is really trying to give the lowest possible figure. His second criticism is that two critical populations have been ignored. The first of those is the, the people in the 20 kilometers. There is exposure before and during evacuation will have been very, very high. And the other critical population is the workers who were on site during and in the days and the weeks following the accident, those are the two most critical populations who was exposures ought to have been considered. Why were they not considered? Alison Katz 05:51:29 We have no answer now in WHS calculations. So they use a single estimated dose range. So in effect, they are averaging doses between children and adults. This is a medical and scientific nonsense because children are many, many times more vulnerable. It is absolutely unacceptable to use reference levels for nuclear workers or for the public as if this could possibly apply to children. But that is what they have done most seriously, who has accepted the introduction by the Japanese government of the level of 20 Melissa that's per year. Despite the fact that the international limit that is set by the ICRP, the international commission on radio production is one Millie civics per year for children. This is criminal. Was this shift in the amount, making it 20 times higher? Did that take place after the accident? Exactly the Japanese government, recognizing that populations were living in areas where the 1 million civets per year couldn't possibly be respected, knowing that they could not evacuate such a huge number of people, what do they do instead they up the acceptable level, and it is an extraordinary thing to do because the international level is set by the ICRP. Alison Katz 05:52:50 Yeah. So up to your question is very important. After the accident, it is extraordinary for the who to more or less approve that decision of the Japanese government. Another thing that WWII show is ignoring is the alarming reports of thyroid abnormalities in children with fibroid abnormalities are the first signs of illness that I've seen after a nuclear accident. And indeed Japanese researchers have reported that 44% of Japanese children are showing very serious abnormalities. It's in the form of, and cysts in the firearm gland. And those are precursors possible precursors of firearm cancer. To find this in 44% of children is an extraordinary finding. We should be made public, not just in Japan, of course, but, but internationally, if who does not even mention that and its report on the health effects, it is not doing its job. So we've seen the, who has completely uncritical of the Japanese government. Alison Katz 05:53:54 And it's interesting to note, thank goodness that someone in the UN a family is doing something. Honestly, the negligence of the Japanese has been heavily criticized by the special rapporteur on the right to health. This is a man called and under Groover, who is currently the special rapport to his documents are also worth going and looking at on the net. He pointed out, for example, the failure to use what we call speedy data. This is data that the Japanese government had at its disposal to understand, to be able to measure the levels of contamination in various districts in Japan, they failed to use that data with this ridiculous result. Populations were evacuated from areas to other areas, even though those areas turned out to be far more polluted than where they had been at home. And that is because they ignored this data from speedy, that showed that the wind had carried the contamination to these areas, to which they were being evacuated. Alison Katz 05:54:57 So we're talking about really criminal negligence. There was a failure to distribute IRD in. Everybody knows that you must distribute IRD into children and it must be taken within 24 hours, 48 hours. There's no point in taking IRD, oh, a week later, the Japanese government failed to distribute IRD in and who had no comment to make on that? Another thing for the who texts is that it appears to suggest throughout that there is a safe level, and this goes against even all nuclear authorities, even the ICRP even the B E I R of the USA. In other words, your nuclear authority we should acknowledge is the slightest amount of radioactivity can cause harmful tissue damage and genetic mutations. So for the Domini rancher to be doing worse than the nuclear authorities of the USA under the ICRP is a real thing. There's there are some quite amusing examples that are x-rays and sites. Alison Katz 05:55:55 For example, they were supposed to be sampling the levels of radionuclides in food products, such as eggs. And he reports that a total, the grand total of 17 1 7 17 eggs were sampled in communities around Fukushima. It is prophetic. It is pitiful, but it is also criminal. They ignored the phenomenon of bioaccumulation in fish. These are things that quite a lot of educated people are well aware of that fish is a very important part of Japanese diet. And we all know that it accumulates in fish at the end of the food chain. So these are really very, very terrible criticisms to be, to be being made at the WSU report. Another one is that there's no mention of ongoing problems at the site. And Alex Rosen finishes his report by reporting to us, but who were the authors of the wht report? Well, it claimed to be 30 national experts. And I don't doubt that they are the 30 national experts, but every one of them works for part of the nuclear establishment. Most of them for the IAA, and of course, many also work for national regulatory nuclear authorities. And so we're back to the subject at the beginning of our interview, which is conflict of interest, public health aspects of nuclear activities are being managed controlled and directed by the nuclear establishment. I think there couldn't be a clear example of conflict of interest. How Libbe HaLevy 05:57:34 Can we best deal with independent, Alison Katz 05:57:36 Who I think there are two things. The very first thing to do is to go on to independent, whose side is very easy. You just Google independent w H O and you will find it immediately. It is in several languages, including of course English. And the second thing to do is to take up our public health angle, try to take up the fact that the health consequences have been hidden from the public. That means that the nuclear establishment has deprived the public and the international scientific community of essential medical and scientific information. In other words, that as a scientific crime, the current cancer epidemic is due to pollution, chemical pollution and radioactive pollution. I think that the public understands that they have not been told what are the health and environmental consequences of Chernobyl three mile island Fukushima the functioning of nuclear reactors altogether? I think they would be outraged because they do believe that the truth has been told. I think from the moment that they know that no, the health consequences have been hidden from them. It's a very useful angle for nuclear activists Libbe HaLevy 05:58:45 And cats of independent. W H oh, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, June 1st, 2021. And this is Leiby, Halevi reminding you that we are all in the nuclear hot seat. ### NH #518: Uranium Film Festival - Pacifist Physicists & Filmmaker Claus Biegert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-film-festival-pacifist-physicists-filmmaker-claus-biegert/ Published: 2021-05-23 Duration: 00:59:01 Uranium Film Festival continues with the German film (English Subtitles), Of the Sense of the Whole: The Network of Physicist Hans-Peter Dürr (r). This Week's Featured Interview: The International Uranium Film Festival continues with 34 films on a wide range of nuclear issues around the world. Of the Sense of the Whole: The Network of Physicist Hans-Peter Dürr (VOM SINN DES GANZEN) is a film by Claus Biegert. As Biegert explains: Hans-Peter Dürr – as a physicist he followed the footsteps of the world re-nowned Werner Heisenberg. As a peace activist he was torn between his PhD supervisor Edward Teller and peace Nobel laureate Josef Rotblat, both of them involved in the Manhattan Project during World War II. When it became obvious that Hitler would not built an atomic bomb (Wunderwaffe), Rotblat immediately resigned from Los Alamos, Teller stayed and became the "father of the hydrogen bomb". In the early 1950s, the young and naive Hans-Peter from Stuttgart, Germany, stepped into the bomb euphoria in Berkeley, California. It shaped his life. He became a role model for a scientist with responsibility. The International Uranium Film Festival will make all 34 films on nuclear issues available online, for FREE, UNTIL MAY 30, 2021. After that, some of these films may not be generally available, so go binge watch them now: CLICK HERE Filmmaker Claus Biegert NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (for Outstanding Nuclear Bone-headedness): The easiest and best way to achieve anything is to set an intention and put energy behind it… BUT DON'T DO THIS WITH ENVISIONING A NUCLEAR WAR WITH CHINA!  Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Pacifist physicists. That's not a phrase one encounters often or ever even expect to encounter as it was physicists who created the atomic bomb and all of its iterations, as they continue to work on its evolution as a weapon. But then you learn that there has been a history of physicists who understood exactly what they were working on. It's dangers, the terrible destructive power of these weapons. And some of them worked invisibly to save us from the worst of its impact. Starting in Germany, back at the start of world war two, that's when Hitler intended to dominate the world and turned to his top physicist to ask about the feasibility of creating a knock yet named super weapon. As you learn when a genuine expert tells you Klaus Biggert 00:00:57 was part of this group around Heisenberg, who were asked by Hitler, if they can build the magic weapon and Heisenberg said to Hitler, we could do it, but it would take too long. And so Hitler was not interested in anymore. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:16 Was this a conscious manipulation by Heisenberg of Hitler saying, nah, it's going to take too long. And Klaus Biggert 00:01:24 Well, Libbe HaLevy  00:01:25 When you learn that there have been physicists from the start of the atomic age, who did what they could for humanity to minimize or eliminate the risks of world apocalypse, where they could, you are entitled to entertain the thought that maybe just maybe physicists who believe in peace might be able to find a way out of that terrible seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:51 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:23 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week. We, again, spotlight the international uranium film festival in a fascinating interview with Klaus. Biggert the director of, of the, of the whole, the network of physicist. Hans-Peter dear. The film introduces us to the concept of the pacifist physicist and how some of these individuals invisibly protected the world from atomic Holocaust. He specifically focuses on the life of German physicist. Hans-Peter Deere who studied for his PhD under Edward teller, the father of the H-bomb and then turned his energies to supporting peace instead of weapons or nuclear energy. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:31 We'll also have a Roundup of nuclear Nunes from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than any of the broadcast television networks have carried in the past week. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, May 25th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. This week, we'll be having a Roundup of stories from the past few months that were prepared for the show and are important, but time ran out and we weren't able to include them starting off here in the U S starting out here in the United States. We're in Southeast Washington state at the Hanford site, an underground tank holding 123,000 gallons of radioactive waste appears to be leaking contaminated liquid into the ground. This according to the department of energy, this is the second of Hanford's 149. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:36 Single shell tanks believed to be currently leaking waste. Although in the past 67 tanks were suspected of leaking. These tanks at Hanford were built to hold a mix of high-level radioactive and other hazardous chemical waste from chemically processing irradiated uranium to remove plutonium. The Hanford site in Eastern Washington was used from world war two through the cold war. It created the plutonium that was used in the Nagasaki bomb and went on to produce about two thirds of for the nation's nuclear weapons program. And remember they want to ship quote unquote, excess plutonium from the Hanford site to the waste isolation pilot plant in New Mexico, which was never set up to take high level waste like plutonium, of course, the usual boiler plate response of their, their Missy. Don't worry. Your pretty little head about it was enacted by the department of energy, which said in a message to Hanford employees, there is no increased health or safety risk to Hanford workers or the public. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:44 Any contamination from the leak is expected to take more than 25 years to reach the water table, right, 25 years, explain that to your kids and your grandkids. The groundwater flows slowly over decades, which is really very quickly in geologic terms towards the Columbia river. And the irony is that we learned halfway through this article. This is one tank that we did empty out so much ideation in Michigan. A new report released in March found that Monroe county, Michigan, which is home to the ferry to nuclear reactor has a cancer mortality rate that is significantly higher than that, of the national average and that the driving force behind that statistic is the power plant. Joseph epidemiologist and executive director of the radiation and public health project used mortality data collected by the centers for disease control and prevention. In order to come up with these findings, his analysis found that cancer related deaths in Monroe county were 14.3% higher than the national average Mangano said. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:58 We have raised red flags. These are matters of concern. There are no other obvious reasons for such an unexpected change prior to Femi two's activation in 1985, Monroe counties cancer death rate was 3% less than the national average in New Mexico. The Los Alamos national laboratory has announced that it will be moving hundreds of employees from its sprawling campus in the mountains of Northern New Mexico to Santa Fe, as part of a real estate deal that officials described as the largest job relocation in the capital city's history. And why may you ask, are they doing this to try to make space on lab property for future hires who will be responsible for building the plutonium cores that trigger the weapons in the U S nuclear arsenal? the lab is facing a 20, 26 deadline to begin producing at least 30 cores a year. That's 30 more nuclear weapons of a size, which dwarfs what was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Los Alamos expects to hire 1200 employees this fiscal year, adding to the 1000 hired last year, all in the interest of being able to further blast us into kingdom come officials at Los Alamos are quoted as saying increasing teleworking and shifting a significant number of staff to work off site would open up more space for the plutonium core mission, which brings us to this week's featured exercise in nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy  00:08:43 Who can fathom the military mind writing in the U S Naval Institute journal Admiral Charles A. Richard warned that the military must quote, consider the possibility of great power competition crisis or direct armed conflict with a nuclear capable peer and as a result, update and modernize its approach to its two principal adversaries, Admiral Richards went on to say, there is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a conflict involving nuclear weapons. He wrote demanding that the United States quote prepare for the conflict we prefer instead of the one we are likely to face and that the U S risk suffering quote, unquote, embarrassment or worse. If they do not act, excuse me, I opt for embarrassment rather than nuclear war what's with this, we get to use our big bang before you get to use your big bang thinking actually makes sense. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:45 Even the headline of this article, head of strategic command us must prepare for very real possibility of nuclear war with China. Well, if you're preparing for it, if you are visualizing it, if you are intending and if you build it, they will come or we will go. And there goes the planet as former military analyst and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg explained in his book, the doomsday machine confessions of a nuclear war planner in the event of eight, totally successful widespread American nuclear strike against the Soviet union with no retaliation whatsoever. At least 99% of the world's population would die as Ellsberg noted. It is the smoke after all, not the fallout, which would remain mostly limited to the Northern hemisphere that would do it worldwide smoke and sweat lofted by fierce firestorms in hundreds of burning cities, into the stratosphere where it would not rain out and would remain for a decade or more enveloping the globe and blocking most sunlight lowering annual global temperatures to the level of the last ice age and killing all harvests worldwide causing near universal starvation within a year or two. So Admiral Richards and all you military rah, rah nukes, people who just can't wait to set off one of those puppies in order to compensate for your own shortcomings and inadequacies know that you are this week's, Libbe HaLevy  01:11:22 Awake, scientific American published this interesting article back in March, the whole spectrum of reproductive problems in males is increasing about 1% per year in Western countries. This includes rates of declining sperm counts, decreasing testosterone levels and increasing rates of testicular cancer, as well as a rise in the prevalence of erectile dysfunction on the female side of the equation, miscarriage rates are also about 1% per year in the United States. And so is the rate of need for surrogate mothers. Meanwhile, the total fertility rate worldwide has dropped by nearly 1% per year from 1960 to 2018. What's fascinating is that this article blames it on hormone disrupting chemicals without a single mention of radiation exposure, which can be the cause of every one of those symptoms that I just mentioned over to Japan, where I was reminded yet again, of how even major stories get deflected and buried covered up and moved on from, without getting any resolution back in late February, it was discovered that pressure inside one of the reactor containment vessels at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant wreckage has dropped Tokyo electric power company. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:50 TEPCO said the earthquake that hit the area on February 13 may have been to blame, and they went into their standard, their, their Missy talking point, no radioactive material had leaked. Are you catching a nuclear industry theme here? The focus Shima areas suffered a 6.0 magnitude earthquake on February 23rd. And even TEPCO admitted that three temporary incineration facilities for radioactive waste from the accident have been damaged. TEPCO said it is continuing to pump water into the vessel and there should be not very reassuring should be no safety problem. And that there had been no abnormalities in the measurements at radioactive monitoring posts and the compound. But we already know from other studies that have been done and by the citizens' data radiation map of Japan that not enough monitoring stations exist, they're all placed high above the ground. So we're not finding out what's actually landing on the soil three days before that quake co announced that water levels in the containment vessels for the number one and number three destroyed reactors had been continuing to drop by several centimeters each day. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:08 Meaning there is a leak. The utility is continuing to pump three tons of water per hour into the reactor containers to cool the fuel debris. That is where the radioactive water that Japan is planning to dump into the Pacific ocean comes from from this cooling water. As I said before, these two stories each broke within days of each other in late February. And once they were mentioned, there's been no follow-up no resolution, nothing else. Move on. Nothing else to see here, except there probably is. We are at 10 years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster began. And a poll says that only 19% of residents in Fukushima prefecture believe the work to decommission. The nuclear plant is showing quote unquote promise. Although evacuation orders have been lifted, many residents who fled the disaster have not returned to their homes near the plant. And of those interviewed 72% said that new settlement policies put in place by the government are not promising. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:21 And because for the nuclear industry, there's never too much nuclear waste that we can't have just a little bit more concise electric power in Japan received approval to restart three 40 year old, long idled nuclear reactors, which could pave a way for quote unquote, a revival of a nuclear energy sector. That was basically shut down by Fukushima a decade ago. The approval reported on May 10th was the first in four years, and as needed to allow any reactors to return to operation following the post Fukushima shutdowns currently in Japan, only seven nuclear reactors are operating down from typically 47 before the earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima nuclear reactors on may 13, the Sapporo district court dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former worker in Sapporo city who claimed that he was exposed to radiation and developed cancer during his work at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:24 The 63 year old man worked at Fukushima from July to October, 2011, removing debris. And he later developed three cancers, including bladder and stomach cancer. He said the cancers were caused by exposure to radiation from the work and demanded that TEPCO and others compensate him for damages. And that the government we send its decision not to recognize his work related injuries, but in the court case, the government denied the causal relationship between radiation exposure and cancer and fobbed the man's illness off the fact that he smoked and drank alcohol. This is the first time in Japan that a court has ruled against a Fukushima nuclear power plant worker who developed cancer. And it sets a very bad precedent. The plaintiff said of the approximately 6,000 workers working in the harsh environment for the decommissioning of the plant, about 90% are subcontractors who are in a position where they cannot raise their voices, even if they want it to the court decision, closes the road to recovery from the damage and indicated that he plans to appeal the decision and former Japanese prime ministers. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:40 Now to con and junior cheery, Kazumi have urged Japan to stop using nuclear power saying the countries should learn from the Fukushima crisis a decade ago, and turn to renewable energy. Both were proponents of nuclear power while in office, but became critics following the March 11th, 2011, earthquake Toonami and subsequent triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Koizumi said Japan has so much natural sources of energy like solar power, hydro power and wind power. Why should we use something that's more expensive and less safe? Exactly. Over to Russia where bad news out of Chernobyl, it appears that nuclear reactions are starting up spontaneously inside the containment shield, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caught fire 35 years ago and caused the world's depending on how you measure it against Fukushima, either the worst or the second worst nuclear accident spreading fallout as far a field as Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Northern England. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:50 According to Neil Hyatt, a nuclear materials chemist at the university of Sheffield, the fire is restarting quote like the embers in a barbecue pit and anyone who's ever gone camping knows that you do not leave a campfire unless it is dead cold and out something which seems to be impossible to do at Chernobyl. A sealed room deep within the reactor is putting out a small, but steadily increasing stream of neutrons. A telltale sign that nuclear fishing is taking place within the reactor Ukrainian authorities admit that they have no clear plan on how to prevent a new meltdown on a totally doors Shanko of the Institute for safety problems of nuclear power plants in Kiev. Ukraine said there are many uncertainties, but we can't rule out the possibility of an accident. Suggesting managers still have a few years to figure out how to stifled a threat. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:49 And he remedy he and his colleagues come up with will be of keen interest to Japan, which is coping with the aftermath of its own nuclear disaster. 10 years ago at Fukushima civilly of notes. It's a similar magnitude of hazard in Canada, the battle against new small nuclear reactors and the citing of ongoing nuclear waste continues to heat up protecting all our waterways, no nuclear waste. A grassroots citizens group is accusing Canada's nuclear industry of using its financial power to groom a declining Ontario farm community into becoming a willing host for the country's most dangerous radioactive waste. The group accuses the nuclear waste management organization and w M O of taking advantage of the decline by spending millions of dollars on quote unquote Goodwill projects, the community couldn't on its own two N w M O's claims that it is strictly a good will gesture and that the money is not tied to anything to do with the project bill. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:58 No vice-president of protecting our waterway said, why would you spend one and a half million dollars on a community? If you didn't expect to get something back in return? The project knows referring to is a $23 billion nuclear disposal site, where the NWM all wants to inter some 3 million spent nuclear fuel bundles in a sprawling network of tunnels and holes, 50 meters below the ground to Ontario communities. South Bruce and Ignatius are under consideration for what the NW emo is calling the deep geological repository and says it is working with local communities in the selecting of the site in 2023, a new Canadian organization called we the nuclear free north is addressing concerns about the proposed burial of high-level nuclear waste in Northwestern, Ontario as well. The Canadian government in 2007 gave the N w M O, which is a consortium formed by Ontario power generation, new Brunswick power, and Hydro-Quebec responsibility for finding an quote unquote informed and willing community to host the nuclear waste site. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:14 But now according to we, the nuclear free north opposition is growing in these areas as residents increasingly do become informed and unwilling and believe it or not, there are still more stories that we don't have time to get to today, but we'll try and fit them into the future episodes of nuclear hot seat. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking power reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is government and business gone, wild, not caring how they contaminate the world. As long as they keep making obscene profits and delude themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions when let's face it, they are not. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:17 Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever let's face it. Nuclear is a mess, and that is why you need nuclear hot seat. You've learned to count on us to get into nuclear stories, with fact continuity and context, as well as skepticism and a little bit of humor when we can manage it. And we only use vetted journalism sources that can be trusted. This is journalism that mainstream media is unwilling or unable to provide nuclear hot seat is the only program you can count on to report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the nuclear industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand. And that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:21 And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly $5 donation. That's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S so how about buying nuclear hot seat, a metaphoric cup of coffee. It will go for social media reach and website planning, not a caffeine fix. So please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now, here's this week's featured interview. I really do hope you've been binge-watching the offerings from the uranium film festival. It opened on May 20th and has been offering 34 films on a range of nuclear issues. Most years, the IUF pops up in multiple locations around the world from Berlin to Quebec, to Hollywood, to Navajo nation, to all kinds of points in between Norbert Sukenick festival, founder, and general director, and Marsia Gomez day, all of the Jada festival, founder and executive director curated a roster of films that provide focused views on a wide variety of nuclear issues and problems from the thinking behind the creation and the expansion of the nuclear weapons program in the United States to the institutional racism, towards indigenous people in the Marshall Islands, who to this day still suffered the effects of the H-bomb tests. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:47 We inflicted upon them and the native American and first nations people who mined uranium in the United States and in Canada to the ongoing issues faced by Japanese Hibakusha survivors of the atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the problems we all will face forever of radioactive legacy waste from the Manhattan project, which shows up in such unexpected places as Ames, Iowa, I've been fortunate to cover the festival. In-person four separate times, and I look forward to in-person attendance in the future. COVID permitted for now, the benefit to us all is that the films are all digital and online, anywhere in the world, you are with a good wifi connection. You considered home feast your eyes on passionate films by passionate filmmakers on some really important topics would that I could have interviewed every filmmaker, this year's festival. And I hope that in the coming year, I'll be able to catch up with them for now. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:49 Here's my interview with Klaus Biggert director of, of the sense of the whole, the network of physicists, Hans Peter deer. The film was released in 2020 and tells the life story of Hans-Peter deer who moved from studying for his PhD in physics, in Berkeley with Edward teller, the father of the H-bomb and as big a bomb booster as there ever was to being an outspoken pacifist physicist asked for the filmmaker for many years, Klaus beggared has his own radio program at the Bavarian public radio among his films are the secret and the sacred two worlds at Los Alamos Wynnona LaDuc Thunderbird woman, Leonard Peltier. I am the Indian voice and exit 16 Onondaga nation territory. Bigard is the initiator of the legendary world. Uranium hearing held in 1992 in Salzburg, Austria. It was a week long conference at which for the first time in history, the indigenous people affected by the nuclear industry and uranium mining had their say in 1998, he founded the nuclear free future award, which honors those who have dedicated themselves to a future free of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. It was a lovely, rich and full conversation. When I spoke with Klaus Biggert on may 16, 20, 21 Klaus Biggert, it's so great to have you here with us nuclear hot seat. Klaus Biggert 02:28:27 It's a pleasure for me as well because the nuclear age, you know, is affecting the whole globe. And so we have to connect around the globe to enter the nuclear age. It was started by mankind and it's us. We have to end it, Libbe HaLevy  02:28:43 Which is exactly what this show is all about. Give us a little bit about your background and your history of being involved with nuclear issues. Klaus Biggert 02:28:53 It started exactly in September, 1977 at the United nations in Geneva, Switzerland, there was a conference a one week long conference of indigenous delegates from both Americans. And they talked about the destruction of the culture of their land of racism. And there was a young woman. Her name was 18 years old, just finished high school. And the last day of the conference, she came to the table at the cafeteria. And she said to me, if you continue to write about us, she meant us Indian people. You should focus on Iranian. And then she quickly draw a map and showed how much Rainium is on Navajo land. And then Saskatchewan, you know, and it was this that took, put me on this track and I'm still on it because a month later I went to New Mexico and Arizona and I met Wynonna again. She introduced me to some Denae as the Navajo called themselves DNA families. Klaus Biggert 03:30:07 And I realized, you know, she was the very first to tell us that most Iranian is mined on Indian land. Or we can say, when we look at other continent on indigenous people's land and nobody talks about, we always look for the criteria of catastrophe, catastrophe, which make us sound, but the silent dying of indigenous people, there's no sound. And the track of uranium until it ends up in a bomb or in a reactor is a bloody bloody path. You know, I was teaching for 20 years at the school of journalism in Munich. And I always asked the students each workshop, I had 15 students, a thousand apply every year. So those 15 I can expect to know. So I said, what do you know about arranging your mining each year? I had this question and this one year out of 15 five knew that there is a problem. Klaus Biggert 03:31:13 And out of those five was a young woman and she clapped her hands. And she said, my God, I never thought about where Rainium comes from. I thought it's, it's just there. And I thanked her for her openness because that's what people think things are there. And it's all the result of plunder, you know? And in the case of uranium, it's a deadly thing. We get out of the ground and it kills people from the very moment it's lifted from underneath. And that's what I learned then when I was with Wynnona and I returned and returned. And, and every year after this 1977 conference of working group started at the United nations. So I had a chance without traveling to meet people from around the globe every summer in Geneva and continue my interviews. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:11 Where did those interviews turn up? You mentioned to me, before we got on your radio producer, was this radio programs, was it print? Did you make previous films about the uranium and nuclear based issues? Klaus Biggert 03:32:27 Well, I had my own radio program in Munich for a number of years, and I made special programs on indigenous peoples fight for the land. And uranium was always part of it. And then I made a film about Los Alamos and the film about Winola duke. This part of my biography, that arraign yum is with me all the time. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:52 What drew you to the story of businesses? Hans-Peter Peter Klaus Biggert 03:32:56 After Chernobyl, I decided to focus on the catastrophes, which do not fulfill the criteria of sensation. And for five years, I worked with a group, a small group, the group grew and became more and more international. And what we finally had as a result of this five years was in 1992 insights work, Austria, the world Rainium hearing the idea was that we do not select when we invite, we just tried to communicate with all peace and anti-racism groups around the world to see who will show up. I mean, I knew that most people who come visit will be indigenous people, but I wanted to avoid only to invite indigenous fever because it was important to prove, you know, so a pre-selection would, if given a picture, which I created, some people could say, you know, that's why it also took so long because on each continent in each country, we had allies who did the work for us to select and to spread and use, to translate our concept, which we couldn't do the nineties, the late eighties, the internet was just in the beginning, the dark ages. Klaus Biggert 03:34:25 And that's when I consulted and with because I heard that he is against nuclear power and he was the head of the max Planck Institute. He was the father of Heisenberg. So he told me that the director of the max Planck Institute, and these are different institutes, one is on astrophysics. The other one is on soil. And next one is on peace issues. I mean, the max Planck Institute is widespread and the director asked him to sign a letter to the government to support nuclear energy. And he said, let me study. It's not really scientific if I just signed, because you want me to sign, give me some time. And I will really look into it a month later. He said, no, I can't sign it. It's too risky. That was the beginning of his twist. He became a kind of a black sheep, Libbe HaLevy  03:35:32 Just loop this back a little bit to the film. You go into a tremendous amount of history and connect the dots. Literally the way it's played out with a map and red string in the like to explain the history of how certain physicists in the 1920s and thirties knew each other, where they met and how they ended up being brought into the Manhattan project in the United States. How important is it for us to understand their history in order to understand where juror came from? Klaus Biggert 03:36:07 Hans Peter do a right from the beginning. He was against the bump, but he didn't know that the consequences of the so-called peaceful use of the Adam. But I'm speaking to went in the fifties. He went to Berkeley to study physics because Berkeley was the Mecca for physicists. At that time, before it was gutting him in Germany. So Oppenheimer, who was the director of the Manhattan project, finally set up their camp in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the two bumps little boy and said were built. Oppenheimer, went to gutting them years before. And it enabled him also to, in his casting. So to speak. He knew a lot of businesses from his visit in Germany. Anyhow, unspayed went to Berkeley, looking for the professor to take him as a student because he want to write his doctoral thesis. And then he was introduced to advertise. And Edward teller said, yeah, I started with Heisenberg and doing, oh, he said, I admire iceberg. Klaus Biggert 03:37:28 This is incredible that I meet a student of his, and I like to become your student and tell us it with pleasure and dirt recalls that there were times when most scientists who he met through teller at disappeared, and then they returned in champagne bottles were opened and they celebrated an atomic test. This all was after the Manhattan project. This was 10 years after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but it was still the nuclear policy of the United States was still the secrecy. So Los Alamos was not on the map at that time. And dura had no idea. So it was a shock. He said, should I go back? Should I drop everything? But then he thought I will never get so close to the bomb as I am. Now, this is a unique learning process for me. And then he started to fight with teller. Klaus Biggert 03:38:33 They played music together and they argued. And then the word got around in Germany, that there is a young student who is studying with teller and fronts use of Strauss. This was our first minister for atomic affairs because OD an hour after the war, young Germany and an hour thought we should have the nuclear pump as well. And Strauss went to Berkeley and said to tell her, give us, honey. He didn't know that hunter had married in the meantime and wanted to come home anyway. And so on fatal with his wife, Sue returned to Germany and was hired immediately by Heisenberg. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:15 He got to work with his idol. Klaus Biggert 03:39:18 Yeah, but he arrived at the time when Heisenberg and Vite checker and many 18 of them scientists wrote to art an hour, not to have a nuclear bomb in the new established bonus there, the new army. And so right from the beginning on speed was a pacifist. But then in later years, when the first demonstrations against nuclear power started, he joined the anti-nuke movement and the peace movement and was seen more on the grassroots level than in academic circles. But he always tried to infiltrate academic circles. This was the amazing thing. Even a year before he died, he was always trying to connect people and remind his colleagues in the max Planck society. He had about 3, 4, 5, let's say five colleagues who were on his side, but most of them said, silence should stay pure. And if you get involved in politics, and if you become a peace, Nick, you know, you are not a good scientist anymore. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:34 How common is the term or the concept pacifist physicist. That's a term that you just used. Klaus Biggert 04:40:43 Yeah. Well, Carl Fridley for invite soccer was part of this group around Heisenberg, who were asked by Hitler. If they can build the magic weapon and Heisenberg said to Hitler, we could do it, but it would take too long. And so Hitler was not interested in anymore. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:06 Was this a conscious manipulation by Heisenberg of Hitler saying, nah, it's going to take too long and yeah. Klaus Biggert 04:41:12 Yes, yes. And then Teisberg and the other physicists among them, the German physicists were interned in England, not in a camp. It was a big mention called farm hall. And as it later turned out, Leslie groves, the general who worked with Oppenheimer at the Manhattan project, he had microphones installed in all the rooms. So we know now, you know, that when they heard the Americans had dropped two atomic bombs, they were shocked and upset at the same time because how come they were faster than us. It never touched, you know, in their ego, but at the same time, they were so glad that they weren't the ones who would have to walk around with this guilt. So they had many discussions about this and invite ticker became, and it's why ticket later work with highs and back in guardian when there came and the, of all experience led to the declaration of Goettingen, which kind of forced out an hour to let go the nuclear issue for the German army and Sega became really a pacifist. And then they established the max plunk society established a specific peace Institute for white whites and Havas, who was it, philosopher in south of Munich. So the is not the first to go this way, you know, and become the man of peace by taking also. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:57 So dear became a pacifist physicist and he was very visible on these issues. But what I found most moving and most challenging is that as a physicist, after 50 years, he came to the belief that matter is not matter. It is frozen light. And there's another quote, which is what we experience as matter is only an expression of the spirit, which has the consequence that there is only the spirit. And this is where physics and religion seem to be going at the same conclusion, but from two different directions, how radical was that as a thought and how has it influenced those of us who are moving forward to get rid of all things, nuclear. Klaus Biggert 04:43:52 This is why I have this native American journalist ghost Horus in my film, when he talks about the planting of a tree and dirt talks about a forest is more than trees. It's the space between the trees, which are of no material, but they are part of the forest. So you cannot have the tree and you cannot have the space in between separately. It goes together. And I think that the Lakota Indians say, we are all related. And I think that native people always said that what connects us is that we have a spiritual bond to all living things around us, including Iraq and the burn. And if we destroy a rock, we blasted because we need a tunnel. So a mountain then indigenous people would talk to the rock because it's not just matter. Not stone. It's a living, being the example of the forest. Klaus Biggert 04:45:09 I like a lot because everybody has been in a forest and would admit, yes, it's more than just trees. And the frozen light there opened a window for us that allows us to bring our emotions and our spirituality into science. And when we let it go in, then all of a sudden, a formula of energy becomes sacred formula. So it touches us, changes our attitude and our attitude gets changed. Our view becomes wider. At the same time, we see more and it kind of attacks our arrogance. It's very difficult. I try to say what I feel. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:04 This is coming across writers. And I have been one now for more than six decades, writers talk about the space between the words and in the words, even the space between the letters as having resonance and harmony, and that you have to write down to that level. If you're going to say anything that is ultimately meaningful, at least some writers talk like that. And it sounds like there was at least one physicist who thought in the same way, though, in a much more macro of how this impacts all of us and everything and the world. So I found the film fascinating because I cannot claim to have anything, but the most cursory understanding of physics. And that's just knowing what certain words mean and knowing who certain people are, but this made accessible certain aspects of physics with which I was not aware. And it did open my mind. And in that way, I find it a very important film and a film that also opens up a new dimension within the international uranium film festival. And to those of us who are paying attention to nuclear issues. So in terms of the film, what do you hope it will accomplish? And where is it going from here? Klaus Biggert 04:47:36 The distribution company who bought the film in September, it will come out in Germany and German speaking countries goes to schools and universities. That's where they send their catalogs mostly. So I'm very happy about this. And then the film will go to Japan. It will come out with English, Portuguese, and Japanese subtitles. This just happened without me doing anything. You know, being with, with indigenous people a lot. I know you cannot force it. You just express what you want. You know, you let the universe know. I mean, you have to say it, and then you, you see what comes back. And when I worked on the film, you know, I just, I just thought, how can I go back into history? I have to give a little button to each protectionist of the past. And then I thought, well, the best person for me to work with his wife. Klaus Biggert 04:48:36 So the film was made aspect, you passed away. But I had a long interview on film with him, done a number of years before he passed away. I wanted to make a little film for the family. I never had the intention to make a movie. And then it grew and it grew, and it grew. And at the max Planck Institute wrote about it and said, can we give you all we have? And I was loaded with material. And then the film was finished. And then at the conference called rapids of peace and ghost tours was there. And we were sitting in the bar in the little alternative conference center. So we were sitting in there for, you know, it was a little bar and he was sitting in the chair and he said, and then our language, I'm just investigating how our language deals with reality. And then look at quantum physics. And I said, Hey, I'm making this film. So the field was already finished. And then I changed it. I mean, I put him in Libbe HaLevy  04:49:39 His chair to be extremely accessible and understandable. And he really tied up several of the threads that you had running through the film. So it's fortuitous that you had this connection and that you retain the flexibility to be able to say, oh, I thought I was done. I'm not done. Let's put this in here. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:01 And as for the unintended consequences of going, well, let me just do this little thing and see where it leads 10 years ago. That's how nuclear hot seats started. I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing or how I was doing, but I knew I had to do it. And here it is all these years later. And here's a show which allows me the platform to speak with you and let people know about your film, which is of the sense of the whole, the network of physicist, Hans Peter dirt, which is going to be shown as part of the international uranium film festival May 20th through 30th, 2021. I wish you Klaus big air, every success with the film, with getting the word out with communicating, to physicists and other scientists around the world and the students who will become them, the importance of having a larger world universal view, and one that supports the elimination of nuclear, as opposed to pushing it forward. Klaus Biggert 05:51:03 And I like to end with words, which you hear when the film is over and the screen is black already, and then you hear his voice. And he says, there is no big bang. It's banging all the time. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:15 I miss that because once I got to the credits, I've jumped well on behalf of bangs, big and little, and those of us who listen hard for them and then do our best to stop them from becoming nuclearized so that they do destroy us. I want to thank you, Claus, be Garrett for your film, for your efforts through the years, and for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Klaus Biggert 05:51:42 Thank you as well. I could talk with you for hours Libbe HaLevy  05:51:46 Back at ya Kloss Biggert director of, of the sense of the whole, the network of physicist cons, Peter Deere, that film along with 33, others are all available for viewing for free until may thirtieth@uraniumfilmfestival.org, click on the button that says Rio 2021. See as many of these as you can while you can, because most of them are not available under other circumstances. And it's a great, powerful, empowering way to bring yourself up to speed on the entire range of nuclear issues that are out there Libbe HaLevy  05:52:34 After 21 months in the Hawaiian islands, be historic anti-nuclear sail boat. Golden rule has set sail from Honolulu, Hawaii for the west coast of the United States. The golden rural first sailed from California to Hawaii. 63 years ago in 1958 on her way to interfere with us atmospheric nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, the site of 67 us nuclear bomb blast between 1952 and 1958, but under orders from the atomic energy commission, us coast guard stopped the boat from leaving Honolulu, the arrest and subsequent jailing of golden rules. Captain Alan Bigelow, a retired world war II, Navy commander, and his crew of Quaker peace activists garnered international media attention and increased opposition to nuclear testing and nuclear weapons history repeated itself in July, 2019. When veterans for peace, who own and manage the golden rule sailed the 34 foot catch from San Diego to Hawaii with the intention of proceeding onto the Marshall Islands, just as in 1958. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:44 But once again, the golden rules voyage to the Marshall Islands was stymied this time by COVID-19 according to the golden rules, project manager, Helen Jacquard, we are sailing for a nuclear free world and a peaceful, sustainable future. What better way to bring a message of peace and sustainability than this beautiful sailboat with its storied history? The golden rule is projected to reach the port of San Francisco in the early part of June and in the Marshall Islands citizens, including students of the university of the south Pacific, their supporters and activists marched in solidarity for the victims of nuclear activity in the Pacific. This happened last March, but I'm glad to be able to share it now because the work is ongoing Marshall Islands, student association, president Wayne Kilner said it was important for people to know what nuclear testing was and its repercussions on communities where they were practiced. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:45 He said, we have realized that not many students know about nuclear bombing and its effect here and use the March as an opportunity to raise awareness on the issues and Pacific conference of churches. President the Reverend James Bhagwan said the cry of the victims and survivors was still echoed in the effected islands. Let us lend our voice to this cry, the cry for justice and just peace. This year's event was themed. We are not alone and you are not. Nuclear hot seat is working on a special report from the Marshall Islands. And we hope to have that for you in the month of June. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dune renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can try dash city herald.com, fine tech zoom.com, Korea times.co dot K R scientific American Monroe news.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:52 Oil price.com mint press news.com NHK dot O R dot J P japan.co.jp asahi.com. Kyoto news.net science, quizzing.com science mag.org nature world news.com LA progressive.com. Marianne wild art.wordpress.com. rebel.ca msn.com Fiji times.com a Jew daily.com. The bulletin.org, the international uranium film festival long may you guys wave and the tools and pools at the totally captured by the nuclear industry, nuclear regulatory commission. Now you deserve to get nuclear hot seat every week without fail and the most fail safe way to do that is to go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com. There is a yellow opt in box there. Just put in your first name, put in an email address. You will get the email sent to you with each week's link and a brief rundown of some of the material that's in it. As for covering nuclear stories in your neck of the woods. I need your help because you probably know things that I don't. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:04 That's pretty much a guarantee. So if you know of a story and you would like to suggest it, send me a hot tip, a suggestion of someone to interview and do it by email, don't do Facebook that gets lost email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And of course, if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the big red button, click on it, follow a couple of prompts, do what you can to help us out. We will be really grateful for your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the last thing, anyone who opposes nuclear wants to be able to say is, I told you so heaven forbid we ever do that. So this has been your nuclear wake up call. Now don't go back to sleep because truly we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:21 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #517: Uranium Film Festival: Wake-Up Call to Humanity + Post-A-Bomb Suppressed Color Footage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-film-festival-atom-bomb-nuclear-destruction/ Published: 2021-05-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Uranium Film Festival – Frame from long-suppressed U.S. Government film taken on-the-ground in Nagasaki after A-bomb blast on August 9, 1945. This film footage focuses on the human aspect of nuclear holocaust and is used in films by both of today's Nuclear Hotseat guests. This Week's Featured Interviews: With the International Uranium Film Festival running online May 20-30 – and free – we bring you interviews with two of the filmmakers. A third interview will run on next week's show, #518. Register to watch at: www.UraniumFilmFestival.org. Click on the Rio 2021 link. The two films and directors featured on this week's show are: In My Lifetime: The Nuclear World Project – Director Robert E. Frye is an Emmy award-winning producer of network news programs and independent documentaries for over five decades. Starting in the '60s the Emmy and Peabody Award winner worked in New York City; Toronto; Washington, D.C.and London. His credits at ABC News include Executive Producer of "Good Morning America" and "ABC World News Tonight" with Peter Jennings; senior Producer at CBC's Weekend, and as an independent producer of several films for public television which include "In My Lifetime" At the age of 81, Frye said, the obligation of his generation is to tell the story of nuclear weapons, to make clear the indescribable damage they have caused and their potential to end life on the planet entirely. We spoke on Friday, May 14, 2021.LINK to The Nuclear World Project. Albert Einstein (l) and Leo Szilard. Screen shot from IN MY LIFETIME: THE NUCLEAR WORLD PROJECT, a film by Robert E. Frye, part of the International Uranium Film Festival ATOMIC COVER-UP – Director Greg Mitchell is the award-winning author of a dozen books including 2020’s “The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” His previous books on the atomic bombings were “Hiroshima in America“ (with Robert Jay Lifton) and “Atomic Cover-up." He has served as chief adviser to several documentaries, including "Original Child Bomb," screened at Cannes and winner of the top prize at API/Silverdocs, His current film, ATOMIC COVER-UP, was released in April, 2021. We spoke on Saturday, May 15. On-the-ground footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, some of it never before seen, along with narration from the men who shot that film. All part of ATOMIC COVER-UP, a film by Greg Mitchell, part of the International Uranium Film Festival. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Sloppy reporting, sloppy editing, bogus story – the depths to which some "reporters" will go to get out an eye-catching story on TEPCO's release of radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean! Activist Shout-out Link: Petition by the Lakota Nation to reverse government approval of uranium mining permints, water quality exemptions for new mining on Lakota lands. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear naivete. Isn't it cute when people who should know better just don't get how deadly dangerous and all encompassing nuclear weapons are the existential threat to life on earth of them and how the use of even one should be unthinkable. But isn't well, when the distributor of a powerful film on nuclear weapons manages to ask the filmmaker, who is your film for said, filmmaker, who is also an award-winning journalist and author with more than five decades of impeccable credentials gets to answer. Robert Frye 00:00:41 That's a classic question in terms of anything that's produced. Who's the audience. I said everyone, because it affects everyone. Anyone in the world will be impacted by this. If there ever is any nuclear conflict and it will change dramatically, the world that we live in today. Libbe HaLevy  00:00:59 Yup. Well, when you hear a powerful articulate award-winning journalist who is committed to telling the difficult nuclear message with clarity, grace, and commitment to say nothing of directing an inescapably important film, then you begin to gain hope because we have powerful allies who also oppose nuclear and are working to help get us out of that terrible seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:28 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking, Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:00 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we spotlight the international uranium film festival running May 20th to 30th, online and free. And this week we will feature two of three interviews with filmmakers featured in the festival. First, we talk with Robert E. Frye, an award-winning journalist and director of several films, including in my lifetime, the nuclear world project. Then Greg Mitchell and award winning author and documentarian gives us the background on atomic coverup, which for the first time reveals film footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bomb, some of it in color, and some of it that was shot as early as the day after the atomic bomb was dropped, we will also have numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than Arizona will ever come up with. No matter how many times they audit the 2020 election, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, May 28th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Actually the new segment this week was sacrificed in order to make room for the interviews next week, we're going to do a Roundup and catch up with news stories from the past month that haven't made it onto the show, but I could not let a week pass without our ode to nuclear bone headedness news. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:09 I'm like a recent article that has been smeared across the internet is headlined scientists approved Japan's plan to dump 1 million tons of Fukushima nuclear waste in Pacific ocean. Say what? But look closer. First of all, it's 1.5 million tons with more being added every day. The headline sites scientists, plural when only one scientist is quoted in this article, how long and hard did report her precious Smith's search to find one scientist in Belgium who will back up Japan's and Tepsco's CO's falsely reassuring narrative. What is his background? Who funds him? What strictures or expectations are placed upon his communications by his financial overlords and why pass off his early comment? This is something that we should be very concerned about. Morph into the reporter saying as though citing the scientist, nothing in the plan gives a suggestion that the treated water will comprise levels of radiation more than the background levels found in the environment due to natural processes. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:16 I don't have the time to unpack how much is wrong with that. No mention of the dangerous difference between internal and external contamination or bioaccumulation of radiation, the food chain as tiny contaminated plankton get eaten by ever larger fish, concentrating the radiation until we get the urge to eat some sushi. Oops, then the reporter passes along. One of Tesco's favorite claims only Tridium can still be found in any quantity, which covers up. The fact, first of all, the tritium itself is dangerous and that other radio nuclides can still be found in lesser quantities. And all it takes for internal contamination to happen is for one Adam, of any of these radionuclides to get stuck inside you constantly discharging neutrons next to your internal tissue. That gives you problems, sloppy reporting, sloppy editing, bogus story, precious Smith. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  00:06:20 Now here's the first of this. Week's two featured interviews. We're focusing this week on the international uranium film festival, which is based in real, but because of COVID is being held online. The dates are May 20th to 30th and all of the films being shown are free. During that time, most years, the I U F F pops up in multiple locations around the world. It's really a traveling film festival. It's been in Berlin, Quebec, Hollywood, Navajo nation, and all sorts of points in between Norbert Sukenick festival, founder, and general director and Marcia Gomez day, all of Jada festival, founder and executive director curate a roster of films that provide focused views on a wide range of aspects of nuclear problems from the uranium based institutional racism inflicted upon indigenous people around the world to the ongoing issues faced by Japanese hibachi survivors of the atomic bomb blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the problems of radioactive legacy waste from the Manhattan project, showing up in such unexpected places as Ames, Iowa, I've been fortunate to attend the festival four separate times and except for the intrusion of COVID in all our lives, might've attended in person again this year. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:46 However, in this instance, COVID silver lining has been that the 2021 festival is being presented digitally. It's online for free. And that means that wherever you are, as long as you have a decent internet connection during 10 days, you can be part of this extraordinary outpouring of honest, up close and personal nuclear information. Labors of love by all the film makers, you can read the entire program@uraniumfilmfestival.org, click on the Rio 2021 button to get the full report. I have conducted three interviews to date with filmmakers that I will be sharing with you two this week. One next week. First the film in my lifetime, the nuclear world project by Robert E. Frye. Bob fry is an Emmy award-winning producer of network news programs and independent documentaries for over five decades. His credits at ABC news include executive producer of good morning America and ABC world news. Tonight with Peter Jennings, he was a senior producer at Canadian Broadcasting's weekend and as an independent producer of several films for public television, which include in my lifetime and his won Emmy and Peabody awards for his work Frye joined the U S army in 1958 and worked on nuclear weapons planning while serving in Germany. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:17 The experience fostered a lifelong interest, which led him to create the nuclear world project. At the age of 81, fry said that the obligation of his generation is to tell the story of nuclear weapons to make clear the indescribable damage they have caused and their potential to end life on the planet entirely. That's exactly what he does within my lifetime. The nuclear world project we spoke on Friday, May 14th, 2021, Bob fry. Thank you so much for joining us on nuclear hot seat. Robert Frye 00:09:55 I appreciate you inviting me and I look forward to your questions. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:00 What is your background and how did you become involved in and focused on nuclear issues? Robert Frye 01:10:08 Background network news producer filmmaker four started in 1962 to the present day and I still enjoy it. I still like the work, the process, as you can appreciate given the work that you do as an independent producer, you don't have a bunch of people to work with, but at the same time, I've been very fortunate in terms of the people I've been able to connect with over the years in doing my films, because you don't really do a film by yourself, never have been able to accomplish that. But I feel that the reason for my interest in nuclear, which started in 2008 with the filming of the two documentaries I've done to this point in time, really spawned from I was in the army in Germany, in the late fifties. And one of the jobs I had was working in a nuclear weapons planning group. I can't go into details, but that's really when I was introduced to this topic and it stayed with me. And when I was executive producer world news tonight at ABC, I commissioned a 10 part series on Russia called us USSR a balance of power and of the 10 pieces, which incidentally were recognized with an Emmy and DuPont, Columbia awards, five of the pieces had something to do with nuclear weapons. And so it stayed with me all these years. And that's what I'm dedicated to telling this story Libbe HaLevy  01:11:43 Film, which is in the international uranium film festival is here in my lifetime, the nuclear world project. I've now had the opportunity to see two thirds of us because this interview came up very quickly and I found, first of all, that it is devastating, but there was no intrusion of your voice in this other than perhaps by the choice of the clips that you use and the order that you put it in. There's no manipulative narration that's brought into it. So it's very clean and you let the story tell itself, given the range of material you had to choose from, how did you approach it Robert Frye 01:12:27 As a filmmaker producing programs for public television? My interest is in informing the public, no matter what your point of view may be because that's the role that I play. And also having come out of a network news background, I had the opportunity over the years to tell many different stories, but I feel it's important to really take the time. I've been very fortunate in terms of all the connections I've been able to make, not only the interviews, but the places that I've gone and telling the story and continue to work on that. There's so much as you appreciate given your work, there was so much detail that you have to pay attention to. And I noticed one of the mantras in your cleanse, if you will, and your work with your website is to lay it out there, but make sure that you have the facts and that it's truthful as much as one can be. Robert Frye 01:13:23 I mean, there's always some subjectivity to whatever you're doing, but the fact is, I think it's more important that the people that I've interviewed no matter what side of the fence they're on. And as you could see in the film, there are several individuals from different parts of the nuclear world. It's important to have their voice in the film speak, obviously, as you also appreciate when you're editing there takes time, you have to develop a narrative and put together a story that can be told, but that's really the approach I've tried to take and have taken over the course of my career. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:00 I've done a lot of my own research, especially into the latter part of the Manhattan project, into the dropping of the bombs and the aftermath. And even with the research, I have done many of the clips that you show of Oppenheimer of general groves of Leo Szilard and others are brand new to me. What did you have to do to dig up those clips? How far did you go and where did you have to go? And what were the arms you had to twist? Robert Frye 01:14:31 First of all, I started off in this business as a researcher. It was an anchor for people of a certain age, or remember his name, Frank McGee at NBC news. So my work was in doing the research. For example, one of the projects I was given to handle when I was there was who would be the successor to Khrushchev. And I came up with the two people that in fact, did the succeed Khrushchev, but the point being you can't go deep enough to find material. There's always something new. Also, I, I'm very fortunate that I have a very good archival researcher in Washington that I work with, but also I got material from Los Alamos and other places as well. So I try to find as much material as I can in developing the projects, because I think in terms of this story, the overall story, there are so many images and so many voices and other components that can be factored into making a film on this subject. So I've spent a lot of time. I had built up a pretty good archive by now. So I appreciate your comment about it because I think, you know, so much about this story, but you know, you keep finding new material. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:50 I also find areas where material that used to exist have been scrubbed such as all of Edward R Merle's reports on this that used to be on YouTube and somewhere over the last number of years has disappeared. You mentioned in our talk before we started the interview, that there were amazing juxtapositions that happen to you. One in particular, where you were in Los Alamos. And after that went to Japan, describe what that was like for you. Robert Frye 01:16:17 Well, it turned out and as I was going through the travel, actually I started my first filming for them in my lifetime, took place in Oslo, Norway. There was a very important conference, January of 2008. And then I went from Oslo to Reykjavik with the author of Dick Rhodes. And we filmed at half the house in Reykjavik, whereas, you know, Reagan and Gorbachev met. But then while I was there talking about research, I went to the archival department of Icelandic television and dug out footage of Reagan and Gorbachev after their meeting, they both had news conferences and that material I have in the film juxtaposing, the two liters speaking in the aftermath, as you know, this was the moment the world has come very close to reading of nuclear weapons. Of course they couldn't cut the deal. It's a longer story to tell, but essentially it boiled down to one word and they couldn't agree on that word. Robert Frye 01:17:29 And so this kind of story, it was hurricane to me being at the half the house being in the very room where these men met and then having commentary along with that. But since then, the world has just progressed in a much different way. And I think even Reagan and Gorbachev hoped for, but then as a result of that, I went on to several trips. What you were asking about. I went to Los Alamos and interviewed CIC Hecker at the time. He was the director of Los Alamos, not was after. He'd been the director in that arranged for filming at the Trinity site. And it was mid July. And I had already planned to go to Hiroshima Nagasaki for the anniversary in 2008, August 6th and the ninth. So it just happened to be that experience that I then edited. When I edited two years later, I worked with the editor in the same timeframe as the filming took place, because I thought, interestingly, it was sort of energy in that time and space, but that's how it happened. It just happened to be coincidental, certainly in terms of going to Los Alamos, but it wasn't when it came to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Libbe HaLevy  01:18:54 I have to ask, what was that one word Robert Frye 01:18:57 I knew you were going to ask in going back? I just pull up my transcript of in my lifetime off my shelf of that sequence, that's in the film it had to do with the word laboratory Jack Matlock, who had been in the room with Mr. Reagan said, this is a quote. They came very close to concluding an agreement to eliminate nuclear weapons in 10 years. One of the myths is that Gorbachev by demanding 10 years in laboratories was trying to kill the strategic defense initiative. Keeping it in 10 years in laboratories would not have killed it. In fact, we needed another 10 years in laboratories. So that was it. So here we are today after 1986, that moment in time where there was an opportunity, but opportunity was lost. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:57 That's so sad. So much of this makes me want to weep on a regular basis in the making of the film. What was it that surprised you or shocked you or saddened you the most Robert Frye 02:20:10 That nuclear weapon still exists. And again, as I say, it was a very sobering experience being in that room at the halfway house. But I think also look to be realistic about it and having worked within the environment, there's dedication on both sides, those that want to have the weapons and keep them maintain them. And those that want to rid the world of weapons, it's a struggle. It is an extensional struggle. And your work obviously is very focused on what can be done to rid the world of weapons, but there is the counterpoint. And actually in my second film, I addressed that by having individuals on both sides, if you will, over the fence. And it's hard, it's difficult to understand why, except there are so many different forces at work. And I think from my vantage point, it's important to present what they are. Robert Frye 02:21:11 I mean, what are we now, 76 years later, and we're still dealing with this. And as you also know, in 1945, there was a whole movement with Solara and even Oppenheimer. Although Oppenheimer was a longer story, they said, okay, let's shut it all down. Of course, that didn't happen. And so I think that with general groves, I mean, obviously he was interested in keeping the ball rolling. And I think when the Russians finally were able to put their first test together, it was almost over at that point. I mean, once then Soviets had their own nuclear capacity. The rest of it became with the UK, with France, then with China, the original P five, if you will, interestingly enough, all of them are the P five and UN and they still essentially are the primary players in the UN. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they are the controlling powers in the UN Libbe HaLevy  02:22:15 In my lifetime, the nuclear world project was finished in 2011. Now, since then we do have the passage of the United nations treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. And we've been witnessing the astounding work of the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can, yes. If you were to make this film again today, 10 years later, what, if any changes might you make to it? Robert Frye 02:22:43 Well, first of all, I'm planning to do another film, so I'm not going to make any changes to this. The second film is that Natalie, the nuclear Requiem, I produced that in 2015, but I held off distributed until 2017. And before I did it, I realized when the president of the United States became Mr. Trump and a bunch of other things happened during that time that I updated the film in 2017, it still holds pretty well today. It had to do with both the Iran deal. And of course, when what happened there, what was different things and it's time to, there's another story in all of this. So I look at it more in terms of the continuum, as opposed to saying what I'll change in any particular film. And look, I'm not only a documentary filmmaker, I'm also a news producer. So, you know, you look at it in terms of the flow of the stream, the continuing story, as opposed to, I wish I could do something with that. Other, because I think in my lifetime has its own value as an historic documentary. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:52 You state in your description of the film, quote, the story is a morality play telling the struggle wage over the past six and a half decades with the last act yet to be determined of trying to find out what is the way beyond in your view, is there a way beyond and if so, how can we either begin it or add to it? Robert Frye 02:24:17 One of the things I have on the wall in my office is optimism is to be engaged. Pessimism is to be resigned. I tend to be an optimist. As I know you are, you have to stay engaged. You don't know. And Sergio Duarte, who is in this film, as well as in the other said, you know, you got to just keep plugging along. You don't know how it's going to turn out, but you will, if you don't do anything about it. So I think it's a matter of, as you do in your work as well, you just have to stay engaged. You don't know where the, what was it, the Truman show when the crack to the outside world, it's a challenge. And I think also one of the things I noted on my website, I have what I call the connection portal with all of the organizations, many organizations that are involved in this because I felt it was important. Robert Frye 02:25:10 There are so many voices and individuals in groups, not only in the United States, but around the world that work on this a lot and on different sides of the fence, if you will. So I think it's important just to keep the ball rolling and, you know, see what you can do to change the dynamic. And I think that it's always a challenge and look, George jolts, there isn't peace in, in my lifetime toward the end of the film where he was saying, wake up, everybody talking about the dangers of nuclear weapons. I mean, he, of course, was in the government. He was at Reykjavik, but then after he left, he realized along with the other three horseman, he was very aware that he had to keep banging on the door because he said we have to change this dynamic. So, I mean, I think, you know, if you have someone of that stature telling that story, it is important to realize that those that have been there know the realities and those that haven't, that are working on changing the dynamic. Robert Frye 02:26:18 You got to just give everybody the chance to express their points of view and put it out there. But the only thing I can say, the reason I stay engaged in this is it is a continuing ongoing challenge that needs to be addressed and understood by anyone watching my film. And in the case of the festival. One of the things that I think is very important about the work of the festival is that it provides an opportunity to see many different perspectives, not only in terms of nuclear weapons, but in terms of the nuclear power realities, as you concentrate on Chernobyl and Fukushima, because the voices can be heard, they can be understood. The key is to me, we make the story, we put it out there, but it takes the people to watch that can be moved to respond. It's not an easy topic to deal with. And a lot of people don't want to deal with it, but if we don't, I don't want to predict what will happen. So it is important for us to continue to do the work. Libbe HaLevy  02:27:28 Where has the film been seen and what is your hope for its future? Robert Frye 02:27:34 Well, the film in the United States, it was first distributed in 2013 via American public television. And so for the first three or four years after had 4,000 airings on public television stations around the country, as well as on the digital world channel. And also I work with the video project out of San Francisco, they distribute the feature length version and it goes to schools and people that just want to buy it. And also because of the uranium film festival, they featured it in a couple of their festivals, as well as in this upcoming one in Rio. And also I have a distributor in Europe that is distributed the film, 15 countries and regions around the world. I was asked, well, who's the audience. And that's a classic question in terms of anything that's produced, who's the audience. I said, everyone, because it affects everyone. Anyone in the world will be impacted by this. Robert Frye 02:28:41 If there ever is any nuclear conflict and it will change dramatically, the world that we live in today. And I think also in terms of the ongoing distribution, I mean, for example, this festival it's like, Palatan in have gun will travel. You have it available, you put it out there, see who picks up on it. It's the same thing with the nuclear Requiem meant it's there. And it's important just to have it available. It's a record, right? And also you pointed out earlier on there's a lot of archival material, even a lot of the specialists that know this field, as you said, were very surprised with some of the footage of the historic voices that are in the film, but they're the seed bed, right? They started this, they're the ones that made it happen. So you got to understand what their mentality, wasn't why they did it. And also Leo Solara has a different voice, but it was important to hear what he had to say years later. And actually that interview was filmed a pretty short time before he passed on, it was an important voice for getting rid of the weapons because he knew he knew the realities. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:53 It was at both ends of the equation because he was the one who wrote the letter that he gave to Einstein to deliver. Robert Frye 03:30:00 Yeah, you're right. And also that sequence in the film that shows Solara sitting with Einstein is that letter was written that you pointed out yes. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:09 Priceless. Yeah. Bob fry, your film, first of all, is monumental and deserve to be seen by everyone. That's a bad marketing term because when you're saying everyone you're saying no one, but I really am saying everyone because it really brings across the devastation without bludgeoning us with the information. As I said, there's a very delicate sense of restraint and narrative to this that comes directly from the material. This is not an imposition from you. I truly appreciate your skill, your having taken all your decades of experience in news to create this. And I wish you all the best with this and the rest of your films with a gratitude for you being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Robert Frye 03:31:01 And I appreciate your invitation and from your lips to God's ears and the viewers that can see him. But also I must congratulate you on your continuing work and voice in putting out what you put out there all the time. Very impressive. Thank you very much. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:20 Award-winning filmmaker and former ABC news, executive producer, Robert E. Fry. His film is in my lifetime, the nuclear world project. And I strongly urge you to watch it. And after that, do what you can to get it into schools, libraries, community groups, anywhere where people who don't know the truth about nuclear weapons need to learn the truth about nuclear weapons. Or as we discussed earlier, everywhere more information is available on the film and Bob's work@thenuclearworld.org. And of course we'll link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five 17, we'll have this week, second featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining and contamination to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking power reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:28 Nuclear is government and business, not caring how they contaminate the world. As long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions when they are not. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own. Ever quite frankly, nuclear is a mess and that is why you need nuclear hot seat. You've learned to count on us to get into nuclear stories, with fact continuity and context, as well as a healthy dose of skepticism and a little bit of humor, wherever we can. We use only vetted journalistic sources that can be trusted to tell the truth. This is journalism that mainstream media is unwilling or unable to provide nuclear hot seat is the only program you can count on to report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the nuclear industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:31 And that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on that big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size that same red button is now where you can set up a monthly $5, the same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip to the barista here in the United States. So how about buying nuclear hot seat of metaphor, a cup of coffee? I promise it will go for social media reach and planning, not a caffeine fix. Please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week. Second featured interview on the international uranium film festival. We've all probably seen small snippets of black and white film from on the ground in Hiroshima or Nagasaki footage taken shortly after the atomic bombs were dropped on those cities in August, 1945. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:35 But that footage is just part of the story. Film shot by Japanese newsreel companies starting the day after the blast, as well as us army color footage of Nagasaki are more extensive than we've been led to believe. And they have been suppressed. Now, a single film brings together not only that footage, much of it never before seen, but narrative by the cameraman, American and Japanese who shot it. Atomic coverup is a just released film that shows the devastating impact of nuclear war on human beings. Director. Greg Mitchell is the award-winning author of a dozen books, including 2020s, the beginning or the end, how Hollywood and America learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. His previous books on the atomic bombings were Hiroshima in America with Robert J Lifton and atomic coverup. He has served as chief advisor to several documentaries, including original child bomb, which was screened at the Cannes film festival and was winner of the top prize at API silver docks. Atomic coverup is brand new, having been released in April, 2021. We spoke on Saturday, May 15th, 2021, Greg Mitchell. Thanks so much for being with us today on nuclear hot seat. Greg Mitchell 03:36:05 Happy to be here. Thank you for inviting me. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:08 Let's start out with a little bit about you. What is your background and what has been your involvement with nuclear issues up to the point that you started working on this film? Greg Mitchell 03:36:18 I've been a journalist for the past, I guess you'd say half century. I've been a magazine editor of national magazines here in the U S and I've written about a dozen books. I co-produced a movie not long ago about Beethoven's ninth symphony. I was involved as chief consultant to a couple of major documentaries. So this is the first film I've actually written and directed myself. But my involvement with nuclear issues goes back. I mean, of course I could say my entire life since I grew up in the fifties and sixties. So I always was very much affected by the nuclear fears of that period. And then in the early 1980s, I became the editor of a magazine called nuclear times, which was the Bible of the anti-nuclear movement in the U S had had an international influence as well. So from about 1982 to 1986, I was the editor of this important antinuclear magazine. Greg Mitchell 03:37:19 And so that's when I really plunged deeply into nuclear issues. And as part of that, I, during that period, I learned a grant to go to Hiroshima and Nagasaki for over a month. So obviously I became really expert and interested in that everything relating to the atomic bombings even more than I was before. And I interviewed dozens of people, including the survivors and radiation experts and experts on the, the decision to drop the bomb, but relating to my current movie, your turning point was in 1982, I was exposed to and got to interview one of the two key figures in my movie, the American former army officer who helped shoot this footage that was then suppressed for decades when I first met him. And when I became editor of nuclear times, the very first feature I assigned and published was on this gentleman and the suppression of the nuclear footage. I basically have written about it and been interested in it ever since. So that really goes back. I could say my film is 38 years in the making. I didn't work on it nonstop for 38 years, but I have been interested in continued to research and been involved with that subject for that long really. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:40 So you were aware of the footage. When did you first encounter it? When did you first start finding it and what did it take for you to be able to do? So Greg Mitchell 03:38:51 The Japanese were the first to film in Hiroshima and Nagasaki immediately after the atomic bombings shooting black and white newsreel footage. When the Americans arrived in September of 1945, shortly after the American seized, all that footage was black and white newsreel footage. And the American military began doing their own filming in color, which was very rare at the time shooting in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So basically the, the two army officers who kind of led that unit who were the two key figures in my film, you know, created incredible color footage of the aftermath and the survivors focusing a lot on the people, which most focuses very little on the survivor and the victims, or it was on, you know, rubble and destruction of the actual landscape. So not only did the American sees all the Japanese footage, but then this American, even though it was shot by the U S military, when they brought it back to the U S it was seized by the military and it was suppressed for decades. Greg Mitchell 03:39:55 So the film shows is that the black and white Japanese footage did not emerge anywhere until about 1970 twenty-five years and the American color footage, even later around 1980, when it became known that this footage existed, that's how long it was suppressed. So my film shows some of the footage for the first time. It shows the footage, both the black and white and the color footage in 4k for the first time. So even if you've seen some of this footage, you haven't seen it this way before the quality of the images. And like I said, a lot of it, no one has really seen before it hasn't been used in films to this date. And so it's a combination of actually showing some of this footage, but also the stories of the American, particularly a man named her Sussman, who tried for decades to get this footage released and talk to everyone from a president German himself to top media figures, to Robert F. Kennedy and others, to try to get this footage released. And it actually only became known around 1980 by pure chance. And so that's why the film is called atomic coverup because it explorers discover why, you know, why was it covered up? Why was it suppressed? Why is it important today? Why do we even care about this today Libbe HaLevy  04:41:20 In watching it, I'd done a lot of research on my own about this particular era, but first of all, it was more footage than I've ever seen about Hiroshima and Nagasaki from on the ground. And secondly, it cast it in a completely different light because there was a personal human element to it. There were pictures of great devastation with one cart being drawn by a horse or a mule with a couple of people behind it. Apparently everything they owned in the world was in there. And the juxtaposition, when we say bombing somebody back into the stone age, this was really starting to look like it. So it was very deeply impactful. Go into a little bit of detail as to why you think the footage was suppressed for so long, especially from the American public. Greg Mitchell 04:42:10 It's still a sensitive subject today. I mean, I wrote a book a few years ago with Robert J Lifton called Hiroshima in America, which was all about the aftermath of the bombing and how Americans, both the media and public opinion dealt with it. Ever since we called Hiroshima America's raw nerve. It's something that America still has not faced to this date. It's something we perpetrated now. People could disagree on whether it was a good idea or a horrible idea or war crime or whatever, but the fact as Americans still are not, and not really faced it because it's just raw nerve. They don't don't really want to touch it. And this was particularly true after we dropped the bombs, you know, the war ended soon afterwards, it was kind of easy to kind of claim that the, it was the bomb that ended the war, even though it's not precisely true. Greg Mitchell 04:43:03 And certainly we wanted the American public to feel that, you know, the bomb was a, you know, it was a good thing so that we could build more of them and, and begin testing them. And indeed, we then very quickly went ahead with our nuclear testing program, building more bombs, bigger bombs, eventually the hydrogen bomb. So it was important to cast the bomb and, and kind of a useful role and not something that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians. And so what the Americans were exposed to in the many years afterwards was almost only scenes of rubble, scenes of landscape, pictures of the mushroom cloud, great destructions, surely but not people. And what these films showed was focusing on the people on the survivors and what happened to them afterwards and how they suffered and what they looked like. So this is what radiation disease looks like, or the, we didn't want anyone to know about or know much about radiation disease. Greg Mitchell 04:44:01 So here's images of people who were suffering and dying from radiation disease. And I think in watching my film, without me beating it into the ground, probably 90% of the survivors and victims who were shown are women or children, they're civilians, you know, that's cherry picking. So when you're going through, okay, I'm going to show this footage and this hospital scene and these patients, and they're almost inevitably women or children. And those were indeed 90% of the victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So without, I mean, I hope that kind of gets through to people, even if you know, every five minutes, I'm not saying victims were civilian, just watching you say, geez, there's one kid after another, and there's another kid and there's a woman and there's maybe an elderly man, and there's another kid. And there was another kid. Those were the victims. I think that's why this footage had to be suppressed for so long because it was too, too focused on the human toll of the bombings. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:04 What did it take for you to be able to garner this footage and be able to use it? Was there pushback? Was there a long process involved with it? Is there still resistance to it? Getting out Greg Mitchell 04:45:17 Brought 1980, it was in the national archives in the United States. And partly thanks to the article. I originally published the filmmakers and the media became aware of it. I really hadn't been used until that. And so starting in say, 1983 filmmakers and the media started using small bits of it. You know, I always tell people, look, this footage is not now suppressed. I didn't do anything. Like I went in and dug it out or did a freedom of information act. But the fact is, is that in these, this 40 years, very, very little that has been used, partly because the media in the us does not focus on this issue. They don't do very much with it when they do do documentaries or news coverage, they tend to use the same images over. And again, what's unusual about my film, which is unique. And believe me, perhaps like you, I've seen dozens and dozens of documentaries on this subject over the many years. Greg Mitchell 04:46:15 And so there could be a feeling of how different could this film be, but this is the first film to look at this subject from the eyes of the filmmakers of the documentarians of the newsreel, people who shot the newsreels and the cameramen, the entire film is told in first person by the witnesses and the witnesses are all the film made. This, this is not the usual talking heads or some expert comes on and explains, you know, what people saw or why it was important. Every single word in the film is from either the Japanese or the American cameraman or directors. And they talk about what they saw and then what happened to the footage afterwards. So it is completely different than any film ever on the subject. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:59 I wanted to get to that narration because it was very compelling and it was seamless between the Japanese and the American voices. Now, you said that you had actually interviewed Lieutenant Daniel AME McGovern from the army, who was the cameraman for the color footage in Nagasaki. Where did you locate the other voices that you end up having read invoice over? Where any of these people still alive when you started or did you have to go interviews and journal entries? What was your sourcing of it? Greg Mitchell 04:47:34 And McGovern who was ahead of the American project I interviewed at again, back in 1983, my 38 year saga here, I interviewed him and I got documents from him, formerly secret documents that he sent me. Herb's the Sam, the other American leader. I interviewed him at length at that time. So their voices in the film, although they've passed away long ago, almost all of it is based on interviews. I did with them, myself, the Japanese newsreel people, everything is taken from oral histories that they did or autobiographies that they wrote, the interviews that they did. So everything is taken directly from their words that I had translated for the first time. No one has ever translated any of these things into English. So I had their words translated. And then the figure who I think is totally fascinating is you might say the in-between figure. Greg Mitchell 04:48:29 It's a guy named Harry, who was a well-known Japanese cinematographer. In fact, he shot Akira Kurosawa. His first feature, he then did work in Hollywood for a studios, and he went back to Japan. So when the work came, he was in Japan, but the American military knew about him. So when they went into Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they contacted the Toho studio and asked, could we use Harry memoriae to shoot a great deal of the American footage? So you have this very unusual and compelling, profound situation where you have a Japanese man shooting, a great deal of this footage of Japanese victims for the Americans. And again, I had the relevant parts of his autobiography translated into English for the first time. So in the film you hear Harry talking about in the first person, what it was like to shoot this footage of his countrymen. They actually injured, dying country meant for the Americans and how he felt quite different because he was a Japanese himself working for the Americans. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:43 It's that humanizing voice that comes through that really very quietly underscores the tragedy of what we are saying. And I appreciate the fact that you weren't coming in with an agenda. You weren't trying to make a 0.1 way or another. You were just presenting the information and allowing us to invest ourselves in what you were showing and what we were hearing. And the combination I found devastating, or I should never watch films like that right before I go to bed, Greg Mitchell 05:50:18 It's a nightmare. And the international nightmare is still living with us today. So maybe that's a proper, maybe it should give us nightmares. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:26 The film just debuted this year. And I believe this is the second showing of it in connection with the international uranium film festival, what are your plans forward or what is set up for it to go forward? From this point Greg Mitchell 05:50:40 It's been submitted to other festivals it's just was released last month. So it's really just beginning, it's half. We have a distributor in Europe who has made the sales to the leading media outlet in Spain and a leading media outlets in Northern Europe and the Baltics and part of Russia. And there, again, they they're hoping to place it, you know, all over the world, but again, it's very early on. So, and although I I've always made a big point of the resistance of American media to this subject. Certainly we, we have hopes that one of the streaming services in the U S whether it's Netflix or Amazon or public television or Hulu or whatever, we'll pick it up. And maybe for this coming August, you know, there's always a little more coverage, you know, last year was the 75th anniversary, and I had expected great deal of coverage. Actually, there was very little in the U S and the little that there was, it was almost all very much pro bombing. So it was the opposite of coming to grips and very disappointing. But every year on the anniversary, when the August six comes up, there always is a little more coverage. So we'll see if we get a major airing this year, Libbe HaLevy  05:51:58 Here's hoping that you do, it's such a difficult subject matter that I really do hope that not only you, but all the films from the uranium film festival get picked up as like a channel on Netflix so that people have the opportunity to see the range of what's out there. Greg Mitchell 05:52:15 Although this seems like a very familiar subject and people have seen images for a long time. What I seem to be getting from a lot of people who do see the film is that they're kind of amazed. I think it's put together in a kind of an artful way. People can watch it and feel that it's, it's kind of a very artful presentation and not polemical political gory. They can come away. Like you said, maybe a little bit shattered at the end and decide to look into this issue more or take some action. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:44 Can only hope Greg Mitchell, thank you so much for the film you made for making it available to the international uranium film festival and for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Greg Mitchell 05:52:56 I appreciate it. Thank you very much, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:58 Director Greg Mitchell on his film, atomic coverup in our post-interview chit-chat. I learned that the film of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that Greg used is all stored at the national archives and is considered to be in the public domain. Just a thought for you filmmakers out there to know that when you need source material for your nuclear project, that's where it's available. We will have links up to the uranium film festival. And I want you to listen next week, because we have a different kind of film than these two. It's called of the sense of the whole, the network of physicist, Hans Peter Deere. And if you ever wondered what a pacifist physicist is all about, this is the film for you. I talk with director Klaus Biggert who progressed from studying with Edward teller, the father of the H-bomb while he was a student at Berkeley, to being an outspoken pacifist physicist. That phrase, by the way, pacifist physicist is one of the most important that I've encountered because it recast physics and physicists as something that can sustain life, not destroy it. That's next week on nuclear hot seat, number five 18 on May 25th, 2021, Libbe HaLevy  05:54:27 The black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are the sacred center of the Lakota. Sometimes known as SU treaty territory. And they are being threatened by a radioactive uranium mining project. The Dewey burdock project proposed by power tech uranium in the waning days of the Trump administration, the EPA granted power tech to permits and a safe drinking water act, aquifer exemption without meaningful consultation with the Oglala Sioux tribe, and without conducting a cultural resources study of the proposed mine site, the Lakota people now have a petition up with change.org, demanding that the EPA reverse their water permits decision. We will link to it. Of course, a new campaign is coming out of the work of Mary Olsen of gender and radiation.org joined by beyond nuclear and radiation and impact project, heavy hitters. All it's called a female body as basis of radiation safety regulation make no mistake. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:32 This is a movement and a necessary one to draft a new reference model for determining protective levels from radiation exposure. And it will protect all of us. We'll have a link to their recent press release on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five 17, and just for fun, the bulletin of the atomic scientists, the group behind the annual update on the doomsday clock has put together a Spotify playlist of songs inspired by said, clock included are the smashing pumpkins, 2007 song, the doomsday clock, iron maidens, 1984 recording, two minutes to midnight and the who's song from 1982. Why did I fall for that? Which specifically references the doomsday clock. There are many more as well. Those are just the group with which I have a bit of familiarity, or at least I recognize their names, but check out the playlist. It's fun. And here's one that didn't make it, but is my personal favorite. Song 05:56:35 One minute to midnight, one minute to go one minute to say, Hey, before we, Libbe HaLevy  05:56:55 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, May 18th, 2021. A reminder that next week we will have a news Roundup from the past month of stories that didn't previously make it onto the show. I was once telling someone in the entertainment industry about nuclear hot seat, and she kissed and gave me a disdainful look and said, is there really enough nuclear information to fill an hour long show? Every week when I got home, I couldn't stop laughing. Remember that's next week. Now you're listening to this show, but don't take a chance of missing any others. The easiest way to get nuclear hot seat and not miss a single episode is to go to the website, look for the yellow box, put in your first name, put in an email address. Hey, you get the show every week, as soon as it posts. Now, if you've got a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:57 And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to help us out on the website, click on the red button, follow the prompts and do what you can to help know that we will be really grateful for your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leebee Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you nuclear war does not begin with the weapons going off. It ends with the weapons going off. That is your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Song 05:58:48 Minute to midnight. One minute to go one minute to. ### NH #516: New Mexico Nuclear Nightmare SPECIAL: WIPP Plutonium Expansion or Just The Shaft? Hearings Start May 17 - Don Hancock, Joni Arends URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-nuclear-nightmare-wipp-plutonium-expansion/ Published: 2021-05-12 Duration: 00:59:01 New Mexico Nuclear Nightmare SPECIAL: DOE wants Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to get a new "ventilation" shaft – but activists point to long range plans by DOE to expand the site to take 50+ TONS of plutonium – enough to make over 15,000 bombs Hearings start May 17; details on how to join below. This Week's Featured Interviews: New Mexico Nuclear Nightmares – this one dealing with hearings that hide the planned expansion of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant to hold more than 50 TONS of "excess" plutonium – the most deadly radioactive substance on earth. And all that plutonium will have to be trucked and trained across the United States, meaning communities at distance from WIPP will still be at risk. Two interviews with genuine experts on what we face – and what we can do about it. Don Hancock is the director of the Nuclear Waste Safety program and administrator at Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, where he has worked since 1975. He is the #1 watchdog on WIPP.Joni Arends is co-founder and executive director of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety. She and her group have been monitoring and fighting against WIPP for more than 20 years. Here, she gives more of a citizen-activist perspective and provides concrete steps that any of us can take to help support the fight against WIPP's expansion. LINKS and CONTACT INFORMATION mentioned during the interviews: Tell the Hearing Officer through Hearing Clerk to deny the permit change! Madai.Corral@state.nm.us Talking points in this document:Ten Talking Points for Memes on NM WIPP May 17 Hearings – FINAL – from Libbe HaLevy Actually nine talking points to copy and paste into social media posts. Public Comments: WRITTEN OR VIDEO PUBLIC COMMENTS – Email to: Madai.Corral@state.nm.us Please enter “HWB21-02 WIPP SHAFT” in the email subject heading. VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING The virtual public hearing will begin Monday, May 17, 2021 at 12:00 PM MDT. The Hearing will run during the following hours, on this day and on subsequent days, until complete, unless otherwise ordered by the Hearing Officer: 12:00 – 4:00 PM and 6:00 – 9:00 PM MDT DAILY. Join Virtual Public Hearing on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91728945523?pwd=YitrSUtFYnZkcE5hVGFrb2Z1UDlUdz09 Meeting ID: 917 2894 5523Passcode: 050223 According to DOE: "The public hearing will provide interested persons a reasonable opportunity to present data, views, and arguments, as well as to examine witnesses. The hearing will also afford an opportunity for all persons to present comments. The public hearing will be conducted remotely using an internet video conferencing platform (Zoom) and telephone." Exclusive Training with Facebook Expert Richard Villasana on How to Use Facebook to Make Anti-Nuclear Posts Go Viral: Let's get smarter about our time on Facebook to make our posts get picked up by Facebook Algorithms. This is the first of a once-monthly training on how to use social media more effectively to get our message across. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 New Mexico's position as the nation's de facto nuclear sacrifice zone seems to be on a fast track to forever. Now, the department of energy is simply saying that all they want to do is put up a new so-called ventilation shaft at that states waste isolation, pilot plant, or whip three hours south of both Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But there is much, much more to this story, as you will learn when a genuine expert explains Don Hancock 00:00:34 The department of energy wants to piecemeal expand whip, and the reason they want to do it by piecemeal, if they started saying to everybody, we want to keep weapons with them for at least 60 more years, but a lot more waste in than we agreed to in the law allows different forms of waste, more highly concentrated plutonium from naked or weapons and high-level waste. And those sorts of things, they know if they actually came out and said, this is what they want to do. Almost nobody in New Mexico would support that. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:03 And in polls taken almost no one in New Mexico has, but if in the process of giving New Mexico a new whip shaft, the DOE is also giving New Mexico more than just a shaft. You can see how it's another move to strap the public into that terrible in escapable seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:27 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:59 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as they survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, a special report on the latest New Mexico nuclear nightmare. The department of energy's illegal expansion plans for the waste isolation, pilot plant, or whip. The nation's only licensed repository for low and mid-level nuclear race with the intention of turning it into a storage site for more than 50 tons of plutonium, the very definition of high level radioactive waste. We'll hear from Don Hancock of Southwest research and information center, a whip watchdog with more than four decades of experience covering the site, Don D codes, what DOE is really doing, and it's not what they're claiming then Joanie errands co-founder and executive director of concerned citizens for nuclear safety provides the citizen activist perspective and gives us information on how any one of us can help in the fight to stop this whip expansion from happening. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:27 If there's time, we'll have a bit of nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and is always more honest, nuclear information. Then representative Liz Cheney is now in a position to bring up to Congress. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, May 11th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear, New Mexico whip expansion special from a different perspective. The waste isolation pilot plant or whip is the nation's only licensed repository for low and mid-level plutonium contaminated nuclear waste. It's located in New Mexico, about 300 miles south of either Albuquerque or Santa Fe. The department of energy is holding hearings starting on may 17 on what they are calling just the building of a new ventilation shaft for the underground facility. But watchdogs and activists have pegged this as the first step in an illegal expansion of the facility with the intent to take in more than 50 tons of plutonium. Our first interview is with Don Hancock. He is director of the nuclear waste safety program and administrator at Southwest research and information center in Albuquerque here, he gives a rundown of what DOE is planning, what it represents and manipulations around it to silence public input. We spoke on Saturday, May 8th, 2021, Don Hancock. It's so great to have you here with us today on nuclear hot seat. Don Hancock 00:05:05 Thank you. Good to be with you. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:07 You've been watchdog for the waste isolation, pilot plant or whip for how many years now, Don Hancock 00:05:13 More than 45 actually way too long, but nuclear waste is forever as my mother used to say, Libbe HaLevy 00:05:21 As we all say to each other all the time and to strangers standing in line next to me at trader Joe's, what is a brief history of the site and what has been its intended use Don Hancock 00:05:33 After the atomic energy commission in the early 1970s was forced to abandon their proposed first nuclear waste disposal site near Lyons, Kansas, a few political economic leaders in Southeastern New Mexico, invited AEC to come to New Mexico, to do the world's first naked or waste repository, or the least in the United States. That was 1972. And so since that time, almost 50 years now, the federal government and its various agencies and some of the local leaders in Southeastern New Mexico have seen New Mexico as the prime spot dumping ground. If you will, for some amount of waste now, exactly what it's for has varied over time. But for the last 40 years, it's been clear by law and by agreements with the state of New Mexico, it was defense transuranic waste, plutonium contaminated waste, explicitly prohibited was any commercial waste in a high-level waste, any spent fuel. So whip would be the first waste isolation pilot plant pilot plant means the first but not the sole. Don Hancock 00:06:51 So one of the disputes has been for many years and it's heating up now, again is there is no other disposal site, Yucca mountain is not going to happen and should not happen. So whip is the only operating repository. It's the only one that there's any concrete plans for or by administration or Congress essentially forever, which means New Mexico would be the on my side, except the people of New Mexico are saying, no, that's not the deal. And we expect over time, more and more of the New Mexico political leaders to say the same thing, whip cannot be the only one. So what's important about what's happening now is what's happening in the next couple of years are really kind of going to be the red lines in terms of whether there are some limits set. So that administrations and Congress has to say, oh, well, we've got to do something else, either an additional repository or long-term storage at existing sites to handle the waste that we have in this country. And more that's being proposed to be created both by new nuclear weapons and by continuing operations of commercial power plants. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:06 What are some of the problems that whip has experienced through the years, especially those that have impacted its ability to operate at full power. Shall we say Don Hancock 00:08:18 Several, a fundamental flaw with the site, which is important for people to understand it was cited with in the seventies with the idea it was not surrounded by and under lane buys substantial oil and gas reserves. One of the people who are involved in the initial sighting 40 years ago started ruing. The fact that he had ever agreed because as more investigation was done in the seventies and eighties, and now in the last 20 years as the Permian basin, which this area is part of is the nations. And one of the world's leading oil and gas production areas. You have literally 500 operating oil and gas Wells within two and a half miles of the website. And they would be drilling throughout the website we're at not currently prohibited from doing so, but in other words, long-term, this is not the kind of place you would be wanting to put naked or waste. Don Hancock 00:09:18 So that's the first problem. Second problem is that repositories are harder to operate than anybody thought. Going back to the fifties, when the national academy of sciences said geologic repository is the way to go. The thought has been, there should be many places that would be geologically stable to handle the waste, but you know, neither WIP nor other long-term facilities and other parts of the world have been able to operate safely for very long because of operational errors. Some of those are technical problems. Some of those are management problems. The department of energy doesn't have a good record of managing naked or waste at whip or frankly at any of its facilities. And some of them are related to contractor and competency, frankly, at any department of energy facility, 10% or less of the employees are federal employees. 90% plus are contractors who are in the business of making profits, which doesn't mean they want to have unsafe facilities. Don Hancock 01:10:24 That it means they'll cut corners thinking it's going to be good enough. So in the case of whip, 95% of the people who work at WIP are private contractors working for for-profit companies. So all of those things create problems and further because of the issue we've already talked about, whip is the only place. So DOE has constantly thinking, okay, how do we expand this facility to take care of more ways than what it's supposed to handle? So they never have their eye on the ball in terms of operating this facility safely. They're always thinking about how do we cut corners? How do we get around? What do we do to come up with a new operations? They were in a hurry to open whip. So they dug the first salt rooms to dispose of waste. In the 1980s, they were going to open whip in 1988. Don Hancock 01:11:13 Well, because of disputes with the state and the citizens and Congress whip didn't open until 11 years later. So the first panel is they're called the areas of the underground with seven rooms. The area that they first started putting waste in, I started having ceilings collapsed before they were able to put all the waste in. So they had to abandon that panel one on my, about a little more than half full from the beginning. So we're clear back in the early two thousands, it's been known that whip, wasn't going to have enough space for the waste it was designed to handle. And that's been compounded over the years with them shipping empty drums, but they call dunnage not actually prioritizing managing the space carefully, then came 2014 where two serious accidents happened. And again, in the first 15 years of operations, so a facility that's supposed to be safe for 10,000 years or more couldn't operate safely for 15 years, there was first a fire in the underground fires in mines or dangerous hazardous, or to be avoided nine days later on Valentine's day of 2014, there was a radiation release. Don Hancock 01:12:29 One or more drums literally exploded, contaminating a significant part of the underground more than 8,000 linear feet, 2,150 feet vertical elevation and the exhaust shaft and putting radioactivity out in the environment, contaminating 22 workers who were on the surface at the time, this accident would have been much worse. Had it not been proceeded by this fire, the fire had shut down the facility. So there wasn't anybody underground when they radiation explosion happened, or there would have been a lot more people affected. So since that time, since 2014 whip has never been able to operate at the levels, it was supposed to operate in terms of the numbers of shipments coming, et cetera, because you have contamination. The facility was not designed to operate in a radiation release scenario. In other words, HEPA filters, the way you filter radioactive contaminants, the web filters were designed originally to only handle about 15% of the air flow in that filtration mode. Don Hancock 01:13:35 Because again, they thought there would never be a radiation release, so they didn't have to actually design a facility so that it could operate in that radiation release. So they've only been able to operate at 15 to 25% of the normal air flow in the underground for the last seven plus years. And so therefore that has slowed down the amount of waste. They can bring the amount they can put underground because of the workers in the underground who were originally up until 2014, just like you and I, regular civilian uniforms now, and the underground working with waste, you have to have full protective gear like I boa or emergency workers in hospitals. They have to have full equipment. Well, it's hard to handle naked or waste and that kind of an environment. And to do it, you have to operate more slowly, more carefully. So you have a facility that's never operated really, as it was supposed to. And for the last seven years, it has either operated, not at all or at a very reduced rate. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:39 That is the current situation and the current push that you are up against now. Don Hancock 01:14:45 So the current push, which has been going on for a while are a piecemeal. The department of energy wants to piece mail, expand whip, and the reason they want to do it by piecemeal, if they started saying to everybody, we want to keep weapons them for at least 60 more years, but a lot more waste in than we agreed to. And the law allows different forms of waste, more highly concentrated plutonium from naked or weapons and high level waste. And those sorts of things. They know if they actually came out and said, this is what they want to do. Almost nobody in New Mexico would support that. And that's not what Congress has said that the law is. That's not what the permit that state issues allows. That's not what a legal agreement called the consultation and cooperation agreement, train New Mexico, and the states say, so instead they're doing these interim kinds of things. Don Hancock 01:15:34 So the current thing is to say, four shafts were enough for this facility designed to operate for 25 years to handle 6.2 million cubic feet of plutonium waste. But now we may need a fifth shaft. The specific thing that is coming to an, a public hearing starting on May 17th before the New Mexico environment department is a proposal to add a fifth shaft to the facility west of the existing facilities, the underground facilities, they say, all this is for is for additional ventilation, which will make it safer for the workers. Well, in fact, the ventilation has always been enough for the workers until the radiation release because of the filtration problem. The new shaft is not filtered. So it doesn't address at all the need for filtered air. Instead three years ago, the state at dos request permitted them to build a new filtered building on the surface of whip. Don Hancock 01:16:37 So they could handle 540,000 cubic feet per minute of air more than what they need. So they could keep operating the contaminated facility because the contamination would be filtered by the safer filters. All of that can be done without a shift. What's the purpose of the new chef, the unstated purpose in this permitting process, which is why we and other people are saying, they're not telling the truth. They're misrepresenting. What they actually want to do this new shaft is to the west where they want to put in a lot of new disposal panels. Remember I've said from the beginning for 20 years, it's been known. They haven't filled up all of the space. They have both because of incompetence because of ceiling collapse. And now because of the radiation release, which means they can't use some of the rooms at all that are been contaminated. So they want to expand the facility, physically expand the facility, but they don't want to say in this proceeding, but that's what they're doing. One of the big disputes in this proceeding is what is the truth? What is the purpose of this new chef? Why is it needed? It's not native for ventilation. It is needed to physically expand the facility. This brings Libbe HaLevy 01:17:49 Up the hearings that are going to take place that are currently scheduled to take place on May 17th. What do these hearings consist of? Who's behind them and what are they trying to achieve? Don Hancock 01:18:01 The burden of proof as the law is, is the department of energy has submitted a modification to change the existing permit that doesn't have the fifth shaft to add the fifth shaft to the permit. That's what they're asking for. And the department of energy is saying, that's the only thing that should be considered this new shaft. That's the only thing that should be considered my organization and others for the last three and a half years, that there have been discussions about this facility. I've said, no, you got to tell the truth about what it's for. Since you haven't told the truth about what it's for, which is to expand the underground capacity and build new rooms, et cetera, you can't get this permit modification. The state should deny because under the regulations, the entity has to submit a true and accurate modification requests and they have to state what the need for what they're asking for is in this case, they've said the need is ventilation not true. Don Hancock 01:19:03 And when we and others have said, no, the real purpose is to build new rooms, to have a new chef. So it can be located by where you want to build new rooms. They say, no, we can't talk about that. You can't talk about that. That shouldn't be part of this hearing. The hearing starts on May 17th, we'll include technical testimony, expert witness testimony from three people who are contractors for the department of energy. Again, no department of energy person, employee is testifying, but three contractors for the company, Nikita raised partners that operates the facility. Three people from the state environment, department and hazardous waste bureau. So those people are all supporting, changing the permit and adding the shaft. There are people who are testifying against it, and those people are myself. Don Hancock, Steve Zappi who for about 15 years was the whip permit writer for the state who is now retired, who is strongly opposes this new shaft modification and two scientists who were with for many years, environmental evaluation group, the state independent oversight group for whip, Georgia asked us and jams Chanel. Don Hancock 02:20:24 So all 10 witnesses have to present sworn testimony, kind of like a courtroom. They are subject to cross examination by other people. And there are other groups who are opposing the permit that haven't put witnesses on, but can cross examine those include concerned citizens for naked or safety naked, or watching New Mexico citizen action, New Mexico, Mr. Zappi, who I mentioned on another private citizen, Debra Reed. And then Mr. N asked us who I mentioned, who is also doing testimony. So all of these parties, this will be a court like proceeding presided over by an administrative law judge who will hear the testimony. The public can also comment during this hearing. There will be times that people who want to say something about it will be able to comment. So this hearing will go on three or four or five days after which time there are a series of other legal things that have to happen before the person, the hearing officer who's conducting this hearing will issue a recommended decision sometime in the fall. And ultimately the secretary of the environment department of New Mexico will make a decision to approve or not. This request. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:39 One of the things I've learned about this is something called a motion in lemonade, which is a legal ruling. What is that? And how has it being different Don Hancock 02:21:49 Attorneys bore the hazardous waste bureau of the environment department filed this motion and eliminated saying too many people are, want to talk about expanding whip. And you, Mr. Hearing officer should prohibit them from talking about that because this modification is just about the new shaft. It's not about expanding whip. That was the motion. Of course, the parties that I mentioned that are opposing the modification, all objected to that and said, that's wrong. It's illegal. It's improper. There's already a lot of evidence about expansion that's in the record. In this case, prior to the hearing, the documents that lead up to the hearing, the hearing officer ultimately said he was granting in part and denying in part this motion in lemony, it's not totally clear. And one of the things that will be at issue in the hearing is we expect that there will be further requests to limit some of the testimony. Don Hancock 02:22:53 For example, in my testimony, I talk about the shaft and why it's not needed and how they've misrepresented it. But I also talk about what his real purpose is, is the expansion. So clearly, presumably there will be some objections to that part of my testimony, if not all of my testimony. So this will be a continuing issue. The hearing officer has made a ruling. The ruling is frankly, a little fuzzy in terms of what it means. Does it mean you can't say the word expansion, but you could say, you know, increasing, it's one of these things that could make the hearing very messy in terms of why you use the wrong word or somebody else use the right word. So we'll see how it plays out. But yes, unfortunately the hazardous waste bureau is part of the environment department is in essence, trying to say certain things shouldn't discussed at this hearing, whereas their legal responsibilities should be to hear all the relevant evidence and testimony and public comment. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:54 So in essence, it's a gag order. Don Hancock 02:23:57 It could be a gag order, as I say, I don't intend to be gagged. So we'll see. And the written testimony that I have submitted clearly talks about all these issues that we've talked about, including the expansion, including the misrepresentation, including that they haven't correctly stated the need, including what the real need is. So we'll see when I testify, whenever that is sometime, probably May 18th or 19th, we'll see kind of how that plays out and we'll see how it plays out with some of the other witnesses. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:29 I understand that governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has the power to either delay or call off these hearings. Where does she stand on the issue of what's happening at whip? Don Hancock 02:24:41 Well, she hasn't stated a public position or necessarily, is there any reasons she would need to her appointee, secretary James Kenney, the secretary of the environment department who ultimately makes the decision. As I mentioned earlier, sometime presumably in the fall is appointed by the governor, but he has his own authorities. So normally how these permitting processes work, it is on the federal level, the environmental protection agency and in the state, the state environment department that makes the decision. So just as it would be improper for the president of the United States to intervene in particular permitting proceedings of the U S environmental protection agency, I would argue it would be inappropriate for the governor to not let a legal proceeding happen. She does have, and her, her real responsibilities relate to whether she is going to enforce the agreement that previous governors have entered into with the department of energy to limit the timeframe, the amount, the types of ways that can come to whip. Don Hancock 02:25:53 She can do that separately, regardless of what's happening with this permitting process, she has other authorities and other means that she's doing so I'm not asking her the governor to intervene in this proceeding. At this point, we should go through the process and see if it's done correctly. If ultimately the evidence is heard, people are heard and a legal decision is implemented. We and others would like the governor to start saying the deal is whip is not the only repository I as governor of the state of New Mexico are going to do like governors of Colorado and Idaho and South Carolina have done. When the governors of Colorado said, no, you can't keep this kind of waste that the Rocky flats plant in Colorado forever. And it got shipped to Idaho and the governors of Idaho said, no, you can't keep it in Idaho forever. You got to get rid of it. And some of that goes to New Mexico and governors in South Carolina said, no, you can't keep all this plutonium waste in our state. It's got to go someplace else. Well, how come other states have the right to say no at New Mexico, which under both federal law and legal agreements, how come New Mexico doesn't have the same rights? So we think the governor needs to play a clear role and discussing this issue, frankly, with the public, but also with members of Congress and with the administration. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:23 How is this issue being perceived or being reacted to by the citizens of New Mexico? And also how is it being received and represented by the media? Don Hancock 02:27:36 The citizens of the state have overwhelmingly opposed. They've had two opportunities to express their positions. One in 2019 when the department of energy submitted the modification and one in the summer of 2020, when the environment department put out this draft permit saying they wanted to permit the shaft. Each of those times, the hundreds of people who commented 97% in both cases in 2019 and 2020 said, no, they opposed the chef. They opposed the expansion. They oppose the process that's being used, et cetera. So they'll have another chance during this hearing, there will be another chance for people to submit written or oral comments. So we'll see how it goes. But up to now, the citizens of the state have said over 97% is pretty overwhelming. Under any circumstances people have overwhelmingly said no to this, the media, I would say here, as in other places are mostly focused on things like COVID and things like the economy and other kinds of things. Don Hancock 02:28:46 So there has not been as much attention on this as I and other people would like. We're hoping that the fact of the hearing, we all kind of focus a media attention on, oh, well, we should start paying attention to this has been dragging on for a while. So, but now, now we're coming to an important thing. And assuming a lot of people are going to participate in the hearing. Hopefully the media will pay more attention. And as I say hi, if they just look at what people have said and do say, and look at the facts of the case, I think it'll be pretty obvious that people oppose it and the state should not say no, but that remains to be seen Libbe HaLevy 02:29:27 The listeners of nuclear hot seat. What can we do to support the position of you and Southwest research and information center and the other groups that want to have a voice, a bigger voice and unimpeded voice in these proceedings and in the future of what's going to happen to them. Don Hancock 02:29:47 So I should be clear these hearings that we're talking about starting on May 17th are virtual, which means that anybody who has access to the internet can participate. There will be opportunities. We're still trying to work out to get it worked out exactly what the schedule for the public comment times will be. But there will be possible each day at the hearings for people on the internet, whether they're in New Mexico or other places to have probably only two or three minutes, but have some public comment to say what they think and what happens. The New Mexico is important to me, even though I'm in some other place. And I don't think this is the right way to do things. Oral comments May 17th, 18th, 19th. That's one thing you can submit written comments, either online or through the mail to the environment department on it. So that's another thing people can do. Don Hancock 03:30:44 Obviously, if you want to support individual groups, mine and others that I mentioned that are participating any kind of moral and or financial support is certainly welcome. And people can do that as well. People in their own states can start thinking about, well, if the waste from all over the country is going to come to new, Mexico is some of it that's going to come through my state. People may want to pay some attention to and talk to their own state officials and governors about, you know, Hey, is this a good idea to be shipping waste around the country? Some of the ways that DOE wants to submit would end up being transported two or three different times and from west to east. And for me, it's the west. And again, it's not a rational kind of process. The national academy of sciences last year told the department of energy that they should be having. Don Hancock 03:31:39 What's called a programmatic environmental impact statement. In other words, that formal process. So people all over the country should be able to participate and discuss. What's going to happen with all of this waste. The department of energy has not responded to that recommendation from the national academy of sciences, which means they have ignored it and are denying it. But again, that's the kind of thing people can say. We should have a voice in this. The people of New Mexico should have a voice, but people around the country that are going to be affected by what happens with naked or waste over the next 50 or 60 years, should have a chance to participate in this process as well. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:17 Anything further you'd like to add at this time that we haven't had a chance to get to. Don Hancock 03:32:22 I appreciate it very much your interest in all of this and your willingness to cover it. Thank you very much for what you're doing and thank you to your audience and people who respond to the information we've been discussing today, Libbe HaLevy 03:32:37 Don Hancock and Southwest research and information. Thank you so much for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Thank you very much. That was Don Hancock director of the nuclear waste safety program at Southwest research and information center in Albuquerque. We'll have a link up to his website on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five 16, we'll have this week's second featured interview on the New Mexico nuclear nightmare in just a moment. But first the problems of the nuclear fuel cycle are endless and will never go away. And as today's story shows every day, there are nuclear decisions being made without public comment that determined not just our immediate future, but forever the nuclear industry and its allies in government are continuing to hide or confuse the industry's many transgressions against people and the environment. And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:41 We don't get distracted. We look at the nuclear aspect of our world every week in depth with continuity and context in a way that mainstream media does not provide nuclear hotseat is the only program you can count on to report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the nuclear industry would rather we not hear about, let alone understand if having this information helps you. The time would be right now to support us with a donation. We make it easy. Just go to nuclear hotsy.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size that same red button is now where you can set up a monthly $5 donation. Now that's the same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip here in the U S so why don't you buy nuclear hot seat, a metaphoric cup of coffee. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:36 I promise you it will not go towards caffeine, but it will go for social media reach and planning. Please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week's second featured interview. Joanie errands is co-founder and executive director of concerned citizens for nuclear safety. She and her group have been monitoring and fighting against whip for more than 20 years here, she provides more of a citizen activist perspective and provides concrete steps that any of us can and should immediately take to help support the fight against whip's expansion. We spoke on Saturday, May 8th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:27 It's great to be talking with you on nuclear hot seat. Joni Arends 03:35:31 It's great to be talking with you again. Maybe thank you for this opportunity. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:37 Start out with some background, the group that you head up, what is concerned citizens for nuclear safety and how long has it been around Joni Arends 03:35:46 Concerned citizens for nuclear safety or CC? N S has been around since 1988. I was an original co-founder of the organization here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:59 And how has the group focused itself? What have you been doing? Joni Arends 03:36:03 We form because of community concerns about the proposed transportation of radioactive and hazardous materials from Los Alamos national laboratory, or Lanel through the center of Santa Fe on St. Francis drive to the then proposed waste isolation plant or whip. We were very concerned about the transportation risks originally. And as we learned more about the whip facility itself, respect to geology water, the impact to the environment, we broadened our scope from transportation to those more physical parts of the facility itself, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:54 Your understanding of what is currently being proposed and what it looks like to you Joni Arends 03:37:02 What's being proposed is a doubling and more of the whips site. In 1988, when we started DOE testified that the website would operate for 25 years, they would be able to clean up all the transatlantic or plutonium contaminated waste located at it sites across the country from Savannah Riverside, Oak Ridge site, Hanford, Idaho Livermore, Sandia Pantex, Rocky flats, and then the streets uranium sites in Ohio. They told us that they would be able to do that in 25 years, and then they would close whip. Well, the 25 years is coming up in 2024, and DOE has put portions piecemeal approach on the table about what their plans are to expand the WIP site, some documents, including reports by the government accountability office, as well as the national academies of science says that they want to keep whip open till 2080, which is basically for forever. In our view, I was personally at many meetings, not only in New Mexico, but in Colorado and Idaho in Nevada about that they would close in 25 years. And now they're proposing to keep it open forever. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:40 There is coming up a series of hearings, and I have to put that in quotes because there's a lot that is being strategically manipulated so that people will not be heard during those quote unquote hearings. Tell us what it looks like from your perspective. Again, you're much more connected with the public and with the community and the citizens, as opposed to the technical side of things. What does it look like? They are trying to do with these hearings and trying to exclude from these hearings, Joni Arends 03:39:17 The department of energy and the New Mexico environment department, specifically the hazardous waste bureau, which issues permits for facilities that handle store dispose of hazardous waste. And in this case, because the waste is contaminated with both the radioactive and hazardous materials from making nuclear weapons, the state has this regulatory hook, but the hazardous waste bureau and DOE have been in lock step to expand whip through a series of permit modifications. And that's what this hearing is about. It's about a modification to the permit to allow the drilling or digging of a 30 foot in diameter shaft to the underground disposal facility in the salt beds what's happening because DOE hasn't provided the complete picture of their plans. And that we have been saying for years, that we want to see the full scope of their permit modifications that we wanted the permit renewal process to happen last year when the 10 year permit expired. Joni Arends 04:40:42 But it's been administratively continued that we wanted to see this full picture, especially because we understood the pressure. We understand the pressure for the facility to close in 2024. And now we're going forward with this permit hearing. Now the hazardous waste bureau filed a motion in lemony, which is to limit the conversation during the hearing to only what's on the paper and the paper doesn't include the expansion. So it's going to be a fight because we believe that we have a right under the law to talk about the expansion and to say that this permit modification must be denied because the OEE hasn't provided all the information that's required under the so we're gearing up for a five day hearing that begins next Monday on May 17th, it's going to be virtual. It starts at noon every day, mountain time until 9:00 PM mountain time. There'll be a break between four and 6:00 PM and we're encouraging people to please make comments. There's a lot of information on the CCNs website@nuclearactive.org and@thestopforeverwhipfacebookpageandstopforeverwhip.org website. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:11 We will of course, link to all of the connections that you have given us because the ability to make comments and having massive numbers of us making those comments does have the potential to make a difference. Joni Arends 04:42:27 Yes, I want to say why this is so very, very important expansion of whip support, expanded plutonium pit production at Los Alamos national laboratory. There's billions of dollars on the table to expand the number of pits, which are the cores or triggers of nuclear weapons. And Lanel is doing everything in its power to expand that production at its site, sitting on the Mesa, in a wildfire zone, above the regional drinking water supply and the Rio Grande day, when they first showed up 77 years ago, they said that they would be here for a short amount of time. So the people, but they haven't left, they haven't packed up and left. And that model serves as a model for us on whip because the Manhattan engineering district said that they would be here for a short amount of time and they still haven't left. And we see that same effort being put forward with the lack of information about DOE full plans for the whip Libbe HaLevy 04:43:45 In terms of the general public, how informed are they? Has the media been following this? Have they been putting it forward? Has the story gotten out or is it either ignored or suppressed in your estimation? Joni Arends 04:44:01 There haven't been very many stories about whip expansion. There are more stories about landfill expansion in terms of a new power line cross the Rio Grande de from Santa Fe to the landfill facility about their plans for leasing another hundred thousand square feet of office space within a 50 mile radius. They've already rented that a hundred thousand square feet here in Santa Fe. They like to talk a lot about all the money that they've given out to the United way and other nonprofit organizations, but they are not talking about the contamination that's in the regional drinking water aquifer, the amount of waste it's buried on the per her retail plateau, which is about 18 million cubic feet, which is three times the amount that will fit into web. And then the emissions into the air and their plans to vent Tridium into the air here. We postponed that process, but it could always come back. Joni Arends 04:45:07 Voices are rising about this. We're expecting a big push for public comments this week before the hearing, and to encourage people all through the week to make comments. We're trying to determine exactly when the public comment period will be. This is another way to suppress the public comment is that the hearing officer has not established the times when the public can connect to the zoom and watch what's going on and then make public comments. It's getting really late for people to be able to schedule that people can also make written public comments and submit them to the hearing clerk. That information is on our website or the stop forever whip coalition website and Facebook page Libbe HaLevy 04:45:57 And amount of plutonium that I heard mentioned in connection with this, which is 50 tons of plutonium, 100,000 pounds of plutonium, which is enough to provide the triggers for 15,000 nuclear weapons that are far larger than that, which exploded at Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Trinity. What does this hippie Tums a plutonium refer to? Joni Arends 04:46:24 So this is part of the piecemeal approach. DOE has released a environmental impact statement that they want to ship the quote unquote surplus plutonium at the Savannah river site and at the Pantex facility, north of Amarillo, Texas to Los Alamos for processing. Then they would ship that surplus plutonium back to Savannah river for additional processing, and then back to New Mexico, to the website for disposal, that's a transportation risk of 3,300 miles or 3,300 miles across the country of surplus plutonium, which is in a respirable form, which means that if there's an accident, it can get out into the environment. You know, they always say it's safe until it's no longer safe dimension of surplus. Plutonium is not in any of these documents that are part of this permit modification request 120,000 pounds of surplus plutonium. The taxpayers have paid for that. This is just an example of the waste, fraud and abuse that has occurred throughout the department of energy agency over the decades. Joni Arends 04:47:47 How can you have 120,000 pounds of plutonium that you didn't have a disposable pathway? I remember DOE secretary Harrington saying in the early 1990s, we are a wash in plutonium. And the only thing DOE can figure out is to put it in the dump. But again, we go back to the whole idea that at the same time, that the secretary of the energy department, Mr. Harrington said, we're a Washington plutonium DOE was saying, we're going to clean up all of these sites around the country in 25 years, we're going to take it to web. We're going to close in 25 years after we opened web, which was opened in 1999. So it's scheduled to close in 2024, and DOE has plans to keep it open until 2080 or beyond. DOE made a social contract with the people of New Mexico. By saying, if you take this facility, we're going to clean up all of the waste around the country. That's plutonium contaminated or transuranic, and we're going to dispose of it at whip. And we're going to close it up in 25 years and they're not going to do what they said that they were going to do. And the harm done by DOE not fulfilling the social contract with the people of New Mexico is a travesty. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:22 This is of course interior rating information. So not unexpected considering the source with DOE and their history of misrepresentation. That's a mild term of their nuclear interests given what you're up against. And the fact that the hearings are scheduled to start in a week from the time that we're talking, is there anything that can be done? And if so, how can the listeners of nuclear hot seat support you? Joni Arends 04:49:54 People can write comments. They can provide oral testimony during the hearing via zoom as an alternative. They could make some videos, short videos about their neighborhood. And while they're concerned about the transportation of 120,000 pounds of surplus plutonium across the roads in the United States, there's some sample short videos about individuals' community, about their neighborhoods and why they're Libbe HaLevy 05:50:28 Given that these hearings are supposed to take place nearly a week from one, the two of us are talking, is there any way to get them the late postpone, perhaps canceled on route to finding a sane or pathways forward for this way? Joni Arends 05:50:50 Yes, people can contact our governor. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Her phone number is (505) 476-2200. And tell her to investigate what is going on at her hazardous waste bureau. And why are they allowing this incomplete application for a permit modification to go forward? People can also submit written oral and video comments to the record during the hearing we anticipate the hearing will be over on Friday, May 21st. So you have some time to learn about these issues and to prepare your comments for the record. Currently 97% of the people that have provided comments have opposed this whole program. So again, I want to encourage people to contact our governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham at 5 0 5 4 7 6 2 2 0 0. I think pressure on the governor at this point in time will be an effective use of time and energy to raise this issue. In the public's mind, Libbe HaLevy 05:52:12 We will publish all of this material on nuclear hot seat with the hope that at minimum, this can be delayed or postponed or canceled, meaning the hearings until further examination of the issues can take place. We will do everything in our power to help you, because what we're looking at here is the future. So for now, for the present, Joanie, Aaron, thank you so much for all of your efforts. Continuing, keep us informed if anything changes and for now, thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Joni Arends 05:52:51 Thank you levy so much. It's a hard topic to talk about. We're doing the best we can to oppose this and we need help from others. And you're part of that effort. And we're so grateful. Thank you Libbe HaLevy 05:53:14 To help get the word out about what's happening at whip. On Monday, may 10, I interviewed Facebook expert Richard via sauna who gave us an online training in how to use Facebook effectively to build our presence and make our message go viral. Richard has built his nonprofit forever homes for foster kids to 37,000 followers on a budget of virtually zero and has received training from Facebook and how to use the platform even more effectively. I posted it on the website for this episode, nuclear hot seat, number five 16. The training is targeted at what's happening in New Mexico now, but can be used by any of us at any time. Basically at its core, Facebook only counts clicks. It does not evaluate content. It's just a numbers game. And 100 clicks on any post makes Facebook considerate viral, and then they start boosting it across the platform. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:12 That's what we want. What does that mean? Every time you see a message about nuclear matters on the nuclear hotseat Facebook page or anywhere else, really click on the like button, then leave a comment. It doesn't have to be longer profound or your life story as simple. Wow. Or I like that would be enough. Then click share. Once you share, do the same on that post that you just put out like comment and then like your own comment. And you can do the same thing for any other comments that are on that post. If we did this as few as 30 people could push a message viral, meaning Facebook will spread it around a whole lot more and more people will see it. That's the threshold let's make it happen. Listen to the training or just start clicking, like comment like your own comment share, and maybe comment on other people's comments as well. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:13 It will make a difference. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, may 11, 20, 21. If you haven't already done. So please go to our nuclear hot seat. Facebook page, make certain that you have liked the page. Then find a post, use the like button, make a comment like your comment, and then share that's four clicks to the good and it all counts. Now, if you want to make certain that you get nuclear hot seat every week without fail, the easiest way is to sign up, to get an email once a week, you'll get it as soon as it posts and you can do so. By going to the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt inbox, which will ask you for a name you can put in your first name. You can put in a fake name. You can put in whatever you want there, and then put an email address. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:05 And I promise you're not going to get bugged, but you will get one email a week. As I said, as soon as the show posts, which will have not only the link to the show, but also information about what's contained in the episode, keeping track of all the many nuclear stories that exist, not only here, the United States, but in other countries around the world takes the help of all of you who are listening. So if any of you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email with that information to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And remember that if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, such as this special episode we just had on New Mexico, take a moment to go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red button, follow the prompts and do what you can to help knowing that anything is appreciated and will go towards getting our material. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:06 Our information, our point of view out into the larger world. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest streak communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that radioactive nuclear waste is forever and is dangerous forever. So let's stop making any more of it right now and find out what we can do to safely get rid of the stuff. All that you have heard is your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:57:56 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Cari Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #515: Indian Point Shutdown! What's Next? Manna Jo Greene, Dr. Gordon Edwards on Nuclear Decommissioning Process URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/indian-point-shutdown/ Published: 2021-05-05 Duration: 00:59:01 Indian Points Shutdown! But the battle for safety has just shifted to another gear. This Week's Featured Interviews: Indian Point Shutdown! The closure of Indian Point's last operating nuclear reactor – only 25 miles from Manhattan – is a cause for celebration… and a recalibration of the activist response to focus on decommissioning challenges. Two genuine experts paint the decommissioning picture: Manna Jo Greene has been the Environmental Director for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater for more than 20 years – and has been one of the leaders in the battle to shut down Indian Point, the nuclear reactor facility located only 25 miles from Manhattan. We spoke on the day of the shutdown – Friday, April 30, 2021.Dr. Gordon Edwards is the head of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.LINKS from Dr. Edwards to further information on Decommissioning and Relevant Issues: “The Radioactive Outhouse”A Concrete Approach to Nuclear Waste? www.ccnr.org/CCNR_NDP_pack.pdf Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement: In Situ Decommissioning of the WR-1 Reactor www.ccnr.org/CCNR_WR1_2017.pdf “Radioactive Waste Got You Down?A Little Grout and Grief is Gone.” www.ccnr.org/CCNR_WR1_Supp_2018.pdf “Dismantling Nuclear Structures Provides Jobs and Business Opportunities” www.ccnr.org/memoir_CCNR_2013.pdf Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you want a vacation to a "hot spot," couldn't you just make it to the beach instead of Chernobyl? Screen shot from a report on The Weather Channel Links Mentioned During the Show: Dr. Ian Fairlie on ChernobylEpidemiologist Joseph Mangano's Counterpunch article on Indian Point Closure Want to help Nuclear Hotseat rise in social media rankings? Here are some things you can do to help us get noticed: Go to our Facebook Page (Nuclear Hotseat) and click like. Comment on an episode post. Respond to another post that's there. We tweet every show, so sign up to follow Nuclear Hotseat on Twitter and retweet to your people. If you haven't yet, use the yellow opt-in box to sign up for our email. This adds you to the database, and helps us get enough people to be noticed by possible underwriters for the show.If you hear a program you like, a $5 donation will help us boost it to new audience through Facebook ads. You can ask for the ads to be concentrated in an area, city, state, or country you care about. Thank you! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 The Indian point, nuclear reactor just outside New York city, shut down permanently as a Friday, April 30th, 2021, Hazara we're free and clear aren't we, well, we won except not really. You see, while a permanent shutdown of a nuclear reactor is a very good thing. And cause for celebration, it only shifts the battleground of effort because of the decades of highly radioactive nuclear waste that were produced during the operation. And that's why when a genuine expert on these matters explains Dr. Gordon Edwards 00:00:41 When you have a nuclear reactor. The fundamental fact about nuclear power is that it cannot generate electricity without simultaneously generating hundreds of radioactive poisons, which never were found in nature before 1940. These are brand new to the evolutionary context in which heats the human race has existed. And those are the dangerous materials that we have to keep out of the environment. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:08 That's what's in all the waste generated by any and every operating nuclear reactor. So when you hear the hard, long suppressed facts about what decommissioning a nuclear reactor really consists of and how long we have to control the radioactive waste and keep it out of the environment, you begin to understand the forever nature of that terrible in escapable seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:37 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear Hotsy what have those boys been breaking their hot Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:08 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as the survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we celebrate the closure of the Indian point, nuclear reactor, only 25 miles from Manhattan. And we've got two interviews with which we do it. First. We speak with manager, Joe Green, who for 20 years has been environmental director for Hudson river, sloop Clearwater, and one of the leaders in the battle to shut down Indian point. We acknowledged the wind before launching into a preview of what the next level of work needs to be. Then a cornerstone interview with Dr. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:07 Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility. He goes over the reality of decommissioning that the nuclear industry does not want any of us to understand from the radio active isotopes produced by the nuclear chain reaction and the half lives of each of these that nobody wants to talk about. And he includes some insights on Japan's planned release of radioactive water into the Pacific, and that there is a relatively easy way to cut down on the dangerous to the ocean ecosystem. If TEPCO and the Japanese government can be persuaded to have some patients. Plus we will have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than Melinda gates will be talking about in her divorce proceedings from bill, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, May 4th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:04 And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Top story in the U S this week is the shutdown of the Indian point reactor ending the nuclear era for the New York city area. We'll have more details about the shutdown during our two featured interviews today. And on the website, we will link to a counterpunch article by Joseph Mangano of radiation and public health that spells out its history and the advantages of shutting it down. Now in Texas, a bill is advancing through their house that sakes to ban spent nuclear fuel high level radioactive waste from being stored in Texas. Great example of NIMBY as plans by waste control specialists in Andrews county, Texas moves forward with plans at the federal level to store this dangerous waste. State lawmakers are aiming to ban the materials from entering the state, but how spilled 2, 6, 9, 2 would also give waste control specialists, a big break on state fees. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:08 It pays for its existing disposal facility for lower level radioactive waste. Governor Greg Abbott wrote to the NRC last year, asking them to deny the license application stating that the proposal presents quote, a greater radiological risk than Texas is prepared to allow he's joined in his opposition by oil companies that operate in the region and environmentalist. Talk about your strange bedfellows in New Mexico. The Los Alamos national laboratory is proudly touting its returned to Santa Fe initially providing lab space for 75 technicians and plan to expand to 500 more. Y Lanel as it is referred to is simply running out of room in Los Alamos and it needs space to expand as its does the same. And what is that mission ramping up to expand production of nuclear bomb cores Atlantal and the Savannah river site in South Carolina Congress has tasked them with producing 88 0 plutonium pits per year. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:14 These are the triggering devices for nuclear warheads. So that means 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030. So while Lanel proudly touts the fact that nothing nuclear is going to be happening in Santa Fe, indeed, it's making room for more nuclear to happen at its base in Los Alamos. Japan's announced decision to release one and a quarter million tons of radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean in 2022 is sparking further protests around the globe. Hundreds of south Korean fishermen across the country held protests on Friday, April 30th, calling on Japan to reverse its decision about 800 fishermen participated in rallies at ports in nine cities. According to south Korea's national Federation of fisheries cooperative fishermen held anti-Japan banners with slogans, such as condemn irresponsible nuclear attack, and is one fishermen who had worked in the industry for 38 years, said, why is Japan doing this? Libbe HaLevy 00:07:19 How could they do such a bad thing against the sea don't they eat fish? And the Pacific activist group young Solara had added their voice to the calls against Japan, dumping the nuclear radioactive waste into the Pacific ocean. Young said she was shocked by the decision. She said Japan has been described pretty unflatteringly in the past as a house, without a toilet in regards to its nuclear power industry. This act is an example of possible transboundary harm in Finland for Novias nuclear power plant construction in PICA, on Finland's Northwest coast has been hit by further delays, increasing costs by around 1 billion euros and added another year to the already four year delay in its construction, nuclear construction over schedule and over budget is anyone surprised. And now for this week's exercise in nuclear bone headedness Libbe HaLevy 00:08:25 Vacation. Time is fast upon us and with COVID restrictions on travel, being dialed back, many people are determined to go out and have a life affirming adventure getaway. And so they are heading straight to Chernobyl that's right. Since the 2019 HBO hit series, true noble aired around the world, people are just dying to go visit the radiologically contaminated site, literally dying, but of course not Chernobyl anticipates a major tourism bump in the wake of the historic nuclear disasters, 35th anniversary on April 26th of this year tour companies tout the area as quote, safe for tourists before adding some areas are higher risk than others. And recommending that visitors avoid lingering near them, but even lingering in the so-called safe for tourists areas puts everyone there at risk just because people can walk away today. Doesn't mean that they're not taking home with them. Some unwanted souvenirs, radioactive particles sequestered away in their hair, on their clothes in their lungs, maybe in their digestive tract from food or liquids consumed while onsite. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:43 Of course, by the time that souvenir makes itself known through cancer in fertility, birth defects, auto immune conditions, or a wide range of other diseases or death, it could be years or decades from now. And with so much time elapsed, it's doubtful that anyone will trace their health breakdown back to this wild post or mid COVID excursion. But just because you don't see the connection doesn't mean it's not there. And that's why anyone who is crazy enough to go to Chernobyl for a little vacay in a hot meaning radiologically hot climate. You are this week's, Announcer 01:10:23 awake. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:25 Here's the first of this, week's two featured interviews. It's not often that we have something great to celebrate, but here it is. The last of the Indian point, nuclear reactors was permanently shut down on Friday, April 30th, to find out what it was like to finally reach this milestone and learn about the battles that are still ahead of us. We spoke with Mt of Joe Green. She is the environmental director for Hudson river sloop Clearwater, and has been one of the leaders in the battle to shut down Indian point a nuclear reactor facility that is located only 25 miles as the Crow flies from Manhattan. I spoke with managing on Friday, April 30th, the day that it actually happened, manage Joe Green. What a terrific day to have you with us on nuclear hot. Manna Jo Green 01:11:16 I am thrilled to be here. It's been a long haul, but today is a critically important day in New York and in the whole country, in terms of nuclear power. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:30 First off my heartiest, congratulations to you and Riverkeeper and all the people and organizations that worked so hard towards the shutdown of Indian point. Manna Jo Green 01:11:41 Yes, thank you. It's been, as I said, a long haul, our founders, the people who founded a clear winner even before the slope was built and launched where opposed to citing a nuclear power plant. So near New York city, 25 miles from New York city, 200 million people live within 50 miles of Indian point and then nine 11 came around and then executive Andy Mayle. And I arrived at the office. The next day, took one, look at each other and said, oh my God, Indian point, add the plane that took out one of the world trade towers gone down 62nd spinner. It could have dislodged the unprotected fuel pools, dislodged the water and cost a field qualifiers, not unlike what happened at Fukushima. So we've been working on it an intensely since nine 11, we formed an Indian point, safe energy coalition. And we brought in experts to educate the community over the years. Manna Jo Green 01:12:54 We've hold held multiple technical conferences, including with Gordon Edwards. Who's wonderful teacher in this regard helps people to understand a very technical, complicated issue. And over the years held many technical briefings, congressional briefings, digital forums, and educated the community. So I would say that the decision makers in New York are very well-educated and up to date, but the main reason that Indian point closed was it, it was approaching 40 years of operation. And while it was profitable, when it was new, as the signs of aging, including steam, boiler ruptures, and siren failures, and many other equipment failures, it started to become more costly to operate the facility than the profit they were making. And so as much as we wanted it to close for the danger that it was posing, there was also an economic reason. And that's why Riverkeeper the New York state attorney general and Entergy who owns still owns, but not for much longer. Manna Jo Green 01:14:22 The Indian point reactors agreed to a settlement agreement to close the plant three years ago, it was mainly a financial decision. And also the fact that in their application for 20 year relicensing, they were losing, there was a problem with coastal consistency. There were problems around aging management and we had Clearwater had a unique contention around environmental justice. So between the legal landscape and the economic shift from being a profitable facility, to being an economic drain, that's really why the decision was made. And the benefit is that the facility will be much safer once the plant is closed and it'll stop making the thousands of tons of nuclear waste. It has generated over the last 40 years, Libbe HaLevy 01:15:24 Going back in history a little bit in 2000, the nuclear regulatory commission rated Indian point as the most troubled plague plant in the country. What are some of the issues that have come up through the years that have earned it? This label, Manna Jo Green 01:15:40 As I mentioned, one of the main reasons for the danger is its location. So if there's a problem at Indian point, there would be vast impacts to as many as 20 million people that live or work within the facility. But I did mention a steam boiler and rupture transformer explosions contamination in leaking and contamination of the groundwater under the plant, which exceeds drinking water standards and is leaking into the Hudson river. There are other communities that do take their drinking water from the Hudson river and many other internal problems that were symptoms of an aging facility. So between its location and the operational and functional problems that it had been having, the other danger comes from storing the fuel that it generated in overcrowded fuel pools. Originally the plant was built for 20 year operation and given another 20 or extension, but those fuel pools were not designed for the amount of nuclear waste that was generated due to the extension. Manna Jo Green 01:17:04 And also more recently, instead of using regular enriched uranium fuel, they've been using what's called high burnup fuel, which is hotter, more radio active, but it allows the fuel to stay in the fuel pool a longer. So they don't have to have so many outages for refueling. And that I think presents a problem today because Holtec the company that is likely to receive the licenses to do the decommissioning is noted for its rushed quick and dirty decommissioning. And one of our biggest concerns is moving high, burn up fuel out of the fuel pool and to dry cask storage to soon, Libbe HaLevy 01:17:54 I wanted to get into the whole tech angle on it because they are noted for bragging to governments or those in charge of the money behind this, which is enormous that they can do the decommissioning faster and cheaper than anyone else. Then I think two words we never want to hear in connection with anything. Nuclear is fast and cheap because we need to be in this for a long haul beyond our ability to imagine. So what is the current status? Because you're moving into a new era now with Indian point, what is the current status with Holtec and its desire or its likelihood of coming in and being the designated driver for the decommissioning process Manna Jo Green 01:18:41 Within the last couple of weeks, the public service commission, general Riverkeeper Westchester county and others have negotiated with Holtec, what's called a joint proposal. The comments were doing yesterday and buying next week. We will know whether or not the joint proposal is approved to transfer the licenses for all three units, but Indian 0.2 and three, who Holtec international and it's LLC subsidiary. And you've been extremely complicated. One good thing that came out of the joint proposal. This proposed second settlement agreement for the license transfer is financial surety. And Holtec has a horrendous history of all kinds of malfeasance, bribery lying to public officials. They're under promotional investigation in New Jersey right now, which has oyster Creek. They're an unreliable company and we have fought hard to have the public service commission consider their history. It's so much that they were banned from doing business with the world bank and the Tennessee valley authority. Manna Jo Green 02:20:07 And there was a huge scandal in Canada involving hold check because they are not an honest and reliable company. So we got some financial surety, but that doesn't change their history. And it also essentially gives somewhat of a green light for their bigger plan, which is over time to move high level radioactive waste to their, what they call consolidated interim storage facility in New Mexico. They will also be when they decommission the facility. If this goes through, there'll be taking the reactor card and the pieces and the reactor internals and other radioactive infrastructure on the site, they're putting to load onto barges barge past New York city, put on a train, run it across the country and put all the communities along that route in danger, we believe in the safest possible onsite storage until we're absolutely sure that there is a safe place to move it and only move it once consolidated interim storage right now is not allowed until a permanent repository is found. Manna Jo Green 02:21:32 Yucca mountain is pretty much off the table. And if some of these decisions will be made into the future. But I think what a lot of people don't realize is while nuclear fuel was being used to generate electricity, it was also generating massive amounts of nuclear waste. And there never has been a good solution for that. But now we're at the point where the nuclear facilities are closing and something has to be done. So right now we're focused on, as I said, the safest possible loan site storage. So we can figure out what, if anything are the next steps, but shipping it across the country is extremely dangerous. And there's very serious environmental justice issue in Texas and New Mexico who have been burdened by exposure to radiation as far back as the original atomic testing of the Trinity facility. And then all the uranium mining and processing the workers and the community members have been exposed. And now Holtec plan is to burden them further with waste from all over the country. And as I said, putting the communities along the way at risk of an accident during transportation, Libbe HaLevy 02:22:55 Is there an alternative company to Holtec because I know in the time I've been doing nuclear, hotseat the last 10 years they were never mentioned. And then all of a sudden they popped up and they dominated the discussion ever since. And they've been the ones who's been getting all the money and getting all the jobs. Not that they're reliable. Is there anyone else? Manna Jo Green 02:23:18 There are two main other companies. And there also is the alternative that Entergy could have kept the facility and hired a lot of the contractors that whole tech will, but Entergy one bit to relieve themselves of the liability. And Holtec has some very creative ways of turning that liability into a financial asset. But the companies that we're familiar with are at Zion, it was energy solution who had multiple done other facilities around the country and Vermont Yankee was Northstar. Who's now partnered with iRANO. They actually own the mini radioactive waste facility in west Texas, but they have done some of the new England facilities and others, none of them have a perfect track record, but also neither of those facilities have as her Rendell and disrespectful track record myth. As I mentioned, bribery, various scandal and out at Santa, no fray where Holtec canisters are being used. Manna Jo Green 02:24:34 They actually had a very serious near miss accident where they were taking accounts you're filled with high level nuclear waste that was removed from the fuel pool and put into these thin wall canisters in the process of moving them into a concrete cask. It got stuck. The canister was hanging just over the cask and not able to slide into and be positioned in this concrete cask. And then when they did rearrange things, so they could safely lower it, it was scraped when a thin-walled canister gets scraped. It's very prone to corrosion. These nuclear issues are extremely complex. And I think most people think that the nuclear regulatory commission has it all under control. And that's exactly the opposite of reality. They are an industry captured agency that grants waivers and exemptions almost always, you know, they give them out like candy at the risk of public health and safety. We've alerted Congress to that concern. But I think one of the good things about the joint proposal in New York is that it gives New York more control in a setting where the nuclear regulatory commission is really not following its mission and not providing adequate oversight, not even requiring that Holtec and other companies meet the very regulations that the nuclear regulatory commission is responsible for. Implementing, Libbe HaLevy 02:26:27 You mentioned public health and safety and getting back to Indian point itself. What are some of the circumstances that are going to be alleviated now that as of today, Friday, April 30th, it is shutting down. Manna Jo Green 02:26:42 Well, the main thing that will be alleviated is an issue with the reactor or all of the equipment used to, for example, the steam boilers, the transformers, all of that equipment will not be in operation. And so that means that those kinds of nuclear accidents will not occur. There won't be a meltdown. Those incidents will occur. However, the fuel pools are still there. It's going to take a while for them to be unloaded. So a fuel pool fire could still occur. There are many other problems that don't when, when the reactor is shut down and new ones that come about because of the actions that take place during decommissioning. I mentioned that they literally cut up the facility and they're planning to barge it. Some of the equipment off site that is radioactive, but when they're cutting things apart, there are radioactive dust that is released into the atmosphere that can, first of all, affect the workers, if they're not adequately protected and also affect the community at large. So it is definitely safer. And by shutting down the plant, you're not compounding the problem of high-level nuclear waste by making more, but there are other very important issues. There could be a radioactive leak from one of the canisters. What, what would we do about that? And so all these questions we're hoping to bring to a newly created New York state decommissioning oversight board, to look deeply into the new issues that are created by moving from the era of nuclear power generation to nuclear waste decommissioning. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:53 It certainly seems that you like anyone involved in the fight against nuclear is going to have your hands full for the duration, with the issues that are coming up next. But taking a look at this moment right now, Manna Jo Green 02:29:07 Are you going to do to celebrate? Well, what I'm going to do is be on another conference with Riverkeeper and some of the key people that over the last 20 years in particular have brought us to this point of greatly reducing the danger to Peekskill and the surrounding community and the greater New York metropolitan area. And then also raising the new concerns that this new phase brings about. I would say there's a great sense of relief that we were able to accomplish this. I, I think in my 20 years at Clearwater, it's one of the most important victories that we've had. And it really also honors the founders who were concerned about this 50 years ago. It moves us away from our dependence on fossil fuel and nuclear. And we've been very actively working to implement a renewable energy economy here in this region with storage and efficiency. Manna Jo Green 03:30:15 It's not just about what we don't want, but what we do want and are actively participating in that transition and teaching others. Clearwater's ammo is education, whether it's school kids on the boat or elected officials and other decision-makers in the surrounding communities or the communities throughout the watershed. I think there's one other thing that people need to realize. There's a lot of debate in the environmental community about whether or not nuclear energy is a climate solution. And I think from what I've just said, you can understand how dangerous it is, both in the generating phase and in the nuclear waste management, all the problems that, that poses. So people who think that nuclear, maybe a climate solution, or certainly ignoring those dangers new nuclear is not a solution. It is not safe. All of the things that the industry that's trying to promote, advanced nuclear reactors or small modular nuclear reactors. Manna Jo Green 03:31:28 And unfortunately as good as I would say, the Biden administration is in many ways. I think it's magical thinking to consider nuclear a climate solution. I think that all of that investment needs to go into transitioning, to renewable energy with storage, with efficiency and doing it as quickly as possible. So we still have a lot of work to do, but it's an important landmark in not only the history of Indian point and the Hudson river valley, but I think it's a landmark decision for the nation. And now it's just going to take a lot of hard work and scrutiny to make sure it's done as safely as possible. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:15 Nana Joe Green. First of all, my gratitude, our gratitude to you and the others for the decades of dedicated work that you have provided. And I'm delighted to have been able to talk with you on this historic day on behalf of the listeners of nuclear hot seat. Manna Jo Green 03:32:35 Thank you, Libby. Thank you so much. And thank you for bringing the out because the mainstream media doesn't cover it the way you do so well, thank you. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:47 That was managed Joe Green, the environmental director for Hudson river sloop Clearwater for 20 years, she and her group. And so many others have been fighting to shut down the last of the Indian point nuclear reactors. And now it has been achieved as of last Friday, April 30th, 2021. We will have this week, second featured interview with Dr. Gordon Edwards. And it's a doozy in just a moment, but first the problems of the nuclear fuel cycle are both endless and forever. Even if we defeat COVID improve the financial well-being and health of the populace, even turnaround the climate crisis, the problems of the radioactivity created and released by nuclear reactors, weapons, production, uranium mining, and the entire fuel cycle will remain with us for unimaginably long periods of time. As you learn more about during today's second featured interview, it's been going on under our noses for decades since the Manhattan project in the 1940s and the nuclear industry is continuing to hide, confuse, or obfuscate its many transgressions against people and the environment. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:03 That is why you need nuclear hot seat. We don't get distracted. We look at the nuclear aspect of our world every week in depth with continuity and context in a way that mainstream media does not provide nuclear hot seat is the only program you can count on to report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the nuclear industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand, but even as we continue to pull ourselves out of what COVID has done to us financially, it continues to hit this show very hard, which makes your help keeping us going more important than ever. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation. It's easy. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is now where you can set up a monthly $5 donation, the same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S so by nuclear hot seat of metaphoric cup of coffee, I promise it will not go for caffeine, but for social media reach and planning so we can get the show out even further. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:17 So please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week's second featured interview. We've spoken with Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility, many times for the show, he has a clarity and an uncanny ability to distill complex scientific issues into an easy to grasp narrative. That makes sense on first listening here in recognition of the Indian point closure, Dr. Edwards goes over the realities of decommissioning, a more thorough look at the contamination created by and at every single nuclear reactor in the world. He also shares some thoughts on how Japan and TEPCO could easily avoid dumping 1.2, 5 million tons of Fukushima's radioactive water into the Pacific ocean. All it would take is patience and money. Two things that TEPCO either does not have, or does not wish to part with. We spoke with Dr. Gordon Edwards on Thursday, April 29th, 2021. And he got right down to, Dr. Gordon Edwards 03:36:30 I just wanted to alert people to the fact that when you have a nuclear reactor, the fundamental fact about nuclear power is that it cannot generate electricity without simultaneously generating hundreds of radioactive poisons, which never were found in nature before 1940. These are brand new to the evolutionary context in which heats the human race has existed. And those are the dangerous materials that we have to keep out of the environment because radioactive materials are like little, the atoms are like little time bombs. They're like mini little miniature time bongs, unlike most atoms, which are stable in which persists for millions and millions of years without ever changing these radioactive atoms, explode or disintegrate. And when they explode, they give off subatomic shrapnel, which is very damaging to living things. It breaks DNA molecules and other molecules at random. And consequently causes a host of diseases. Dr. Gordon Edwards 03:37:30 For example, cancer is all kinds of cancers are caused radiation exposure and also damage to the reproductive cells, which can affect future generations as well as other things such as damage to the immune system, which makes people susceptible to all kinds of infectious diseases. So it's very important to keep these radioactive poisons out of the environment and because they are elements, not compounds, they cannot be destroyed by any chemical method. So that the only solution that anybody has come up to come for these materials is to simply keep them out of the environment of living things. Now, the core of the nuclear reactor contains the radioactive fuel, and this becomes millions of times more radioactive when it's used compared with when it's unused. The reason for that is because the broken atoms that are split each one of these broken pieces of a uranium atom or plutonium atom is a new radioactive material, which is a highly dangerous. Dr. Gordon Edwards 03:38:32 And some of them last for only the blink of an eye, they're gone in no time. And some of them lasts for decades, such as cesium, 1 37 and strontium 90. And some of them last for hundreds of thousands of years. So that any fact, we have a danger, which has perpetual a danger, which is for all practical purposes eternal. And this is where all of the packaging, all of the shielding, all of the storage, either above ground or underground, has to be very, very good. And we have to keep 99.99% of this material out of the environment. Now this becomes particularly difficult when a reactor reaches the end of its lifetime. Not only do you have to remove the fuel, which contains most of the radioactive material, but all of the structures, all of the steel and the concrete and the pipes have become also radioactive. Dr. Gordon Edwards 03:39:30 And they've become radioactive from a process called neutron activation. Neutrons are flying around inside the core of the reactor, splitting atoms, and causing the release of energy, which can turn returned into electricity. But those stray neutrons, when they hit a non-radioactive material, they turn it into a radioactive material. So radioactive materials are created right inside the steel, right inside the concrete. And these materials are not in the spent fuel they're in the structural materials, which are then cannot be recycled. They cannot be reused for any other purpose. They have to be treated as radioactive waste themselves. And they also have to be stored for hundreds of thousands of years. The intensity of the radiation, even after the irradiated fuel has been removed from the reactor. The intensity of the radiation is extraordinary. For example, here in Canada, we have reactors where you have what's called a thermal shield. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:40:29 A thermal shield is a heat shield near the core of the reactor to prevent too much heat from escaping from the cold after shutdown. This thermal shield gives off 260,000 REMS every hour. That would cause death in 5.5 seconds for a worker who was exposed to that without really heavy shielding. And that's after the irradiated fuel has been removed the calandria show, which is equivalent to the pressure vessel that you have in the American reactors gives off 48,000 REMS per hour. That would cause death in 29 seconds. The pressure tubes, which hold the fuel, just the metallic pressure tubes themselves give off 850 milligrams per hour. That would cause death in 28 minutes. So we have a real problem here with these radioactive materials, structural materials. Now, when the structural materials are going to be packaged and stored as radioactive waste, they often have to cut them and they are planning. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:41:30 For example, to segment the core materials, the core of a, of a nuclear reactor, for example, the Indian point reactor, they plan to segment the large structures. Well, how do you cut something like that apart without causing a lot of dust here in Canada, we had a situation in 2009 where tubes radioactive tubes were removed from a reactor core and they had to be cut up in order to be stored as waste in the cutting operation. Dustless released and over 500 workers were inhaling plutonium contaminated dust for a period of two and a half weeks without any protection. Because the managers said that the radiation levels were low enough, that it was not necessary for them to wear protective equipment or respirators. Well, as it turns out, these 500 plus men are going to be carrying radioactive burdens in their lung for the rest of their lives. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:42:28 As a result of this carelessness on the part of the regulator and on the part of the power plant operator, the owner. So it's very important that members of the public members of the government be involved in the day-to-day operations of the dismantling and to ensure that the conditions are safe for the workers, they should be taking air samples all the time, and they should be analyzing those air samples. Immediately. Many people don't realize again, because they're not informed that whereas penetrating radiation can kill you in a matter of seconds or minutes. As I mentioned earlier, there are other radioactive materials which are internal poisons. They are very, very difficult to measure with radiation equipment outside the body. But once they get inside the body, they can be extremely dangerous. Plutonium is one of those very hard to detect. That's why this contamination went on for two and a half weeks without any radiation, monitors being triggered. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:43:31 The reason why plutonium does not give off penetrating radiation, it gives off a non-penetrating form of radiation called alpha radiation, which is hundreds of times, more dangerous than the more penetrating gamma radiation, but it often escapes monitors. And so therefore the workers track this home into their bedrooms and they carry it in their bodies as well. So this is a consideration that people should bear in mind when talking about dismantling a nuclear reactor. Another thing that's hard for many people to understand, unless they've been told about it is that over the years, radioactive materials collect underneath the reactor and they can go quite deep into the ground. And so the ground itself, the soil under the reactor is a reservoir of radioactive materials, which have leaked into those areas. Now, some of these materials like tritium radioactive hydrogen has a half-life of 12.3 years. That means it's going to be for a couple of centuries and long after the plant has been dismantled, this material will continue to leak into the nearby water systems. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:44:40 But some of those materials like carbon 14 have thousands of years, lifetimes, carbon 14 has a 5,700 year half-life consequently. It's going to be there basically forever. And it's going to be leaking into the water systems forever afterwards, unless the owner of the plant is forced to excavate the contaminated soil and to treat the contaminated soil itself as radioactive waste, then you're going to have continual leakage into the environment for many decades after the plant is shut down. So this is something that people should be aware of. In addition, it's also important for people to realize that our community that has become dependent upon a reactor, being in the vicinity and contributing to the local payroll, contributing to the local economy through the jobs it provides. And so on, there can be very serious repercussions, social repercussions. When the plant closes down tomorrow, Indian point, it's going to completely shut down. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:45:45 The third unit will be shut down on April the 30th, which is I'm speaking to you on April 29th. And it's very important that the community itself have financial support going forward after the shutdown to compensate the impact on the community Indian point Indian point, it shows in New York state, they have managed to achieve through the cooperative agreement with involving the governor of the state. So that money will be available to ease the burden of making the transition from a nuclear community to a non-nuclear community. And basically that's about all I have to say about the decommissioning problem. It's a much more serious problem than many people realize. Here are some of the materials which are created inside the structural materials inside the steel inside the concrete Nicole 59, which is created inside. The steel has a 76,000 year half-life Nicole 63 has a 101,000 year half-life niobium. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:46:48 94 has a 20,300 year half-life chlorine 36, which has created inside. The concrete has a 301,000 year half-life calcium 41 has a 102,000 year half-life. So these are extremely long lived materials, which are not in the irradiated fuel, but in the actual structural materials and people have to learn to realize that nuclear energy truly is the ultimate in the throwaway society, because these materials, which were even used to build the reactor and which were completely non-radioactive when the reactor is built, have now become very dangerous, long lived, radioactive waste, and will remain unusable for hundreds of thousands of years to come. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:36 It's really like guaranteeing that we're going to kill ourselves with nuclear waste. Even if we stop using the technology, even if we do whatever it's going to take for society to collapse and us to end up being back in the stone age, this stuff is going to outlast us all. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:47:55 Well, I don't like to think of it as killing us all I say, I'd like to think of it as being a challenge to us that we have to appreciate because the nuclear industry tries to hide these facts. They don't want people to understand what the problem really is because they just want to get rid of it. They want to just walk away from it. They want to abandon this waste and society has to realize that that's irresponsible, that we can't abandon this waste. We have to keep an eye on it. We have to maintain it in a monitored and retrievable fashion. The good news is that we do know how to package it so that it will stay out of the environment. And if we know how to package it properly in the first place, then we know how to repackage it later on. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:48:36 And so the concept of rolling stewardship, which my organization is promoting is that this is an intergenerational problem. It's not a problem of the nuclear industry. It's a problem of society. And for this reason, the nuclear industry should not be trusted with the dismantling of nuclear reactors because they want to hide the problem and they want it to disguise the difficulties. And they don't really, their primary concern is not to make sure that the workers are safe or that the environment is safe, but that their investment is safe. So it's very important that a society have a direct oversight role and ensure that everything is done properly for society for our grandchildren's grandchildren. And not just for the sake of the nuclear industry. I would like to mention something about the underground contamination, a large part of the contamination underground. You might call it a kind of an invisible lake of contamination underneath the reactor, a pool. Dr. Gordon Edwards 04:49:36 If you prefer a pool of contamination, much of the material in this pool is radioactive hydrogen in the form of radioactive water molecules, because water molecules are H2O, and those are non-radioactive in those in normal occurrence. However, the nuclear reactor creates radioactive versions of non-radioactive elements. Let me just be clear about this. Cesium is a naturally occurring element that you find in the soil anywhere it's not radioactive. What the nuclear reactor does is it creates radioactive cesium. Now what's the difference chain radioactive cesium and non-radioactive Caesium. Well, the difference is simply this, that radioactive cesium has unstable atoms. These atoms are disintegrating or exploding and damaging, whatever living cells might be nearby. Whereas the non radioactive cesium doesn't do that. So when the industry says, for example, that the contamination is really not any higher than background radiation, that's a lie because in the background, there is no radioactive cesium. Dr. Gordon Edwards 05:50:43 The natural background does not have radioactive cesium in it. So it's not comparable to background levels because there are no background levels. The same thing goes with many of the other radioactive materials. Now, in the case of tritium, the problem with this is that there's no water system. There's no municipal water system, which can separate the radioactive tritium out of the ordinary water. You can't filter the radioactive Tridium out of ordinary water because it's also water. It's just simply radioactive water. You can't filter water from water. So the result is that this radioactive material ends up in everybody's body, whether it's a pregnant woman, whether it's a young infant, whether it's an old man, they're all going to get it in their bodies. And that goes for all of nature's creatures, as well. As a matter of fact, hydrogen is one of the basic building blocks of all of our organic molecules, including the DNA molecule. Dr. Gordon Edwards 05:51:38 So the tritium, the radioactive hydrogen actually gets incorporated into the biological molecules inside our body, including the DNA molecules. And as a result, they have very long-term implications for what kind of damage they might do and how they might damage the human gene pool. And it's not right to just leave this loose in the environment underneath the reactor. It should be removed. It should be excavated and stored as radioactive waste. Some people who are listening to this program may remember, or may have read, or may have heard that near the Fukushima accident in Japan, which happened 10 years ago, more than 10 years ago, 2011, they have over 1 million tons of radioactively contaminated water, which they want to dump into the Pacific ocean. And one of the main contaminants. So those 1 million tons of contaminated water is tritium, but Tridium is not the only thing in that contaminated water. Dr. Gordon Edwards 05:52:39 There's also smaller amounts of all of the other radioactive materials. I've mentioned 42 of them. In fact, including strontium 90 season, 1 37, plutonium 2 39 and the carbon 14, which has a 5,000 year half-life that I mentioned earlier, and which is also one of the basic building blocks of life of organic molecules. So when people think about these aspects, just ask yourself the question, why is it necessary to dump a million tons of radioactive water into the Pacific ocean? There's only one reason. And that's because the company TEPCO, which owned the nuclear power plants, which caused the meltdown, they don't want to do it anymore. So it's really for the convenience of the nuclear industry, they could continue storing that water for the next 200 years. And in the course of 200 years, that amount of tritium would be reduced by a factor of almost a million. So just by waiting, just by waiting and storing it and taking your time, you can ensure that most of the tritium disappears before it ever comes in contact with living things. It's a question of priorities. Do you care about life or do you care about the profits of the nuclear industry? If that's the choice and if you leave it in the charge in the hands of the nuclear industry, you can be pretty sure which side they're going to come down on. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:00 That was Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian coalition for nuclear responsibility. We will have a link up to his website, CC and r.org, and some of his articles on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 1 5 Libbe HaLevy 05:54:25 First correction of an omission from last week's second Chernobyl anniversary show Dr. Ian fairly shared a blog post. He wrote that succinctly lays out the problems with Chernobyl. We will have a link up to his paper added to last week, show number 5, 1 4, and what the heck it'll be on this week's website as well. Nuclear hot seat business podcast rankings during the last week have been very encouraging. They showed us moving up to number 33 in the United Kingdom, number 33 in Belgium, 35 and the Republic of Korea, 47 in Japan. And on top of that, got a note from a listener in the Solomon Islands. It's good to know that this show is reaching people around the world. And last week I was able to attend several of the native American forums, zoom in ours. They were highly informative and eye opening. And when they were available for download, we'll let you know and provide a link. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:29 But there's one moment I need to acknowledge that struck me very deeply. One of the speakers was Wallace decayed, grand council, chief Ron Tremblay of the Wallace decade nation in what is generally known as new Brunswick. When he was in discussion with tribal elders and other chiefs about the nuclear dangers they face and the rolling force to cite nuclear reactors on their lands. They realized that there was no word in their language for nuclear after much discussion. They came up with the term zona Kwok it means forever dangerous ooze canoe, Zana Kwok truth in language. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons known as I can counter punched out org, Texas tribune.org, Santa Fe, new mexican.com Kings bay ploughshares.org, reuters.com, abc.net dot a U N B media co-op dot org weather channel.com campaign for peace and the tools and fools at the utterly captured by the nuclear industry. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:55 Nuclear regulatory commission put regulatory in quotes. Nuclear hot seat is available on all your favorite podcast platform, but the easiest way to get it is to sign up, to have it delivered via email every week to your inbox, just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box, put in your first name and your email address, and you'll get nuclear hot seat as soon as it posts every week. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to the website, click on the red button, follow the prompts, do what you can to support us. It's always appreciated and it's always put to good use. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 libi Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that radioactive nuclear waste is for forever. So let's stop making any more of it. Right now. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do, don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:28 Ooh, Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been braking clear, hot. See Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #514: Chernobyl Anniversary #2: Survivor Bonnie Kouneva, Dr. Janette Sherman + Hawaiian "Incoming Missile" Film URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-anniversary-2-survivor-bonnie-kouneva-dr-janette-sherman-false-alarm-film-514/ Published: 2021-04-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl Anniversary: The "Elephant's Foot" – final resting place of the molten, radioactive Chernobyl fuel. This Week's Featured Interviews: Chernobyl Anniversary 35 deserves more than a single program examining its consequences. Check last week's Nuclear Hotseat #513 for further interviews. This week: Bonnie Kouneva was a 15-year-old living in Communist Bulgaria when the Chernobyl disaster began, but no one knew about it because the Soviet Union said nothing to its people. On May 1, May Day, only five days after it began, Bulgarian citizens were “encouraged” by the Soviet hierarchy to attend all-day celebrations of the communist state – outdoors, in the rain – at the exact time the worst of Chernobyl’s radiation was directly overhead. Here, she paints the picture of the impact of that radiation rainout and lets us know the result of this devastating experience. The late Dr. Janette Sherman edited the the English translation of the groundbreaking work, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment by Alexei Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko. Dr. Sherman was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we spoke about this book and how it came about for NH #97 on April 23, 2013. She passed away on November 20, 2019.LINK: CLICK HERE for a free PDF of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment False Alarm investigates the diverse reactions to the 2018 Hawai'i false missile alert, forcing families, soldiers, tourists, and every person in Hawai'i to confront an unthinkable reality—an incoming nuclear missile. Award-winning director Nick Lyell explains how the film came about and the upcoming screening for Beyond the Bomb. He has directed, produced, and edited several award-winning fiction and non-fiction short films.FREE WORLD-PREMIERE SCREENING FOR BEYOND THE BOMB: Friday, May 7, 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific time – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS. Donation requested. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Another TEPCO/Japanese government/Dentsu PR fail: You can't convince the world that dumping 1.25 million tons of Fukushima's radioactively contaminated water (more than 1,000 tanks worth) into the Pacific Ocean is really A-OK by throwing a cartoon mascot at them! Tritty and his Radioative Tritium Atom Buddies! Article Links: Esteemed activist/journalist Harvey Wasserman's article:  80 Ways Nuke Power Is a Catastrophic FailureIs the US nuclear community prepared for the extreme weather climate change is bringing? – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 April 26th, we'll mark the 35th anniversary of the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. The public will undoubtedly be inundated with so-called experts trying to convince you that nuclear is really safe. Chernobyl was a one-off from Russia, and there have been no lingering negative effects from the accident, but then you hear a genuine expert. One who did her research on the ground at 27 Eastern European medical archives, and has the footnotes to prove everything she says. And she tells you Kate Brown 00:00:35 They found catastrophic results, which was a major epidemic of children with thyroid cancer, very rare cancer among kids, one in a million normally get it suddenly in a small area of Northern Ukrainian had 20 kids and the Soviet doctors handed the foreign experts, 20 biopsies. They didn't believe that this could possibly be thyroid cancer among so many kids. They brought them home to have examined and sure enough, they found that these were cancers, but then in their report, they said, we heard some rumors about thyroid cancer among children. And we found those rumors to be anecdotal in nature. But what they were sitting on was hard evidence and they had other evidence of 30 more kids and bale roofs. And that indeed turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of what became a big epidemic and thyroid cancer among kids. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:21 Well, when you hear bestselling author, Kate brown say something like that, and so much more, you get a pretty clear picture of the Chernobyl nuclear coverup and how the nuclear industry wants us to not know to what extent we are all sitting in that terrible seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:41 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The car Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but have the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:12 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week for the chin and noble anniversary, a blockbuster interview with Kate brown author of manual for survival, a Chernobyl guide to the future. We'll also hear from evolutionary biologists, Timothy muso, whose groundbreaking work on the ground in Chernobyl has been tracing the radiation inflicted changes in insects, birds, and now mammals, if you think radioactivity, isn't doing much to our ability to sustain and generate life, what moves so has to say, we'll make you think again. Then of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians reveals a us nuclear accident that took place at the same time as Chernobyl and released even more radiation than Chernobyl into the atmosphere, but has been covered up today is Tuesday, April 20th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:29 And here is this week's Chernobyl anniversary, special from a different perspective. Nuclear disasters seem to come in clusters. And we're just about to conclude this year's anniversary alley of what are to date the nuclear industry's biggest. Most well-known hits Fukushima on March 11, three mile island on March 28 and next Monday Chernobyl on April 26. We have two interviews this week that focus on Chernobyl's deadly legacy. The first is with Kate brown. She is the award winning author of manual for survival, a Trenoble guide to the future. Kate is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Pluto plutonium, which won seven major awards. I spoke with Kate brown on Monday, April 15th, 2019. Kate, I am so thrilled to have you here today on nuclear hot seat. Kate Brown 00:04:30 That's great to be here. Let me thanks for inviting me. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:33 The truth about Chernobyl was an enormous complex mind-boggling project. What drew you to this area of research in the first place and how did you get started? Kate Brown 00:04:44 Originally? I was interested in the nuclear security state. And so I started, I wrote a book called utopia about the first two cities in the world to produce plutonium. And while I was working at story, these I wasn't interested in, in health or environment, but these farmers who lived down when and down river from these stupid Joanie and plants, Soviet and American one were telling about their health problems and they thought very similar, strange health problems and similar across this huge divide between the Siberian Soviet site and the Eastern Washington American site. And so I started working to try to figure out what that meant if they were right, what scientists thought. And I got a little bit into that story when I, in that book, Pluto, Pia, but I felt like I didn't really get the story. So this is almost a CQL and I thought, well, Chernobyl was a civilian site. Kate Brown 00:05:36 It wasn't a military side. So it was more open. It, it exposed far more people and it was later, it was in the 1980s rather than the, you know, the forties and fifties and sixties. So I went into the archives and found a sort of Klondike of health records in many points. I was going to check out these records. It was pretty amazing. They went, you know, right after the accident, they went in and they, and they took measurements. They measured air and water and soils, but they also measured people's bodies and food. And we don't really have many records like that, even though we know in the 20th century has, we've had a lot of nuclear episodes and a lot of nuclear spills and intentional emissions, but we haven't had too many people curious about what happens next, when all this radioactivity goes into the environment. So the Soviets did that and they kept pretty good records, you know, in the five years after the accident, those records, you know, I argue in my book manual for survival are pretty unique. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:31 They are because it seems like that five-year period of time is what gets ignored. Primarily. It happened after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It took five years before that longevity study was put into place and no attempt was made after three mile island as well. And of course there's been no real long-term study after Fukushima though, that's just getting started from your perspective, why was this data not used to put forth the truth about what was happening as a result of Chernobyl, meaning the health impact of the radiation on Kate Brown 00:07:09 At first it was a censored topic. So the Soviets set up these rules, they said, you know, we don't want anyone talking about levels of radioactivity health problems. You know, they had a whole list of sort of no-go areas for Soviet employees and people in hospitals and who were dealing with cleanup of the accident. And then that story broke into the restaurant in 19 89, 19 90, and the leaders of Belarus and Ukraine, which had the most, most impacted by the accident came forward and said, you know, we can't handle this problem anymore. We need help. And they appealed to the UN for help internationally. And that got the leaders in Moscow really nervous. They had been saying all along, this isn't really a problem. The doses aren't that high, everybody can just, you know, stay the course. And increasingly I see in the, in the classified records that the leaders, especially the people in the public health field and Ukraine and Belarus were getting increasingly nervous and more and more researchers are coming forward saying, you know, we see here a big problem. Kate Brown 00:08:12 I mean, but 1990, a, a KGB general, who was at medical doctor who ran a clinic in Kiev. And he had 2000 patients who had been exposed to Chernobyl and he writes, and he says, you know, nobody's got a study like mine. I have the best equipped hospital. I have doctors who can actually know how much exposure their patients got. And after our, you know, four years of study, we have found that perfectly healthy people when exposed chronically to low doses of radiation have a whole host of health problems, any lists. And he recommended, this is a KGB general. He recommended that the zone of alienation that the area that should be depopulated be extended from 30 kilometers to 120. And that would have gone right up to the beautiful ancient city of Kiev, where he lived. That's how alarmed he was. So why did this story coming into the public? Kate Brown 00:09:02 The Soviet union fell apart. It was starting to fall apart at 90. It collapsed completely in 1991. And the Soviet leader is to try to stave off this problem, asked first the world health organization to come in and do an independent assessment with foreign experts. World health sent in three guys. They traveled around for about 10 days. They came out and they said, you know, we don't see any problems. We think you could double or triple the permissible dose, and everybody would be fine. No one believed that study. You know, what can three guys do? And in 10 days, so then the Soviet leaders asked the international atomic energy agency to come in and they brought in more scientists between 102 hundred scientists. They worked for about 18 months. They looked at levels of radioactivity. They had a medical section that looked at about 1200 people, very small study. Kate Brown 00:09:49 When you consider that 4.5 million were exposed and they came away and said, you know, we did this study. We see a lot of illness in this area, but nothing from exposure to Chernobyl contaminants. And we don't expect to see any detectable health problems in the future. Other than a few cases of childhood thyroid cancer, what they weren't saying is that they designed a study for the study to find only catastrophic results. And when they found catastrophic results, which was a major epidemic of children with thyroid cancer, very rare cancer among kids, one in a million normally get it suddenly in a small area of Northern Ukraine, they had 20 kids and the Soviet doctors handed the foreign experts, 20 biopsies. They didn't believe that this could possibly be thyroid cancer among so many kids. They brought him home to have examined and sure enough, they found that these were cancers, but then in their report, they said, we heard some rumors about that road cancer among children. Kate Brown 01:10:49 And we found those rumors to be anecdotal in nature. But what they were sitting on was hard evidence and they had other evidence of 30 more kids and bail ruse. And that indeed turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of what became a big epidemic and thyroid cancer among kids. Now what that report did that report that said no effects. We don't expect to find any effects in the future. Right? At that time, the UN was trying to raise a billion dollars in today's fund to do two things, carry out a longterm medical study, akin to the study of Japanese bomb survivors, but of Chernobyl survivors. And this is a very different kind of nuclear event. These are Hiroshima was counted as one big x-ray that lasted less than a second. Chernobyl exposures were long-term chronic exposures of low doses. And those exposures are actually far more common. And then going forward in the future, humans are far more likely to have a Chernobyl set of exposures and a Hiroshima bomb set of exposures. So all kinds of scientists said, we need to do a long-term study. And then the second thing this money was going to be for was to move 200,000 people who were sitting in highly contaminated land. But after that UN report came out, that said, we don't see any general health effects. And we don't expect to in the future that pledge drive went nowhere. They raised less than $6 million. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:12 Why do you think the IAEA and before that the scientists who came in were all minimizing the impact of Chernobyl? Kate Brown 01:12:23 Well, all I could think of is that at the same time, the 1990s, the big nuclear powers us, UK, France, and Russia were facing lawsuits from their own exposure, their own testing and production of nuclear weapons during the cold war, you know, the French had blown up nuclear weapons in Algeria and in the south Pacific, the British had blown up weapons in the south Pacific and Australia, the Americans in the Marshall Islands and in the American Heartland in Nevada and the Soviets in Kazakhstan and in the Arctic. So all kinds of people who had, whether they were atomic veterans of in battlefield conditions or whether they were people who had been injected with radioactive isotopes for, you know, experiments or people who had lived downwind of, or downriver of nuclear production facilities, or if they lived anywhere where the fallout landed were starting to Sue their governments about their exposures and what they felt were the resulting health problems. So if you could say, Chernobyl was the worst nuclear disaster in human history, and only 33 to 54 people died, then you could make these lawsuits go away. And that's indeed what happened in the course of the 1990s and the early two thousands as these lawsuits got no traction in part because of this Chernobyl narrative. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:47 I think it was a conscious decision on the part of the world health organization, the IAEA when skier and the various governments involved to minimize this for that reason, or was it a consequence of them going on another train of thought? Kate Brown 01:14:03 You know, like a lot of people are reporting that my book talks about a big conspiracy theory and I don't use that word. And I don't think that's what was happening. I think that these scientists who had been working kind of in a bubble for a long time with the Hiroshima data, felt that they knew exactly, you know, what they call the Hiroshima studies, the gold standard. They felt like they had a real handle on what radiation medicine was and what the thresholds were for exposure. And when the Chernobyl, when people started talking about this public health epidemic and the Chernobyl territories, and we're not just talking about cancers, what the records show is that people started to feel pretty unwell almost right after the accident. The officials tally is at 300, mostly firemen and nuclear plant operators were hospitalized. The conflict that comes out of the archives is 40,000 people were hospitalized in the summer after the accident, many of whom were children and they didn't feel well, you know, sort of like respiratory infections, chronic sore throats, large thyroids, thyroid problems, problems with their endocrine system, immune system disorders, pregnant women had all kinds of complications at childbirth, increasing frequencies of birth defects and a spontaneous miscarriages. Kate Brown 01:15:18 And then after about 18 months, cancers kick in leukemias, and then later thyroid cancers among children and other kinds of cancers start to climb. And so when this story came out, I think the international community of scientists, it didn't make sense to them. They had a great deal of faith in their established science and these results that were coming in, confounded them. They said, sure, there might be thyroid cancer among kids, but only after maybe 10 years, not after three or four years. And they just couldn't believe the evidence as it was presented to them. And if they were to believe it, they would have had to radically alter many of the regulations for operating nuclear power plants and running nuclear bomb factories. And we would have had to rethink, I think, pretty drastically or whole nuclear enterprise. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:11 And of course that was something that they wish to avoid. Now, scientists from Ukraine and Belarus, noisily rejected, the dose estimates and the results of it. And they charge that the IAEA investigators overlooked hotspots of radiation, the resuspension plutonium particles, hicked up by those and the ingestion of radioactive particles. And they said that people's doses were much higher than the IAEA estimated. What did all of these protestations by scientists from the Ukraine and Belarus lead to? Kate Brown 01:16:45 Unfortunately it didn't go very far. You know, this is at a time and this is where history really plays an important role when the Soviet union was falling apart and, and everything that was Soviet, whether it was politics or economics or science and medicine was considered bad, retrograde, corrupt, somehow majorly flawed. And so when these doctors came forward and said, this had been living with this situation for five years, they had been working closely on the ground with patients. You know, what we find in the journal territories is that one of the charges as well, when, when you look for disease, you're sure to find it. And there are other, all these extra medical examinations of these people. But in fact, hospitals are running at 50, 60% because the doctors were the first to leave these territories. They saw what was going on and they, they wanted to get out of there with their families intact. Kate Brown 01:17:40 But the people who did stay were quite committed and they presented their evidence, they had case control studies. They had observational studies. They had all kinds of data that they including biopsies, you know, actual physical material to, to hand to the Western researchers. And it was just very, very easy to discredit them to say, well, you know, these Soviets, they don't have standardized Western protocols. They have very poor equipment. They have really sketchy knowledge. And you know, these guys mostly only spoke Ukrainian or Russian. They didn't speak English. They weren't very facile. When they went to international conferences, they had trouble communicating and they had trouble presenting their works. So it was really easy to let the triumphalist democracy and capitalism have one rhetoric when out and lots of people thought that it was a quite sensible dance to take. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:34 Much of your research was done looking at reports from small clinics and doctors who were on the ground in the area around Chernobyl and reporting, honestly. And they were aided and abetted by what can be called citizens, scientists, meaning people on the ground who said, wait a minute, something's wrong here. I've got to do something about it. What were some of the more remarkable steps taken by the people who were living in that zone to try and bring their information to the awareness of scientists in higher places, say from the west who could possibly make a difference in the next Kate Brown 01:19:11 One thing I was on the lookout as I worked my way through 27 archives were everyday heroes. People who, you know, their bosses told them to shut up or not to say anything or to, you know, sort of massage the numbers. And there were people who just refuse to do that. And so there was one woman who she was a physicist working at university in Kiev, and her husband was a civil defense Skye. And so they had a Geiger counter and they went around and, you know, they heard about the accident and they went around and just in the courtyard of their building and Kiev. And they found these really radioactive spots in different parts of the lot. And they, they went and they found these little tiny grains of sand that were fiercely radioactive. And these were the hot particles everybody's talking about. And this woman, Natalia, was this guy gathered these hot particles, measured the counts of radioactivity coming from them. Kate Brown 02:20:03 And as she ran her calculations, then she'd get, and then she'd come back and measure the, you know, the amount of decay. And then, so she'd figure out what isotope it was by how quickly it was decane. And she gathered, you know, all these different radioactive isotopes and figured out what the whole cocktail was coming from the plant. And very early on, she figured out that this was not as we were told a chemical and a steam explosion, but in fact, a nuclear explosion at the plant that nuclear power plants actually do blow up like nuclear bombs. And she wrote this whole report and sent it to her government to say, you know, by the way, I want you to know that I've run these calculations and this is what I've found out. And, you know, mind you, she doesn't have a big Institute. She doesn't have a lot of complicated machinery. Kate Brown 02:20:45 She doesn't have a whole staff. She's just doing this, you know, in our little tiny two bedroom apartment in Kia with a Geiger counter. And in 2016, the Institute in Sweden did, in fact affirm what she'd been saying for 20 years, that this was a nuclear explosion. And Liz, this guy tried to get word out to the west, that there were real problems and that there was much higher counts of radioactivity and that the Soviets were letting on. And so in 1988, there was an international conference in Kiev. And so she disguised herself as a cleaning lady, got a bucket and a mop and went into the conference and got into the close conference that way by pretending she was just there to clean. And then she went up to an, a Western researcher, Robert Gale, and tried to give him a stack of her research that she had gathered. Kate Brown 02:21:33 And Gail probably never knew this was happening because four KGB agents swept her up, grabbed her by every, by each elbow and let her out the back alley. But there are all kinds of people like that. Another guy he could not get his leaders in Kiev to understand that even though his region had pretty low counts of radioactivity, the milk was off the charts over permissible levels. And three quarters of the milk was over permissible levels of radioactivity for the time it went and he knocked on doors and he talked to people, he showed them all his records. He finally got 70 liters of milk and sent it to Kiev in a truck and said, you check this milk and tell me what you think. And then once he had done that, actually having the physical nutritious milk, you know, in front of them, that was indeed above permissible levels of radioactivity. Kate Brown 02:22:21 They finally determined that this area should have special shipments of clean food. So there's people like that throughout the story. It's really pretty wonderful. It doesn't take many people to quietly resist or be committed to doing their job, that guy with the milk Alexander comb off. And he just wrote me the other day. He says, I'm no hero. I was just doing my job. And I think those are wonderful stories. And these people should be recognized as heroes alongside the fireman and the miners and the nuclear plant operators that risked their lives to contain this accident. You mentioned Dr. Robert Gale, who was an American, what larger role did he play in the Chernobyl disaster and other nuclear disasters that followed? Well, he went there, you know, very altruistically to try to help out. And because he had connections with Armand hammer, the Soviets were saying, no, no, no, to all the capitalist countries, but Arm-in-Hammer was a very influential person. Kate Brown 02:23:17 And he appealed directly to Gorbachev and Gorbachev said, yes, Gail can come in. And Gail had a, a new sort of what he thought would help the fireman overcome radiation sickness. And he wanted to try it out on them. And so he brought that along and the Soviets were both nervous about this new untested drug had been tested on monkeys, but not humans and also excited. Maybe it would work. And so Gail and a Soviet doctor about have tried it on themselves first. And then they tried it out the fireman, and unfortunately it did not help the fireman. But then after that, Gail took to the podium and he was the first person speaking from within the Soviet union about the medical disaster as he witnessed it. And he really became the sort of spokesman or the, or the, the face of not just this nuclear disaster Chernobyl disaster, but he went on to a year later in Brazil, there was a smaller nuclear accident in Guyana, Brazil. He, he showed up there and he started to testify for different lawsuits about nuclear power plants and things like that. So he became a real spokesman. Having it started out as a cancer doctor, somebody who specialized in Wikimedia, Libbe HaLevy 02:24:26 There's an enormous disparity in reports on the number of people who die as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The, what I call the unholy trio of the IAEA, the world health organization, when the skier have an echo chamber that repeats often that there were only, and the number varies depending on the source, but approximately 54 immediate deaths in the effected area. And maybe between 4,006,000 cases, depending on the source of thyroid cancers. As a result. On the other hand, we have the book Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and the environment by Yabloko calmness Durango. And Nesterenko, that concludes that as a 15 years ago, when it was published in 2004, there were just under a million premature deaths as a result of the radioactivity released why this disparity and which in your opinion, is closer to the Kate Brown 02:25:19 Well, the disparity is because you can see taste feel, or touch radio activity, unless you get a big dose and acute dose, the effects medical effects show up, you know, much later, whether it's months or years or decades. So it's very difficult to pin radioactive contaminants to a particular illness, especially when the illness is more subtle and not acute. And most of radiation medicine is focused on acute effects, that amount of cancer and death. So everybody wants a death count and the uncertainties and the deaths are huge. And the way they come to those numbers are through a series of estimations and extrapolations. So the first thing to be estimated is the dose. How much do we think people got? And they do that by reconstructing the jet streams, you know, the weather, how much rain came down, taking live measurements on the ground, and then estimating it, you know, what people were eating, where they were standing, how much time they spent outside. Kate Brown 02:26:21 All of this is, you know, relatively, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty in these calculations and then they extrapolate, this is what the, you know, the unsecure scientists would do is, is extrapolate that dose against what the Hiroshima survivors got. And with that, you know, extrapolation, they'd say so, therefore we expect to see 4,000 cancers in the future or something that the problem with extrapolating from Hiroshima is Hiroshima was a very different nuclear event. You know, Hiroshima, Nagasaki two bombs went off. They count the less than a second flash of radioactivity that came from the bombs dropping. They do not calculate in that equation of the Japanese bomb survivors. The fallout from radioactivity that was called at the time in the forties, residual radiation, the Americans, you know, with general Leslie Grove, as the head of the Manhattan project, he was really nervous that the Americans had spent millions of dollars building nuclear weapons, and they were worried that the nuclear weapons were going to go the way of chemical weapons, that they're going to be determined to be an illegal form of warfare, because it didn't just blow up, you know, and kill somebody right away. Kate Brown 02:27:33 But it continued to kill people later on and may even harm people. And that was considered, you know, just like chemical weapons, unfair. So they emphasize, you know, these people died. These people who died from the Hiroshima, Nagasaki bombs died from burns, just regular thermal burns that anybody could die of in conventional warfare. And they tried to emphasize this as a kit, like a conventional explosion. So they wanted to renounce that there were long standing, you know, that, that there was residual radiation that radioactivity remained in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Japanese were reporting this strange atomic poison that kills people who were not there in those cities when the bomb went off, but still came in later and got sick. And some of them died. And like, how did that happen? There must be something lingering, but none of that residual radiation or what we're going to have to call it, fallout was considered in the dose. Kate Brown 02:28:23 The other problem with the Russian studies is that they began five years after the explosions. And so they asked people where were you standing? No, in 1945, when the bomb went off and people recall to the best of their knowledge. And as we know from oral history, that human memories are pretty dodgy, especially in traumatic situations. So they did a dose reconstruction that Japanese scientists at the time actually took measurements, a historian, Susan Lindsay, who talks about this. They took their own measurements. They recorded pretty high levels of radioactivity, the Americans when they came in and occupied Japan after the war confiscated those records. And we don't know where they are to this day. So the Hiroshima records, our dose reconstructions, their estimates, their guesses about how much of a dose people got. And then the third problem with the Hiroshima studies or their Japanese lifespan studies as a formerly called, is that the Americans controlled these studies until the 1970s. And as I said, the Americans had a political interest in minimizing the impact of nuclear warfare of atomic warfare Libbe HaLevy 02:29:26 Influence, if any, did this uncertainty and the minimization of health impact information from Chernobyl. And also what you're saying about Hiroshima and Nagasaki have on our understanding of the medical impact at three mile island, which happened before Chernobyl and Fukushima, which happened after Chernobyl Kate Brown 02:29:47 It both the three mile island case and the Fukushima case as with the Chernobyl cases, you know, because scientists working, you know, from the Japanese land spend data are saying, you know, these doses are too low. We estimate there's going to be no problems. We really don't have studies. You know, we don't have serious studies, you know, that we haven't put in the time and money and commitment to do a long-term epidemiological study and low doses, chronic low doses of radioactivity. And, you know, that is the scenario that going forward in the future, we're most likely to experience. We're probably going to have more nuclear accidents, more nuclear spills. We encounter man-made radioactivity in the environment almost every day. And so we should know that and we should demand that our scientific establishment and that our governments do those studies finally. And that's the, where, where I end, you know, I mean, we see some troubling data coming out of places where people have been exposed to manmade radioactivity, but those are just correlations. What we need is to determine causation and to do that, we finally need to do some real studies. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:56 Do you think it's intentional that these studies have not been done? Kate Brown 03:31:00 I cannot impugn what other people's motives or intentions are, but I think it's troubling that we haven't done them. I can say that for sure. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:10 Do you think that the experts who deny or minimize any health harm from Chernobyl's radiation? Not necessarily the bureaucrats or the politicians, but the scientists actually believe their own denials of radiations health impact? Kate Brown 03:31:24 Oh, I'm sure they, yes. They believe in their science and their, and they really hold to the science. But I think what's amazing about radiation medicine is that really, since the end of the cold war, there have been amazing developments and discoveries in the field of biology and medicine. We've learned about microbiome. We've learned about how sensitive neurological systems are. We've learned about inner cell communication and how sensitive they are and epigenetic effects that can be passed down. You know, basically, you know, almost acquired traits or patterns of cell communication that can be passed down from parent to offspring. And very few of those insights have translated into radiation medicine. You know, we sorta need an update of that field Libbe HaLevy 03:32:11 Since the publication of your book. What has been the response in the media? And have you faced any significant pushback from world health organization, international atomic energy agency when skier or any of the governments or individuals that you reference in the book? No, Kate Brown 03:32:28 I have not had pushback from those agencies. I've had some critical reviews and that's fair enough. And sometimes there's been reviewers who are, you know, industry scientists or somehow make their money from, you know, sort of promoting nuclear energy. And, and I don't think that's entirely fair of publications to ask, you know, sort of pro nuclear spokespeople and scientists to review my book, because I don't think you can do a, give an impartial review for that, but most of the reviews have been very good when they're an impartial reviewer. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:00 Do you think that the radiological impact of Chernobyl on the health of people in Ukraine, Belarus, and really around the world will ever be determined beyond the shadow of scientific doubt? Kate Brown 03:33:12 Oh, I hope so. I hope one day we, we will have certain knowledge just like for a long time, we didn't know, you know, it was debated and fiercely fought over arsenic lead tobacco DDT x-raying fetuses, NVivo. Like all of these things were debated, fiercely, debated re you know, that when scientists first discovered these problems fiercely resisted usually by the people who stood to make money from selling products that were damaging to human health. Now we know for sure that cigarettes cause cancer, we know for sure that lead causes all kinds of developmental problems among children, especially we know that arsenic is poison. And so I think one day we'll, we'll have more certain understanding of what low doses of radioactivity does to human health. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:57 If you were to sum up the message of your book and all the research that went into it and present that message to the world, what would you want to say? Kate Brown 03:34:07 I guess I'd want to say that Genova is most often described as an accident. And I think that's, that's wrong that an accident implies that there's a beginning, a middle and an end, and people definitely want closure when there's been a bad accident or any kind of trauma. But I think that's doing this event a disservice. What I found as I research is that that area in Northern Ukraine was contaminated with radioactive fallout from nuclear testing before they even built the charitable plant, the people who live near that swamp farmers had 10 to 30 times more radioactive cesium in their bodies and people who lived in Minsk and Kiev. And I find that after the accident, the big Chernobyl accident in 1986, there are other smaller nuclear accidents. Another pretty big one, a pretty big explosion in 1991 at that same Chernobyl plant, I was visiting following biologists who work in the zone in 2017. Kate Brown 03:35:03 And my Geiger counter was screeching. And I asked them what's going on? And they said, oh, we had a fire here about eight months ago. And, and that burned the leaf litter and limbs and trees. And volatize the radioactivity that was stored there. That was another nuclear event. It was probably something that would have been rated a level five on the IAA ratings chart, but nobody paid attention to it. And so, you know, I think what we need to do is think of Chernobyl as an acceleration on a timeline of radioactive emissions that have occurred since 1945, and that have sort of peppered and saturated, especially the Northern hemisphere of our globe. And if we look at other statistics, those that record rates of cancer rates of birth defects, male sperm counts, which have dropped in half the Northern hemisphere since 1945 cancer rates that have, you know, steadily climbed, especially thyroid cancer has not stopped climbing childhood cancers used to be a medical rarity. They no longer are. I think that, again, that's a, that's a correlation, but I think we should get a lot more curious and ask our leaders and ask the scientific establishment to figure out what's going on. Why is there, why is there a cancer epidemic? Why are males workouts dropped in half since 45? And that's, I think what I'd like readers to leave with at the end of my book, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:26 One final thought, what, if any steps are in place to allow you to address the United nations with this information and what might we do to help speed that along? Kate Brown 03:36:35 Well, I think we should ask for another pledge drive and we should ask for, you know, countries that are especially countries that are nuclear powers and have nuclear reactors. And certainly as lots of countries gear up for a new nuclear Renaissance, we should ask to have that study done and paid for by, you know, every country that's building nuclear power plants to contribute for that study so that we can finally know if this is a safe enterprise that we're pointing towards in the future. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:03 Kate brown, your book is a fabulous read. It's like a detective story or a murder mystery on a global level. It is I think, necessary reading for anyone who really wants to understand what the issue of nuclear is all about. And I want to thank you for taking the time to be my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Kate Brown 03:37:26 Thanks Philip Levy for having me here Libbe HaLevy 03:37:29 That was Kate brown author of manual for survival, a Trenoble guide to the future. We'll have a link up to purchase the book on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number five 13, if you want to understand the impact of nuclear radiation, as well as how nuke boosters did and still do their best to cover up the actual impact of Chernobyl. This is one book you want to not only read, but keep on your bookshelf as an ultimate reference tool. It's the logical companion to the Jabra called Nesterenko Dr. Janet Sherman's classic book, Chernobyl consequences for people and the environment we'll have the second of this week's Chernobyl anniversary, special featured interviews in just a moment, but first Chernobyl takes the show's lead this week and while industry government and the media try to cast this disaster as part of the past in truth, none of our shared nuclear nightmares ever goes away and is always part of our future Chernobyl Fukushima, three mile island, church, rock Hanford, Los Alamos, nuclear weapons, uranium mining, endless forever radioactive waste. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:47 Nuclear is a mess. And because the radioactivity that results from it is invisible and not generally understood by the public. It's easy for the world to go nuclear. I have other problems to worry about and turn away, which is a big mistake because ignorance will not eliminate the problem and deadly dangers of radioactivity. And that is why you need nuclear. Hotseat. We look at the nuclear aspect of our world every week with more reach range and nuanced specificity than mainstream media ever provides. This program is the one place you can count on to continue to report the ongoing, evolving truth about nuclear dangers in all of its varied forms, and to keep the show going, we need your help. So please help us keep getting the word out by providing a donation, just go to nuclear seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size and to send us a monthly $5, same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip here in the United States. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:59 You can click on that same red button and set it up. So by nuclear hot seat, a cup of coffee or two, I promise it will go to help building our social media reach and planning, not on a caffeine fix. So do what you can now and know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week's second featured interview on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at 35, professor Timothy muso is an evolutionary biologist who has been a faculty member of the department of biological sciences at the university of South Carolina since 1991, beginning in 1999, professor Musso and his collaborators have explored the ecological genetic and evolutionary consequences of low dose radiation in populations of plants, animals, and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. This is an excerpt from a much longer interview originally on nuclear hot seat, number 2 43 from February 16th, 2016. It is still just as pertinent. What were some of your early findings from Trinity? Timonthy Muso 04:41:16 The first visit in 2000, we went out and found all of the barns, the old dairy farms that we could find in and out of the zone. We snuck inside the zone at the time, at the time, the exclusions on wasn't really as high security as it is now. And, and so it was easy to sort of zip in and zip out with it, nobody ever catching you. And so we, we found a number of the old dairy farms that still had barn swallows in them, inside the zone, outside the zone, as well as in areas, a fair distance away that were much cleaner, the less radioactive in and started catching all the birds we could catch. And the first discovery was quite striking. The many of the birds living inside the exclusion zone are right on the border of the exclusion zone, had patches of little white feathers on them. Timonthy Muso 04:42:03 You know, nothing, nothing really striking no three headed monsters or anything like that. But these birds were extremely unusual. They were pale to begin with, but they also had these patches and what we've been calling partial albinos. There are other names for this phenomenon, but everybody sort of understands partial albinism when you say it, and this was much higher in the areas of high radiation. There were, there were a few birds and the cleaner areas that show this, but very, very few relative to the hot areas. So that was sort of the first observation. We came back each year to the same farms to follow these same birds. And the beauty of barn swallows is that they will actually come back to the same barn, the same nest, as long as they're alive, once they start breeding. And so we put a little bands on their legs, so we could actually track their survival from one year to the next. Timonthy Muso 04:42:51 We could see how many eggs they were laying and how well their babies were doing. And we could take a little blood from them so that we could look for genetic damage and antioxidant levels. And we figured out how to get a little sperm sample from the males. So we could look at how, how well their reproductive materials performed and all of this started to add up to an interesting story. After a couple of years, first, we noticed that males in the more radioactive areas were showing sperm that was either deformed or not, particularly active, not particularly good at doing its job. That was the first sort of clue that fertility might be an issue for these birds. Then we started to notice that many of the birds had other strange abnormalities, physical abnormalities tumors on their, their heads tumors on their feet and on their rear ends. And sometimes on their wings, just sort of abnormalities that you never see in a normal population. And so all of this kind of added up to the fact that these birds were not doing particularly well. They were living half as long as birds and clean areas. They were having fewer offspring, the male, as I said, the male fertility was lower. Recently. We were also shown that they have higher levels of cataracts in their eyes. It's just a plethora of negative consequences of, of the exposure to radiation. That was the beginning of all of this. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:15 And you go back to Chernobyl still every year to do the updates on the bird population. No Timonthy Muso 04:44:21 We've been tracking in the barn swallows every year. And you know, every year we try to add a little experiment to the pot, so that we learn a little bit more about what might be going on. The fact that we've been doing it for 15 years straight, this will be the 16th year for these populations. It gives us a lot of statistical power for the sorts of questions we're interested in, in some, some years we've been putting little dosimeters on the, the legs, these, these birds for the last four years. And so now we have a really good idea of how big a dose they're getting as they fly around. And that's never been documented before we keep following these birds, but in 2004, 2003, 2004, we realized that Barnesville has been great, but people, you know, had broader interests than just barn swells. But what we realized actually was that there was this a growing interest in what was going on in the turnover zone. Timonthy Muso 04:45:16 And we weren't just doing it to satisfy our own curiosity. At that point, we realized that other folks were interested in, and the questions that we were getting were that this is happening in the Bart's walls. Is it happening to the other birds? What's happening to the insects, what's happening to the mammals. And so we started to branch out into a few other areas. We brought in other experts from other universities to collaborate with to help us in some of the systems we had less experience with. And so now we've been working on the entire bird community, I guess three, four years ago. We added a group from Finland who are a mammal specialist, small mammal specialist, and we've been trapping rodents and Trenoble as well as into Fukushima and learning an awful lot about other components of the ecosystem in the area. Any results that you can report is yet one of the great things about working with, you know, some of the best scientists, some of the most accomplished scientists from around the world on these projects is that, you know, we're getting a lot done. Timonthy Muso 04:46:17 We've published about 80 papers in the last 10, 11 years on turnover and Fukushima and folks can go to my website and, and get them all. But the latest results we published a paper last week, actually it came out. It was one of our first papers on the small mammals, the rodents of Chernobyl, where we document an increase in the rate of cataracts in the eyes of the females. And we published a paper on the birds of Chernobyl two, three years ago, showing a game that the cataracts in the eyes were much higher levels in, in, in the more radioactive areas. Now we're seeing this also in the rodents. And so this provides substantial support for the hypothesis that this is the radiation that's causing. This folks tend to, you know, if they can, they will throw out some objections to some of these ideas. Timonthy Muso 04:47:04 They'll suggest that it's not due. The radiation is due to something else and they'll have a long list, but clearly the more results we have that run in parallel among different systems in Ternopil, but also amongst the same systems in both Chernobyl and Fukushima, when we find the same kinds of results in both places, the only explanation that makes any sense is that it's the result of the radiation exposure. And so, so that's why we've invested so much into replicating. Most of our turnover work in as much as we can and put Kashima as well over the last five years now, Libbe HaLevy 04:47:39 Dr. Timothy Musso, he is an evolutionary biologist and has been a faculty member of the department of biological sciences at the university of South Carolina. Since 1991, we look forward to sharing our full interview in a coming episode while headline making nuclear disasters like Chernobyl rivet, our attention, other nuclear accidents continue to occur just under our radar, but are just as deadly in reveals one of these accidents, which was only discovered because Chernobyl was happening at just about the same time. Ian is principal man of the Western bands of the Shishoni nation of Indians, secretary of the native community action council.org. And in 2018 was appointed to the NRC licensing support network advisory review panel. I spoke with Ian on Monday, April 19th, 2021. And in his typical fashion, he jumped right in explaining a nuclear accident that in 10 years of doing nuclear hot seat, I had never, before heard about Ian Zabate 04:48:49 April 10th, 1986, there was a underground weapons effects test named mighty Oak here at the Nevada test site within Western Shoshone treaty defined territory. The test site is 65 miles outside of Las Vegas and every underground test Vince. So this is why the department of energy says it is not an accident because these things will vent or they will go into the, the rock, or they will go into the groundwater. And in this case, the department of energy timed, the venting release of these gases, which includes Krypton gases, which have a long half-life mixed thoroughly in our atmosphere, they contribute to the global warming problem. This gas went around the world and the department of energy didn't tell anybody, we don't know how many of these things happened. We want to know, because this hurts people. This hurts our planet. This gas went around the world and the planes that were flying off the coast of Washington waiting for the Chernobyl radiation fallout found this radiation mighty Oak fallout, which was up where two, five, and 10 times greater than that, which was expected for terminable. Ian Zabate 05:50:02 Now, this leads me to another accident that I want to share with you because I'm only now becoming more aware of things that my chief has told me when he was looking at these things back in 1968, there was a test series at the central Nevada test site. And the department of energy or atomic energy commission had dug a shaft 2000 feet underground. And we're pumping for weeks months to get the water out. They couldn't do all of it, but they had an opportunity to drop a nuclear device down and detonate it. It became entangled. They couldn't get it up. They couldn't get it down. What they did was drilled another shaft and put another device next to it, to detonate both of them. Then they decided to do it again. So they sunk another shaft, 2000 feet down, put another device in and it got tangled. Again, it is still there. This is what can happen with deep borehole disposal. These are the kinds of things and problems that can't be undone. And that is ID borehole. Disposal is a problem. And I just wanted to mention that because that's part of the current discussion that we're having. And I had an interview with the government accounting office a couple of months ago, and I didn't have a good understanding, but as I thought about it, there are experiences that people aren't aware of that are the failures. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:22 What, if anything, is being done right now in terms of follow up on this and will it impact next week, series of five presentation? Ian Zabate 05:51:33 There's plenty of solutions. There's plenty of opportunities. It comes down to the unwillingness of the United States government and the department of energy and the nuclear industry to do the right thing. They don't want to look at ways to neutralize the waste. They're spending a hundred to $1 on nuclear waste disposal and nuclear technologies and not neutralizing the waste. They're doing the wrong things. The mighty Oak event that fall out, went around the world. There are hotspots in downwind community. Some of the highest fallout is in Southern Idaho, North Dakota, where the fallout went, it rained. The fallout went to the ground. The cattle ate the grass. They milked the cows and shipped that milk to the inner cities in the Midwest. Chicago, Kansas city also has high fallout and Kodak was aware of that. The government made Kodak aware, but did not make ordinary citizens. And the last thing that I really want to say is that, you know, this is important. Ian Zabate 05:52:31 It's just not me. It's average citizens like yourself. People like me, average people that we ban the bomb. We ended the cold war. We stopped you off the mountain. That's what normal people can do. So I appreciate your interest. And I appreciate all the people who are listening because that's what it takes. And what I mean, we ban the bomb. In 1986 to 1990s, we had massive protests at the Nevada test site, 30,000 people coming out there. I issued thousands of permits to be on Shoshone treaty territory. That's why the department of energy can't prove ownership to anything out there. They're there in secret trespassing. But what we did was brought thousands of people out to the test site. We pushed and pressured for a nuclear weapons test moratorium. We did that normal people. We also pressured the world health organization for an advisory on the illegality of nuclear weapons. We also pressured the UN general assembly for an advisory opinion on the illegality of nuclear weapons in 1995 and 1996, the world court held its trial and found that nuclear weapons are illegal and immoral. And the only acceptable case would be self-defense except that would be a crime to use these indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction that led further for peace loving nations to press for this treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. And that's what we have that went into effect January 22nd, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:05 This sounds like grounds for refiring up in a good way, the protests and the demonstrations and the pushback from those of us who are just common ordinary citizens. But we need to have a voice in this because this is our future. If people wish to join you and support the work that you are obviously in a leadership position on with others, I assume, where can they go? What can they do so that if they're fired up now, there'll be able to join with you and spread their energy to yours. Ian Zabate 05:54:37 Next week, we're having a native American forum on nuclear issues. It'll be virtual. You can go to our website, native community action, council.org, that's native community action council, one word that orgy and register. We're going to have a week of events. And we're going to talk about these issues. We're going to talk about how normal people make these things happen. We need to continue to put pressure on our governments. And in the United States, I have a letter to president Biden. It speaks of how we should not be subjected to weapons of war in a civil society. These weapons, eight Ks AAR's and nuclear weapons violate every Indian peace treaty. And we need enforcement, neat, regular normal Americans like you, and like me to stand up and find their responsibility under the United States constitution to follow the Supreme law of the land. Article two six, section six, which includes treaties and the treaty of Ruby valley, which is what we stand for Vermont Libbe HaLevy 05:55:39 In principle, man of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians. And, and I kept talking after this interview and the information he was sharing is so compelling that we're going to have him back next month for a full length interview. Meanwhile, in also wanted you to know about next week's five nights of programming, the native American forum running April 26 through Ian Zabate 05:56:06 We are hosting the 2021 native American forum on nuclear issues. We have a good lineup of speakers will be every day, next week, beginning on the 26th Chernobyl day, between five and seven every night, and ending with the live panel on Friday, the 30th with Winona, Lou duke, and several other good speakers. This is entirely indigenous event, indigenous organized indigenous run, and we're focusing on indigenous issues. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:32 We will have a link to sign up for the native American forum next week on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode number 513 and in a separate item, there's going to be a Navajo power energy round table on April 22nd and 23rd in the morning with a focus on expanding the renewable energy economy. We'll link to that one as well. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, April 20th, 2021. If you'd like to get each week's episode of nuclear hot seat delivered to your inbox, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box and sign up for one equally email, which contains the link to the latest show and brief write up of what's inside it. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, go to the website, click on the big red button and know that however much you can support us. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:41 We're deeply grateful. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2020 Leiby at hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with a date that a nuclear emergency begins, but as Chernobyl proves, we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it is never over. That's your nuclear wake-up call. Don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:20 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #513: Chernobyl Anniversary #35: Kate Brown, Timothy Mousseau + Ian Zabarte on USA's MIghty Oak Nuke Accident URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-anniversary-35-kate-brown-timothy-mousseau-ian-zabarte-on-usas-mighty-oak-nuke-accident-nh-513/ Published: 2021-04-20 Duration: 00:59:11 Chernobyl at 35: Ongoing Radiation Leaks, Insect and Animal Mutations, The Never-Ending Dangers of the 1986 Nuclear Disaster This Week's Featured Interviews: Kate Brown is the author of Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future. She is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Plutopia, which won seven major awards. Her research has been funded by the American Academy in Berlin and by Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships. In this season of Chernobyl commemorations, she made time in her daunting schedule to talk with us about what’s in her new book. We spoke on Monday, April 15, 2019. Kate Brown’s stunning book on Chernobyl. CLICK on image to link to Amazon or purchase at your local independent bookseller. Professor Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina since 1991. Beginning in 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. More recently, he initiated a second research program in Fukushima, Japan. This is an excerpt from a much longer interview conducted on February 16, 2016, which will be shared on an upcoming Nuclear Hotseat. Ian Zabarte  is Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians.  His work covers Yucca Mountain, Treaty law and tribal rights, Native Community Action Council and the healing center Pooha-Ba, meaning Power Water.LINK:  Native American Forum on Nuclear Issues April 26-31, 2021. This 5-night event focuses on the impacts that nuclear issues have on Native American communities across the country. Register for complementary tickets HERE. Speakers include: Winona LaDuke, Tom Goldtooth, Carletta Tilousi, Kandi White, Myron Dewey, Tommy Rock, Manny Pino, Joe Kennedy, and Ian Zabarte. Featured artists include Jack Malotte, Sorren Thunder Richards, and Bryan Hudson LINK:  Navajo Power Energy Roundtable April 22 and April 23, 2021, 9 a.m. DST – fostering discussion and advance action on the unique set of opportunities or Tribal Nations in the rapidly expanding renewable energy economy. Register HERE. Ian Zabarte, Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians being interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 April 26th, we'll mark the 35th anniversary of the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. The public will undoubtedly be inundated with so-called experts trying to convince you that nuclear is really safe. Chernobyl was a one-off from Russia, and there have been no lingering negative effects from the accident, but then you hear a genuine expert. One who did her research on the ground at 27 Eastern European medical archives, and has the footnotes to prove everything she says. And she tells you Kate Brown 00:00:35 They found catastrophic results, which was a major epidemic of children with thyroid cancer, very rare cancer among kids, one in a million normally get it suddenly in a small area of Northern Ukrainian had 20 kids and the Soviet doctors handed the foreign experts, 20 biopsies. They didn't believe that this could possibly be thyroid cancer among so many kids. They brought them home to have examined and sure enough, they found that these were cancers, but then in their report, they said, we heard some rumors about thyroid cancer among children. And we found those rumors to be anecdotal in nature. But what they were sitting on was hard evidence and they had other evidence of 30 more kids and bale roofs. And that indeed turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of what became a big epidemic and thyroid cancer among kids. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:21 Well, when you hear bestselling author, Kate brown say something like that, and so much more, you get a pretty clear picture of the Chernobyl nuclear coverup and how the nuclear industry wants us to not know to what extent we are all sitting in that terrible seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:41 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The car Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but have the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:12 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week for the chin and noble anniversary, a blockbuster interview with Kate brown author of manual for survival, a Chernobyl guide to the future. We'll also hear from evolutionary biologists, Timothy muso, whose groundbreaking work on the ground in Chernobyl has been tracing the radiation inflicted changes in insects, birds, and now mammals, if you think radioactivity, isn't doing much to our ability to sustain and generate life, what moves so has to say, we'll make you think again. Then of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians reveals a us nuclear accident that took place at the same time as Chernobyl and released even more radiation than Chernobyl into the atmosphere, but has been covered up today is Tuesday, April 20th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:29 And here is this week's Chernobyl anniversary, special from a different perspective. Nuclear disasters seem to come in clusters. And we're just about to conclude this year's anniversary alley of what are to date the nuclear industry's biggest. Most well-known hits Fukushima on March 11, three mile island on March 28 and next Monday Chernobyl on April 26. We have two interviews this week that focus on Chernobyl's deadly legacy. The first is with Kate brown. She is the award winning author of manual for survival, a Trenoble guide to the future. Kate is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Pluto plutonium, which won seven major awards. I spoke with Kate brown on Monday, April 15th, 2019. Kate, I am so thrilled to have you here today on nuclear hot seat. Kate Brown 00:04:30 That's great to be here. Let me thanks for inviting me. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:33 The truth about Chernobyl was an enormous complex mind-boggling project. What drew you to this area of research in the first place and how did you get started? Kate Brown 00:04:44 Originally? I was interested in the nuclear security state. And so I started, I wrote a book called utopia about the first two cities in the world to produce plutonium. And while I was working at story, these I wasn't interested in, in health or environment, but these farmers who lived down when and down river from these stupid Joanie and plants, Soviet and American one were telling about their health problems and they thought very similar, strange health problems and similar across this huge divide between the Siberian Soviet site and the Eastern Washington American site. And so I started working to try to figure out what that meant if they were right, what scientists thought. And I got a little bit into that story when I, in that book, Pluto, Pia, but I felt like I didn't really get the story. So this is almost a CQL and I thought, well, Chernobyl was a civilian site. Kate Brown 00:05:36 It wasn't a military side. So it was more open. It, it exposed far more people and it was later, it was in the 1980s rather than the, you know, the forties and fifties and sixties. So I went into the archives and found a sort of Klondike of health records in many points. I was going to check out these records. It was pretty amazing. They went, you know, right after the accident, they went in and they, and they took measurements. They measured air and water and soils, but they also measured people's bodies and food. And we don't really have many records like that, even though we know in the 20th century has, we've had a lot of nuclear episodes and a lot of nuclear spills and intentional emissions, but we haven't had too many people curious about what happens next, when all this radioactivity goes into the environment. So the Soviets did that and they kept pretty good records, you know, in the five years after the accident, those records, you know, I argue in my book manual for survival are pretty unique. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:31 They are because it seems like that five-year period of time is what gets ignored. Primarily. It happened after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It took five years before that longevity study was put into place and no attempt was made after three mile island as well. And of course there's been no real long-term study after Fukushima though, that's just getting started from your perspective, why was this data not used to put forth the truth about what was happening as a result of Chernobyl, meaning the health impact of the radiation on Kate Brown 00:07:09 At first it was a censored topic. So the Soviets set up these rules, they said, you know, we don't want anyone talking about levels of radioactivity health problems. You know, they had a whole list of sort of no-go areas for Soviet employees and people in hospitals and who were dealing with cleanup of the accident. And then that story broke into the restaurant in 19 89, 19 90, and the leaders of Belarus and Ukraine, which had the most, most impacted by the accident came forward and said, you know, we can't handle this problem anymore. We need help. And they appealed to the UN for help internationally. And that got the leaders in Moscow really nervous. They had been saying all along, this isn't really a problem. The doses aren't that high, everybody can just, you know, stay the course. And increasingly I see in the, in the classified records that the leaders, especially the people in the public health field and Ukraine and Belarus were getting increasingly nervous and more and more researchers are coming forward saying, you know, we see here a big problem. Kate Brown 00:08:12 I mean, but 1990, a, a KGB general, who was at medical doctor who ran a clinic in Kiev. And he had 2000 patients who had been exposed to Chernobyl and he writes, and he says, you know, nobody's got a study like mine. I have the best equipped hospital. I have doctors who can actually know how much exposure their patients got. And after our, you know, four years of study, we have found that perfectly healthy people when exposed chronically to low doses of radiation have a whole host of health problems, any lists. And he recommended, this is a KGB general. He recommended that the zone of alienation that the area that should be depopulated be extended from 30 kilometers to 120. And that would have gone right up to the beautiful ancient city of Kiev, where he lived. That's how alarmed he was. So why did this story coming into the public? Kate Brown 00:09:02 The Soviet union fell apart. It was starting to fall apart at 90. It collapsed completely in 1991. And the Soviet leader is to try to stave off this problem, asked first the world health organization to come in and do an independent assessment with foreign experts. World health sent in three guys. They traveled around for about 10 days. They came out and they said, you know, we don't see any problems. We think you could double or triple the permissible dose, and everybody would be fine. No one believed that study. You know, what can three guys do? And in 10 days, so then the Soviet leaders asked the international atomic energy agency to come in and they brought in more scientists between 102 hundred scientists. They worked for about 18 months. They looked at levels of radioactivity. They had a medical section that looked at about 1200 people, very small study. Kate Brown 00:09:49 When you consider that 4.5 million were exposed and they came away and said, you know, we did this study. We see a lot of illness in this area, but nothing from exposure to Chernobyl contaminants. And we don't expect to see any detectable health problems in the future. Other than a few cases of childhood thyroid cancer, what they weren't saying is that they designed a study for the study to find only catastrophic results. And when they found catastrophic results, which was a major epidemic of children with thyroid cancer, very rare cancer among kids, one in a million normally get it suddenly in a small area of Northern Ukraine, they had 20 kids and the Soviet doctors handed the foreign experts, 20 biopsies. They didn't believe that this could possibly be thyroid cancer among so many kids. They brought him home to have examined and sure enough, they found that these were cancers, but then in their report, they said, we heard some rumors about that road cancer among children. Kate Brown 01:10:49 And we found those rumors to be anecdotal in nature. But what they were sitting on was hard evidence and they had other evidence of 30 more kids and bail ruse. And that indeed turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of what became a big epidemic and thyroid cancer among kids. Now what that report did that report that said no effects. We don't expect to find any effects in the future. Right? At that time, the UN was trying to raise a billion dollars in today's fund to do two things, carry out a longterm medical study, akin to the study of Japanese bomb survivors, but of Chernobyl survivors. And this is a very different kind of nuclear event. These are Hiroshima was counted as one big x-ray that lasted less than a second. Chernobyl exposures were long-term chronic exposures of low doses. And those exposures are actually far more common. And then going forward in the future, humans are far more likely to have a Chernobyl set of exposures and a Hiroshima bomb set of exposures. So all kinds of scientists said, we need to do a long-term study. And then the second thing this money was going to be for was to move 200,000 people who were sitting in highly contaminated land. But after that UN report came out, that said, we don't see any general health effects. And we don't expect to in the future that pledge drive went nowhere. They raised less than $6 million. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:12 Why do you think the IAEA and before that the scientists who came in were all minimizing the impact of Chernobyl? Kate Brown 01:12:23 Well, all I could think of is that at the same time, the 1990s, the big nuclear powers us, UK, France, and Russia were facing lawsuits from their own exposure, their own testing and production of nuclear weapons during the cold war, you know, the French had blown up nuclear weapons in Algeria and in the south Pacific, the British had blown up weapons in the south Pacific and Australia, the Americans in the Marshall Islands and in the American Heartland in Nevada and the Soviets in Kazakhstan and in the Arctic. So all kinds of people who had, whether they were atomic veterans of in battlefield conditions or whether they were people who had been injected with radioactive isotopes for, you know, experiments or people who had lived downwind of, or downriver of nuclear production facilities, or if they lived anywhere where the fallout landed were starting to Sue their governments about their exposures and what they felt were the resulting health problems. So if you could say, Chernobyl was the worst nuclear disaster in human history, and only 33 to 54 people died, then you could make these lawsuits go away. And that's indeed what happened in the course of the 1990s and the early two thousands as these lawsuits got no traction in part because of this Chernobyl narrative. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:47 I think it was a conscious decision on the part of the world health organization, the IAEA when skier and the various governments involved to minimize this for that reason, or was it a consequence of them going on another train of thought? Kate Brown 01:14:03 You know, like a lot of people are reporting that my book talks about a big conspiracy theory and I don't use that word. And I don't think that's what was happening. I think that these scientists who had been working kind of in a bubble for a long time with the Hiroshima data, felt that they knew exactly, you know, what they call the Hiroshima studies, the gold standard. They felt like they had a real handle on what radiation medicine was and what the thresholds were for exposure. And when the Chernobyl, when people started talking about this public health epidemic and the Chernobyl territories, and we're not just talking about cancers, what the records show is that people started to feel pretty unwell almost right after the accident. The officials tally is at 300, mostly firemen and nuclear plant operators were hospitalized. The conflict that comes out of the archives is 40,000 people were hospitalized in the summer after the accident, many of whom were children and they didn't feel well, you know, sort of like respiratory infections, chronic sore throats, large thyroids, thyroid problems, problems with their endocrine system, immune system disorders, pregnant women had all kinds of complications at childbirth, increasing frequencies of birth defects and a spontaneous miscarriages. Kate Brown 01:15:18 And then after about 18 months, cancers kick in leukemias, and then later thyroid cancers among children and other kinds of cancers start to climb. And so when this story came out, I think the international community of scientists, it didn't make sense to them. They had a great deal of faith in their established science and these results that were coming in, confounded them. They said, sure, there might be thyroid cancer among kids, but only after maybe 10 years, not after three or four years. And they just couldn't believe the evidence as it was presented to them. And if they were to believe it, they would have had to radically alter many of the regulations for operating nuclear power plants and running nuclear bomb factories. And we would have had to rethink, I think, pretty drastically or whole nuclear enterprise. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:11 And of course that was something that they wish to avoid. Now, scientists from Ukraine and Belarus, noisily rejected, the dose estimates and the results of it. And they charge that the IAEA investigators overlooked hotspots of radiation, the resuspension plutonium particles, hicked up by those and the ingestion of radioactive particles. And they said that people's doses were much higher than the IAEA estimated. What did all of these protestations by scientists from the Ukraine and Belarus lead to? Kate Brown 01:16:45 Unfortunately it didn't go very far. You know, this is at a time and this is where history really plays an important role when the Soviet union was falling apart and, and everything that was Soviet, whether it was politics or economics or science and medicine was considered bad, retrograde, corrupt, somehow majorly flawed. And so when these doctors came forward and said, this had been living with this situation for five years, they had been working closely on the ground with patients. You know, what we find in the journal territories is that one of the charges as well, when, when you look for disease, you're sure to find it. And there are other, all these extra medical examinations of these people. But in fact, hospitals are running at 50, 60% because the doctors were the first to leave these territories. They saw what was going on and they, they wanted to get out of there with their families intact. Kate Brown 01:17:40 But the people who did stay were quite committed and they presented their evidence, they had case control studies. They had observational studies. They had all kinds of data that they including biopsies, you know, actual physical material to, to hand to the Western researchers. And it was just very, very easy to discredit them to say, well, you know, these Soviets, they don't have standardized Western protocols. They have very poor equipment. They have really sketchy knowledge. And you know, these guys mostly only spoke Ukrainian or Russian. They didn't speak English. They weren't very facile. When they went to international conferences, they had trouble communicating and they had trouble presenting their works. So it was really easy to let the triumphalist democracy and capitalism have one rhetoric when out and lots of people thought that it was a quite sensible dance to take. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:34 Much of your research was done looking at reports from small clinics and doctors who were on the ground in the area around Chernobyl and reporting, honestly. And they were aided and abetted by what can be called citizens, scientists, meaning people on the ground who said, wait a minute, something's wrong here. I've got to do something about it. What were some of the more remarkable steps taken by the people who were living in that zone to try and bring their information to the awareness of scientists in higher places, say from the west who could possibly make a difference in the next Kate Brown 01:19:11 One thing I was on the lookout as I worked my way through 27 archives were everyday heroes. People who, you know, their bosses told them to shut up or not to say anything or to, you know, sort of massage the numbers. And there were people who just refuse to do that. And so there was one woman who she was a physicist working at university in Kiev, and her husband was a civil defense Skye. And so they had a Geiger counter and they went around and, you know, they heard about the accident and they went around and just in the courtyard of their building and Kiev. And they found these really radioactive spots in different parts of the lot. And they, they went and they found these little tiny grains of sand that were fiercely radioactive. And these were the hot particles everybody's talking about. And this woman, Natalia, was this guy gathered these hot particles, measured the counts of radioactivity coming from them. Kate Brown 02:20:03 And as she ran her calculations, then she'd get, and then she'd come back and measure the, you know, the amount of decay. And then, so she'd figure out what isotope it was by how quickly it was decane. And she gathered, you know, all these different radioactive isotopes and figured out what the whole cocktail was coming from the plant. And very early on, she figured out that this was not as we were told a chemical and a steam explosion, but in fact, a nuclear explosion at the plant that nuclear power plants actually do blow up like nuclear bombs. And she wrote this whole report and sent it to her government to say, you know, by the way, I want you to know that I've run these calculations and this is what I've found out. And, you know, mind you, she doesn't have a big Institute. She doesn't have a lot of complicated machinery. Kate Brown 02:20:45 She doesn't have a whole staff. She's just doing this, you know, in our little tiny two bedroom apartment in Kia with a Geiger counter. And in 2016, the Institute in Sweden did, in fact affirm what she'd been saying for 20 years, that this was a nuclear explosion. And Liz, this guy tried to get word out to the west, that there were real problems and that there was much higher counts of radioactivity and that the Soviets were letting on. And so in 1988, there was an international conference in Kiev. And so she disguised herself as a cleaning lady, got a bucket and a mop and went into the conference and got into the close conference that way by pretending she was just there to clean. And then she went up to an, a Western researcher, Robert Gale, and tried to give him a stack of her research that she had gathered. Kate Brown 02:21:33 And Gail probably never knew this was happening because four KGB agents swept her up, grabbed her by every, by each elbow and let her out the back alley. But there are all kinds of people like that. Another guy he could not get his leaders in Kiev to understand that even though his region had pretty low counts of radioactivity, the milk was off the charts over permissible levels. And three quarters of the milk was over permissible levels of radioactivity for the time it went and he knocked on doors and he talked to people, he showed them all his records. He finally got 70 liters of milk and sent it to Kiev in a truck and said, you check this milk and tell me what you think. And then once he had done that, actually having the physical nutritious milk, you know, in front of them, that was indeed above permissible levels of radioactivity. Kate Brown 02:22:21 They finally determined that this area should have special shipments of clean food. So there's people like that throughout the story. It's really pretty wonderful. It doesn't take many people to quietly resist or be committed to doing their job, that guy with the milk Alexander comb off. And he just wrote me the other day. He says, I'm no hero. I was just doing my job. And I think those are wonderful stories. And these people should be recognized as heroes alongside the fireman and the miners and the nuclear plant operators that risked their lives to contain this accident. You mentioned Dr. Robert Gale, who was an American, what larger role did he play in the Chernobyl disaster and other nuclear disasters that followed? Well, he went there, you know, very altruistically to try to help out. And because he had connections with Armand hammer, the Soviets were saying, no, no, no, to all the capitalist countries, but Arm-in-Hammer was a very influential person. Kate Brown 02:23:17 And he appealed directly to Gorbachev and Gorbachev said, yes, Gail can come in. And Gail had a, a new sort of what he thought would help the fireman overcome radiation sickness. And he wanted to try it out on them. And so he brought that along and the Soviets were both nervous about this new untested drug had been tested on monkeys, but not humans and also excited. Maybe it would work. And so Gail and a Soviet doctor about have tried it on themselves first. And then they tried it out the fireman, and unfortunately it did not help the fireman. But then after that, Gail took to the podium and he was the first person speaking from within the Soviet union about the medical disaster as he witnessed it. And he really became the sort of spokesman or the, or the, the face of not just this nuclear disaster Chernobyl disaster, but he went on to a year later in Brazil, there was a smaller nuclear accident in Guyana, Brazil. He, he showed up there and he started to testify for different lawsuits about nuclear power plants and things like that. So he became a real spokesman. Having it started out as a cancer doctor, somebody who specialized in Wikimedia, Libbe HaLevy 02:24:26 There's an enormous disparity in reports on the number of people who die as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The, what I call the unholy trio of the IAEA, the world health organization, when the skier have an echo chamber that repeats often that there were only, and the number varies depending on the source, but approximately 54 immediate deaths in the effected area. And maybe between 4,006,000 cases, depending on the source of thyroid cancers. As a result. On the other hand, we have the book Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and the environment by Yabloko calmness Durango. And Nesterenko, that concludes that as a 15 years ago, when it was published in 2004, there were just under a million premature deaths as a result of the radioactivity released why this disparity and which in your opinion, is closer to the Kate Brown 02:25:19 Well, the disparity is because you can see taste feel, or touch radio activity, unless you get a big dose and acute dose, the effects medical effects show up, you know, much later, whether it's months or years or decades. So it's very difficult to pin radioactive contaminants to a particular illness, especially when the illness is more subtle and not acute. And most of radiation medicine is focused on acute effects, that amount of cancer and death. So everybody wants a death count and the uncertainties and the deaths are huge. And the way they come to those numbers are through a series of estimations and extrapolations. So the first thing to be estimated is the dose. How much do we think people got? And they do that by reconstructing the jet streams, you know, the weather, how much rain came down, taking live measurements on the ground, and then estimating it, you know, what people were eating, where they were standing, how much time they spent outside. Kate Brown 02:26:21 All of this is, you know, relatively, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty in these calculations and then they extrapolate, this is what the, you know, the unsecure scientists would do is, is extrapolate that dose against what the Hiroshima survivors got. And with that, you know, extrapolation, they'd say so, therefore we expect to see 4,000 cancers in the future or something that the problem with extrapolating from Hiroshima is Hiroshima was a very different nuclear event. You know, Hiroshima, Nagasaki two bombs went off. They count the less than a second flash of radioactivity that came from the bombs dropping. They do not calculate in that equation of the Japanese bomb survivors. The fallout from radioactivity that was called at the time in the forties, residual radiation, the Americans, you know, with general Leslie Grove, as the head of the Manhattan project, he was really nervous that the Americans had spent millions of dollars building nuclear weapons, and they were worried that the nuclear weapons were going to go the way of chemical weapons, that they're going to be determined to be an illegal form of warfare, because it didn't just blow up, you know, and kill somebody right away. Kate Brown 02:27:33 But it continued to kill people later on and may even harm people. And that was considered, you know, just like chemical weapons, unfair. So they emphasize, you know, these people died. These people who died from the Hiroshima, Nagasaki bombs died from burns, just regular thermal burns that anybody could die of in conventional warfare. And they tried to emphasize this as a kit, like a conventional explosion. So they wanted to renounce that there were long standing, you know, that, that there was residual radiation that radioactivity remained in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Japanese were reporting this strange atomic poison that kills people who were not there in those cities when the bomb went off, but still came in later and got sick. And some of them died. And like, how did that happen? There must be something lingering, but none of that residual radiation or what we're going to have to call it, fallout was considered in the dose. Kate Brown 02:28:23 The other problem with the Russian studies is that they began five years after the explosions. And so they asked people where were you standing? No, in 1945, when the bomb went off and people recall to the best of their knowledge. And as we know from oral history, that human memories are pretty dodgy, especially in traumatic situations. So they did a dose reconstruction that Japanese scientists at the time actually took measurements, a historian, Susan Lindsay, who talks about this. They took their own measurements. They recorded pretty high levels of radioactivity, the Americans when they came in and occupied Japan after the war confiscated those records. And we don't know where they are to this day. So the Hiroshima records, our dose reconstructions, their estimates, their guesses about how much of a dose people got. And then the third problem with the Hiroshima studies or their Japanese lifespan studies as a formerly called, is that the Americans controlled these studies until the 1970s. And as I said, the Americans had a political interest in minimizing the impact of nuclear warfare of atomic warfare Libbe HaLevy 02:29:26 Influence, if any, did this uncertainty and the minimization of health impact information from Chernobyl. And also what you're saying about Hiroshima and Nagasaki have on our understanding of the medical impact at three mile island, which happened before Chernobyl and Fukushima, which happened after Chernobyl Kate Brown 02:29:47 It both the three mile island case and the Fukushima case as with the Chernobyl cases, you know, because scientists working, you know, from the Japanese land spend data are saying, you know, these doses are too low. We estimate there's going to be no problems. We really don't have studies. You know, we don't have serious studies, you know, that we haven't put in the time and money and commitment to do a long-term epidemiological study and low doses, chronic low doses of radioactivity. And, you know, that is the scenario that going forward in the future, we're most likely to experience. We're probably going to have more nuclear accidents, more nuclear spills. We encounter man-made radioactivity in the environment almost every day. And so we should know that and we should demand that our scientific establishment and that our governments do those studies finally. And that's the, where, where I end, you know, I mean, we see some troubling data coming out of places where people have been exposed to manmade radioactivity, but those are just correlations. What we need is to determine causation and to do that, we finally need to do some real studies. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:56 Do you think it's intentional that these studies have not been done? Kate Brown 03:31:00 I cannot impugn what other people's motives or intentions are, but I think it's troubling that we haven't done them. I can say that for sure. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:10 Do you think that the experts who deny or minimize any health harm from Chernobyl's radiation? Not necessarily the bureaucrats or the politicians, but the scientists actually believe their own denials of radiations health impact? Kate Brown 03:31:24 Oh, I'm sure they, yes. They believe in their science and their, and they really hold to the science. But I think what's amazing about radiation medicine is that really, since the end of the cold war, there have been amazing developments and discoveries in the field of biology and medicine. We've learned about microbiome. We've learned about how sensitive neurological systems are. We've learned about inner cell communication and how sensitive they are and epigenetic effects that can be passed down. You know, basically, you know, almost acquired traits or patterns of cell communication that can be passed down from parent to offspring. And very few of those insights have translated into radiation medicine. You know, we sorta need an update of that field Libbe HaLevy 03:32:11 Since the publication of your book. What has been the response in the media? And have you faced any significant pushback from world health organization, international atomic energy agency when skier or any of the governments or individuals that you reference in the book? No, Kate Brown 03:32:28 I have not had pushback from those agencies. I've had some critical reviews and that's fair enough. And sometimes there's been reviewers who are, you know, industry scientists or somehow make their money from, you know, sort of promoting nuclear energy. And, and I don't think that's entirely fair of publications to ask, you know, sort of pro nuclear spokespeople and scientists to review my book, because I don't think you can do a, give an impartial review for that, but most of the reviews have been very good when they're an impartial reviewer. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:00 Do you think that the radiological impact of Chernobyl on the health of people in Ukraine, Belarus, and really around the world will ever be determined beyond the shadow of scientific doubt? Kate Brown 03:33:12 Oh, I hope so. I hope one day we, we will have certain knowledge just like for a long time, we didn't know, you know, it was debated and fiercely fought over arsenic lead tobacco DDT x-raying fetuses, NVivo. Like all of these things were debated, fiercely, debated re you know, that when scientists first discovered these problems fiercely resisted usually by the people who stood to make money from selling products that were damaging to human health. Now we know for sure that cigarettes cause cancer, we know for sure that lead causes all kinds of developmental problems among children, especially we know that arsenic is poison. And so I think one day we'll, we'll have more certain understanding of what low doses of radioactivity does to human health. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:57 If you were to sum up the message of your book and all the research that went into it and present that message to the world, what would you want to say? Kate Brown 03:34:07 I guess I'd want to say that Genova is most often described as an accident. And I think that's, that's wrong that an accident implies that there's a beginning, a middle and an end, and people definitely want closure when there's been a bad accident or any kind of trauma. But I think that's doing this event a disservice. What I found as I research is that that area in Northern Ukraine was contaminated with radioactive fallout from nuclear testing before they even built the charitable plant, the people who live near that swamp farmers had 10 to 30 times more radioactive cesium in their bodies and people who lived in Minsk and Kiev. And I find that after the accident, the big Chernobyl accident in 1986, there are other smaller nuclear accidents. Another pretty big one, a pretty big explosion in 1991 at that same Chernobyl plant, I was visiting following biologists who work in the zone in 2017. Kate Brown 03:35:03 And my Geiger counter was screeching. And I asked them what's going on? And they said, oh, we had a fire here about eight months ago. And, and that burned the leaf litter and limbs and trees. And volatize the radioactivity that was stored there. That was another nuclear event. It was probably something that would have been rated a level five on the IAA ratings chart, but nobody paid attention to it. And so, you know, I think what we need to do is think of Chernobyl as an acceleration on a timeline of radioactive emissions that have occurred since 1945, and that have sort of peppered and saturated, especially the Northern hemisphere of our globe. And if we look at other statistics, those that record rates of cancer rates of birth defects, male sperm counts, which have dropped in half the Northern hemisphere since 1945 cancer rates that have, you know, steadily climbed, especially thyroid cancer has not stopped climbing childhood cancers used to be a medical rarity. They no longer are. I think that, again, that's a, that's a correlation, but I think we should get a lot more curious and ask our leaders and ask the scientific establishment to figure out what's going on. Why is there, why is there a cancer epidemic? Why are males workouts dropped in half since 45? And that's, I think what I'd like readers to leave with at the end of my book, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:26 One final thought, what, if any steps are in place to allow you to address the United nations with this information and what might we do to help speed that along? Kate Brown 03:36:35 Well, I think we should ask for another pledge drive and we should ask for, you know, countries that are especially countries that are nuclear powers and have nuclear reactors. And certainly as lots of countries gear up for a new nuclear Renaissance, we should ask to have that study done and paid for by, you know, every country that's building nuclear power plants to contribute for that study so that we can finally know if this is a safe enterprise that we're pointing towards in the future. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:03 Kate brown, your book is a fabulous read. It's like a detective story or a murder mystery on a global level. It is I think, necessary reading for anyone who really wants to understand what the issue of nuclear is all about. And I want to thank you for taking the time to be my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Kate Brown 03:37:26 Thanks Philip Levy for having me here Libbe HaLevy 03:37:29 That was Kate brown author of manual for survival, a Trenoble guide to the future. We'll have a link up to purchase the book on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number five 13, if you want to understand the impact of nuclear radiation, as well as how nuke boosters did and still do their best to cover up the actual impact of Chernobyl. This is one book you want to not only read, but keep on your bookshelf as an ultimate reference tool. It's the logical companion to the Jabra called Nesterenko Dr. Janet Sherman's classic book, Chernobyl consequences for people and the environment we'll have the second of this week's Chernobyl anniversary, special featured interviews in just a moment, but first Chernobyl takes the show's lead this week and while industry government and the media try to cast this disaster as part of the past in truth, none of our shared nuclear nightmares ever goes away and is always part of our future Chernobyl Fukushima, three mile island, church, rock Hanford, Los Alamos, nuclear weapons, uranium mining, endless forever radioactive waste. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:47 Nuclear is a mess. And because the radioactivity that results from it is invisible and not generally understood by the public. It's easy for the world to go nuclear. I have other problems to worry about and turn away, which is a big mistake because ignorance will not eliminate the problem and deadly dangers of radioactivity. And that is why you need nuclear. Hotseat. We look at the nuclear aspect of our world every week with more reach range and nuanced specificity than mainstream media ever provides. This program is the one place you can count on to continue to report the ongoing, evolving truth about nuclear dangers in all of its varied forms, and to keep the show going, we need your help. So please help us keep getting the word out by providing a donation, just go to nuclear seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size and to send us a monthly $5, same as a cup of coffee at a nice tip here in the United States. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:59 You can click on that same red button and set it up. So by nuclear hot seat, a cup of coffee or two, I promise it will go to help building our social media reach and planning, not on a caffeine fix. So do what you can now and know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Here's this week's second featured interview on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at 35, professor Timothy muso is an evolutionary biologist who has been a faculty member of the department of biological sciences at the university of South Carolina since 1991, beginning in 1999, professor Musso and his collaborators have explored the ecological genetic and evolutionary consequences of low dose radiation in populations of plants, animals, and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. This is an excerpt from a much longer interview originally on nuclear hot seat, number 2 43 from February 16th, 2016. It is still just as pertinent. What were some of your early findings from Trinity? Timonthy Muso 04:41:16 The first visit in 2000, we went out and found all of the barns, the old dairy farms that we could find in and out of the zone. We snuck inside the zone at the time, at the time, the exclusions on wasn't really as high security as it is now. And, and so it was easy to sort of zip in and zip out with it, nobody ever catching you. And so we, we found a number of the old dairy farms that still had barn swallows in them, inside the zone, outside the zone, as well as in areas, a fair distance away that were much cleaner, the less radioactive in and started catching all the birds we could catch. And the first discovery was quite striking. The many of the birds living inside the exclusion zone are right on the border of the exclusion zone, had patches of little white feathers on them. Timonthy Muso 04:42:03 You know, nothing, nothing really striking no three headed monsters or anything like that. But these birds were extremely unusual. They were pale to begin with, but they also had these patches and what we've been calling partial albinos. There are other names for this phenomenon, but everybody sort of understands partial albinism when you say it, and this was much higher in the areas of high radiation. There were, there were a few birds and the cleaner areas that show this, but very, very few relative to the hot areas. So that was sort of the first observation. We came back each year to the same farms to follow these same birds. And the beauty of barn swallows is that they will actually come back to the same barn, the same nest, as long as they're alive, once they start breeding. And so we put a little bands on their legs, so we could actually track their survival from one year to the next. Timonthy Muso 04:42:51 We could see how many eggs they were laying and how well their babies were doing. And we could take a little blood from them so that we could look for genetic damage and antioxidant levels. And we figured out how to get a little sperm sample from the males. So we could look at how, how well their reproductive materials performed and all of this started to add up to an interesting story. After a couple of years, first, we noticed that males in the more radioactive areas were showing sperm that was either deformed or not, particularly active, not particularly good at doing its job. That was the first sort of clue that fertility might be an issue for these birds. Then we started to notice that many of the birds had other strange abnormalities, physical abnormalities tumors on their, their heads tumors on their feet and on their rear ends. And sometimes on their wings, just sort of abnormalities that you never see in a normal population. And so all of this kind of added up to the fact that these birds were not doing particularly well. They were living half as long as birds and clean areas. They were having fewer offspring, the male, as I said, the male fertility was lower. Recently. We were also shown that they have higher levels of cataracts in their eyes. It's just a plethora of negative consequences of, of the exposure to radiation. That was the beginning of all of this. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:15 And you go back to Chernobyl still every year to do the updates on the bird population. No Timonthy Muso 04:44:21 We've been tracking in the barn swallows every year. And you know, every year we try to add a little experiment to the pot, so that we learn a little bit more about what might be going on. The fact that we've been doing it for 15 years straight, this will be the 16th year for these populations. It gives us a lot of statistical power for the sorts of questions we're interested in, in some, some years we've been putting little dosimeters on the, the legs, these, these birds for the last four years. And so now we have a really good idea of how big a dose they're getting as they fly around. And that's never been documented before we keep following these birds, but in 2004, 2003, 2004, we realized that Barnesville has been great, but people, you know, had broader interests than just barn swells. But what we realized actually was that there was this a growing interest in what was going on in the turnover zone. Timonthy Muso 04:45:16 And we weren't just doing it to satisfy our own curiosity. At that point, we realized that other folks were interested in, and the questions that we were getting were that this is happening in the Bart's walls. Is it happening to the other birds? What's happening to the insects, what's happening to the mammals. And so we started to branch out into a few other areas. We brought in other experts from other universities to collaborate with to help us in some of the systems we had less experience with. And so now we've been working on the entire bird community, I guess three, four years ago. We added a group from Finland who are a mammal specialist, small mammal specialist, and we've been trapping rodents and Trenoble as well as into Fukushima and learning an awful lot about other components of the ecosystem in the area. Any results that you can report is yet one of the great things about working with, you know, some of the best scientists, some of the most accomplished scientists from around the world on these projects is that, you know, we're getting a lot done. Timonthy Muso 04:46:17 We've published about 80 papers in the last 10, 11 years on turnover and Fukushima and folks can go to my website and, and get them all. But the latest results we published a paper last week, actually it came out. It was one of our first papers on the small mammals, the rodents of Chernobyl, where we document an increase in the rate of cataracts in the eyes of the females. And we published a paper on the birds of Chernobyl two, three years ago, showing a game that the cataracts in the eyes were much higher levels in, in, in the more radioactive areas. Now we're seeing this also in the rodents. And so this provides substantial support for the hypothesis that this is the radiation that's causing. This folks tend to, you know, if they can, they will throw out some objections to some of these ideas. Timonthy Muso 04:47:04 They'll suggest that it's not due. The radiation is due to something else and they'll have a long list, but clearly the more results we have that run in parallel among different systems in Ternopil, but also amongst the same systems in both Chernobyl and Fukushima, when we find the same kinds of results in both places, the only explanation that makes any sense is that it's the result of the radiation exposure. And so, so that's why we've invested so much into replicating. Most of our turnover work in as much as we can and put Kashima as well over the last five years now, Libbe HaLevy 04:47:39 Dr. Timothy Musso, he is an evolutionary biologist and has been a faculty member of the department of biological sciences at the university of South Carolina. Since 1991, we look forward to sharing our full interview in a coming episode while headline making nuclear disasters like Chernobyl rivet, our attention, other nuclear accidents continue to occur just under our radar, but are just as deadly in reveals one of these accidents, which was only discovered because Chernobyl was happening at just about the same time. Ian is principal man of the Western bands of the Shishoni nation of Indians, secretary of the native community action council.org. And in 2018 was appointed to the NRC licensing support network advisory review panel. I spoke with Ian on Monday, April 19th, 2021. And in his typical fashion, he jumped right in explaining a nuclear accident that in 10 years of doing nuclear hot seat, I had never, before heard about Ian Zabate 04:48:49 April 10th, 1986, there was a underground weapons effects test named mighty Oak here at the Nevada test site within Western Shoshone treaty defined territory. The test site is 65 miles outside of Las Vegas and every underground test Vince. So this is why the department of energy says it is not an accident because these things will vent or they will go into the, the rock, or they will go into the groundwater. And in this case, the department of energy timed, the venting release of these gases, which includes Krypton gases, which have a long half-life mixed thoroughly in our atmosphere, they contribute to the global warming problem. This gas went around the world and the department of energy didn't tell anybody, we don't know how many of these things happened. We want to know, because this hurts people. This hurts our planet. This gas went around the world and the planes that were flying off the coast of Washington waiting for the Chernobyl radiation fallout found this radiation mighty Oak fallout, which was up where two, five, and 10 times greater than that, which was expected for terminable. Ian Zabate 05:50:02 Now, this leads me to another accident that I want to share with you because I'm only now becoming more aware of things that my chief has told me when he was looking at these things back in 1968, there was a test series at the central Nevada test site. And the department of energy or atomic energy commission had dug a shaft 2000 feet underground. And we're pumping for weeks months to get the water out. They couldn't do all of it, but they had an opportunity to drop a nuclear device down and detonate it. It became entangled. They couldn't get it up. They couldn't get it down. What they did was drilled another shaft and put another device next to it, to detonate both of them. Then they decided to do it again. So they sunk another shaft, 2000 feet down, put another device in and it got tangled. Again, it is still there. This is what can happen with deep borehole disposal. These are the kinds of things and problems that can't be undone. And that is ID borehole. Disposal is a problem. And I just wanted to mention that because that's part of the current discussion that we're having. And I had an interview with the government accounting office a couple of months ago, and I didn't have a good understanding, but as I thought about it, there are experiences that people aren't aware of that are the failures. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:22 What, if anything, is being done right now in terms of follow up on this and will it impact next week, series of five presentation? Ian Zabate 05:51:33 There's plenty of solutions. There's plenty of opportunities. It comes down to the unwillingness of the United States government and the department of energy and the nuclear industry to do the right thing. They don't want to look at ways to neutralize the waste. They're spending a hundred to $1 on nuclear waste disposal and nuclear technologies and not neutralizing the waste. They're doing the wrong things. The mighty Oak event that fall out, went around the world. There are hotspots in downwind community. Some of the highest fallout is in Southern Idaho, North Dakota, where the fallout went, it rained. The fallout went to the ground. The cattle ate the grass. They milked the cows and shipped that milk to the inner cities in the Midwest. Chicago, Kansas city also has high fallout and Kodak was aware of that. The government made Kodak aware, but did not make ordinary citizens. And the last thing that I really want to say is that, you know, this is important. Ian Zabate 05:52:31 It's just not me. It's average citizens like yourself. People like me, average people that we ban the bomb. We ended the cold war. We stopped you off the mountain. That's what normal people can do. So I appreciate your interest. And I appreciate all the people who are listening because that's what it takes. And what I mean, we ban the bomb. In 1986 to 1990s, we had massive protests at the Nevada test site, 30,000 people coming out there. I issued thousands of permits to be on Shoshone treaty territory. That's why the department of energy can't prove ownership to anything out there. They're there in secret trespassing. But what we did was brought thousands of people out to the test site. We pushed and pressured for a nuclear weapons test moratorium. We did that normal people. We also pressured the world health organization for an advisory on the illegality of nuclear weapons. We also pressured the UN general assembly for an advisory opinion on the illegality of nuclear weapons in 1995 and 1996, the world court held its trial and found that nuclear weapons are illegal and immoral. And the only acceptable case would be self-defense except that would be a crime to use these indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction that led further for peace loving nations to press for this treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. And that's what we have that went into effect January 22nd, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:05 This sounds like grounds for refiring up in a good way, the protests and the demonstrations and the pushback from those of us who are just common ordinary citizens. But we need to have a voice in this because this is our future. If people wish to join you and support the work that you are obviously in a leadership position on with others, I assume, where can they go? What can they do so that if they're fired up now, there'll be able to join with you and spread their energy to yours. Ian Zabate 05:54:37 Next week, we're having a native American forum on nuclear issues. It'll be virtual. You can go to our website, native community action, council.org, that's native community action council, one word that orgy and register. We're going to have a week of events. And we're going to talk about these issues. We're going to talk about how normal people make these things happen. We need to continue to put pressure on our governments. And in the United States, I have a letter to president Biden. It speaks of how we should not be subjected to weapons of war in a civil society. These weapons, eight Ks AAR's and nuclear weapons violate every Indian peace treaty. And we need enforcement, neat, regular normal Americans like you, and like me to stand up and find their responsibility under the United States constitution to follow the Supreme law of the land. Article two six, section six, which includes treaties and the treaty of Ruby valley, which is what we stand for Vermont Libbe HaLevy 05:55:39 In principle, man of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians. And, and I kept talking after this interview and the information he was sharing is so compelling that we're going to have him back next month for a full length interview. Meanwhile, in also wanted you to know about next week's five nights of programming, the native American forum running April 26 through Ian Zabate 05:56:06 We are hosting the 2021 native American forum on nuclear issues. We have a good lineup of speakers will be every day, next week, beginning on the 26th Chernobyl day, between five and seven every night, and ending with the live panel on Friday, the 30th with Winona, Lou duke, and several other good speakers. This is entirely indigenous event, indigenous organized indigenous run, and we're focusing on indigenous issues. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:32 We will have a link to sign up for the native American forum next week on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode number 513 and in a separate item, there's going to be a Navajo power energy round table on April 22nd and 23rd in the morning with a focus on expanding the renewable energy economy. We'll link to that one as well. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, April 20th, 2021. If you'd like to get each week's episode of nuclear hot seat delivered to your inbox, it's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box and sign up for one equally email, which contains the link to the latest show and brief write up of what's inside it. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, go to the website, click on the big red button and know that however much you can support us. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:41 We're deeply grateful. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2020 Leiby at hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with a date that a nuclear emergency begins, but as Chernobyl proves, we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it is never over. That's your nuclear wake-up call. Don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:20 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #512: LA’s Deadly Nuclear Nightmare Film: “Cancer Moves Faster than Bureaucracy” – Santa Susana Field Lab Documentary URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/las-deadly-nuclear-nightmare-santa-susana-field-lab-documentary/ Published: 2021-04-14 Duration: 00:59:01 LA's Deadly Nuclear Nightmare: Santa Susana Field Labs New documentary tells story of how Melissa Bumstead (above with daughter Grace Bumstead) came to spearhead the drive to clean up the radioactive, toxic site located just 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. This Week's Featured Interview: LA's Deadly Nuclear Nightmare – Simi Valley mother Melissa Bumstead only found out about the toxic, radioactively contaminated Santa Susan Field Lab – located less than three miles from her home – while her daughter was being treated for neuroblastoma – a rare cancer. Her story, the history of the site, the litany of official lies that has tried to cover it up, and the decades of fightback to force a full clean-up is the subject of a new documentary, In the Dark of the Valley. We interviewed Melissa and the film's producer, Derek Smith on April 9, 2021. LINKS mentioned in the interview: To get tickets to In the Dark of the Valley (good until April 20, 2021, at the Cleveland Film Festival. INTERNATIONAL LISTENERS, PLEASE NOTE: Only US access from the streaming platform. When an International link becomes available, we'll let you know.) Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) Includes ways to get involved, an events calendar, updates, research links, and more.PETITION FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE CLEANUP OF THE SSFL Join more than 730,000 people who have already signed! Denise Duffield, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los AngelesDan Hirsch, Committee to Bridge the Gap LA’s Deadly Nuclear Nightmare – Melssa Bumstead testifying before CA State Water Board, illustrating her daughter's cancer treatments. Each bead in the yards-long "necklace" equals one medical treatment. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Gigayacht floating science lab!  All Green Technology!  Except… you guessed it… Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Childhood cancer. It's a terrible diagnosis, a terrible trauma for the child and for their entire families. And one that leads parents from around the world to bring their children to children's hospital in Los Angeles for treatment. But imagine if, as you sit in the waiting room with other parents whose kids are also in for similar treatment, you begin to notice that a lot of them too many for coincidence are from your exact same neighborhood. And then you realize Melissa Bumstead 00:00:35 Pediatric cancer is incredibly rare. There should be no way that another child lives on our street. And he did. I could just almost point to exactly where all the kids in our community live with cancer nearby. So as we started learning about that, we've mapped ourselves out on Google maps, all of the parents who met each other and started wonder, and in the middle of a big 10 mile ring, it was the first time I saw something called the Santa Susana field lab. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:01 Well, there is nothing on earth, more powerful than a parent, especially a mother defending her child against whatever threatens their safety and what it means, protecting them and everyone else from a radiological dumping ground and nuclear meltdown site virtually in your own backyard that you didn't know about. And it's less than 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. You can't avoid the fact that your home, your neighborhood, your subdivision town and city are smack in the middle of that dangerous seat that we all share. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:12 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk about an exciting new documentary film about the Sadducees Ana field lab, the toxic radioactive former rocket dine site, only 30 miles Northwest of downtown Los Angeles. We talk with Derek Smith, one of the producers of that film and Melissa Bumstead, the Simi valley mother who put together the picture of childhood cancer cases in proximity to that site and has been a towering force in fighting for a full cleanup to background levels. Ever since we will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information, then we will ever hear from math gates, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, April 13th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:30 And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off in Japan, where after months of hints and semi statements that conditioned us to what's happening now, Japan has finally announced to nobody's surprised that it will release more than 1 million tons of radioactively contaminated water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific ocean. A decision that has angered neighboring countries, including China and Korea, as well as those in the local fishing industry, Japanese prime minister, Yosha HiTA Suga previously said that the government had put off figuring out what to do with all of the radioactively contaminated water building up at the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant for long enough. And it was time to start dumping it into the ocean soup. His hand was forced given that the facility will soon run out of space to store contaminated groundwater that has been seeping into it. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:30 This according to the Japan times, SOGA is also framing the controversial plan to release the water into the Pacific ocean as unavoidable, a few lies or misrepresentations to be aware of in the stories that are coming out, Tokyo electric power company TEPCO as well as Japanese government officials say that tritium the radioactive material most prominent, but not the only radioactive material in the water is quote, not harmful in small amounts. That completely ignores the problem of bioaccumulation where a small amount of radiation gets eaten by plankton gets eaten by larger critters, get eaten by small fish, large fish, larger fish. And then by us also, according to the beer seven report, biological effects of ionizing radiation, there is no such thing as a safe dose of radiation. It all counts it all bioaccumulates and it's all bad to other misrepresentations. They like to say releasing the water into the sea. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:33 Every time you hear that you need to replace it with Pacific ocean. And also the claim that they will be diluting the Trinity aided water that is in the water tanks so that it is safe. But the problem is with the concept of diluting radiation, because the smallest possible unit that releases radiation is a single Adam. What they are talking about is not diluting like with the poison, where it gets less and less and less powerful and potent and dangerous. But what they're doing is dispersing it, meaning spreading it out further. It may be just a single atom, but all the single atoms are going farther and farther away to more and more places. And every one of them can create danger. And if that's not enough, according to the, my Nietzsche, which is a major Japanese new source of the 85,000 containers, holding radioactive waste placed in radiation controlled areas of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the contents of about 4,000 have not been identified. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:45 And this again is according to TEPCO, the company says it will formulate a survey plan and proceed to determine what they hold G. So soon, last month, TEPCO confirmed that the contents of a container in the waste storage area at the nuclear facility were leaking due to corrosion at the bottom of it. When the Fukushima prefectural government inspected the site, it also found four containers. The tech code didn't know about the maximum radiation level on the surface of the containers was 1.5 millisievert per hour. Meanwhile, the government of Japan is offering lucrative grants to keep aging nuclear reactors running. The central government of Japan is offering billions of yen in new grants to Fukui prefecture to allow a nuclear plant operator to run its aging reactors beyond their planned operational life span of 40 years. Up to 2.5 billion yen or 22.6 million us dollars will be provided per nuclear reactor to a prefecture preparing to respond to the extension of the 40 year life of the reactors. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:58 So it's not a grant. It's a bribe Osaka based consign electric power company is pushing to reactivate three reactors and Fukui prefecture to at the Takayama nuclear plant in Taka Hama. And one in Mahama putting them in line for 7.5 billion yen or something over 67 million us dollars, but, but Fukushima radioactive waste the citizen's data radiation map of Japan, which shows that the radiation from Fukushima went through out the country over to the U S where more than three years after he and six other nuclear activists entered Kings bay Naval base home to six Trident nuclear submarines in order to peacefully protest nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war. A federal judge sentenced mark Coalville to 21 months in prison. Mark is the last of the Kings bay plow shares seven to be sentenced prior to the trial, mark had already served about 15 months of his sentence, which will count towards his 21 months. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:13 Mark told the court that it's refusal to recognize the right of his family and community quote to live without a nuclear gun on hair trigger alert, held perpetually to our heads has placed it firmly in a posture of criminality. He went on to say, this government in its lawlessness has hidden first strike weapons with enough firepower to kill 6 billion people. The court has a responsibility to allow the law to be applied beyond the fence at Kings bay offense that I, and my loved ones with much fear and trembling freely answered the call of faith, the call of conscience and the call of generations yet unborn to breach as with all six of his co-defendants. Mark was also ordered to share a payment of restitution of 33,500, $3 and 51 cents suppose the damages incurred, but that's calculated at government rates. So if you take out the pork and the fluff, it's probably $142. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:15 Mark was also sentenced to three years of supervised provision as to his co-defendants four remain in jail. But another father, Steve Kelly was freed from prison today after three years and eight days imprisoned in various county jails and federal facilities in court today, he admitted to the probation violations and was given time served and set free. Having served the maximum six months. In addition to his Ploughshares sentence, Steve exited the courthouse to be greeted by 40 supporters who had been visualing outside. Now he's required to report to the probation department in Georgia within three days to begin three years of supervised release as part of the King's bay plow share sentence, he has already announced that he does not intend to comply with that and is expecting a visit from us marshals. For those of you planning, hiking, backpacking and sightseeing trips to the grand canyon, you need to know that just 10 miles south of the entrance to the south rim of the grand canyon, the canyon mine hopes to strike it big mining. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:20 One of Earth's deadliest elements, uranium, the mine extends over 1400 feet down into the earth surface and critics, AKA sane people worry. It could scar the grand canyon itself and pollute a nearby tribe's water. Since 2016 canyon, mine has been taking on water. And as of the end of 2020, over 40 million gallons of water contaminated with constituents, including, but not limited to uranium and arsenic have been pumped out the mind shaft almost 10 million gallons in 2020 alone. Also in 2020 uranium levels in the mineshaft water we're on average four times the environmental protection agency's safe, drinking water standard already. Certain areas of the grand canyon have marked off water sites as being inappropriate for hikers and backpackers to use because of uranium contamination and eternal perpetual risk is the aquifer underlying the area and the entire system of seeps and Springs of the grand canyon that feed the homelands of the harvest Supai tribe and a footnote to history. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:34 Every time I try and post about this on the Facebook grand canyon hikers and backpackers page, it gets deleted in Florida. The nuclear regulatory commission has proposed a $150,000, fine to Florida power and light company for falsifying plant records and recording inaccurate data in their maintenance records at the Turkey point nuclear power plant south of Miami, after two investigations completed in 2020, the NRC determined that Florida power and light employees in 2019 falsified information in a work order associated with the inspection and maintenance of a safety related check valve. The second investigation confirmed that two technicians deliberately provided inaccurate information in maintenance records related to a mispositioned plant component. The NRC also found a supervisor and a department head influenced others within the department to conceal this maintenance error citing the grave threat scientific American magazine announced that it would stop using the term climate change in its articles about man-made global warming and substitute climate emergency. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:51 Instead scientific American senior editor mark for Shetty said journalism should reflect what science says. The climate emergency is here in Greenland that country's left-wing environmentalist party has won the election after it promised to halt a mining project that could have made Greenland a major source of rare earth and uranium, but at a potentially steep environmental price. This issue was the topic of a film by Liza auto Gina Connor suit Kayvon field, which was featured at the 2019 international uranium film festival held in window rock New Mexico on Navajo nation land. If you want to learn more of the background on this mine, we interviewed Liza for nuclear hot seat, number 3 85, which aired on November 7th, 2018, the executive director of the international uranium film festival Norbert Sukenick pointed out the parallels between what happened in Greenland and what happened in Portugal, where farmers in the town of Nisa voted against a uranium, mine being located next to their lands in the film cheese, instead of uranium by Sukenick. One of the farmer says no one will buy meat from a lamb that has lived next to a uranium mine. And now Libbe HaLevy  01:15:30 A mammoth 984 foot Giggy yacht is planned to sail the open seas while housing 160 scientists working on board 22 laboratories and in a giant space sphere. This vessel is guaranteed to be packed with green technology and the capacity to hold more than 400 people and introduce features found on cruise expedition, research and luxury yachts and more Naval architect. Yvonne solace Jefferson said we wanted to create a design that would inspire them to protect the earth, to become an elk, a mist of global solutions, and what powers this giga yacht nuclear, a molten salt reactor. So forget about clean green and saving the planet. And all those scientists are going to be on board. The brainiacs behind this giga yacht, which is not supposed to launch until 20, 25 and may not get there. All of you are this weeks. No Libbe HaLevy  01:16:43 Nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. It's just the nature of the beast from uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is industry and government run riot, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking that they are not affected by the consequences of their actions when they most definitely are. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever. That's why you need nuclear hot seat to get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as the healthy dose of skepticism and with a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:40 We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective and even one possible humor. That is why now would be the right time to support us with a donation. It's easy. Just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly recurring donation. If you make it $5, that's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S so treat nuclear hot seat to a metaphoric cup of coffee. Please do what you can now so that we can keep bringing you stories and episodes like this one, and know that however much you can help us out. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:38 Now here's this week's featured interview. Films can change the world, especially when they pulled the curtain back on previously underreported, nuclear accidents, problems, and dangers. We saw this happen for north St. Louis with the film atomic Homefront, which influenced the federal government to get off its Duff and Institute a cleanup of the toxic radioactive waste dump. That is the Westlake landfill. That was a result of years of constant consistent pushing and community organizing by just moms STL, a group founded and led by local moms, Dawn Chapman, and Karen nickel. Now another group headed by another mom who is fighting for her children and by extension all the rest of us. And that pits her against the site of the worst nuclear meltdown in American history thought to have released as much as 200 times, the radiation as three mile island. And now there's a film about that woman and that battle, Melissa Bumstead and her daughter, grace are the focus of in the dark of the valley, a new documentary that brilliantly recounts the history of the saddest Susana field lab, just north of Los Angeles and the struggle to get it cleaned up. We talk with Melissa and one of the producers of the film, Derek Smith, when it's over, we'll let you know how you can view in the dark of the valley digitally. For a limited period of time, I spoke with Melissa Bumstead and Derek Smith on Friday, April 9th, 2021, Melissa Bumstead and Derek Smith. Thank you so much for joining me today on nuclear hot seat. Melissa Bumstead 02:20:24 Thank you so much for having us. Thanks for having us. And again, really thank you for watching and having a platform that speaks to this. It's an honor to be on here. So thank you. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:35 Let's get started with a little bit of background from you, Melissa. You have been spearheading the fight for the cleanup of satis Susanna field lamp for many years. Now, the audience may not be familiar with your story probably of them are not. So please explain how and why you got involved in this fight. Melissa Bumstead 02:20:53 The cleanup fight has actually been going much longer than I have been involved with it, committed to bridge the gap physicians for social responsibility, three incredible ladies over in Simi valley, I am an accidental activist and I didn't get involved until about five or six years ago. After my daughter was diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of leukemia and through treatment at children's hospital, Los Angeles, we just kept meeting more and more families that live nearby. Pediatric cancer is incredibly rare. It should, there should be no way that another child lives on our street. And he did. I could just almost point to exactly where all the kids in our community live with cancer nearby. So as we started learning about that, we've mapped ourselves out on Google maps, all of the parents who met each other and started wonder, and in the middle of a big 10 mile ring, it was the first time I saw something called the Santa Susana field lab. Melissa Bumstead 02:21:48 And through a lot of research, talking with epidemiologist experts came to find out that it's the site of one of America's worst nuclear accidents, potentially releasing over 200 times the amount of radiation with one of their reactor meltdowns 200 times more than the three mile island. And so I've kind of dedicated my life these last few years, sharing my daughter's story. I think that's, what's really move some mountains for us is people see now that the children that their choices are affecting and impacting and doing all we can. It's definitely out of my comfort zone. I feel like every morning I wake up at zero and try to figure out, learn what I need to do today. You know, it's so important. And it wasn't until recently we realized how widespread this problem was. We're hoping that with a really comprehensive cleanup that we're fighting for here might even help it set a new standard across the nation of what a cleanup should look like. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:44 Here's hoping what has been the hardest thing, the hardest block you have faced during your time in the struggle Melissa Bumstead 02:22:52 For me, I think the PTSD for a while, we were still adding kids that we met to the little map that we had made. And I found myself grieving for one to two days every time, because it just made me remember the day my daughter was diagnosed and the day she relapsed and got the bone marrow transplant, mental health days, I take them frequently because very personal, you know, this isn't a story or someone else's home. This is my home and my community and my children do. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:20 What is your background as a filmmaker? When did you first become aware of the saddest Susana field lab and what led you to consider it as the subject of a film? Melissa Bumstead 02:23:31 Nicholas Mim and I went to school together, we went to Arizona state, my brother who's the third producer and he was the cinematographer on the job. Well, he's my brother. So we all came together after graduation and sort of formed a company. And what we're doing from time to time was we were working on client projects, like little two to four to five minute videos here and there. Some of them were in style magazine, outside magazine, so on and so forth. And then, and February of 2018 change.org reached out and Melissa called herself an accidental activists. We were accidentally interested, I guess you could say in a sense, because we had no idea about Santa Susanna and we were living, I want to say 25 miles away from the site. I'd lived in LA for eight years. Same for Nick, same for Brandon and change that org came to us with a petition video for four to seven minutes. Melissa Bumstead 02:24:27 They wanted a video, which was the change.org existing video now for the petition. And what we realized through that project was holy smokes. Four to seven minutes is not enough time to tell this story. We also know now that a hundred minutes, isn't enough time to tell this story, but we're getting there. We're getting closer. So we spent from essentially February, 2018 until a couple of weeks ago, trying to download every bit of knowledge that we could and to try and tell this story through, you know, the lens that is the amazing Melissa Bumstead. And we are so grateful for the opportunity because, you know, not only do you learn a lot and become aware of your surroundings and the community that you raised in and that you live in, but you meet these amazing folks, Melissa, Denise, Stan, all these people in the film. And it's just like you wake up in the morning and you think about what they're doing every day. And you're like, okay, you know what? I should put my socks on and go drink coffee and get things going because they're inspiring. So long story short change.org introduced us originally to the project. And we independently wanted to tell the objective story. And that led us to you. What Libbe HaLevy  02:25:39 I'm shocked you most about the information that you learned in the course of your research? Melissa Bumstead 02:25:45 I think initially just because the visual in itself, in the film, you see Melissa standing at a podium, this is early on in her activist days, I believe. And she's talking about how she started to recognize different cases in her neighborhood and in the film, there's this visual where we sort of pull out of a map and you see the little dots that Melissa originally drew up for us of where these cancer cases were, where these different individuals, primarily children were and what cancers they had. And once you see the visual of that, it's much different than hearing it or reading it. And you're like, oh my gosh, they're all extremely close together. And then you start the domino effect, which is okay, it's a 60% increase of cancer rates in the area. I think by definition, even though it can't be proved, seems to be a cancer cluster. From that point on, it was an avalanche of information that we still stumble on. We'll email Melissa and Denise and Dan, and be like, are we getting this right? And they'll be like, no, you're not, but here's the right answer. And so it's, there's a lot, but I think at the end of the day, it's you recognize one thing that happened, there was an issue, there was negligence, there was an action and it led to a valley that is struggling with the effects of it. Libbe HaLevy  02:27:05 Alyssa, what was it like for you to be approached, to be part of, and certainly a focus of this film? Or did you approach them as the potential focus? How did that come about? Melissa Bumstead 02:27:17 They approached me. And like you said, through the change.org video, pretty much anyone who's going to play around with my kids and be friendly is someone I'm going to trust, you know, someone who gets kids to me, that's a easy way to know who's a good person. And only the day maybe two that they shot at my house. So I think it was one day for probably even less than an hour or so. My kids were practically hanging off of them, begging them not to leave. So when they came back awhile later and said, we were thinking about doing this film, they were, I'd actually gotten a couple other offers and then it just didn't feel right. And I knew if this story was going to be told, it would be very difficult to not put a political slant on it, not to put a core me slant on it, not to put a like super woman slammed on it. You know, there's just so many nuances of what's happening here. And I felt these are the only guys who I would trust to tell this story. And then, and I was just blown away by not only the beautiful work they did and catching the intimacy and the nuances of the problem, you know, they're just really nice guys. My family loves having them over when they came over. I think we'll be a little bit sad now, the films over, Melissa Bumstead 02:28:27 Thank you. And to keep going, Melissa, tell us more about great way, but doesn't mean a lot, Libbe HaLevy  02:28:35 Derek, you explained that this is kind of an old school family based friend based project, at least in terms of your company, how did the project come together as a project, as opposed to just a really good idea, Melissa Bumstead 02:28:50 A lot of support, a lot of help from those that are around us, even people that are directly related to the film like Melissa and her family. I mean, anytime we needed something, people were always making themselves available to us. And at the end of the day, these things don't get done without community, a team effort and help they're little things that you don't really think about, like the menu details of animation and the scheduling of animation and things like that, that are part of the film. And so being able to have someone like Lisa Kelly, who is our animation director on the film, come in and just put endless hours with her team, taking unnecessary pay cuts in order to do it because they believed the story and they were affected emotionally by Melissa and the other mothers. It was something like that where people, they started to see the trailer and the sizzle, and they became attached to it and they wanted to help. Melissa Bumstead 02:29:47 And so, because of that, I think that's why the project got done. There was a will on Nick shoulders, the director to edit the film when we weren't able to really combat the COVID situation. And so he sort of took it into his hands and started editing the film and Brandon and I were in separate locations. So what we were doing, what we could to help him out and assist him with his edit. But I think you get to a point where you realize, no, one's going to finish this unless we take the initiative. And Nick did that. And then we had a crazy amount of generous help support from friends, family, community members. Yeah. It doesn't get done without everyone. That's what took it from an idea to a finished problem. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:29 Did you have the backing of any kind of major production outlet or distribution outlet, any big name behind it? Melissa Bumstead 03:30:39 Early on, we had a friend who worked with an executive village roadshow television, and in between one of our close friends, she had helped on the film as well. And she connected us with her friend at village road show. We went in and met with them and she became a huge part of the project. And she was at the most. I'm not sure if you met her, but Shannon was at the 60th anniversary issues where, and I guess early on village road show decided that they would help in shopping the film, but financially it was independent outside of village roadshow. There wasn't any other connection Libbe HaLevy  03:31:15 I have to break in here with how much in admiration I am of the finished product, because the pacing of it, the editing of it, the thoroughness of the information and the clarity with which it is presented is truly remarkable. It's an incredibly complex story with a lot of moving parts. And my sense of it is even for somebody who knew nothing about Santa Susana field lab, it plays it out in such a way that you stick with it. And the animation is brilliant. It illustrates it without being too precious or look at me or isn't this being cutesy. It all worked. So my hats off to the entire team that put this together, and I was in tears within the first two minutes. It's a remarkable film. And I put my heartiest indorsement behind it for anybody who is open to being educated by it. Getting back to how the film played out. How far along were you in the shooting when in 2018, the Woolsey fire, which broke out on the Santa Susana field lab and added a whole other dimension to the story. How far along were you with it? When Woolsey broke out, Melissa Bumstead 03:32:30 We're having conversations with Melissa. This was November of 2018 having conversations we had just shot, I guess it was the week before with her on how the Wayne a nice afternoon evening and with us and her family, where we all went trick or treating and probably had too much candy. And we were having conversations about how to wrap the film up, what the Indian was going to be. And then out of nowhere, the Woolsey fire hits and what you started to learn. I think Denise sent the first email to us, Denise Duffield who's KSR LA in the film. She sent the first email about where the possible location of the starting point of the fire was, and that potentially being on the site. And so we said to ourselves, okay, we need to take a step back here and see how this story develops and how it'll play its way into Alyssa story, but also the effects of Santa Susanna. And from there things sort of just snowballed because we met more people, people were willing to speak up. I think because much like you see in the film, the Kardashians sort of brought it back to the public's attention. And after that happened, people were willing to talk for us. That was nice to finally get some yeses per se, to interview requests. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:44 I wanted to get to that point because there are a few places in the film where you put up informational cards with writing on them, that speak to the fact that despite requests, the department of energy, the California department of toxic substances control DTSC bowling and others had interview requests that they turned down, they did not want to be interviewed for this film. Were you expecting that? How did you roll with that information when it came in? Melissa Bumstead 03:34:16 Yeah, we were expecting that. And I know with those companies, agencies, organizations that they deal with plenty of media requests on a daily basis. So when something from three unknown filmmakers comes in their way, they think, eh, you know, we don't need to worry about that. So declined to comment was to be expected and to be fair, understood. Because again, we were three on our three unknown filmmakers and, you know, in their eyes, as far as a company goes, there's no reason to reach out unless they really have something they want to say. And I think there's more to that maybe in the subtext, but no, we weren't necessarily surprised by that. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:57 Melissa, as Derek mentioned, you received support from Kim Kardashians in regard to Santa Susana field lab. How did that happen? How did that come about? What did that look like and what might that speak to about her continuing involvement? Melissa Bumstead 03:35:16 Well, first I want to say that Kim and Courtney Kardashian are lovely women and really fierce moms. You know, you see the Hollywood them and then them at home. And I was just really so thankful they got involved. It started with the Woolsey fire and we tweeted out, we were concerned because we had tried to reach the California air quality control actually did reach them the board. They decided not to issue a air quality warning. And we were concerned the next day that the children would be out in their schools, breathing in what has proven to be contaminated, smoke and Ash. Well, we know at least from the water. So she saw our tweet. She retweeted it. All of a sudden we have a hundred thousand new signatures on the petition. And again, like, like Derek said, that brought in other elected officials, people maybe who had kind of been on the sidelines realizing, you know, I think she's got like 80 million followers on Twitter. Melissa Bumstead 03:36:14 She's a powerhouse. I think people don't really quite realize that. And so when she was willing to get involved with us, she actually had Denise and I, and another friend on the show, keeping up with the Kardashians. They came to our 50th anniversary event and they just continue to tweet. They tweeted about the film coming out the other day, they've tweeted about, you know, when we got into really serious situations where we needed public attention to be focused on they'll, they'll tweet about it. So they've just been very generous with their privilege. And we're incredibly thankful for them Libbe HaLevy  03:36:47 Now that the film has started to pop out through a film festival circuit, a digital film festival circuit, it's still in limited accessibility, but what has been the response to it, Melissa? What has been the response within the moms and the community that you're in contact with around Santa Susana field lab, Melissa Bumstead 03:37:09 All the families that I know have just been sending in text messages and calls and emails saying how grateful they are, that the story was told, a lot of the families on the film have lost children. I know for my daughter, it's, it's empowering when you see that you've suffered, but now there's something that might come good of it or might be able to stop other children from getting cancer. So there's a lot of gratitude. And again, I think an appreciation for how tenderly they treated the subject, you know, I'm looking forward to it going to even bigger, which I know it will. It's not that anybody wants SFL to be a household name. And yet I think that's what we need to get our cleanup. And then again, to take that to other places across the nations, Libbe HaLevy  03:37:55 I think the parallel for me would be the film atomic Homefront and what that did to focus attention on the need for the Westlake landfill clean up in north St. Louis. And it was successful in really accelerating and putting undeniable attention on an issue in a way that wouldn't happen from just a bunch of people calling a representative and being moved off. Derek, how about you? What have you been hearing back about the film? Melissa Bumstead 03:38:24 My mom said she loved it. We've been hearing great things, but I think for us it's tricky because for us, the thing that's most important is that we want people to see it for the sake of the community, for the sake of Melissa and everyone to bring awareness to it. So being able to get it out in front of his business people as we can, even in these early stages, we're in our second festival. And again, like I told you in the beginning, it's only available because of COVID and the virtual situation. We're just trying to strategize how we can get it in front of as many eyes as we can, knowing that, you know, feedback's going to be mixed. Of course, we're going to have negative views. That's fine. That comes with the territory. But the goal is to get eyes on it and bring awareness to it. Melissa Bumstead 03:39:10 So, so far so good on the heels of what Melissa said earlier, Kim and Courtney Kardashian using their platform to raise awareness and to put eyes on the film and the situation, things like that. I would call that a little thing, but it's not, it's a huge thing. Things like that make a big difference and make you feel like, okay, we're doing something that might create some traction. Fingers crossed. Hopefully it picks up. And like Melissa said, Santa Susanna can be put in different areas around this country, the map and the film shows there's quite a few of them. So there are a lot of communities that have similarities with semi valley and the surrounding area. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:52 What are the distribution plans for the film? Melissa Bumstead 03:39:55 Oh gosh, we're so green. We're so new to this. Cross our fingers and say a couple of prayers. I guess we are going to enjoy the festival circuit for a couple of reasons. It was something that we always wanted to do for a little bit, but also because we have a little more control, might be the wrong word, but we have a little more hands-on control in the sense that we know where it's going, as opposed to when distribution hits a situation like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, that's the dream. That would be amazing. But we also know that there's this stage a layer of views that come before that and being that this is a current issue. We'll gladly speak with anyone that's interested, but we're going to enjoy the festival circuit while it's available to us. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:46 Where is the film available right now, as we are talking on April 9th, 2021, Melissa Bumstead 04:40:54 It is available through the Cleveland international film festival streaming platform. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:00 We will link to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode number 512, because we think it's really important that people take a look at what this story is. I've covered it in chunks through the years, including interviewing Dan Hirsch, Denise Duffield Melissa. I have been at some of the events that they've had. This is a thorough soup to nuts covering that really gets into all the details in the right way. And that brings me to the heart of the movie and the heart of the movie. Melissa, is you and your daughter, the moms, the kids, the ones that have survived, and the ones who sadly have not. There was a moment in the beginning of the film that shows you speaking in front of, I forget what group of quote unquote experts it was, Melissa Bumstead 04:41:58 Was a meeting in front of the Los Angeles water control department that we were testifying right after the Woolsey fire. They had 57 exceedences, which is huge. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:09 I actually have a neighbor who works for DTSC and I saw her while the Woolsey fire was still burning. And she said, oh yeah, we've been out there. There's not a problem. And she couldn't hear it, but she also doesn't wear a mask. So that's just who she is. But what really struck me in that first two minutes of the film was you saying, speaking of your daughter and the picture of love that you have for your child, for your children and beyond that for the other children really touched my heart. But in this case you held up a necklace of beads and you said that for each one of the procedures she goes through, she gets, what were they called? A courage Melissa Bumstead 04:42:52 Beads of courage is a foundation that gives these out to pediatric cancer children. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:57 And it was this, you know, pretty much, I mean, if it was pearls, it would be like mid-length necklace. And you said that was from her first month and here's what else she has gone through. And you started pulling out yard after yard, after year. And it was such a visual that my mind was rioting and thinking, stop already stop. How can somebody that young be put through so much is just heartbreaking. And from that human beginning to then find out the malfeasance and the lies and the cover up and all the rest of it, and then bring it back to the mothers, the children in north St. Louis. It was the mothers who did it here again. It is the mothers who are bringing this forward was tremendously powerful because it put a human face. And I have to ask, how has your daughter doing now? Melissa Bumstead 04:44:00 Thank you for asking. Yeah, she's three years cancer-free she had an anonymous donor, 10 out of 10 match saved her life with a bone marrow transplant. So we're incredibly thankful, but I will also say that she will have lifelong health effects from the treatment she received to save her life. And 80% of all pediatric cancer survivors will have a life threatening health condition by age 40. I just want to throw that in because people, I don't think people realize how traumatic childhood cancer is. They think it's sad because they lost their hair, but is inhumane. And so we're so thankful she's a survivor. We're so thankful that she's doing so well. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:39 You've already put this out Derek a little bit, but if you were to put out a vision of where this film would go, what it would achieve and what it would lead to say for your career, as well as to the cleanup of Sadducees Zana, what would that be? Melissa Bumstead 04:44:58 Well, you mentioned atomic home front, and I'll say that that's something that we watched early on because we were trying to download sort of information and how to, to tell a story like this. They did an amazing job to get that in front of the public's eye. And I think looking forward that is the goal, get it in front of the public side. However that happens. That's how we'll take it. And we know technology is evolving and moving quickly, and there seems to be a new streaming platform every day it's available. So whoever is interested in putting Melissa and Gracie story on their streaming platform. We'll take that with the world. That that would be amazing. And in terms of career, I don't know. I don't, I'm not sure this is current and this is present and this takes priority over everything. So I haven't really thought that far ahead. I'm not sure. I'm not sure what I'm having for dinner tonight. So that might just be me Libbe HaLevy  04:45:57 And Melissa, where do you see this going and how much longer, how much further, how much harder are we going to have to push and how much smarter are we going to have to push to get this cleanup? Melissa Bumstead 04:46:12 Well, I think Derek was right saying like, it's a community effort in this situation. It's going to be a national effort. And I think that as more and more voices are starting to speak up saying, this is what's happening in my community. You know, the public awareness as a whole is I think they're going to start questioning what is happening first of all, and what is right and what is wrong and what are the policies and the laws in place that are allowing this to happen. And how can those be changed? Originally? This was not my direction for my life at a very quiet little life planned out, but it was really happy about, but now I feel like this is the path God has me on. And there's a lot of people who need help. It's like one of those situations, you can't unlearn it once you've learned it. Melissa Bumstead 04:46:57 And I don't know that I could sleep at night knowing that I wasn't still doing something to help when there's so many, even just locally, so many families suffering from this. So probably do this till I die. And hopefully that's not soon because it's so stressful, so stressful, so exhausting. But you know, luckily like Derek said, the one thing that comes out of this is how many amazing people that we've been able to meet the support networks that have come around us. So I know, I know we'll get through I'm, I've got a lot of hope and actually a huge amount of that hope comes from the documentary because it's so hard to learn about these things and so many levels and the documentary just really breaks through to help people understand. And again, not just the facts, but the heart of the real problem. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:46 Derek, if people were to contact you or get on a mailing list in your database somewhere to get updates about the film and where it is available, how can they do that? Melissa Bumstead 04:48:00 We do have a website. It is in the dark, the valley.com, very proud of getting that domain. And we're going to keep that platform active in terms of, you know, the media and future festivals, as well as story points. So for example, if something else breaks and the papers, or Melissa has more news for us, we're going to put it on that platform so that people are current. And that's something that we try to do towards the end of the film with the credits, because, you know, like I said, in the beginning, you can't tell the story in a hundred minutes. So we want to be able to give people a place to check in if they want to Libbe HaLevy  04:48:37 Great. We will link to that as well on nuclear, hot seat.com under this episode. Any final thoughts from either of you, Melissa Bumstead 04:48:46 I think, to be able to do what Melissa is doing and has been doing, and to take that on knowing what Gracie went through and then what Luke went through and what Chad or husband went through. I think that takes a special person and that's something that not all of us have characteristics that not all of us have. I certainly don't know how it's done. And I just want to say Melissa and the community that allowed us to come into their homes to answer question you asked before. And I didn't mention what I should have. That's how this project got done is is the community being open to us telling that story and Melissa being an Avenger of sorts, a superhero and allowing us to follow along tag along and loiter and various meetings that we're extremely grateful for. And we hope the final product tells their story in a way that makes her proud, Melissa, I know you're listening and you're right there, but that's what my final thought is. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:47 Melissa. Melissa Bumstead 04:49:48 It's hard to say anything after that, really, if people would like to sign our petition, it's changed.org, backslash Santa Susanna. We also have a parents against sfl.com where we have all of our updates and links and research. The one good thing that I've seen come through this, I think is that I think people underestimate their own power and their own importance from girl scout, troop leaders, to mailman, to dog walkers. I mean, each of us has like a little domino that is in the bigger game. And when we set them all in place, by doing whatever we can to make the world, right, you just never know what domino you're going to sit off what set of action that could really make a huge change without you realizing it. And so I don't think that you have to be trying to fight a nuclear meltdown site to really make a big difference in the world. And I would just so thankful for the people who've given what they have to give. And I think that is what makes all the differences when we all work together. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:50 I'm certainly grateful that the two of you work together to create what is, I believe ultimately, a game changing film as it comes to the awareness of more and more people. We'll certainly do what we can here on this show. And for now, besides my gratitude for the film that you made, I'm deeply grateful that you have been with me this week as my guests on nuclear hot seat. Melissa Bumstead 05:51:15 Thank you so much. Thank you for having us. It was Libbe HaLevy  05:51:18 A pleasure that was Simi valley, mother, Melissa Bumstead and film producer, Derek Smith. We will have links up on the website to parents against satis Susana field lab. And that link will lead you to ways to get involved. Their events, calendar updates, research links, and more. There will also be a link to the petition at change.org/santa Susanna, which calls for the comprehensive cleanup of the saddest Susana field lab site and has over 730,000 signatures make certain you add yours. And in the dark of the valley is available until April 20th, 2021 at the Cleveland international film festival. We'll have a link up to where you can buy your online ticket and we will keep you abreast of where the film will be available in the coming months. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:19 On a sad note, we wish to acknowledge the passing of activists, Phil Arnott, who is 96 and three quarters years old. Phil had been a world war II bomber pilot over Germany who became an environmental activist, anti-nuclear lecturer and storyteller. He worked with physicians for social responsibility and spoke with them as a volunteer, more than 50 times. He was based in Marin county, California, and he will be missed by his associates and all those who worked so steadfastly to tell the uncomfortable truths about nuclear and promote action against it. Speaking of action, there's been a lot of it. And some important zoom in ours are coming up and some important series have been posted. This is fast, but on April 15, the native American club will be presenting on Thermi issues, dangers and alternative energy options. The Fermier reactor is on the shores of lake Erie, halfway between Detroit, Michigan, and to Lido, Ohio featured speaker will be Jessie deer in water. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:28 And on April 24th, there will be a zoom in our, on building political support for the nuclear ban treaty. It will take place as of 10 30 in the morning, Eastern daylight time here in the United States and is being presented by the women's international league for peace and freedom. Fairwinds energy education has a new nuclear spring series, highly informative, highly vetted. This consists of videos and articles and beyond nuclear international has started a new series on talking points. Key message points needed to make the case against nuclear power drawn from scholarly works and peer reviewed reports and condensed into compelling arguments of fact. I wish I'd had these available almost 10 years ago when I was starting the show. In any event, we will link to all of this on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 512, and our thanks to both Fairwinds energy education and beyond nuclear international for highlighting to your followers, nuclear hot seat, episode number 509 3 mile island nuclear meltdown at 42, never forget nothing means more than the acknowledgement and respect of one's peers. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:48 And here's the latest nuclear hot seat ranking news. We just debuted in Norway at number 43 under business podcast. Now, if you'd like to help us accumulate more and better rankings on this new service that I'm using, just download nuclear hot seat from apple podcast, download a whole bunch of them. That can be in addition to getting it via email every week. If you've signed up to get the show that way it will all help to support some future moves that are being planned out for the show to expand and reach even more people. If you can help with that many things, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com the international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, or I can Kings bay plow share seven.org and that's the number seven, the center square.com grand canyon trust.org. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:53 The daily beast.com Erika gray, Jim Torson yahoo.com. The guardian.com futurism.com fairwinds.org. My nietzsche.jp NHK dot O r.jp asahi.com. New York times.com Norbert and the international uranium film festival luxury launches.com S gvv.org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you have an interest in a nuclear issue that was not covered on today's show, you can go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com and search for the subject of your choice. We have over 500 episodes with material in it and whatever your nuclear concern, you will find it there somewhere. Now I mentioned the email before, and I'm going to do it again. You can get nuclear hot seat delivered via email to your inbox every week. And it's real easy to do. Just go to nuclear hotseat.com, scroll down, or look around for the yellow opt in box and sign up with your first name and an email address to get the latest show. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:09 You will get it as soon as it is posted on the internet. If you have a story lead a hot tip or suggestion of someone who interview send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear hot seat.com. There's a great big red button there. And if you click on it and follow the prompts, no that anything you can do to help us out will help us out. And we really do appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that dangerously radioactive nuclear waste is for ever. So let's stop making any more of it. Now, there you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #511: Radiation Monitoring in USA? Let's go! - Rachel Clark URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-monitoring-in-usa-lets-go/ Published: 2021-04-07 Duration: 00:59:01 Radiation Monitoring – modeled by citizens in Japan, needed in USA and everywhere else because of manipulative nonsense like what's demonstrated in this cartoon. This Week's Featured interview: Radiation Monitoring in USA based on Japan's Citizen Activist model is the focus of our interview with this week's guest. Originally from Japan, Rachel Clark holds a degree in International Studies from Ramapo College of New Jersey. As an independent interpreter/global coordinator, her language capacity has been utilized in various international events: she supported former Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan at the Coalition Against Nuke’s Symposium in 2013; and former Mayor of Nago City, Okinawa, Susumu Inamine, when he made various official visits to New York and Washington DC in 2014 and 2015; former president of East Timor, José Ramos-Horta (Nobel Peace Prize laureate) onboard Peace Boat in 2018; and many others. She coordinated the English version of “Citizens’ Radiation Data Map of Japan,” which is now available in both digital and printed formats. We spoke on April 2, 2021.Email to contact Rachel Clark to be put on list to learn more about this program as it develops: RadiationMonitoringUSA@gmail.com Video from Rachel Clark that led to this episode: https://youtu.be/CTyFx_SuIWY LINKS from the interview: Minna No Data Site – EnglishCitizens’ Radiation Data Map of Japan – EnglishManhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World home pageManhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World – Youtube channelDownloadable 100 years map of Japan's radiation after Fukushima nuclear disaster Video from a measuring lab in Saitama Prefecture Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear radiation. We're conditioned to accept government and industry assurances that the radiation levels we face are safe. No matter how much common sense would point to the need for extreme skepticism of their dismissive statements. When we express concern. But in Japan, after Fukushima, local citizens took the matters into their own hands with amazingly positive results. And as one genuine expert tells us, it all began because Richael Clark 00:00:33 The government of Japan publicly announced the level of a soil contamination, but they never touched the soil. The number that they published was calculated a month from the air pollution level. So when the mom and pops found out about this bag, they got so scared. They have a children's who plays in the sandbox. They have a private vegetable gardens and so forth. They came to the conclusion, well, the government doesn't do it for us. We have to do it. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:06 And so they did, and they continue to, well, when you hear about citizen activists in Japan, who took radiation, measuring into their own hands after Fukushima and learned that this kind of program is necessary here in the United States, as well as all the other countries around the world, you get a sense of empowerment that yes, there is a way we can fight back against the governments and the nuclear. Industry's false assurances about nuclear and call out the truth about that awful seat that we all share. Announcer 00:01:42 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:12 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week and exciting interview. We talk with professional translator, Rachel Clark, who has worked directly with the Mino data site, the group that organized scientifically vetted research and testing for radiation levels in Japan, the group subsequently published a book and booklet in Japanese and in English that revealed Fukushima's radiation spread throughout that country. Racial is here in the United States and given her recent experience, which we will discuss. She has a vision for a similar program to test for radiation levels throughout the United States. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:16 And she also provides a first step for interested parties to take. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we will ever hear from the state of Florida, because, Hey, it's Florida. All of this coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, April 6th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. First, I have a correction to issue as to last week show number 510 in it. I interviewed Turkish journalist Pienaar Demmer, Sean covering two ongoing projects in Turkey, one on the Mediterranean to be run by Russians and the other one in the black sea, a project that is currently without a company. I mistakenly assigned both of these to Russia and apologized for the mistake. Now here's the news. Starting off with the story out of Canada, where former prime minister's Zsa criterion was revealed to be part of a secretive project to store nuclear waste in Labrador before the pandemic lockdown forced its cancellation, a meeting was planned in April, 2020, between former prime minister who has ties to the liberal government and prime minister, Justin Trudeau, former us government nuclear advisor, Tim Frasier, Montreal business, executive Elbert and influential figures in Japan's nuclear and public relations industry that would be dent to this was revealed in emails drafted in 2019 and 2020 that were obtained by radio Canada's on Queet and investigative program. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:08 The plan they were hiding was to bury nuclear waste from foreign countries in Labrador. Now that the cat is out of that bag, we will bring you more information as it appears in the United States in Florida, a state of emergency has been declared after a significant bleak at a large pond at the old Piney point, phosphate mine threatened to burst a system that stores water polluted with radioactive materials. More than 300 homes were ordered evacuated. And the highway closed off near the large reservoir, only 30 miles south of Tampa. The pond at the old Piney point, phosphate mine sits in a stack of FASFA gypsum, a waste product from manufacturing fertilizer that contains naturally occurring radium and uranium, and the stack can also release large concentrations of radioactive radon gas. The pending ecological disaster and resulting contamination has caused George Cruz and Manatee county commissioner to state. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:09 We determined that it was no longer safe to be anywhere near Piney point a February incident in the nuclear reactor at the national Institute of standards and technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland potentially admitted more radioactive material than initially thought. While officials were quick to announce that the radioactivity levels were quote unquote safe, the incident was significant enough to require at least 10 employees to undergo decontamination and force a rare evacuation of workers from the nuclear reactor facility on February 3rd, a fuel element and the reactor overheated beyond the limit of 450 degrees Celsius and suffered damage and alarm on the site warned of the radiation levels during a restart of the reactor from regularly scheduled maintenance. So the problem happened, quote, unquote, maintenance had occurred. The state of New Mexico has sued the U S nuclear regulatory commission over concerns that the federal agency hasn't done enough to vet plans for a multi-billion dollar facility by Holtec to store spent nuclear fuel in the state, arguing that the project would endanger residents, the environment and the economy New Mexico has accused the commission of colluding with Holtec in quote rubber stamping the proposal. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:32 The state argues that almost every interested party that has filed a challenge has been denied standing and an opportunity to meaningfully participate. The complaint says the NRCS mandate does not include policy setting or altering the public debate and emphatically cheerleading nuclear industry projects. Yet it is doing both to the detriment of New Mexico. One of the unaddressed ignored and suppressed problems with this numnuts plan to ship nuclear waste from reactors around the country to New Mexico. Is that of transport. A point made clear on March 31st, when a truck carrying radioactive uranium compounds crashed, crashed on the in Cumberland county, North Carolina, only 63 miles from Raleigh two of the 4,000 gallon containers of uranium hexafluoride on the truck fell off as the truck overturned, uranium hexafluoride can be used to make fuel for nuclear power plants. Drivers were evacuated from the area. The NRC has okayed plans to send radioactive waste to USC colleges, Idaho waste storage facility, about 60 miles south of Boise, B 5,200 cubic yards of radioactive sludge and debris would fill about 430 dump trucks and be transported to Idaho by truck and car. Remember the previous story connect the dots. And now Libbe HaLevy  00:09:12 Extinction rebellion describes itself as an international non-violent civil disobedience activist movement. That takes the view that the public deserves to know what credible scientists believed is the worst case scenario for the development of the climate and ecological crisis. Over the coming decades, the group has always been staunchly anti nuclear. So imagine the surprise and consternation, when a former spokeswoman for the group, a Ms. Zion lights is now touting nuclear as quote, the only option and quote a logical next step in fighting the climate crisis. She is also evoking her former position to shore up her current pro nuclear one, which of course is evoking glee. As it gives aid and comfort to those who promote all things nuclear, she has even taken a role at a campaign group that supports the building of the Sizewell sea nuclear power station in Suffolk, less than 100 miles from London, which is staunchly opposed by more than 100 Suffolk businesses, community groups, such as stop Sizewell sea and the campaign against nuclear expansion. It's even gotten support from celebrities, such as actor, bill Nighy and broadcaster, bill Turnbull, opposition keeps growing. Don't know why you did this Ms. Darkness, who got to you, what did they say? What did they offer? And how dare you used your warped thinking to twist your previous anti-nuclear stance into being the nuclear industry's favorite UK publicity lapdog. And that is why Zion light or whatever your real name is. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:11:03 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is government and industry not caring, how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking that they are immune to the consequences of their actions when they most definitely are not. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever. Let's be honest with each other. Nuclear is a deadly mess, and that is why you need nuclear hotseat to get into nuclear stories, with fact continuity and context, as well as skepticism and the occasional dollop of hope, we provide a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:12 Nuclear hot seat gets behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective and whenever possible humor. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is now where you can set up a monthly $5 donation. That's the same as spending it on a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the United States. So take nuclear hot seat out for a metaphor, a cup of coffee, and help us keep going. Please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here is this week's featured interview about two weeks ago, and alarming video showed up on social media from Rachel Clark about radiation dangers. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:15 She had discovered literally in her own backyard in Vermont, my outreach to her for a short follow-up interview on her video, morphed into today's feature, which includes a vision of how we can all become involved in documenting radiation dangerous in a way that counts and can be used to support the rest of our arguments. Originally from Japan, Rachel Clark holds a degree in international studies from Ramapo college in New Jersey as an independent interpreter global coordinator, her language capacity has been utilized in various international events. She supported the former prime minister of Japan now token at the coalition against nukes symposium in 2013 and former mayor of nego city Okinawa Schumer in a mini when he made various official visits to New York and Washington DC in 2014 and 2015, Rachel coordinated the English version of citizen's radiation data map of Japan, which is now available in both digital and printed formats. We spoke on April 2nd, 2021, Rachel Clark. It is so good to have you here with us today on nuclear hot seat. Richael Clark 01:14:30 Thank you so much for having me over. Oh, I'm so honored to be here today with you and with your audience. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:37 Let's give people a little bit of background on who you are and how you became involved in nuclear issues. Richael Clark 01:14:44 I am just ordinary and us citizen, and it was 2010 when I was working for a Japanese import export company. And there was some U N conference that was NPT nuclear non-proliferation review conference. That's been taking place every five years. And that particular year, the Heba cushion survivors of atomic bombs, their organization decided to send 150 delegations to New York. So separately they needed ad hoc integrators to cover those people. Right? So each one, I think we got the group of 32 predators and each one got 10 people in a group. We spread two different directions lobbying as well as we helped. They're giving testimonies to high school students, audience and things like that. So those three days changed my life completely. How did those three days change your life? First of all, the very first job that I did as an interpreter, that time was to work between you and ambassador of New Zealand and cautious. Richael Clark 01:15:58 After that, I thought this is my calling just to interpreting between Mr and Mr. Vino. No, there's something social meaning in between. So that kind of job has given me this great sense of accomplishment. I really wanted to pursue doing that. That's number one reason. Number two reason is I took some pushes to the high school where my younger daughter was going to at that time. And the audience reaction was great. And after that, I was called by one of the faculties saying that Mrs. Clark, did you know that this school, his Alma mater of Robert Oppenheimer? Oh my God. And just by coincidence at that time, my older daughter was going to the university of Chicago, which was a hub of the Manhattan project, of course. Okay. So 65 years later, I took Heba kosha to that high school. You know, this whole coincidence gave me just a chill and I thought, oh my God, I think it's going to be my lifetime job. Richael Clark 01:17:07 And that's how I am now. How did things change for you after Fukushima? Everything has changed. The big difference is the media, the mainstream media just gives us the surface, but the real news, you have to dig into it. As long as they have sponsors, they always cater for sponsors, net to readers and subscribers in ordinary people like me. So we'd have to dig into it. Then I started to look for independent investigative reporters, as well as my other personal jobs, as an interpreter for media people, newspaper reporters, and people like that gave me a very, very deep thoughts of just the ordinary news that I'd been encountered in on daily basis. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:58 You have been working with the mid nano data site. What is that? And what does it do Richael Clark 01:18:05 Just by coincidence? I encountered one of their main people. When I was working as an interpreter on board queen Elizabeth, I happened to be in Yokohama port and I invited her to my boat. And there, she asked to me that she has certain English translation for which she was looking for somebody who can edit well, the, this group emerged after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. What happened was that the government of Japan publicly announced the level of a soil contamination, but they never touched the soil. The number that they published was calculated a month from the air pollution level. So when the mom and pops found out about this fact, they got so scared. They have a children's who plays in the sandbox. They have a private vegetable gardens and so forth. They came to the conclusion, well, the government doesn't do it for us. We have to do it so many private and civil society. Richael Clark 01:19:14 Small groups popped up different parts of Japan. They started to measure the soil contamination level and they started to grow their network. You know, cesium one 30 fours half-life is two years. And they decided to do the third job before this half year passes so that they can leave very high quality scientific data for that. They had a big conference and chose one single common method that everybody pursue it. So they remeasure the contaminated soil. Then with this credible method, they came up with the data and they made a visible maps and beautiful, colorful map. And the, this map booklet became a huge hit. They translated it into English. And then I became a coordinator for this publication of the English version. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:10 I remember when that came out and it was very powerful because it was scientific evidence that the contamination in Japan was far worse than we have been led to believe. And here it was inland numbers in the maps, in the data, and even the English version, which was a reduction in size from the one that was published in Japan was tremendously powerful. Thank you. And I know we covered it here on nuclear. Hotseat I'll look up what that episode is and see if I can link to it. Richael Clark 02:20:46 Actually, we had to retranslate the entire thing because the original translation was done by Japanese person. So there was a long process, but very concise in the short period it's done. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:57 What were some of the findings in Japan that are represented in the booklet? Richael Clark 02:21:03 The contamination is not only limited to Fukushima, but all across Japan. That's why those measuring lab had spread different parts all across Japan. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:16 That's a pretty big finding. Richael Clark 02:21:18 Yes, it is. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:19 You have been working with the Nin nano data site, and recently you posted a rather alarming video about something that you discovered on your own land. Tell us, where is that? What were you doing? And what was it that you discovered? Richael Clark 02:21:39 I used to live in a metropolitan New York area and the last August I moved to upstate New York. This is the Northern tip of Adirondack from here. Canadian border is only two hours or less than two hours. So you can guess how far north I am right now. So I purchased a house with a land, a six point half acres. And it is very, very common that the people who live here use wood stove during the harsh winters. And I do have one too. I purchased the woods from local vendors and Brandon, Mr. Wonderful, warm. I love it. I love it. But through our conversation with members of maintenance data site, over zoom meeting, I came to an idea if there's such a thing, like the contamination around here, how much would it be? So the one of the lab persons suggested me that I would send the Ash from my woodstove as a sample, which I did, and the results were so surprising. And I shocked because when I chose this house, you know, I made it sure that this is a far away, at least 50 miles away from the nearest nuclear power plants, right? And this is surrounded in beautiful nature. And the lab tests show that the Ash was 51 back rows per kilogram. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:07 A sense of exactly how contaminated that is, what would be considered normal or acceptable? Richael Clark 02:23:16 Well, for example, prior to the Fukushima nuclear accident, the threshold of safe food in Japan was one bedroom per kilogram. Then after the accident and currently their threshold is a hundred Backroads per kilogram. Something used to be dangerous. Certainly it's okay to eat. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:38 Even if it's 100 times more course, of Richael Clark 02:23:41 Course. Now my Ash is 51 by girls. And according the person who tested this, and this is the way he analyzed, they detected only cesium 1 37, no cesium 1 34, which means that the radiation is not from Fukushima. It must be from the nuclear tests conducted in this country. It's soil season 1 37 half-life is 30 years. The hike of the nuclear test was like about 60 years ago. So it passed a two half lives, which means that it's a quarter of the original level. It depends on the material, but when it would've burned, the radiation level will be concentrated up to like a 200 times. So if the result was 51 bad girls, maybe original wood before burning was about 0.2 to 0.3 equals per kilogram. Even here after burning 51 back roads per kilogram, if they do the same tests across the United States, the closer to the nuclear tests, the higher those results would be that's my guess. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:50 And right now it's only a guess, but we're going to get to what can be done about that. Richael Clark 02:24:54 Right? And also recently there were so many mountain fires on the west coast. Can you believe it? Libbe HaLevy  02:25:03 That's where I live. And I've had to evacuate twice in the last 18 years. Richael Clark 02:25:08 Maybe, you know, Californians can go outside. And the collector Ash, after, you know, mountain fire and they do the same tests, then they would find the results. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:18 It would be fascinating to do so because we have not only the fires, but through an interview I did with a seawater activist. I don't know how to better stated right now, Tim dear Jones. He pointed out that the Marine layer, the morning Marine layer that goes inland, like clouds carry seawater with it. And that after Fukushima, it undoubtedly carried radiation inland much further away than you would expect it to go. And then that settles down. It becomes part of the ecology because the water goes into the soil, the plants take it up, the plants drop their leaves or the animals eat it or whatever it gets dispersed, but it never goes away because it's still there. It's still radioactive. Then there are the areas around nuclear reactors, and we know that the radioactive pollution from nuclear reactors also spreads far and wide Richael Clark 02:26:17 Of the coast of Alaska. There's a, I'll keep a log of small islands at the very Western tip that island almost closer to the Russian border. I forgot the name of Diane on that particular island was designated as a nuclear test site, Libbe HaLevy  02:26:34 Is that I'm Richael Clark 02:26:35 Chaka, something like that. So the radiation from those nuclear tests might have migrated toward the west coast as well before Fukushima. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:46 It's all source for radiation and the spread of radiation. So what's clear is that we don't have to be near a known nuclear site in order to be impacted by radiation radioactivity in the environment. And radiation and food is always an issue because of course that's a source of internal contamination, which is far more deadly than external contamination because there's no distance between neutrons bombarding, the cells and the cells have no ability to protect themselves. So there's a huge internal vulnerability. You am men and Odetta site have a vision of what it would take to help. So tell us about what you are thinking in terms of testing here in the United States. Richael Clark 02:27:37 Yes. Thank you for asking that because I have a vision that this country's citizens also should follow. What they did over in Japan. Usually government is pro nuclear energy. They try to minimize any ramification caused by nuclear power plants or nuclear deployment of nuclear weapons whatsoever. Therefore, we have to come up with our own effort to find out the reality of radiation. What they did in Japan was they started small citizens study groups. They purchased the radio activity, measuring devices, and they learned how to use it periodically. They looked for soil samples and they measured the results here. We should be able to do the same thing before that maybe the easiest step is to keep the baby teeth of your children or grandchildren and send it to lab. And then they can measure from there. Also, if you have any small gardens where you grow your vegetables and fruits, that's another sample, very interesting, directly linked to your own health, no matter how organically you do, if it's contaminated with radiation, you should avoid that. So as soon as I found the results from Japan, I wrote a letter to local Amish people around here because they tend to recycle Ash as a Friday riser of their vegetable garden. So I suggested that they should stop doing it and make sure that there's one designated area in your property, in the Barrett and make sure that doesn't blown away by the wind. And that's what I would do too. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:25 And what was the response when you brought this up to them? Richael Clark 02:29:28 They were so surprised. I brought some written documents of my own. And also I copy pasted some information from governmental mean Canadian governmental information. Also what that role means and what the microsieverts zebra it means and things like that. But the basic nuclear terms, Libbe HaLevy  02:29:47 Have they said anything about changing their growing methodology? Richael Clark 02:29:53 Yeah. They already stopped recycling. The Ash, at least the people I encountered and hopefully the person whom I gave the written information. He, he was, he is a priest among them. So I think he can spread the word among his congregation. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:08 That's terrific. Now looking at Japan, when it comes to the food, what kind of manipulations are still taking place there regarding radiation levels? Richael Clark 03:30:21 Thank you so much for asking me that that's a huge headache right now. I told you before that, prior to the accident, the threshold was one back road. Now it's 100 bedroom. Then the government has a newer plan to further increase to 12,500 bedrooms per kilogram, Libbe HaLevy  03:30:43 The 12,500 Becquerel's per kilogram. Are they trying to kill us? Richael Clark 03:30:51 Obviously, this is only limited to three food categories though. What is a mountain vegetable? Now the one is a wild mushroom. The other one is meat from a wild animals. Yeah. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:04 And of course what's wrong with that is that mushrooms are natural accumulators of radiation. They are the first and the worst, the wild animals eat the wild mushrooms or the other foliage that has been contaminated and they concentrated further within their system. So of course, they're going to be at a higher level, which would reveal the level of contamination. So let's cover up the level of contamination by saying you don't need them so often just ignore the numbers, the numbers aren't important because we're going to raise them so high. They're not going to register. Richael Clark 03:31:37 Exactly. And they brought, brought the excuse of the threshold of EO and the codex, which is 10,000 back rolls per kilogram. But think about it. They can support their diet by their own produce. Japan's tell food, they can support themselves only 30, some odd percent of the food. The rest need to be imported from outside the country. So if the Japan's threshold is so loosen, probably other countries will target Japan in order to export their food, which are too high to contaminate to keep for their own people. They just get rid of it and even make money by selling them to Japan. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:24 What has been the response, especially among the community of activists who have been taking measurements to this new level, this is amazingly increased level of radiation is supposedly going to be allowed in food. Richael Clark 03:32:43 Of course, they took this potential change very, very seriously. They've very quiet academic type of people. But for the first time they took a huge political step. They planned a press conference for us that was supposed to be, or they did it on March 9th. So in order to collect media attention, they spread the word ample time earlier, prior to the March nine, somehow that news got leaked, I guess, to their surprise. The government of Japan shows that same date to make their own announcement on top of that and scare the, you want a science academy also chose the March 9th to spread their results of report. It looks like orchestrated effort among those higher authorities. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:42 I'm not surprised because of course, with Marshall Levin being the 10th anniversary of Fukushima, I may have said it on the show, but I certainly said it in conversation that it was clear that the nuclear industry was mustering its forces to deflect attention from anything that the activists might be saying. So this sounds like a one-two punch coming from the government of Japan and on skier to cut the rug out from under the citizen, radiation monitoring group, something that would not have anywhere near the money to be able to promote it, but was of crucial importance to the health and safety and future of the people of Japan. Richael Clark 03:34:24 But that was a greatly diluted version. I think they put so much higher authority on what they received from the government of Mr. Pam, but not, I mean, none of the other sites reality. So because of those double punch, they were not able to get the enough media attention on March 9th. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:44 That was less than a month ago from one we are talking now. So of course the opportunity is always there for them to increase the awareness in the future. Hopefully the near future, because this is so important. Are those standards now set in stone or are they just proposed? And they have to go through an approval process Richael Clark 03:35:07 In the process and they are running a huge campaign, which need to be heard more people which need to receive more co-signing and the, I think number counts a lot. So I would like to spread the word through this opportunity that please, please sign this petition and do not. But the Japanese government changed the threshold to much higher. This is ridiculous. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:35 We will of course, link to that on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this week's episode, which is number five 11. So the government of Japan had this press conference to put this information forth. How has it been received and what has been the response? And has there been any pushback? Richael Clark 03:35:58 Well, if you see the media, they covered only what the Japanese government's announcement as well as a unscathed announcement. But the voice from the main nano data site has been almost unheard. A majority of people, plus it's been under COVID extravaganza it's sex. It's been used to dilute and the erased UN undermine any issues that need to be heard is out of the mainstream media plus Olympic games Libbe HaLevy  03:36:33 And the ill advised torch run, which really should have been reduced to a clown car with a big lighter. It sounds like the government of Japan's plan really had some grotesque contents. What was in there? Richael Clark 03:36:49 Oh goodness. Contents. First of all, this was initiated by an elected representative from Fukushima prefecture to national diet in order to gain votes from, and to protect the interest of their certain constituents. Not all of the vast majority of them, but the second constituents who are wholesalers of local products who have been enabled to ship local products that are contaminated with higher level of radiation than the threshold, the current threshold. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:23 So in other words, to have it be legal just by changing the numbers that, oh, what wasn't healthy, it's perfectly all right for you. Because look, we changed the numbers. Richael Clark 03:37:35 Exactly. That's just a simple number of games for them. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:39 What else? Richael Clark 03:37:40 Another point is when my colleagues, I mean the no data site asked about this matter to some residents in Fukushima, they didn't know anything about this plan. And they became rather very unhappy because despite their long effort to keep lower than the current threshold, 100 barrels per kilogram, the new threshold, 12,500 barrels per kilogram would worsen the reputation of their products if it were in effect. So local people are willing to support my colleagues campaign against the government of Japan plant. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:16 How has the government of Japan been working to divide local people? Richael Clark 03:38:21 That's dairy tactful, for example, they included some matters related to a local biomass project, which ignited the conflict between those who are against nuclear and those who embraced biomass. So when you say biomass, it sounds very something healthy and clean, right? So why are those two environmental camps divided? Because their biomass is based on incineration, not on accelerating via decaying process. As I mentioned earlier, when what is burned to ashes, the radioactivity is about 200 times more concentrated. That is why untidy the nuclear people against the construction of an incinerating facility, which has been successful so far due to their strong opposition. Now, the government is saying that they would offer a bigger budget for a biomass project that incinerates radioactive award together with other garbage, thus, the original plan to increase the radiation threshold is now disguised and more spotlighted as the budget increases for the local forest industry. How has that Libbe HaLevy  03:39:38 Diabolical Richael Clark 03:39:41 In addition, but they gave a press release on March 9th, the government of Japan also referred to the official you and a codex, which is 10,000 Backroads only for limited rare food, which is supposedly consumed less than 10% of their entire diet. But the government of Japan didn't mention this condition when they did the press conference. So can imagine that Japan would be the target of exporting higher radioactive food for other countries. We cannot sell those to their own people. So by maintaining a high self sustainable rate, they have no issue without eating the real food, but for the people of Japan, they have no choice, but to rely on imported food, since you're fans of food sales, sustainability, sustainable rate is less than 40%. So accepting up to 12,500 vehicles per kilogram means to pave the way to suffer with various cancers for them, Libbe HaLevy  04:40:44 Which of course would be the result of internal contamination with radiation. So they're setting their own people up for down the line, a much higher cancer rate. Richael Clark 04:40:54 Exactly. And that will be a more profitable business for medical industry. Isn't it. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:02 Sometimes I just look at this stuff out, I go thinks Richael Clark 04:41:05 This up. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:07 What is the role of the reconstruction agency in all of this Richael Clark 04:41:12 Reconstruction agency is only focusing on reconstruct Tokushima in a way that they serve to big corporations, not to help people. The original new threshold of a hundred bedrooms per kilogram threshold was done the ministry of health, labor, and welfare. Earlier in this interview, I mentioned that the government plan was originally initiated by an elected representative from Fukushima prefecture, right? And just like, can we use this? Maybe the big construction agency among the government agencies is collaborating with the local representative and trying to push forward this plan and the head of the reconstruction agency that still cuts a cheetah seller is also from Fukushima prefecture. So two main people from Fukushima prefecture in the government, or to the government have been collaborating in order to actualize this much higher threshold. I can't believe this story does. They're trying to rush their local people. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:30 It defies logic. It defies compassion. It defies humanity. Now what is the work that is being done by the ministry of health, labor, and welfare in all of this, Richael Clark 04:42:45 They worked years ago in order to change the threshold from a one bedroom, 200 federal, right? So now they run a public comment and somebody among our colleagues found out that, oh my God, they've been wanting this public comment. Let's do it. Let's do it. So they feel the way the public comments and the apparently 80% of those comments were very negative about this. I'm changing them even higher threshold. So ministry already aware of that and they didn't want to deal with it. And the reconstruction agency taking more initiative on this matter lies the accountability of this government of Japan. I don't think they have a certain designated authority to do this. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:34 It's shocking, but at the same time almost to be expected in these matters that even when an enormous majority of people speak out against them doing something, the asking for comments is simply for show. It has nothing to do with them wanting feedback and being willing to readjust their behaviors. All they want is to say, well, we asked for comments and not expect anybody to follow up and they will go ahead and do exactly what they have in mind from the get go. Now, how are the farmers locally dealing with this? Richael Clark 04:44:12 I think they were shocked because they been working so hard, less 10 years in order to clear the a hundred Backroads threshold, right? They put so much enormous effort to produce safer food for consumers. Now, suddenly government eyes, okay. 12,500 vehicles. You know what what's going to do with what happened to what we've been doing? You know, so then to the, against this idea, of course, there was so much afraid of the reaction by the consumers. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:42 They're afraid of the reaction from the consumers, but not of the citizens who are caught up in this system. Richael Clark 04:44:50 Well, they themselves are the victims of this governmental bureaucracy, or as should I say, brutality, the government of Japan, it's supposed to protect their own citizens, their taxpayers, their constituents. Whereas what they're doing is completely catering for the nuclear industry, as well as the construction industry, also medical industry. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:20 There've been other interesting developments recently run us through what some of those are. Richael Clark 04:45:26 The Olympic torch relay has started in Japan. They starting, if the torch will be relayed one point to another, however, two days ago, the governor of Osaka said that he doesn't want the torture relate to come to Osaka, especially he doesn't want it to run through the city of Osaka because that will attract more people. That's against safety code of COVID-19. You're not supposed to congregate. You're not, you suppose that in a long distance, you're not supposed to speak out loud voices. No, no, no. Rather they want people to stay home and be safe, take care of themselves, right? So this public fears, opinion, word cards, some kind of backlash or support from people of Japan, I would say. And I am hoping that the Olympic games will be canceled this year too. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:22 Now getting back to the idea of radiation measuring here in the United States, what would it take and how could we get started? And how might we work with men nano data site, Richael Clark 04:46:38 I'm more than happy to mediate or interpret between Japanese precursors and you, as people who want to emerge their own measuring posts, it is very important that they follow the single common measuring method so that it's scientifically compatible. It is very important that everybody followed the same measuring method in order to keep the accuracy of the entire data. So I would like to be introduced each other, those who want to do this in us and those already doing it in Japan. So start international network. I'm hoping to see big us map where the radiation level indicated at all different parts of this country. I would like to see overlapping with nuclear test sites, nuclear waste storage sites and nuclear power plants sites, as well as cancer prone areas of this country. Let's see how they overlap. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:46 That is a resource that we have been needing for a long time and the vision that you have of what this is and how this can be modeled on a process that already exists in Japan and has proven successful and has been proven influential around the world because of the resulting publication. That is something for us to explore and find a way to Institute here in the United States. Because once we have that in hand, we can then move forward on legislation and on changes and on shutting down reactors and seeing what else can be done, but it will give some real muscle to the arguments that we have been having. Richael Clark 04:48:32 Exactly. Yes. And if the us follows other parts of the world will follow too. And currently the French translated version of this radiation map book was published in France. So I think in this way, more global languages versions will follow. There'll be wonderful to see the global convention of those radiation, measuring posts get together if certain point the global convention and share their knowledge, their information exchange, and to see how we've been living in this nuclear world. Absolutely. I would say no note to construct a new nuclear power plants, I would say no, no to develop any more nuclear weapons, I would say no, no to launch any satellites fueled by nuclear batteries, Libbe HaLevy  04:49:30 Rachel, you are, what can I say? A consistent activist, someone who has seen work that needs to be done and move forward to get it done. And now you are in a position to inspire an entire national movement of activists to take out their radiation, measuring devices, learn a protocol, follow it, report their results. And as a result, give us some of the power that we need to go to the authorities and say, stop doing this. And for all of that, for your good work, and also for you taking the time on very short notice to speak with us, I want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Richael Clark 05:50:15 It's my highest honor and pleasure. Thank you so much for having me over here today. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:20 That was Rachel Clark. She is a professional translator who works with the mean the no data site, the Japanese group that published and distributed both the original Japanese language and the English translation of the citizens' radiation data map of Japan will have links to Rachel's original video, which kicked off the chain of events that led to this interview up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number five 11, we will also have other links to Rachel's initial video, the minnow data site and their resulting booklet. Now here is the exciting news, Rachel and I had a chance to brainstorm a bit about what it would take to set up a program like this for radiation monitoring in the United States, she immediately contacted her colleagues in Japan about it. It seems that great anti-nuclear minds run along similar pathways because the group is already writing a guide, how to launch a radiation measuring lab. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:24 Once it's done, it will be translated into English for a possible new project that will launch a us version of the citizens lab network. Rachel is spearheading this process and we'll be reaching out to individuals and groups that would be interested in starting a lab in their community. From these initial contexts, the program can ultimately include gardening groups, four H clubs, the Scouts, schools, even the PTA, and any other group you can think of the goal is to create coordinated data and put it into a radiation map of the United States. While the research and planning are taking place, we need to know where our initial on the ground radiation monitoring troops might be. So if this project interests you and you want to be kept up to date, as it develops, send an email to radiation monitoring usa@gmail.com. And of course, as we get closer to the launch, you'll hear about it. First on nuclear hot seat, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:37 The native American forum on nuclear issues is going to present a five part series on the impact that nuclear issues have a native American communities across the country. Speakers include Wynnona LaDuc Tom Goldtooth, Carletta to Lucy candy, white Myron, Dewey, Tommy rock, Manny Pino, Joe Kennedy, and there will also be featured artists, including Jack Belott, Seron, thunder Richards, and Byron Hudson. This series takes place from April 26th to 30th, and you can sign up for it. It doesn't cost anything, but you have to go through Eventbrite and we will have a link up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number five 11, if any of you has or know someone who has any stock in Exxon, this is for you. There is apparently a semi rebellious stockholder group within Exxon calling other shareholders about the upcoming vote on new board members with a proposal to elect four more independent director candidates, including some supporters of renewables, nothing. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:53 However has been said about nuclear. A friend of mine has retained a few shares of Exxon stock so she can keep tabs on what they're up to. She recently received this call though. She cut through the script. The caller was using to rip the woman on the other side about nuclear, telling her flat out it is not green. It is not carbon free energy source. And given that my friend lives in Nevada and here I quote, we don't need no stinking nuclear waste. There's a reason why we've been friends for all these years. So if anyone, you know, has a share or two of Exxon lying around and they get this call, they need to deliver the exact same message. Nuclear is not green. It is not carbon free. It is not the solution to climate change and don't ship nuclear waste to Nevada or New Mexico or west Texas, or anywhere else fix it in your own backyard. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:50 And finally, the latest ranking news is that last week nuclear hot seat hit number 31 in podcast business rankings in Canada. Let's keep this going. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net doing renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, the guardian.com NBC washington.com pbs.org, the sun.co.uk KTV b.com E S i.org St. Louis today.com Atlas obscura.com, cbc.ca Japan times.co.jp business, wire.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear, put it in quotes, regulatory commission, thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to all of you. Nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world in 123 countries on six continents and the counting, Hey, you know, nuclear hot seat is available for broadcast as well. We are syndicated through Pacifical audio port. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:14 And if you know of a local community-based radio station that would like to carry the show, let me know, send the station, name their information@anycontactsyoumayhavewithinthestationtoinfoatnuclearhotseat.com. We'll follow up and do what we can to add them to our growing network around the United States. And if you would like to make certain that you don't miss a single episode, you can have nuclear hotseat delivered via email in your inbox. Every week is easier to manage. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt inbox and sign up for the weekly email link to the latest show. Along with a short summary of some of the material that is in it. We also want you to participate in other ways. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, as well as in your own backyard, as you heard on this show, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:31 Anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that minimizing the impact of nuclear radiation on our lives and health might make some people feel safe, but lies don't change scientific facts. They just keep you trapped in a danger with no way to escape and with facts, we at least have a fighting chance. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:26 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's bomb. ### NH #510: Turkish Nuclear Reactors = Russia's Mediterranean Toehold: Journalist Pinar Demircan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/turkish-nuclear-reactors-russias-mediterranean-toehold/ Published: 2021-03-31 Duration: 00:59:01 Turkish Nuclear Reactors – Photo from a protest of the Turkish Antinuclear Platform by multiple anti-nuclear groups, where Pinar Demircan is representing her group, nukleersiz.org. This Week's Featured Interview: Pınar Demircan is a Turkish antinuclear activist and a journalist who started writing about nuclear after the Fukushima nuclear disaster began. She speaks Japanese and English as well as Turkish, and has been involved to global forums and panels where she presented on nuclear projects and the antinuclear struggle in Turkey. Currently, she writes at Yesil Gazete (Green News) and Civil Pages. At the same time, she is the Project coordinator of Nukleersiz.org (means Nuclear free), which is a member of Turkey's Antinuclear Platform and Do Not Nuke the Climate network. She spoke with us from her home in Istanbul on February 20, 2021.To contact Pinar Demircan: demipinar@gmail.com or on Twitter: @pnrizumi LINK to English transcription of Russian Involvement portion of interview LINKS to writing by Pinar Demircan based on the episode: Problems around Akkuyu NPP is so dire that, even the supporters of nuclear energy must object’ (Interview) For Sinop NPP, Turkey seeks EIA without a company for a reference reactor Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is already a problem – https://yesilgazete.org/akkuyu-nuclear-power-plant-is-already-a-problem/ Radioactive realities of Gaziemir: Turkey’s authoritarian negligence Contact Nuclear-Free Turkey – www.nukleersiz.org Turkish journalist and anti-nuclear activist Pinar Demircan (l). Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So ya wanna go on vacation? Why not explore the "mysteries" and "magical experiences" awaiting you on this memorable trip to… Chernobyl! Just don't expect their promised insurance to be worth squat… LINKS: The 7 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy is NOT the Answer to Solve Climate Change by Mark Z. JacobsonLogo Contest for the National Radioactive Waste Coalition – Deadline April 30, 2020.LINKS for films coming… Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear Turkey while that country is building its first nuclear reactors, three of them in Akoonu on the Mediterranean coast. The country is moving forward with plans to build a second nuclear reactor site on the opposite side of the country. All with the support and help from Russia is this Russian altruism, smart business practice, the good neighbor policy, or might there be something more sinister and long-term in Russia's plans because that's what Springs to mind when an important Turkish journalist tells you Pienaar Demmer John 00:00:39 The owner of the MPP Russia got a military base in Turkey and became able to control the Mediterranean. And Russia has another attempt to have a nuclear power plant project across the other side of the Mediterranean Libbe HaLevy  00:01:00 Russia, fulfilling its long deferred desire for a military toehold on both sides of the Mediterranean courtesy, the Turkish nuclear power reactors. Well, when you see how the cold war nuclearization of the world has switched from bombs and missiles to the placement of nuclear reactors, you understand how much more dangerous it is in that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:29 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:00 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we speak with Turkish journalists pin our on the problems at the not yet fully built a CU nuclear reactor site, including a recent and steel explained onsite explosion that registered on the Richter scale. But we also talk about what might be a larger plan by Russia to use Turkish nuclear reactors as a tool to manipulate a larger political agenda on the Mediterranean. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numb that's of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we will ever hear from bill gates. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:06 All of it coming up in just a few moments. Today's Tuesday, March 30th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off here in the U S in Ohio, where two years after Ohio lawmakers passed house bill six, saying it was needed to save jobs at the Davis Bessey and Perry nuclear plants in Northern Ohio, and added hefty monthly fees to ratepayers in a state where their electricity, the nuclear fees in house bill six made headlines last July when former Ohio house speaker Larry householder, and four others were arrested in connection to a nearly $61 million bribery scheme to pass the law and defend the legislation against a ballot effort to block it. Now, the Ohio Senate has unanimously passed house bill 1 28, which would eliminate fees for nuclear plants on Ohioans. Electric bills acts another fee on first energy customers bills and eliminated another benefit for the Akron based company. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:15 The Ohio house approved the changes the day after the Senate passed it, besides rescinding the graft, going to the nuclear power plants house bill 1 28 keeps $20 million each year for solar projects. Bill gates of Microsoft infamy continues to flog his book, promoting nuclear energy. In which of course he is deeply invested on every broadcast and online program that he can buy his way into gates and his company, Terra power are promoting a reactor type that the us and most other countries abandoned for decades ago because of concerns about both nuclear weapons, proliferation and cost, the liquid sodium cooled breeder reactors that's the term used for them would be fueled by plutonium and produce more weapons grade plutonium as part of its waste stream. It's a technology that has been shown through the decades of experience to be expensive, quick to break down and difficult to repair, not unlike Microsoft. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:24 There's a good article on why this technology is a bad bet in the current issue of the bulletin.org from the bulletin of atomic scientists. There's a brilliant take-down piece written by Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the atmosphere energy program at Stanford university, heavy credentials there. And the title of this article is seven reasons why nuclear energy is not the answer to solve climate change. Jacobson's rebuttal to the nukes are green argument include the long time lag between planning and operations, the cost weapons, proliferation risks, meltdown risks, lung cancer risks among those who mine, uranium, the risk of the resulting waste and carbon equivalent emissions and air pollution translation. There is no such thing as a zero or close to zero emission nuclear power plant. That's part of the propaganda lie. We'll link to this article on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 510 in Iowa, a decommissioned nuclear power plant, Duane Arnold just outside of Cedar rapids could become the site of a new massive solar energy project. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:47 Iowa's lone nuclear plant had operated for 45 years and was set to be decommissioned at the end of October as the state's energy portfolio swings more to wind and solar, but it was taken offline weeks, early following extensive damage to it in the August, 2020 show, which brought winds of more than 100 miles per hour to Eastern Iowa, putting solar up on decommissioned nuclear sites sounds like a great transformation for all that real estate. And we all know this one already, but I need to make it of record. The Senate has confirmed Deb Holland as secretary of the interior, making her the first native American to ever serve in a us presidential cabinet. Howland is a tribal citizen of the Laguna Pueblo with a record of opposition to fracking the Keystone XL pipeline and other fossil fuel projects Halland is a 2020 nuclear free future award recipient for her efforts to address the impacts of uranium mining in the American Southwest. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:54 Welcome aboard. And thank you. And if you'd like some light reading, here's an article on the U S military missing six nuclear weapons. It also talked about 32 documented nuclear weapons accidents between 1950 and 1980. We will link to that. It'll be on the website over to Japan, where on March 20th, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck just 65 miles from Fukushima while no deaths, major injuries or severe damage were reported. Japan's nuclear regulation authority immediately said no abnormalities have been detected at three nuclear reactors near the earthquake. However, there was no report of any follow-up inspections, and that was way fast to come up with such assurances closer to Fukushima residents of have filed a complaint against Tokyo electric power company, the operators of Fukushima and the state of Japan for exposure to radioactivity. When the nuclear triple meltdowns happened in 2011, it Tata, which was beyond the 30 kilometer radius was evacuated late. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:09 The order to evacuate was announced on April 11th, 2011, and the inhabitants had one month to leave. During this time, those who had not left the area by themselves were exposed to radioactive fallout. 29 residents of filed a lawsuit against TEPCO and the state and asked for 200 million yen in damages that breaks down to $1.8 million in us currency, but only around $60,000 per person. If they even get that they're asking for compensation because the authorities had told them at the beginning of the disaster, that it was not necessary for them to leap the lack of information about the increase in radiation levels, deprived them of their right to evacuate and left them unnecessarily exposed. The Asahi Shimbun, one of five major national newspapers in Japan conducted a survey of the nation's prefectural governors with the exception of Fukushima prefecture and ask their response to a central government plan to reuse mountains of contaminated soil generated from land cleanup operations after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:23 No surprise here. The survey found zero support for the reuse of contaminated dirt for farm land development or road construction projects, both of which had been proposed by the government five of those governors flatly expressed opposition to any reuse regardless of project the government has in mind, a Japanese court has ordered the suspension of the Tokai. Number two nuclear power plant located Northeast of Tokyo citing a lack of evacuation plans, despite persisting safety concerns over nuclear power generation residents of and surrounding prefectures have expressed concerns over the lack of evacuation plans as around 940,000 people are living within a 30 kilometer or 20 mile radius of the plant. The judge said that the current situation poses a concrete danger that could infringe on personal rights of local residences. And what if you give an Olympic torch relay through a radioactive contaminated zone and nobody notices well Japan's Olympic committee went through with the torch run, but without spectators, the Olympic organizers had chosen Fukushima as the torch relay starting point to highlight the regions quote unquote recovery from the triple disaster. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:50 But in recent weeks, the positive narrative has stalled. Some Fukushima residents argue the region has far from recovered. As you could hear in greater detail on nuclear hot seat, number 5 0 7, our anniversary voices from Japan episode posting on March 9th, several celebrity Torchbearers have also pulled out of the event in the UK, shocking news that in its integrated review, the country announced that instead of reducing the number of nuclear weapons to 180 by the mid 2020s, which is still a far cry from zero, it plans to flaunt its previous commitments and increase its nuclear weapons cap by 40% to 260 nuclear warheads. A reminder that under the United nations treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, they're illegal internationally. So the UK is definitely moving in the wrong direction in Korea, five United nations, special repre tours send a letter to the Japanese government, communicating their concerns warning against the release of radioactively contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:07 The UN experts said the radioactively contaminated water poses, major environmental and human rights risks, and any decision to discharge it into the Pacific ocean can not be an acceptable solution. In addition to tritium, which has generally been promoted as a low level radioactive material whose risks are debated, this water was also found to contain high-level radioactive materials, such as Caesium and strontium, which can be fatal even in extremely small quantities. A complaint has been filed at the hog based international criminal court against France for alleged crimes against humanity over nuclear tests conducted in the south Pacific, ask her tomorrow the French archipelagos former president said at the United nations, this case aims to hold all the living French presidents accountable for the nuclear tests against our country, the Moreau, and a tolls saw a 193 nuclear tests over three decades. Thousands of those exposed later developed serious health problems. And now Announcer 01:14:20 Claire hot, hot, hot. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:30 Are you in the UK or planning to travel there sometime this year, specifically this fall between September and January of 2022. And might you be interested in a fun little side trip to tack onto your trip? Well, now you can explore the mysteries and magical experiences that are your presence when you explore for three nights in Chernobyl. Yep. There is a travel center in the UK that is putting together a bundle for a three to four day trip to Chernobyl where you can have an experience that is quote unquote inspired by the hit HBO show. They readily admit that this is no ordinary tour because it will be a memorable once in a lifetime travel experience, or rather once in a shortened lifetime travel experience, they promise to provide a professional guide lunch and health insurance. That last part really caught my eye and set off my numb nuts Surrey radar. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:41 So I contacted the company. I told them I was going to be in England. I was thinking of maybe taking a side trip. And by the way, what exactly does that health insurance cover? And, you know, after several go rounds and the better part of a week, they still couldn't tell me. They did write to me. Quote, if you practice caution, porins go with an official tour operator, wear protective clothing, avoid glass shards and debris close per ends. You could get coverage for unexpected accidents or illnesses as long as they meet the criteria and conditions spelled out in your policy. And when I asked what those criteria and conditions might be, I was told that there would be more details available in the voucher I will receive after booking. In other words, by the pig in the radio active poke. And afterwards we'll tell you whether you have any rights, if you get sick from it and no telling of course what the timeline is. I think they're expecting it to last exactly as long as the three days of the trip. And that's why the dimwits behind this planned side trip to Chernobyl for nuclear tourism. You are most definitely this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:17:10 We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors plus, oh yes. Nuclear weapons. Nuclear is government and industry not caring how they contaminate the world. As long as they keep making obscene profits for few people and fool themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever. Let's be honest. Nuclear is a deadly mess, and that is why you need nuclear hot seat to get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as the healthy dose of skepticism, we provide a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:17 We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective. And even whenever possible humor, that's why the time would be right now for you to support us with a donation. We make it very easy for you to do so. Just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size that's where you can set up a monthly $5 donation, which is the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip to the barista here in the United States, or provide a one-time donation of any size. Please do what you can now to help the show, keep going and know that however much you can help. I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care here's this week's featured interview. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:14 One of the joys and rewards for doing nuclear hot seat is my opportunity to connect with committed anti-nuclear activists around the world and talk about what is really important to them. So I can share it with you. Today's interview is one stunning example of exactly what that's like. Pienaar Deshaun is a Turkish anti-nuclear activist and a journalist who started writing about all things nuclear. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster began in 2011, she speaks Japanese and English as well as Turkish and has been involved in global forums and panels where she presented information about nuclear projects and the anti-nuclear struggle in Turkey. Currently, she writes at you sealed Gazette and civil pages. And at the same time, she is project coordinator for nuclear is size.org, which means nuclear free. The group is a member of Turkey's anti-nuclear platform and do not nuke the climate network. Pienaar Demmer John lives in Istanbul, and we spoke on February 20th, 2021. it's so good to have you with us here on nuclear hot seat. Pienaar Demmer John 02:20:30 It's my pleasure and hunter DB. Thank you for having me. I appreciate that you provide current information on the big picture for everyone. As we learn more about how the nuclear industry behave in other social economic and political structures, I believe our interaction can lead to a human chain reaction that can overcome the nuclear chain reaction and save our planet. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:58 Let's start out with a little bit about you. What is your background and how did you become involved in nuclear issues Pienaar Demmer John 02:21:06 About how I got involved in the moment? Well, I studied economics at the university and I have always been attending environment to protest when Fukushima nuclear disaster happens. I was working as an other thing, chief at the Japanese company. I remember how this parade, I felt in the face of the Roger active disaster that happens in Japan, where I leave for a while. Then I started to question my mission in this life feeling settled for Fukushima. I was also expecting to hear the cancellation of the accrual nuclear project for which an inter-governmental agreement was signed with Russia in 2010. But on the contrary, the government declared that the upcoming project was to be continuing moreover, another nuclear power plant project was announced to be established at the cost of plexi Encino, which is located in the north and is one of the most natural places in Turkey for CNO nuclear power plant project. Pienaar Demmer John 02:22:24 The government signed an entire inter-governmental every month with Japan. These two developments faced me with my priorities. It was a time when I changed my life by becoming a freelancer to earn more time, rather than earning money as a person with proficiency in writing and speaking Japanese, I felt a kind of responsibility to reveal facts about Fukushima and establish a bridge between the antinuclear movements of Tokyo. Japan. Since I was aware that the Japanese language could provide original information from witnesses of Fukushima and NGO in Japan, I took that my contribution could support the project in Turkey sooner. I started a network of Japanese activists. I also got in touch with environmental organizations in Turkey and volunteered for green port association in English. I say bikeway, where I was asked to volunteer as coordinator of nuclear forces before again in English means nuclear free project, move the sun. And I became a great team at performed presentations for three years, about the consequences and reasons of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During these years, I also got involved in the anti-nuclear movement, more in Turkey, thinking on the nuclear chain, we local power relations in this male, liberal capitalist, my research interests, gray, bigger on nuclear risk and social moment as my activism and academic perspective have been feeding each other. I decided to make a PhD in sociology later. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:27 What type of government does Turkey have and how does that impact nuclear projects? Pienaar Demmer John 02:24:33 Well, as you cover in your program, nuclear power plants are associated with many risks due to their potential for accidents, operation failures, and installable waste processes. One, these risks happen to be real and turn into danger. They may lead to has ideas, ecological consequences, which can not feel limited. Eight are geographically or temporarily, but some circumstance increased. The likelihood of the risks ran the voice of civil society, organizations and scientific review of independent experts are ignored because one, there is no democracy. It means that there is no auditing function. In other words, there's no control of society over the government. We can say, or accordingly nuclear power plant projects in Turkey can be even as an example of how risks can be doubled or tripled due to the political, economical and social facts of the country. Indeed what's may have been experiencing in Turkey since 2010 Vanda inter-governmental agreement is totally full of examples of how the civil society was kept also of the decision-making process of the nuclear power plant project. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:08 What is the government stated policy towards nuclear Pienaar Demmer John 02:26:13 Awkward nuclear power plants actually is located at the coast of the Mediterranean and is the most progressing nuclear project in Turkey and go into our governmental agreement, passed, followed by a reactor for, for the actors. The type of the reactor is Navy yard, 1,200 it's called generation plus three plus no. So this will be made to be a build own operate model. We say in like B O, which means as a restaurant site, the reactors will be two owner and they will never have they, I mean the Russia side will never have less than 81% of shares. So they still, 100% of its shares belongs to Russia, which means even the construction area was given a totally free to Russia. The civil society directly protested the entire governments of eczema. I can't say, but the type of the agreement they don't oppose through the constitution, like only 1 58 of them were accused of opposing the government's decision, but the opposition was not avoidable by police or gender mom just one month after the explosions at Fukushima chain of 139 kilometers bus performed between Mersin city center and awkward nuclear power plant site. So everyone from wherever they were and just got in hand-in-hand in the same year, green peace made this survey and the opposition against the Aqua project was about 75%. There's only two open court cases, true and Myron until impact assessment. This practice opposition, besides I should say that even during the environmental impact assessment processes, the civil society, I mean the public was ignored and public hearings were not performed properly. Pienaar Demmer John 02:29:02 The societal organization, approximately 82 of them filed 13 lawsuits against the approval of environmental impact assessments. All of them were rejected. We thought any expiring and reasonable explanation on the day of the final court case for this environmental impact assessment approval of this assessment, the precedent set up nuclear project will be realized no matter what Tom environments or post finally, the environmental impact assessment was approved. And Dr. Constructions started in 2018. And now we hear that there are problems during the construction such as cracks, water leakage and explosion. Actually there's some clear, Libbe HaLevy  03:30:08 That's what I'd like to talk about next, the Akula nuclear power plant recently experienced an explosion that was recorded as 1.2 on the Richter scale. What can you tell us about that? Pienaar Demmer John 03:30:23 The exclusion which happens at the construction site on the 19th of January is the proof of the unfairness that they have been experiencing since 2010 and as signed off worse accidents to happen soon when the explosion broke the windows of the houses and cars in the neighbor who though up your MPP style, it was recorded, as you said, 1.2 earthquake. But according to the statements, given by Madison governorship and MPP ground operation was carried off in a plant manner. At first, the explosive operation, I mean that dynamic explosion actually dynamic kind of blast was tall as it was for road construction. Then we heard another explanation such as it was made for the construction of a fabric hoses for workers, which will be used for the accommodation of employee. This different statement shows that there was a challenge to direct our perception to something else, then a reactor construction, but even it becomes an incident with the niece of two people were injured and taken to the hospital. We cannot mention about the plant operation anymore. Pienaar Demmer John 03:32:05 It was planned, it became controlled. It was obvious that the MPP management, because according to the exclusion, this kind of dynamic less thing regulation, and didn't make a warning to the villagers who were just two kilometers away. The medicine antinuclear platform and non-governmental organization, including various professional association, parliament members from relatively left-wing parties, actually practice sharply and criticized.. What more can you tell us about who you project the nuclear power plant project is Elan harmful ecologically, but it's construction today. Is it damages the nature and specify in 10 hectares, aria, even before it starts the operation, the environment of Felicia, even during the construction words mentioning, I can say that almost 6,000 employees are on site, which turns the MPP into a town without any infrastructure. Right? I raised this issue for the first time in my article in 2019 November, even the sewage in two camps is guided discharged to the stream water without any, any treatment system and the pollution riches see, besides the increase in worker population, they also stopped villagers in this Butte Edgerly village. Pienaar Demmer John 03:34:08 Actually I say villagers, but is there is no social facility for workers afterwards. I mean, the workers usually resist the villagers and vitamins and this stop them is a company that doesn't care about environmental issues. Also doesn't care about the head of the employees in terms of COVID-19 during the pandemic, there was news that upward MPP was unfair and irresponsible to its workers and didn't apply necessary. Precaution. Everyday employees are forced to take the crowded terrorists bus and eat in cafeteria, physically close one. After the other, the reason for making no change to the construction schedule is that the government has been promoting this project for the date of 29th, October of 2023, which will be the hundredth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, despite economical and social problems of the country covering even the first reactor is used as a symbol of powered by the president to attract the nationalist minded people who associate having nuclear power, the power of the country in the MPP, the workers had, and occupational safety is ignored. Pienaar Demmer John 03:36:01 And in modern month is ignored finally naked because of nature naked because of human life naked consists of risk and quality will inevitably end in a nuclear disaster. But the nuclear project itself is like breath for the freedom and peace of the country, because the MPP enables Russia to power form its historical dream by reaching the warm sea, the Mediterranean and being the owner of the MPP. Russia got a military base in Turkey and became able to control the Mediterranean look at the Mediterranean. And today there is a power war between countries and Russia has another attempt to have a nuclear power plant project across the other side of the Mediterranean Russia made and entire governmental agreement with Egypt, for the BARR, MPP Russia against poverty. We are, it's a nuclear power project by making use of the desire of authoritarian regimes. A similar approach is visible in the middle east, which is by the United States, Russia and Korean nuclear power technology. Pienaar Demmer John 03:37:34 The cost of the aqui project was actually, it was announced like $2.2 billion and Russian banks are now financing the construction for now, but no wonder there is a benefit for Russia with a 15 year purchase agreement for 50% of the portal power, which will be sold at a guaranteed price for the first 15 years, the risk to be sold on the market currency fluctuation and the fall in the value of the Turkish Lira also make the price guarantee at least higher for us, the guaranteed price, which is 2.2 or two, five states dollar cents is also a very problematic when it's compared with the level of renewable energy price. It's 4 cents. Although Turkey has the potential of producing 48 megawatts for wind energy, but using the only percentage of this potential and has 185,000 megawatt production potential for solar energy, but using only 28 percentage of it. And currently the level in the products produced in energy is only around 6% for solar energy, but this Turkey doesn't need electricity as its electricity consumption. Its electricity consumption is almost half of its installed power. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:26 What other nuclear projects are currently being pursued in Turkey specifically? Can you tell us about the scene up project? Pienaar Demmer John 03:39:36 Yes. The other nuclear project is, as you saying it took its cost and was a plant 4,560 megawatt power plant of four units, reactor design. We are an entire government. So agreements signed with Japan in 2013, the will to be sold for 10 point 83 cents in, in us dollars. This price is our all day and it's proclaimed with our turkeys distribution company. This price will be paid for 20 years for the construction and aria oh 10 square kilometer was the poorest by cutting almost 1,000,003, but on the Japanese side, the reactor agreement was time with Mitsubishi and the cost budget was increased from 20 billion to 44 billion United States dollars in January, 2019. The president of Mitsubishi, the company was to withdraw from the nuclear deal after the withdrawal of the Japanese side and in my assessments. But approach changed. It is part there's no maker, no exact reactor type force, you know, MPP, but there was a missional three as the reference reactor, although no comments have been made neither from the government of origin maker. Pienaar Demmer John 04:41:31 You think the opportunity to heard by activists all around the world, I do have a question here. Can somebody tell me how an entire government agreement can be valid and remain is the first necessary step of a nuclear project after the withdrawal of it all maker company. I raised this question to an expert before, but was not satisfied with the answer. If this entire government of every month can still be valid after the withdrawal of the maker and its government that this agreement, this inter-governmental agreement has no meaning, but here, another question comes if it has no meaning and entire government, so agreeable can avoid ism, posing it during public hearings of the environmental impact assessment of the snap project, seventeens and court cases were opened against them. Just like it happened during the environmental impact assessment of Aquia MPP Libbe HaLevy  04:42:51 With the government not being a democracy. What do you have to do to get your information? Pienaar Demmer John 04:42:58 The AKA P which is the leading government also today changed institutionally forces and established turkeys regulatory agency. We are just before Turkey shifted from the parliamentary system. So the president to a regime in 2018 Turkish atomic energy agency, which was relatively independent of governmental organizations, used to be the authority for all processes of nuclear project. Roger activity relate to the accident cases, but they are all taken under the roof of nuclear regulatory address, which is consisted of five members. And the highest level official is the president while its members are assigned by the press and are the only decision makers regarding radiation, those limits court case issues in terms of exposing radiation, for example, and anything else related to nuclear power. Two years later, the establishment of the Turkish energy, nuclear mining research institution, also polo to facilitate the research and technical function of the former Turkish atomic energy agency. Pienaar Demmer John 04:44:34 I made a comparison between finance regulatory. So T U K, just for an example, there's a big gap between it's a T UK let's say is independent of the government, but in Turkey, the head is the president. And we cannot mention segregation of duties in this kind of government related organization in Turkey, despite its wide range of tasks. We have never heard any explanation from the nuclear regulatory agency of Turkey Nadir about the explosion at Aquia MPP, nor real radioactive problems, right? There's no operating if there are power plants, but there's a nuclear base problem, which has been raised by parliament members, civil society, public, or organizations and journalists, including me. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:40 What other radioactive pollution related problems are there in Turkey? You wrote about the Gaza mirror case. Tell us about that. Pienaar Demmer John 04:45:50 Kasi mirror is one of the 30 districts of Izmir. And unfortunately, as you cook night is charitable of Izmir due to the nuclear waste that remained in the soil for decades. The nuclear waste was detected on the grounds of a neat factory in 2006, but the factory moved away to another district or Izmir for the pollution. The company was to pay the highest and Meyerland penalty of 5.7 million Turkish Lira, which is equal to something like 600,000 us dollars today. It was also confirmed by the Turkish atomic energy agency that nuclear waste had been buried in the field of factory and material under the soil was defined as European 1 5, 2 with half-life all 13 years, which can be point in new nuclear, but all those seven years have no legal action taker. It's a distance of 75 to 100 meters from two primary school with over 1000 to them attending each. Pienaar Demmer John 04:47:22 It is located in the middle of the town, civil society organization, Colleen, no sweet in 2014 for the sake of public health and psychology. But the problem remains on salt as civil society is excluded from all Lego process. According to this statement by experts, the amount of the way 100,000 pounds. But today there are many effects such as gradual active slack for eSports to 250 or 300,000 tone. This is emerging due to the spread of contamination and Myron and urbanization in 2013 had also confirmed detection of Roxy slack and want the public against even using the grandfather for the risk of mixing into the ground water nuclear regulatory agency should immediately start the contamination process now, and Roger active slack should be removed and sent directly to the disposal facility. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:55 What final thoughts do you have as we close out our time together? Pienaar Demmer John 04:49:00 Is it fast status in the nuclear industry status report cost of solar power production decreased about 89% and our production costs decreased about 70% on the culture. The nuclear power production costs increased by 13%. We cannot just watch how the world gets deployed, right? Especially in the climate crisis era, you must establish international solidarity. Also for those who are in lack of democracy, Libbe HaLevy  04:49:43 Pienaar this has been an extraordinary experience learning about what's happening on the other side of the world and especially the insights as to how Russia is positioning itself through its work with Turkey. I look forward to getting further reports from you. You stay safe, healthy well, and for now thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Pienaar Demmer John 05:50:11 Thank you, Libby Libbe HaLevy  05:50:13 We'll have links to some of her work up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 510 Libbe HaLevy  05:50:30 Beyond nuclear is providing a one week window of opportunity for us to view for no cost to anti-nuclear films, the beekeeper and 33 days of utopia they're available to screen at home until April six and are co-sponsored by beyond nuclear, the Gerta Institute, DC and Heinrich boiled stiff tune DC. 33 days of utopia tells the story of how in May, 1980, more than 800 people lived near the gore Liban north Germany in free Republic of wind land, a protest camp. And they lived there for 33 days, thus preventing drilling of a planned nuclear waste repository. The other film, the beekeeper shows how Katie Hayward, the beekeeper of the film's title have just seen a news report showing the expanded footprint of the proposed two reactor wife lobby nuclear power project on the island of angsley in north Wales. Hayward's home, which her family has tenanted since 1532 was right in the plans. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:39 Crosshairs. This was about Hayward's fight to save her bees, her home and her rescue animals while her physical and mental health plummeted. It is a harrowing heartbreaking story of the ever expanding ILS created by the nuclear industry. There was also a discussion. It was live streamed with the filmmakers of both films, and we will link to that when it becomes available, we will link on this episode, nuclear hot seat, number 510 calling all artists. The new national radioactive waste coalition is looking for submissions for logos or logo ideas. This is an open competition to come up with a visual representation of this coalition of 37 environmental anti-nuclear and social environmental justice groups in the United States, which are tackling the ongoing problems of radioactive waste. Despite the fact that this is for a startup nonprofit organization and they operate on a shoe string, they've set aside $200 for the person who creates the winning logo. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:51 And the top two runner ups will each receive $50. This competition runs until Friday, April 30th at midnight Pacific time. And if you want to submit your ideas, your doodles, or even a piece of finished artwork, we'll have a link up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com again, episode 510. And speaking of episodes, we just got the latest numbers in the podcast rankings for nuclear hot seat in various markets around the world. And I'm happy to report that we've moved up all over the place with some new entries under business news podcasts in Japan, we ranked number 58 South Africa, which is new 45 Australia, which is new 42 Russia, 30. I wonder if they're going to like this episode, France got 28 in the Republic of Korea, nuclear hot seat ranks, number 27 and in Ecuador, which is a new entry, we are number three under business news. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:55 So understand that nuclear is an international issue. This is an international platform and people are listening around the world for those of you who helped us get to those ranks. Great. And now send the link out to at least two other people so they can join too. And we can start kicking those numbers even further north because the more they show up on the algorithms, the better the reach online, thanks to all of you for helping in any way you can. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 30th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear international.com. The international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, cincinnati.com national radioactive waste coalition, the bulletin.org kcci.com 1940 five.com and that's one nine numbers, and then spell out forty-five dot com AJU daily.com. bbc.com, Leonardo dicaprio.org news and guts.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:07 Kyoto news.net asahi.com. KCTV five.com. Channel news, asia.com, english.honey.co dot K R France 20 four.com scientific american.com. And of course the captured and comprised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening at a shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. 123 countries on six continents and counting, and we're going to start a new count soon, cause I bet there are more countries in their nuclear hot seat is syndicated for broadcast in the United States through Pacifica audio port, it's a free service. And if you know of a nonprofit community radio station that should be, or is interested in nuclear issues, let me know about them. Send an email to nuclear, hot seat.com with the station and where it's located and an email address. If you've got it a name and a phone number would be great as well, but whatever you've got, send it to me, I will follow up because every time the show shows up, people respond people here and by broadcast, it gets to individuals who wouldn't necessarily be looking for a specific podcast. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:27 So if you know of a radio station where we've got some chance of getting some footage, let me know, we'll get it up there to the best of our ability. Now, if you would like to have nuclear hot seat delivered by email every week. So you don't miss a single episode, it's easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box. It's on every page, put in your first name and email address and you will every week receive an email. As soon as the show posts with the link to that episode, you never have to miss an episode or go hunting for it ever again. We're also a participatory democracy here within limits. And if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com and I'll do what I can to follow up on it. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:20 And for those of you who appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Click on it, follow the prompt, help us out. Anything at all, helps. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi at hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. Hey mentioned the name of the show. If you can mention the website and you're good to go, this is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that luck is a terrible safety plan. When it comes to a nuclear reactor, that's it you've just had your nuclear wake-up call. So now the challenge don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:28 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking? Ms. Sinking? Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #509: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 42: Never Forget! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-nuclear-meltdown-never-forget/ Published: 2021-03-23 Duration: 00:58:59 Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown: Never Forget! March 28, 1979 in Middletown, Pennsylvania Nuclear Hotseat producer/Host Libbe HaLevy was one mile from the nuclear accident when it happened. In this picture, taken 10 days after the accident began, she attempts to inject some humor into a decidedly unfunny situation. That scream looks like a joke, but it wasn't. For more info on Libbe's book about the experience, YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat, SCROLL DOWN. This week’s full-length Three Mile Island Anniversary SPECIAL features interviews with: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education. Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of TMI Alert. Peter Bradford, who was a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner during the TMI accident.Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert. TMI Alert’s Radiation monitoring page.Mary Stamos, long time Middletown resident and TMIA memberWalter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as “the most trusted newsman in America. To view his CBS network reports on TMI, CLICK HERE. Our thanks to filmmaker Robert (Robbie) Leppzer, producer of the two-hour audio documentary Voices from Three Mile Island, for permission to use excerpts from that work in this program. These include: Portions of the news montageMiddletown Mayor Bob ReidDairy farmer Jane LeeLocal resident Pat StreetDr. Michael Gluck, general practitioner, who works out of three Harrisburg hospitals and lives within two miles of the TMI reactors. The complete VOICES FROM THREE MILE ISLAND audio documentary is available as a free download at: https://www.powerstrugglemovie.com/voices-from-three-mile-island Power Struggle, Robbie Leppzer's current film, is the story of the successful citizen-activist led shutdown of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station. For a limited time, if you purchase a ticket for the film through Nuclear Hotseat, half the purchase price will be donated to support the show. You can get more information and buy your tickets HERE. Libbe HaLevy's nuclear memoir, YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat, contains full information on her experience having been one mile from the nuclear accident at TMI when it happened. You can purchase your copy of the book HERE. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:00 The nuclear industry, the nuclear regulatory commission and pro newcomers in government, all tried to convince us that nukes are safe. We have nothing to worry about, and we need nuclear reactors for the energy that powers our modern lifestyle. But when you hear a newsman with the stature and international respect of Walter Cronkite announced on national TV, Newscast 00:00:23 The world has never known a day. Quite like the day it faced the considerable uncertainties and dangers of the worst to nuclear power plant accident of the atomic age and the heart tonight is that it could get much worse. The potential is there for the ultimate risk of a meltdown at the three mile island, atomic power plant, outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Libbe HaLevy  00:00:43 You hear something like that. You know that you are in the seat that we all share. Announcer 00:00:50 Ooh, Claire, hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear hot. See it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:21 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, our entire program is dedicated to the anniversary of the nuclear accident at three mile island, just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 42 years ago began a series of events that culminated in a partial core meltdown, radiation releases and our first public glimpse of the nuclear industry, trying to weasel out of its responsibilities, alt facts, or just altered lives. You'll hear from local residents, engineers, a former NRC commissioner from that time doctors, media reports and me because I was there when it happened. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:27 And without it, I wouldn't be here with you right now. Today is Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021. And here is the nuclear hot seat, three mile island anniversary. Special. What we forget is the fear in the wake of Fukushima activists and members of the media may mention three mile island in passing, but we don't really consider it in any detail. There are undoubtedly listeners to nuclear hot seat who weren't even born then. And you don't know much about this accident other than the usual litany of, okay, it happened. Nobody died big deal, but the truth is much larger scarier and more nuanced than that. I can't forget because I was there literally one mile away visiting an old friend who had recently moved to the area with her husband. The accident began at 4:00 AM on Wednesday, March 28th, 1979 with failures in the non-nuclear secondary system followed by a stuck open valve, which allowed large amounts of nuclear reactor, coolant to escape. The mechanical failures were compounded by initial failure of plant operators to recognize the situation as a loss of coolant accident due to inadequate training and what was labeled human factor by 6:56 AM a site emergency had been called, which is level three on the nuclear regulatory commissions four level emergency classification system. First notification came through Pennsylvania's emergency alert system shortly before 7:00 AM. Emergency Message 00:04:13 Following is a civil emergency message. The following message is being broadcast at the request of metropolitan Edison in the Pennsylvania department of emergency management at 6:56 AM, metropolitan Edison declared a site area emergency of the three mile island nuclear generating station, following a partial meltdown of reactor. Number two, at this time, the radiological danger to the population surrounding the facility is low. However, the voluntary evacuation of the following locations within a 10 mile radius of the plant has been recommended Libbe HaLevy  00:04:43 After listing communities and possible evacuation routes. The announcement went on to say, Emergency Message 00:04:49 Schools in the area are being evacuated at this time. Should you choose to evacuate do so in a comment daughterly manner, due to the possibility of the incident being upgraded Harrisburg gets her national airport into Cumberland. Army Depot have been closed and all flights into and out of the airport have been canceled. This has been a civil emergency message, Libbe HaLevy  00:05:08 Less than 30 minutes later. Station manager, Gary Miller announced a general emergency defined by the NRC is having quote the potential for serious radiological consequences end quote to the general public announcements in the media, followed swiftly and sounded like this Media Announcement 00:05:28 And the water cooling system at the three mile island nuclear power plant and how it's Burg Pennsylvania forced the company to call a general emergency and shuts down part of the plant for an unspecified period. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:41 Arnie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education is now well-known for his critical analysis of nuclear accidents, including three mile island and Fukushima. But at the time of three mile island, he was an in the nuclear industry. He has come to be one of the world's experts in exactly what took place from an engineering perspective. And in what order the events rolled out. One big question he addresses is should an evacuation have been ordered? The following is taken from a video on fairwinds.com entitled three myths of three mile island. Unfortunately, as Arnie was speaking, there was a marching band playing in the lobby of the hotel, just outside of the conference room. So instead of playing the audio, I will read a partial transcript of what he had to say as to the question, should an evacuation have been ordered. He said, I break that into three segments before seven. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:45 O'clock what information was known to the people of three mile island before 7, 7 38 in the morning, and then around 10 and then around two on the first day around seven in the morning and engineer and his supervisor using an approved procedure, calculated that the exposure in Goldsboro, the area immediately adjacent to the three mile island facility might be as high as 10 REMS and hour side note. This is an extremely high and dangerous level of radiation exposure back to what irony said. It might be as high as 10 hour an hour. Now it was an approved procedure and people worked on it for years and it was actually a TMI unit, one procedure. So this was not a new procedure by the procedure and evacuation was required. There is no doubt that by the written process that people not in a crisis situation had available to them by seven to seven 30 in the morning and evacuation was required. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:49 So basically they went outside the realm in a crisis situation, as opposed to letting the procedure govern how you should be working your way through what they did not tell the state in that 7:30 AM phone call is that employees working outside had already begun to receive exposures. There is at least one case of an exposure of 20 millirem to an employee who was out on the grounds before seven 30 in the morning side note, 20 millirem is supposed to be the highest yearly exposure that a worker in the atomic industry is allowed to receive. So that was the first missed opportunity to call an evacuation. Ernie continued around 10 o'clock. The radiation monitors in the dome of the containment were at lethal levels. Thousands of REM an hour. Again, an indication that fuel is breaking down. Someone took a reactor cooling sample. They opened a little spigot, filled a vial, and normally those vials are very non-radioactive. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:56 This was reading 200 are an hour that is lethal in two hours. That is an incredible amount. Another indication of fuel failure around 10 o'clock in the morning, health physics asked the plant management to evacuate the auxiliary building. So all these things were happening. And yet the state was not told that things were really out of control. The third time and evacuation was called for according to Arnie Gunderson is that, and here I quote at 1220, the NRC, the nuclear regulatory commission asked three mile island. What is the temperature in liqour TMI got back to them shortly thereafter. And they said, we don't know the computer is printing question marks. And then they said, that means that the computer is messed up. In fact, question marks meant that the temperature in the Corps was over 700 degrees. They did not know how high, but they knew that it was high. And it was another indication of a meltdown in progress. Well, a couple of minutes before two, there was an hydrogen explosion. Now the industry we'll call it a hydrogen burn, but it was a hydrogen explosion. This from a newscast later that day Newscast 01:10:21 With a tremendous releasing state. And I looked out the window and I saw this huge column going up here. And Ronnie Libbe HaLevy  01:10:32 Again from Arnie Gunderson plant manager Miller was in the control room at the time based on affidavits from four reactor operators, they all said Miller knew about it. And the control room shook. Now when your building starts shaking, I think that is about the last indication you need, that you really should let the civilians know to head for the Hills. After that it was unconscionable that an evacuation was not ordered on the first day, the words of Arnie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education upon the 30th anniversary of the accident at three mile island, the NRC was not informed of this explosion until two days later. So again, no evacuation was called instead. Everyone was receiving confused reports from the media, which sounded like this Emergency Message 01:11:30 Can escape the atmosphere, following an accident at a nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. However, state officials say there is no danger to residents in the area. The plant is operated by metropolitan Edison company. Official. Fabian said there was no dangerous area resident at the nuclear regulatory commission here in Washington says radiation has been detected as far away from the site. As a mile send control rods have been inserted into the nuclear core to stopped a nuclear reaction, but added that it wasn't known if some part of a fuel might've evaporated, melted or blown out of its core before emergency actions. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:04 Based with this often confusing information, local residents tried to find out on their own what was happening with very mixed results. Middletown mayor, Bob Reed, excerpted from the audio documentary voices from three mile island by Robbie. Robbie 01:12:22 We had no concrete information that we could go on. So we had the television set in our communication center in each channel and gave us different information. We had a radio in each station, gave us different information. You didn't know what to do. And then when I call, I said, what about radiation? I knew that he said, oh, no, radiation was released. You don't have to worry about that. No radiation wasn't released and no one was injured. I said, great. Turn my radio onto the car. The first day that announcer said that radiation was released. That's what I just talked to an official from the plane. That was 11 o'clock in the morning, four o'clock in the afternoon. The same man called me and said, Bobby said, I'd like to update our conversation that we had 11 o'clock. I said, are you going to tell me now that radiation was released? He said, yes. And I said, well, I guess we're in for a lot of malarkey from you, people Libbe HaLevy  01:13:17 Next dairy farmer, Jane Lee. Tom 01:13:20 So I got home about noon, Tom and I called state college. I knew some people at the state college had been in this thing for a year. And I said, all right, tell me what's going on a treat TMI. She said, Jane, you're not still there. I said, what do you mean? I'm not still here. I'm calling you to find out what's going on. All I found out is there's something going on at TMI, but we don't know what. And she said, you better get out of there. She said that plant is on its way down or meltdown. I said, you're kidding me. She said, no, I'm not getting better. Get the hell out of there. Well, here on Lowe's I had to tell gentleman, David and Jerry, he was milking here. We had 85 head of cattle after we had to go to the dogs and cats. One from the name of God you do, Libbe HaLevy  01:13:53 What do you do inside the control room at three mile island, a decision was being made that would have momentous impact upon the health and safety of all who found themselves in proximity to the nuclear reactor. What follows is a recording from a Dictaphone that was accidentally or perhaps intentionally left on and it recorded what the people we count on in a nuclear accident sound like as they try to figure out what to do, the sound quality is not great. And we will post a transcript of this up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 9. But even with the poor sound quality listen closely, because the picture it creates is shocking and important. Emergency Message 01:14:42 So when you were probably, but I must say it's operating totally in the blind. I don't have any confidence at all, but a little place where they, but what they were going to get. One point that I do immediately do it immediately. We're operating almost totally on the fly. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:32 They admitted they were operating almost totally in the blind when they decided not to tell people to evacuate on that first day. That was the sound of my life. Being an alter oblique changed. Mary Stamos is a longtime resident of Middletown, Pennsylvania. She lived and it's still lives only six and a half air miles from the facility and was directly in the trajectory of the plume though. She did not know it at the time Mary Stamos 01:16:03 I went into the driveway and it was really strange because the air was filled with metal. And I didn't know if I was breathing it or tasting it, but I just looked around and I couldn't figure out what, what was going on. And thing that was really strange. It was a beautiful sunny morning and there were no birds when the birds were chirping all over the place the day before. And I just wondered, you know, what was going on, but I had no clue Libbe HaLevy  01:16:31 While Mary Stamos and her neighbors had no clue as to what was going on at three mile island. Neither did the nuclear regulatory commission. Peter Bradford was a commissioner at the NRC at that time and had previously worked closely with Ralph Nader. Here are his recollections of that morning from inside the NRC. Ralph Nader 01:16:52 On the morning of the 28th of March, the commissioner has received some level of notification. Then I don't remember now just what level it was, but it was not a dramatic notification. Simply that something unusual had happened at the plant. If I'm remembering correctly, it was a form of notification that we probably got five or six times a year with regard to events at nuclear plants. It was an indication it's something out of the ordinary. It happened, but it gave no hand of the severity of the events at three mile and Libbe HaLevy  01:17:31 Quoting Arnie Gunderson regarding the 10 to 10:30 AM timeframe. The plant manager at the time was a guy named Denny Miller. And here's what he had to say over the next couple of years about what was going on in that timeframe. Miller said they were hot enough that they scared you. And he was talking about the incor temperature. Well, if you are scared, one would think that an evacuation might be an order. Miller continued pretty early. We were scared. Radiation was all over the place. Everything was off scale. Arnie said another indication if you are scared, it's about time to at least tell the civilians that this is the time to move out. But that first day, no warning was given. While I remained blissfully unaware of this, staying in my friend's medialis home and working on a musical that did not mean that people in the local community were unaware that there was something very wrong happening down at the end plant, perhaps more than they were being told Arnie Gunderson shared from an email that he only recently received. Arnie Gunderson 01:18:44 Since I've been talking about Fukushima, I got a email that brought me to tears. It was a woman who was in 10th grade at the time of the accident and she was in chemistry and they were studying radiation and they had a Geiger counter hanging out the window for the entire semester. They walk into the class at 10 o'clock on the morning of the accident and the Geiger counter is pegged. So the teacher goes to the phone as a responsible citizen. He calls governor Thornburg and tells him, look, I'll in Middleburg. I've got a peg Dyker Keller here. What should I do? And governor Thornberg's office told this high school teacher don't do anything. We know all about it. So they kept the kids in school and, and who got evacuated, where the kids, some people who worked at the power plant, they all came by and grabbed their kids and got out of there. But the kids that didn't have the inside scoop wound up staying in Middletown and got high exposure Libbe HaLevy  01:19:41 As pat street, one of the local mothers reports, Peg 01:19:45 I'm standing in the hall while they call my kids over the Intercom. My son comes running down the hall, mommy, what's the matter. There are only 10 kids left in the room. They keep calling him over the Intercom and they don't come back. So I said there was an accident and I tried to make it as mild as I could. I'd say I was very hysterical on the inside and trying to be very calm and collected on the outside. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:10 Mary Stamos talks about how she first found out that there was a real problem down at the end plant Mary Stamos 02:20:18 Around 10 30, the morning of the accident. I got a phone call from my sister-in-law and she worked for an environmental group. And there were attorneys there that were members of three mile island alert. And she said, they told her that something had happened at three mile island. The plant was shut down. They had some type of an accident. So I heard about it. Hours later after the metallic taste, I thought I was far enough away that it wouldn't a problem. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:49 I only learned of the accident at about five 30 that night on overhearing a comment by people working at a local seven 11 type store. When my friends got home from work, we of course discussed the matter and discuss the possibility of evacuation, but decided against it, labeling everything that was happening, a media hype that was being blown totally out of proportion. But because the friends I was staying with did not have a television set. We didn't watch the news that night. And so we missed it as Walter Cronkite, anchor of the CBS evening news known and respected as the most trustworthy newsman in America, put the three mile island accident into perspective for the world. Newscast 02:21:38 Good evening. The world has never known a day, quite like the day it faced the considerable uncertainties and dangers of the worst to nuclear power plant accident of the atomic age and the heart tonight is that it could get much worse. It is not an atomic explosion that is feared. The experts say that is impossible, but the spectrum was raised to perhaps the next most serious kind of nuclear catastrophe, a massive release of radioactivity, the nuclear regulator regulatory commission cited that possibility with an announcement that while it is not likely the potential is there for the ultimate risk of a meltdown at the three mile island, atomic power plant outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Libbe HaLevy  02:22:19 The following morning, my friends received multiple phone calls from people around the country, urging them to get out, but we chose to ignore them and carry on with our lives. That Thursday day two of the accident, March 29th, more information along with official attempts to downplay, it were making themselves known in the media. Newscast 02:22:43 We have absolutely no question about nuclear plants and the reason he could not refer to it as a nuclear accident because it was not that. And as I say, always went to the operation as they should have. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:02 So when is a nuclear accident, not a nuclear accident, apparently when the nuclear industry says, so none of the tumult going on within three mile island and the management and the NRC, none of the damage, none of the information that Arnie Gunderson presented on the 30th anniversary of the accident was known to the outside world at bath time, Mary Stamos, Mary Stamos 02:23:29 The evening news had Walter Cronkite on and I missed all of what he said, but I had heard shortly after that, that they were talking about this nuclear accident at three mile island. And then the next morning my neighbor worked at the hotel near me and she would come by for coffee and we'd sit and talk. And she told me on Thursday morning, the second day of the accident, I mean, this was like 6:00 AM in the morning that reporters were calling from all over the world to make reservations, to stay at the hotel because of the accident. And, you know, we weren't told it was anything serious. The evening newspaper on March 28th, that low levels of radiation escape after and plant reactor pump failed, leak poses, no danger to the populace. Later in the afternoon, Thursday afternoon, Lieutenant governor goes on television and says that the accident at three mile island told us that there'd be no problem. Mary Stamos 02:24:33 They would be able to restart in a couple of days. And then later he comes back on television, like within an hour or so. And he says, we've been misled. We've been lied to the nuclear accident is more severe than we have been led to believe. We were told to close our doors and windows. When I heard that, that's when I got really scared, because I had heard from bomb fallout victims, you know, the history and the story of Utah and Nevada and other nuclear places where they've told to close their doors and windows, if nothing is happening, you can breathe the air. But they told us to close our doors and windows, and that was Thursday afternoon. And I started to really get worried. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:20 On the other hand, I wasn't worried at all. That's because I continued to ignore the media dismissing the little bit. I'd heard with an overblown response to that little problem down at the end plant. Of course it did not stop me from declaring myself as a member of that self-same media as a freelancer who happened to be close to a big story and wanted to capitalize upon it. So the second day of the accident, as the reactor invisibly leaked radioactivity into the environment, I walked outside over a mile into Middletown while breathing deeply of the Pennsylvania springtime air. I stood around outside interviewing people, waited half an hour on a corner for a bus, then met my friend in Harrisburg for dinner, making our way back by bus. And then walking back to the home, there still was no clear call to evacuate. Here's why before we knew the concept of alternative facts, the nuclear industry specialized in putting them out Emergency Message 02:26:23 Communication problem, getting information back to Watson chaotic situation. Part of that, I think is a lack of credibility of what we're being told. Part of it's the confusion that's coming forth. I think it's inexcusable that we leave a private utility in full command of the situation being, Newscast 02:26:43 And pulled and tugged and fragmented by the structure. There speaker 15 02:26:52 16 months, Newscast 02:26:53 The accident did not occur in the reactor in the spider one day, a feed pump connected to a turbine outside of the reactor area. That was a failure of a piece of machine right here in metaphor. It was an accident with regard to it wasn't an accident or a piece of machinery. Emergency Message 02:27:15 Also a bumbling reaction Bethel that meantime to change and the hydraulics in the core have to be carefully monitored. So we're looking very carefully at the way in the afternoon, tends to get the corn from a cold shot down condition, Newscast 02:27:27 The door relationship between that. And what is thought of in the nuclear. Libbe HaLevy  02:27:32 One of the more bald faced examples of nuclear double-talk and obfuscation on the third day, Friday, March 30th, amid all the confused information and garbled reports, the nuclear regulatory commission considered what actions to take former NRC commissioner, Peter Bradford. Ralph Nader 02:27:54 The commission did not become aware of the seriousness of the event until Friday morning. When we learned that there had been radiation measured by a helicopter flying over the plant site. And no one seemed to have a good explanation of the source of that radiation was whether it was likely to get worse, whether they were likely to be other releases. So for the first time a commission had to focus on both notifying the rest of the federal government and formulating a recommendation for the governor of Pennsylvania as to what, if any level of evacuation you should order. You know, I don't remember much about the debate among the commissioners. I know the consensus that we reached was to recommend the evacuation of pregnant women and children under the age of five, from within a five mile radius, Libbe HaLevy  02:28:52 No town resident, Mary Stamos 02:28:54 The next morning, around eight 30 or nine 30. All of a sudden I heard sirens ringing and the church bells were ringing, which I never heard like this. Then all of the sirens were ringing in this area and I turned the TV on. I didn't see anything. Then I turned my radio on and I hear the news cast or Ron Drake talking about having uncontrolled radiation releases from three mile island. And that's when I really started to panic. And a little bit later, the one person, I don't know who it was that we consider him a hero. He turned the sirens on in Harrisburg and the people started to panic and they were hearing all the news about what was happening. And then the governor Thornburg was kind of forced into talking about radiation, you know, and the exposure that people might be getting Libbe HaLevy  02:29:51 Governor Thornburg Emergency Message 02:29:52 Based on advice of the chairman of the NRC and in the interest of taking every precaution. I am advising those who may be particularly susceptible to the effects of any radiation that is pregnant women and preschool age children to leave the area within a five mile radius of the three mile island facility until further. Mary Stamos 03:30:18 And like I said, I'm six and a half miles away, but I was still worried. Newscast 03:30:23 The whole idea of being able to evacuate communities of that size is a third. It's going to hurt all along. And it's just governmental utility to talk about being able to cope with a situation by evacuation, because you're never going to get April out, Libbe HaLevy  03:30:41 Alone in a house without a TV and with no radio on. I knew nothing of the panic and the chaos around me. And instead sat and continued writing on my musical. Coincidentally entitled Armageddon. That is until I heard an announcement come down the street. And in order to try to understand it ran downstairs and opened the front door to hear The full announcement included the information, stay in doors, keep your doors and windows closed, do not go outside unless you absolutely have to. Here's why as it finally came across in the media, Media Announcement 03:31:28 And that began at six 40 this morning, it lasted until nine. O'clock another unexpected and substantial release of radiation into the atmosphere from reactor. Number two, it produced a huge cloud of radioactive Xenon gas and radiation levels. To 10 times the amount considered safe for the general public to be exposed to in a full year. Emergency Message 03:31:48 The new information is this radiation cleaning to the plants, take the walls. Consequently, you need metal shield that protects the nuclear fuel and they have been damaged. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:01 Certainly everything I had been made afraid of during the cold war as coming from the Russians was threatening my life from just one mile away, courtesy my own government. And at the local utility, I had no means of transportation knew nobody in the area, except my friends who were at work and even the house I was staying in had no basement in which to hide from the radiation. For all I knew the radiation level was so high. That in essence, I was already dead outside three mile island, all was Bedlam, dairy farmer, Janet Lee, Tom 03:32:43 Like your house is on fire. And you only have so many minutes to think, and you don't know which to grab first and you don't know what to do, and you don't know where to go. And you, if you do go, you have to go with the idea that you're never coming back. Now it's a one, a hell of a horrible experience. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:59 Again, Middletown mayor, Bob Reed, Robbie 03:33:02 People were concerned. You could tell that they were afraid because a lot of people left town left the doors wide, open, unlocked, just put anything in a car and take off. They had a run on the bank. People needed money to go where they were going. And it was just, it was just a mess. Libbe HaLevy  03:33:21 The children left in school. We're not immune to the trauma. Robbie 03:33:25 The schools were were in a panic. The kids, a lot of them thought about the dying and they had written their last wills and testaments, you know, fifth grade, sixth grade kids, Libbe HaLevy  03:33:38 The reporters who had swarmed to three mile island to capture the story. And we're not immune to its longterm consequences. Often betrayed their own nervousness. Emergency Message 03:33:50 Yeah. A lot of people are leaving the Harrisburg area right now. My own family's on the way to New York city right now to stay relevant. A lot of people, the gas stations are flooded. The banks were busy. People were throwing some of their money. Mary Stamos 03:34:03 You're out of here. I didn't have a car that morning. So I talked to my neighbor and she said that we could go to her mother's house. So I got my son ready. I went to school to get my daughter out of school. And her teacher was really upset because she had children that she couldn't go get until all her children from the school were leaving. So when we got to the school, got my daughter, and then we went to my friend's mother's home. That was about 10 miles. And then my husband was still out of town. He worked at a telephone company and when he tried to call, he couldn't even get through the phone lines were so jammed. I had the, Libbe HaLevy  03:34:46 The same problem trying to call out. There was this weird siren sound on the line that wouldn't let Mary Stamos 03:34:51 Me get through. Oh wow. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:54 My friends finally did get through to me on the phone, which had been jammed with no lines available. They picked me up and we evacuated two friends of theirs who lived 150 miles away, which we hoped was far enough. I stayed there for the next 10 days and then flew out away from Harrisburg, away from Middletown and three mile island. So I missed having a community of people who together were able to process commiserate and get angry much of it in a legal way at the powers that be at three mile island. But I also missed the worst of the follow-up information. Mary Stamos. Mary Stamos 03:35:34 When I got my daughter ready to go back to school the one morning I was brushing her hair and she had sick, lovely hair blondish, and a whole lot of hair came out and the hair brush and it kind of freaked me out. I gave my son a little bath and I saw a whole lot of hair in the tub, which I never had experienced before. And when I looked at his scalp, I could see his scalp and it wasn't solid hair. And I didn't think a whole lot of it because I thought when radiation caused hair fall out, I thought you would be bald. I didn't know until a couple years later that you could just have a certain degree of hair loss. I didn't know what was going to happen to us in the future. If we'd all get cancer or whatever Libbe HaLevy  03:36:21 Other problems noticed and documented by Mary Stamos in the immediate aftermath of three mile island include a sudden growth spurt in some of her plants, as much as four inches in less than a week, mutated flowers, branching out into multiples that did not previously exist in nature arose that grew out of the middle of another rose, but with no reproductive components visible on either of them and dandelion leaves that were three feet long. These are all evidence of a process known as saturation, which are mutations in plant life. Following exposure to radiation fasciation has also been observed at Fukushima and Chernobyl changes in animal birth and development were also noted in the first year after three mile island Jane, Tom 03:37:15 The cats and the ducks seem to be the most vulnerable. And it's possible that this is occurring because you have a higher reproductive rate. It's faster. The turnover is faster. You know, they live in environment. How does an environment feed off the environment they pay themselves? So they're, there's anything they're there. It's going to show, okay. What we encounter is we have at least three males Toms right now that aren't, that will not breed. They're old enough to breed. Evidently they're sterile. They won't breed at all. And we encounter a lot of miscarriages in the cats. You know, they're swell up, look like they're pregnant. And then there's nothing. No litters are very small. Now, anywhere from one to four is the most, you'll see in a litter anymore. And it usually literally run at least six. But remember what we're getting is four and the kittens are very small and the development stages is so slow. It's unbelievable. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:10 Animal mutations and animal deaths followed Mary Stamos. Mary Stamos 03:38:15 There was a lady at one of the first meetings I ever attended a public NRC meeting. She stood up and asked a question of the NRC or med ed metropolitan Edison, the TMI owners. And she wanted to know when they were going to pay her for her losses of animals. And she had a dog, Kent aura, poodle Kendall, and her poodles was born with no eyes. It had eye sockets, but no eyes. And she lived right down across the street from three mile island. They paid her every penny that she asked for, but she was not allowed to talk about it. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:51 Less, easy to track or to prove was the psychological damage done to those who lived through the three mile island accident. Most specifically the children, Dr. Michael Gluck was a general practitioner who worked out of three hospitals in the Harrisburg area and lived about two miles from the three mile island plant. Mr. Michael Gluck 03:39:14 I live essentially in the a five mile radius, three mile island. I have a family, a wife and two children. My wife was pregnant during the accident. I worked out of the three hospitals in the Harrisburg area. The most devastating effect that I've seen on this area has been that of really severe, profound, psychological depression. In my own practice, I've seen a number of patients who come to me with a total devastation psychologically after the accident, crying every night, inability to sleep fear for their children's lives, fear for their children's future. And the lack of a secure home. A lot of people have had vague complaints of not feeling well, being tired all the time, just basically being sick to their stomach. And these basically they back when you questioned them, many of these people to the accident. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:06 Again, Middletown mayor, Bob Reed. Robbie 04:40:09 I talked to a one particular doctor in town and he says that he can see regression as far as some of the kids who come to his office, kids who used to come, who were very, we'll say outgoing those same kids after the accident now have a tendency to hold on to mom a lot. And the kid that used to climb all over the chairs and things and read the books, some of the kids now just don't do that. He wonders if it's the same way at home, but I talked to the NRC people and some people in town to ask them to get a child psychologist in town, just to sit down and talk to the kids, not one on one leg, get on a sofa and talk joint, but talk to a whole group of them and explain exactly what's going on down there. How it's going to affect them. They say, well, no, it's guys like you. If you keep your mouth shut, then the kids are forget it. And I said like, oh, they will. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:11 Mary Stamos became and remains involved with three mile island alert in the wake of the accident, learning that there had been no epidemiological follow-up to determine the impact of the accident on the health of local residents. She and others from the group went door to door in the evacuation area, asking questions about people's health. She was shocked to learn that more than 50% of the people who lived within a five mile radius of the nuclear reactors at three mile island had moved away within the past five years. The one can hardly blame them. One final story from Mary, Mary Stamos 04:41:52 The nuclear regulatory commission, and three mile island would come and have all these meetings and people would talk about their problems and they kept insisting that radiation wasn't the cause, but they never once said what it would have been. They blamed the health department here and the government blamed a lot of it on stress. I mean, I never had metallic tastes before, but I had stress before. I've never heard of an animal mutating because of stress. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:22 We'll have more about the medical follow-up in a moment as for the legal follow-up to the accident. Citizens succeeded in a class action suit against three mile island winning $25 million in an out of court settlement. Part of this money was used to create the TMI public health fund in 1983, a federal grand jury indicted the public utility metropolitan Edison on criminal charges for the falsification of safety tests prior to the accident. But under a plea bargaining agreement met ed pleaded guilty to one count of falsifying records and no contest to six other charges, four of which were subsequently dropped. They agreed to pay eight $45,000 fine and set up a $1 million account to help with emergency planning in the areas surrounding the nuclear reactors note, that $1 million is approximately the profit on one nuclear reactor operating for one day. So it seems that met ed got off very cheaply to bring us up to date on the aftermath of the three mile island nuclear partial meltdown. I spoke with Eric Epstein, the head of three mile island alert. First of Mary Stamos 04:43:44 All, tell us, Libbe HaLevy  04:43:45 And what is three mile island alert? And when was it formed? Eric Epstein 04:43:50 Three mile island alert is a safe energy organization that was founded in 1977 in response to the construction of three mile island unit two, which was a plant involved with the core meltdown in 1979. So we've been around for a significant period of time. The beginning was Rocky. Most people had supported nuclear power vigorously in this country in response to Arab oil embargo, stagflation, and a number of reasons. I think people felt nuclear was the answer, but nobody was asking any questions. And that's what we did since that time we have now grown. We cover eight counties, we cover three nuclear power plants, obviously three mile island unit one, three mile island unit two, which is not cleaned up peach bottom one, two and three. And Susko Hannah one and two. So we've morphed into a safe energy group, a nuclear watchdog, and a voice for the community. What Libbe HaLevy  04:44:45 Was your involvement at the time that the accident happened? Eric Epstein 04:44:48 That's a good question. At the time the accident happened, ironically, I was in Los Angeles in college, working with a group known as the Alliance for survival opposing Santa, no fray. I was involved beginning in 1982 with the subsequent Hanna valley Alliance, which was primarily concerned with preventing the dumping of radioactive water, about 700,000 gallons into the subsequent Hanna river. And from 1984, until the current time I've either been the chairperson or the spokesperson for TMI alert consistently. So I didn't, I didn't know at the time that I was signing up for a lifetime commitment, but I'm proud to do it. And I think it's important that our community has continuity and monitors the nuclear power plants in our backyard. We're here 24, 7, 365. And as you know, we created a radiation monitoring network. We've also partnered with Dickinson college to create an archives. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:39 I find it highly ironic that you who lived in the area were in California and I've lived in California, was at three mile island when it happened. There's some karmic interchange happening there. Eric Epstein 04:45:52 You know, to be honest, it was quite an evolution for me growing up, you know, we welcome TMI. I swam there, you know, people fish there, the jobs were good, nobody really questioned it, which was a huge mistake. My dad reassured me that it was a safe source of energy. So, you know, the tables turned dramatically on March 28th, 1979, when the accident began and well, my family didn't respond in a universal way. My dad evacuate left the area actually went to Delaware, which wasn't really that far away. And my sister was in school and was one of the last kids to be picked up because we didn't really have a plan in place. So a lot of those kids dealt with that terror of not knowing if, for when they'd be picked up. My family store stayed open. We had survived three floods and we thought, hell, we could survive a nuclear accident, but people need to remember that the accident began on March 28th with a core melt. And by March 30th, Friday kids were in school. It was warm and that's when the precautionary evacuation took place. So it was indeed ironic that I was in Los Angeles, actually Anaheim at the time. And there's nothing like a nuclear meltdown to enhance your credibility Libbe HaLevy  04:46:55 During the media circus that surrounded the essence aftermath. What were some of the lies and distortions told by those in power, including Neta Eric Epstein 04:47:05 Right out of the bat med ed tried to downplay the accident. And that's been a problem at every marquee nuclear accident, whether it's TMI, Chernobyl, or Fukushima, that the people that caused the accident are responsible for the chain of communication. So if you look at the records and the Udall report, you'll find out real early on that the governor who was just brand new governor Thornburg had just been elected and didn't know where TMI was. And TMI is 12 miles from the Capitol, quickly lost faith in the company. And there there's a dramatic press conference given by the Lieutenant governor. I think on March 29th, basically saying that we cannot believe the information we're getting from the company. The second myth that is probably more prevalent and troubling is that nobody died as a result of the accident conservatives and pro-nuclear people used to say that Ted Kennedy's car killed more people than the accident or TMI. Eric Epstein 04:47:53 And the problem is so much radiation escaped. And if you want to see estimates, I'd encourage people to check out Dr. Jan BA or David, Jan VA's with the Autobahn society and David Locke bounds with a union of concerned scientists. And we don't know how much radiation escaped, why? Because the monitors weren't equipped to pick up the amount that was released. Monitors went off, stack filters, became clogged, monitors were missing. So we had to go back and do an inventory of radiation released and what we found. And I think that most definitive health study was done by Dr. Wing. If you look at the 17 whim plume pathways, and you look at the cancer incidents, you will find the TMI had a devastating impact in the community, both in terms of physical health and psychological health. And up until this day, the companies paid out over a hundred million dollars in claims for evacuation economics, health damages, including $1 million award to a family whose child was born with down syndrome. You know, it's pretty clear that we live with chronic elevated psychological stress. The evidence is overwhelming that we were exposed to radiation. Look, there are hundreds, if not thousands of accounts, Libbe HaLevy  04:49:02 What were some of the early indicators that the health of local residents was being negatively affected by the three mile island accident? Eric Epstein 04:49:10 Well, unfortunately since the radiation monitors didn't work or missing human beings became essentially the barometer for the amount of radiation that was exposed. So we became human disseminators. And what people experience was a universal, a metallic taste in your mouth, sunburn skin, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, all effects of being exposed to radiation that had a dreadful effect on animals as most veterinarians in the area testified to. So it was pretty early on that the Canary and the coal mine was both animals and human beings, which is absolutely unacceptable. And as time has gone on, we see an exceptionally high rate of fibroid cancer. Penn state at Hershey is still investigating those effects. Unfortunately, the state has given up and the federal government has kicked in the towel. And as we have complained Libby for 37 years still, no nuclear power plant has a health registry or a cancer registry for workers or people who live in the community. And that is unconscionable. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:12 You referenced a health study. How long after the accident did count studies begin. And what were some of the problems that researchers faced? Eric Epstein 05:50:22 The problem was that you have a mobile population here to begin with. It's the capital. So one segment, the population changes every four to eight years, depending on who's governor. And the other segment of the population is extremely stable. You know, you have people whose heritage dates back to the revolutionary war. This is Bible belt, Christian, conservative America, and these people who were also bedrock community or the people who went from being pro-nuclear to being skeptical, to being thoroughly fed up with the industry. I'm telling you that because the surveys that happened and then definitive study that the industry relies on was done in 19 85, 19 85, just six years after the accident, no scientist in their right mind would tell you that you can capture radiogenic cancer in six years. That's junk science, even that study, which was conducted by Dr. Takahata from the department of health, was dismissed by epidemiologists at Penn state and at Harvard. Eric Epstein 05:51:19 And that wasn't even a study. It was a survey. And that's why I was complaining before about residents not being interviewed is that they didn't even interview people. They basically did a survey of the area. The lines were fudged. The survey was thrown out and really the definitive health account occurred in the early 1990s by a doctor Steven wing from the university of North Carolina at chapel hill. And if you reference that, you can see exactly what we argued since the day of the accident. Follow the plumes, talk to the people. And what you will find is high incidents of radiogenic cancer. And we still have cancer to this day, not to mention the fear of the unknown. People don't know what they were exposed to. Some people made decisions not to raise a family because they didn't want to be queen mutations. And so it's an accident without an end. Let me just what I told people before I can tell you the exact time the accident began March 28th, 1970 9, 3 58. I can't tell you what time it ends because nuclear accidents never end. This is a story where the pallbearers are going to have to stand in place forever. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:22 What, if any action has been taken against net ed or any other organization that was involved Babcock and Wilcox, any of the creators of three miles? Eric Epstein 05:52:34 Well, everybody's shoot each other. Nobody took responsibility. It's the old story. The companies through the NRC that was thrown out, the Babcock and Wilcox suit was settled out of court. The company that owned the plant was actually a holding company. It was GPU med ed, who was the operator owned 50% of the plant. 25% was owned by Jersey central power and light. And 25% was owned by Penn aleck, just as a cruel irony of this is that we really didn't get any electricity from that nuclear power plant Jersey central and power and light is in New Jersey. We live in central Pennsylvania. Penn aleck is an Allentown. We live in central Pennsylvania. Penn aleck is in Western Pennsylvania. We live in central Pennsylvania. So the people that had to deal with the accident really never received any of the benefits. Now, there was a fine, and there were criminal convictions. Eric Epstein 05:53:23 The company no longer exists. And the has been sold multiple times since the accident. So essentially the company not only got away scot-free, but they were bailed out by taxpayers and by the federal government for the fueling, you asked me earlier, what was one of the biggest myths? The third biggest myth and probably biggest lie is that TMI two was cleaned up at the time of the accident. There was no decommissioning funds. They had no money. They operated from one, 120th of their lifespan cost a billion to build a billion, to do fuel and it'll cost another billion to decommission. And they just don't have enough money. I mean, the reality is that TMI two will never be cleaned up. And this is an accident without an ending. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:05 What, if anything, can listeners to nuclear hot seat do to help support you in your Eric Epstein 05:54:11 Well, you know, you can visit our websites, obviously, you know, donations help. But if you go to the TMI website, tmi.com, you'll see that we track three nuclear power plants on a daily basis. We have a record of every incident or problem that's occurred at all. Three plants, everything since the day they began until today. That's for SESCO Hannah peach bottom in TMI, we established a radiation monitoring network and you can go to emr.org and you can find what we promise to give the community has come to fruition. And that's real time radiation monitoring. What people can do is basically make sure it doesn't happen to them. Stay active, ask questions, don't be a victim. You don't have to be a passive victim. You can be the aggressor. And I think what we found is something totally ironic alternatives and renewals have supplanted nuclear power. Eric Epstein 05:54:59 So I think you and your listeners have probably know this for years that, you know, the only thing that matters in this country, that's green is money. And nobody in their right mind would invest in a nuclear power plant. These days. I understand that some people may seem disaffected by nuclear power, but it affects everybody. If you just look at how nuclear power works from the moment it's mined, milled, transported, bled, and then it turns into waste. Everybody, no matter where you are, you're impacted. So be aware that at some point in time, you're touched by nuclear power production, Libbe HaLevy  05:55:32 Eric Epstein, thank you so much for all your years of dedicated work. Eric Epstein 05:55:37 Well, I appreciate your diligence and your sticktuitiveness and your tenaciousness. And people need to understand that what you're doing is hard and it's difficult. So people tuning into hot seat could also, you know, send you some thank yous or some kudos. That's what I'm doing from Harrisburg today. And I appreciate all your efforts on everybody's behalf. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:55 It was Eric Epstein of three mile island alert. We'll link to the Steven wing study on our website, three mile island unit one was permanently shut down on September 20th, 2019, but the radioactive waste remains in place and radioactive debris from unit two, where the meltdown took place has never been cleaned up. This remains an ongoing issue, and that is why you need nuclear. Hotseat not only for weekly nuclear news and numnuts of the week, but for concentrated looks back at our legacy of nuclear problems, like three mile island, so that we never forget what has been done as well as what is still being done to all of us. As a result of the nuclear industry, there is never a week without multiple alarming stories of nuclear accidents, lies, malfeasance, coverups, image, manipulation, and the damage done by this one industry to people and the environment. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:57 These are stories that mainstream media does not cover, or if they do it's from a local perspective, only without larger context. And usually includes more than a few unvetted. Pro-nuclear talking points implanted in public consciousness by the industries, never ending multi-million dollar PR campaign and here's nuclear hot seat on a bake sale budget, working to contradict all that pro nuclear blah-blah-blah and provide you with the research vetted truth. And every week we do a pretty good job of it. So help us keep going by providing a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to send us a donation of any size, or you can set up a recurring monthly donation as little as $5 a month. The same as a cup of coffee here in the United States is enough to help us go whatever you can do to help know that I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Libbe HaLevy  05:58:00 This has been a nuclear hot seat special for Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021, three mile island. Never forget our thanks to Fairwinds energy education and Arnie Gunderson, Mary Stamos of TMI alert, former NRC commissioner, Peter Bradford, Eric Epstein of TMI alert and my gratitude to filmmaker Robbie lobster producer of the two hour audio documentary voices from three mile island who gave me permission to use interviews with mayor Bob Reed, Jane Lee, pat street, and Dr. Michael Gluck we'll have a link to Robbie's documentary on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 9. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history communications reminding you that as three mile island proves we are all in the nuclear hot seat. ### NH #508: Plutonium + Nazis + Crashes = US Nukes in Space Dangers: Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-nazis-crashes-u-s-nukes-in-space-dangers-karl-grossman/ Published: 2021-03-18 Duration: 00:59:01 Plutonium + Nazis + Crashes = US Nukes in Space Dangers – When the Antares rocket crashed in 2014 (above), nothing was said about the possibility of plutonium on board, but research reveals that the power source for this style of rocket was listed as a 4 kg. fuel capsule in the shape of a long rod which contained plutonium-238 – with a half-life of 89.6 years. Not reported at the time, and confirmation not yet achieved… but what if it did have plutonium on board? Listen Here: This Week's Featured Interview: Plutonium + Nazis + Crashes = U.S. Nukes in Space Dangers – As regular listeners to Nuclear Hotseat know, Karl Grossman is one of my favorite interviewees. He is an author and journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, host of the television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman, author of six books, and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper and Internet articles. Karl has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years, and he carries our archives in his mind – would that we could publish THAT. We talk with him here about nukes in space, where the impulse to expand nuclear domination came from, and the dangers nuclear represents, from launch to orbit to crash-down. We talked on March 12, 2021.LINKS from the interview: Karl Grossman's cornerstone book,COVER UP: What you are NOT supposed to know about nuclear power. Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment is a translation of a 2007 Russian publication by Alexey V. Yablokov, Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko, edited by Janette D. Sherman-NevingerGlobal Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space Rachel Traczyk is a field organizer with Beyond the Bomb and a recipient of their Future First Fellowship. She shares about the Fellowship, what it did for her, and how young people can apply.  The link for the application (deadlne for application April 30) is:   https://beyondthebomb.org/futurefirst-fellowship-summer-2021/.If you have questions, email Rachel at: rachel@beyondthebomb.org or her associate Tristan at tristan@beyondthebomb.org. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Nukes in space. It's easy to ignore the implications of radioactive materials on board, rocket satellites, even the Mars Rover. But even if you assume that you are immune to the consequences of nuclear, so terribly far away, you get a real wake-up call. When you hear a genuine expert. Talk about an early accident that happened in connection with space, and he tells me, Karl Grossman 00:00:29 And this snap nine, a launch didn't achieve orbit. The satellite comes crashing back to earth breaks apart, disintegrates with the plutonium spread widely over the planet. Dr. John Gottman at the university of California at Berkeley and MD a PhD involved in some of the isolation of plutonium during the Manhattan project, connected that disaster to rise in lung cancer on earth. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:57 Well, when you learn about yet another nuclear danger that we all face and the person delivering that information is the eminent investigative journalist, Carl Grossman. You can trust that. It's true. And yet another example of how every last one of us on this planet is clamped into that awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:21 Clear, hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:52 Welcome to nuclear hunt seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we hear from veteran environmental journalists, Carl Grossman, who explains how the dangers posed by nuclear power and weapons in space is more wide ranging and immediate than most of us suspected and how there's some nuclear damage that has already invisibly been done to our health and wellbeing because of nukes in space. And we'll also hear about a great paid fellowship opportunity offered to young people, young people in the movement, yay. By beyond the bum, Rachel, a former recipient of this fellowship shares details, not only about the fellowship, but about how receiving it changed life. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:01 We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information then got any kind of entertainment award or even nomination so far this year, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, March 16th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Last week on March 11th was the 10th anniversary of the start of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The world's press was a wash with stories about nuclear from the propaganda of bill gates and others all the way up to actual reports of what happened to the people who lived in and evacuated from Northeast Japan, Greenpeace, Japan issued two reports that highlight the complex legacy of the earthquake tsunami and nuclear disaster. One decade ago, focus Shima 2011 to 2000 to 20 detailed radiation levels in in Fukushima prefecture. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:11 Greenpeace's original findings showed that decontamination efforts have been limited. And that 85% of the special decontamination area has undergone no decontamination. The second report decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station critiqued the current official decommission plan within 30 to 40 years as having no prospect of success and says that it is delusional. Sean Burney, senior nuclear specialists at Greenpeace east Asia said success of governments during the last 10 years and largely under prime minister, Shinzo ABI have attempted to perpetuate a myth about the nuclear disaster. They have sought to deceive the Japanese people by misrepresenting the effectiveness of the decontamination program and ignoring radiological risks. He went on to say the decade of deception and illusion on the part of the government and tap call must end. A new decommissioning plan is inevitable. So why waste any more time with the current fantasy Greenpeace said its own radiation surveys conducted over the last decade have consistently found readings above government target levels, including in areas that have reopened to the public. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:25 The lifting of evacuation orders in places where radiation remains above safe levels, potentially exposes people to an increased risk of cancer. Their reports confirm information that was shared on last week's nuclear hot seat voices from Japan special. And we will post links to the articles on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 8 1 collaborator with Japan on the fiction that there is no danger. And that recovery is going well. Is the United nations scientific committee, the effects of atomic radiation or own skier? It has issued a report saying no adverse health effects among Fukushima residents have been documented and nuclear hot seat has covered the manipulation of the documentation to ensure that no clean data is available. Do United nations nuclear lapdog watchdog. The international atomic energy agency said that there was quote unquote, no evidence that the disaster had any detrimental effects on people's health ignoring the shocking number of thyroid cancer cases that have shown up among children and dismissing these sharply higher rate of thyroid cancers detected among children as likely due to better diagnostics. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:44 This was strongly contradicted by Dr. Alex Rosen, a pediatrician who co-chairs the German affiliate of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war. He was interviewed on nuclear hot seat. And that interview was picked up as source material for an article in the bulletin of atomic scientists, where in Dr. Rosen said Japan has clamped down on scientific efforts to study the nuclear catastrophe. There is hardly any literature, any publicized research health effects on humans. And those that are published come from a small group of researchers at Fukushima medical university, which are centered around the scientists. Shinichi Yamashita, who in Japan is called Mr. 100 millisieverts because in the wake of the disaster, he not only recommended against administering iodine pills to prevent thyroid cancer. He told people that their best protection against radiation poisoning was literally to smile and be happy links on the website to both the bulletin of atomic scientists, article and nuclear hot seat, 4 98 with Dr. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:49 Rosen's full interview. The Fukushima district court has ruled against plaintiffs in a lawsuit, filed by parents and children who lived in the prefecture at the time of the accident at the nuclear power station, claiming that measures were not taken to avoid radiation exposure to their children. The 160 parents and children who lived there were seeking 100,000 yen per person in damages from the government and to the prefecture. That sounds like a lot until you crunch the numbers and realize it's only $916 plus change in us dollars. Now stories are flooding the media in Japan about the country of being undecided about the timing and the method of releasing radioactive water from Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean, not if it should be released, but when and how note the change in emphasis on the story. And not only that, Announcer 00:08:55 Mike Libbe HaLevy 00:08:57 Talk about your tone, deaf timing on March 11, which was of course the 10th anniversary of the start of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the head of tap CO's holding company. Tamaki Kobayakawa first apologized to the victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and then turn around and immediately added that nuclear power generation will still be needed and pushing for the restart of the number seven reactor at the Kashia was Zaki Curry, one nuclear plant in Nikita only a little over 100 air miles away from Fukushima Daiichi. This poster boy for numb nuts of the week said that operating a nuclear plant contributes to a stable power supply. Yeah. How stable was it at Fukushima? He then said that nuclear protects the environment. There isn't even a WTF big enough to cover that one. And he completely ignored recent questions about the fitness of TEPCO and its ability to safely run a nuclear plant. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:05 When according to recent reports in September, a tech co-employee entered a central control room at the CATIA Zaki Korea plan using the ID of another employee, something that reported for four months and since January of 2021, several safeguard measures at the plant were not finished. Despite early reports stating that they were in response, Koboyakawa said we will get to the bottom of these incidents and repair our corporate culture. No dude, you've got to repair the damage you have done to people and to the environment through Fukushima, Daiichi, and shut all the rest of them down forever. While you figure out what you're going to do with the waste. And that is why once again, Tokyo electric power company Tesco, and your toady minions. You are this week's no. Announcer 01:11:02 Okay. Your hot seat Libbe HaLevy 01:11:07 Here in the United States support for nuclear reactors is starting to be reversed lawmakers in the Ohio house, voted to repeal a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants that federal investigators say were at the heart of a state bribery scandal. Since the controversial house bill six past former Ohio house speaker, Larry householder was arrested in connection with a $61 million bribery scheme to let team leader of the house so that he could pass the nuclear bailout and defendant against a ballot initiative to block the law. If passed house bill 1 28 would acts subsidies for the energy Harbor plants eliminate a first energy fee meant to keep the company quote recession-proof and quote, and repeal a benefit that helped a subsidiary avoid refunding customers for significantly excessive profits. In Michigan, the state attorney general is objecting to the transfer of the Palisades nuclear plant and a spent waste storage site on lake Michigan, arguing that Holtec the company planning to take ownership of both sites lacks adequate financial resources and has underestimated the decommissioning costs saying that whole tax plan quote, endangers our environment and health and potentially leaves our residents to bear the costs of proper cleanup and quote, Nevada lawmakers have filed a bill that would require the federal government to receive consent from state local and tribal entities before constructing a permanent repository for nuclear waste. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:45 The New Mexico environmental department has alleged in court that Los Alamos national laboratory has failed to clean up its nuclear waste and alleged. The department of energy displayed a pattern of failing to meet deadlines and benchmarks for hazardous waste cleanup at the federal nuclear facility in Northern New Mexico. And to those who are still delusional enough to believe that nuclear waste can be safely shipped from nuclear reactors around the country to propose interim storage sites in New Mexico and west Texas. This reminder, an 18 wheel truck hit a train carrying chemicals and fuels in Cameron, Texas on February 24th, causing a huge explosion and starting a fire that was expected to burn for several days. The first 11 cars of the train were filled with gasoline coal and petroleum products. Imagine if it had been highly radioactive used fuel rods from nuclear reactors and in France, according to the NGO association for the control of radioactivity in the west dust from the Sahara desert low north by strong seasonal winds to France carried abnormal levels of radiation. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:55 The cesium 1 37 comes from nuclear tests carried out by France and the Algerian desert at the beginning of the 1960s, nuclear karma, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. And now, as you will hear the dangers of reactors and weapons in space, nuclear is government and industry not caring, how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions when they most definitely are not. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever. So let's be honest. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:56 Nuclear is a deadly mess, and that is why you need nuclear hot seat to get into nuclear stories, with fact continuity and context, as well as a healthy dose of skepticism with a much deeper and nuanced telling that you would ever expect on mainstream media. We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective. And even whenever possible humor, that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly $5 donation, the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S please. We all need this information. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:54 So do what you can now and know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now here's this week's featured interview. Now here's this week's featured interview as regular listeners to nuclear hot seat. No, Carl Grossman is one of my favorite interviewees. He is an author and journalism professor at the state university of New York college at old Westbury host of the television program in viral close-up with Carl Grossman, author of six books and writer of an uncountable number of magazine, newspaper, and internet articles. Carol has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years and he carries our archives in his mind, wood that we could download and publish that. Here we talk with him about nukes in space, the dangers they represent from launch to orbit to crash down Cal gross minute, I talked on March 12th, 2021, Carol Grossman. It is always a pleasure to have you here on nuclear hot seat. Karl Grossman 01:17:03 A pleasure always to be with you Libby on nuclear Hotsy Libbe HaLevy 01:17:07 We're going to be talking about nukes in space today, and you have been on this subject for more than three and a half decades. How did you first come upon the information? Karl Grossman 01:17:20 Well, I was reading a department of energy newsletter and there was an article in it about two space shuttle shots in 1986, in which both the space shuttles, one being the challenger. In fact, what I carry up into space, plutonium fueled space probes, and I had before done my book cover up what you're not supposed to know about nuclear power. And I was quite aware that plutonium has long been described as the deadliest of all radioactive substances. And you hear the talk about pounds of plutonium as fuel on these space probes. And the article went on that NASA and the department of energy and various national nuclear laboratories, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge, and so forth. Had done studies about the impacts, the consequences, if there'd be an accident on these lunches. So I filed a freedom of information act request asking for what those studies concluded. Karl Grossman 01:18:22 I've been writing for decades and decades on nuclear power. But the image I had of NASA was that it's a, a push scoutish kind of agency. I mean, there was Neil Armstrong on the moon, an Eagle scout. And so was I an Eagle scout? So I kind of figured that, you know, maybe this is a different kind of federal agency. Wow. Was I incorrect? And I quickly found out how incorrect I was because instead of promptly and along the letter of the freedom of information act law provide me with information. Nothing came and the weeks past the months passed, it was a claim at one point that under the freedom of information act NASA, wouldn't be required to provide highly technical information. And I had to respond that, that that was no exemption under foyer. And I had to appeal finally, after about 10 months, I get a bunch of documents and they spoke about accidents, all kinds of accidents on the launchpad and the lower atmosphere, the upper atmosphere. Karl Grossman 01:19:29 It didn't how to handle it because they claim that the odds of a catastrophic shuttle accident was one in a hundred thousand. And I mean, those odds are infinitesimal would seem that you'd have a, a serious accident in which plutonium was dispersed. And it was a few months later, I was on my way to teach my investigative reporting class. When I, I hear on the car radio, that the challenge I had blown up, this is January of 86, and I got stopped into an appliance store along the long island expressway. So that ghastly image of the challenge of blowing up and poor Chris McAuliffe's parents sitting in their seats crying. I mean, so tragic. And, but I was thinking though, if it would have been the next mission in may of 86, when the plutonium shot was to be, it wouldn't be six brave astronauts in a very brave teacher in space, Chris McCullough, who died, if that plutonium would have been released in the kind of explosion, the challenge or underwent depends where the wind would be blowing from. Karl Grossman 02:20:38 I mean, Orlando is not far off. I mean, you wouldn't want to go to Disney for maybe a couple of hundred years. And I can, in case I call the nation magazine, I've written for the nations for the years and said, did you folks know that the next mission of the challenge, it was to be a nuclear mission and they didn't at all. And they asked me to write an editorial. I did, it was titled the lethal shuttle. That's 1986 January. And I've been on this issue, this story, if you want to call it a story ever since, Libbe HaLevy 02:21:08 Did NASA really believe that the chance was only one in 100,000, Karl Grossman 02:21:14 It turns out that they brought a bunch of NASA scientists and engineers to the Marshall space flight center. And as one at a time, what do you think the likelihood of a catastrophic shuttle accident would be in one would say, well, very unlikely. One would say extremely unlikely. And they translated these words to numbers. I mean, it was scandalous, no empirical evidence. And that's how they figured out one at a a hundred thousand, a few months after the challenge that catastrophe, the odds have one in a hundred thousand, what changed to one in 76? So, I mean, that w those are correct arts. I mean, there were about 150 shuttle launches in to met with disasters. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:56 How is nuclear used in space? Is it propulsion? Is it weapons? Is there other ways that it's involved? Karl Grossman 02:22:05 Well, mainly it's over the years, the way it's been used. I mean, there's been attempts to use nukes for propulsion. In fact, right now, a big push for nuclear propelled rockets to get to Mars. But the way it's been used up to now involves radioisotope Thermo electric generators as a little technical, but so Tony, I'm 2 39, the kind of plutonium that's used and I'm bombs. There's the trigger in a hydrogen bomb that has a half-life of 24,300 years. So multiply that by 20. And you forget how long it's radioactive, what they use in these space devices. So them 2 38, which has a far shorter, half-life like 88 years. And it's, it's hot was it's breaking apart. It's breaking down it's disintegrating at a fairly rapid rate. And that heat is used to, it's like a fairly complicated system to generate electricity for the electrical power. That's what these RTGS on these space probes, would it be used for, to generate a few hundred Watts of electric power? They'd be propelled by chemical propulsion. Once the shuttle would be an orbit, then would I be able to release them and they'd fly off into space. So mainly it's been RTGS radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:28 So we have a sense now of what we're up against, what attempts have been made to put treaties in place to limit nuclear exposure in space. Karl Grossman 02:23:41 None. I mean like zero, the outer space of 1967 prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, but there's really nothing limiting any country from using nuclear power in space. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:00 So in other words, with every launch, from whatever country is putting a vehicle into space, there's a potential for a nuclear component. And we are at danger from an accident happening. Karl Grossman 02:24:17 It's not just us, it's anybody. In fact, one of the two books I've written on this issue is called the wrong stuff. The space programs, nuclear threat to our planet. It concerns then president Clinton, visiting Australia, he was on vacation in Hawaii. Wasn't to go to Australia on a state visit the following day, but on the following day, the Mars 96 space probe or Russian space probe with pounds of plutonium on it was projected. It hadn't broken out of orbit. It was seen as coming back down to earth, a breaking up in the atmosphere and landing aware Australia in the end, it landed on the Chilean Bolivian border. These things can land anywhere. I mean, it's, it's like a dark game with a clear payload using nuclear in space. To me, I mean, terrestrial nuclear is dangerous enough, but using nuclear in space. Well, just look at the record. Karl Grossman 02:25:23 I mean, this is not a sky is falling exercise. I mean, as I've investigated the use of nuclear power in space, I've gone into, and to accidents that have occurred in the U S space program. The worst was a nap at nine eight accident in 1964. At that point, the us was launching satellites powered by these RTGS giving electric power, but in 64 and this snap nine eight launch, it didn't achieve orbit. The satellite comes crashing back to earth breaks apart, disintegrates with the plutonium spread widely over the planet. Dr. John Gottman at the university of California at Berkeley and MD at PhD involved in some of the isolation of plutonium during the Manhattan project. I mean, he knew this, this area connected that disaster to a rise in lung cancer on earth, three out of about 30 us space, nuclear shots have resulted in accidents. The Soviets now, Russia, they've done a little over 60 and they've had including the Mars 96 phase probe, they've had six accidents, the worst being a cosmos satellite, which in 1978, came down on Canada around the great slave lake area of Canada, just spreading nuclear debris for over 300 miles. So, I mean, there's a 10% failure rate with space nucleus shots to us. It's a game of a space born Russian and us roulette Libbe HaLevy 02:27:07 By the way, just a side note. But any time that I say we, in terms of being at the effect of plutonium from any of these space shots, I'm using the planetary, we have the human race. It's not just we Americans, but it's anybody who happens to live on this planet. Why is this being done? Why are we doing it? What is the rationale that makes this sound like a good idea to the people who are in charge of these programs? Karl Grossman 02:27:38 There's no good reason at all. For example, after the snap nine accident, NASA became a pioneer in solar photovoltaic energy. I mean, if you go to a book on solar power, look at the photo texts, these panels that take sunlight and create electricity out of sunlight, NASA Dede was a pioneer. And after that disaster began using photovoltaic panels on the satellites. I mean, all the satellites now were solar power. So it was the international space station in terms of space probes, NASA insisted, okay, we can use solar panels on satellites, but when we go out into space beyond the orbit of Mars, there's not enough sunlight. Yeah, well actually NASA then totally contradicted itself. Finally had an engineering epiphany in 2011, and tried to send a space probe to Jupiter, way up beyond the orbit of Mars, Jupiter with its electric generation done by solar panels. Karl Grossman 02:28:43 And let me note that Juno is still up there exploring Jupiter it's electricity from solar panels above a planet where solar energy power from the sun is 100th of what it is on earth. There's really no need. I mean, most recently NASA, and there was all kinds of hoopla among hear about this landed the perseverance Rover on Mars. You hardly saw any of the reporting on the perseverance landing that perseverance electricity, a hundred perseverance comes from our T G and our radio isotope Thermage perseverance had 10.6 pounds of plutonium, 2 38 on it. And this comes after a series of rovers on Mars getting their energy from solar panels, solar panels. So the big question I kinda asked after, I mean this back to 86, why are these folks doing it for start is you have to like the, oh and all the president's men it's said that deep throat tells Bob Woodward follow the money. Karl Grossman 02:29:53 Who's making money on this. And there was a little company called general electric, which was producing these RTGS at that time. Then you have these national nuclear laboratories, spinoffs of the Manhattan project, Los Alamos and Oak Ridge. And they want the money. They want these bucks coming in, providing grants to do research in space, nuclear power. So they have a vested interest. And then finally, what I got into was star wars. It turned out that star wars and this likely perseverance energy source was also in that time, not reported star wars was predicated on orbiting battle platforms and on the battle platforms with hypervelocity guns, particle beams, and laser weapons energized by nuclear reactors on those battle platforms, James Abramson, general James Abramson, the commander of the strategic defense initiative. He at one point said that without an extension cord down to earth, bringing up power for these weapons, we're going to need nuclear power in Spain, we need nuclear reactors in space. Karl Grossman 03:31:04 He, and he insisted now, how does this involve NASA and its activities? Well, NASA after being established in 1958 gear after Sputnik, as extensively as civilian agency realized pretty quickly where the big money is in Washington, DC, and that's at the Pentagon and started to work together with the military, even though it was started as a civilian agencies, the shuttle in fact was 50 50 a civilian military vehicle space shot after space shot. The government uses the term, a dual purpose mission, a dual purpose to do what maybe a civilian purpose or a military, many of those shuttle shots and five or seven Colonel's going up there. And when they came back, there was no press conference that was silenced because it was a, a military mission. So NASA also follow the money. Seeing that money emanates a lot of money from the Pentagon wanted to do nukes and still wants to do nuclear in space. Karl Grossman 03:32:09 Just recently the national academies of science, medicine, and engineering put out a report advocating strongly advocating nuclear powered rockets. Now nuclear propel rockets for Mars, and then went on in this report. You can get it online, big sick Ford, 104 page report about synergies synergies between civilian and military in terms of the use of nuclear power and space. So that's, you know, that's how we've gotten where we are and there is no need or like the rovers. There is no need. I mean, there's been important articles actually in the last year or so talking about how we could have colonies on the moon and Mars powered by solar while NASA has been talking in recent years about, oh, we need nuclear powered nuclear powered colonies on Mars and the moon. And then in terms of nuclear propulsion, again, it mostly has been RTGS, but in terms of actually propelling a rocket with nuclear power, and there was an attempt decades ago, it was called the Nerva N E R V a that a nerve to do this program of developing a nuclear propelled rocket. Karl Grossman 03:33:25 Actually that got nowhere because the concern was there was no need for it. And then meanwhile, the us had tried to develop nuclear powered bombers. In other words, you could have a, B 47 up there with nuclear power as its propulsion source, and you wouldn't have to scramble an aircrew. It would be up there all the time. And if we decided to begin it with nuke, the Soviet union, but then became to, well, what are we going to do about the pilots with a reactor on, on the Bama? How are we going to shield them while we can use led? That was the end of that project. And back to nuclear propulsion, there was an important story in the new scientist magazine, just last October, it was called the new age of sail and it begins relating the story of acts 17th century astronomer, Johann Capla observing the comments, always have their tails pointed away from the sun, no matter which direction they're traveling, new scientists, an excellent magazine went on. Karl Grossman 03:34:32 Speaking about the sun, produces a wind in space, and it could be harnessed if there's particles of light streaming from the sun, constant low Lia flow of charged particles. So what's being developed now for several years. So let's sales. In fact, Japan launched its ikaros spacecraft in 2010 sailing in space, using energy from the sun, the new scientists, peace poke of scientists wanting to use these new techniques. So let's say I was now just my law first. It was Mylar, but now there's all kinds of other ideas to set a course. I'm quoting from the article four worlds currently far beyond our reach, namely the planets orbiting our nearest star alpha Centuri. So we can have satellites that are not going to be loaded with the plutonium that can fall on our heads. We can have rovers that wouldn't end up. Imagine if that rocket carrying the perseverance up had at exploded on lawn. I mean, you could have plutonium all over the place in Florida. I mean, it's very much like energy on earth and in terms of propulsion, we can in fact, explore the heavens as far as the alpha centaury and beyond with solar sales. But again, you follow the money, you follow the vested interest and you follow those who would make war using nuclear power, Libbe HaLevy 03:36:05 Another subject, which is up, there's been, there's so many different directions. We can go with this, but space force. We are be quizzed by the former resident of the white house with this quote unquote, new branch of the military. What's the status, what's the danger. And what do we know about the current administration's position towards it? Karl Grossman 03:36:30 This space for us is really what that person in the white house. It's an orange person, I think, in the white house for awhile, unfortunately. And he said, it's not enough for the United States to have presence in space. We must dominate space. I mean, there's one country we're going to dominate space. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:52 Isn't that against the outer space treaty of 1967, that space was to be used only for peaceful purposes. Karl Grossman 03:36:59 Yeah, it's certainly in violation of the intent of the outer space treaty and the outer space treaty was put together by the United States, United Kingdom and the former Soviet union. And it's now been signed onto, by most nations on earth. And it sets aside space as a global commons for peaceful purposes. However, it only restricts it only prohibits weapons of mass destruction. What our neighbor Canada has been trying to do for decades now, and Russia and China with Canada is to expand the outer space treaty to bar all weapons in space. And I've been at the United nations to see votes. And it's called the Paris treaty prevention of an arms race in outer space, treaty Canada votes. Yes. China votes. Yes. Russia votes in this country after country votes. Yes. And guess what country votes? No, essentially the vetoing and they can act men of the Paris treaty at the UN. Karl Grossman 03:37:57 So in fact, when you hear during the Trump time about, oh, we have to have a space force because China around brushed around, moving into space and militarily, that's like not correct. And I've been to China, I've been to Russia a bunch of times. In fact, I was brought to Russia largely because of their racial Carson. They're leading environmentalist, Alexa Yaba coffee was the environmental advisor to Yeltsin Gorbachev. And he had been for years against the use by the Soviet union and then Russia of nuclear and space. And he had read my stuff and that's how I got invited to Russia. The first I ended up giving presentations, working with Alexa and stuff. But in any case, in speaking to diplomats from Russia, they do not want to blow their national treasury on deploying weapons in space. It's not like purchasing a Bradley fighting vehicle jumping to about billions of dollars. Karl Grossman 03:38:55 Likewise, the Chinese and they with our neighbor Canada, which does right it's Canada. I've been trying to broaden the outer space treaty. But again, the us is no, no, no. And let me also know here, you know, where the strategy by the U S comes from it actually comes from, this is heavy duty stuff, but it comes from Nazi scientists after the war, the U S bird over it was called operation paperclip over a thousand Nazi scientist, Verna Von brown, who was his project, was the V2 rocket vengeance for the VI. He was brought over with a lot of his cohorts who worked on the V1 and the V2. And they ultimately, they went to the Redstone army arsenal in Alabama and they develop the Redstone rocket, which was the first year U S rocket capable of carrying a nuclear bomb, a nuclear weapon above him in the Nazi rocket program was general Walter Durenberger. Karl Grossman 04:40:00 He supervised the Nazi rocket program and he comes over and he becomes a consultant to the us air force. And he writes a planning paper. This is back in 1947. In fact, 10 years before a Sputnik envisioning a system of hundreds of nuclear armed satellites, all orbiting a different aptitudes and angles. Each capable of reentering the atmosphere on command from earth to proceed to its target. And then the air force began work on Dawn burger's idea of under the acronym. NAIC was for nuclear armed bombardment satellites. I'm a professor at state university of New York and an excellent book on the use of weapons and nuclear in space arming the heavens by Jack Manno, who has also been a professor at SUNY at the college for environmental science and forestry and Syracuse. And he writes before congressional hearing Dawn Berger insisted, and he laid out his, his vision and insisted the top space priority of the United States needs to be Kanca occupy keep at simply dominate space. Karl Grossman 04:41:16 So the origin of our space program comes from a very, what would be the word, very evil, evil people. I mean, Verna Von brown, he went on became associate director of NASA. And what a bunch, I mean, these people should have been tried for crimes against humanity, not brought over to the United States to help develop our space program, civilian and military and plant a seed, which continues on and on these days, most recently with his US-based force, which if it's let to go, let me say right now, Russia and China do not want to deploy weapons in space, but if the us does it, they're going to do it. They've been very clear about we don't want to, but if we have to, we're going to do it. And if this is going to be the end game here and they do it, this US-based force is going to end up with weapons in space and the consequences over war involving space. Karl Grossman 04:42:19 Imagine, again, going back to star wars, nuclear powered battle platforms, oh, above our heads and the Russians, the Chinese would probably have to do the same kind of thing. And imagine an exchange in the radioactive debris. I'm wonder for those listening to this broadcast who are like Trekkies thinking that I'm knocking the space program, I'm trying to have it big done, right? Because if this leads to war in space and radioactive debris coming, raining down on this planet beyond all the people that are gonna end up dead, that's far beyond the snap, nine, eight plutonium debris, way beyond that, there'll be so much debris. Some of it will come down, but some of it will be up in space for centuries, or if not more, we're not going to get up and out to explore space. So in my view, I was so disappointed that Biden said he was going to stick with the space for us, but it should also be noted that the Democrats help get the national defense authorization act. This is a year and a half ago passed by Congress. Most Democrats voted for it, which contained the provision for a, a U S space for six, six branch of us armed forces that would have the us dominate dominate space. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:43 All of this is of course, very deep and tremendously upsetting because it's a potential future for all of us. And it seems to be rolling in that direction, if nothing is done to stop it, what in your estimation needs to be done and can be done actions that we can take to start turning this around and stopping? Karl Grossman 04:44:05 Well, there's some good people in office. For example, when the us was low, it did it, the Cassini space probe permission with like 72 pounds of plutonium and so forth. Congressman Jerry Nadler joined me. He had read my book, the wrong stuff. He had me come to Washington. He got together with other Congress people. We got a press conference in front of the Capitol saying that this is a terribly dangerous mission, which involved a fly by Cassini would whip by the earth, just a few hundred miles high. So we have some sun people, but again, Democrats in Congress voted very strongly for this space. For us. It has to be actioned by the grassroots. And I've always thought that that's the way change occurs from the grassroots and the organization, which is here and people listening should join with. I was involved in its formation, the global network against weapons and nuclear power and space. Karl Grossman 04:45:02 I was there in Washington, DC in 1992, when it was formed, Bruce, Gagnin a wonderful, organized the finest organizer I've ever known in my life. He learned from Cesar Chavez, from Cesar Chavez, how to organize is the coordinator. It's truly a global network with members all over the world. Doing demonstrations is doing conferences, doing all kinds of peaceful things. To try to keep space for peace, keep space for peace. I mean, it's bad enough on earth that we have war bad enough, but it shouldn't go up into space. It's bad enough on earth that we have nearly 500 nuclear power plants and one or another will be another Shinola. Another three mile island, another focus Schumer about every six, seven years. These things, these terrible disasters happened with enormous loss of life. Speaking of Dr. Jabra coffee and a grouping of European scientists did an important book on the consequences of the Chanel blacks in it, which calculate near a million people have died as a result of the fallout from Shinola, terrible enough to have nukes on earth and they all should be shut down. And we should go with safe, clean, renewable green power energy that we can live with. But nuclear power should not be, should not be overheaded. It should not be in space. It should not be anywhere. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:33 There's always so much that we can discuss with each other. And we do both before and after these interviews. We'll have you back again soon, but for now, I want to thank you for the wealth of information, the terminal depression, and for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Karl Grossman 04:46:53 Again, it's always a pleasure that you provide such important information to people Libbe HaLevy 04:47:00 That was veteran environmental journalist author and professor Carl Grossman. We'll have plenty of links posted on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 8 2, some of the resources that Carl mentioned during the interview, these will include Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and the environment. And Carl's terrific book cover up what you are not to know about nuclear. If you want a basic grounding and what's wrong with the industry and the technology coverup is the book to read. The links are to Amazon, which makes it easy for me to do, and I encourage you to order them through a local independent bookstore, if at all possible. And on a really happy note, Carl has agreed to join us here on nuclear, hot seat on a regular basis. And we look forward to sharing lots and lots more of his encyclopedic knowledge of all things nuclear with you in the coming months. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:11 There's always a lot of talk about what it takes to get young activists into the movement and the answer is pay them for the work and they will be able to do it and not have to worry about getting subsistence jobs. So that's exactly what beyond the bomb is doing. They have something called the future. First fellowship for young people define young as you will, and here to tell us more about it is Rachel. She is a field organizer for beyond the bomb and a former winner of the future. First fellowship here. She explains not only what the fellowship is about and how to apply for it. She explains exactly what it is done to change her life. And we start with the basic information. What is beyond the bomb Rachel Traczyk 04:49:00 Beyond the bomb is a grassroots organization that is trying to pass a no first use policy, which basically means that the United States would not launch it first attack against another nation. And it tries to do this by framing the argument in a way that brings intersectional perspectives and the human experience to the forefront of our advocacy Libbe HaLevy 04:49:19 Beyond the bomb is offering something called the future. First fellowship Rachel Traczyk 04:49:26 Beyond the bomb's future. First fellowship is an opportunity to uplift new and upcoming voices in the nuclear sphere. What we try to do is we try to center intersectional activism at the part at the forefront of everything that we do. So for instance, I actually was part of their first inaugural cohort. And I came in not knowing much about nuclear weapons or anything like that. And beyond the bombs fellowship gave me the skills to not only grow as an activist, but become more involved within my community. And we've tried to extend this to the fellows where we believe we take a decentralized approach to organizing meaning that we believe that people know what best their community needs. They just need the skills and the competence and the tool set to do that. So really through this fellowship, our goal is to bring these new progressive voices into this movement and elevate these voices, giving them the skills that they need to be successful. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:19 Who is this open to cool, are you looking for, to apply for this fellowship? Rachel Traczyk 05:50:24 The beyond the bomb fellowship is open to anyone who is a young intersectional activist. We really want people who have an understanding of intersectionality and the broader context that these issues do fit into. We're open to applicants of almost any background. We've had fellows in the past that are from high school community colleges or college student graduates. We're open to anyone. We just want to uplift voices of people who want a better and safer future and are willing to have the passion and the drive to work towards that every day. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:56 So two points of definition here, how do you define young? Because in this movement, anybody under sixties looks pretty young to us. And a little more clarity about what you mean by intersectionality. Rachel Traczyk 05:51:10 Intersectionality is we want to acknowledge the not only people ourselves are intersectional with our identities that we attach. So for instance, one person is composed of a multitude of identities, whether they are race, class, gender intersectionality is such an important thing as a movement to hold at the forefront of it. But also we want the movement itself to be intersectional. So a lot of people don't come into the nuclear sphere, talking about nuclear weapons as just nuclear weapons. They come in because they've been brought in through climate justice or women's rights. And me, myself, I was brought in because I saw what had done to my community as a new Mexican with the frontline communities and down when communities of New Mexico. So we want to highlight the different things can bring people into this space. It doesn't always have to be policy. It doesn't always have to be just one track. And I think that's true that we really build a movement that's really strong, and it's going to create a better future advocating for these issues. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:08 What has the program given to you or done for you as an example? Rachel Traczyk 05:52:14 That is a very hard question because to say that this program changed my life forever is honestly an understatement. The thing that I got the most out of it was before this I had gone in and nuclear weapons were something that wasn't really talked about at all in my life. They were just brushed over in high school education and just seeing the way that nuclear weapons had impacted my community of New Mexico. So the people of New Mexico were the first people to see the impact of a nuclear weapon from the Trinity testing site. The government reported my home is remote and uninhabited, but there were 70,000 people living in the area at the time. Most of these were not wonder evacuated in some ways, living as close as 11 miles to the Trinity testing site, beyond the bomb and its fellowship gave me the skills to not only mobilize my community and get involved, but also work on a larger scale towards passing these policies that cannot only help and protect people, but that are just bright because a nuclear weapon would result in the end of society and the end of the world, as we know it, and they aren't talked about enough. Rachel Traczyk 05:53:16 So it not only gave me the skills to become a better activist, but it also helped me really get in touch with my community. And at the end of the day, all I want to do is help people and through helping my community. I think this fellowship pushed me to grow as an individual and as a person, Libbe HaLevy 05:53:30 This sounds like a fabulous opportunity. How can someone who identifies with the parameters you've already put forward, apply for this? Rachel Traczyk 05:53:39 The fellowship application is available through our website. The deadline to apply is April 30th. And what we do require for people to apply is a cover letter. And a writing example, we do ask it is optional for a letter of recommendation, a resume, and we do have essay questions. People can answer, those are optional. However, and of course, if anyone ever has any questions, I can give you my email and they can reach out to me or trust in about it. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:07 We will link both to the website and to your personal email, if people have questions and for now, Rachel, Tracy, thanks so much for being a young person who has joined in our movement and is dedicated in the way you are and for being on nuclear hot seat this week. Rachel Traczyk 05:54:24 Thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:26 And thank you, Rachel Tracy, for all the good work you have already done, and especially all the good work you will be doing in the coming years. We will have a link up to the application process AF nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 9, and there will also be contact information for Rachel. Should you want to have a more personal conversation about what this award is all about? We look forward to a deluge of young listeners applying for the job and talking with you in the coming years about the work that you are doing. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 16th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, greenpeace.org, Japan times.co dot J P hommie that's C O dot K R Japan today.com the bulletin.org Kyoto news.net, Seattle times.com Hindustan times.com and H K dot O R dot J P counterpunch.org. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:44 Korea, harold.com. saki.com. cincinnati.com M live.com. Current artists.com news break.com. Review journal.com. msn.com. Monroe news.com. Euro news.com, mirror.co.uk. The ferret dot Scott news.ac the smug liars and a soul dead cubicle drones that write the propaganda press releases and talking points for world nuclear news and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world in 123 countries on six continents and counting as well as those who are listening to us on broadcast through the Pacifica audio port network. Hey, don't miss a single episode of nuclear hot seat. You can have it delivered to your email inbox every week, by going to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the big yellow box and sign up with your first name and an email address. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:53 No spam, just solid nuclear information. Once a week, you can also catch the shell on any of your favorite podcast formats. Now you're in places that I'm not, and I need your help. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Libbe HaLevy and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. And by that, I mean not just a link, but please mention the show by name. It will go a long way to helping us let people know that this is a resource and it is available. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that what you don't know about nuclear can hurt you. And it probably already has. Sorry about that. There you go. That is your nuclear wake-up call. So please, whatever you do, don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:28 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #507: Fukushima 10: Voices from Japan: THIS IS NOT "RECOVERY" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-10-voices-from-japan-this-is-not-recovery/ Published: 2021-03-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Fukushima 10: In Okuma Town, in the Difficult to Return Zone, foreign TV crew members wear protective gear while the lone decontamination worker sweeping the street is wearing regular work clothes. Photo courtesy of Shinshuu Hida. Fukushima 10: Voices from Japan – The 9th edition of Nuclear Hotseat's Voices from Japan features on-the-ground interviews with people working in or involved with Fukushima. For the first time, we are posting the original interviews in Japanese (scroll down). The interviews on this episode of Nuclear Hotseat: Voices from Japan were based on original Japanese interviews conducted by Yuji Kaneko. 今回のニュークリアホットシート福島原発事故特集１は日本語によるインタビューを元に作られました。 ＊インタビューは商業施設内で行われたため雑音が入っています。 ご了承ください。 *The interviews were conducted in public spaces, so there is background noise. Photographer Shinshuu Hida: To listen to photographer Shinshuu Hida’s original interview in Japanese, CLICK HERE 飛田晋秀さんの日本語インタビューはこちら: CLICK HERE Fukushima 10: Photographer Shinshuu Hida in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Note the security guard in the background taking pictures of the photojournalists with his smart phone. Photo courtesy of Yuji Kaneko. Shinshuu Hida’s website is here: 飛田さんのウェブサイトhttps://www.fukushimanosugata.com Radiation Researcher Nobuyoshi Ito: To listen to radiation researcher Nobuyoshi Ito’s Interview in Japanese, CLICK HERE 伊藤延由さんの日本語インタビューはこちら: CLICK HERE Fukushima 10: Radiation researcher Nobuyoshi Ito at Iitate Village Nature Park. He explains that the farther you go up the hill, away from the decontaminated area, the higher the radiation level. There are no signs to prevent people and children from using this park. Photo courtesy of Yuji Kaneko. Fukushima 10: Radiation reading on the ground in front of the Japanese Agricultural Coop Building in Okuma Town. Photo Courtesy of Shinshuu Hida. March 3, 2020 Press Conference on "Radioactive Hotspots along Olympic Torch Relay Route" with (l-r) Kazumasa Aoki: Vice President, Radioactivity Monitoring Center for Citizen; Nobuyoshi Ito: Iitate Village Resident; and Jun Nakamura: Co-Chairman, Fukuichi Area Environmental Radiation Monitoring Project </p> Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 It has now been 10 years since the start of the nuclear triple meltdown disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which began on March 11th, 2011. After a decade, the government of Japan is doing everything in its power to convince or coerce people into returning to Fukushima prefecture, claiming that recovery has taken place and all is returning to normal. But when nuclear hopped seats special Japan corresponded UGI Kaneko took the recently opened Joe Bon train line to the newly rebuilt railway station in Tomioka. He discovered Euji Kad 00:00:37 The new station is supposed to be a symbol of the town overcoming the disaster. But as I gazed upon it, I felt more uncomfortable than impressed. The area around the station was devoid of people. There was no station manager and there weren't even any ticket wickets. My discomfort was probably because there was no one around and nothing there. Recovery is said to be proceeding at a rapid pace, but because there are no people around, it's more like a fancy new depopulated area than a town that's recovered. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:12 Well, when you see how the truth on the ground in Fukushima is far different than the rosy picture painted by Japanese officials, you realize that it's the hottest of planetary nuclear hotspots and the ultimate awful seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:29 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking clear, hot seat. The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but have the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:00 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libby Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, our annual Fukushima anniversary, special voices from Japan. This is not recovery featuring exclusive on the ground. Interviews with people working in and involved with Fukushima prefecture. You'll hear firsthand reports on radiation exposure faced by workers with photographer. She shoo HiTA and to learn about radiation levels in the soil and food with researcher Nova Yoshi ITO, both interviews are conducted by nuclear, hot seats, special Japan correspondent, Eugene Kaneko who also shares observations from his travel diary. Today is Tuesday, March 9th, 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:05 And here is this week's nuclear hot seat Fukushima at 10 voices from Japan, from a different perspective, as we start know that you will be hearing also from the voices from Japan producer, Beverly Finley Kaneko it's been 10 years since the 9.0 great east Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Nearly 20,000 people died in the Toonami and hundreds of thousands were displaced across to Hoku due to both the tsunami and the nuclear accident. Beverly, I understand that many evacuees across the Tohoku region have rebuilt their lives in one way or another. But how about in Fukushima? How many people are still officially displaced according to Japan's reconstruction ministry and November, 2020, the most recent figure of people who have yet to return is 36,000. But we have to remember that this number is only one metric and not representative of the whole situation. Beverly Finley Kaneko 00:04:14 How do you think Japan will approach this anniversary? Even with the pandemic dominating the news, the mass media in Japan will still have a lot of special coverage commemorating this decade milestone. In fact, here in late February, it has already started, but then every year when March 11th rolls around the media focuses on Fukushima, even though it ignores the issue for most of the rest of the year, every couple of years, Fugi notices that the bookstores in Tokyo and Yokohama have smaller and smaller displays of books on nuclear issues. Right after the accident, there was always a huge display corner. And then it shrunk to a small section. And now nuclear issues is just a tab in the social issues section, but it's not really a time to be having a noisy anniversary commemoration. Ironically, this is the very year that the government has targeted as the end of recovery and reconstruction. Beverly Finley Kaneko 00:05:19 The budget for this year has been cut in half. It remains to be seen how the reduction in support will impact the effected areas. As time marches on Fukushima will be seen less as a national crisis and more as a local problem. What do you mean by national crisis versus local problem? It's a matter of perspective. In 2011, when the disaster was still dominating the daily news and as tsunami debris was being shipped to other prefectures to be incinerated and nuclear power plants were shut down across Japan for safety reviews, people in other places felt more immediately affected, but that wore off pretty quickly a year or two. After the accident, there was a concert area. I meaning the Osaka area newspaper survey, where 50% of the respondents said that Fukushima was not their problem in early February. This year, NHK is hung on that guys. Beverly Finley Kaneko 00:06:23 Online local Fukushima TV news show surveyed people outside Fukushima prefecture about Fukushima. One question asked was the respondent's image of Fukushima 34.4% answered peaches, and only 9.1% mentioned the nuclear power plant or radiation. And now even people in Fukushima outside of the former difficult to return zones, feel like things have gotten back to normal. There's no longer any visual evidence like the bags filled with radioactive debris to remind them of the accident for them. The catch word recovery has some meaning. So the concept of recovery has a different meaning depending on what part of the prefecture you are from for some it's positive and others feel differently. Yes, recovery in the coastal areas around Fukushima Daiichi has proceeded without regard for the real struggles of people still living there. Or for those who had to move away. Reconstruction projects have focused on decontamination and building often unnecessary infrastructure and creating a narrative of successful recovery. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:44 But these projects are still a long way from addressing the real life worries and wounded dignity of the people concerned. Give our listeners an idea of what subject areas this year is nuclear hot seats, voices from Japan we'll cover in this year's voices from Japan. We hope to shine a light on the shadows behind recovery and reconstruction in the recently reopened areas of the difficult to return zone. Despite the pandemic in November, UGI rented a car and drove up to Fukushima to check on the recently reopened areas near Fukushima Daiichi. He visited Tomioka and Taba where Fukushima Daiichi is located today. We'll hear some passages from UGS travel diary, learn about specific changes faced by the areas around Tomioka and Oklahoma, from photography machines to HiTA and hear from agricultural researcher, noble Yoshi ITO about a tag-team Murda in a future episode of voices from Japan. We'll continue the journey Taba let's start with UGS travel diary from November, 2020, Euji Kaneko 00:09:01 November 17th, 2020. The first place I visited was Tomioka station on the newly reopened Joel Bon train line about nine kilometers or five and a half miles away from Fukushima Daiichi. The Joel bond line was heavily damaged by the triple disaster of the earthquake tsunami and nuclear accident and was shut down from Tomioka station to Namibia station and told the whole line went back into service on March 14th, 2020, frankly. I was surprised at the job online reopened because it cuts right through areas that are still extremely contaminated with radiation from the nuclear accident. Common sense would say that this is not possible. Part of the newly reopened portion of the line runs from Ono station to the bus station where it passes Fukushima Daiichi at a mere three kilometers or one and a half mile distance contamination, right along the tracks has been brought down to 2.3 microsieverts per hour, but the train runs through the difficult to return zone. Euji Kaneko 01:10:12 So if you stray from the areas, just along the tracks, the radiation levels are still incredibly high. The reopening was time to coincide with the Olympic torch relay that was slated for March 20, 20, Japan railways proceeded with the construction at a rapid clip, and just nine years after the disaster, the line was up and running again. It's pretty impressive. Even considering the Japanese train systems reputation for the two, the minute punctuality as I drove to Tomioka station along a brand new road, the new station building came into site, the old station, which had been destroyed in its NAMI, along with all the old buildings around the station or gone in their place. So that a new business hotel Tomioka had been reborn as a new town that none of its former residents would recognize. The new station is supposed to be a symbol of the town overcoming the disaster. Euji Kaneko 01:11:18 But as I gazed upon it, I felt more uncomfortable than impressed. At least the gate to the parking lot was open and I didn't have to pay to park my car. There were very few other cars in the lot. And the area around the station was devoid of people. There was no station manager and there weren't even any ticket wickets. My discomfort was probably because there was no one around and nothing there. Recovery is said to be proceeding at a rapid pace, but because there are no people around, it's more like a new depopulated area than a town that's recovered. As I stepped into the station entrance, I was met by a familiar site in Fukushima or radiation monitor. This is not something you see in stations. In other parts of Japan today, the monitor red 0.07 microsieverts per hour, about the same as Tokyo and Los Angeles. Euji Kaneko 01:12:18 Of course, the contaminated soil around the station was stripped and carted away and new concrete and asphalt laid and a new building was erected. So it's not strange that radiation levels are low after waiting for 15 minutes, a modern looking luxurious limited express train slid quietly into the station. In my mind, the miserable station of just a few years ago overlap the reality in front of me. And I felt like I was looking at a Mirage. No one got off the train and no one got on. It was almost no one inside. In the end. I met no one at the station in this brand new town, this recovered town. I saw no one. It said that only 10% of the population has returned to Tomioka, but I didn't expect it to be this lonely. I couldn't help wondering where all the townspeople had gone and what they are doing now, by the way, before the job online reopened on March 14th, 2020, a problem surfaced the job online and workers took their concerns about radiation exposure to Japan. Euji Kaneko 01:13:31 Railways. The train runs through areas of high radiation. So it is natural that they were worried. No one wants to be exposed to radiation at work. The union measured radiation from the dust, taken from an engine filter under the floor of a train dust from a five day period measured 2,350 Becquerel's per kilogram in Tokyo filter dust from a three month period just measures 101 becquerels per kilogram. So the filter dust from the Joel bond line is 418 times of that in Tokyo. If this is correct, then the train operators and conductors would be exposed to quite a bit of radiation. And that means the customers would be in the same boat without offering any reason. Japan and railways ignored these results saying that it was not a problem. And didn't give any evidence. They failed to provide any protective measures and ran the trains as if nothing were a miss. Euji Kaneko 01:14:37 Since the Joel Bon line began service, when it goes through areas, high radiation near Fukushima, Daiichi, the levels inside the train go up to over two microsieverts per hour. Tokyo and Los Angeles are about 0.05 microsieverts per hour. So the levels inside the job online are 40 times higher. There are no restrictions on writing the job on train children, adults, and even pregnant woman can ride any time they want. I think you can say that that portion of the line that runs through these areas is in violation of radiation protection laws. The media had nothing to say about the issue. Instead when the line reopened, there was a lot of congratulatory coverage, but the problems addressed by the Japan railways labor union were almost completely ignored. The only newspaper to cover the issues was the Tokyo Shimbun. And it was criticized heavily on the internet with comments like don't bad mouth, the job online after his finally reopened, stop interfering with the recovery. Euji Kaneko 01:15:49 You're insulting all of the workers that labored so hard. Stop harassing Fukushima, stop spreading false rumors about radiation. I really have no idea why Tokyo Shimbun would be accused of spreading lies. When all they did is point out that the radiation levels in the area that the trade passes through are high and people are at risk of elevated exposure. But this article received a lot of criticism, probably the reason other media outlets didn't print anything about radiation along the job online is that they were afraid of the reaction. They would get bringing up recovery and radiation in the same breath has become taboo. Even if what is being mentioned is factual. This is not just limited to the job online issue, newspapers and television, avoid talking about radiation because of this taboo. They don't want to be accused of harmful. Rumormongering let's take a look at the accusation that Tokyo Shimbun was insulting the workers by printing the facts about radiation. Euji Kaneko 01:17:00 Of course, the workers that renovated the stations and cleaned up the tracks worked extremely hard to bring this section of the Joel bond line back into service. One reason is that they worked in areas with extremely high levels of radiation and couldn't avoid exposure. Naturally. There wasn't a single newspaper article or TV program that addressed that reality. Every time I have visited Fukushima to see what is going on with the job online, I have only seen workers wearing regular masks and work clothes. I wondered how dangerous it had been for the workers on the job, online renovation. So I contacted photo journalist Shinshu he thought to get his take on the issue he does. Song has been documenting what has been happening in the difficult to return zone since the accident. What follows is part of a conversation we had just before the job online was slated to reopen in 2020 in time for the Olympic torch relay, Shinshu Hida 01:18:02 Send you to welcome up credit fit. She was, I started startup. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:07 Shinshu welcome back to nuclear hot seat. Shinshu Hida 01:18:11 Thank you. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:13 So recently you visited oh, Kuma mochi, and you have some photos here from your trip, which we will post to the nuclear hot seat website under this episode. Can you tell us about these photos Shinshu Hida 01:18:27 On March 14th, 2020, the job online will fully reopened and they're working to repair the station and decontaminate the surrounding area. The radiation levels reach as high as 39.1 microsieverts around here. The radiation levels reach as high as 39.1 microsieverts around their workers are only wearing regular work crows and regular masks. What I'm concerned about is not something like the Corona virus, where you risk getting sick now, but rather the danger of accumulation of radiation in the body that could damage DNA and affect future generations. Also, when working in a environment with these high levels, symptoms can show up sooner, rather than later, I had a horrible bloody nose. After visiting here, even stuffing tissue up my nose didn't stop it. It lasted for about two hours. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:37 This happened on this particular visit. Shinshu Hida 01:19:40 Yes. On the night of the second day in the field, my pajamas and the big CROs got all bloody. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:50 And you carry in your Geiger counter on this trip. Shinshu Hida 01:19:53 Yes. And I was also wearing a Gus badge at the screening station. I was told that there was nothing I miss, but that nose bleed was the worst I've ever had. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:08 I remember that in the past, it was reported that people living in Fukushima have had symptoms like nosebleeds. Where exactly were you in Oklahoma MACI Shinshu Hida 02:20:19 Around the shopping street in front of the train station. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:24 So will everyone be allowed to go there? Shinshu Hida 02:20:28 Yes. After a decontamination, you will be able to use the road from the station to the new tone hall, which is in the O'Gara district. They are not going to decontaminate the areas adjacent to the building. Do you really think it's a good idea to our people to drive there? Libbe HaLevy 02:20:49 What time were you there Shinshu Hida 02:20:51 Around one? O'clock we were walking around for about an hour. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:57 Do you think your nose bleed was caused by walking around there for an hour? Shinshu Hida 02:21:03 I'm always going into that disaster areas. So sometimes I get notes breeds, but this one was something else. I think he was from walking around in Oklahoma. I can't prove it, but this time was different than usual. It was as if my carotid artery had been cut. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:25 Have you been okay since then? Shinshu Hida 02:21:28 Yes I'm. Okay. Now the other day I went down to Khan site to give a presentation. The air seemed so light. The air in Fukushima seems heavy. So I find myself not taking deep breaths. When I go other places, my body feels more comfortable. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:49 What equipment did you have with you on your trip? Shinshu Hida 02:21:52 I had a request to guide a foreign TV crew into the difficult to return zone. We first went to the screening station, filled out forms and put on our Tyvek hazmat suits. We had guy got counters and grass badges and wore masks and goggles. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:14 So even with all of those protective measures, you still didn't feel right physically afterwards. What made the biggest impression on you on this trip? Shinshu Hida 02:22:25 This was the fourth time I've been to Oklahoma since 2012. Now the buildings are on the verge of collapsing. The abandoned houses are uninhabitable, wild, boars, and other animals have entered the houses and made a huge mess. During our visit, we coincidentally ran into some police officers. There were about 20 or 30 years old. I told them that young guys like them shouldn't be working in the area. They should send officers in their forties or fifties or just shy of retirement on patrol. They said, no, we are okay because we stay in our cow while we are on patrol. I told them places where it gets to be two or three microsieverts, even in the car are dangerous. You're not even wearing masks. If you were my sons, I would order you to quit the police. They said they understood, but still Libbe HaLevy 02:23:33 The cops don't even wear masks or protective clothing. Wow. That's surprising. So the prefectural police department doesn't require protective gear. I believe it. They make the officers wear regular uniforms on patrol that's criminal negligence. Shinshu Hida 02:23:52 That's right. It makes me want to cry. They were only in their twenties or thirties. At this point, it was 2.14 microsieverts at one meter above the ground. On our way here, the levels inside the car reached as high as four microsieverts. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:14 If it was four microsieverts inside the car, it was many times that outside. Then Shinshu Hida 02:24:20 I told the officers to keep masks in their pockets and wear them inside the car. They said they understood, but I think the superiors should train the younger officers to protect themselves from excess exposure, especially because they are working in a dangerous area, but that's not happening. If the police are like this, you can imagine what happens to regular walkers around here. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:50 Was there some kind of barrier before you entered this area? Shinshu Hida 02:24:54 It was an offering it's area. So we had to have special permission to enter Libbe HaLevy 02:25:00 On March 14, 20, 20, the area around Ono station will no longer be in the difficult to return zone. Will you be able to visit the area you are talking about after that? Yes, Shinshu Hida 02:25:14 You will be reopened to. So Libbe HaLevy 02:25:16 Do you think they can finish decontamination in a months time? Shinshu Hida 02:25:21 From my point of view, it's impossible, but they'll force it anyway. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:26 I'm concerned about the workers. Shinshu Hida 02:25:28 Yes. You can see that the Walker in this picture is just a normal clothes like the police officers were, but the police officers weren't even wearing masks. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:41 These photos are shocking. I'm dumbfounded. Shinshu Hida 02:25:46 I couldn't believe that everyone in our group had on full protective gear. Why the Walker right next to us was wearing regular clothes. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:56 I imagine that if this person develops health problems, the government won't take any responsibility. Shinshu Hida 02:26:03 No, he's on his own. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:05 When did you take these photos? Shinshu Hida 02:26:08 December 15th, 2019, Libbe HaLevy 02:26:11 Kita son, please take good care of your health. That was photographer Shinshu. HIDA interviewed by UGI Kaneko HiTA son lives in about 31 miles from Fukushima Daiichi. And this interview was conducted in February of 2020. We'll continue with our special voices from Japan, Fukushima 10th anniversary program in a moment. But first, every year, nuclear hot seat produces voices from Japan to share little heard information about the ongoing impact of the 2011 start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. We utilize interviews in Japanese with individuals. You might not hear from otherwise sharing details that are not commonly known. It's a massive undertaking. We've been working on this episode since early December, because it takes a lot of time and energy to secure the interviews, translate them, record the voiceovers and put together the pieces so that you, the listener receive a clear, accurate picture of what things are really like in Fukushima. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:21 Now that's what nuclear hot seat exists to do, not just for this anniversary program, but every week of the year. And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. We get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity, and context, providing a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. In order to do this nuclear hot seat is dependent upon donations to meet our expenses. So if you feel moved, touched horrified, engaged, or enraged by learning what is really happening to the evacuees and survivors of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, help us know, go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. That way you can send a donation of any size. And that's where you can also set up a monthly $5 donation. The same as sending us a cup of coffee here in the United States, help us keep reporting the nuclear truth in Fukushima or wherever it may be hidden. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:25 Please take this important action now and know that I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now back to this week's nuclear hot seat, special, the Fukushima 10th anniversary voices from Japan. This is not recovery UGI traveled to its hot day mortar. Next to speak with our featured guest on nuclear hot seat today Noby Yoshi ITO. Tell us a little bit about you and Beverly in 2010, ethos son started working at an agricultural research center in they, the murder on his Twitter account. He says he had the best year of his life learning from the local farmers. Those good times have made it impossible for him to forgive the attitudes of the government TEPCO and the village toward the nuclear accident and the cleanup afterward, despite evacuation orders is continued to live in to document the aftermath of the accident on his village, gathering data on the status of radioactive contamination, alongside university professors and researchers. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:33 He sees himself as more of a researcher than an activist. Refresh our memories about each tag-team Moda, where exactly that in relation to Fukushima Daiichi, he taught say, Myrna is 40 kilometers or about 25 miles Northwest of Fukushima Daiichi. The winds changed in the aftermath of the nuclear accident and heavily contaminated the village because the town is relatively far from Fukushima Daiichi. The people living there had no idea that radioactive particles were blanketing their homes and farms along with the late winter, snow, 10 days after the accident, the villagers learned from the government that their area had been contaminated, chaos ensued, and it wasn't until a full month after the accident around April 11th, that the government handed down evacuation orders for the whole village actual evacuation measures. Didn't begin until May 11th. We've talked about ITO son and his work previously on nuclear hot seat. Haven't we? Libbe HaLevy 03:30:41 Yes, actually, this is the second time you met with son in February. Last year, UGI was introduced to him by Tokyo Shimbun, reporter Takeshi. I'm a COA who we featured in nuclear hot seat on March 6th, 2020, when UGI first met with ITTO son. He was immersed in a project to map hotspots along the Olympic torch relay course in a. He participated in a press conference last year at the foreign correspondents club of Japan about the project. We will link to that press conference under this episode of voices from Japan, number 5 0 7 on nuclear hot seat. This past November, you two met ITO son for the second time at my day con, which is a fancy new all purpose community center risk stop souvenir shop. That's built to serve locals and lure visitors and return these to the village. Here's their conversation. speaker 5 03:31:43 All Libbe HaLevy 03:31:48 Nobody OCI Neato, welcome to nuclear hot seat. He tag-team water is blessed with gifts of mother nature, and it was a thriving farming village and it was a thriving farming village. Wasn't it? Shinshu Hida 03:32:03 It said that before the nuclear accident villagers got about 40% of their food from the wild, when the snow melts in the spring, you can pick all kinds of mountain vegetables like Bracken and Japanese Berber people would pick large amounts and pickle them for storage in the fall. You can pick lots of wild mushrooms, which can also be prepared for storage in this way. People would stock up for winter when fresh vegetables were not available. Also the temperature in the ITAR tempura varies greatly from morning to afternoon. So during the growing season, it is an excellent environment for farming vegetables. is also blessed with rich natural compost in it's mountains. It's fluffy and perfect for enriching the soil in the fields in this way. endowed with many gifts of nature, but those gifts were destroyed by radiation. From the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Everything has been ruined. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:17 If everything that grows in is contaminated with radiation, it must be an unbelievably horrible situation for the farmers. Shinshu Hida 03:33:27 Well, I like to eat. So I began to wonder if there were some way we would be able to enjoy things from around here. Again, first, I thought it would be important to measure the radiation levels in the food. So I bought equipments so that I could do that next. I convinced the mayor to buy nondestructive, radiation, testing devices for food products. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:56 So what is the difference between the equipment you have at home and what the mayor bought for the town? Shinshu Hida 03:34:02 The equipment I have at home requires materials to be chopped up finally, in a blender before measurement the non-destructive assay device, doesn't require that step after measuring for radiation, you can eat or cook the food like normal. We have about nine of those devices around town. Now I come to my con community center quite often to use the radiation monitoring equipment here. Recently, I counted up all of the times. I've measured things here between April and December. Last year, I used the equipment 250 times. Unfortunately, the village radiation measuring the equipment is only for food items. I'm really curious about the effect radiation levels in compost has on food. So I want to measure compost too. So I have to use my machine at home to do that. Take a look at this graph. It shows measurements of 51 different soil samples taken in 2019 33 of the samples were of decontaminated soil. They average to 10,744 barrels per kilogram. 13 of the samples were of soil that has not been decontaminated. Those measured 42,667 backlogs per kilogram, five samples of the soil from the Naga Doro district, which is still in the evacuation zone. And it has not been decontaminated averaged 47,709, Becca per kilogram, Libbe HaLevy 03:35:48 As a reference for our listeners. Can you tell us what the soil measured before the accident, Shinshu Hida 03:35:55 Before the accident in 2010 soil and the Fukushima measured just the 21 backlog was per kilogram of cesium, 137, according to the nuclear regulation authority. That means is now 2200 times more contaminated than it was before the accident. Even after 10 years, the radiation levels haven't gone down. This indicates that the Caesium released by the nuclear power plant has become embedded in the natural circulation system and want to dissipate so easily trees take up cesium from the soil. It travels up to the leaves, which falls in the autumn and become soil. And the trees take up the cesium from the soil again. And the cycle goes on. This is why cesium levels don't decrease at all. This is the state of radioactive contamination in Nita. Tamira Libbe HaLevy 03:36:56 Recently the Naga Dora district in the village has been in the news. Can you tell us about that? Shinshu Hida 03:37:02 Yes. That situation has become a hot topic lately. The government has decided not to decontaminate that area at all. Despite it being severely contaminated, they are still going to remove the evacuation orders in 2023. I think this is outrageous, but it's not just a problem in the nugget Doro district. 19 out of 20 administrative districts have already had evacuation orders lifted, but only 16% of those areas have been decontaminated. In other words, 84% of the village has not been decontaminated. And this isn't only happening in Nita tempura. On November 1st, I went with professor Yamanaka from Kyoto university to survey the Kogi district, which is in the evacuation zone, bordering the nega Dora district that our Kogi district lies between the Fukushima Daiichi and the EDA tempura. This is an area where the radiation levels are so high that they had to shut down the village. Shinshu Hida 03:38:10 I took some samples of plant material in particular. I'm looking into Cedar bar ever since the accident, their radiation levels in the Cedarburg have remained high. I like to sample more types of tree bark, but I'm not a tree expert, some sticking with Cedar, which is easy for me to pick out. I also picked some golden rod and somewhat, you know, Hannah Taqiyya mushrooms that were growing around the Cedar trees that radiation levels in these samples was shocking. The Cedar bark ranged from 20,000 to 60,000 Bakker rolls per kilogram compared to the levels in the EDA Timorah, which are 3000 to 6,000 barrels per kilogram. The contamination in our Kogi district is a horrendous. The levels are tenfold. The golden rod in our Kogi was 130 barrels per kilogram. Whereas in it is around 7.5 becquerels per kilogram. I was really surprised that the mushrooms, there were 220,000 backhauls per kilogram. The highest reading I have ever gotten was for the CAUTI, grew a plant in 2015, that was 270,000 that, you know, Hannah Turkey mushrooms were second. Only to that. One thing I understood from this survey is that although is a horribly contaminated, the radiation levels in our Coogee district, one to 200% higher. So here we are almost 10 years since the nuclear accident. And there are still areas where the radiation levels are shockingly high. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:00 I've heard that in a Honda Tecate mushrooms are really delicious and quite popular around Fukushima. I guess you'd better not eat them. Now. Shinshu Hida 04:40:09 After the nuclear accident, the radiation limit for food was set at 100 vehicles per kilogram in Ohana talking mushrooms measure 2200 times that limit experts say that before the accident, while the mushrooms were about 0.1 Beccles per kilogram, that means that wild mushrooms now have 2.2 million times more radiation than before. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:38 That's way too high. How do you feel about the 100 becquerels per kilogram government safety standard for food? Shinshu Hida 04:40:47 Well, I don't have any scientific knowledge as to why the government set the level of radiation contamination in food at 100 backlogs per kilogram. But in my personal opinion, at my age of 70 years old, it's not such a problem. I do think that children and young people who are said to be 20 to 30 times more sensitive to radiation should not eat contaminated things. I think the attitude we need to take is that the children who have their futures ahead of them should eat food with as little contamination as possible. Otherwise, I think that people who trust the government standards should go ahead and eat that food. I know from the I've run myself, that that levels of radiation in vegetables, that the farmers are selling around here is low. If you are okay with less than 100 Bekos per kilogram, then you should feel free to eat what is being sold. Shinshu Hida 04:41:50 Likewise, there are people that don't want to eat food with even one backlog per kilogram, they shouldn't eat things. They aren't comfortable with accusing people who don't wish to eat food that registers below the 100 becquerels per kilogram. Mark harmful rumor mongering is a problem. If there is a nuclear accident, radiation is going to enter the food chain. Bringing the level down to zero is almost impossible. You can't deny that radioactive particles are in the food, even though they might be at a very low level. Even if there is less than one Becquerel of radiation in the food, you can't attribute that to rumors. It's just unwelcome fact. It's a very difficult problem. The farmers are working very hard and desperately trying ingenious methods of reducing the amount of radiation in their product, but they can't bring it down to zero. That's the reality of a nuclear accident? Libbe HaLevy 04:43:04 That's the unfortunate truth. Let's change the subject a little. Do you think the children in are being kept safe from radioactive harm? Shinshu Hida 04:43:16 The school grounds are being kept below 0.1 microsieverts per hour. So I think there is nothing to worry about when they are at school, but there are places right nearby the school where we've measured extremely high levels of radiation. The teachers warn the children not to play outside of the school ground, that the areas around the downspouts and gutters have high radiation and that piles of leaves are contaminated, but it's really difficult for kids to follow the rules all of the time. Kids want to go out when the weather is nice and play around and get all muddy. Don't they a warning not to go somewhere or to something is likely to make some kids want to do the opposite, isn't it. But the radiation levels outside on something to kid around about. If the level is more double the original background level of 0.05 microsieverts per hour, then it might not be a problem. Shinshu Hida 04:44:26 But we are talking about 20 to 30 times what it was before children are 20 to 30 times more sensitive to radiation than adults. And if the radiation level is 20 to 30 times, what it should be, then what impact will that have? Maybe it doesn't mean that one will absolutely develop cancer, but it does mean that one's risk definitely becomes higher. That is a well known fact. That's why we try as hard as we can to not expose children to radiation. It's why we have to protect children from radiation. The government needs to communicate that fact, but it doesn't. The national government doesn't feel the risk of radiation. Neither do the prefectural administrations. When they evaluate the effects of the nuclear accident, they don't clearly communicate the risks of radioactive exposure, no matter if great or small. For example, when Tokyo university and the village cooperated on making a map of contamination levels, they did nothing to explain what the levels of radiation meant and the relationship of exposure and risk. Shinshu Hida 04:45:55 I think that's wrong. If they don't make the risks clear, then residents can research about their own risks of exposure. And can't decide whether this is a good place to live or not even. So the government doesn't say anything about risk. This is hard to forgive this year. I burned firewood from the village and use the Ash as fertilizer in an experiment to see how much radiation would be taken up in the potatoes that I grew. The potatoes that I grew in contaminated soil only did not take up any of the cesium in the soil. But potatoes that I fertilized with Ash from the village took up 4% of the cesium from soil mixed with the contaminated Ash, the radioactive particles attached to Ash observed by vegetables, much more easily. I showed this data to the mayor and to try to convince him to ban the burning of fields in the village. But my request was rejected. I was told that if farming is going to start up again, then burning fields is necessary. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:11 Sounds like he's putting the economy before people's health. Shinshu Hida 04:47:16 He thinks there's no connection between radiation and harm to health. I'm half joking when I say this, but everything mayor Canada's administration has done has been on the premise that radiation, any data mirror is not harmful. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:33 No, the government doesn't like to talk about the risks involved with radioactive exposure. Does it, speaking of leadership, I heard that you are getting a new mayor and he has had same water. What is he like? Shinshu Hida 04:47:45 He studied physics in college. So he's well versed in the three principles of radiation protection, time, distance, and shielding. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the village will change under his leadership. The previous mayor practically ignore the subject of radioactive contamination. So the new mayor has been critical of his actions, Libbe HaLevy 04:48:12 But the former mayor was a real go getter. Wasn't he? He sure did manage to get a lot of money out of the government. Shinshu Hida 04:48:19 Yeah, though. We're just great. Wasn't it? Eternity. Mira has attracted huge amounts of money from the government between 2012. And in 2017, we received 60 billion yen, almost $600 million in reconstruction funding. It said that members of the mayors supporters association received a good chunk of that money as a politician, the old mayor, wasn't hard to figure out. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:53 We covered this story last year as part of the voices from Japan Fukushima anniversary program. And we will link to it on the website under this week show, but quite a bit of that money was spent on a new school. Wasn't it? Shinshu Hida 04:49:09 Yes. They spent 4 billion yen, almost $40 million on a school for preschoolers through junior high schoolers across the street. There's a park that costs 2.3 billion yen over $22 million. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:27 How many students are there? Shinshu Hida 04:49:29 Hundred 15. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:31 That's quite a bit of money per student. Isn't it? It must be the most extravagant school in all of Japan Shinshu Hida 04:49:39 For taxpayers. It's a really sad story, but the government has spent billions of yen of a tax revenues was dismal results. And it's not just. For example, in Kutztown village, they spent 4 billion yen, almost $40 million to repair and remodel their school. But no students came back in the Yammer Kia district in calamata town, the junior high reopened and closed down again. After two years, there are no elementary aged kids and only three junior high students in the town. You might wonder why some villages have fewer than 10 students. When each Actemra has been able to attract more than 100, it might not be a polite way to say this, but it's as if the village is engaged in the poverty business, the village pays for everything for the students. The only thing the parents have to pay for is their underwear. The rest of it is paid for by the village it's compulsively public education. So of course tuition is covered, but the village pays for things usually covered by the students' families like lunch and field trips. The village pays PTA dues and he pays for uniforms and shoes it's impolite. But I really think this can be called poverty business. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:19 I can see how some families where money is tight might be tempted to move there. Despite the radioactive contamination, Shinshu Hida 05:51:27 There really are people who have changed schools because they are attracted by these perks. I don't mean to criticize the parents who are taking in by the offer, but I do wonder what they are thinking about the risks of radioactive exposure. It's the responsibility of adults to reduce their children's risk. But if you have two or three school aged children, the costs add up quickly. So it's understandable. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:58 It really seems to show how far the village will go to keep up the appearance that it is going to survive. Shinshu Hida 05:52:05 Schools are symbols of recovery in depopulated areas and marginal villages. The whole village will turn out for school events like sports day. It's a chance for everyone to gather and have a little excitement. There's a big difference between having a school or not. It gets lonely without a school around, but is that really a good reason to attract the children to a contaminated village? To me it's unforgivable. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:38 Well, it's hard to say Maura was only able to attract about 100 students even after offering all those perks. Shinshu Hida 05:52:46 has only 115 students when there should be around 700, somewhere between 500 and 600 students who are supposed to come to this school ended up going elsewhere. Of course, the reason is radiation. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:04 Nobody, Yoshi ITO, thank you for being our guest on nuclear hot seat and updating us on the continuing challenges faced by. speaker 5 05:53:14 Yeah, we'll see. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:18 That was noble Yoshi ITO interviewed by UGI Connico today. talked about but D population is a problem in all of the areas that were severely contaminated by the nuclear accident. Most of the municipalities see D population as more of a problem than radioactive contamination. A drastic decrease in population may cause a village to disappear altogether. This message comes across clearly in the measures of village is willing to take to avoid extinction. seem to feel very bad that the government was spending so much money on a tag-team Murdoch. When the country is in a state of emergency due to the Corona virus was especially exasperated that the village was lowering people to with slogans, like come to eat. That thing went up and eat at de Moda is the place to raise kids without being transparent about the big disadvantage of exposure to radiation. Unfortunately, the village is lifeline of the government recovery fund. Isn't going to last forever. It will be cut off. It's only a matter of when, what will happen to the Tata motor. Then all we can do is pray that by then the village can deal with radiation in a meaningful way, and somehow find a semblance of recovery. UGI had a few thoughts in his diary that he wanted to share to finish out today's program. Let's give a listen Euji Kaneko 05:54:59 On November 18th, 2020, I left my hotel. Immunomic Soma and headed to the Monday Chi community center farmer's market and rest area in to interview. The village is on a high Poteau and 75% of the 230.13 square kilometers or 88 square mile area is forested. The Managua river runs in the north, the knee. I go out and eat the way, go over rivers in the middle. And the he's still got a lot of river in the south framing, the village farmland from this simple description, you can imagine just how enchanting a place it is. But when you go to see it with your own eyes, although it is an unmistakably beautiful place, surrounded by nature, sadly much of it is still contaminated with radiation on some of the farms. They are quietly stripping the contaminated topsoil on others. The ubiquitous black bags of contaminated debris sit in piles three or four layers. Euji Kaneko 05:56:04 Deep. The heavy machinery working on the farms are not tractors and cultivators, but rather bulldozers and cranes. And much of the rest of the prefecture. Most of the black bags have already been carted away to interim storage and processing sites. But I was surprised to see that an that works still has a long way to go. When I arrived at the village, I saw strangely modern looking new buildings here in there. The rest area, community center, town hall and spa were all sparkling new. I know that they were built with the aim of regenerating the village after the nuclear accident, but I couldn't help feeling that they missed the mark. They were like the wrong jigsaw puzzle pieces being forced into place. That feeling that something was off became clear. Once I spoke with a nuclear accident, doesn't just cause harm to human health. It also destroys the local community and the culture of the areas affected. Also once the natural environment is damaged, it's impossible to restore it immediately. Recovering from serious radioactive contamination is an endless process. It doesn't matter how much money or manpower you throw at the problem. It's no use have the adults among us forgotten that simple truth. Surely the children in understand. I don't know why, but as I watched a tiny handful of children playing innocently on the pristine new lawn in the back of the Monday Chi facility, I felt certain that they knew Libbe HaLevy 05:57:48 That was Eugene Kaneko reading from his travel diary from his trip through Fukushima prefecture. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 9th, 2021. Our thanks to voices from Japan, special producer, Beverly fin lake, and Aiko who provided translations from the Japanese as well as the context script on the ground. Interviews and observations were by special nuclear hot seat. Japan corresponded UGI Kaneko our voiceover actors were shou Hey, can a Szeto for shin. So HiTA hero Matsunaga for ITO and Ryan Kaneko for UGI Kaneko thanks. Also to Ryan Kaneko for production assistance and K Ogawa for voiceover casting. This is Leiby Halevi sending love and respect to the people of Fukushima and all Japan Announcer 05:58:46 Nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #506: Activists Getting Active! Vt. Yankee POWER STRUGGLE film - Robbie Leppzer + Mothers for Peace Rebuts Shameful New Yorker Article - Jane Swanson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/activists-getting-active-vt-yankee-power-struggle-film-robbie-leppzer-mothers-for-peace-rebuts-shameful-new-yorker-article-jane-swanson-nh-506/ Published: 2021-03-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Activists Getting Active – Vermont Yankee SHUT IT DOWN Affinity Group protesting at the gates of the now-shuttered nuclear reactor. Frances Crowe, third from left, Hettie Nessle to her left. This Week's Featured Interviews: Activists getting active on multple fronts! Linda Seeley is a veteran member of the group San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace. Here, she fills us in on how the New York article, The Activists who Embrace Nuclear (GAK!) was not researched with anyone connected with the group – meaning due diligence was not done on the article. She has more as well. Mothers for Peace is asking for letters to be sent to the New Yorker: Letters to the New Yorker editor: themail@newyorker.com, and per their guidelines, include your postal address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. All letters become the property of The New Yorker. Activist being Active and on-site at Vermont Yankee: Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer Robbie Leppzer is an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker with over forty years experience who directed POWER STRUGGLE (86 minutes, 2019), which portrays a heated political battle to close down the problem-plagued Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Filmed over five years, the film follows the unfolding drama as citizen activists and elected state officials—alarmed at increasing safety violations—take on the federal government and one of the biggest power companies in the United States and eventually win. Robbie talks about POWER STRUGGLE, as well as his long filmmaking career which started at age 18 filming the birth of the antinuclear power direct action movement with his film, SEABROOK 1977 (www.turningtide.com/seabrook-1977). He also talks about his 1980 radio documentary, VOICES FROM THREE MILE ISLAND (https://www.powerstrugglemovie.com/voices-from-three-mile-island) and his 1982 nuclear disarmament film, CHOOSE LIFE. SPECIAL! NUCLEAR HOTSEAT FUNDRAISING SCREENING OF "POWER STRUGGLE" Half of all funds raised from tickets sold through the link will be given to Nuclear Hotseat to support the ongoing work of producing the show. CLICK on picture above or on this LINK for your Virtual Screening: https://turningtide.vhx.tv/products/power-struggle-nuclear-hotseat Here's the POWER STRUGGLE trailer: https://vimeo.com/507977674 Other LINKS: For more information on POWER STRUGGLE, go to: www.PowerStruggleMovie.comwww.TurningTide.comwww.BreadandPuppetMovie.com Veteran activist Harvey Wasserman as a very young man in Robbie Leppzer's film SEABROOK 1977 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ford wanted to build a nuclear-powered car and decided against it in 1957. So why are they now building a model for their museum? You do NOT want to be rear-ended in this nuclear reactor-powered car!  Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear propaganda. It manipulates hoodwinks brainwashes, or just generally misinforms good people to take advantage of their naivete and lack of information. And it seems to have limitless funds to support it. So when you hear about a pro-nuclear so called activist group headed by two employees of the soon to be shuttered, Diablo canyon, nuclear power station, and then you learn from a veteran anti-nuclear activist that in order to form the group, the ultimate pro nuclear shill, Michael Shellenberger, the shill Berger himself was flown into address the employees of Diablo canyon. And she says Linda Seeley 00:00:46 He came to rally the troops to get the employees together, to protest the shutting down of the nuclear power plant. And he stood up on stage and said, if any of you are willing to start an activist group to stop this plant from being shut down, we will pay all your expenses. And we will bring you to meet with us and give you the training that you need with the PR and all that stuff. And by golly, a couple of these young women took him up on it. When, Libbe HaLevy  00:01:21 When you hear how, what is actually an unregistered lobbying group was established with the caring feeding of the nuclear industry under the guise of being a so-called activist organization, and then how they duped the new Yorker magazine into doing some heavy PR lifting for them. You begin to realize that there is no limit to the depth to which the nuclear industry will go to make certain, we are all stuck forever in that awful seat that everyone on this planet, even nuclear Scheels must share Announcer 00:01:58 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:30 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we speak with Linda Seely of the San Louis mothers for peace, who provides a rebuttal to an enormous and enormously biased article in the new Yorker that could have been written by the nuclear industries, PR factory. And then we walked through anti-nuclear memory lane with filmmaker, Robbie, who has been documenting and filming and audio taping, the truths actions and winds of this movement. For more than 40 years, we hear brief snippets from several of his films, and then learn how you at home can view his latest film power struggle about the successful shutdown of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor, not only having a great film to watch, but also helping to support the future of nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:44 We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we would ever hope to get out of a fiberglass. Golden cath, all of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Last week we shared with you outrage over a shoddily researched new Yorker magazine article on the so-called mothers for nuclear, a nuclear lobbying group, cleverly disguised as an activist group. This big sloppy wet kiss to the nuclear industries, unmentionables earned numnuts of the week, but the damage potentially done by this article is far more serious than that to find out the, on the ground reaction to it by those most directly and negatively impacted by it. I spoke with Linda Seely of San Louis Obispo, mothers for peace. She is a nearly 50 year veteran of the fight against the Diablo canyon nuclear reactors. We spoke with Linda Seely on Sunday, February 28th, 2021, Linda Seely. So good of you to be able to join us here on nuclear hot seat on such short notice. Linda Seeley 00:05:07 Thanks Leb. I'm so glad to be here to talk about this article in the new Yorker with you. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:14 Let's start with just a tiny bit of background. What is mothers for peace? How long have you been around and what have you been Linda Seeley 00:05:21 Others for? Peace started in 1967 in opposition to the war in Vietnam. And then in 1973, when the war was coming to a close, we turned our sights toward the construction of Diablo canyon, the nuclear power plant. That's built 11 miles outside of San Louis Obispo on a beautiful coastline. And we have been working on safety issues at that nuclear power plant for the past 48 years, including looking at the 13 earthquake faults that it's built on. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:54 And mother's rupees has presented to the, and you also have intervene or status briefly explain what that means. Linda Seeley 00:06:03 What that means is whenever there's an issue of safety at Diablo canyon, that mothers for peace has the opportunity to raise the issue with the nuclear regulatory commission, which is a captive agency, as you know, meaning that they basically work for the industry that they're supposed to be regulating. And so we have to be the watchdog over that because the NRC itself doesn't do its job in its regulatory function. And so w we've had so many issues at Diablo canyon from the embrittlement reactor vessel of unit one that is just disastrous. I mentioned before the earthquake faults, we've had this leak of the hydrogen in unit two, unit two is currently offline. There are all kinds of things that happen weekly, daily at Diablo canyon that we have to keep our eye on. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:59 So this article comes out in the new Yorker, a 5,590 word article, which in a modern publication is unheard of in length entitled the activists who embrace nuclear power, which certainly does not describe you or this group. How did you learn about this article? When did you learn about this article and what was your response once you read it? Linda Seeley 00:07:24 I subscribed to the new Yorker and I clicked on it when it came up and lo and behold there, it was, I could not believe my eyes when I first saw it. And I started reading and tearing my hair out while I was reading it. I have never seen such an apologist stick piece of flim-flam journalism in my entire life. It was shocking and I have always respected the new Yorker and considered it to have high editorial standards. And I don't know what happened here. I don't know how this got through. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:03 Was there any contact that was done? Any outreach to mothers for peace? Linda Seeley 00:08:10 No. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:11 So there was no contact with the standing of record, almost half a century group that has been opposing this and has legal standing on it. Correct. What can you tell us about this so-called activist group? I always think of activists in opposition to power. This is a lobbying group, but what can you tell us about how mothers for nuclear got started? Linda Seeley 00:08:40 I was there actually the night it was created in San Louis Obispo, Michael Shellenberger, who is a shill for the nuclear industry. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:50 I call him the shield. Berger Linda Seeley 00:08:52 Exactly came to San Louis Obispo to meet with employees. It was shortly after Pacific gas and electric announced that they were going to shut down Diablo canyon and 24 and 25. And he came to rally the troops and it was in 2016 to get the employees together, to protest the shutting down of the nuclear power plant. And he stood up on stage and said, if any of you are willing to start an activist group to stop this plant from being shut down, we will pay all your expenses. And we will bring you to meet with us and give you the training that you need in use of media and public speaking and all that. And a couple of the young women volunteered. Apparently I didn't see that part, but I have known them ever since we've had many encounters with them and they are sincere in their way, but they're brainwashed. Linda Seeley 00:09:55 It's like the nuclear regulatory commission and the people who work there, they accept nuclear power kind of the way you are. I might accept a religion. They don't question the fundamental assumptions about splitting the atom about whether or not human beings have the capability of taking care of the radiation. The radioactivity that's created when you split an atom and it has to be contained for the next 240,000 to 1 million years into the future. And that is not part of the working equation that they use. And that's what separates them from the rest of us who do think about the future generations. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:46 Let's get to this article. Give me a couple of highlights of things that made the steam blow out of your ears. Linda Seeley 01:10:54 I would say where Heather Hoff describes nuclear power plants are carbon free because if they're carbon free, then they're not adding to global warming, right? Well, it's such a crock because in a nuclear power plant, yeah, it doesn't produce a lot of CO2 during its operation. What it does produce is heat so much eat. You can't believe it. The nuclear efficient is extraordinarily hot. So that is putting out so much heat into the air every day. And then you've got the water that comes in two and a half billion gallons of water every day that flows through the plant and out the other side. And when it comes out the other side, it's 20 degrees hotter than it was when it went in from the ocean. Plus it's killed all the plankton, all the microscopic fish, every single piece of life that's come in there, it's dead. Linda Seeley 01:11:49 When that water is released back into the ocean, not to mention the fact that during the construction of the nuclear power plant, you have any enormous amount of CO2. That's put into the atmosphere with the millions and millions of tons of cement and steel and other metals that are put in there and the bulldozers and blah, blah, blah, all that. And then during the decommissioning, you got to do everything backwards that you did in the beginning 40 years before, except now it's all radioactive. So then you got to figure out what the heck to do with all the radiation that's out there and they don't know what to do with it. So this piece in the new Yorker that mentions radioactive waste exactly one time in the entire article and calls it fraught. The discussion about the storage of nuclear waste is kind of the key thing there because nuclear power would be great. We would love nuclear power mothers for peace. If it weren't for the highly radioactive waste that has to be stored for a million years so that nobody gets contaminated and their DNA doesn't get messed up and you don't get cancer and you don't get leukemia and all those other things and have, by the way, Libby, have you noticed how much the sperm count has been reduced in the past 40 years since we started using nuclear power? Libbe HaLevy  01:13:20 What I'd like to find out is what has been the response among mothers for peace and beyond that anywhere into the further community Linda Seeley 01:13:30 And people are shocked and people are enraged. We, you know, we've written multiple, multiple letters to the new Yorker. I wonder if, if the new Yorker will publish any of them, nobody from the new Yorker has contacted mothers for peace to ask us what our opinion is. And most of us have written back to the new Yorker till tell them what we think of this piece. So we'll see, I, I have a feeling that nothing is going to happen. Why would they be so irresponsible? Why would they publish this piece? What is going on that would give this incredible publicity to this fringe group of pro-nuclear people? You know, there's such a push right now by the pro nukes to start with a small modular nuclear reactors and get those up and running. And I just wonder how all of this weaves together. It's very concerning. Linda Seeley 01:14:33 The fact of the matter is that radiation kills. That is a fact is indisputable. And so it's so important for us to let people know how extraordinarily dangerous the substance is. Especially the highly radioactive waste and nuclear fuel rods that are not well protected from the environment and the we'd have no idea of what to do with, it's almost suicidal. It's a cultural suicide that we have so much hubris that we think that we're allowed to make something that nobody knows what to do with. And that's going to be killing the plants, the animals, the waters, and the people up through so many generations. And yet, for some reason, we feel we have a right to make it. I will never understand it. And these two young mothers for nuclear, they are in denial. They should be able to look at this and understand what they're promoting is there to harm these children that they have. And yet, for some reason, they cannot seem to understand that gee, I wish they could. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:57 That was Linda Seely of San Louis Obispo, mothers for peace. We're not fond of plugging the opposition here, but we will link to the new Yorker articles. So you can read it before you write your thoughts about it, to them@themailatnewyorker.com. And they ask that you include your postal address and daytime phone number. If you wish to be considered for publication. In other news here in the U S the grand canyon protection act, a bill that would make permanent the current temporary mining ban on about 1 million acres of public lands near the grand canyon. National park has been introduced in both chambers and passed out of the house. The time is now to contact your senators, to urge support and co-sponsorship of the grand canyon protection act in the Senate from Texas comes word that during the recent Arctic energy crisis, not only was south Texas nuclear offline for three and a half days, but the Comanche peak nuclear power plant outside of Fort worth was three minutes from going completely offline from an emergency shut off during the blackout power was cut from pipeline compressors necessary to transport fuel to the power plants, to run their safety equipment. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:15 You didn't think nuclear plants generate their own energy. Did you even, their emergency sirens are run by solar panels. And now Libbe HaLevy  01:17:34 The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn. Michigan is building a model of the 1957 Ford nuclear powered car, the nuclear powered by a submarine style uranium vision reactor in the rear problems that stop this lousy idea for moving forward include the weight of shielding required to protect passengers from radiation difficulties. Replacing spent fuel the need to build a chain of service stations with personnel trained in handling radioactive materials. And oh yeah. The potential for a meltdown in the middle of the freeway, in case of a fender bender, that's why Ford motor company and museum do you really need a model of this thing? Now you are this week's. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:22 Like in Japan, Tokyo electric power company, still in charge of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant says that during the recent powerful earthquake 7.3, that hit on February 13, two seismometers at one of its three melted nuclear reactors did not collect data because they'd been out of order since last year, the malfunction is blamed partly on heavy rain during July, 2020 in the wake of the quick cooling water and pressure levels fell in the unit one and three reactors indicating additional damage to their primary containment. Chambers 53 tanks storing radioactive wastewater were shifted from their original locations, moving from their original locations by three to 19 centimeters, five sections of piping connecting the tanks shifted more than the limit recommended by the manufacturer. So far, TEPCO says it has found no cracks or abnormalities in the piping, but they have not completed their inspections. TEPCO also laid plans to repair the two seismometers at the reactor building next month. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:34 Great sense of urgency. TEPCO considering there's already been a 6.0 aftershock and is a recent survey by the Japan consumer affairs agency has shown 8.1% of consumers in Japan still hesitate to buy food products from Fukushima. And here's a good reason why, because fish contaminated with radioactive cesium five times above permitted levels in Japan has been detected in black rock fish caught in Northeastern Fukushima prefecture. Some 500 becquerels per kilogram of Caesium was found in the fish exceeding the national standard level of 100 barrels per kilogram. That is what's quote unquote permitted, but note that before Fukushima Japan had no limit on the amount of radiation in food, they didn't measure for it because they didn't expect any we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first activist getting active. That's what this episode is entitled because it contains the history of the fight against nuclear for more than four decades. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:38 Thanks to the films of our featured interviewee. And as you've heard a prime example of taking on the current nuclear lies, even when they come from an revered national publication, we can never let our guard down because the moneyed nuclear industry PR machine is always pushing to get more money, so it can keep pushing to get more money. So it can push for more nukes, no matter who gets cancer as a result, or whose grandkids don't have a chance to even be born. And to know that's not an exaggeration radiation exposure leads to fertility issues, reduced sperm, count DNA, damage, birth defect, all part and parcel of what the nuclear industry is selling us. When it tries to trick us into thinking that nuclear reactors are cute and modular, just like Legos or pushes the fear button to make us think we cannot possibly be safe without more nuclear weapons of planetary destruction, mainstream media lacks the staffing focus, or maybe just the hutzpah to report regularly on nuclear issues, let alone with any specificity about exactly what's wrong with them. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:44 And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. Every week we get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as skepticism with a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect to find on mainstream media. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size, or as you'll hear, you can purchase a ticket to the film, power struggle, and half the purchase price will be donated to the show, whichever you choose to do know that you're taking an important action, and I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now here's this week's featured interview. Robbie is an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker with over 40 years experience directing over 30 independent film, video and public radio documentaries for national and international distribution, his critically acclaimed feature lump and short documentaries and commissioned television news magazine segments focus on contemporary social issues, grassroots activism, and multicultural themes. They've been broadcast by CNN international NHK in Japan, Canadian broadcasting corporation, HBO Cinemax, PBS CNN, national public radio Pacifica radio. This man has serious creds here. We discuss his history of documenting anti-nuclear movements, as well as his generosity and sharing his latest film power struggle as a fundraiser for groups which oppose or simply wish to know more about nuclear issues. We spoke with Robbie on Friday, February 26th, 2021, Robby lept, sir, it is great having you here with us on nuclear hot seat. Linda Seeley 02:23:35 I'm really happy to be here with you, Libbe HaLevy  02:23:37 Levy. What is your background and what first attracted you to filming nuclear issues? Robbie Leppzer 02:23:44 I actually got very early start when I was 18. I made my first video documentary chronicling the birth of the anti-nuclear direct action movement that was focused on stopping nuclear power plants and bringing attention to the dangers of operating nuclear power plants. I grew up outside of Boston and in the mid seventies, there was a huge movement to oppose the construction of the Seabrook New Hampshire nuclear power plant, right on the coast. I was 18 at the time when all of this was going on, I had just started as a college student at Hampshire college. So I had access to all of this video equipment. I actually organized a team of over a dozen independent videographers to work with me initially on the first few days of the protest. And this protest was amazing. 2000 people occupied the construction site. It was a sit in a non-violent civil disobedience sit in 1,414 activists were arrested and then held in national guard armories for two weeks. Robbie Leppzer 02:25:00 And I was filming this as it was unfolding. And then over the next year I went back and I interviewed all the major players involved, including not only the major activists, but also the governor of New Hampshire, the head of the state police, the head of the national guard. So it's quite an interesting documentary looking at how does a protest happen. And in this case, this protest may history. I really put nuclear power on the map of consciousness across the United States, the movement that then grew catalyzed dozens and probably hundreds of direct action, civil disobedience protests at nuclear power plants all across the country. From the late seventies through the eighties, into the nineties, Libbe HaLevy  02:25:48 One of the great joys for me in watching this was seeing some of our senior activists when they were in their early prime. One of these is featured here in a clip from Seabrook, a very young Harvey Wasserman Harvey Wasserman 02:26:08 Put yourself in their position. If you were facing 1800 or 2000 highly organized, dedicated people, committed to non-violence and committed to the idea of getting on this site and stopping the nuclear power plant. I think you'd be real confused and you wouldn't exactly know how to proceed and, and you would probably follow the line of least resistance, which was allowing us on the site. And that's what happened. I, if the power in nonviolence is just a whole other level of tactic, and it's something that, that is totally mind blowing it's if we came on, if we had approached this thing with any ideas of violence or heavy macho, sort of, we would not, we would not be on the site. There's no way Libbe HaLevy  02:26:57 That was Harvey Wasserman in his youth, if not his early childhood journalists, broadcaster, ongoing activists who actually came up with the term, no nukes. And he's now known for his work on solar Topia against the Diablo canyon nuclear reactor in California, and his work with Greg Palast on the issues of systemic election fraud. How has the film Seabrook played into the ongoing fight against nuclear reactors? Robbie Leppzer 02:27:27 It really gave inspiration for people that people could take direct action, put their bodies on the line and really call attention to this issue of the dangers of nuclear power operating plants and the dangers of nuclear waste. All of which we are still dealing with now, you know, decades later and ongoing, and not only around the United States, but around the world. So this shows how citizens grassroots activists can make a difference in calling attention to an issue and raising awareness. I think the history of what happened at Seabrook with the clamshell Alliance, they started a form of organizing of nonviolence that included forming affinity groups that were small groups, that people could have an intimate contact with their friends and neighbors who were part of a, of a large action that model started at Seabrook and now has been used not only across the anti-nuclear movement, but the climate justice movement, occupy wall street, all sorts of movements where how to organize people on a non-violent basis and have autonomy in small groups yet be responsible to a larger collective Libbe HaLevy  02:28:41 Two years after CBiRC 1977 in 1979, you produced the audio documentary voices from three mile island. How did you get involved with this project? Robbie Leppzer 02:28:54 Knowing so much about nuclear power at that young age? When I first got involved with documenting Seabrook, when the accident first happened at three mile island, I was immediately tuned into it. And in fact, I was doing a weekly radio program called undercurrents, a weekly two hour radio program on the UMass Amherst radio station. And so I did a number of reports investigating the coverups that were happening at three mile island. And then nine months after the meltdowns happen, I had an opportunity to travel to the three mile island area in central Pennsylvania with a group of activists from Western mass and Vermont. And we did a series of interviews with people who live within a five mile radius of the plant. Many of them were evacuated during the height of the meltdown that was going on. And so there was just really gripping intimate interviews, oral history interviews with people there. Robbie Leppzer 02:29:55 And one of the more powerful interviews that I did as part of that was with a dairy farmer, Jane Lee, who collated reports from herself and other farmers in the area that showed a dramatic increase of birth defects, stillbirths, and miscarriages among the farm animals, because they're outside in the environment, this kind of like citizen to citizen reporting is really important. And I was able to produce a two hour public radio special called voices from three mile island that was aired on the one year anniversary of the three mile island meltdown in March of 1980. And then later that year, it was also published as a book by the same name, voices from three mile island by the crossing press. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:40 You have been very generous in sharing audio clips from the three mile island program with me for nuclear hot seat. And I still use them as part of what I put together as my personal documentary on three mile island, which will be up in a few weeks because we are coming up on that anniversary. Now let's take a moment and hear a clip from dairy farmer, Jane Lee, about what it's like to have to evacuate from a nuclear accident from voices from three mile island. Jane Lee 03:31:10 It's like your house is on fire and you only have so many minutes to think, and you don't know which to grab first and you don't know what to do, and you don't know where to go. And you, if you do go, you have to go with the idea that you're never coming back now is a one hell of a horrible experience to try to pack a car. You lose things. You're in a state of panic. The keys were stuck in the trunk of the car, and I couldn't find them anywhere. Go down that road and look back and know you're never coming back. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:39 That was farmer Jane Lee from Robbie audio documentary voices from three mile island, three mile island is now closed and undergoing the usual nuclear industry money grab for its decommissioning and waste storage funds. How important do you feel it is that voices from three mile island still be heard in light of the fact that the discussion has changed. Robbie Leppzer 03:32:04 People need to know the truth about what happened there. A lot of it really was covered up. It was indeed a meltdown, a large amount of radio activity was released into the environment and people did go through the terror of having to evacuate in a panic. And they were receiving all sorts of conflicting reports from the media and the government about what was really going on there. So people need to know the truth about what happened at three mile island and that history, hearing those stories, hearing those voices is really important. I've made this radio documentary available free on my website. If you go to power struggle, movie.com and look under filmmaker, you'll see the voices from three mile island there. And that full two hour documentary is available. Libbe HaLevy  03:32:58 Of course, quite powerful for me because I was one of those people in the five mile evacuation area, staying with friends accidentally in the middle of an accident. So this has always been a very powerful documentary for me. And I'm grateful that you have allowed the sharing of clips so that I can enrich the story that I tell on my anniversary program. Robbie Leppzer 03:33:21 I'm very happy to share this with you Lee, because I really respect and really appreciate the work that you have done over these last 10 years, reporting on all issues, nuclear, because I would say that we, you, you and I, as as media producers, but also with all of the activists who've been working on nuclear issues for decades, we're actually part of a unique group of people who are cursed with knowing too much about this subject. And yet we are dedicated to continually bringing information about the dangers of nuclear power to the public, because it's just not on most people's radar screens. And so this is our challenge, our mission to help educate people about this issue that really needs to be dealt with. And it's not being dealt with in the ways that, that it needs to Libbe HaLevy  03:34:16 Thank you for that. And yeah, it's like a train wreck that I can't look away from because it keeps wrecking and wrecking and wrecking. You have continued with this stream of documenting nuclear activism, fighting back with a documentary about the 1 million people March for nuclear disarmament, which took place in New York on June 12th, 1982. How accurate is that number one? Robbie Leppzer 03:34:47 Well, in fact, I did hear from one of the organizers of the March themselves. This is years later and she told me that the police, the New York city police told her that the actual number was actually 1.2 million or higher. And they said, don't quote us. We'll deny it. There was over a million people there. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:11 It astonishes me that that many people could be moved on a nuclear issue. And you documented this you're part of our history stream here. You documented this with a short film called choose life. Tell us about that film. Robbie Leppzer 03:35:27 It's a short film, but it has a cast of a million people that was an incredible day when people of all walks of life, all ages, all races from different parts of the planet earth, not only from New York, but from around the country around the world, because the United nations was meeting on this issue of nuclear disarmament and others at the peak of the organizing that had been going on for a nuclear freeze. And so people came out, I was just there with my camera and the camera crew, and we would just film interviews with people. Why are you here? And people had the most eloquent statements about I'm here to live. I'm here because I want the planet to survive. I want humanity to survive. We had this incredible moment early on in our filming. We started filming and all of a sudden I hear amazing grace being played on the saxophone and it's Paul winter. And so we're filming Paul winter playing amazing grace. As he walks past the United nations. It was just an amazing day. There was people from Japan, there, people from Hiroshima, people from all walks of life, people came together as one collective humanity to say, we are one human race here, and we've got to get it together. People to survive Libbe HaLevy  03:36:42 One wonders where those days went and how we can bring them back. And I think part of it is by understanding our history and watching it unfold, which one can do with your films and also seeing what we can do to move this forward. Now, this brings us to the current film that we are talking about, which is power struggle. This is your latest film, and it's about the successful fight to close down Vermont Yankee. How did you get started on this film and how did it evolve for you? Robbie Leppzer 03:37:18 I live in Western Massachusetts, right near 18 miles. In fact, from the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, which is actually it's in Southern Vermont, but it's right on the Connecticut river, right near the border of Massachusetts in New Hampshire. So a lot of people were involved for decades, really since the beginning of when the Vermont Yankee first started operating in 1972, actually people were opposing the plant before it even began operation. So there've been decades of people fighting against this plant. But I began hearing in the late 2008, 2009, that the Vermont legislature was in the most unique situation of being the only legislature in the country that had the authority to make a decision about the future operation of a nuclear power plant. They hadn't this authority because Vermont also is unique because it requires a state license for a nuclear power plant to operate in addition to a federal license. Robbie Leppzer 03:38:16 So the state had some involvement here. And then because of citizen organizing, that happened around 2006 in Vermont, a law was passed that gave the legislature the authority to make this decision about the future of Vermont Yankee. So that gave the citizens a voice through their elected officials. So I thought as a filmmaker, I should make a film about this. And I had no idea how the legislature was going to react, how the power company was going to react, how the federal government was going to react. I didn't know that I was going to be filming over a five-year period. I didn't know what the outcome was going to be, but I felt like this was an opportunity to make a film about citizens, having a voice in getting involved in something that deeply affects their lives and this case, the future of energy, but even more importantly, the health and safety of our community. Robbie Leppzer 03:39:14 So I heard that the Vermont legislature was going to make a vote at some point, I didn't know when I was going to begin filming, but then I heard that the activists were going to March from Brattleboro in Southern Vermont to Montpelier, which is where the state Capitol is 126 miles. They were going to walk over 11 days, but this is the clincher. It was in the dead of winter. They started walking on January 2nd, 2010, and I started filming and it was blizzarding and ice and snow. And to me, I thought, wow, this is incredible footage of people's perseverance, people's dedication. People will power that can't be stopped. So I thought, all right, I'll film this footage of the people walking. And I figured, well, then I'll put the footage on the shelf and maybe months or years later, I'll make the film. Well, events had other plans for me because halfway through the walk, they hadn't even made it to the state Capitol yet was when the news was released, that there was a massive leak of radioactive tritium underneath the Vermont Yankee plant that was contaminated with groundwater. Robbie Leppzer 04:40:21 Not only did this create a big firestorm because of the contamination, but at that moment, energy, the power company that operated Vermont Yankee was now caught in a lie because a year before they had testified under oath that there were no underground pipes carrying radioactivity. And now they had to admit that this leak was from underground pipes. So that created this political firestorm in the legislature and all across Vermont. And I was on fire, filming it nonstop for then weeks and then months, and then years. It's an amazing, rare victory where anti-nuclear activists, environmental activists, grassroots activists actually made a difference in why that nuclear power plant is now shut down. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:10 I saw the film, I believe in an early cut of it a while ago. And it just bowled me over with the information and the specificity of it, and how many people who I had by that point already interviewed on nuclear hot seat, where I was familiar with their voices. Now I could see and hear them under other dances here. A couple of clips from power street for low president Crow. Francis Crow 04:41:38 I'm Francis Crow. And I live in north Hampton, Massachusetts at 93 years old. And I've been involved in trying to say no to the splitting of the atom and all of the consequences of it since 1945. When I heard about Hiroshima on the radio, I am a member of the shut it down, affinity group, a group of women that came together to shut down Vermont. I gay with our bodies and action I'm here because I think this is very dangerous. We're in facing the end of life on this planet. If we don't do something about nuclear power, when people asked me, how many times have you been arrested? And I say, not enough, Libbe HaLevy  04:42:34 That was fanciest Crow. One of the most inspiring of the Vermont Yankee activists who passed away in 2019 at the age of 100. Now there's this clip from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, always consistent with his messaging, speaking at a rally to close Vermont Yankee in 2012. Bernie Sanders 04:42:54 What we are also talking about is the need to transform our energy system away from nuclear power away from fossil fuel, into energy efficiency and into sustainable energy. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:13 Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. There is of course, so much more that could be chosen to share with the listeners, because this is a rich film in terms of capturing the outrage, the fact of the matter, the lies of Entergy and how from the ground up, we can respond in effective ways to the incursions of the nuclear industry. And what I really appreciate about your work Robbie is that you always make it understandable to people who don't necessarily have a background in this. You play out the information so that we can take a ride with it. If we already know it, we're reminded and we're refreshed. And if we didn't know it before we know it by the time the film is over Robbie Leppzer 04:44:02 Exactly, I mean, I feel like as a filmmaker, I need to always be thinking about the audience who doesn't know that much about nuclear power. So I need to make sure that everything is well explained. And one of the people I had helped me in the task of explaining things that's prominently featured in the film is nuclear engineer, Arnie Gunderson, who is living in Vermont at the time. And it was actually hired by the Vermont legislature to be their watchdog during the whole Vermont Yankee examination of their license renewal. And so Arnie plays a very prominent role in the film. And he also talks about Fukushima and the film now that we're, you know, approaching the 10th anniversary of Fukushima. And he talks very specifically about the parallels and the dangers of the mark. One reactors in Fukushima that blew up are the same make and model as Vermont Yankee. And at the time when I was making the film 22 other operating nuclear power plants in the United States, I think that number is a little bit lower now, but there's at least, I think 20 of these Marc one reactor is still operating in the United States. And they're all vulnerable to meltdowns because their containment structure is too small. And so they're vulnerable to meltdowns and to exploding if there is a meltdown and Arnie explains that in power struggle, Libbe HaLevy  04:45:26 Now you have set up, what's called a virtual screening tour for power struggle. What is that? And how does it work Robbie Leppzer 04:45:34 In this COVID error opportunity is now opened up because of all the theaters, the movie theaters that have closed down this notion of virtual cinema screenings is now becoming the norm. This is an opportunity where independent filmmakers and distributors can partner with both independent theaters and community organizations to sponsor virtual cinema screenings so that people can watch films in their homes. People are now used to that with their local art Hauser, independent theater. Well, the same can be true for independent documentaries and independent documentary filmmakers, working with groups that are concerned about particular issues. So in this case, we're offering power struggle as a opportunity for both local groups to have an educational outreach, but also a fundraiser for their group. So we split the costs and they do the promotion. The local groups promote it through their normal online emails, newsletters, social media posts, and the platform has already set up for them to tap into them. So all that is explained on the website for power struggle again, which is called power struggle, movie.com. And if you go to the tab, mark screenings, it's all explained there. And I'm hoping that local community groups, anti-nuclear groups, but also other environmental groups will consider co-hosting a virtual screening. Cause this is the way that you can actually reach more people, but also support your organization. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:09 One of the organizations that you are going to be supporting with this is nuclear hot seat. And we will have a link up on the website under this episode, number 5 0 6, so that people can click on that, read what the material is and make their own determination. But if you want to watch the movie through nuclear hot seat, really going to be a boost, and it's going to help us keep going into the future. Robbie Leppzer 04:47:33 And I'm really happy that power struggle can help support nuclear hotseat because this is a way that in terms of being media activists, we can support each other. And it's also a way again, to increase the awareness, cause this is why we're doing this levy is to help build consciousness. And so a film like power struggle with these stories, inspiring stories of activists, putting their bodies on the line and making a difference, actually winning. I mean, you know, how rare foods victory is for any issue. And it's particularly in the nuclear realm, we need to savor the stories and because we need to be inspired for the ongoing fights ahead and particularly, I know, you know, the big battles that are going on now to stop the nuclear waste dumps, particularly in New Mexico and Texas, as well. As of course, in, in, in Nevada Yucca mountain, I'm hoping that a film like power struggle can help those struggles and inspire people because it's a long haul commitment to be part of this movement. And yet we're called to this because the stakes are that high. I mean the nuclear waste is going to be with us for 250,000 years. And that point is made very clear in power struggle. And so we need to put this issue on people's radar screens, Libbe HaLevy  04:48:53 Robbie, you've been instrumental through your films and the audio documentary on three mile island in giving us a history that we can follow looking to the future. What's next, you've got so many to choose from. What's your next film going to be about where are you in the planning stages? Robbie Leppzer 04:49:13 Well, actually my next film is already mostly all shots and I'm in the process of editing and it's the first film to be made in over 20 years about the famed and beloved bread and puppet theater of Vermont. And behind me is a picture of Peter and Elka Schumann who are the founders of the bread and puppet theater. They're in their mid eighties now. And they're still going strong for anybody who doesn't know about the bread and puppet theater. They've been going for over 50 years. They first started in New York city during the 1960s, and they're famous for their giant papier-mache puppets. And they use those puppets in street demonstrations during the Vietnam war to illustrate uncle Sam and the Vietnamese and all sorts of imagery of people, average people. And then in 1970, they moved to Vermont and they've been in Vermont ever since. Robbie Leppzer 05:50:12 And they have a farm in Northern Vermont where they have their theater performances outside in this natural amphitheater, in the fields, beautiful rolling farm fields. And they put on their giant spectacular performances with giant puppets. I've been inspired by them for decades. I've gone up there myself for decades and have long wanted to make a film about them. So I've been working on this film now for a few years, I did extensive filming there showing the young people who come from all around the world to put on the shows there. And you know, people need to know that the bread and puppet theater is very much about looking at issues of social justice and peace and multicultural bridge making. And they also had plays about Vermont Yankee and environmentalist and nuclear issues. So it's a way that they combine the issues with comedy with satire. So this is going to be very uplifting film, and we are actually in the midst of finishing the film and we were, we need help to get the word out about the film. So people can go to, we have a separate website called bread and puppet movie.com and people can go there to find out more information, but all of these links to both power struggle and my previous film Seabrook as well as bread and puppet. If you go to my main website, which is turning tide.com, Libbe HaLevy  05:51:39 Robbie, I'm an admiration of the work you have done. I am a fan. I am heartened by seeing all of those activists across all of those decades so that I realize that I'm not alone. And in truth, anybody who tags in on this issue, you are not alone. And you're part of an ongoing tradition. You have documented that you have given us pictures, you have given us sound, you have given us support and really the kind of spiritual food that is needed to help us keep going into the future. Well, Robbie Leppzer 05:52:15 Thank you, levy. And I just want to say that, you know, I really dedicated my film career of making documentaries to chronicling people who stick their necks out to take risks for, for social change. And I feel honored to be the chronicler of these amazing activists who have inspired me throughout my entire life for decades. I've been chronicling, grassroots, social change activism. And so I make films about people who inspire me with the hope that they will inspire others. And so I guess I'm doing something right. If they're inspiring, you, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:50 You are, you have, you will continue to, and we will keep being in touch for now. Thank you, Robbie for all of your work and for being my guest this week on nuclear hub. Robbie Leppzer 05:53:02 Thank you so much. Libby Libbe HaLevy  05:53:05 Filmmaker, Robbie LEP, sir, you can read about Robbie and his amazing catalog of films on his website, turning tide.com. We will have that and several other URLs up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 6, so that you can explore to your heart's content. And this is a reminder that you can see power struggle and help support nuclear hotseat and keeping going by going to our website again, episode 5 0 6 and look for a power struggle link. Robbie has very graciously agreed to split the ticket price with nuclear hot seat so that you will be seeing the show and you will be supporting the future of nuclear hot seat, not a bad twofer. Again, episode number 5 0 6, March 2nd, 2020 one@nuclearhotseat.com. We'll have all the information speaker 8 05:54:07 Activists. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:15 There's a terrific short video, celebrating the passage into law of the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. It's a montage of more than 70 demonstrations and public events that took place on January 22nd, 2021. The day the treaty took on force of law. We have it posted under this episode@nuclearhotseat.com and our thanks to Felice and Jack Cohen, Joppa of the nuclear resistor for sending it to us. We need to celebrate our wins every chance we get. So enjoy watching it. I know I did. And a reminder that next week is the annual nuclear hot seat voices from Japan episode to mark the 10th anniversary of the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, we will have exclusive on the ground stories and interviews from Fukushima prefecture translated from the Japanese by special nuclear hot seat producer, Beverly fin Lincoln. Aiko fresh information direct from the source. And I look forward to you joining us and learning the truth about what's happening in Fukushima. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:20 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, nuke resistor.org, grand canyon, trust.org, raw story.com post and courier.com. The central virginia.com San Diego union tribune.com. forbes.com the hill.com. ABC news.geo.com. NHK dot O R dot J P my nietzsche.jp Japan times.co.jp asahi.com simply info.org, Japan dash N p.co.jp Morningstar, online.co.uk national interest.org and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. If you want to make certain, you never miss an episode of nuclear hot seat. It's easy. Go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com and in the big yellow opt in box, put in your first name, put in your email address. We will deliver the information directly to you every week. As soon as the show posts an easy and effective way to get yourself up to date on nuclear news every week. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:47 Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, don't keep it to yourself. Let us know, send it to me@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. Truly an email is better than trying to get it to me on Facebook. We take these suggestions seriously and see what we can do to cover the issues that are brought up to us. And don't forget if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world. Take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Click on it. Follow the prompts, help us in any way you can and know that we really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halena and hardest history communications, all rights reserved, but various allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. And our thanks again to Robbie of turning tide films for permission to use those excerpts from his films. This is Libby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that a movement consists of people moving in a consistent direction in order to create an agreed upon change. So if you just listened to the show, congratulations, you're part of the movement. Now go take an action. That's it? That is your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:21 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The car Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #505: Texas Nuclear's Epic Fail + Defund Nuclear Weapons Producers - Erica Gray, Susi Snyder URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/texas-nuclears-epic-fail-defund-nuclear-weapons-producers/ Published: 2021-02-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Texas Nuclear's Epic Fail – Erica Gray (above), Nuclear Issues Chair of the Sierra Club, provides the damning Nuclear Regulatory Commission "event" (accident) reports online, five days a week. This Week's Featured Interviews: TEXAS NUCLEAR'S EPIC FAIL – Erica Gray, Nuclear Issues Chair of the Sierra Club, checks and posts the Nuclear Regulatory Commission status (power level) and event (accidents, problems) reports on social media the five days a week that they are supposed to be issued. Last week, Nuclear Hotseat offered a rundown on what was then known about the South Texas nuclear power plant power failure during the recent arctic cold snap which left much of the state without electricity in sub-freezing weather. More has been revealed, and to learn all about it, I spoke with Erica. This is what we know as of Saturday, February 20. Defund Nuclear Weapons Producers: Susi Snyder is primary coordinator of the Netherlands-based program, Don’t Bank on the Bomb (DBOTB). We regularly run Susi’s two-minute explanation of the international grassroots DBOTB program as a PSA for sanity. Here, she goes into much greater detail on how any of us – all of us – can work together to cut off the money going to nuclear weapons producers. Note that this interview is from May, 2018, so her references to the American presidential administration are to President Biden’s predecessor. But the website contains updated information as of February, 2021, and everything she discusses is still accurate. Also, this interview took place before the passage of the Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons was ratified by more than 50 countries and took on force of law as of January 21, 2021. That means international law is on our side and strengthens our discussion with our financial institutions even more. List of 28 nuclear weapons-producing companies from Don't Bank on the Bomb. Here’s a link to a handy phone script you can crib from when you contact your financial institution. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The New Yorker Magazine goes full-on pro-nuclear for a gazillion-word article that doesn't even bother to put forth the opposing view. My longest Numnutz rant in the history of Nuclear Hotseat because… hey, it's really more awful than you can imagine. Rebuttal to New Yorker Magazine written by Dave Kraft of Nuclear Energy Information Service – downloadable PDF. Links: March 1, World Future Day – 8th Annual World Future Day 24 hour round-the-world conversation via Zoom. Follow the time zones around the world as youth, elders, policymakers, visionaries, artists, academics, future thinkers and ordinary people interested the future, will come together in a free-flowing dialogue designed to stimulate ideas and inspire hope. Compelling watching!March 1, inter-generational dialog organized by Youth Fusion, and the launch of the Youth Fusion Elders Initiative, which you can sign up to watch.Happy Birthday, Peace Symbol – Here are its anti-nuclear roots: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Nuclear weapons. Well, we have to have them to keep safe. Don't we, at least that's, what's been hammered into us by the military industrial political complex that we have to keep bankrupting or future to build bigger, badder, more devastating nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Even though we already have more than enough nukes in our arsenal to easily blow the earth into a lifeless asteroid belt. Many times over there seems to be no way out of this ever expanding deal with the devil that nuclear appears to be. But then you hear a genuine expert on these issues with a way out of the madness. And she tells you Susie Snyder 00:00:46 Right now, it's our time to stand up and say, Hey, this is insane. There are so many more things that we could spend the money on the U S government alone is spending $70,000 a minute on producing nuclear weapons, 70,000 a minute. Imagine what $70,000 a minute could do for public education, addressing climate change Libbe HaLevy  00:01:13 And so much more $70,000 a minute. Well, if you want to learn how to join an international movement to knock the financial knees out from under the nuclear weapons industry, you too can be part of the growing wave of people dedicated to getting us out of that awful seat that everyone on this planet shares Announcer 00:01:40 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Hot seat? What have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:11 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week. A great tutorial on how to deprive nuclear weapons manufacturers of their obscene funding. With the goal of driving them out of business. One bank account at a time, Susie Snyder of PAX, Netherlands shares with us easy steps to take, to make certain that your money doesn't inadvertently bank on the bomb. Then we follow up with our coverage of the shutdown of south Texas nuclear during the recent Texas Arctic war techs and statewide electricity failure. We talk with Erica gray of the Sierra club who follows nuclear regulatory commission status and event reports and post them online five days a week. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:24 It has been heard discerning that has allowed us to understand exactly how south Texas and the NRC failed to give a transparently honest report on the nuclear shutdown, just when the electricity was most needed. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than we could ever hope to get out of Cancun and cruise, AKA, Ted flood, all of it coming up in just a few moments. Today's Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. Starting here in the United States last week, nuclear hot seat offered a rundown on what was then known about the south Texas nuclear power plant failure during the recent Arctic cold snap that left much of the state without electricity more has been revealed about south Texas and to learn all about it. I spoke with Erica gray. She is the nuclear issues chair of the Sierra club. This is what we've learned as of Saturday, February 20th, 2021. Erica Gray 00:04:37 Great, thanks for making the time to talk with us today on such short notice for nuclear hot seats. So glad I can be here to talk. Let's give people a little bit of your background and how you got involved with anti-nuclear work goes back to almost 10 years when the disaster happened at Fukushima, it really got me going, I really started paying attention. And at the same time, we were here in Virginia battling to keep our ban on uranium mining. So between fighting at the general assembly to keep our ban on uranium mining and watching the reports coming out of Japan, it was my big wake up call. And so it's been almost 10 years that I've been following and posting the NRC event reports and reactor status reports Monday through Friday. That is what you're best known for within our community because you a regular presence in putting this information out. Erica Gray 00:05:41 And I've certainly come to rely on you for nuclear hot seat. Explain to people a little bit about what a status report is for the NRC and what an event report is not always, but normally in the morning, usually by 8:00 AM, VNRC puts out a daily report and it'll have not just with reactors, but other issues with the nuclear materials or with medical reports to deal with nuclear medicine. So basically Monday through Friday, they put out these reports, as it goes for reactors, the utilities will send in a report to the NRC and what will be in that report. Well, the criteria seems to change over the years as it goes for exactly what has to be reported, but typically the criteria for reporting, it has some significance. So if there's a reactor scram or where there was not a magic shutdown, or they had to turn off the reactors, then that has to be reported. Erica Gray 00:06:48 And so that's one of the things, or like we see quite a bit of them, the fitness for duty reports where they'll find as someone within the power plant that, or either cops to have alcohol or drugs in their system. So that, and basically if the reactor is having some issues, let's say talk about the recent Texas Arctic temperatures and the way that they impacted on south Texas nuclear power plant. The news stories are now blaming failures in oil, natural gas, and in a mistaken and completely propagandistic move, wind power for the power failures in the state. However, in most of the reporting, nuclear seems to have gotten a path. And there's a reason for that. What really happened at south Texas during that time. And what is the little glitch that has so far trick the world into giving them a free path? I knew when, cause I have family in Texas, so I was really concerned, but when I checked the status report and the events report Monday morning on the 15th and saw that there was nothing reported on any of the four reactors that are there in Texas. Erica Gray 00:08:03 And I looked at the status report, which shows the percentage of power that the plants are at. And they were at a hundred percent. I was questioning that basically the next day on the 16th is when actually the report showed up because they managed to get the report out to the NRC a few hours after the daily report was already posted. And so then at that time is when it showed that it had gone offline on the 15th in the morning at, I believe it was 5 26 central time. And so it avoided being included in a lot of the news media because really that one reactor supposedly powers about a million homes. So I kind of figured something had happened there. And so then I looked on the reactor status report and it showed 0% power for one. So it was down. I think the important point, which you made me quite aware of is that as of local time, central time, 5 26 on Monday morning, the nuclear power plant in south Texas went down, but they delayed reporting until it was after the time that the report was issued for the day, showing it at 100% operation, it was down to zero, but it didn't get onto the report. Erica Gray 00:09:27 And because of that officially anyone doing a cursory job of research, this is going to show that the plant was working just fine. And nuclear was just on Monday when indeed it was already out. Exactly. There's many times that the NRC doesn't even get the report up until 10 11. Sometimes they just don't put the report up at all. So when I saw that they delayed in almost four hours reporting it. I kind of figured they maybe didn't want to have that on Monday's list alongside with all the other outages and problems. You've also made the point that Monday is a day that gets checked into a lot by news sources just to see if there is anything because the NRC and its wisdom doesn't put that in quotes does not put up a report on Saturday or Sunday. So the Monday report gets checked a lot and they want to bury something. Erica Gray 01:10:22 They'll put it on Friday or they'll just hold it over the weekend. Yeah. That's usually the case, especially bad information. Doesn't matter if it's from nuclear industry or from the general assembly or whatever bad bills or yeah, they'll put it on Friday because then that way it has the weekend. Cool, awesome. Yeah, kind of common. Here's another point when the Tuesday NRC reactor status report caught up with the fact that it was at 0% at south Texas nuclear, the cause was listed as quote loss of feed water pumps, cause unknown, considering the problem that Texas has been having with water and frozen pipes and broken pipes, might that be an indication that the pipes had frozen from my understanding some of these pipes in that region just aren't really protected and they're out in the open. So I wouldn't doubt that there was some frozen pipe going on. Erica Gray 01:11:22 The basic report stated that unit one automatically tripped due to low steam generator levels. The Lowe's steam generator levels were due to loss of feed, water pumps, 11 and 13, because I knew there were no electrical problems. I always find this interesting this event was not significant to the health and safety of the public based on all safety systems to forming as designed. Yeah, that is actually in the report. They say no harm to anybody. Well, I can say not significant there, their favorite words, something is, or is not significant, but they never quite quantify where that line is placed. Right. And the other thing I really get annoyed about is we can save these reports, but then a lot of times they don't ever give you an update. They just kind of leave it there. So, you know, this report, this event happened on the 15th, but they really didn't report anything else about exactly what happened or, you know, the dynamic behind the event. Erica Gray 01:12:29 All I can see is that basically they started it back up on the 18th or so, and we're fully at a hundred percent power on Friday, the 19th, you know, this thing about they're always on and always reliable. This really shows how unreliable they really can be. And if, you know, we don't know the public doesn't know what the other issues might've been or what exactly happened. Like I said, we don't have the full story and it's unlikely that we will get the whole story from them just to quantify this so that people know there was a report that they were at zero power on Tuesday on Wednesday. And not until Thursday. Did it show that in the report, in the morning, the status report that it was at 36% not getting back up to 100% until Friday? Yes, that's correct. In other words, having gone out early on Monday, there were at least three full days of no power. Erica Gray 01:13:31 And then it was only starting to ramp up and was at approximately one third by reporting time on Thursday. Yes, that's right. Is there any word yet as to possible damage app, the nuclear power plant in south Texas from the outage and the weather? I haven't heard anything yet. Most likely, if anything, if there are problems or issues, I don't know if they would meet the quote unquote criteria of reporting they seem to over the years, allow the industry a lot more room and having to report something. So I don't know. That's a good question. Well, I know that if anything further shows up, we will hear it from you first and it will be based on NRC documentation. And then we'll see what else we can find along the way. Yes, you can count on me. I'll be coming out with those reports. Like I usually do. Thanks Lee D Libbe HaLevy  01:14:30 That was Erica gray nuclear issues, chair of the Sierra club in Japan, in the wake of the 7.3 after shock from the 2011 earthquake and now a 6.0 aftershock pressure inside one of the reactor containment vessels at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear Daiichi plant has dropped. This is an addition to known leaks of Trivium, contaminated water being held in tanks three separate tanks at the site with the majority of tanks, still not having been examined for possible damage in a separate story, large, highly radioactive particles that were released from one of the damaged Fukushima reactors have now been discovered as the result of a study that involved scientists from Japan, Finland, France, the UK, and the United States, a Japanese high court overturned a lower court decision that dismissed the state's responsibility in the Fukushima nuclear disaster and ordered the government Amtech code to pay 2.6, $3 million to evacuees. The mayor of the Fukui prefecture town of Mahama has approved the restart of a 1970s era more than 40 year old nuclear reactor and in Armenia and over 40 year old nuclear reactor that went through a devastating earthquake in 1988 is being refurbished with plans to run it for at least another five years. And now Libbe HaLevy  01:16:09 This one is so heinous and duplicitous. I don't even know where to start the new Yorker. Once an honored publication published a massive article, entitled the activist who embrace nuclear power, make no mistake. It is a full-on propaganda piece, unbalanced by any genuine concerns expressed by genuine activists who oppose nuclear. This one got all its talking points from pro nuclear sources and focuses on two women who are employees of the Diablo canyon nuclear power station in California, and who were coached into creating an organization that is supported and promoted by the nuclear industry to spread lies and keep Diablo canyon operating beyond its announced 2024 and 2025 closures. I only have time to cover a few of the lies put forth, but among them, the two women cited as so-called activists have been financially supported by their nuclear employees. Being allowed to take time off from work, have their travel expenses reimbursed and who knows what other kinds of bonuses, perks and raises have come their way as they did their nuclear master's bidding. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:21 They ripped off their name, mothers for nuclear to dis and undercut the 48 year old San Louis Obispo mothers for peace, which is a genuine activist group that was formed in large measure to protest Diablo canyon. Indeed mothers for peace was not even mentioned in the article, nothing counter to the pre-chosen narrative was these women have been intensely coached by the shill Berger himself, Michael Shellenberger, who they booked to speak to Diablo canyon employees to organize them quote for the sake of their jobs and the planet. While the two women baked chocolate chip cookies for attendees, still doing kitchen duty with sly wording. This article repeats the laws that nuclear screen and carbon-free every volitional adjective that could be used on nuclear. Minimize the risks, huge amounts of energy, small footprint. The risks are minimized double with no evidence or plan to minimize it. No footnotes at all. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:27 The article cited as proof that nuclear was safe. The oft told lies that noted only did nobody die at three mile island quote, the accident had no detectable health consequences, which will come as a real shock to epidemiologists. Joseph of radiation and public health project who has the medical evidence and the numbers and sources to back it up nuclear engineer and whistleblower Arnie Gunderson Fairwinds energy education who has done a massive and intensive investigation into the causes of three mile island and why there were not enough radiation monitors and they weren't in the right places to register how much radiation really was released. And there are the more than 4,000 members of the online Facebook, three mile island survivors site who regularly compare notes on cancer deaths and radiation related illnesses. They and their families have suffered through the years. It slams Fukushima survivors is having quote few health risks connected to radiation exposure in Japan while on nuclear hot seat, number 4 98, Dr. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:32 Alex Rosen of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war explains exactly how Japan has rigged at the medical data to not reflect the actual situation. Specifically thyroid cancer cases, rates and deaths among Fukushima's child survivors. Other basic criticisms and issues were dismissed with a single sentence, usually couched in parentheses. The question of long-term storage remains fraught fraught. That's the best word you can come for the forever nightmare of nuclear waste, the small modular nuclear reactors being loudly touted as nuclear solutions with only a tiny sentence in parentheses. These reactors are still in the experimental phase, meaning they don't exist. What is being touted is a fiction, a fantasy, a lie. There's an excellent rebuttal to the slobbering piece of pro-nuclear garbage that was sent to the new Yorker editors by Dave craft, the head of nuclear energy information service based in Chicago, we'll have a link up to his talking points on our website, but damage has been done lies in shrined liars, burnished to a nuclear glow. As they quote, are here to offer the motherly side of nuclear nuclear for the future nuclear for our children, for the planet hogwash and all those words, I can't say on a broadcast program. And that's why new Yorker naive non investigative talking point pusher Rebecca to who's to bro and you to traders to the future, your children and the planet you are this weeks, months. And so far, this year's most despicable. Announcer 02:21:23 Okay. Your hot seat. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:28 Here's this week's featured interview and it's with one of nuclear, hot seats, favorite people, Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb forever from uranium lining to nuclear weapons, production to radiation leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is government and business, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking that they are immune to the consequences of their actions when they are not. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own. Ever quite frankly, nuclear is a deadly mess. That's why you've learned to count on nuclear hot seat, to get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as skepticism with a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect on mainstream media. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:29 We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective, and even whenever possible humor and let's face it. You're not going to get this information out of mainstream media witnessed this week's numb nuts with the new Yorker. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly $5, same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S please do what you can now, because this is the only way that we can keep going with your support and know that however much you can help. I'm deeply grateful you're listening and that you care now here's this week's featured interview considering last week's astonishingly hopeful interview with Alan, where of parliamentarians for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and his supportive programs that take funding away from nuclear weapons, producing companies. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:44 It seemed a good time to back. One of my favorite interviews with one of nuclear, hot seats, favorite people, Susie Snyder of the Netherlands based program. Don't bank on the bomb. We regularly run Susie's two minute explanation of the international grassroots don't bank on the bomb program as a kind of PSA for sanity here, she goes into much greater detail on how any of us, all of us can work together to cut off the money, going to nuclear weapons, producers, a few things before we start note that this interview is from May, 2018. So her references to the American presidential administration are to president Biden's predecessor. But I checked with Susie a few days ago and received confirmation that the website contains updated information and everything she discusses here is still accurate. Also, the interview took place before the passage of the treaty to ban nuclear weapons was ratified by more than 50 countries and took on force of law as of January 22nd, 2021. That means we now have international law on our side, and this will strengthen our discussion with financial institution managers, even more. And one final note, before we start this program includes a surprise unplanned visit from an important new anti-nuclear activist. Susie Snyder. Thank you so much for being with us here today on nuclear hot seat. Susie Snyder 02:25:17 Great to be here. Thanks so much. First of all, Libbe HaLevy  02:25:21 What is packs and what are the organization's goals? Susie Snyder 02:25:26 Well, PAX is a Dutch peace organization and what we're doing, we are working to reduce human suffering as a result of conflict. And so to, to prevent war prevent suffering, and generally to make sure that we build norms that keep people safe and keep people alive. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:48 What are some of your cornerstone programs? I'm certainly familiar with don't bank on the bomb because I've followed that protocol with my own finances. What is this? And how can people participate in it? Susie Snyder 02:26:00 I don't think on the bomb is a great project. That is what we do is we, we do three things. We examine the impact of the financial sector on companies that produce nuclear weapons. We name those companies, named them and shamed them. And we encourage people to get in touch with their financial institutions so that they develop policies so that they don't have any exposure to these companies that do produce the key components for nuclear bombs. So it's, it's naming the ones that have investments. It's supporting the ones that have great policies not to invest. And it's of course, identifying the companies that make the bombs, because if we don't know who's doing it, we don't know what we can do it. Speaking Libbe HaLevy  02:26:45 Of those companies, there's just been a new report that came out naming 28 separate companies as being involved in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. How did that report come about and what are some of the findings you've made because of it? Susie Snyder 02:27:01 Well, let me tell you, let me, it was a good deal of research and we are extremely rigorous in our research. So we've been looking at contracts and announcements for contracts, for requests, for proposals and so on for the last, for the last six months. And so what we did is as we looked at these, we looked at these different issues and we, sorry, sorry. I'm sure that many of your listeners also have children they're hearing in the background. Libbe HaLevy  02:27:32 This is the reason we do the work that we knew for the children. And so this could not be more perfect. Susie Snyder 02:27:43 It is just the reality, you know, working moms everywhere. So what we did is we looked at a contract. So we looked at the government plans, different government plans for new types of nuclear weapons, for the weapons that are under the so-called modernization program. And then we looked to see, okay, who's actually doing this in-house so to speak, like what, what countries are doing it, there's only nine countries that have nuclear weapons, right? It's not so many at the end of the day. And we look at who does stuff in houses and state run agencies and who contracts out now, not everybody contracts out. Russia does stuff. Mostly in house North Korea does everything in house. Pakistan does stuff in house, but India, the us, the UK, France, they all con they'll hire external contractors. So then we follow the money who bids on the contracts, who gets the contracts and what are they doing? Susie Snyder 02:28:38 What are they actually doing under these contracts? And that's where we found exciting. Well, it's exciting in a, not a nice way what we found, but we found over $116 billion in existing contracts right now for keeping nuclear weapons on the planet. And some of them until 2075, which all these countries have said they had to state at one time, rather. I said, no, we need a world without nuclear weapons. And I'll tell you, you don't get to a world without nuclear weapons by hiring Boeing or Raytheon or Lockheed Martin to build a new nuclear arsenal for you. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:16 Some of the stories that I've read about coming out from the contracts are truly it's like going into bizarro land. Give us some examples. For example, when the head of Raytheon was asked, if there was a growth opportunity in the us exit from the inf treaty. Susie Snyder 02:29:36 So this was really surprising. I mean, okay, usually what's nuclear nobody's really nobody's should be really proud to be making nuclear weapons. These are weapons designed to, you know, your listeners know this already. These are weapons designed to annihilate cities. They're not for battlefields. They're not for strategic pinpoint accuracy. This is a city Buster. And that's, I think that's really important to keep in mind. And for the most part over the last, almost the last generation, people have been shying away from, from taking pride in this. But then there are a few and there's been a slight change in the rhetoric around this. So when Donald Trump took office, he asked these questions, why would we have nuclear weapons? If we could never use them? And he started saying, well, maybe we need, you know, we need to go back to make more and the biggest and the best weapons. Susie Snyder 03:30:28 And he's basically inciting an arms race by withdrawing from the intermediate nuclear forces treaty this treaty from 1987, that prohibited entire class of weapons. They opened the flood gates on this. And so in Raytheon and Raytheon of all companies, Raytheon kind of was getting out of the nuclear arms game. It was seen as a, as a losing interest, but then the withdrawal from the IMF came about and they said, oh wait, we might have an opportunity here, at least in the short term. So you, you saw the investor relations call. They said they were asked the question, oh yeah. You know, is there any opportunity for us? And over the next quarter, Raytheon bought 500 million in new contracts related to missile technology. So Raytheon starting to cash in on this new nuclear arms race. And I just have to ask the question, what are they, you know, they're only looking for short term game, what are they looking for in the longterm? Cause this is not the kind of product that we should be supporting. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:28 It's a terrifying thought that nuclear weapons are looked at as a growth industry and an opportunity for investor profits when really their end game is the destruction of everything. And their profits will mean nothing. There are other programs that have been brought up in the reading that I've been doing. And another one had to do with bowling and a new program that the company that brought us the twice crashed 7 37 max, is being asked to develop what is a flight termination receiver and what are the implications of the attempt to develop it? Susie Snyder 03:32:05 Okay. So this is something that within the nuclear policy community, there's some debate, right? So the flight termination receiver is the idea is you, you can call the missile back because it takes about 25 and 40 minutes for an Intercontinental ballistic missile to be launched and hit its target. And that means that once you press the button, there's fish two hours until the end of civilization, as we know it, because any target they're gonna, they're gonna see the incoming missile and they're going to in return, they're going to try to take everything out before you take out what they've got. That's the whole, that's what there was this whole concept behind mutually assured destruction. So with what bullying is doing now is they're making Lister missile technology so that if you launch and you decide, oh wait, whoops, our, our information was wrong. Oh, actually it was a weather balloon. Susie Snyder 03:33:01 Oh no, that wasn't an incoming missile. It was, you know, it was a pigeon, whatever it is. And I don't mean to make light of it, but seriously, there's been so many near misses. It could be anything. The idea is that the missile would then go off course or with self-destructs. So it wouldn't have the same. It wouldn't hit its target as it is to be able to shift it in flight. Now on the one hand, you know, this could be great. Cause then you know, it won't hit its target and you could, you could stop some insanity. But on the other hand, if you see the missile coming in, you're going to fire with everything you've got. And so it's a losing situation to losing proposition. And honestly, as you said, would be, how much can we trust Boeing right now? Libbe HaLevy  03:33:47 How much do we trust anybody who is working in nuclear arms? Because they can somehow justify it. I've also seen that one of the problems with having a flight termination receiver is that it might call for a launch of a weapon and then using it just as a scare tactic because they think, well, we can pull it back and there will be no harm, no foul when indeed you're right. The retaliation could be volleyed out before we could pull it back and they might not be able to do so. And there goes the planet, or if not the planet, at least the people in the lifeforms on it. Susie Snyder 03:34:25 Exactly. And what we've learned from new climate research from new modeling over the last 10 years is that it doesn't take a thousand bombs going off to destroy the civilization that we, that we know it will take a hundred weapons between, for example, India and Pakistan, and 2 billion people, 2 billion people would be at risk of famine. They would cause grave environmental catastrophe. It would, it would be a nuclear winter. And in the eighties, we are totally aware of this. So like, okay, this is not going to happen. We're going to stop it. We're going to shut this down. This is insane. And right now it's our time to stand up and say, Hey, this is insane. There are so many more things that we could spend the money on the us government alone is spending $70,000 on minutes on producing nuclear weapons, 70,000 a minute. Imagine what $70,000 a minute could do for public education, addressing climate change. Someone's problem. It's complicated, but it's, it's a relatively easy fix. And it's just a matter of deciding to do it. And now's the time for people to, to demand that we do Libbe HaLevy  03:35:46 No you're right. On the one hand, it's a terribly depressing image for those of us who oppose nuclear and have managed to become conscious about it yet in the intertwining of the private sector and nuclear weapons, there are potential points of leverage. Explain what you mean by that. Susie Snyder 03:36:06 This is what I'm finding is very exciting. So two years ago, most of the nations in the world adopted a new treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. They said, you know what? This has gone bonkers long enough. And the consequences of any use of nuclear weapons are so great. We need to prohibit everything to do with them, prohibit all the making, having, using, preparing to use prohibited, make it illegal, make sure that we are collectively responsible. If any weapons get used, you know, reinforce the non-proliferation standard by doing so protect the environment. This is her most Everence in the world said, yes, we're going to do this. And after that financial institutions, banks, pension funds, insurance companies, they said, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. If the weapons are illegal, the companies that are making the weapons, they're going to start to go down, let's get out, let's get out. Now let's prevent any reputational risk or regulatory risk. Let's end our financial involvement with these companies. And 10% of them dropped out. It was amazing. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:22 And you said 10% of them dropped out. Explain a little more about what that exactly means. Susie Snyder 03:37:27 We've been doing this kind of analysis of the environment, financial sector, and new whoever producers for a while. Now, since 2013 and we track every year, how many, how many banks, how many financial institutions and best, and from the adoption of the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons until a year later, there was a 10% reduction. There's, it's an actual numbers. There's 30, fewer financial institutions that had investments in the companies that produce nuclear weapons. And some of these are really like this is blue cross and blue shield that previously had some investments and then got out. This is, you know, the Norwegian government pension funds that said, oh, wait a minute. We better change our relationship here. This is ABP, which is the fifth largest pension fund in the world. And they said, oh, hang on. Nope, nuclear is illegal. Now, got to get out of that game, which is quite impressive. We're putting together the numbers for this year. And I think we're going to see some, some additional positive change. This Nope, even though a few companies are starting to make money off of new contracts. And most of the world, this is seen as a bad investment. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:41 I often think of PACS and the Nobel peace prize, winning international campaign for the evolution of nuclear weapons or I can, which was behind the treaty in the United nations, the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. I often think of you two as kind of either conjoined or somehow being under the same umbrella. What is the relationship between the two groups? Susie Snyder 03:39:07 PAX is a partner of the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. And I can as a campaign coalition and we've got over 500 partners in more than a hundred countries around the world. And it was, I can working with these partnerships also with, with concerned governments, with international organizations like the global red cross that got this treaty to happen. It was, it was through partnership. It was through a movement. And PAX is that as a part of this bigger movement, we're really proud to be a member of this campaign coalition because it means that we're, as we said in the local papers here, the Nobel peace prize got one in our little town, at least a little bit. That's quite amazing. Let's see, Libbe HaLevy  03:39:52 Switch over to talking a little bit about ICANN and the impact that that has having and can potentially have the entire nuclear weapons landscape in the world. It is not a campaign to ask the nine nuclear countries to get rid of their weapons. It's a campaign to get all of the countries that don't have nuclear weapons to agree, to not get nuclear weapons. And then there are other provisions involved with it as well. Can you explain what those are and how those would mess up the nuclear countries? Susie Snyder 04:40:26 Sure. So the thing is with, with icon is that we're working at over a hundred countries to raise the stigma against nuclear weapons. And most countries of the world have already rejected nuclear weapons. It's just this nine that are, seem to be a bit stuck and seem to be kind of a, I don't know, it's a little bit of old thinking and that doesn't quite relate to the current world order, but that I can is working even in the nuclear armed countries to say, Hey, we have a plan to get to no nuclear weapons in the world. We know the nuclear armed countries, they're clearly not ready yet. They haven't quite matured to the level of, of many others to be able to, to take a more realistic and pragmatic approach to their security, but the other countries have. And so countries like Austria and Ireland, South Africa are fully on board with this treaty because they recognize that there is no, no benefit to them and only risk from supporting nuclear weapons. Susie Snyder 04:41:26 What this means is that financial institutions in those countries have seen what happens with other weapons, prohibitions, and they get out of the, of the game when it comes to investing in companies that produce the weapons companies like Airbus, Airbus is a com as a Dutch registered company. Airbus has operations throughout Europe. Airbus is known for making airplanes. Airbus also makes missiles for the French nuclear arsenal. And what this does is it says that if Airbus, for example, when Germany signs on to the ban treaty, the operations that Airbus has within Germany, can't be involved in the production of missiles for France or for anybody else because that's prohibited under the treaty. And that would change the landscape for France. France doesn't have a, another capability or they have to move to manufacturing capabilities. And that's, that's really important also, but she also has this great impact because it makes the question of it challenges, the assumption that nuclear weapons benefit anyone's security. Susie Snyder 04:42:37 And in fact puts the onus on those who have the weapons prove it. You've been saying this for so long with no evidence. You've been quite hysterical about your security concerns. No, be rational, become, prove that this is the only way forward. And if it is in fact, the only way forward, why are you so United against other countries getting the same weapons? Why does North Korea use the same language as France and defending its decision to get nuclear weapons? You know, be a calm, rational actor in this field and not the hysterical nuclear armed countries that we've come to know. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:15 It seems that this program, the treaty for the prevention of nuclear war and the countries that sign onto it would really signify a grassroots erosion of the ability of the nuclear industry to operate unimpeded. In other words, putting perhaps if not a block in the road, a stone in the shoe that they can't move forward as they planned on it. And here in the U S we are starting to see some changes, at least on the state and the local level in January, a bill was introduced in the Massachusetts state legislature that would require the states pension funds to divest from nuclear manufacturers. The city of Cambridge has already done. So, and here in California, OHI will not make any future investments in the makers or funders of nuclear weapons. Do you think that the best way for us to proceed is to work on the local grassroots level rather than going for the big guys in Washington DC or the heads of whatever countries, people listening to the show in 123 countries that listened to it. I'm not going after the top of the governmental food chain, but starting local is the path we need to follow. Susie Snyder 04:44:29 Well, I think it depends on where are so in the U S you know, one out of every eight Americans lives in California. So when the California state legislature passes a resolution calling on the U S federal government to endorse and embrace the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, that is significant. And that is a demonstration of the will of the people. Nuclear weapons are the opposite of democracy. They're the opposite of people's movements. And it's kind of to take people's movements, being creative in the locations they are to get change. We just had today, which said, Berlin, both a city of Berlin, as well as the federal state of Berlin. Come on board and call on the German governments to join this treaty. Libbe HaLevy  04:45:20 Oh, that's fabulous. I hadn't gotten that news yet. Susie Snyder 04:45:24 Yeah. And it's happening every day. There are new cities joining. There are new there's new state resolutions being discussed there, conversations happening. And the key thing is nuclear weapons are an anachronism and we can move past them, but we have to talk about them. And we have to talk about them, not just with our friends, that it's comfortable to talk about them with, but to talk about them in other places and reach out, because I'll tell you, we ran a petition campaign a couple of years ago, and the Netherlands, and what we found is that nine out of every 10 people we asked said, of course we don't support nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are dumb. Wait, there's still a problem. I thought they were gone. Most people don't know. And as soon as they know, they think, oh my gosh, this is ridiculous. This is a problem. The eighties let's, let's send it to the dustbin of history, that attitude and that emphasis and that enthusiasm is starting to catch like a wildfire throughout the world. And it will change the minds of those sitting in the high political offices. If you are friends with the head of state, by all means, call your buddy and tells him to get on board with this treaty. If however, you are not friends with the head of state, thinking about other ways you can, you can help support this, this effort to make nuclear weapons history. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:50 That brings us to the practicalities. What are things that people on the ground can do? And what tools do you have? Because the research is extensive and it is impeccable. Everything is footnoted. Everything is accurate in it because we can't, our side can't afford to make mistakes. What do you have available that we can use to support anything that we are saying or doing on the ground? Susie Snyder 04:47:16 Well, the first thing I would encourage your listeners to just sign up to our newsletter. We're constantly putting information out@nuclearbam.org, and there's tons of info there. Well, now it depends again where people are. You want to figure out how to make sure your personal finances are in no way connected to the companies that produce nuclear weapons, whether it be through your bank or through your pension investment or other things. We have checklists on our website for people to use. We just know quickly scan the websites, see if your bank's listed, send them a message. We have tools you can directly send your bank a message. And a lot of people these days, myself included use to banking on our phones, right? Mobile banking is like the thing. And I encourage people all the time, pull out your phone, go to your banking app and just send a message directly to your bank right now and just say, Hey, are we in any way connected to companies that produce a box? Susie Snyder 04:48:16 When you ask that question through your mobile app, through walking into your local bank branch, whatever it is, you're starting a chain reaction of the good kind, the person on the other end probably has no idea. So they're going to have to ask somebody is going to have to ask somebody is going to have to ask somebody. We saw a number of financial institutions get out of this type of investment because people started asking questions on their Facebook profiles. And there was this like, oh, that's not good. We can't have this. Oh, wait, wait, let's check. Let's check. Okay, well, let's give that they divested first. And then they put into place a policy to make sure that they'll never have any kind of investments and connected to grew up in producers in the future. And it's part of their internal due diligence. Now it wasn't a huge number of people that did this. It was three or four people that saw something in a newspaper that saw a tweet that heard something on the radio. And they took action because it truly is. As Margaret Mead said, it truly is a small handful of thoughtful and committed people that can change the world. And there are many people who would love the extra energy and attention. And the quick question, do we have anything to do with the nuclear bomb? If so, how can we avoid it? And we can, and we will. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:41 The brilliance of this program is that any individual can make an enormous difference simply by taking a few steps that are already brilliantly strategized and plotted out and framed as you have done, as the people with PACS have done. And I can as well, if you have any final thoughts to share with the listeners today, what would that be? Susie Snyder 05:50:09 I would ask your listeners to tell a friend, each one can reach one and each one can teach one. And that is how we will get this change. And that is how we will be able to retire from working on nuclear weapon issues and put our energy into dealing with the new challenges that face a new century. Susie Snyder. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:32 You have been doing brilliant work. I've been aware of your work since Helen Caldicott conference. I believe it was five or six years ago and the progress has been astonishing and breathtaking. I always report on any positive steps that we find out that have been taken by either PACS or I can on nuclear Hotsy. Cause we've got to get our new good news from somewhere. And it seems to come inordinately from these two groups. Susie Snyder 05:50:58 Thank you so much. It's been a great pleasure speaking with you. It's always a great pleasure and I really appreciate the opportunity today. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:06 Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb.com assisted by her. Now two year old daughter will have links up to a list of the companies participating in the building of nuclear weapons, as well as a script you can follow when calling your financial institutions that will be on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 0 5. When I first learned about don't bank on the bomb, I followed the easy steps. Susie put forward, spoke to the manager of my credit union and learned that credit unions in California at least are not allowed to invest in certain categories of companies. And that includes all of the nuclear weapons producers. Pretty cool. So how about your bank? How about your pension fund call and talk with the manager and start the conversation something different to do during COVID times, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:10 March 1st, March the eighth annual world future day, a 24 hour round the world conversation on how to create a better future for us, all the global conversation will begin in out taro, a New Zealand at 12 noon local time, which is the equivalent of 7:00 PM Eastern and 4:00 PM Pacific here in the United States. The conversation will then travel westward each hour as people join and leave the conversation. Youth elders, policymakers, visionaries, artists, academics, future thinkers, and ordinary people interested in the future. We'll come together in a free flowing dialogue, designed to stimulate ideas and inspire hope. We'll have a link to where you can sign up for this amazing international event@nuclearhotseat.com under this episode, number 5 0 5 also for March 1st, this request from the Marshall Islands, it reads in our decades of fighting for nuclear justice in our home. We join hands with other frontline communities worldwide addressing the legacies of nuclear testing and take great comfort in receiving support from around the reminding us that we are strong and resilient people, and that we are not alone in our pursuit of justice for the Marshalese people in light of that, this year's nuclear victims, remembrance day theme. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:38 We are not alone is requesting short. You are not alone messages to the people of the Marshall Islands. The videos should be 15 seconds or less, and there will be a link to where you send it@nuclearhotseat.com. Episode five oh five, a belated happy birthday to the peace sign. That's right. The circle with what people have said is the dove track, but its origins were something else entirely. The peace sign was created on February 21st, 1958 by British graphic designer and Christian pacifist. Gerald Hold'em Holton was tasked with creating the banners and signs for a nuclear disarmament March in London and wanted a visual that would stick in the public's mind. The design is in part modeled after Naval Semafore flags that sailors would use to communicate between ships Holtom combined the codes for N two flags angled down at 45 degrees standing for nuclear and D one flag pointed straight up and one flag pointed straight down for disarmament. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:47 So when you see the peace side, know that in some of fours, it means nuclear disarmament. Let's start using it again. Okay. And nuclear hot seats, exponential growth includes the fact that last week it was number one in business news in Ecuador and number nine in just plain out news in podcasts. When we say we're international, we mean it. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond a nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, Washington post.com Jacksonville free press.com. The new yorker.com NHK dot O r.jp don't bank on the bomb.com Kyoto news.net tepco.co.jp simply info.org, Helsinki dot F I fairwinds.org. My nietzsche.jp NEI magazine.org, global news.ca and as always be captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:15 Nuclear hot seat is available to nonprofit community radio stations around the country through the Pacifica audio port network. So if you know of a radio station in your area, that would be interested in joining the growing list of broadcast affiliates, carrying nuclear hot seat, contact me with their information or have them contact us by sending an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Now, speaking of email, you can have the convenience of having nuclear hot seat delivered, rush off the presses every week to your inbox via email. It's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down to the yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show. That includes a brief rundown of some of the content nuclear hot seat depends on its listeners, being the eyes and ears on the ground to help turn us on to what the stories are in your location. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:12 So if you, yes, you listening to this, have a story, lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Anything you do once you click on that will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and heart history communications, all rights reserved, but their use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided, this is Leiby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that nuclear energy failed the people of Texas during the Arctic cold snap and no amount of right wing false information. Echo chamber is going to change the truth and the fact of it, nuclear failed. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:29 Ooh, Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #504: Nuclear Biden: Disarmament Strategies, Conflict Resolution - Alyn Ware URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-biden-disarmament-strategies-conflict-resolution/ Published: 2021-02-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Biden: Disarmament strategies for the new administration and Teaching Peace with Alyn Ware (l), Global Coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. Pictured here being interviewed by journalist Ramesh Jaura, Editor-in-Chief & Director-General of InDepthNews at the United Nations in Vienna. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Biden – a primer for the new president. Alyn Ware is a New Zealand peace educator and campaigner in the areas of peace, non-violence, nuclear abolition, international law, women's rights, children's rights, indigenous rights, and the environment. He has served as the Global Coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament since it was founded in 2002. His previous positions include Director of Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (USA), Director of the Peace Foundation Schools Outreach Programme for the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace, and Founding Director of the Mobile Peace Van. He also has a long list of awards recognizing his work on behalf of people, the environment, and the planet. Here, we talk about the Nuclear Biden alternatives for the new U.S. president to work towards disarmament and genuine peace, based on conflict resolution. We spoke on February 12, 2021. LINKS from the interview: Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND)Parliamentary handbook – Assuring Our Common Future – free PDF.Youth Fusion – a world-wide networking platform for young individuals and organizations in the field of nuclear disarmament, risk-reduction and non-proliferation.Unfold Zero – a platform for United Nations (UN) focused initiatives and actions for the achievement of a nuclear weapons-free world NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): How can one trust the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to regulate our nuclear reactors when they can't even set up a webinar that works?  "Technical difficulties?"  Wouldn't that best describe nuclear reactors? Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:02 Piece. That's what we say. We want, isn't it peace on earth, but how do we get beyond the cliche of those holiday associated words and actually implement peace as a practical means of living before we blow ourselves and the planet into an asteroid belt, what is peace anyway, and then you hear from a genuine expert, someone who is dedicated to teaching conflict resolution as the means of achieving peace. And he tells you Alan Ware 00:00:34 If you're working for environmental awareness and peace with the planet, and also helps to work on the conflict resolution. And if you're working on resolving conflicts, part of that is those over resources and the planet. If we can ensure that we're not investing our time and resources into a military approach to problems, which the world is currently spending $1.9 trillion a year on. If we wouldn't invest in so much in that we would have more human resources, financial resources to invest in renewable energies, climate protection, biodiversity protection piece, COVID 19, a public health plans and economic recovery. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:14 Well, sign me up for that because when you hear an international expert on teaching sound practical actions, one can take to achieve and promote and maintain peace. You get the tiniest glimpse that there may just be a way to get up and away from that awful seat that everyone on this planet is currently sharing Announcer 00:01:38 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been? Braking, nuclear hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:11 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week. One of the most hopeful interviews I've ever conducted for this show. I speak with Alan Ware, who is global coordinator for parliamentarians, for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and a veteran of decades of teaching peace, AKA conflict resolution, to everyone from national political leaders to children. It is truly a different perspective on the mess that our entrenched war saturated violence thinking has gotten us into with a message that will resonate long after you've given it a listen. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than would be admitted by the Texas bureaucrats and politicians who are trying to blame the deadly lack of electricity in their state. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:31 During the current cold snap on functioning wind turbines, when it was a nuclear reactor that stopped working all of this coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 16th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in Japan on February 13, a 7.3 earthquake hit off the coast of Fukushima. It was an aftershock to the 2011 earthquake, which caused a triple meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi and created a tsunami that killed over 16,000 people. Interestingly, within two hours of the quake Tokyo electric power company, which is still in charge of the facilities at Fukushima and the cleanup reported that there was quote unquote, no damage. How could they know that after only two hours? Well, they didn't look closely enough. It is now been discovered that radioactive water leaked from three separate tank farms on the property and TEPCO has not yet disclosed how many tanks have been inspected on site and how many remain to be inspected for damage more for mother nature here in the U S where a powerful winter storm blasted Texas with Arctic temperatures that triggered widespread blackouts leading up to one third of the state without electricity, among the failures, the south Texas nuclear generating station, which tripped into shutdown on Sunday, February 14, yet south Texas delayed reporting their outage for five hours, guaranteeing that when the nuclear regulatory commission reactor status report posted on Monday morning, it would falsely show south Texas running at 100%. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:18 When the Tuesday NRC reactor status report caught up with the shutdown at south Texas, it was blamed on quote, loss of feed, water pumps, cause unknown might the cause of that been pipes that have frozen. The timing on this is important because in the future, when the energy situation during this time is researched by reporters and policy walks, the nuclear industry will be able to falsely claim that on Sunday and Monday, it was reliable when it was not. And we still don't know whether those water pipes might be frozen, meaning unable to provide cooling water, to operate the reactor. Meanwhile, the state's politicians and bureaucrats are trying to fall asleep. Blame the energy failure on genuinely reliable wind generation, which actually surpassed daily production forecasts. We've learned that military officials were unaware of potential danger to vice president. Mike Pence's nuclear football during the Capitol riot, the vice-president is always accompanied by a backup of the football, which carries the nuclear launch strike codes and is identical to the one that the president carries. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:29 They came to within 100 feet of where Pence his family and the aid with the football were sheltering while the insurrectionist chanted hang Mike Pence. If they'd gotten their hands on Pence's football, they couldn't have launched an unauthorized nuclear attack, but had they acquired its contents, which include pre-planned nuclear strike options. They could have shared the contents with the world as Kingston, rife, and expert on nuclear weapons policy at the non-partisan arms control association told CNN, such an outcome would have been a security breach of almost incomprehensible proportions. And it ought to raise further questions about the rationale for the in Akron ism. That is the nuclear football and a Turkey point in Florida. Last August three, unplanned shutdowns during a four day period have been blamed on nuclear equipment. Failures. Turkey point is licensed to run for 80 years or through 2050. And now Libbe HaLevy  00:07:42 The nuclear regulatory commission was trying to hold a webinar, but had to cancel because of bad audio and video claiming it was technical difficulties. This particular legal called the Santa and Oprah activist. Dozens of whom got up at the crack of Dawn in order to make the 9:00 AM Eastern time for the call. The NRC recently moved to the WebEx platform instead of zoom, because it turns out the Chinese own a controlling interest in zoom though. I don't know what information would be lost by using zoom because Hey, it's a public meeting. Anybody can get in. It makes you wonder how they regulate power plants. A and that's why as is so often the case nuclear regulatory commission. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  00:08:35 I think we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first, have you noticed how nuclear just keeps inventing new ways to malfunction? Like what just happened in Texas during the current deadly cold snap where the south Texas nuclear reactor stopped functioning, this is only latest in a long line of nuclear problems that range from uranium mining to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having any way to safely store deadly radioactive waste, that results and is produced by all their endeavors. Nuclear is government and business, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they can lie long enough and well enough to keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions. How's that working out for you this week, Texas. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own ever. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:36 And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. We never take our eye off the nuclear ball, getting into stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as a healthy dose of skepticism. We get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective. And even whenever possible humor. That's why right now would be a great time to support us with a donation because it's the only way we keep going. So please go to nuclear hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button and help us with a donation of any size that's where you can also set up a monthly $5, same as a cup of coffee and a tip here in the U S we should ever get beyond COVID and back into coffee shops again. So please do what you can now to help nuclear hot seat, keep going. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:28 And to know that however much you can assist us, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now here's this week's featured interview. One of the things I love about doing nuclear hot seat is that I get to meet and talk in depth with extraordinary people around the world who truly have a different perspective when it comes to our nuclear problems. This week's guest is one such discovery. Alan, where is a New Zealand peace educator and campaigner in the areas of peace non-violence nuclear abolition, international law women's rights, children's rights, indigenous rights, and the environment he has served as the global coordinator for parliamentarians, for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, since it was founded in 2002, his previous positions include director of lawyers for peace executive director of the lawyer's committee on nuclear policy in the United States director of the peace foundation schools outreach program for the United nations decade for a culture of peace and founding director of the mobile peace van. He also has a long list of awards recognizing his work on behalf of people, the environment, and the planet I spoke with Alan, where on February 12th, 2021, Alan, where it's so great to have you with us here today on nuclear Hotsy Alan Ware 01:11:57 That's a great honor to be here. Thank you for all the wonderful work you've been doing to educate, inform, and engage people in the U S and around the world on these issues Libbe HaLevy  01:12:06 Back at you in researching your background, I was astounded by the work that you've done on intersecting areas of peace, non-violence nuclear abolition, international law, women's rights, children's rights, and the environment. Give us a sense of your background and what attracted you to this range of issues. Alan Ware 01:12:29 I first started my professional career as a kindergarten teacher, and that was working with children to ensure that they are more engaged and have a better world to live in. And as soon as you're working with children, you realize that these issues and to sit with each other, you know, that in order for us to have a good life, then we need to have a sustainable world, a peaceful world. And that's where these issues intersect. Pretty soon, I was working on developing peace and conflict resolution programs and schools from kindergarten through primary, secondary, or elementary high schools, and then into community education as well. And again, as cross sector issues, when you're talking about resolving conflicts and the key thing I think for my background, and that is to understand that conflict resolution takes time. It's not easy, but it's so much more rewarding when you listen to each other, when you find out what the reasons are behind conflicts are behind these issues and you work for solutions than if you're just trying to quick fix. So that's my basic approach to these issues is to try and find sustainable solutions, quick fixes don't work Libbe HaLevy  01:13:41 And educating the world. I think taking the perspective of the kindergarten teachers is probably a good step to take for breaking it down. Where was it that you were working when you developed this program? Meaning the country and is the program still in operation? Alan Ware 01:13:58 Yes, I'm from outro and New Zealand out Euro is the indigenous name. Both names are now official for the country. And as I say, I moved pretty quickly from being a kindergarten teacher to doing conflict resolution education and peace education throughout the education sector. So that wasn't just with preschool children, but with the entire sector and the education, I was doing both education out in the field, going around to schools, you know, helping teachers to put into place, conflict resolution and peace education. And I was also working with the government, the ministry of education to develop with our organization. The foundation for peace studies are to develop a piece of education as part of the New Zealand curriculum. So that is now in the curriculum at the same time, I couldn't just work with children and in the education field, if I'm not also working on making the world a better place. Alan Ware 01:14:51 And when I was a young teacher, the big existential threat to humanity was nuclear weapons that still poses an existential threat that hasn't gone away. And we still have 13,000 nuclear weapons, you know, probably 1500 on high alert, you know, that could be fired within minutes in a conflict by accident or miscalculation. But we also have other existential threats now like the threat to the climate, the biodiversity collapse, you know, the collapse of the oceans. So the environmental issues are as important. Now, I think as the nuclear weapons issues. And we found pretty early on as these are connected, you know, if you're working for environmental awareness and peace with the planet and also helps to work on the conflict resolution. And if you're working on resolving conflicts, part of that is those over resources and the planet. If we can ensure that we're not investing our time and resources into a military approach to problems, which the world is currently spending $1.9 trillion a year on, if we weren't invested so much in that we would have more human resources, financial resources to invest in renewable energies, climate protection, biodiversity protection piece, COVID 19 public health plans and economic recovery. Alan Ware 01:16:12 We to have those resources collectively in the planet, but we still haven't yet shifted enough from a military framework for security to a common security or human security framework. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:25 When you are putting forth concepts of peace, what do you find is the most general pushback against it are the most difficult hurdle to get beyond in communicating what the principles are and why they are so important? Alan Ware 01:16:42 I don't think there is like one particular main resistance to the ideas of peace, conflict resolution and a human security or common security framework. I think there are multiple levels to this, which is one of the reasons why it's not easy. There are some who have invested interests in militarism and an arms race that could be financial interests. You know, they're making an income out of making weapons. And so it's very difficult if you're making money out of it, you know, making weapons to agree to disarmament process. There's also some who from an academic or theoretical framework have supported this approach, a militaristic approach as the one that guarantees security and to shift from that thinking is quite a leap. It's quite a leap of faith in a sense to change from the idea that we're protected by having lots of weapons, to deter someone from attacking us to say, and actually we would do better. Alan Ware 01:17:42 If we put down the weapons opened up our fist to hands, shook hands with them and worked for conflict resolution. There's a lot of fear to peace approach. And there's, there's a lack of confidence that it can work. And one of the reasons for that is there's not enough information. I think about the peaceful resolution of conflicts, most of the times, and most of the world, we are resolving conflicts peacefully with each other, but it's not those peaceful resolution of conflicts that gets attention. It's when it fails. That's when violence breaks out. It's when armed conflict starts that suddenly the media takes a lot of attention and it sort of reinforces this myth that, oh dear, you know, violence, militarism is a natural part of humanity when I don't think it is, but it takes faith and it takes work to work for peace. As I mentioned, peace is not the easiest approach. Alan Ware 01:18:34 You have to spend time to listen to the other side, to work out. What are the issues? A military approach is a very simple approach. You know, I feel insecure by this enemy. I'm going to take up weapons. Conceptually. It's very simple. It's a lazy approach to it. The peace approaches that is a much more complicated approach. It takes more exploration of ideas. And sometimes you find one option that doesn't work. You have to find another one. I know in the area of nonviolence, you know, a Gandy put forward, you know, some very wonderful ideas or nonviolence, but then gene sharp came along and said, actually there is 198 different types of nonviolent action. And that really opened people's minds. Ah, so peace is not just one simple approach. No, no, it's actually pretty complicated, but it's the better approach. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:23 How can people find out how to teach peace and teach peaceful approaches and push this forward? Alan Ware 01:19:32 I think it operates at multiple levels of society. So in our schools, as part of the school curriculum, having peace education as in New Zealand, we have it there. And part of that is how to resolve conflicts with your brothers and sisters, with your parents, with other pupils at school, with teachers, then looking at how to resolve conflicts that happen in the community around them. And then how do you apply those principles also to resolving conflicts between countries, if school pupils feel they can't resolve their own conflicts, they're not gonna have very much confidence about conflict resolution nationally or internationally, but if they have experienced and resolving conflicts, then they have very inspired. And so that's where we started with peace education, New Zealand. We started with peer mediation programs where we would teach the pupils, how to resolve each other's conflicts. And then once they were actually doing that really well, they wanted to get involved and say, how do we get involved in the, in the bigger issues? Alan Ware 02:20:32 And then you see some of the principles of peace education and resolving conflicts at home and school and the community are available in the international realm. We have a United nations, the United nations has a number of mechanisms, mediation using courts in the international court of justice arbitration, how diplomacy can work. It's got support for that. There are a lot of mechanisms in the United nations that countries can use and often they do, and they use it very effectively and it helps prevent war and helps resolve conflicts. It doesn't always work. As I mentioned before, we hear the bad stories. We don't hear the good stories. So what we've done is also do like a public education platform. It's called unfold zero United nations folding it's like creating. And zero is like zero nuclear weapons. And it's looking at the United nations, pretty more attention to the United nations and mechanisms that can help resolve conflicts and provide security. Alan Ware 02:21:33 So that countries don't need to feel that they have to rely on nuclear weapons or threat or use of force. So we have that as a public platform and we do a lot of like events. We just did one last week, actually as part of the core, the piano Chung peace forum. And this was following up from the Olympic peace initiative from the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, which opened the door to an inter Korean peace process. If you recall, they had a joint, the woman's ice hockey team in 2018 was south Korean and north Korean ice hockey team playing together. That then provided sort of like a platform for a meeting at the Olympic games in 2018, between an Envoy of North Korea and actually the two young ones, sister and the prime minister of South Korea. And then that opened up the process for summits. Alan Ware 02:22:26 So they use sports diplomacy and there are a lot of good examples of sports diplomacy breaking down the barriers between countries. And this was one, the piano Chung, winter Olympics broke down the barriers and provided the start of the inter Korean peace process. So we had a follow-up event to that hosted by the Chung city and the Korean Olympic committee. And in that we will taking for these ideas of diplomacy, not just in Northeast Asia and how that can be possible, but also globally in the world to end war. So here are just a few examples of peace diplomacy working of resolving, quite entrenched conflicts or setting up processes to resolve quite entrenched conflicts and peaceful ways. Often people don't know about them. So we're trying to publicize those a lot more. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:20 You have served as global coordinator for parliamentarians, for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, since it was founded in 2002, what is the group? And it's pretty clear what the focus is, but let's hear it from you Alan Ware 02:23:34 Prior to engaging with parliamentarians. I was working, working more with like a lobbyist at the United nations, trying to get the governments to agree to UN resolutions and processes and treaty based processes. And there's a key treaty called the non-proliferation treaty, which most countries in the world are parties to. And the non-nuclear countries were parties to agree not to acquire nuclear weapons. And those with nuclear weapons agreed work for disarmament. In general, it's been quite successful on the first goal, stopping low lot more countries, getting nuclear weapons, but it hasn't been very successful on the second goal, which is the disarmament goal and what we came to realize after getting more agreements at the United nations and at the treaty bodies is that we needed to have a bit more of a political push to implement the agreements that were made at the United nations. Alan Ware 02:24:28 Not enough people know about them, and none of people are actively implementing them. And what would be a good way of doing that was to get legislators parliamentarians, to pay attention and to work together. So that's why we set up this international network of parliamentarians or legislators it's cross party to enable there'll be good conversation and communication with legislators. We have a council about 50 high-level parliamentarian. So in the United States, for example, Senator ed Markey is our co president. Other people on our council being Federica Mogherini who was the EU foreign minister. The current prime minister of South Korea is on our council as the former defense minister of Japan. So we had some high level parliamentarians on our council, but it's also open for any legislator to join. They don't have to be a high level person. And we provide a forum also for experts to Solomon and civil society to engage with these parliamentarians so that we can focus on getting good policy adopted, whether that's trying to get legislation and the U S Congress or in the French national assembly or in the United Kingdom, you know, Westminster the house of commons or some of the non-nuclear parliaments where they can also take initiatives like my own country, New Zealand, our parliament hearings have moved firstly before our organization was around legislation to ban nuclear weapons. Alan Ware 02:25:55 But then we then say what we should do more than that. Why not stop investing public funds like pension funds, sovereign wealth funds in the nuclear weapons industry. So New Zealand now has done that with a push from now, parliamentarians Norway has done that. They have a big sovereign wealth fund, which has stopped now investing in the nuclear weapons industry. So to our power and tunes moved legislation in Switzerland that has done the same for the Swiss pension funds. And we're going to keep doing that because this is, as I mentioned before, you know, this is an important area, the nuclear weapons industry. So if we can start shifting public investments from nuclear weapons industry and to better things that will be a push upon teams also work on nuclear risk reduction measures like one of the key ones, which we'll probably talk about a little bit more, which has a possibility of getting adopted in with the Biden administration is a deal alerting of the nuclear weapons so that they're not ready to be filed within minutes and a no first use policy. Alan Ware 02:27:00 And these are a couple of initiatives, which are parliamentarians are packing up to advance particularly now with the Biden administration, but also our parliamentarians are working on regional issues because the nuclear weapons are around. It's not just us and Russia, you know, that have them, there are nine countries with nuclear weapons and there's another 23 that rely on them. And so there is a number of security issues that our parliament hearings are addressing, trying to lower the reliance on nuclear weapons. One way of doing that is to set up a nuclear weapon, free zone, like has happened in the south Pacific and Southeast Asia and Africa and central Asia. And there's a proposal for one in Northeast Asia. Other ways are to build communication between the parliaments. And so we're working with the inter parliamentary union, which is like a network of 178 parliaments. And otherwise they're taking forward these policies of like DLOT no first use and pushing for cuts and numbers. Alan Ware 02:28:00 So there's a range of ways that our members parliamentarians are working for nuclear risk reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons. One of the most recent calls that many of them are making is to say, okay, it's time for the new ground states to say, where are we going to get rid of these with nuclear weapons? You might not be able to do it tomorrow. You might not be able to do it next year, but let's come and put a date. You know, why not like say you'll be able to get rid of them all by 2045, which is the hundredth anniversary of the United nations, at least by then. Yeah. Maybe you could do it by 2030, but let's say, you know, no more nuclear weapons that will be a goal, you know, that could be feasible. And there's something which could gain some traction Libbe HaLevy  02:28:42 By having the intention and by having the vision, which we haven't had, we haven't had a peace goal. And certainly speaking for here in the United States, people don't understand what peace is. There's no education. And we are totally tricked out for guns and violence and war. And we have this obscene budget in the Pentagon thinking what that money could do. If it were applied to the needs of the country and the needs of the world, it would change things completely. We however, are very stubborn and we're very uneducated in this. So putting forth the ideas of peace and building it from the grassroots up, I think is a necessary step for us to take as well as having what you just mentioned. It's perfectly logical, but I've never heard it mentioned before to have the vision that, okay, by this day, we're going to be gone with nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:36 And of course, then we have to deal with the waste, but that's another issue and we're just going have peace. Now what attracted me to interviewing you was the fact that according to the Carl Grossman, who is, I mean, all screes and one of my gurus, you would understand not only about the new start treaty, which we can get into, but also other means that president Biden could take to dial back on the nuclear issue. So let's start with new scar. What does it mean that it's been pulled back from the brink of being canceled and is now back for the next five years? Alyn Ware 03:30:17 Yeah, so this is very important because the new start agreement was, I think the only remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, the inf, which was the intermediate nuclear forces treaty had already been scuttled, which was the treaty to stop the development of middle range or intermediate range, nuclear forces. Also the ballistic missile defense treaty had been scuttled and open skies treaty. And these were all really important ones for putting controls on the nuclear arms race in order, just to sort of keep a bit of a fire break between the United States and Russia, to ensure that if there is a, you know, a crisis or a conflict that doesn't erupt into a nuclear exchange, which would be a horrific start, it's a start, it's not a plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons by any means, but it's a very important because it provides a process for Russia and the United States to agree to limitations on nuclear weapons and delivery systems. Alyn Ware 03:31:24 And to have some verification about that, to check that each other is keeping to that agreement. And both of those aspects are really important, you know, agreeing to limit and then reduce numbers and having some means to check that each other's doing it. So you have confidence. If you have that, it can then help build confidence for another agreement, which will be important to lower the numbers, even further or agreements to prevent the production of new, dangerous types of weapon systems, because both Russia and the United States have got like on the development books, new de-stabilizing nuclear weapons ones that could be delivered by cruise missiles, for example, which can be very destabilizing because it's difficult to know whether such a missile would be carrying a regular warhead or a nuclear warhead. So it's a start, which is the name of it. When the new star was first negotiated during the Obama administration, president Obama had hoped that it was just the first of a series of further agreements that would be taken between the us and Russia that once the us and Russia got their numbers down low enough would then be possible to also bring in the UK, China and France and further nuclear disarmament measures that never happened during the Obama administration. Alyn Ware 03:32:46 Things weren't taken further for a number of reasons. And one was that president Obama didn't have a Congress behind him. You know, that the Congress, when he took the new start agreement to the Congress to get ratified because international treaties have to be ratified by the Congress, the entire Republican caucus, if we're not going to ratify the new start agreement, unless you spend more money on nuclear weapons to modernize the weapons. So bomber basically had to given to the demands of the Republicans in the Congress in order to get new start. But of course that annoyed the Russians because the whole idea of new start was to stop the nuclear arms race, not to open the door to new types of weapons systems. What we have now with the Biden administration is we have a Congress that could support some of these initiatives. So there is a possibility to go further. Alyn Ware 03:33:39 And then what happened under Obama administration to get the numbers with Russia down further to put stops on modernization or new types of nuclear weapons. And also then to start building agreements with the other nuclear arms states. And this could include policy agreements were doctrine agreements like no first use and the alerting lowering the readiness to use those weapons. This one all happened all at once, but a combination of these could work well. And we see, for example, one of the things that could happen quite soon is an affirmation, not just by the us and Russia, but by all the nuclear arms states of the Reagan Gorbachev dictum, which is really important Reagan and Gorbachev. When they met in Reykjavik, they didn't end the nuclear arms race, but they hold it us. They said that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Alyn Ware 03:34:39 This was really important because it shifted the planning of the countries and the nuclear weapons arsenals away from a war fighting objective. And just to the idea of deterrence, this has been dropped basically since then by Russia and the United States, which had came back into thinking of nuclear weapons systems as part of war fighting. If you get the nuclear arm, states all agree to the Reagan, Gorbachev took them a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought and helped set us then on the right path to work in for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a phased process Libbe HaLevy  03:35:18 Is the key to this, the U S and Russia, or can the other nuclear states put that kind of pressure on those Tuesdays to come into alignment? And everybody said, well, we need to back away from this. Alyn Ware 03:35:30 I think it's a combination because the conflicts which give rise to reliance or potential lions on nuclear weapons are not just us Russia. It's also in the Northeast Asia, the north Korean context, it's also there's China and conflict. So over the China sea, there's the India Pakistan conflict. There's the issue of Iran and the possibility of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons. And there's the situation of Israel, which neither confirms or denies they have them, but we understand that they do. So there are a number of issues and areas they need to be worked on simultaneously. And so it's not just about Russia, U S it's also ensuring that the JCPA that's the joint comprehensive plan of action with Iran is reaffirmed and brought back into play, because that was one of the other agreements that the Trump administration walked away from. And that agreement with Iran is the best possibility to ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon, because it includes controls, verified controls on the nuclear energy facilities to ensure they can't make a bomb. Alyn Ware 03:36:41 There's also progress on a middle east zone, free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. And the UN has started a series of conferences on that. So that's really important also, and there's the Northeast Asia area and which is important. And that's, I mentioned the peace process, got a kickstart with the Olympics in 2018. It has sort of hiccups stop start with the Trump administration, basically, you know, prison. Trump would, let's say one day, you know, I've got a bigger button than Kim Yong on, you know, and I can blow them out of the sky. And he's a rocket man. And then the next day, oh, he's my friend. I, I work with him. It was inconsistent. And so it didn't provide for a sustainable peace process. I think with a Biden administration is a possibility for a sustainable peace process with North Korea that could provide a formal end to the war was the Korean war has never formally ended denuclearization of North Korea, but that would also require security guarantees and lowering of the role of nuclear weapons in the region. All of these things I think go together. It's a, I think a package and different aspects need to be done. And with the Biden administration, I see it's a lot more possible because Biden was there under the Obama administration when some of these things were started and he's got experienced himself and he's bringing experienced people in. And my understanding is that he does have an objective to work for Lori and the threat of nuclear weapons and working for process and nuclear disarmament. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:12 One can only hope. One thing we haven't discussed yet is the fact that we now have the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons that entered into force this past January and it's international law. What impact has that treaty and its existence had so far in the world and where do you think that might be going in terms of its influence? Alyn Ware 03:38:38 So I think this has to be put into the broader context of the international law applicable to nuclear weapons, because the treaty did not come out of a vacuum. There had already been a number of initiatives dealing with the legality of nuclear weapons, including the international court of justice advisory opinion of 1996, which affirmed that the threat we use of nuclear weapons is generally illegal. And it is an obligation to eliminate nuclear weapons is the non-proliferation treaty, which non-nuclear states are obliged not to acquire nuclear weapons. And the nuclear arms states are obliged to work for their elimination. There was the UN human rights committee affirmation in 2018 that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is a violation of the right to life. So this treaty, now it comes along as a way of implementing some of this already existing law and providing more commitment by those who sign on to the treaty to take action for its implementation. Alyn Ware 03:39:35 If you don't put it in that context, then it would look as though that treaty couldn't do very much. Of course, none of the nuclear arms states and none of the allied states has said that they will support it. And if they don't join a treaty, they're not bound by it, but they are bound by the existing customer international law and treaty law that was already existing prior to the treaty. So it's a really important reminder that there are these legal obligations that are already there and a commitment by states who have signing onto that treaty to take them forward. Libbe HaLevy  04:40:05 What is the O S C E N? How does that play into what we have been discussing? Alyn Ware 04:40:12 The OSC is the organization for security and cooperation in Europe. That was a very important initiative that was actually established during the cold war, but as a really important mechanism for detente to ensure application of human rights and to build common security. And what I mean by common security is the addressing security through using legal mechanisms and international war, as opposed to the threat or use of force. So a common security approach is an inclusive approach. So for this, for the to be an inclusive approach, then it had to include all of the Soviet country so that you, and now all the former Soviet countries, as well as the U S and Canada and all the European countries. So it's broader than NATO. And it comes in a different framework. The idea of the OSC is that you actually bring those countries together to discuss the problems and find solutions to the problems, as opposed to sitting up a military block, to counter the military actions of the other side, which is what the NATO security framework is at the end of the cold war and Mikhail Gorbachev put forward a vision that the military blocks should fade away and that the OECE will take over as the predominant security framework, because it included Russia. Alyn Ware 04:41:33 It included the former Soviet countries included all the Europeans included America. We had Canada and a provided a conflict resolution approach, but unfortunately the west didn't really see it that way. And instead sort of put more resources into NATO and OTC was sort of like the poor second cousin. It doesn't mean that it doesn't do good work. It actually does. If it wasn't for the O S C E then the whole Ukraine conflict would have spiraled out of control and would have a full scale war there because it was through the OSC that the Minsk agreements were negotiated, you know, between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO, and the United States to put an end to the high, high conflict and work for the management of that. And the OSC has done many other things, including verification of elections. And we've seen what happened with the election, the United States, when you don't have confidence in elections, you have civil unrest, of course. Alyn Ware 04:42:30 So having an independent observer of elections in the former Soviet countries, as well as in some of the other European countries has been very, very helpful and having a relatively smooth transition from the cold war to a more democratic relationships between countries. It hasn't been perfected. It hasn't resolved everything, but it's provided some theory important process. And if we put more emphasis on the, we have more of a solutions approach to these issues. I think we could then reduce the amount of funding that we're putting into the military, but of course, we could have confidence that we can resolve those conflicts and those issues in otherwise, Libbe HaLevy  04:43:14 There is also the UN secretary General's disarmament agenda. What is that agenda? And how has it going? Alyn Ware 04:43:21 The United nations was set up with the idea of ending war that has that in the charter. You know, that the threes two use of force is prohibited, but with an exception self-defense of your country, but it also has a disarmament agenda and that's article 26 as part of the charter and the very first resolution of the United nations put forward. And it was adopted by consensus, the very first resolution calling for the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction. And there'll be many other United nations initiatives. The problem has been implementation again, you know, there's a lot of nice resolutions adopted, but when it comes to actually implement it, it's difficult. And that's because there are security issues to deal with. There's also economic interests. What the secretary general PSAs armed agenda of 2018 does was to provide more of a rounded, conceptual idea of how the disarmament fits in with security issues and how it fits in with sustainable development and human rights. Alyn Ware 04:44:24 And I think it gave people more idea of this is how we could move things forward. The difficulty with it is it's quite, I mean, he's a complicated issues. And the report itself has I think, 56 pages long and really difficult to like, get the gist of it, you know, unless you're an academic or someone who's really in the field. So what we did to help parliamentarians get engaged with us is that we have produced a parliamentary handbook, which picks up on the key issues that are in the UN secretary general Sussan, but gender simplified them down. So they're understandable to your average legislator or your city councilor, or even your average citizen, and then highlighted some examples of effective policies, whether it's legislative action or parliamentary initiatives or government policies to take forward those different aspects in the December agenda. And that includes all sorts of dishonor, nuclear weapons, biological weapons, chemical weapons, space warfare, cyber warfare, small arms, and light weapons. It's trade it's these different issues like costume emissions, landmines, they're all in there. And what we highlight is here are policies that have worked in various countries on various regions, so that you can learn from those policies that have been working to then take them forward in your community or in your country or your region. So that's the poetry handbook, which we just released last year. And we're doing a lot of now follow up workshops and with parliamentarians in different countries and on different issues to take forward on some of those policies Libbe HaLevy  04:46:02 Is that parliamentary handbook generally available. And if so, could we link to a way that people might be able to get it for themselves? Alyn Ware 04:46:11 Yes, it's online. So we have it online in both, you know, web version and PDF version as divided into the different chapters. So it's very easy, you know, if you're more interested in say cyber warfare, then you just click on that chapter and it's got, you know, the UN resolutions, it's got poetry, examples, and action. Or if you're more interested in cluster munitions, you can click on that part on small arms and light weapons. You can click on that part. So yeah, so we can provide the URL, the website, or there is basically just disarmament handbook.org, disarmament handbook.org. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:46 We will get that out. And that leads me to my final, big question, which is if we could get this parliamentary handbook into the hands of Joe Biden to help guide his next steps towards dialing back and getting rid of nuclear weapons as best he can during his administration, what would you suggest that his next steps be? Alyn Ware 04:47:10 So, as I mentioned before, we have a number of us legislators who are members of our network and the lead one would be similar to market. He's wonderful. He's co president of our network parliamentarians for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. And he's initiated on a number of initiatives in the Senate and is also companions in the house. One of these is very broad. It's called the sign act smarter approach to nuclear expenditure. And it's looking at the nuclear budget as a whole looking at weapons systems, which the United States doesn't need. Even while they maintain a nuclear deterrence posture, they could eliminate certain numbers of nuclear weapons and save a lot of money in the budget. And that money then could be used to help with the economic recovery from COVID-19, you know, for example, public health measures or support renewable energy or the green deal, which Senator market is also one of the leaders of, so that's one aspect. Alyn Ware 04:48:08 Another one I mentioned before is no first use. And it's actually seen as sort of Warren and the CNET who's advancing that one and Adam Smith in the house as advanced, you know, first use, but that's one that Senator Markey supports. And that's one that I think, you know, Biden wants to work on, but in order, I think for Biden to be able to adopt, you know, first use as a us policy, we also need to convince the NATO countries, South Korea and Japan, to agree to no first use because the U S has providing nuclear deterrence protection for those countries. And if they say all that, we need the option of first use of nuclear weapons to counter North Korea, or we need the option of first use of nuclear weapons to counter Russia. It's going to be difficult for president Biden to move. So that's why it's important, not just for our legislators and for civil society to work in the United States. We all have to work in the allied countries and we're doing that. And we're getting quite a lot of support. We already have the parliamentary assembly of the OECE, which we mentioned before, organization for security and cooperation in Europe, which supports the idea of no first use. And that includes parliamentary representatives from France, UK, Russia, and the United States, as well as to the NATO countries. So I think no first use is something which really has a possibility of moving ahead. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:31 This has been such a hopeful interview. I'm wondering if there's anything that we haven't covered yet that you'd like to mention at this time, Alyn Ware 04:49:39 I would just reaffirm again, the connection between nuclear disarmament and other key issues like the green deal, public health, economic recovery from COVID-19 and the whole dealing with these issues, which are so important for our security. The nuclear weapons will tell us to stop the spread of the COVID virus and invest in a nuclear weapons can contribute anything to dealing with the impacts of this virus, nuclear weapons can't protect us from the climate change and invest in them. It does nothing to help us lower carbon emissions and move from a fossil fuel based economy to one that's renewable economy, nuclear waste, do nothing to deal with the threats to biodiversity that we've got. So the connection of the issues I think is very important. Nuclear weapons can't resolve the civil conflicts that are happening or the misinformation that's been spread, or the issues of racism and structural violence relevant to the likes, some of the real security issues. Alyn Ware 05:50:41 So we need to emphasize addressing the real security issues and focusing our collective attention and resources, taking the funding away from the nuclear weapons, taking the investments away from the corporations. The corporations are going to fight back. I mean, that powerful corporations may build in these nuclear weapons are lobbying Congress to say, oh no, no, we still have to hold on to them. You know, we, we, we can't be certain, you can't have confidence. You'll be, there were many reasons why we can't move forward, which we promoted by those who have vested financial interests. So we have to try and shift that financial Plainfield as well. So I think making the connections and we're building corporation with climate change movement all the time, our divestment campaign, we're calling on banks and pension funds and sovereign wealth funds and city funds, and to stop investing, not just a nuclear weapons, but stop investing in fossil fuels. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Those investments that are going into fossil fuels should be going into renewable energy. So it's actually quite good that we're working together. Now, you know, these, these campaigns and I'd encourage that whether it's in the United States or anywhere else in the world, work with those who are on other issues, these issues are important to us. Don't just focus solely on nuclear disarmament or just solely on climate to see the connections and work together. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:07 If people wish to find out more about your work and the work of parliamentarians for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, where can they go and how can they get in touch with you? Alyn Ware 05:52:20 Yeah. So the website is www P N in the.org. So that's the parliamentary initiative. And then I mentioned unfold zero about the United nations, which is really important because people don't know enough about the United nations. And the fact that the core budget of the United nations is $6 billion per year. That's the, everything, you know, the United nations does around the world. That's about the same as the budget for the New York police force, small amount committed. It's a minuscule part of like the military budget of 10 United States has over 600 billion a year. We need to invest more in the UN, but we need to know more about it. Not enough people know the good things that you in is doing so that's unfold, zero dot or U N O L D zero.org. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:09 Alan, where I have to say, this is one of the most hopeful interviews I have conducted in nine and a half years, over 500 episodes of nuclear hot seat. And I'm very excited to be sharing this with my listeners all best to you on your continued work on behalf of people and the planet and the environment, and especially thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Alan Ware 05:53:35 Thank you so much. It was a great pleasure. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:37 That was Alan, where global coordinator for parliamentarians for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. We have a whole list of links for Alan and his work. The first one being for parliamentarians for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, or P N N d.org, as well as the parliamentary handbook information on unfold. Zero move the nuclear weapons money that's related to don't bank on the bomb, and much more that will be on our website. Nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number 5 0 4. Okay. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:22 The youth fusion elders initiative mentioned by Alan, where in our interview, we'll launch with a world future day nuclear remembrance day on Monday, March 1st from 12 noon to 1:30 PM Eastern time. It will be an intergenerational dialogue with nuclear activist elders from Germany, the UK, Denmark, and Mexico. We'll have a link up to that so that you can sign up for it. San Louis Obispo, mothers for peace in honor of the Fukushima anniversary has put together a webinar featuring biologist, Mary Olson, talking about her work on the gender and radiation project and why radiation is so much more dangerous for women and children and especially little girls. There will also be a presentation by Eugene Beverly lake. Kaneko my voices from Japan producers on the current situation in Fukushima. This will be Thursday, March 11, from six to 7:30 PM. Pacific time link to sign up will be on the website. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:29 And if you're looking for a job, WPS R is hiring that's Washington state physicians for social responsibility. They're looking for a nuclear weapons, abolition organizer, someone who is a storyteller community builder activist event, planner, communicator, and leader who can help chart a course through the new administration and beyond, as we imagine, and build a world free from the threat of nuclear warfare and weapons development and testing of course, link will be on the website. And I got to tell you if I were 30 years younger, I would be running flat out after this one. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 material for this show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net and renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, bloomberg.com, NHK dot O R D JP simply info.org, daily star.co.uk, Japan times.co.jp. The assistance of Erika gray, Charles Langley and public watchdogs, cnn.com Miami new times.com mint press news.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:43 Space news.com. Carl Grossman on counterpunch.org, Helen air.com, Texas tribune.com. Power mag.com. The star.com CBC that CA Emma netra.co dot ZBA Tribune, india.com and the captured and compromised by the industry. They're supposed to be regulating nuclear regulatory commission. Hey, want to help out our numbers in our algorithm, go to nuclear hot seat.com and sign up for our email. That's one a week where you get the link to each week show and a brief precis on exactly what is inside. It. It's an easy way to make certain that you don't miss a single episode. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do to help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Libbe HaLevy and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, but heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that as president Ronald Reagan and premier Mikhail, Gorbachev of Russia, both said a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. There you go. That is your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we're all in the nuclear hot seat. Announcer 05:58:31 Ooh, Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #503: Nuclear Suicide by Embrittled Reactors: Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-suicide-by-embrittled-reactors-karl-grossman-503/ Published: 2021-02-10 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Suicide by Embrittled Reactors: Veteran environmental investigative journalist Karl Grossman This Week's Featured Interview: Karl Grossman is an author and journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury. He hosts the television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman, is the author of six books, and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper and Internet articles. That doesn’t even come close to describing his talents, abilities and accomplishments. Karl has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years, and in terms of knowing how things came about and where the bodies are buried – that’s a metaphor, we hope – nobody does it better. Karl has been an important early and consistent supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we talk with him here about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s latest deadly shenanigans and hijinks – or as Karl calls it, “baloney” – as regards nuclear reactor operations. We talked on February 5, 2021.LINK to Karl Grossman and Harvey Wasserman's article: Embrittlement in Nuclear Power PlantsLINK to Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education with "Nuclear Crack Down," a demonstration of embrittlement.Karl Grossman's superb book, Cover Up! What you are not supposed to know about nuclear power Alexei Yablokov book – Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, Volume 1181 (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So the Radioactive Olympics are not just routing the proposed torch run through Fukushima's radioactive hot spots, scheduling WOMEN'S softball games at Fukushima's Azuma Sports Stadium, and ignoring the Covid 19 pandemic… they're also flat-out sexist??? LINKS: HOW TO CHECK NRC PDFS ON THREE MILE ISLAND from Mary Olson of www.GenderandRadiation.org.Why Is America Getting a New $100 Billion Nuclear Weapon?The US Should Negotiate a Ban on Basing Weapons in Space Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:02 Bug captured and compliant us nuclear regulatory commission. It's currently discussing whether to allow nuclear reactors, which were built to be safely operated for only 40 years and additional 20 year license extension, bringing the potential operating life, not to 60 years, which they've already done or two 80 years, which they've already done, but to 100 years, a full century, despite the known, documented dangers of doing so, but then a genuine expert tells you that the danger is not in the NRC giving reactors the go ahead for extended operating licenses. But Karl Grossman 00:00:43 The NRC also allows the utilities to operate the nuclear plants. In other words, to have them run hotter and harder. Imagine being on an interstate and a car, which is 60 years old or 80 years old, or a century old going at high speed. Again, these nukes have been operated, but here it isn't just one car breaking down with nuclear power plants. You're talking about absolutely huge disasters, affecting millions and millions of people. It is patently insane. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:20 Well when veteran environmental, investigative reporter Carl Grossman lays out exactly what it would mean to allow a nuclear reactor to reoperate at high hot speed for 100 years. Not that we know that that's even possible. You start to realize that the temperature is going to keep going up and up and up for that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:45 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear? Hotsy what have those boys been braking clear? Hotsy the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:16 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, one of my favorite interviewees veteran, environmental journalist, Carl Grossman, he explains the dangers of allowing nuclear reactors to run beyond their design basis of 40 years and the nuclear regulatory commissions, recent hearings on allowing them a 100 year operating license. Carol knows where the nuclear bodies are buried and brings his wealth of information and understanding to the problems caused by aging reactor embrittlement and what the real risks are. If the NRC and its buddies in the nuclear industry get their way, we will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than will be ever mentioned during this week's impeachment hearings. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:31 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 9th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off in the United States where the push to make New Mexico, the de facto nuclear sacrifices zone for the country is moving forward a pace, but not without significant pushback by local communities. One of the steps to store our highly radioactive waste in New Mexico comes with a plan to dispose of surplus plutonium at the waste isolation pilot plant near Albuquerque, the linguistic manipulation around this calls for a dilution process that would reduce the waste to radiation levels allowable at the facility. First of all, allowable is an arbitrary number that has been put together by the nuclear industry with their cronies at the nuclear regulatory commission doesn't mean it's safe. It just means they let it happen. And the concept of dilution, dilution of radioactive waste is a false one. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:42 Dilution is what happens when you take something that is a poison and you keep adding other things to it. So it becomes less and less and less potent to the point where it doesn't harm you at all. But the smallest exposure to anything radioactive that is dangerous is one Adam, and you cannot dilute one atom. What they would really be doing is dispersion, meaning spreading the radioactive atoms over a larger area, mixed with a larger amount of other materials. Note that the waste isolation, pilot plant or whip is only licensed to accept low level transuranic waste such as radiated materials used during nuclear research and other activities such as clothing and equipment, not highly radioactive plutonium. What specifically under discussion is 34 metric, tons of highly radioactive waste. Now stored at the Pantex plant in Northern Texas and Savannah Riverside in South Carolina, all of which would have to be shipped over land and over rail through communities just to get to whip. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:53 There is strong pushback against this coming from members of the local state government in New Mexico and groups, such as the indigenous led nuclear waste study group based in Albuquerque and national environmental and anti-nuclear groups in Washington state workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation have begun to retrieving radioactive waste from another of the nuclear reservations, 149 leak prone underground waste tanks to date. The department of energy has only completed waste retrieval from 17 of its 149 single shell tanks. Some of them built in the 1940s and at least one of the 132 tanks you have to be emptied is leaking waste into the ground below this marks. The first time that DOE contractor Washington river protection solutions has started emptying waste from a tank since August of 2019 in Maryland elevated radiation levels were detected in the containment building of the research neutron reactor at the national Institute of standards and technology in Gaithersburg, which is only 19 miles from Washington DC, several trained radiation workers were exposed to elevated levels and were undergoing quote standard decontamination and evaluation. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:21 The government is saying that there is no evidence of radiation above regulatory limits outside the containment buildings, but some nearby residents hadn't received an official notification of the radiation exposure and expressed concern in Ohio. The new owners have to have that state's nuclear power plants have given indications that they are no longer interested in receiving as much as $1 billion in subsidies that were handed out in a tainted energy bill. The legislation known as house bill six resulted in a $60 million bribery case involving X, Ohio state speaker, Larry householder, who was alleged to help prop up the legislation to provide these subsidies. Now a new bill Senate bill 44 is legislation that would eradicate these subsidies that would have been paid by electric customers across the states where the plants, which are now held privately by a company called energy Harbor, Ohio consumers, councils, Bruce Weston said in a statement it's quite a turnaround of energy. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:33 Harbor is now telling the legislature to repeal its billion dollar corporate welfare subsidy from Ohioans questions that come to mind include did the two nuclear plants really need the subsidy that they got from Ohio and state government and were the nuclear plants really going to be closed without the subsidy and former public utilities commission of Ohio chaired Todd Schnitzler called HB six, eight quote, shameful piece of legislations Ohioans don't need to pay more only to support struggling nuclear plants, a new poll undertaken by the Federation of American scientists think tank together with rethink media shows that the majority of voters do not want billions spent a new ICBM missiles to overhaul America's nuclear sponge. That's what they're calling it. The us air force continues to move ahead with plans to replace its LG M 30 G Minutemen three Intercontinental ballistic missiles with the future ground-based strategic deterrent or GBSD at a total cost of around $264 billion. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:46 Think how many solar panels that would pay for the survey found that 64% of the people polled 800 registered us voters where the pool supported delaying the GBSD and 60% supported one of any various alternative policies to deploying the future GB SDS and two links to articles that will fill in this picture. The first is a mammoth one. It could practically be an ebook on its own from the bulletin of the atomic scientists, the bulletin.org entitled. Why is America getting a new $100 billion nuclear weapon describing it as a nuclear missile, the limp of a bowling alley capable of traveling some 6,000 miles carrying the warhead more than 20 times, more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, that we'll be able to kill hundreds of thousands of people in a single shot. And the us air force plans to order more than 600 of them. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:47 Well, if we want to turn the planet into an asteroid belt Beth, a dandy way to do so, but the bulletin is much more articulate than that. And you can find the link up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 0 3. And if you haven't subscribed to the bulletin.org, you can really do yourself a favor and do so because their articles are great. And I use them for source all the time. The other link is to an article from the hill.com entitled the U S should negotiate a ban on basing weapons in space. Here, here, we've had Bruce Gagnin of space for peace.org, as well as today's guest Carl Grossman on the show discussing this issue at length. And you will find links up on the website episode 5 0 3, over to Japan for this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:11:49 If you still need evidence of what a cluster the Olympics are and the thinking that is behind it, look no further than this week's remarks by Tokyo Olympics, chief yo Shiro, Maury, the 83 year old former prime minister has already continued to ignore the radiation hotspots along the Olympic torch relay, ignore radiation problems and readings at the first women's softball and baseball games set for Fukushima's Azuma baseball stadium, ignore the rising costs and ever-growing public opposition to the games to say nothing of the ongoing Corona virus pandemic and declare that the 2020 Olympics will take place in 2021. Even with the wrong date on all the preprinted Birch. In addition to all that this week, Maury further stuck his foot in it and insulted women everywhere. By suggesting that women talked too much in meetings, his comments demeaning women took place during an online executive meeting of the Japanese Olympic committee, no closed doors to hide behind here. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:57 The whole world was listening. When asked to comment on the Olympic committees plan to increase the number of women board members to more than 40% of the total big whoop. It still assumes men deserve the majority position. Maury said, you have to regulate speaking time to some extent or else we'll never be able to finish. And other statements implying that women talked too much comments that were met with laughter. They may not be laughing now as international complaints against his comments have been building. And it's now reported that at this moment, 390 volunteers for the Olympics and the para Olympics have resigned including two Torchbearers. Well, if awareness of radiation, hotspots and the propaganda that has been building against evacuees from Fukushima isn't enough to cancel the radio active Olympics, perhaps antediluvian backwards thinking blatant sexism is, and that's why 83 year old has anyone checked him for Alzheimer's lately Olympics, chief, you know, Shiro, Maury, you are this week's no. Announcer 01:14:08 Okay. Your hot seat, none awake Libbe HaLevy  01:14:13 Over to the UK where their nuclear decommissioning authority or NDA has relaunched it search for a site for a geological depository facility for nuclear waste. And one option that is actually being considered is to build it under the Irish sea, up to 22 kilometers or 13 and a half miles from Sellafield and within seven miles of the isle of man territorial waters, Peter Christian of the isle of man friends of the earth said the proposal to transport nuclear waste to a location underneath the Irish sea is not supportable. The history of storage of such highly dangerous substances is littered with incidents of contamination, inadequate containers and sealant, erosion cracking human error, and they have been found to pose significant risks. The nuclear waste industry itself has flagged up potential problems of ventilation and if necessary retrieval of hazardous substances, we should no longer consider the Marine environment as infinitely capable of soaking up. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:19 Our human wastes as has been done so often with explosive and toxic munitions and whatever else has been dumped at sea. The preferred option of the NDA is close to, or actually under isle of man territorial waters, something which the government should also oppose as the first ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons has entered into force. India said that it does not support the treaty and shall not be bound by any of the obligations that may arise from it. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons was approved by the United nations general assembly in 2017 and entered into international force of law on January 21st of this year, at the same time, India has reiterated its commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapons free world. Yeah. How about participating in it? Meanwhile word comes that Cuba has become the latest nation to ratify the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons on January 29th EU today hosted a conference at the press club in Brussels, concentrating on the new and proposed nuclear power plants in Bellaruse Turkey and Uzbekistan moderator, Natalia Richardson, drew parallels between the risks surrounding nuclear energy today and that your noble disaster of 1986, of which she, as a student in Ukraine at the time had experience keynote speaker jut help. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:50 Halsall a German green member of parliament who sits on the European Parliament's committee on the environment, public health and food safety told the conference that at present nuclear energy may supply around 10% of the global demand for electricity, but to maintain this level taking into account rising demand and the decommissioning of existing aging out reactors, new builds will need to come online at a rate of 55 0 per year, which is impossible. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons, production, to radiation, leaking reactors, to still not having a way to safely store the deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. Nuclear is government and business, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking they are immune to the consequences of their actions, even though they are not. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:54 Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own. Ever quite frankly, nuclear is a mess. That's why you need nuclear hot seat. You've learned to count on us to get into nuclear stories with facts, continuity and context, as well as skepticism with a much deeper and nuanced telling than you would ever expect. In mainstream media, we get behind the scenes under the skin and into the heart of nuclear matters every week with fresh information and unrelenting perspective, and even whenever possible with humor. That's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation. It's the only way we are able to keep going. You can do so easily by just going to nuclear hot seat.com. There's a big red donate button there. If you click on it, follow the prompts. You can help us with a donation of any size that same red button is now where you can set up a monthly $5, the same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S so please do what you can and do it now and know that however much you can help. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:08 I am deeply grateful that you are listening and that you care. Here's this week's featured interview and it's with one of my favorite interviewees. Carl Grossman is an author and journalism professor at the state university of New York college of old Westbury. He hosts the television program in viral closeup with Carl Grossman is the author of six books and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper, and internet articles. Carl has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years. And in terms of knowing how things came about and where the bodies are buried, that's a metaphor when we hope nobody does it better. Carl has been an important early and consistent supporter of nuclear hot seat. And we talked with him about the nuclear regulatory commissions, latest deadly shenanigans and hi-jinks, or as Carl calls it baloney as regards to nuclear reactor operations. We talked on February 5th, 2021, Carol Grossman. It is always a joy to have you with us on nuclear hot seat. Karl Grossman 02:20:15 A pleasure always to be with you living. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:19 Let's talk about nuclear reactors when they were first built, their operating life expectancy was 40 years after which time the engineers said they would have to be decommissioned. Why was that? Karl Grossman 02:20:33 Well, it had to do with embrittlement and radiation it's metal. The metal becomes extremely brittle. And as a result back when nuclear power began, this was, and it was correct thinking that after 40 years, these plants would be unsafe to operate because of embrittlement of metals. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:58 The U S nuclear regulatory commission has repeatedly provided 20 or extensions on the operating licenses of us nuclear reactors. First two 60 years now in certain instances to 80 years. And they are actually in the middle of discussing being able to provide an additional 20 years to 100 years of operation. What's wrong with this picture? Karl Grossman 02:21:22 Well, it's utterly nuts. It's crazy. And here, in fact, I'm quoting Bob Alvarez say former senior policy advisor at the us department of energy and a PSA wrote it appeared on counterpunch and nation of change. He's also the coauthor of killing our own, the disaster of America's experience with atomic radiation. No reactor in history has lasted that long. In fact, the oldest nuclear power plant in the United States, it went for 49 years. It was the oyster Creek plant in New Jersey, and it was closed in 2018. So here the nuclear regulatory commission, which well it's acronymed NRC, but that should stand for nuclear, rubber stamp commission has said yes to the decades to whatever the nuclear industry wants. And just important to understand that the nuclear industry is, is sinking. Nuclear power is in its doldrums. I mean the only nuclear power plants being constructed in the United States are the Vogel three and four nukes and Georgia and the cost. Karl Grossman 02:22:39 And it's way over the original cost estimate. Now it's $28 billion for these two plants and the price is still rising beyond the three mile island disaster beyond the, the shin noble catastrophe beyond the Fukushima disaster. And meanwhile, there's safe, clean green, renewable energy led by solar and wind. Nuclear is not necessarily, and people do not want nuclear power. That's why there's only two nukes being built in the United States. And the number of nuclear plants in the U S is now down from 1 29 to 94. So the nuclear industry is just a desperate to stay alive. So it figures what it could do is instead of keeping with this a 40 year limit in terms of the operating licenses for nuclear power plants, their butts consider their operating life to extend that to 60 years. And that's already been done and most nuclear power plants in the U S now because of the nuclear stamp commission have been given the okay to go 60 years. Karl Grossman 02:23:50 And then the NRC has given a number of plants. The go ahead to go for 80. And now it's talking about a hundred as Bob Alvarez, who is an expert, as he says, it's crazy. This could be national suicide, and that's not hyperbole. I mean, and you'd have another disaster, like focus Shima in this country. One other thing I should mention in giving the, go ahead for these extending operating licenses, the NRC also allows the utilities to operate the nuclear plants. In other words, to have them run hotter and harder. Imagine being on an interstate and a car, which is 60 years old or 80 years old, or a century old going at high speed. Again, these nukes have been operated. There's going to be a problem. There's going to be a breakdown, but here it isn't just one car breaking down with nuclear power plants. You're talking about absolutely huge disasters, affecting millions and millions of people. It is patently insane to do around nuclear power plants. I don't think I should run for a week. I don't think I should run for a day, but to run for a period of 68, a hundred years is absolutely asking for catastrophe, Libbe HaLevy  02:25:14 Talk to us about embrittlement what it is and what it does and why it is so dangerous and why it gets worse. The longer a nuclear reactor runs. Karl Grossman 02:25:25 I just wrote a big article with Harvey Wasserman. He was one of the folks that got together and coined that term no nukes years ago. He also was a co-author of the book killing our own, the disaster of America's experience with atomic radiation. And he did an interview with Arnie Gunderson and on a, who you know, was a nuclear engineer for, for decades still is, but he's an independent nuclear engineer now. And as he explained the situation and it's in the article, which I wrote with Harvey, which is in the nation of change, counter crunch, other outlets, as he explains it, when radiation hits metal, it wreaks havoc with the metal. And as a result, you can't depend on that steel. You can't depend on that metal, including the metal or, or around the core. The nuclear core is in a nuclear power plant. The deal is with a problem with loss of coolant affecting a nuclear power plant, a meltdown accident, the remedy is to use what's called an emergency core cooling system. Karl Grossman 02:26:38 It's a series of, of showers, which would shower down cold the, of the core containment of a nuclear power plant that, that cold water hitting hot and brittle metal, the game's over as on a Gunderson, put it, think of what happened at Fukushima. Think of what happened at Chernobyl. An explosion can, can easily occur a plume of radioactive poisons. Couldn't be formed containments incidentally, a nuclear power plants to go back to allowing these old decrepit nuclear power plants in the U S and not to incidentally the average age of nuclear power plants in the U S all 94 of them now is 40 years, 40 years. And as I cite in the articles, Harvey and I growed, I cite a U S government document, which says that in 2019, they were 39 years old, the average nuclear power plant in the United States. Now it's 2021. So they're all at this point, the average age for all the nuclear plants, all 94 of them, the U S is 40 they're. Now, beyond now, beyond that limit set, when nuclear power began Libbe HaLevy  02:27:59 The part of the quote from Arnie Gunderson in the article you wrote with Harvey Wasserman, and we will link to it up on the website with this interview. The quote that really got me was where he said that if embrittlement happens and there is an accident that the container vessel would shatter like glass and that put it more powerfully than I've heard it before now to buck itself up, the nuclear industry has put a lot of money into its PR and propaganda to convince the world that it is a quote, unquote hurts me to even say this clean green technology and is, and I choke on these words, carbon free your response to those claims. Karl Grossman 02:28:44 Well, it's just the latest installment of nuclear bologna from these nuclear Pinocchios. I remember years ago, the notion was Louis. the chairman of the atomic energy commission proclaimed that nuclear power would be electricity, too cheap to meter. Now, the newest pitch is that nuclear power is carbon free. What the nuclear industry doesn't want to say. It doesn't want to talk about it. In fact, it's carbon intensive. When you talk about the nuclear fuel cycle, mining, milling, and Richmond, in fact, nuclear power plants themselves. I met carbon 14, a radioactive form of carbon. It's just another big lie by the nuclear industry. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:34 So what do we say to people who claim that genuinely sustainable energy technologies like solar geothermal, hydro electric title, and anything else that's been created? All of that would never be able to generate power enough to replace nuclear Karl Grossman 02:29:51 It's untrue. And not only will the union of concerned scientists published a book actually exactly 30 years ago, coal renewables are ready at this point. Renewables are more than ready and renewables could at this point, easily, easily replace coal, replace oil, replace gas, and replace nuclear, renewable, safe, green, clean energy, solar, and wind lead it. But this title and there's wave power, and there's other forms of safe, green, renewable energy. This is energy we can live with not energy that we'd end up dying with. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:36 There's a new administration in charge in Washington, DC. What is within the power of president Biden to do, to get the problems at the NRC and with these aging nuclear reactors under control and prevent what you have recently referred to in the article as nuclear suicide, Karl Grossman 03:30:56 What Harvey and I say, and that piece is that Biden should order inspections, regard to embrittlement every nuclear power plant in the United States. And if there's, embrittlement shut them down, absolutely shut them down by this not perfect. Biden's done perfect. And even though years and years ago, as a Senator, he was very concerned about the Salem nuclear power plant, which was a crust we lived in Delaware, which has been problem plague for years. He's been sold a bill of goods quite unfortunately, by the nuclear industry and its proponents, its proponents and government, and he's for advanced nuclear power. In other words, new and improved nukes. Well, they're not, these are just old ideas being wheeled out again. They're not circling improved and secondarily he's his boy BS that to deal with climate change, to deal with global warming, we must go to nuclear. I mean, it's, it's, it's like going from crack cocaine to heroin or vice versa. Karl Grossman 03:32:09 The wise thing that president Biden should do in my view is to, I mean, he's talked about sending this country into a needed transition to renewables, but that should be full throated. I'm going again, the renewables they're more than ready. Nuclear power plants take years. Okay. Or more to construct. So when the, these other safe, clean green energy forms, it could be put into operation very, very quickly. What Biden I think should do. I mean, he should certainly have these nukes didn't do in regard to embrittlement, but I think he should shut them all down. Immediately shut them all down and have this country move to a hundred percent renewable after the nuclear rubber stamp commission. It grows that of what I mentioned, Louis straws and the U S atomic energy commission. Finally in 1974, it was abolished by the us Congress, many members then, and now in the pocket of the nuclear industry for being in conflict of interest for somehow regulating and promoting at the same time nuclear technology. Karl Grossman 03:33:26 So what occurred was that a nuclear so-called regulatory commission was created to kind of be an objective entity to look into nuclear. It's not been an objective it's it's, it's been a promotional entity from its outset. And then eventually the U S department of energy was created in it. It was to have the promotional role to, to put nuclear power, which it's, it's done to a fare thee well, but Justin in recent days. And this is so disturbing. President Biden appointed Christopher Hansen as the new chair of the nuclear regulatory commission. Guess where Christopher Hanson comes from the department of energy's office of nuclear energy. So years he pushed and nukes, and now he's going to push nukes at the NRC. I mean, this is the way it's been from the outset for a variety of reasons. The nuclear industry has had a hold on the U S government and furthermore, and we've discussed this before on your program, living the Manhattan project, it gave birth to a vested interest. Karl Grossman 03:34:43 This was the crash program to build nuclear weapons, atomic bombs during world war two. And with the world war being over the folks in the Manhattan project, the engineers and the scientists, Hey, worked on building more nuclear bombs and bigger and better nuclear WAM, better not right in quotes, Edward tellers. It was the father of the, the bigger one, the hydrogen bomb, but then they worried, well, what else clear how many nuclear weapons can we build? It can't even sell a nuclear weapon to an ally. Why can we do with nuclear power to somehow perpetuate the vested interests that would develop during the Manhattan project? So they thought about, oh, and actually built an airplane, which took was to be powered by a nuclear reactor problem was how are you going to shield the pilots from the radioactivity? Put it a lot of lead, but the plane would be too heavy, nuclear powered rockets, which I've done a lot of work on. Karl Grossman 03:35:43 I mean, that's not over at all plans to use nuclear and space, radiation, zapping, strawberries, and potatoes. So you could eat them in 20 years. If you wanted to eat a 20 year old brick and finally nuclear power plants in part, I mean, this was the original scheme to produce plutonium for weapons. Then like a Saki bomb was a plutonium atomic bomb. Most of our atomic bomb since plutonium based some manmade elements, the hydrogen bomb it's trigger as plutonium and secondarily. I mean, this is the original steam dual-purpose react as they call them was to produce electricity GE and Westinghouse. And it's only where major contractors in the Manhattan project program. And then subsequently GE and Westinghouse became the Coke and Pepsi of nuclear power plants. 80% of nuclear power plants worldwide are of GE or Westinghouse design or manufacturer. And so out of the Manhattan project comes, frankly, got nuclear cult within government pushing nuclear at the nuclear rubber stamp commission. Karl Grossman 03:36:54 But now at the U S department of energy and then their PR effect my first book on nuclear power coverup, what you're not supposed to know about nuclear power starts off with my saying that you have not been told you have not been informed because of an army of PR people, public relations, people from the outset, pushing from the outset to suppress as a call the book, coverup information about nuclear technology and to sell it. Now, the current pitches I say is that we need it because of climate change. No, we need safe green clean energy forms, not nuclear. So we've had a problem with for many years and the struggle continues. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:38 Speaking of that struggle, I know that listeners to nuclear hot seat, a lot of them are very motivated to be involved, get involved, stay involved in these issues whenever they can. What might we do to support the president or to create more noise around what the nuclear regulatory commission is doing so that perhaps we can get them to knock it off. Karl Grossman 03:38:06 I'm a firm believer in grassroots action, bottom up action. People working from the grass roots and there's some excellent organizations around I'm on the board. In fact of beyond nuclear, a Superbowl group based in Tacoma park in Maryland, near Washington nuclear information and resource service, a Superbowl group, excellent group also based in Tacoma park Greenpeace, a wonderful group in terms of fighting challenging nuclear power. The radiation and public health project is a very fine group based in New Jersey. In fact, I'm on its board too. And that focuses in on you don't need a catastrophe for people to end up dying because of nuclear power dying, largely because of cancer, nuclear power plants are allowed permissible admissions. They call it to send out radioactivity in the form of gas in terms of the coolant, whatever it comes out of the nuclear power plant and so forth. Karl Grossman 03:39:13 And as a result, there's cancer clusters around every nuclear power plant and nuclear understood where to talk about this. But the radiation and public health project with Joe Montana was the executive director has long been the epidemiology. I think people should connect with these organizations. A lot of the big environmental organizations. I'm sorry to say aren't with it on nucleus. Some are some aren't, but the organizations that had just named those four or five and grease between pizza, isn't a small little localization itself. And somehow try to educate, try to educate president Biden. Kamala Harris incidentally has been critical of nuclear, and maybe she could get the president's ear. However, in the democratic platform, there's a commitment to nuclear power. I mean, folks out there who are Democrats have to, I think have this ship of democratic state change course. And as people become aware, even people in government who sometimes are hard to convince and hard to get to the ship of democratic state, the ship upstate period can be changed. Karl Grossman 04:40:25 That there's also a number of Congress. People who are superior on this issue. One being Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Senator from Massachusetts, working with Marquis, anybody listening to the shows from Massachusetts, supporting ed Markey, working with ed Markey, very important. But in my view, nuclear power is this is a matter of life and death. We don't want to end up like the people in Japan around focus, FEMA. So many dead with cancer. They've had to leave their homes. The people who lived around, I mean the greatest research work on the Chernobyl disaster was done by a team of European scientists led by a guy Dr. Alexa ya'll, block-off the embodies, the Rachel Carson of Russia. That book concluded. It was published by the New York academy of sciences. A few years ago. That's a guest toll, the death toll as a result of the Shinola disaster in 1989 was near a million near a million from the fallout. Karl Grossman 04:41:31 And it wasn't just in Bella. Rusyn brushed them in the Ukraine, but Zack radioactive plume spread around the world say it was fallout. Then wherever there was an impact. And they look at the impact in terms of where there was heavy full-out cancer rate spiking and so forth. So, I mean, this is a life and death situation and, and brittle nuclear power plants in the United States being allowed now to operate 60 and 80, a hundred years, a hundred years. As I say, it's just absolutely asking for disaster as to that nuclear rubber stamp commission. It had a public held a public meeting a few weeks ago, and well, the public meeting was on the here's the here's the title of the document that folks were supposed to comment on development of guidance documents to support the word support license renewal for a hundred years of plant operations. And as Paul Gunter, director of the reactor oversight project of beyond nuclear said, our position is a resounding no, or Erika gray. She's the nuclear issues chair of the Virginia Sierra club. It's time to stop this whole new con job said Eric Gray. There's no solution to dealing with radioactive waste and it's unethical to continue to make the most toxic waste known to mankind, renewable and energy led by solar and wind can power the whole world, Libbe HaLevy  04:43:15 Which is of course what we should be aiming at. So given that in your long history of publishing terrific articles on the truth about nuclear, this most recent one about embrittlement that you and Harvey Wasserman wrote together for counterpunch and all the other places where it has shown up what has been the response, if any, that you've received so far to the article and the information that was in it, Karl Grossman 04:43:40 We've gotten very strong, great complements, strong support. Then I've also gotten emails and I'm open to emails from folks said, but we need nuclear. I mean, there may be problems, but because of climate change and I respond just like I just responded a few minutes ago with the information about how nuclear is not carbon free, some right to have written to me, if I can engineer from your way from, from California said, you gotta put these advanced reactors, you know, the 3m react. And then I have to spend 20 minutes writing about how these new improved nukes are not new, but not improved. They're not advanced. They produced nuclear waste to prone, to accidents, to and so forth and so on. But in general, when people are informed and I've been on the lecture circuit for years on the nuclear issue. In fact, we talked to many years ago and I really had to sharpen my presentation. Karl Grossman 04:44:37 My lecture agency had me debate John Sununu, John Sununu was the white house chief of staff for the first Bush. And we had a series of debates in the beginning. Interestingly enough, Sununu insisted in the contract cause he knew my book cover up. And how I wrote the book was to reprint as facsimiles, all these kinds of documents in regard to nuclear technology from the government from incorporations and the deal was no slides, no books, no PowerPoint. They're going to debate. And then you have a husband or I am a nuclear engineer, says syndrome whose father incidentally worked for Westinghouse. So there's a lineage there. What are you? You're a journalist. When I said, what I tried to do is to dredge up the facts, to get to the facts. And the second debate I had insisted to the lecturer, I gotta be able to show the slides. Karl Grossman 04:45:34 I got to be able to start documentation. And I did. And I did successively with send Nunu, which have disappointed John Sununu. But I have found when people get the information, I mean, after the presentations I've given and all over my lecture agency has booked me to technological schools, Ohio Institute of technology, Louisiana. I think it's called technology Institute and so forth. And when I happened to inform the young people in the audience who I thinking of going into the new history about how they are allowed to absorb many times more the radioactivity than the average person, what I'm going to get into this, I'm going to walk into the nuclear lion's den. Even those folks who have been, have they been brainwashed, frankly, they've been conditioned by people in the nuclear culture to think that it's all fine and dandy it's nuclear power, the best thing to come along cliche since sliced bread. Karl Grossman 04:46:34 It is not it's poisoned bread as John Goffman, who was one of the rare kind of people who he was socio director at Lawrence Livermore laboratory. He was involved with the Manhattan project, but he finally understood. He finally understood how lethal this was. And he became, speaking of being a whistleblower coming out and his great book is poisoned power or another great example, I think is Hyman Rickover I'm in Hyman, Rick, over the father of the nuclear Navy. He was in fact in charge of the first nuclear power plant built in the U S in shipping port in Pennsylvania. He might, he retired from the Navy in 1982. You can see his speech on Google and the newer additions of coverup. I reprint two pages, essentially what he says, what he says is billions of years ago, there couldn't be any life on earth because of these naturally occurring radioactivity, nothing could exist. Karl Grossman 04:47:36 But when those radioactive poisons went through the half-life went through their, their hazardous lifetimes, then life could begin. And then it goes on by having these nuclear power plants by, by having these reactors, we are recreated the very poisons that precluded life. And this is Rick over not Greenpeace, not beyond nuclear or nears or radiation and public recover then goes on there. I think the human race is going to wreck itself. That's Hyman Rick, over with a warning to a congressional committee as he retired in 1982. I remember during the first Clinton campaign that notion where it's the economy stupid here with nuclear technology, nuclear power, it's the radioactivity stupid it's radioactivity. It kills life. It destroys life. And the thing is, there's no need for man-made radioactivity. I mean, we live with still a little bit of radioactivity that comes from the natural environment and so forth. Karl Grossman 04:48:42 And some people die from it, but to have nuclear power plants visioning uranium Brita's with Plutonian, these deadly machines, which in an accident will discharge vast amounts of radioactive poison and kill large numbers of, again, it's Genova a million people dead. And even just in routine operations being allowed to and have to emit radioactive gases water that has become irradiated. I mean, they all should be shut down. And I have found from being involved in this issue for many decades. And when people get to know, when people become aware, talking about game over the game is over. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:27 You have certainly been a source of clear, compelling, well thought out brilliantly, well put together writing and presentations on nuclear issues for decades. Now you've certainly been a mentor and an educator for me when I first barged into this field after Fukushima. And I always appreciate having the opportunity to speak with you because I know that the information will be complex well thought out well, presented and mind blowing at the same time, even for those of us who are familiar with it. So Carol Grossman just thank you for being you for doing what you do. And of course, as always for being my guest again, this week on nuclear hot seat, Karl Grossman 05:50:15 Anytime Libby, it's a pleasure to be with him. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:18 That was veteran environmental journalist author and professor Carl Grossman. We'll have plenty of links up in connection with this interview to Carl's recent article on embrittlement, which he co-authored with Harvey Wasserman to a video of Arnie Gunderson from 2014, where he graphically explains what embrittlement is and what it does to the cornerstone book by Alexei Yabloko Chernobyl consequences of the catastrophe for people and to the environment and to Carl's terrific book coverup, which you are not supposed to know about nuclear. The links are to Amazon because they make it easy for me to track down the books, but I encourage you to order them through a local independent bookstore Announcer 05:51:05 Activists. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:13 This is a great heads up from Mary Olson of gender and radiation.org within the past year or so. The NRC has placed thousands of old records into Adam's it's digital online library. These documents were previously only accessible by visiting the NRCS public documents room or one of its local public documents rooms and doing the work in person among the records now available in digital form are lots of records on the March, 1979 accident. At three mile island, we will have a link up to Mary's trail of breadcrumbs through the very convoluted, Hey, it's coming from the government, very convoluted instructions for actually looking up a specific PDF. No that in the document content search box, you can replace the word radiological, which is what she had previously suggested with other items of interest, and then click on the dark blue search button. That way you'll get lots of information. Libbe HaLevy  05:52:14 All of it, the official and RC documents, the Republic of Marshall Islands, national nuclear commission is holding their annual nuclear victims. Remembrance day on March 1st, 2021. The day is chosen because it commemorates the March 1st, 1954, castle Bravo nuclear tests, the largest nuclear test ever committed by the United States of America. The theme for this year's event is we are not alone and they are asking other frontline nuclear justice groups to submit a video message of 15 seconds. If they could to stand in solidarity with the Marshall Islands people and this year's theme, we are not alone. That's another one of the links we will have up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 3, another one of the Kings bay plow share seven. Claire Grady will be starting her prison sentence of one year. And one day on Wednesday, February 10, Grady, along with six, others broke into the world's largest nuclear submarine base at Kings bay, Georgia on April four of 20, they strong crime tape across the entrance poured vials of their own blood on the ground and stood in front of the entrance, holding a banner, saying the ultimate logic of Trident alumna side members of Ploughshares believed that nuclear weapons are created in a system that is also causing climate change, institutional racism and the detainment of immigrants. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:49 All seven of the protesters are facing or have been convicted of conspiracy destruction of property on a Naval installation deprivation of government, property, and trespassing, and ordered to each pay a share of what the government says is the 33,500, $3 and 51 cents that the Navy said it costs to clean and repair the damage caused by the Ploughshares seven. Grady has stated that she believes that spending a year and a day in federal prison will be a learning experience. Quote, this prison time is just another stage of the action and going to King's bay for me is like going to the head of the beast and say, yes, we will find ourselves in the belly of the beast, our hearts and best wishes go with her. And on this sad note, we mark the passing of Jay Truman, a down winder who was a fierce advocate for cancer victims of atomic testing. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:46 Truman famously said, you learn quickly that the first victim of nuclear weapons or nuclear power is the truth. And the first casualty is the government's ability to tell the truth. Journalist, playwright and fellow down winder. Mary Dickson said he was a down winder who fought like hell for justice. Who's determined, indefatigable and fierce in his lifelong work on behalf of those who suffered from 928 nuclear blast in Nevada, that spread fallout across the country. Jay Truman was 69 years old. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, San Clemente green Harold scotland.com fairwinds.org, Washington times.com w T a p.com. Current argus.com Searchlight and m.org. Try dash city herald.com to drive.com. The hill.com the bulletin.org, New York times.com I O M today dot C O dot I M Royal society publishing.org, N D T v.com and the ever co-opted regulatory captured nuclear rubber stamp nuclear regulatory commission. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:18 Thanks to all of you for listening and a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world in 123 countries on six continents and counting. Now, if you want to make certain that you get nuclear hot seat every week, there's an easy way to do so. Just go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt-in box. Put in your first name, put in your email address, and we will send you one email a week. It contains the link to the show and a short rundown on what's in it, as well as a tweet length post that you can copy and paste and put into social media to help get the show out to others. We really do rely on grassroots activism. And this is one simple step that you can take every week to help us get the word out. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:09 Now, there is another way that you can participate. That's really easy and just a couple of clicks away. If you have a story lead a hunt tip, or a suggestion of someone to interview, send it to us by email info@nuclearhotseat.com. And remember that if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, just take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts. Anything you can do to help we'll help. And we always appreciate your support. Nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021, leaving Columbia Cardistry communications, all rights reserved for affirmation. This is part of street communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with the date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it's never over. There you go. There has been your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:25 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #502: Oregon Nuclear Legislation in Full Court Propaganda Press: Lonnie Clark URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/oregon-nuclear-legislation-in-full-court-propaganda-press/ Published: 2021-02-04 Duration: 00:59:01 Oregon Nuclear Legislation – a full court press of propaganda Podcaster/Citizen Activist Lonnie Clark on nuclear shenanigans at the Oregon State House This Week's Featured Interview: Oregon Nuclear Legislation is being proposed that will knock the knees out of 1980's ballot initiative that banned nuclear reactors in Oregon until/unless they were approved by voters AND the federal government had a working long-term storage facility for the resulting high level nuclear waste. Lonnie Clark – both a podcaster and an anti-nuclear citizen activist – brings us up to date with what those nuke-loving legislators are trying to slip under our noses. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's one thing for California wine to be found to contain radiation from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear triple meltdown disaster. It's quite another for PBS to have a report on it… and include in the headline that "…it's not a bad thing!" Say what????? Links: Why a National Day of Remembrance for Downwinders is Not EnoughExcelon Threatens to Mothball Four Nuclear Power plants unless Paid a PremiumTraces of Manhattan Project can be found in Every Single Living ThingThe Plundering of Greenland Nuclear Hotseat #390 – includes interview w/Lisa Autogena at International Uranium Film FestivalKuannersuit / Kvanefjeld, film on Greenland uranium mining issues by Lisa Autogena and Joshua Portway Gene Stone – Long-time activist and founder of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE) Video: Nuclear Power is NOT a Climate Solution – by NEIS.org Sealed mine shaft to Greenland's uranium mine – featured in the film Kuannersuit / Kvanefjeld by Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 The nuclear industry's push to build small modular nuclear reactors is so slicked and talking pointed out that they don't even use the word nuclear in describing them, perhaps in order to make them sound like they're a safe and care free energy technology. But then you hear someone who's state legislature is in a full court press to clear the way for this new untried and built radioactive technology. And she explains to you that the trick about small modular nuclear reactors is Lonnie Clark 00:00:36 They can leave the waste buried in the ground. That is in fact, part of the design of the small modular reactor. So it does not get transported. They build it down and they, the idea is they're small modular reactors. So the waste isn't that much. So then they're just going to keep it onsite and you don't have to move it off site that is considered revolutionary by the nuclear industry. This is what they call modernizing the small modular nuclear reactor Libbe HaLevy  00:01:06 Create radioactive waste and leave it onsite. Sounds like business as usual to me for the nuclear industry. And when you learn the nuclear image tricks being played on us yet again by that bloated radioactive industry and how they're pushing for laws to let them do whatever they want. You once again, understand the looming dangers of that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:32 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Clear, hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy. It's a bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:02 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with activists and podcaster, Lani Clark, about three bills in the Oregon state legislature that all aimed to knee cap, a 1980 law that mandates voter approval and the existence of a federal nuclear high-level waste repository before any nukes can be built in that state. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information that has been the subject of an executive order. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:09 And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective in major international news, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a law on Friday, January 29. Ratifying extension of the new start, a key arms control treaty with the United States just a week before it was due to expire. The nuclear arms control treaty has been extended for five years until February 5th, 2026, the U S pulled out of a separate nuclear arms control agreement with Russia, the intermediate range, nuclear forces treaty, or I N F under the Trump administration in 2019. This treaty new start limits the number of strategic offensive weapons both countries can have. However, keep in mind that the quote unquote limits each side has imposed upon it is to no more than 700 deployed Intercontinental ballistic missiles submarine, launch ballistic missiles and heavy bombers, no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBM's and other missiles plus bombers at a total of 800 deployed. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:19 And non-deployed ICBM, launchers, submarine, launchers, and heavy bombers. What is being cheered as a limit is still enough to blast earth into an asteroid belt, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Traction is being gained in the belief that no president should have unilateral power to use nuclear weapons. This according to an op ed written in USA today by Elizabeth Warren and William J. Perry, this will be one of several links up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 502 in New York, governor Andrew Cuomo has approved legislation subjecting the pools and dry cask storage systems. Storing spent nuclear fuel at close nuclear power plants to taxation until the spent fuel pools at permanently shut down, reactors are emptied. The plants cannot be fully decommissioned and all commercial spent fuel remain onsite. Long after the facilities are shut down and decommissioned. This new legislation raises a number of complex valuation issues for owners of shut down nuclear power plants in New York, and may well become a national issue at stake is the ultimate question of who pays for the storage of this radioactive waste taxpayers or the wealthy industry that has created the mess. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:47 As a guide. The slogan from retail sales comes to mind you break it, you buy it. The U S nuclear regulatory commission is debating the advisability of adding another 20 year extension onto operating licenses of existing reactors in 2021. The average age of nuclear power plants in the U S is 40 years, which is the length of time originally set when nuclear power began in the U S for how long plants could operate before embrittlement set in. Here's how Arnie Gunderson nuclear engineer with more than 44 years of experience in the nuclear industry who became a whistleblower and is now chief engineer at Fairwinds associates explains embrittlement. He says when exposed to radiation, metal becomes embroiled and eventually can crack like glass along the radiation exposure. The worst the embrittlement becomes and metals in reactors are exposed to radiation every day. The plant operates those 40 years of initial operation have in every instance, been extended to 60 years in many instances now to 80 years, and the nuclear industry is now talking about, is there life after 80? Libbe HaLevy  00:07:05 There's a great article on this encounter, punch from Carl Grossman. And we will be talking with Carl for next week show on this exact subject. We will have links up on the website to extended articles on why a national day of remembrance for downwinders is not enough how Exelon is threatening to moth ball for nuclear power plants, unless paid a premium for the electricity generated falsely, labeling it as zero carbon. One of the nuclear industry's favorite lies and propaganda points and a can all XTV new story about how traces of the Manhattan project can be found in every single living thing, even you and now Libbe HaLevy  00:07:59 PBS presented a story entitled California wines contain Fukushima radiation. And it's not a bad thing. Say what? According to this report written not by a PBS new staff member, but by somebody just wafting through on a student fellowship. The only thing that radiation wine does is prove the vintage different levels and kinds of radiation show up for different years. Well, that's great if you're a wine snob worried about the vintage, but as for the health consequences, this report claims that the amount of cesium 1 37 radiation in a bottle of California wine from vintage years, 2011 on is quote too small to harm a person's health well on its own, that might be true, but that measurement is based upon the impact from external radiation dose, not internal, and let's face it. The purpose of wine is not to apply it topically one atom of Caesium, 1 37 stuck anywhere in the body puts the gamma radiation. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:10 It releases up close and personal with your organs, blood brain, all your bodily systems. And over time that one Adam can create cancer or other health damage. It's just impossible to track it back to that glass of wine. You drink also radiation from your wine is not the only radiation our bodies are subject to. So whatever comes internally from wine is in addition to anything that you might breathe, drink, or eat that has radioactivity in it. And one never knows when that radiation will turn, turn back and impacts your answer. So when wine scientists declare that it's safe to drink, radioactively contaminated wine because there's not a lot of radiation in it. And besides it's an excellent vintage, they're not looking at the cumulative effect of that radiation. They're just flogging wine and pay no attention to that little radioactive man behind the curtain. Well, I'll drink to that or preferably not. And that's why PBS news hour and article author, Amanda Grenelle who was a PBS news hour fellow is not a nuclear expert and has written not one other paper on radiation, because she doesn't know the field. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:10:38 Full disclosure. That report came out in 2018, but it's been showing up on the newsfeeds again lately and thought it deserved a little bit of attitude, appropriate attention over to Japan, where a draft investigation report into the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown adopted by Japanese nuclear regulators. This past Wednesday says it has detected dangerously high levels of radioactive contamination at two of the three reactors. Adding two concerns about decommissioning challenges, data collected by investigators showed that the ceiling plugs sitting a top. The number two and three reactor containment vessels were fatally contaminated by nuclear fuel debris that had melted and fall into the bottom of the reactors. Following the March, 2011 to NAMI and earthquake leaving those plugs coated with what is being called high levels of radioactive cesium, 1 37 Japan's nuclear regulation commission chair to Yoshi Makita called the findings extremely serious and said that they would make melted fuel removal, more difficult. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:50 He said, figuring out how to remove the lids would be a challenge to that end. It's no surprise that a recent robotics competition in Japan had as its theme, the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the winning robot created by a team from Fukushima college earned praise for its speed, as well as the ability to employ different methods, to retrieve mock debris similar in size to that at the plant. But of course, the fake fuel pieces that the robot was working on was not radioactive. And there is no word as to how well this design can resist the devastating radiation onsite, which has already destroyed by frying out the circuits in every robot that has been thrown against it. Japan may be touting the financial recovery of towns in Fukushima prefecture in the wake of the start of the nuclear disaster 10 years ago. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:50 But in truth, the situation is more dire than they would like to admit. Fukushima businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Despite government health commercial complex is built as part of revitalization projects in areas affected by the triple meltdown are struggling to stay in business. The business operators often turn to local municipalities for financial aid to help them overcome the crisis. But the financial struggles will not end soon. Given that only a portion of the residents who evacuated from the disaster stricken areas have returned or are expected to return as a result, local governments are increasingly depending on tax revenues from the nuclear plants, they host a relationship that is deepened over the 10 years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This in an analysis by the Asahi Shimbun, this dependence on the nuclear reactors follows the introduction of new tax regimes that ensure a steady flow of nuclear related tax yields. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:49 Even when reactors are idle or in the process of being decommissioned for fiscal 2020, that figure is estimated to be 46.7 billion yen or the equivalent of 191 billion us dollars in Greenland that government has granted the French nuclear giant. iRANO formerly a river to uranium exploration permits for areas located in the Southwest and Southeast part of that country. The governments of Greenland and Denmark are encouraging large scale mining in Greenland, including what would be the second largest open pit uranium mine in the world. Now groups are calling on those governments to halt such desecration and instead establish an Arctic sanctuary to learn more about the background on these issues. Check out the film Qunar suit yelled, which portrays the conflicts facing the small community of NARSAD in Southern Greenland. The film by Lee's auto Gina and Joshua Portway was featured in the 2018 international uranium film festival. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:01 And we will link to it on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5 0 2, we'll also have a link there to Lisa audit. Gina's 2018 interview with nuclear hot seat as part of program number 3 9 0 in Iran that country's foreign minister Muhammad Javad Zarif has rejected allegations reportedly made by us secretary of state Anthony Blinken that Tehran could be months away from developing enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb. Zarif said, I think that is a statement of concern that is more addressed to public opinion than to reality. And went on to say, the Rand does not seek a nuclear weapon. If we wanted to build a nuclear weapon, we could have done it some time ago, but we decided that nuclear weapons would not augment our security and are in contradiction to our ideological views. Good news out of Wales. It is all over for the planned 20 billion pound project to build a new nuclear power plant on angsley. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:07 After the developers dropped their planning bid horizon nuclear power pulled the plug on a request to approve reactor designs at willful blaming UK government funding options. As one reason, Japanese backers Hitachi pulled out of the development last September, congratulations to all the activists who worked so hard on this one, none of whom was even mentioned by organization on this article from the BBC also in the UK campaigners on both sides of the Bristol channel have called for a full independent review into proposals to dump mud from the construction of a nuclear power plant in the sea off the coast of Cardiff and in Scotland. As many as 22 nuclear warheads were transported from England to Scotland in eight road convoys during 2020, despite coronavirus restrictions, nuke watch, which monitors the convoys accused the UK ministry of defense of taking disregard for public safety to a new low we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:11 But first there are so many issues begging for our attention and involvement these days, but whatever is grabbing at your brain and your heart and your mind in the new cycle, long ignored nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. From uranium mining to weapons production, to still not having a way to safely store the resulting deadly radioactive waste produced by all these endeavors. The nuclear fuel chain is being supported by a nuclear fuel chain, shortsighted individuals who support and enable this technology to proceed. Unabated unchecked. Nuclear is government and business, not caring how they contaminate the world as long as they keep making obscene profits and fool themselves into thinking that they were immune from the resulting consequences of their actions. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination that will not go away on its own. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:11 Ever quite frankly, nuclear is a mess, and that is why you need nuclear hot seat. We know where to look for the nuclear story and the questions to ask. So we can report on the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the industry would rather we not even hear about, let alone understand. And that's why the time would be right now to help us keep going by supporting us with a donation, just go to nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's where you can help us with a donation of any size. And that is also where you can set up a monthly donation, say $5. Sam is buying us a cup of coffee and a little bit of a tip to the barista here in the U S please do what you can now and know that however much you can help nuclear hot seat, keep going. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:05 I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now here's this week's featured interview. Professionally Lani Clark is a tax resolution specialist, but her passion is for citizen activism. Her podcast on nuclear issues. The age of vision is now retired from ongoing production, but still presented on an intermittent basis. She also occasionally produces videos for her YouTube channel nuts for art Lani, considers yourself an average citizen who actively engages with her elected federal and state officials in order to stop nuclear from expanding locally and nationally. She lives in Oregon. And when I learned about Oregon's proposed laws that would demolish a 40 year voter past protection from nuclear expansion. I knew that she would be the one to contact. We spoke on Saturday, January 30th, 2021, Lani Clark. It is so great to have you here with us today on nuclear hot seat. Lonnie Clark 02:20:10 Well, thank you Lee, for having me. I am actually totally delighted. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:15 Let's start out with a little bit about you. What is your background specifically? How did you get involved with nuclear issues? Lonnie Clark 02:20:23 I had a nightmare on May 5th, 2012, and I thought I saw the whole sky. It felt so real. The whole hemisphere was orange. I thought Hanford had blown up. I went to the internet to see it felt like a premonition. So I went to the internet four o'clock in the morning to see if Hanford was indeed on fire and discovered that Hanford was fine, but Fukushima was not under control. Like president Obama had promised, I was like, what? I was dumbfounded. And I started reading everything I could about it. I knew nothing. I, at that point believed that nuclear power was safe, that the government was taking care of it, that they had told us the truth, that it really wasn't that harmful. A few people got sick from it, but it wasn't anything to worry about. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:19 And how did it feel when you started finding out the larger truth about nuclear? Lonnie Clark 02:21:24 To be honest, I was astounded. Like I always had a constant, what I called the Scooby doo moment for like a solid two to three years in a row. Every time I was researching, I'd like, all right, what they are, what I literally was flabbergasted month after month after month. And that made me look around and I found myself, the only place that I could really find was on YouTube. So I started falling Ms. Milky, the clown. She used to make fun of the Japanese news and how ridiculous it was. It was hilarious, but I was way behind the curve. Like I was a year late. This was 2012, and I knew nothing about it. It is been an education in many ways, more than just knowing about nuclear. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:18 You jumped into the fray, creating your own programming. At what point did that happen? What inspired you and what was it like to get started being one of the people in the information flow, passing it on to others. Lonnie Clark 02:22:34 I did it by accident. I had been sponsoring Kevin blancher and that post ignorance project. The idea was that we would have millions of people standing up saying, we've got to stop. Nope, clear. And he was willing to go out and talk. I didn't really want to, I'm a professional. I didn't want the public face, but he had had a radio show called the posting nerds project. The night before he went to Europe, he said, Hey, you're going to have to cover for me on the radio. So I said, okay. So that's how I did it. And then when he came back, the producer of UC YTV and I were talking and she's, you know, I said, well, maybe we could promote Kevin better. If I got the age of vision radio show and he could come on and talk about it, we could maybe have it five days a week. She said, great. Well, when he came back, we had a falling out. So I ended up just doing it on my own. And I knew nothing. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:29 You and I have a similar background in that I was not involved despite having been at three mile island. I was not involved in anything anti-nuclear or the movement. I paid no attention to it until Fukushima happened. So I was about a year before you on that. But my knowledge base was not as extensive as I thought it needed to be back in the beginning. So I was starting out kind of going, Hey, what do I need to know? And who do I need to talk to? And that's how my information base has built over at this point, more than 500 episodes. How did you go about getting your information and finding people to interview? Lonnie Clark 02:24:11 Well, firstly, congratulations on 500 episodes. Thank Libbe HaLevy  02:24:15 You. Lonnie Clark 02:24:16 I basically at the time was a college student, so I had access to the library and I would research on their articles and I would just type in nuclear, whatever. Like I just started doing research. I found old research from John Gossman from Linus Pauling. I mean, it's amazing. Some of the research students can find it blew me away. It wasn't that hard, frankly, to understand it. I'm not a science mind, but you can understand, you can comprehend the summary of these studies that it's harmful. It was very interesting. What brought me around to that? I was doing kind of two things. I was studying on my own and supporting the post ignorance project, which was really kind of a conflict sometimes, because that was a lot of hyperbole about things that behind the scenes we argued about it. But I wanted the public voice because, because there was thousands and thousands of people following the post ignorance project still are. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:25 It's important for people to understand where you're coming from. Lonnie Clark 02:25:28 You know, I was a single mom, raised my kids. I became a tax professional in my mid forties. I was working two or three jobs raising my children. When they got to high school, I was able to study and elevate my entire life. To be honest, it gave me a different worldview and I was able to go back to college in 2012, I think I was 57. I have a thirst for knowledge, but honestly Fukushima changed my life in so many ways because it's now to me, it's beyond the events at Fukushima because I recognize it's everywhere. And the only way we can stave it off is for us to be diligent and to do what we can cause like you I'm just a citizen. I'm not a scientist. I can tell you how the nuclear fusion thing I, you Mike, but I could not possibly, I barely get it. Lonnie Clark 02:26:24 But I do know that the effects there's scientific studies that show it harms children in utero. It harms babies, infants women, boys causes lifelong trauma for people. These are not small issues that are like, oh, side consequences that we can deal with. It ruins people's entire existence. You know? I mean, I guess it's able as to say that if you have a disability you're less than, or your existence isn't as valuable, but it creates an additional burden on a person's life that needn't be there and we are here and we're going to live with it. And we're going to love everyone just as they come into our lives. But what really motivated me was when I really saw, honestly, that was when I started calling people was when I saw on the Westlake landfilled Facebook page, I don't even know the name of the family, but it was a picture of a twelve-year-old child in a hospital bed with a spark of light that looked like her angel was coming there. Lonnie Clark 02:27:30 And her mother posted this was her last photo before she passed away. And it was from cancer because she lived next door to the Westlake landfill. I was as a mother, a grief stricken. It still brings tears to my eyes because I cannot imagine losing a nine-year-old child to cancer. And we have families doing that every day because we have gross technological negligence. They have not advanced nuclear enough for us to be considering nuclear power. Right now we need a remediation industry. We need scientists. We need to educate our children to become scientists because we have big scientific discoveries to be made, to allow us to live on the planet because of this industry and all the industries that tie into it. The chemical industry also ties into the nuclear industry because they need the chemicals along to make the nuclear work. So it's, you can't mix them. And they're both just as toxic. Let's just be clear. There's not apples and oranges. It's apples and rotten apples. Libbe HaLevy  02:28:44 Are you still producing your shows because five days a week, I know what it's like to do. One a week and five days a week as a killer, Lonnie Clark 02:28:52 I got heartbroken and I stopped. I could not believe I had been active for five, six years. Maybe we had a hundred, 200, 300 people should be in the streets. You know, like it's beyond comprehension to me that they're thinking about having the radioactive Olympics and Pete we're sending our youth over there. I never got a response to the Olympic committee, but you know, those little booklets that the mean no data site booklets on Fukushima that they did, right? I mean, mailed Libbe HaLevy  02:29:26 That's the booklet that was put together from the citizens, radiation monitoring project on the ground in Fukushima prefecture, where they took their own readings and put it through a peer reviewed completely scientifically solid process to come up with the truth about what the radiation readings were throughout Fukushima prefecture. And most specifically in areas where the Olympics were going to be held, where they were going to have the softball and baseball heats and also the torch run Lonnie Clark 02:29:58 17 prefectures yes, I mailed two different Olympic committees, the male and the female committees. I wanted them to have them. And I wrote them a cover letter that said, please reconsider exposing our children, our young youth, our greatest youth to this high level. Would we send our athletes to Chernobyl? No, we would not. I can't comprehend this. I did not get a response, but I did send them and I sent them priority mail. So I know they got there. I hope somebody would look at it. This is why I stopped doing as much intensity because I was interviewing families, interviewing activists, interviewing attorneys. I mean, it was Tom carpenter from the Hanford challenge was my very last interview of the five-year stint that I did on the show. And I have done them intermittently this week. I'm doing some shows for the legislation. I do them intermittently. Now KBW has a slot that says the age of vision radio show in, in that slot, when I'm not producing a show, they play the Ralph Nader radio hour. And your show on K E w G plays at seven 30 in the morning on Saturdays. It's a great hour. There's a lot of activists. They get up early, they're early birds. And so they do hear the show. And so we get a very good response from it. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:27 Well, thank you for that. And for the work you've done to help get the show up on KPE w let's move this forward because there was a specific focus that I had in contacting you this week. And that is some information you sent to me about legislation that is currently under consideration in the state of Oregon. That quite frankly is shocking. Let's start out with what you know about the history of nuclear issues in Oregon, which is where you live. What is the background on nuclear energy and reactors in your state? Lonnie Clark 03:32:05 In 1980, the citizens of Oregon passed a law that said, we're not going to have anything nuclear until you can verify you have a repository to safely put the waste. And then if you do, it has to be voted on by the Oregon voters. Otherwise, absolutely no nuclear facilities in Oregon that's kept nuclear out because they can't do it. And if there are any nuclear facilities that are going to be built, that also has to be a ballot measure. We only place they allow nuclear is that where the universities, where they have nuclear facility training facilities, which is why Corvallis is where new scale came from the small modular reactors Libbe HaLevy  03:32:55 Regarding the small modular nuclear reactors, because they intentionally don't use the N word in the middle of that. But we always do regarding those reactors. There are now three bills in the Oregon legislature that are proposed to support this new nuclear in the state. Let's take a look at them one at a time, what they are, what they do and how they are interrelated. The first one that you mentioned to me was SB Senate bill 3, 6 0. What does that one propose to do? Lonnie Clark 03:33:27 What they're trying to do is exempt these rules for the small modular nuclear reactors. That's one of the big things. Then they're attempting to make it so that if a city or a state or a county wants to have the nuclear power facilities there, they can build them there. And it doesn't have to be voted on by the voters. Let me read you the summary, because this is exactly the language is very short and small. It exempts small modular reactors from certain citing restrictions. And that means the requirement for voters and the nuclear waste issue that apply to nuclear field. Thermal power plants require small modular reactors to be cited in a city or a county where electors of a city or county have approved small modular reactors being located in the county or city meaning city council or the county commissioners can approve the modular reactors. Libbe HaLevy  03:34:30 And then it doesn't have to go through the state Lonnie Clark 03:34:32 And it doesn't have to be voted on by the voters because right now the voters have to approve. It requires emergency planning zones for small modular reactors to be located in county where electors of county have approved small, modular reactors being located in the county. So they're having emergency planning zone speak. So it doesn't have to go through the regular county commission. Zoning issues requires proposed disposal of high level radioactive waste by small modular reactor to comport with process approved and adopted by United States nuclear regulatory commission. That means they can leave the waste buried in the ground. That is in fact, part of the design of the small modular reactor Libbe HaLevy  03:35:21 That they will bury their own waste, where they are on a permanent basis. Lonnie Clark 03:35:27 Yes, it does not get transported. They build it down and they, the idea is they're small modular reactors. So their waste isn't that much. So then they're just going to keep it onsite and you don't have to move it off site that is considered revolutionary by the nuclear industry. This is what they call modernizing the nuclear. That was part of the brilliance of the small modular nuclear reactors. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:54 Well, I'm stunned because I've never understood. They've never addressed how much waste gets produced and what they plan to do with that waste. That's different than what's being done or not done with the waste from all the other nuclear reactors that exist. Lonnie Clark 03:36:13 They plan on just bearing it there. And so do you understand how they all work? They're going to build 12 on a site, right? Libbe HaLevy  03:36:20 You're right there. The little Lego's there, the little ones, the cute little ones, Lonnie Clark 03:36:24 Because they do break down and they do wear out this one. It will meet its capacity. Then they're going to build another one. When this one, I think it's like 50% or close to 50%. The funny thing starts, they built. That's the idea. So this is the stunning part about this. We have yet to see this actually functioned for 10 years, five years, they're brand new. They're being built in Idaho and in China, and then Idaho, it's at a military base. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:54 It's completely untested technology. They have no model of it. It's what I call part of the nuclear Ponzi scheme so that they always get more and more and more, and we can never be rid of them. Lonnie Clark 03:37:08 That's right. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:09 So this is one of the three bills that is currently under consideration in Oregon, in the Oregon legislature. That's Lonnie Clark 03:37:18 In the Senate. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:20 That one is in the Senate. Has it already passed the house or it's just in the Senate for now? Lonnie Clark 03:37:24 No, it's in the committee. It hasn't even moved out of committee. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:27 Okay. That's a great place to stop it. There are also two bills currently in the house. The first one is house bill 2, 3, 3, 2. Tell us what that one is proposed to do and where it stands right now Lonnie Clark 03:37:43 With this, does it also repeals Oregon statute laws. This one repeals provisions requiring that before issuing site certificate for nuclear fuel thermal power plants, energy facility, siting council must find that repository for disposal of waste produced by the plant is licensed to operate by the federal government. Meaning right now, the law states, they have to have a suitable site to bury the waste. This repeals, that it also repeals provisions requiring that the proposal by the council to issue the site certificate must be approved by voters. So this also repeals voters approval. Libbe HaLevy  03:38:24 So it sounds like this is the one to knock the knees out from under the 1980 ballot, measure law and take it out completely, which would also render that kind of restriction on the building of any futures, small modular nuclear reactors, absolutely moot. Lonnie Clark 03:38:43 I was able to talk, this is the man who sponsored the bill representative bomb. And they said, well, this is just to open the conversation to nuclear. I'm like what? He goes, well, nuclear has been revolutionized. It's the advanced that we're not talking about the same reactors that were built 40, 50, 60 years ago. I said, well, they certainly have not advanced it that far. Like they've cut it down in size. They're breaking one big gigantic one into 12, but that's not a revolution. This is the interesting thing. I don't believe that a lot of people understand how these bills pass through, because right now it's sitting at the committee at the energy and environment committee in the house. The other bill is in this energy and environment committee in the Senate. They're just in committee. They're just been assigned there. They haven't even brought it up to the table. So my goal with all three of these bills is to have them never come up. I've called my representative and said, I want you to let it be known to everybody on that committee that we're not going to support it. And you want it to die in committee. It's not worth the money to spend a day talking about it. And Libbe HaLevy  03:39:59 How was that received? Lonnie Clark 04:40:01 Well, thank you very much. We'll let him know we're working on it. You know what I mean? Libbe HaLevy  04:40:08 Right. They've got their talking points for the, there, there, Missy, don't worry your pretty little head about it. Where are your representatives? We know better than you do. We'll take care of it. And then down the line, you figure out how that one house bill 2, 3, 3, 2 is to repeal the ballot, measure law. The other house bill currently in committee number 2, 6, 9 2. What does that one do? Lonnie Clark 04:40:34 And I'll read you the summary exempts the issuance of site certificate of small modular reactors from the requirements that the proposal of the energy facility, siting council to issue sites certificate for nuclear field, thermal power plant must be approved by voters Libbe HaLevy  04:40:51 Taking the voters out of the loop. Lonnie Clark 04:40:54 Now this is very interesting and propaganda program requires state department of energy to develop and administer a program for educating public about small modular reactors. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:07 And guess who's going to give them very slick prepared, talking points to make their job easier in explaining them. Lonnie Clark 04:41:17 They probably already have the brochures and booklets. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:20 Oh, and the slide presentations and the videos and the cartoons, Allah, Joe camel, to show everybody why nukes are good for you. Lonnie Clark 04:41:30 This is what it says required in this section shall provide education and information on operational safety of small modular reactors. The safety of storing high level radioactive waste from small modular reactors in a terminal repository, licensed to operate by the appropriate agency of the federal government and the potential for the use in Oregon of energy generated by small modular reactors to further Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions reductions goal, Libbe HaLevy  04:42:05 Which just builds upon the lie that nukes are somehow green and good for the environment where they're an ultimate toxin. They are an ultimate producer of radioactivity and all the dangers that lasts forever because plutonium which is produced has a half-life of 24,000 years, Lonnie Clark 04:42:22 Small beans. It says section five, in addition to, and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is an appropriated to the state department of energy for the, by any of them beginning July 1st, 2021 out of the general fund, the amount of fill in the blank, which may be extended for developing and administering the program required by section four of this 2021 act. So on this bill, section five, what they're doing is tying up how, how much money they're committing to this bill house, bill 26 92, to give us propaganda and build this small modular reactors. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:05 That seems like a pretty coordinated push on three separate fronts, any one of which would make it possible for the small modular nuclear reactors to be built in Oregon. So the failure of one is not necessarily the failure of all, and they're all covering each other's posters. Lonnie Clark 04:43:24 Exactly. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:25 Is this being sponsored by the same individual or individuals or corporations, or is new scale and behind all of this Lonnie Clark 04:43:36 Good question, I haven't gotten that answer. I have asked that I haven't done this cause I actually, I work for a living. I found out about this it's on my list of things to research is who were the lobby groups that give to these three guys? Because you know what I did notice bill similar to this have been issued on a biannual basis because Oregon's budget is biannual. So one year when it's not election year, they put these bills in similar bills. A few years ago, it passed out a committee and we stopped it. You may remember that. So what seems to be is that the nuclear industry finds a representative, weighs some money on them during election year. The next year that person puts the bill into committee and it promptly dies because Oregonians are standing up. You know, we stand up in the Northwest third reason that we don't have nuclear all over the place here because people do pay attention. You know, because of Hanford, frankly, because Hanford affects Oregon. People think it's in Washington. It is in our backyard. You're Libbe HaLevy  04:44:47 All downwinders Lonnie Clark 04:44:49 It's unconscionable. What Hanford has turned into Libbe HaLevy  04:44:53 These bills are specific to Oregon and to take out the 1980 law that, is there a comparable push that you know of in any other state, or is this a model for other states to follow? Lonnie Clark 04:45:10 You know, I would think so because when I was doing the radio show, I did follow him Illinois. When they were propped up the natural resource defense fund, help the legislature keep open their two nuclear power facilities that were leaking. So I was following their legislature, but I believe so this was one of the things I advocate for people to do type in the name of your state and legislature.gov. Find out who your state legislatures are. Look at their legislative activity, scroll through the bills, the titles, tell you what they are on this one. It says small modular reactors, Libbe HaLevy  04:45:50 But of course, on any kind of a search for it, the N word doesn't show up. Nuclear does not show up, which is another intentional part of it. You cannot search for it that way. Lonnie Clark 04:46:01 You know, I hadn't tried it, the Oregon legislature. I mean, I typed in small modular reactors in their legislative bar. The first thing I did when I went to Oregon, legislature.gov was type in my address and find out who my state representative is. My state Senator is because I just moved to Salem. And I have no idea who these people are. So they heard from me, Lonnie Clark 04:46:29 Yes, I want these to die in the law. That's my thing. And one of the things that we can do is call up the committees in their state, legislatures like this and say, we want this to die in committee. We do not want it to get out of committee. We do not want our tax dollars being spent even one hour, considering this legislation, they can propose all they want, but do I want my representatives to be spending two hours discussing it? No, no. It's a moot point in Oregon. We voted. That's how it is. And I don't think people in Oregon want nuclear. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:06 I think the most dangerous part of those three bills is the one that addresses the educational program, you know, or the re-education because if they get that into the heads of the kids, as the kids grow up and then become voters, they're laying tracks for future permission to be given. Even if it cannot be managed. Now they're playing a long game on this, which they can afford to do. They've got the money, they've got the resources and they are hoping to be able to wear us down. And with people like you in the state fighting against and creating a model for how to fight against it, they're going to have a much longer and harder battle than they thought. And they're not going to win, but only if others join with you. So how can people, is there a website? Is there a way for them to contact you? Do you have anything posted that will help people besides whatever the link is going to be to this episode of nuclear hot seat Lonnie Clark 04:48:07 In terms of what they can do in the Oregon state legislature or on a regular ongoing basis? I mean, we used to run no nukes Northwest. If people want to, they can certainly get in touch with me and we can bang heads and create some type of activity. If you want Louisa hammer check. And I do that ourselves, we go out and protest alone. The two of us, we go into representative's offices together, bring them information. We go into by twos that helps my email address is nuts for art at Gmail and people could contact me there. That's N U T Z F O R a R T a Gmail. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:52 I will have a link to that up on the website under this episode, if you had any overall advice to give to people who want to stop these bills in Oregon, but also elsewhere in this country, perhaps in other places around the world where the model might work, any advice at all, what would that be? Lonnie Clark 04:49:14 I believe in leaning into your government because they're the ones using the tax dollars. So call your legislators, tell them no read John Goffman's book, poison power, learn about the health effects and remind our legislators that the nuclear industry has conditioned us to believe certain things are safe when they're not. There's no science showing us that it's safe, that they have fixed any of it. All they can do is say, we're going to bury it better. And so far they failed. We do not have any decent sites right now. Our nuclear waste is being stored at nuclear power facilities, exposed to the elements. We are in danger from this industry. And I believe that we need to lean in on our legislators. Nuclear is not cleaning green. It has not advanced. And until they give us real answers. And again, like I said, more money for science because it's here. Lonnie Clark 05:50:16 I mean, I believe we need to become part of good organizations like beyond nuclear, listen to nuclear hot seat because you interview so many awesome people go back and listen to hill ladies podcasts. Like you want an education, nuclear, hot seats here. You have so many people that you've repeatedly, you know, interviewed people that bring us valuable information and how do we engage, pick something that's the issue, pick something and do something. And then when you can't do it anymore, rest, and then pick the mantle back up and get back up while others are working. It's okay if you can't pick it up all the time and just keep going, because we're the only ones who were going to stop them. If we let them do it, we're really going to allow the planet to be destroyed by nuclear. And I, I'm not going to do that. So I pick it up when I hear about it, Libbe HaLevy  05:51:13 Lonnie Clark, I want to thank you for all of your efforts, all of your modeling of efforts so that others can follow in the trail that you are blazing and specifically for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Lonnie Clark 05:51:26 Thank you levy. I really appreciate it. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:29 Podcaster and citizen activist, Lonnie Clark, if you would like to contact Lonnie, especially if you live in Oregon, you can reach her@nutsforartatgmail.com and that's spelled N U T Z F O R a R T. We will, of course, link to her on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 5, 0 2, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:02 This sad news, which was shared by Gary Hedrick of San Clemente, green gene stone. Well-known to all of us here in Southern California, as the founder of residents organized for safe environment and a fierce fighter to get the closure of the Santa Ana fray, nuclear power plants. Gene has been diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. He has chosen to forego cancer treatments and Gary in contacting him wanted to know what to do to celebrate his lifelong efforts to protect mother earth before he transitions to whatever life brings next. Dean agreed to a celebration called I'm still alive, which we all agree is the best way to share with someone before it's too late to tell them in person, we will be talking story with gene during a zoom meeting planned for Friday, February 12th at 7:00 PM. Pacific time. You can access it through San Clemente, green.org, and we will also have a link up on our website. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:06 And there's no need to wait. If you feel like sending Jean a message. Now an email can be sent to Jen stun, G E N S T O n@sbcglobal.net. We'll have that link for you to up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number five, two nuclear energy information service, any I S based in Chicago has a new video out entitled. Nuclear is not a climate solution. It's a good, informative video animation, but it has been targeted by the pro nuclear trolls. So two things, first of all, comments have been turned off for the site, but we would really like to get more thumbs up than thumbs down on it. So if you could go to YouTube, you can check through any I S or we will have it on the website and you can get to it from there, but everyone just go there, watch it, click on the thumbs up and pass that along to your other friends as well. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:08 Let's see if we can take the trolls out. Utah public broadcasting ran a new documentary last week, entitled downwinders and the radioactive west. You can check your local PBS station to see if it's scheduled and if not, feel free to call their programming department and request that they carry it. I used to work for WGBH in Boston, and they always paid attention to these kinds of requests from viewers. Maybe your station will too. And the 10th anniversary of the start of the Fukushima nuclear triple meltdown disaster is coming up this March 11th. If you have an event or action taking place, please send the information to us@infoatnuclearhotseat.com. So we can include it in our upcoming coverage and know that we will have a very special nuclear, hot seat voices from Japan episode, our annual commemoration of Fukushima with new interviews translated from the Japanese and a special narrative created by voices from Japan producer, Beverly Finley Kaneko. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:15 That will be the episode of March 9th, 2021. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dot wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, or I can San Clemente green nis.org, cnn.com dw.com USA today.com JD supra.com counter punched.org, pbs.org, all things nuclear.org, Knox news.com. forbes.com asahi.com, Japan times.co.jp Al jazeera.com. bbc.com nation dot Camry. That's Welsh for whales, the ferret dot Scott, the hindu.com Euro daily.net and the ever co-opted regulatory captured nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening. For those of you who are listening for sharing the show with others, and a shout out to individuals in 123 countries on six continents and counting, and welcome to those of you in our growing network of broadcast stations around the U S if there is anyone who knows of a community radio station that would like to carry nuclear, Hotsy get in touch with me, have them get in touch with me. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:43 We'll talk it's easy. If you want to get nuclear, hot seat delivered via email every week, that's something else that's easy. Just go to nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the big yellow box and sign up for a weekly email link to the latest show with a brief precis of what's there. It also contains a post that you can copy and paste. That is TweetLead. So it will go anywhere on social media, and we invite you to help us with that as well. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Please don't use Facebook. It just disappears into the ozone. Get it to me on email. And if you appreciate these weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that we thank you for anything you can do to help us nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Libby Halevi and harvest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that nuclear weapons are illegal everywhere in the world. And this is thanks to the UN treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, big news, pass it on. And there you go. You have just had your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot seat. The Cari Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear hot Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH: #501: Hanford Downwinders Truth, Official Coverup Revealed: Trisha Pritikin, Karen Dorn Steele URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hanford-downwinders-stories-trisha-pritikin/ Published: 2021-01-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Hanford Downwinders truth preserved, in context, in the powerful book, The Hanford Plaintiffs: Voices from the Fight for Atomic Justice by downwinder Trisha Pritikin and journalist Karen Dorn Steele This Week's Featured Interview: Hanford Downwinders stories preserved – The Hanford Plaintiffs: Voices from the Fight for Atomic Justice, written by Trisha Pritikin, was published in 2020. She is an attorney and a Hanford downwinder who felt compelled to preserve the stories of Hanford downwinders who tried to take part in the law suit. Joining her for the interview is Karen Dorn Steele, a former investigative journalist with the Spokesman Review who broke the story of cancers and other diseases in farmlands downwind of Hanford. She also wrote the introduction for the book. We spoke on Friday, January 22, 2021. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): In Fukushima Prefecture, the Prefectural Health Survey Review Committee discovered thyroid cancer in two infant survivors of the Fukushima Daiichi triple meltdown… and proceeded to try to blame “overdiagnosis” for "finding thyroid cancer that they do not have to find." Say WHAT????? Links: To celebrate the entry into law of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) produced a celebratory international livestream that featured activists from around the world.  Here's the link:   https://vimeo.com/504951055 Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 Here in the U S we like to feel confident that our state and federal agencies are dedicated to protecting our health from problems like radioactivity in our food and water. But then you consider that there have been more than 75 years of radioactivity problems at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Southeastern Washington state. And you hear from an investigative reporter who covered these problems, and she tells you Karen Dorn Steele 00:00:28 Washington state officials, at least in the early days in the fifties, sixties, seventies were almost completely stymied. They couldn't even go on the nuclear reservation without signing a release. The scientists of the public health service, who studied releases in the Columbia river were muzzled. When radioactive oysters showed up at Willapa bay on the Olympic peninsula, they were censored from letting the public know at every level of the health agencies. We like to think of as protecting our health and our environment. We're stymied from telling the real story about what was going on at Hanford. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:05 Well, when you hear about that, being the kind of obstructionism faced by those agencies that are trying to protect us from nuclear or dangers, it's no wonder that here we are. Every last one of us still stuck in that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:23 To clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot. Hotsy what have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:01:54 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with the author of a book on the human damage created by the Hanford nuclear reservation, where plutonium for the Trinity test in New Mexico and the Nagasaki atomic bomb were manufactured. This polluted the area downwind and created calamitous health problems for people who lived in that area. Downwind, the bits releases into the air land and water. We'll talk with Trisha Pritikin, a Hanford down winder and attorney who collected the stories of others who faced the devastation of Hanford and journalists. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:54 Karen Dorn steel, whose reporting led Trisha to discover the terrible truth about what happened to her. And so many others. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than was even considered by Congress in the past week. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 26th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, as we were completing post-production today, this late breaking story members of the bulletin of the atomic scientists have unveiled this year's deliberation on the symbolic doomsday clock. It was again set to 100 seconds to midnight unchanged from the 2020 finding, which marked the highest level and the latest time ever since the clock was devised in 1947, the groups experts found that the threat to humanity survival is considered to be just as bad now as it was last year in us news, New York state has sued the nuclear regulatory commission for refusing to listen to the state's concerns before approving the sale of the Indian point nuclear power plant to Holtec. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:17 A New Jersey decommissioning from the lawsuit filed in Washington DC appeals court challenges. The federal agencies denial of the state's request for a public hearing before it approved Entergy's agreement to sell Indian point to Holtec. The lawsuit also challenges the NRCS decision to allow Holtec to use some $630 million of the more than $2 billion accumulated in decommissioning trust funds to manage the canisters of spent fuel, which will remain on the 240 acre site after the shutdown and into the foreseeable future state officials say spent fuel management is the responsibility of the federal government, which has failed to find a repository for the nation's nuclear waste. Despite promises dating back to the 1980s. The nuclear regulatory commission is considering extension of operating licenses for nuclear reactors to 100 years, realize that when nuclear reactors were first built, they were only licensed for 40 years because in the estimation of the engineers who designed and to build them, that was the limit of how long they could be safely operated. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:31 And that's because the constant bombardment of the containment structure by neutrons and split atoms would weaken or in brittle as the term is used the containment structure, making deadly leaks of radiation and accidents progressively more possible. When I first began nuclear hot seat in 2011, the industry was propagandizing for license extensions of 20 years with the slogan. Is there life after 60, they'd already gotten the 20 years in addition to the 40, but now they're asking, is there life after 80? The answer by all same people should be a resounding no, not only because of the advanced age and embrittlement of the reactors, but the fact that they have been in recent years, jury rigged or upgraded as they call it in the industry to generate more electricity, meaning that they burn hotter and harder, further flirting with disaster to follow this issue, we will link to Carl Grossman's ever excellent reporting on it. Libbe HaLevy  00:06:30 With the suggestion that you sign up for his email updates, our link will be on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number 5 0 1 in upstate New York, the army Corps of engineers has disclosed the discovery of plutonium and other radioactive materials in samples of soil and groundwater in Niagara county, near Niagara falls, Buffalo and near the shores of lake Ontario. The Niagara county field, where the samples were taken is believed to have been the site of open air burning of radioactive materials in the 1950s, although the latest samples were taken in late 2018, the agency is still working on a report about how serious the fines are and what to do about them. In addition to plutonium, uranium, radium, thorn Liam, Caesium and strontium have been discovered in the soil samples and groundwater samples showed both radium and uranium, as well as a small quote unquote amount of plutonium. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:36 This was a world war II explosives manufacturing site that later became an unofficial nuclear waste disposal site and NHK. The Japanese public broadcasting network has learned that the United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test in November of 2020 at a nuclear test site in the state of Nevada subcritical nuclear test do not produce explosions, but is a term used to describe the process of testing component pieces of a nuclear bomb in Japan, to children who were infants at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They were two years old and the other was under one year old at the time of the accident. Following a fourth round of thyroid examinations, the number of children diagnosed with suspected thyroid cancer increased by six from the previous time to 27. And the number of children who underwent thyroidectomy increased by three from the previous time, two 16 children up to now 252 patients have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer or suspected thyroid cancer from previous examinations of which 203 have undergone thyroid surgery and all, but one were confirmed to have thyroid cancer. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:01 Now these are the official numbers and they are very depressed. They've been put forth by Japan and by their medical establishment from information that has been manipulated, diminish the numbers and thus diminish public concern and awareness to learn the specifics of how this was done. Listen to nuclear hot seat, number 4 98 from three weeks ago, January 5th, 2021. And the interview with Dr. Alex Rosen, a pediatrician, and one of the heads of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war IPP, N w based in Germany, his report on this manipulation of studies was an unexpected opener, but still, that's not the end of this story because Announcer 00:09:58 like Libbe HaLevy  01:10:00 The review committee for this thyroid test, which has found more than 200 people with thyroid cancer raises the theory of what's being called. Over-diagnosis put that in quotes. And this is what is being said among the so called experts who deny the effects of radiation exposure. They say that they are finding thyroid cancer, that they do not have to find. And there is growing opinion that the mass examination of school should be reviewed. In other words, canceled showy chiro to gunny. A member of the national cancer center said the discovery of thyroid cancer has little benefit in avoiding death or poor quality of life, especially when you are diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I think it will be a huge disadvantage for those who do thyroid examination in a group of asymptomatic, healthy people is not desirable what you've not heard of diagnostic testing. And it gets worse because members of the prefectural health investigation committee, especially members who reside outside of Fukushima prefecture are calling for the cancellation or reduction of examinations because, Hey, when you have a radiation induced public health crisis, the last thing you want is verifiable data as evidence that confirms that the problem is just as bad as people thought, if not worse, in truth, thyroid cancer has recurrence and metastasis and early detection and early treatment are beneficial for the child. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:38 And that's why you miserable duplicitous members of the prefectural health investigation committee in Japan. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:11:53 In Fukushima prefecture. Residents of Tomioka have demanded stricter decontamination levels to enable them to safely return. If such a thing as possible in surveys conducted by the reconstruction agency of Japan last fall, Tomioka residents listed important conditions in deciding whether they would return to their hometown or not such as reopening and construction of new medical welfare and elder care facilities, as well as the resumption and improvement of shopping complexes. But outweighing, all of them is the condition that a further reduction in the amount of radiation is necessary. The government has set the annual radiation exposure limit to 20 millisieverts as one of the standards to lift the evacuation order. But residents have been raising concerns about this condition and are demanding a higher standard and more decontamination. The government is working to attract about 1600 people to live in the town, which is only 40% of the population before the accident. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:58 The former residents are asking for decontamination with the aim of lowering the annual radiation exposure to one millisievert or less on Monday, January 21st, the Tokyo high court ordered Tokyo electric power company, the operators of the crippled Fukushima power plant to pay damages to evacuated residents, but it overturned an earlier ruling that had also acknowledged the central government's responsibility over the 2011 nuclear crisis among the approximately 30 such lawsuits around the country. The decision of the Tokyo high court was the first high court ruling absolving the state of responsibilities in the ruling. It stated the government's failure to instruct TEPCO to take measures against tsunamis quote is not found to be significantly unreasonable instead of having the Japanese government pay damages to the evacuees. The high court ordered TEPCO to pay a total of just under 120 million Japanese yen, the equivalent of around 1 million, 157,000 us dollars, two 90 plaintiffs, more than triple the amount awarded in the lower court ruling regarding tech CO's oft announced an oft delayed and then announced again, intention to release the radioactive water stored at Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific ocean. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:27 There is now a petition put forth by no nukes Asia forum, Japan. The subject is the international signature campaign against the discharge of contaminated water and calling for the discontinuation of nuclear power plants. Now, we will have a link up to this petition, which the signature drives starts as of February 1st, but we'll have it up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode. Number 5 0 1 in France, according to the newspaper, Lamond the stock of EDF. The largest nuclear operator in Europe has collapsed. The French group is engaged in a vast reorganization project contested by the companies unions for months, France has been pleading with the European commission for a reform of the complex system, which requires EDF to resell part of its production to its competitors called regulated access to historic nuclear electricity. It forces the energy company to resell a quarter of its nuclear production at a fixed price, which he claims is causing it to lose money. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:37 Apparently it stockholders agreed and have been dumping the stock in Germany, a call for Berlin to renew its commitment to NATO's nuclear defense in a gesture of solidarity with the United States has prompted a heated backlash among Germany's greens. The party scene is the likely kingmaker in the country's next government, a high profile group of German and American academics and strategy advisors delivered the NATO call and a more than 8,000 word paper entitled more ambition, please. It read in part without this Alliance, meaning NATO, a stable and United Europe cannot be sustained and neither can the international order be renewed. However, these conclusions are particularly contentious in the green party, which has never abandoned its pacifist antiwar roots support for the transatlantic declaration by moderate forces in the party triggered a fierce reaction by leading members of the greens left wing underscoring. The difficulty that lies ahead for the Biden administration, as it seeks to repair and renew America's strategic bonds in Europe, following the divisive Trump years in Turkey and explosion took place on the evening of January 19 at the Akula nuclear power plant, which is under construction that broke windows in the houses and cars and the surrounding areas details of the incident have not been shared. Libbe HaLevy  01:17:05 And the question remains as to whether the explosion had damaged the ground, where the reactors are intended to be placed the plant construction or had harmed employees, according to Pienaar Demir cam coordinator for nuclear says.org. According to Pienaar Demir con coordinator for nuclear says.org and anti-nuclear group in a Coolio information is not shared transparently and is itself a source of safety hazard cracks had been formed at the base of the reactor constructions. And there has been water leakage in the construction area. In recent days, the explosion was recorded as a 1.2 magnitude earthquake, and at least 86 houses were damaged. Demir Khan stated that it was expected to cause an effect of 1.2 magnitude earthquake. They should tell why the people in the region were not warned in advance. And if this was planned, she said, we want to know what is unplanned. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first the doomsday clock nailed it. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:14 We, as a planetary society are in no better shape to survive ultimate annihilation now than we were one year ago. And whatever happens this year in government or science, nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. The entire nuclear fuel chain is being supported by a nuclear fool chain. Those individuals in government and business who don't care, how they contaminate the world. As long as they make enough money, money, money to buy $4.1 million cars and other diversions. That would be the son of the head of Holtec who has that car. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination from uranium mining, manufacturer of fuel rods and plutonium pits, transport reactor operation forever radioactive waste with no way to safely store it, the environmental racism, plus the overriding planetary life ending big bang threat of weapons. Quite frankly, nuclear is a mess and that's why you need a nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy  01:19:19 While mainstream media has other agendas. We know where to look for the nuclear story and the questions to ask every week. So we can report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand. And that's why the time would be right now for you to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. We just hit episode number 500 last week. So a penny, an episode, a diamond episode, a dollar an episode choose what's right for you. And please do what you can now, knowing that however much you can help, I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now here's this week's featured interview voices in protest of nuclear transgressions are often hard to find or to hear. Libbe HaLevy  02:20:15 And once raised, they can easily be hidden or ignored as they fade from awareness. That's why books that compile these stories and make them available to the public are of such crucial importance. As we continue to investigate and educate ourselves about our shared nuclear history and future. That's why we're happy to bring to your awareness, a relatively new book of importance to anyone who lives downwind of any nuclear facility. Actually we're all downwinders these days, but especially the site in Washington state, the Hanford plaintiffs, voices from the fight for atomic justice was published in 2020 written by Trisha Pritikin. She is an attorney and a Hanford downwinders Trisha Pritikin and Karen Dorn steel. Welcome to nuclear hot seat. Trisha Pritikin 02:21:27 Thank you for having me. Libbe HaLevy  02:21:29 I'm so excited to be talking with you because this is about your book Tricia called the Hanford plaintiff's voices from the fight for atomic justice. Tricia, start out by telling us what is the Hanford reservation? Where is it? And what was it intended to do? Trisha Pritikin 02:21:48 The Hanford is located in south central Washington state, and it was a nuclear weapons production facility. It's located on the Columbia river. It's where the plutonium was produced for the very first, the world's first test of an atomic bomb. The Trinity test that native July 16th, 1945. And for the bomb, the fat man bomb that decimated Nagasaki Hanford's plutonium was also used in many of the tests, both at the Nevada test site and in the Pacific proving grounds. And as we know, showered, downwinders with fallout. It's not any longer a nuclear weapons production facility, but it's one of the most toxic sites in the country. As you know, Libbe HaLevy  02:22:34 We've covered it many times on nuclear, hot seat from different angles, but this is a very personal story. Tell us about your background and how you grew up in proximity to Hanford. Trisha Pritikin 02:22:46 Both my parents were workers at Hanford. My father was a nuclear engineer who oversaw the reactors in the 100 area, which is where all their eight to nine reactors were located. My mother worked in something called stores. She was a secretary for a while until she got pregnant with me and then she quit. So I was born at Cadillac hospital in Richland in late 1950. And the reason I tell you the year is that that is really important because the levels of radiation being secretly released from him for were much higher in the beginning from its start-up in late 1944, through the fifties and into the early sixties, there were much higher than they were later. So I was born during a period where there was a lot of secretly released radiation in the air water, on the food, in the milk. We later later found out. So I lived in Richland and I loved it. A lot of the kids have really fun memories of Richland because the atomic energy commission in Hanford operators put a lot of money into making sure its employees in Richland were happy that they had cultural events, that their kids were happy with the schools. And we had quite a few teachers who came in from Oak Ridge. So I kind of picked up a bit of a Tennessee accent, but I have really fun memories of Richland and my friends there. Libbe HaLevy  02:24:07 So on the surface, everything seemed to be fine and going well. And it was the American dream of middle-class life and raising your kids. Yes. You have stated that you believe that your family's time in Richland next to Hanford resulted in health damage to them. What were or are the kind of problems that they and you have faced? Trisha Pritikin 02:24:27 My dad died of aggressive fibroid cancer, which has been associated with radiation exposure under the us nuclear worker compensation act. And I bring that up because I think it's very pertinent to the downwinders experience. My mother died of malignant melanoma, which is also associated with radiation exposure, but requires a dose reconstruction by the employee when claiming for damages under the nuclear worker compensation act. My mother also developed auto-immune thyroiditis, hyper parathyroid, as in which means way too much calcium in the blood everywhere, but she did die. A malignant melanoma. I have girdle sales were detected in a nodular developed on my thyroid hurdle. Cell thyroid cancer is one of the types of cancer that has been found in downwinders. So my thyroid was removed and I lost three of four parathyroid glands during the surgery because I had such an inflamed fibroid. It was autoimmune thyroiditis. Trisha Pritikin 02:25:28 So I had an inflamed fly, right? They lost three or four. So now I have something called hyperparathyroidism, which causes me paralysis and kidney failure. If you're not extremely careful, I mean, I have to be very careful what I eat. That'd be monitored all the time. And my brother died in 1947. He's part of a spike of neonatal deaths and the dominant area that still needs to be investigated. There are baby graves at the historic cemetery Richland. There are baby graves in Pascoe and the historic cemetery and a lot of baby graves of Walla Walla, which was known to be a hotspot. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:02 So sorry, you and your family went through all of that. And you attribute this to the proximity to Hanford. Trisha Pritikin 02:26:07 I do because over 750,000 curious of radio iodine were released from Hanford and there've been many epidemiologic studies of similar populations that showed fly right out some sly ride cancer outcomes, hyper or hypo thyroid as to the other disease, malignant melanoma, it's been associated with radiation exposure in the nuclear worker compensation act. So that's why I believe that these diseases were caused by Hanford. Karen, Libbe HaLevy  02:26:38 Are you from the Hanford area? And did you grow up there? And if not, how did you get to Karen Dorn Steele 02:26:43 Hanford? I was born in Portland, Oregon. My father was a us diplomat. So I lived in north Africa and Europe as a child. But the way I got to the Hanford story was through a job I'd taken recently in the early eighties at the spokesman review, which is original newspaper in Spokane, where I live before that I'd worked in Congress, I'd had my own public affairs show on PBS in Spokane, but they recruited me to do investigative reporting basically. And this was the early eighties. It was the Reagan administration and Ronald Reagan had recently announced a major nuclear arms buildup to counter the Soviet union. So he reopened a 1956 mothballed plutonium plant at Hanford called pure ex. And one of my first experiences with covering Hanford was from a whistleblower who called me and was very concerned about safety in this plant. She said plutonium was missing. Karen Dorn Steele 02:27:40 It was, might've been backing up in the corners of the plant, which could have caused an explosion. And so that was my first task to try to verify her story. And it turned out to be completely accurate. They were having problems. She gave me the roadmap to report the story. She told me the documents I should look for. And, you know, I did freedom of information act request. I found out that they had been having problems they were very concerned about, but had not told the public that prompted an FBI visit to my editor's office. And lots of concerns about why was this paper and Spokane Washington suddenly so interested in plutonium production. So that was my start in covering Hanford. And it led to my meeting and a whole group of farmers who lived right across the river from Hanford and who were extremely concerned about possible exposure to radiation from Hanford, although they had no documents or no, nothing to back it up at that time, which was in the mid 1980s. When you say, Libbe HaLevy  02:28:40 Were they growing crops? Did they have animals? Did they have dairy cows? What was the nature of the farming? And, Karen Dorn Steele 02:28:47 Yeah, so it was an area called the wall looky slope, right across from Hanford on the Eastern side of the Columbia river, they're growing all kinds of crops, corn wheat, they had cattle, they had sheep and they were people who have been brought in, in the fifties to populate this area. They're given government land. This land was opened up. And so they had been living right across from Hanford and they had some vivid tales about things they had observed in their own neighborhoods, like people in dressed and moonsuits coming through and picking up things from their fields who were from the atomic energy commission, but didn't ever tell the farmers just what they were doing there. They were there to collect samples, but the farmers never learned what the samples were for. And so I met a farmer named Tom Bailey. Who's become kind of the voice, the face of this whole downwinders story in the mid 1980s and Tokyo from there. Libbe HaLevy  02:29:43 So the farmers were given free land or very inexpensive land in exchange for being Guinea pigs for what the impact was from any of the radiation that got off the reservation. What information challenges did you have initially when trying to verify the stories of the down winter farmers? Karen Dorn Steele 03:30:02 Initially, they had told me about having massive sheep die-offs in the early sixties where the lambs were born mummified and there had to be a paper trail on that. So there was one of them. The other big question was how the farmers themselves and their family has been affected. And when I started looking for documents, I was shocked to discover that most of the documents that would have detailed any releases from the forties and fifties, especially were still classified. This is 40 years after the end of world war two. And so I used the leverage of the freedom of information act to obtain documents on exposure to the farming communities down wind. And as it turned out, this was in 1985. And other reporters in the region were also working the story by then and a group in Spokane called the Hanford education act internally, which was a citizen activist group. Karen Dorn Steele 03:30:55 And we prepared fairly massive freedom of information acts to the department of energy. And in February, 1986, where some was some pressure from our congressional delegation, as well as a series of stories, my stories, and some others, us department of energy released its first batch of 19,000 pages of documents. And the half there being, having told the region for years that Hanford had been completely safe and there had been minimal releases. It turned out that they had been massive releases as Tricia noted, a 750,000 curious radiation of radioactive iodine. Plus other process upsets where Ruthenian flakes and rain down on the farmer's fields. And so this completely changed the narrative as to what Hanford's history had been, especially in the cold war. One of the most shocking documents in that first batch was something called the green run. I stumbled on these documents. I was first to break the story of the green one, which was a deliberate experiment at Hanford in 1949, in which the operators were told by the military to take all the filters off one of the plutonium plants at Hanford and release very hot radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which the air force secretly tracked in airplanes. Karen Dorn Steele 03:32:17 And the reason they wanted to do this, this was December of 1941. And Joseph Stalin had just detonated one of the first nuclear weapons in the Soviet union. And they thought if they assumed that the Soviets were using hot or green fuel, that's why they called this the green run to a rush to catch up with us in their plutonium enterprise. And so they thought they could devise a measuring device using Hanford and the inland Northwest as an experiment as an experimental lab, but without telling anybody in the region, this was an area which some of it down by Walla wall, there were cows on grass, even in December. And the weather was very bad. The day they did the green run December 2nd, 1949. And so there was a big rain out or snow out in the region where a lot of the radiation came down to the ground. And this really shocked people, shocked our readers, our Congressman, who was quite prominent, Tom Foley, he went on later to become speaker of the house of representatives. He had a classified briefing in on it and the public wanted more answers. Why did this happen? Why were they never told Libbe HaLevy  03:33:20 Karen, you were writing for admittedly, a small newspaper, the Spokane review in Spokane Washington, when these stories started coming out and being of such magnitude, were they supportive of your work? Karen Dorn Steele 03:33:36 Well, initially before I met the, a down wonder farmers, they were rather skeptical. They said, well, you know, Hamburg has always told us that everything is safe. There where's the story. And so it wasn't until I started getting documents first for the pure ex you know, the dangers of the pure X plant and later for the direct exposures in the area where the, where the farmers suspect that they've been exposed. And then the green run, the green run story, I think, changed everything because it was nobody even knew that there had been a direct human experiment conducted in 1949 on the, on the citizens of the Northwest. And so gradually my editors said, just go for it. You know, and it was odd though. It was hard for them initially because our paper, which had a circulation of about 130,000 at the time had never really covered Hanford. Karen Dorn Steele 03:34:26 They just, you know, published, associated press stories on openings, the plants and closing the plants at Hanford. So it was a whole new role for our newspaper. And we really had good support. Our editorials were very strong on calling for openness and telling the whole story of what happened. They were supportive of the downwinders telling their stories. We had a wonderful cartoonist Milt who did some sensational work on the Hanford story. And so the newspaper really stepped up and became a force in the region for, for telling the story. And we had this very, as I say, this very prominent Congressman who helped to Tom Foley, who pressed the government to have classified hearings for them. And to get to the bottom of some of this, you know, Congress had been pretty passed throughout the nuclear age and challenging the atomic energy commission or the nuclear establishment. So it helped to have at least one Congressman who was prominent and who was interested Libbe HaLevy  03:35:22 With all this information coming out, as shocking as it was. How were people reacting to it? And specifically, what reaction did your newspaper get to all this negative reporting on Hanford? Karen Dorn Steele 03:35:35 Well, I got some death threats at home, just, you know, I mean, you know, threats both to me and my children. There was criticism on my newspaper by the newspaper in the Tri-Cities, the Richland Kennewick and Pascoe where Hanford is located, it's called the Tri-City Herald. It's been very, very pro-nuclear its entire time really never did any kind of critical reporting on Hanford. And they kind of tried to portray us and me as unpatriotic, you know, here's Ronald Reagan starting a new nuclear arms race, and you are not being patriotic. You're not getting with the program. So that was the message that came out of the Tri-Cities. But watching the state is very complex. I mean, Seattle is a very liberal city and was calling like we were in Spokane for more openness, more accountability for the complete story of the documents to come out and for the downwinders to be able to tell their stories, but the story was not popular in the Tri-Cities. So we're Hanford is Libbe HaLevy  03:36:37 Krisha. At what point did you get the idea to write a book and how did you proceed to move forward on it? Trisha Pritikin 03:36:44 Well, first I wanted to mention something that I hadn't mentioned before, which was the reviews and I learned about Hanford's radiation releases was that I was visiting my grandmother in Spokane in 1988 and read one of Karen's articles on the spokesman review. I feel that had it not been for her reporting, this whole story about the releases may have never come out. And so I feel that the amateurs and all of us, oh, Karen, a lot, you know, that's, I'll always feel that way. She's my hero. She's very brave. And she's really a good writer and gets right to the point. So I wanted to put that in there real quickly. So I didn't forget. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:20 Thank you for that because that's a key piece and the importance of reporters is never to be underestimated. You're like the fourth branch of the government. Trisha Pritikin 03:37:28 Yes. And I felt whenever Karen was at a meeting that I was attending with like government officials flying over from CDC or from ATS or whatever, if Karen was there, I knew the truth was going to come out about this meeting and she would help me figure out what the heck was going on. Cause a lot of times it was very confusing. You had so many scientists giving us various lectures on things and showing us PowerPoints and then leaving. So I was always thankful when I saw Karen there in the front row with her red hair, beautiful red hair sitting in the, I did not want our stories, the damages stories to be forgotten. And when the litigation concluded with settlements, for some people, this is in re Hanford nuclear reservation and litigation, which was massive, toxic tort, personal injury litigation. The last settlements came out in 2015. Trisha Pritikin 03:38:17 There were only one set of bellwether trials at 2205 positive jury verdicts for two plaintiffs with fibroid cancer. But that the rest of the people, anybody else who got anything, it was a settlement, very meager settlements. They're so small that people were crying on the phone with her attorneys. It was that bad. So I just decided, okay, litigation's over. This is 2015. Our stories are going to be forgotten. And the department of energy will have succeeded in sweeping everything under the rug. There were 5,000 original plaintiffs and of those, two of them got to tell their stories during the litigation I've that's it. And so all these other stories were still out there. And if the public had heard our stories all at once, or even a small, you know, a partial portion of them, they would be shocked. And it dignity at what had happened to the people of the Pacific Northwest. Trisha Pritikin 03:39:10 So I decided I would quickly contact two of the plaintiff's attorneys. That's Tom folds in Seattle and Dick I'm an inspo can and ask whether I could send a letter to the final people that were receiving settlements to ask if they'd like to participate in this project. That's how I located these people. Otherwise I had lost contact with almost everybody, except I knew where Tom Bailey was, but everybody else had been so long since the beginning of the litigation, 25 years that people had either died or they weren't available. So that's how I found people. Okay. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:45 What were the commonalities in the stories that you were getting from these people? Trisha Pritikin 03:39:50 First thing I learned was none of them were rich. They were all semi impoverished and including myself it's because if you're that disabled and sick, you have a hard time earning an income. These are people who are not rich. All of them wanted our stories told, and they were very enthusiastic about us putting our stories together because with multiple stories, you gained power. Whereas with one story, it's interesting, but not as powerful because a lot of these people had thyroid cancer or thyroid disease. I saw that all over the place. I want to say there were river cancer plaintiffs as well. People who had been exposed to the river pathway that had other types of cancers. A few of them got settlements, not a lot. So back to the people I saw, almost everyone had more than one problem. They had thyroid cancer, plus auto-immune thyroiditis plus chronic fatigue, plus a fibromyalgia type of problem. It was more of a cluster than it was one disease. And I know Kate brown has mentioned this in her book for Topia as a, like a radiation syndrome. You know, if you're exposed as a child, it can do multiple harms to you. Some of the people have children with issues as well. One of the people I interviewed Bob McCormick is the first story in the book. Keith had so many cancers in his family and the children of the downwinders original people that were exposed also have issues. So I noticed that as well. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:20 It's devastating to think of the impact and that it's been ongoing. Do you still get stories from more people now who perhaps weren't involved in the litigation, but are having these problems that are coming to the awareness of a possible source? Trisha Pritikin 04:41:38 Yes. You know, that's a great question. And it focuses on latency periods. Like if you're exposed to low dose ionizing, radiation decades can pass before the symptoms of your resulting disease show up. I've had people contact me after this book was out there saying, I think I'm a down winder. I just realized, you know, I lived here in the downtown area and I have this cancer and I feel terrible for them because there aren't going to be any attorneys who are going to represent these people. Now it was so hard for our attorneys to support our litigation for 24 years out of personal funds against the power of the federal government. Because the contractors that we sued were indemnified under price Anderson and they had free flowing federal money, our own tax dollars to defend against our actions. So what attorney in his or her right mind would want to take on one of these cases? So it's really hard for me to have to say that to people cause they just didn't learn. For some reason they didn't hear about Hanford. Maybe they were living somewhere else. I don't know. Maybe they didn't have any health problems until right now, but yeah, you're right. That people are still developing these problems. Libbe HaLevy  04:42:52 How do you think Hanford officials were able to keep most information about accidents and routine releases secret or confidential for as long as they did, which looks like it's at least 40 years that they were able to keep it under wraps. Trisha Pritikin 04:43:06 I will give that one to Karen. Karen Dorn Steele 04:43:08 Thanks Tricia. Well, first of all, in the forties and fifties, there was almost complete secrecy about the nuclear weapons program. The atomic energy commission basically had a policy with anybody that claimed exposures of never admit and never pay. It happened with the UN at the Nevada test site. It happened in the Marshall Islands. It happened at Hanford. It happened everywhere in the country where there was a nuclear facility or where there was fallout. And that was the attitude. And this battle over openness versus secrecy was, was really playing out in the 1980s. I recall that energy secretary James Watkins, who was the energy secretary to Ronald Reagan said that if we ever really tell they were, they were trying to decide, should they, because there was public pressure now, should we released some of these documents? And he was saying, if we do that, that will mean the end of nuclear weapons production. Karen Dorn Steele 04:44:05 If the public really finds out what happened, that was a very telling remark. We got his memo, one published it when he said that, because this was just at the time on, we were trying to get more information about Hanford. And so these were powerful, powerful institutions, judges in Nevada that Trisha has written about, who tried to get some level of justice for both sheepherders who'd lost their sheeps and people who got cancer were overruled by appellate courts and stymied by acts and Congress that protected the contractors. So this is a very, very difficult arena to get accountability and the truth Libbe HaLevy  04:44:43 In your view, what is Congress's role in overseeing the nuclear weapons makers at Hanford and why couldn't Washington state officials do more to interject and oversee what was going on Karen Dorn Steele 04:44:59 Washington state officials, at least in the early days in the fifties, sixties, seventies were almost completely stymied. They couldn't even go on the nuclear reservation without signing a release. The scientists of the public health service who studied releases in the Columbia river were muzzled. When radioactive oysters showed up at Willapa bay on the Olympic peninsula, they were censored from letting the public know one of the first downwinders I met in Tom Bailey's area was a man who worked for the Pascoe, what our district, he had a PhD and he found out that there was radioactive phosphorus that the fish that he was feeding, his children were eating. There was radioactive phosphorus in the river that was moving through the food chain, but he could not tell him. He told me he stopped feeding his children fish immediately when he read the confidential memo, but he couldn't tell his neighbors because he would have been fired from his job. And so there were at every level of the health agencies, we like to think of as protecting our health and our environment. We're stymied from telling the real story about what was going on at Hanford. What about Libbe HaLevy  04:46:07 Today? Certainly we know that plutonium has got a half-life of 24,000 years. So it's not disappearing from the environment. What are, or what is known about the ongoing dangers that still exists in the Hanford area Karen Dorn Steele 04:46:23 Quite a bit by now is known. I mean, we know that chromium and radioactive substances leaked into the Columbia river. There's been a massive cleanup program going on for about the last 15 years. It was initially supposed to cost $50 billion and last 50 years. And now it's over a hundred billion dollar estimate and it's going to last much longer than 50 years. So they have quantified the problems, but some of the solutions are still just not effective. They're still wasting money at Hanford. They are not achieving in my opinion, a full cleanup. And in fact, there never will be a full cleanup. It's impossible, but they can protect the river and they no longer have airborne releases because there are no plants operating, except there's still danger to workers who are working on the cleanup. And occasionally we'll run across plutonium or some other volatile chemical substances that causes injuries. So two workers in the cleanup, there's still a big problem there. I wanted to mention also that Trisha Pritikin 04:47:29 The plutonium finishing plant was being demolished recently without a containment though over it. And they were starting to find tiny particles of plutonium in the air filters in cars, in Richland. So, you know, that was a kind of an exceptional what Karen was saying. I mean, we all were there at the time doing a project with the group. I work with core consequences of radiation exposure. We brought my Suji, Maura Gucci over from Nagasaki and we were all wearing C 100 masks to protect us from the foot Tony I'm flakes. Whereas the people in the city were like, ah, there's no problem. What you worried about there once in a while, something like that happens to Libbe HaLevy  04:48:13 Do either of you have any thoughts on what alternatives might exist to litigation for people who have been exposed downwind of nuclear weapons, production, or testing sites. Trisha Pritikin 04:48:24 I have an idea which I am proposing whenever anyone asks, I'm trying to spread it broadly. It rather than having communities that were exposed to low dose ionizing radiation, or who were involved in uranium mining or were downloaded the Trinity test site or the Madison fighting over the expansion of radiation exposure compensation act, I would like to see a national approach to this problem modeled on the EEO ICPA energy employee's illness, occupational compensation program, yet the nuclear workers' compensation act because it contains a list of diseases identified as radiogenic, for which people nuclear workers at many sites don't even have to have dose reconstruction. They live in, they have special exposure cohorts like at Hanford, where if you file a claim for a certain cancer like thyroid cancer, like my dad's cancer, no dose reconstruction is required. You give him the benefit of the doubt. Trisha Pritikin 04:49:24 There's a very broad probability of causation. It's just really easier for the nuclear workers than it is for the downwinders. We were children. When we were exposed, we had no choice. We didn't enter into an employment agreement as a nuclear worker. You know, it's like, it seems like the children should be given more benefit of the doubt than the adult workers. So I would like to see people who are civilians, who live next to any of the waste sites, the production sites and testing sites, including the Marshall Islands, where the us tested to be eligible for compensation and healthcare, if they don't have adequate health care for diseases that are identified under that ICP as radiation related, if those people live for a minimum period of time, when radiation was documented to have been released. So the same standards as for workers, I'm just so tired of hearing port communities fighting with each other over whether Rica will be expanded to them. I would also like to see more recognition Karen Dorn Steele 05:50:27 Of the fact that so many people were exposed nationwide, actually worldwide. Kate brown has, has expressed this in her book. Platobia that in a way, all of us were downwinders or many of us are downwinders and have this incorporated into the history of the nuclear age. For instance, when you visit now, now B reactor at Hanford, which was the first full-scale nuclear reactor in the world. Now it's part of the national park service and its tours are open. You can go through it. And the story there, they're very good explanations of how they made the first Flatonia, but it's presented as this really nifty engineering project, you know, but this facility produced the bomb that was dropped on civilians and Nagasaki. And the other part of the story is not being told what the downwind, not only the victims in Nagasaki, but downwinders throughout the world sacrificed for the nuclear weapons program. I think it's a very cautionary tale if we ever tried this venture again. And once again, start to make nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:36 I think it's ironic and hopeful that today is the day that we are talking is the same day that the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, the nuclear weapons ban takes force of law internationally. There've been several celebrations in the course of the day. So this hopefully is a marker day where we can pivot and turn everything around so that the necessary changes take place. And we never faced this kind of difficulty. Again, Trisha Pritikin 05:52:05 Our stories, stories of health damage, actual health damage, or the strongest evidence for why nuclear weapons have no place in this world, Libbe HaLevy  05:52:14 Right? It's not just the big bang fireball. Ooh, my bangs bigger than your bang kind of a thing, but it is the lasting legacy of anything nuclear, which is the radiation and the damage that it does down through generations forever, virtually forever 24,000 years is a long time. One last thing, Tricia, you mentioned this once and I noticed from the back cover of your book, that net proceeds from the book will go to a nonprofit called consequences of radiation, exposure or core. Tell us a little bit about that group, which you did mention before and where we can find their website Trisha Pritikin 05:52:49 Group is a non-profit in Washington state. It's also an IRS 5 0 1 C3 tax exempt organization. So any donations to at our taxes or, you know, it was formed in 2015 at the conclusion of the litigation to educate the public about the consequences of exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation, whether from nuclear weapons, production testing, uranium mining, milling, or transport use of nuclear weapons. More time. There are so many sites where people are suffering. And so we are just art. It's an educational nonprofit. And as I said, we did have the project where I brought over the very first tobacco shift from Nagasaki to Hanford after so many years and official mission. So we try to do things like that. But thanks for asking. And that website is www dot core Hanford, one word.org. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:42 We will have a link to that up on the website, nuclear hotseat.com. Under this episode, one final thing. Your book has already received a number of acknowledgements. It placed first for history at the 2020 San Francisco book festival. And first in non-fiction at the 2020 new England book festival. So the book is the Hanford plaintiff's voices from the fight for atomic justice. Where can people find it? Trisha Pritikin 05:54:09 I love to support local bookstores. And so if you can alert your local bookstore that it exists and that you would like to order a copy. We've had book, launch events and aunties and Spokane it's available from there. You double your bookstore in Seattle, it's on Amazon, but I just love supporting local bookstores. So that's where I would go. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:28 I would suggest if anybody goes to order it at a local bookstore, you ask that they ordered two. So there's one on the shelf for the next person to Griff Trisha Pritikin and Karen Dorn steal your wards have made a tremendous impact on the world. And you've now left a legacy of knowledge for others to learn from and build upon. And I really want to thank you for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Trisha Pritikin 05:54:56 Thank you. Thank you. Libbe HaLevy  05:54:59 That was Trisha Pritikin, the author of the Hanford plaintiff's voices from the fight for atomic justice and investigative journalist, Karen Dorn Steele, who wrote the introduction to the book Libbe HaLevy  05:55:19 Wednesday, January 27 marks both the national downwinders day of remembrance and the international Holocaust survivors day of remembrance. Somebody really needs to compile a calendar so that these important commemorations don't step on each other's toes. But as regarding downwinders Utah, PBS has a new documentary entitled downwinders and the radioactive west. It premieres on Wednesday, January 27 on Utah, PBS check your local PBS station to see if it's scheduled and if not, feel free to call their program department and request that they carry it. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net dune renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign for the evolution of nuclear weapons heal utah.org bulletin of the atomic scientists and HK dot O r.jp Buffalo news.com low hud.com. Op-ed news.com. Our planet-tv.org, Japan times.co.jp Knox news.com. asahi.com, no nukes Asia forum, Japan Kyoto news.net, politico.edu. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:45 Yes, seal gazette.org. Any I magazine.com white heaven, news.co.uk, and the ever co-opted regulatory captured really inefficient nuclear regulatory commission. Hey, we really appreciated the outpouring of support that came following last week's episode number 500, thanks to all of you who helped us out. And to know that if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, anytime is the right time, including right now, to take a moment to go to nuclear hotseat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and help us out. No, that the intention is to keep the show running for as long as it's needed, which with plutonium, having a half-life of 24,000 years is going to be for at least a couple more weeks or months or years or millennia. And if you want to make certain you get each week's episode, as soon as it is hot off the digital presses, go to the website and sign up for one email a week, which will have the link, a brief precis of what's in there. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:53 And this is a feature you may not know about. There is a tweet length post that you can copy and paste that will work on Twitter, Facebook, any place else you can possibly put it on the internet. That's nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow opt in box and just fill in your first name and email address. We won't bug you. We don't send you lots of stuff. We don't do marketing. We just send you the show because it's important that you be kept up to date. This is Leiby Halevi of hardest three communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that since last Friday, January 22nd, nuclear weapons are illegal everywhere in the world. And now we have to get rid of the ones that we've got. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we're all in that nuclear hot seat. Now, Announcer 05:58:49 Nuclear Hotseat it's the bomb! ### NH: #500: Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons becomes Int'l LAW! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-500-treaty-to-prohibit-nuclear-weapons-becomes-intl-law/ Published: 2021-01-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Hotseat #500! Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons takes on Force of Law! Lots to celebrate! Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons passes into international law as of Friday, January 22, 2021! An important message (above) to those countries that currently hold nuclear weapons: United States, Russia, China, UK, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel SPECIAL FEATURE: Nuclear Hotseat at 500! A look back featuring excerpts from: NOTE: This is not an all-inclusive rundown of episodes, just a saunter through some moments that have stuck with me from the first 9-1/2 years of Nuclear Hotseat production: NH #1 – The first conference call that turned into a podcast that turned into… well, all the rest.NH #7 – Jon Solomon of Eden Foods on safety precautions for foods imported from Japan in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima and FDA insufficiencies.NH #74 – Marius Paul of the Denesuline First Nations people in northern Saskatchewan on his ancestral understanding of "the black stone" – uranium.NH #91 – Dr. Helen Caldicott, 2012 Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.NH #483 – Ian Zabarte, Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians with "A Message from the Most Bombed Nation on Earth."NH #423 – Church Rock uranium tailings dam break disaster – Terracita Keyanna of the Red Water Pond Road Community. (Strong suggestion to listen to the entire SPECIAL on Church Rock.) NH #205 – Sister Megan Rice shortly after her release from two years in prison for participating in a non-violent peace protest of nuclear weapons at the Oak Ridge Y-12 "high security" nuclear facility in Tennessee.NH #407 – Three Mile Island: My Trip Back. Radiation dispersion after the meltdown with Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education, and health impact of radiation exposure with Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear. NH #316 – Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons passage – Prof. Heidi Hutner, interviewed from the United Nations less than one hour after the passage of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.NH ##303 – Susi Snyder of Don't Bank on the Bomb with an important lesson on how you can take an action, right now, that will remove funding from nuclear weapons producing companies. NOTE: All episodes listed above are available on this website and can be accessed through the search function. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 When one starts on a path through the unknown, you'll never know what you will see or where you'll go. So I was in complete ignorance. When on June 14th, 2011, I put together a conference call with two individuals. At that moment, I had no idea that it would lead to moments such as this Heidi Huttner 00:00:21 I'm at the UN in New York city. It historic moment just happened. The United nations just voted almost by consensus in favor of this treaty to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons and to move forward with getting rid of them. This is a tremendous moment because it's saying the rest of the nation don't want this don't want to proceed with us. And so for truly moving forward with the abolition of nuclear weapons, Libbe HaLevy 00:00:46 That little snippet from the halls of the United nations with professor Heidi Huttner is only one of the many highlights reached in 500 weeks, 500 episodes of nuclear, hot seat, all in service to people and the planet to share information and learn how to take action to dismantle forever, that deadly radioactive seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:10 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:41 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Lee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week. It's the 500th episode of nuclear hot seat. So we're going to take a brief look back at just a few of the highlights from that nine and a half year journey. We'll also be celebrating the entering into force of law of the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, a stunning victory for sanity and life amid the ongoing international insanity and threat of nuclear war. This is a program packed with more honest nuclear information than just left the white house on air force one. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:35 All of it coming up almost immediately today is Tuesday, January 19th, 2021. And here is this week special look back at 500 episodes of nuclear news from a different perspective. Here's this week special feature on nuclear hot seat at 500 episodes. One doesn't begin a or any project thinking about what it will be like in 500 weeks, 500 episodes in the future. One day at a time, as they say in 12 step or one week at a time bit by bit things can and do add up. I got the idea for nuclear hot seat three months after Fukushima's nuclear disaster began, or rather the idea of found me. I was on a retreat off-grid in Sequoia national park, trying to process the overwhelming sense of grief I had over Fukushima and what I'd been learning about the entire nuclear landscape. I had spent days crying, meditating, journaling, hugging trees, trying to apologize to nature for what we, as a species had done to her on my fourth day, in the middle of a meditation, it was like, I heard a voice in my right ear. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:54 Say, you will do your first podcast. This Tuesday. Now a disclaimer. I am neither clairaudient nor schizophrenia. I don't walk around hearing voices, but this was like a message from somewhere else. Interpret that any way you like it. I tried to argue with it. I don't know how to do a podcast. I've never thought of doing a podcast. I am not an expert on nuclear issues. How in the world could I, and the voice kept saying the same thing. You will do your first podcast. This Tuesday finally seemingly annoyed with my endless stream of excuses. The voice said, if you don't do your first podcast, this Tuesday, you will always regret it. Well, you don't regret what you do. You regret what you don't do. And I've lived my life to have as few regrets as possible leading to a lot of really embarrassing experiences and some great adventures. So the following Monday, when I got home vowing to have no regrets, I posted a single notice on Facebook asking if anyone would be interested in getting on a conference call to discuss the possibility of a weekly program on nuclear issues at the appointed time two people actually showed up. And one of them, I didn't even know here are a few inelegant moments from that first program, which I didn't even know was the first program in a series that would go this long. It was just a conversation on a conference line by, Libbe HaLevy 00:05:31 I'm not really sure if I'm going to, okay, here we go, guys. My name is Libbe HaLevi and we are talking on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011. And the purpose of this call is to discuss the nuclear issues that are going on in the world. Since Fukushima on March 11th of this year, I has been absorbed in going on the information that's out there, the various ramifications, it's having the lack of information that is getting to most people and what it is that we need to do in order to maintain our health, maintain our sanity and do something to turn around the nuclear situation so that we're no longer being subjected to the dangers of having a dirty bomb in our backyard. And that's why I want to do this. I don't even know what this is, but I'm willing to hang out with the process, make it available, make it a little more visible next time around maybe, and do my little bit to get the word out and help raise people's awareness that we do not need to panic. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:50 We do need to act, and by admitting to the sear and turning around and finding one small thing to do every day, we will begin the process of empowerment and change. It's been scary being alone with this and not being able to engage in the conversation. And that stopped me from taking action. And you've just helped me alleviate the part that had me stuck. So here's two more action. And let's start turning this around one tiny action at a time, but if we all take it, it's amazing what we'll be able to do. You did a beautiful job. Thank you. I'm actually going to post a link for this. As soon as I figure out how to do that. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:34 Well, those Luddite tendencies did not serve me and I soon got over them early days for the program were challenging because nobody knew who I was. So why should they make the time to go on my podcast? Some people booked with me and then blew me off without letting me know they weren't going to be there back at the beginning. I did the show live at 4:00 PM Pacific time. And after an interview would open up the phone lines for questions from our callers. I don't know if there is anything more embarrassing than making that announcement and having it be followed with dead silence. I solved that program by contacting one of my two original callers before each show, begging him to be on the line and giving him a question or two to get things started. If he didn't have any of his own to ask, usually he was my only color. Thanks Tim. One of my early successes was an interview with John Solomon vice president of purchasing from Eden foods, a company which specializes in organic macrobiotic foods, much of which is sourced from Japan. I tracked him down for nuclear hot seat, number seven from July 26th, 2011, to find out what his company had done to determine the safety of foods imported from Japan in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima. And please, pardon the sound quality. It took me a while to get those chops together. John Solomon 00:09:02 The hardest thing to acquire was information first and getting through all of the, the tragedy was, was the first part. You know, a lot of the suppliers we were dealing with guide and trying to acquire information from the suppliers and what was happening was second. And then trying to acquire information from governmental agencies and in north America was, was number three. And none of the agencies was very forthcoming on what to do and how to do it. And that was when my department realized we have to create this ourselves. And we have to really address every, every variable that could affect our food. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:53 Eden foods bought their own radiation monitors and checked containers, packaging and contents to find out not just about the food, but to judge worker safety. However, finding a lab to test the food itself for radiation proved much more difficult. John Solomon 01:10:11 They were labs in Canada, but the labs would not accept the product coming into the country because it not been tested yet, which was kind of funny. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:21 So they couldn't do the test because you hadn't tested it Libbe HaLevy 01:10:25 As for official American response to requests for radiation monitoring help. Here's what he had to say about the FDA. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:33 What if anything, has the FDA been doing in all of this? John Solomon 01:10:38 FDA has been coming in periodically when we receive containers and they will put the container on hold and they will visit our warehouses and they will scan the product. And I can tell you, the FDA did not seem as if they were prepared for this tragedy. One of the first visits out to our warehouse, one of the FDA agents said, boy, your, your radionuclides detector is a lot better than ours and had trouble getting them started, figuring out how to work. It use them in a long time. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:15 John Solomon vice president of purchasing for Eden foods as recorded for nuclear hot seat, number seven, July 26th, 2011, only four months after the Fukushima disaster began by six months into production. The live format was gone no more call-ins and we now had an opening bit for each episode. When I learned that there were sirens around San Onofre nuclear power station here in Southern California, meant to notify the local populace. If there was an accident, I got a recording of a to use as nuclear, hot seats. First audio signature. The sound you never want to hear is the sound of a warning siren going on at a nuclear power plant. But whether you can hear that sound or not, we are all nuclear. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:09 Well, VAP was annoying and it only lasted for about a year. By the way, before I go further, I just have to tell you this little tidbit, the warning sirens at San Onofre needed to be highly reliable. So they were each powered by their own attached solar panel. That's right. Solar powering safety warning equipment at a nuclear power generating station. Think about that one. Anyway, I took advantage of my musical theater background to go in an opposite direction from that annoying, depressing siren and write a silly Diddy, which I then gave to professional musician, friends Marilee Weeber and John Barnard. They arranged it and recorded it at Winslow court studio in Hollywood. You hear the result every week at the top and tail of the show, as well as the stinger on numb nuts of the week. Nuclear hot seat has been a weekly education for me. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:07 I learned from one early interview that human knowledge of uranium's danger, far predates Madam curies work in the 18 hundreds, Maurice and Candace Paul of the Janessa link. First nations people in Northern Saskatchewan were activists. I met online. I asked for an interview to discuss uranium mining and nuclear waste storage issues in their beautiful Homeland here for nuclear hot seat. Number 74 from November 13th, 2012. Maurice explains the warnings. His grandfather gave about the black stone traditional knowledge, which had been passed down to his people for untold generations and point to the earliest warnings about radiation dangers. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:51 There is an ancient tribal wisdom in your people about what is called the black stone and how the people were supposed to deal with it. Can you explain that story and how it relates to uranium Maurice 01:14:04 We're transliterating from the dentist language and tongue through the English language ancient stories about the black stone she called it. And I had remembered that from way, way back. My grandfather who lived up in the Northern areas have gotten during the fur trade era, 18 hundreds into the 19 hundreds. He was quite old when he passed on, but he always forbid to everybody to not touch those Blackstone's he did mention that when they were underground, they served like a little stove. We called it they're very, very warm. It was their control type of heating underground, which continuously was providing some kind of heat. Heidi Huttner 01:14:55 What is it called? Pitch blend or Maurice 01:14:56 Pitch. So scientists that I've been communicating with have also indicated that there were possibly touching blend the, before they appeared on the surface, they were white and color. They were underneath the ground. I thought some of my grandfather always pointed that out or those pure in color. And then when that was exposed or wouldn't be open the term quite dark, he always forbid those people, Arab, everyone to not pass those things. And those stones Heidi Huttner 01:15:30 Indeed were the ones that contained uranium. Maurice 01:15:33 Yeah, they were uranium to us. It was more than that, but it was literally a daily like God or something that had a type of a sacred connection to us. So it was in that sense that we understood the blocks. Don't Libbe HaLevy 01:15:49 Marius Paul, who with his wife, Candace Paul, our first nations Dessaline people in Northern Saskatchewan and ongoing activists in the fight against Canada citing a nuclear waste dump on their ancestral lands. After I left three mile island and came back to Los Angeles, my editor at LA weekly handed me a copy of the previous week's paper, which featured an interview with a woman I'd never heard of a Dr. Helen Caldicott in the interview. She was honest and direct about difficult nuclear truths that I hadn't encountered anywhere else. She particularly focused on the health impact of low-level radiation with a timeline of how many years after exposure it would take before illnesses first showed up leukemia and thyroid cancer in three to five years, hard tumors in 12 to 15 years and all kinds of cancers and other diseases ongoing from then on her words. The most honest I encountered though, they were terribly frightening at the time, motivated me towards a healthier diet, holistic healers, supplementation, herbs, and much more that I now take for granted as my basic lifestyle. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:06 For those of us who oppose nuclear, I consider Dr. Caldicott the mother of us all. I'd held her in such a mythological place in my psyche for so long. It's no surprise that when I first tried to interview her at an event, I was so tongue tied that I stuttered and could only mumble out a few questions before my brain froze. And I took my embarrassed leave since then. My esteem for her has continued to grow. But thankfully my comfort level with speaking with her has increased. Here are two brief excerpts from my interviews with Dr. Caldicott in this first one, she responds to my question as to what activists need to do to, I think Dr. Caldicott 01:17:51 That it's imperative that people who are deeply concerned about all things, nuclear learn as much as they can about the medical effects of radiation, the biological effects. And I have written two books specifically in that area. One is called nuclear power is not the answer by the new print. And the other one is nuclear med with sports you can do by WWE nurse. And if you read those two books, you will know more than anyone who's interviewing. You you'll know more than the people at the nuclear power stations or the NRC because they don't understand right. Radioed biology. So once you're armed with the facts, then you will know what you have to do. No one ever told me what to do. I just kind of know as I learn more and I do it Libbe HaLevy 01:18:41 While attending doctor Caldicott 2012 symposium on the medical and ecological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident. I got to ask her a question that's been on a lot of people's minds. Is there any place on earth that is not yet polluted with radiation? Dr. Caldicott 01:18:58 As much of the Southern hemisphere is not because the two air masses do not mix at the equator. However the ocean currents do and a huge quantity of regulation, almost unimaginable has been tipped into the ocean from Fukushima. And of course, fish swim, thousands of miles notions, current scope of north south. So that's a problem, but the, and we had British tests in Australia to which polluted some of Australia, but we are much less polluted in the Southern hemisphere and the Northern hemisphere. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:31 If you would want to take a family someplace, that would be safer and could get out of say the United States or any place in the Northern hemisphere, what would you suggest Dr. Caldicott 01:19:38 I'd go to Australia or south America? Libbe HaLevy 01:19:41 Is there one question you've always wanted to be asked in an interview and haven't or why response you've wanted to give that you haven't had an opportunity to give yet Dr. Caldicott 01:19:50 Where I haven't. We saved the earth yet. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:53 Dr. Helen Caldicott. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the clip where I asked her if things here in America go south radiation, only speaking. And I managed to evacuate to Australia. Could I sleep on her couch until I got myself settled after she stopped? Chortling she kindly moved onto another subject without comment. One of the great painful, ongoing revelations I gained through doing this show is how the nuclear industry has from the start devastated indigenous people around the world. Here is a brilliant brief summary by eons of RT. He is principal man of the Western bands of the Shishoni nation of Indians and a board member of the native community action council, Ian wrote and recorded a piece, entitled a message from the most bombed nation on earth, which was carried originally by Alan Jazeera. I found it so moving, I had to share from nuclear hot seat, number 4 83, September 22nd, 2020. Ian 02:20:59 You never know what's killing you when it's done in secret. Every family here is affected. We've seen mental and physical retardation, leukemia, childhood leukemia, all sorts of cancers. My name is eons barky and I'm principal man of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians. The most bombed nation on earth. Our country is approximately 40,000 square miles, just west of Las Vegas in Nevada, all the way to the snake river in Idaho. We've been on this land at least 10,000 years. Our relationship to the United States is based upon the treaty will be valid signed in 1863 in the treaty. The Shoshone continued to own the land, but we agreed that exchange for $5,000 a year for 20 years, the United States could establish military posts on it. But shortly before the end of world war two, we started to be overrun by the United States, military industrial complex in ways we are only just beginning to understand. Ian 02:21:56 Then in 1951, the United States established the Nevada proving grounds on Shoshone territory and began testing nuclear weapons without our consent or knowledge on January 27th, 1951, the first nuclear test took place on our lands. When at one, two, a ton bomb was dropped from a plane flying over it over the next 40 years, more than 900 nuclear tests took place much of Shawnee territory, 100 in the atmosphere and more than 800 underground. When the us dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 19 45, 13 kilotons of nuclear fallout rain down on the Japanese city. But according to one study between 1951 and 1992, the test conducted on our land costs 620 kilo tons of nuclear fallout. When the fallout came down, it was native American communities. Living downwind from the site who are most exposed. We consumed contaminated wildlife drank contaminated milk, lived off of contaminated land for native American adults. Ian 02:22:59 The risk of exposure has been shown to be 15 times greater than for other Americans for young people that increased to 30 times. And for babies, it can be as much as 50 times greater as a result, we have watched our people die for almost 70 years. We have been suffering from this silent killer at the United States. Government's culture of secrecy has kept it silent, but we are beginning to understand what has happened to us. We obtained documents that were declassified in the 1990s, but there are almost 2 million pages trying to understand all of this is daunting, but we are doing that work alone and without funding or support in every part of the world, where there have been nuclear catastrophes for nuclear testing, there are health registries to monitor those who have been exposed. We don't have that here in the United States and we need it. Ian 02:23:53 We cannot wait any longer for the health disparities. We are experiencing to be identified. We continue to endure. And we live with the understanding that the radiation is there on the ground. Is there in our plants, in our animals and inside of our people feeling she's showing people was never part of the treaty. We signed. Our people would never have engaged in something that would result in our own destruction, our customers sharing. But when all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail. That is what the U S military has been doing. Hammering the Shoshone with bombs. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:26 That was principle man of the Western bands of the Shoshone nation of Indians and a board member of the native community action council. Some of the worst nuclear devastation played out on Navajo nation land. Only three months after three mile island on the morning of July 16th, 1979, a 20 foot section of an earth and dam at the uranium tailings waste pool for United nuclear corporations, uranium mill in church rock New Mexico collapsed. It released more than 94 million gallons of highly acidic water containing 1100 tons of radioactive uranium waste material, the fluid and waste float into the adjacent perky river, traveling 80 miles downstream, past Sanders, Arizona leaving a trail of radioactive contamination that has never been cleaned up. It remains the single largest release of radioactive material in us history. Like most of us in America, I was completely unaware of the church rock disaster until I interviewed indigenous activists, such as Leona Morgan, a DNF woman who spoke about it. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:39 I was fortunate to be able to travel to church rock New Mexico in 2019 for the 40th anniversary of the uranium tailings disaster. I spoke with a miner who was on site the day that the accident happened, local residents, who weren't informed of the deadly nature of what had just happened. People who lived in proximity with uranium mines, as well as this catastrophe, those working on the resulting health problems and the anniversary event itself, where I walked in community with those most effected up the road from red water pond road community to the site of the spill. The full story of church rock is told on a special nuclear hot seat. Number 4 23 from July 30th, 2019. Here's an expert my interview with Teracita Cuyama. She has lived her entire life in the red water pond road community, and was not even born when the church rock uranium spill happened, but that did not stop her exposure to uranium mining waste by what was around her home and deposited by the spill. I asked her what she had been told about the accident while growing up, Taracita Kuyama 02:26:48 Nothing I wasn't aware of it. I didn't know much about it as a child. I played in these abandoned uranium mills and mining areas, and my grandmother owned sheep. So sometimes I had to herd the sheep or get the sheep when they got onto the mining areas, the million areas, and there was no fencing up. And so I just walked right in, got our sheep, came back through, got the back at home. Nobody ever said you don't go in these areas. That's dangerous, nothing like that. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:30 The first visible signs of impact from the spill came from the livestock, a sheet Taracita Kuyama 02:27:37 That had been butchered years ago and the entire insides, the internal organs all are tinted yellowish, and that's due to the radiation. Libbe HaLevy 02:27:51 The problems continue to this day, Taracita Kuyama 02:27:54 PA they won't allow us to plant crops because we can't eat them. Can't keep our livestock. The reason why we have our lifestyle is because we utilize them is an economic way and also a cultural way. We don't just keep, just to have as white folks like to have horses and cows just to be there. We like to utilize everything. So our sheep, we eat it. The wool, we use it to create rugs Libbe HaLevy 02:28:26 Through the years. The impact on her family's health has been extensive and devastating. We have Taracita Kuyama 02:28:34 Cancers, respiratory illnesses. We've had some people pass away from respiratory illnesses, pulmonary fibrosis. So basically these people who have passed away from respiratory illnesses, we had to watch him suffocate to death, and it was very traumatic. And it's something that we have to live in endure just because it's almost a norm here because of the radiation and the impact that the dust and the water and the land has done to our bodies done to our community. You know, you hate to say it, but it's kind of just like environmental racism, where our community is somewhat seen as expendable. You hate to say it and you hate to feel that way, but that's how it feels for our entire community, that we are the expendable people, because it took so long for Libbe HaLevy 02:29:41 Anybody to acknowledge what was going on here. Teracita Kiana of the red water pond road community in Navajo nation. One of my more memorable interviews was with sister Meagan rice as an 82 year old nun, she and two other senior citizens, easily breached security at the Y 12 national security complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to conduct a non-violent demonstration against nuclear weapons called transform Ploughshares. Now why 12 is considered one of the nation's most important national security assets and the U S was so embarrassed by this petite senior citizens ability to outwit them and gain access that they up their charges for misdemeanor trespass, two felony counts and sentenced her to just under three years in prison. She was released after serving two years, and I was able to interview her shortly thereafter. This is from nuclear hot seat. Number two, all five from May 26th, 2015. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:46 You were initially charged with misdemeanor trespass, and then suddenly the charges were upped to damaging the defense facility under the sabotage, and which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. And there was also the charge of causing more than $1,000 damage to government property, which carries up to 10 years in prison. Why do you think the charges against you were so dramatically increased in their severity? Taracita Kuyama 03:31:15 Obviously they didn't want a trial. They thought we would try to get out easily with a plea bargain. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:22 Oh, is that the strategy? Taracita Kuyama 03:31:24 Oh, absolutely. They always want plea bargains. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:29 Was there any question in your mind about taking the plea bargain all along? Taracita Kuyama 03:31:35 No possibility of a question. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:38 And what did you hope to accomplish with the trial and the resulting disability? Okay. Taracita Kuyama 03:31:44 To doing what we had to do, it's the obligation of every we're all equally responsible to expos and oppose known crimes. So it was nothing else we could do, but do it in order to make a very clear message. Quickly Libbe HaLevy 03:32:03 Sister Meagan, rice, there's much more that is deeply nourishing to the heart. And the hope that we have that is in this interview, and I urge you to look it up. All of the episodes that are being referenced here are available in full on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. You can search under episode number or keywords such as the name of the person interviewed or the issue under discussion. And while you're on the website, this would be a perfect time to help us keep going with a donation of any size after all 500 episodes, I can hardly believe it myself. And it only happened because of the support I've received from so many of you who are listening. If you have donated before, thank you because you've become part of the fabric of nuclear hot seat. And one of the reasons it's still here and if you haven't yet helped us out, but have thought about it, Hey, now would be a perfect time. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:59 It's our anniversary 500 episodes. Now, if you wanted to pay a penny, an episode that would translate into 500 pennies, just $5, which you can send as a one-time donation or make monthly to help sustain us in the work, or if you're up for it, you could do 500 dimes for $50 or $500 or anything greater or smaller because any, and every amount helps. Nothing is too small. So find something that works for you and send it in so that we can keep doing the work here. Remember while mainstream media has other agendas and gets bombarded with pro nuclear propaganda, that quite often taints their stories. We hear it. Nuclear hot seat, know where to look for the nuclear story, the questions to ask and how to report on the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the industry would rather we not hear about. Let alone understand. Libbe HaLevy 03:34:00 So take a moment now and just go to nuclear hot seat.com. There's a big red donate button there for you to click on so that you can honor this milestone in the show with either a one-time or a recurring donation. Please do what you can now. And to know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care when the opportunity arose. I returned to the scene of the crime three mile island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, not once, but twice for the 39th and the 40th anniversaries. While the nuclear industry is fond of claiming that nobody died at three mile island. I was always concerned about radiation exposure and had a hard time finding any solid information on it. But I got the information I needed on this trip. First Arnie Gunderson, chief engineer at Fairwinds energy education, a former nuclear industry, insider turned whistleblower and whittled whistleblower. He still is spoke about radiation levels and why the readings were so difficult after three mile island. This is an excerpt from a press conference speech given by irony in the rotunda of the Pennsylvania state house for TMOs 40th anniversary, Arnie Gunderson 03:35:20 How much radiation was released. And the answer is nobody knows. And the reason for that is that every single radiation detector in every single event that left the plan was picked that when they built three mile island, they really want it to detect the low levels of radiation that would be released. And they put all low level radiation detectors in the stack and in all the ventilation systems. But when the disaster happened, all of those went off scale high. So nobody measured what went out of three mile island. So at best scientists like me have to calculate based on what we know was measured out in the environment, the NRC on their website, very shortly after the nuclear disaster TMI came out with 10 million curious, curious as a measure of radiation and a Curie is 37 billion disintegrations per second. So 37 billion times 10 million is what the NRC said. Arnie Gunderson 03:36:27 And I'll submit as part of this presentation that that's incredibly low. Most of the measurements were made by driving a car around, through the local neighborhoods and out into the hillsides and also from helicopters. And you'll look in my press packet. And I have two quotes from a senior guy at the NRC, a guy named John Collins. And John said that at best the car is if he and he didn't trust the helicopter data at all. So if you think about a helicopter takes, it takes pure air from above and pushes that pure air down on the radiation detector below diluting, whatever the radiation levels were. So the car data is suspect and the helicopter data is useless. What I did was I plotted where the nuclear regulatory commission looked on the first four days, and I compared it to the peer reviewed paper that Dr. Arnie Gunderson 03:37:27 Steve wing road, 10 years ago, I met Steve wing right here in the rotunda. Dr. Wing was an epidemiologist at the UNC two years ago. He passed wonderful scientist. And Steve showed that there was a dramatic increase in cancer along the Susko Hanna river valley. This is peer reviewed stuff. This went through a rigorous scientific process. What happened in the Cisco Hannah river valley was that during the first couple of days of the disaster, there was a temperature inversion over the valley. And that kept the radiation moving up and down the river, but it didn't allow the radiation to move up into the hillsides as much. So if you look at Steve's data, which is on these slides, but also in the material I gave you, and I'll have a PDF up on the Fairwinds website after I speak at Penn central. But if you look at that data, you'll see a clear correlation to cancer increase versus where you lived in relation to the river valley, Libbe HaLevy 03:38:34 Arnie Gunderson, chief engineer at Fairwinds energy education. Later that weekend, I had an extensive conversation with Cindy Folkers. She is the radiation and health specialist for beyond nuclear. What Cindy shared with me rocked me to my core because it gave me the exact information I've been looking for and not finding about what might've happened to me based on my exposure to the radiation at three mile island. What kind of difficulties are there with figuring out what the impact has been on health of three months? Cindy Folkers 03:39:09 Well, there were a lot of difficulties. The first difficulty was that a lot of the monitors just simply weren't working. So they don't really know what exactly was released, how much radioactivity was released during the whole three mile island disaster. When it was spewing stuff out into the environment, we don't know what kind of radioactivity was released as far as the isotopes, the cesium, the strontium, the iodine we suspect certainly that iodine was, but, you know, there was also an issue with the health impacts because there was a court order issued that basically established something called the three mile island health fund. And as a stipulation of getting money from the fund, any researcher that wanted to use fund money was basically not able to look at the impact of higher doses and if they had wanted to do so, then they had to have asked someone from the nuclear insurers to provide them with an expert to okay, whatever it was they wished to study. Cindy Folkers 04:40:07 It's an incredible agreement. And I say incredible. And the most, the most horrible way, because in essence, what that did was when researchers used money from the fund and they did find increases of health impacts. They couldn't attribute those health impacts to radiation because the court said the doses were too low, but the court had no way to know exactly what the doses were come to find out. 15 years later, the only study that was able to attribute any of the health, the disease increases to radiation exposure was the Steven wing study. You as a university, North Carolina at chapel hill epidemiologist professor there. And one of the aspects of his study in addition to the epidemiological process was that he drew people's blood. And then people's blood who he drew complained of symptoms of higher radiation exposure, such as skin reddening, metallic taste in the mouth hair, falling out. Cindy Folkers 04:41:02 Those kinds of symptoms. He drew over 20 people's blood. This was about 15 years later when it was done. And he had someone look at the chromosome malformation, specifically something called a dicentric centric ring, which is known to be a marker of radiation exposure when they did that, they discovered that indeed those people had been exposed to 600 to 900 milligrays, which is 60 to 90 rads, which is so much more. And again, this was 15 years later after exposure, then certainly that the court was willing to allow researchers to investigate at that higher exposure level, but higher than any official or industry person was willing to admit at the time or even today. So what the monitors failed to measure the people's blood who were exposed during the accident, the disaster, really their blood measured. It just fine. The thing that is really awful today is that this doesn't seem that the fact that the it was recorded in the blood, the radiation exposures were basically recorded in the blood. Cindy Folkers 04:42:08 Doesn't seem to have taken hold. These kinds of blood draws are not that I know of generally being used in most of post accident, scenario exposure, dose reconstructions, like Fukushima should be being used at Fukushima should have been being used at Chernobyl for public members of the public, not just workers and not just military. And this test has been around this dicentric chromosome ring test has been around since the mid 20th century. So the 1950s or sixties. So to me, it's completely unconscionable that you don't believe the biological data, but a court order you'll believe as saying that the doses were too low, having absolutely no basis for making that statement. So it's 48 Libbe HaLevy 04:42:55 Years later. Now, is it possible that blood markers could still be Cindy Folkers 04:42:59 Found in the three mile island folks? I'm not enough of an expert to know. I do know that the technique is currently being used, although it's mostly in military or worker exposure context in the United States, it's out of Oak Ridge and Fukushima certainly Chernobyl, possibly. Yeah. I mean, if you look at the blood draws at three mile island, it was still showing you were still able to get a dose read 15 years later. Now it's 40 years again, here at three mile island. So that would be a question for an expert, but you know, we shouldn't be standing here saying, could we do it now? They should have just done it after the things exploded after Chernobyl blew, after Fukushima blew, it should have been within the first few months that they did this. There shouldn't be a question. My question is why don't they use this technique? Libbe HaLevy 04:43:51 A good question, and still not an answer. Cindy Folkers, radiation and health specialist for beyond nuclear from nuclear hot seat, number 4 0 7, April 9th, 2019. Finally, it is a beautiful and entirely unpredictable confluence of timing that has this 500th episode of nuclear hot seat happening the same week that the United nations treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons takes on force of law. That historic event happens this Friday, January 22nd, 2021, the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal, being their total elimination, the treaty prohibits states from participating in any nuclear weapons related activities, including development, testing, possession, stockpile use, or threat of use of nuclear weapons. It is the result of a successful campaign coordinated by the Nobel peace prize winning organization. I can the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. After years of stalemate, the treaty passed the United nations on September 20th, 2017, with 122 nations signing on in the ensuing years. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:10 It has gone through the necessary processes to have been ratified by the more than 50 nations required for it to enter into force of law. But let's take it back to that exciting moment. When the course of the future and of nuclear weapons changed forever, we contacted professor Heidi Huttner. She is director and producer of the upcoming film on three mile island accidents can happen and is a professor of sustainability and English at Stony Brook university and a scholar of nuclear and environmental history. And eco-feminism Heidi was present at the United nations and in the room where it happened at the time of the vote, we were able to speak with her less than one hour after passage, as you can hear from our shared energy and excitement, it was a memorable occasion, Heidi Huttner 04:46:00 Heidi, where are you? And what just happened? Well, I'm at the UN in New York city and historic moment just happened. The United nations just voted almost by consensus one vote extension one against and all of the other 122 voted in favor of this treaty to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons and to move forward with getting rid of them. Now we know that the nine nuclear nations are not here and they're not participating, but this is a tremendous moment because it's saying the rest of the nation don't want this. Don't want to proceed with us. And so for truly moving forward with the abolition of nuclear weapons and reading about this, I have been in tears this morning here. Lots of tears. Okay. So here was the moment I was in there when they voted, when the, when the vote was announced and sealed officially, and people were hearing crying, hugging. Heidi Huttner 04:46:56 It was a really powerful moment. And I was right next to the two nuclear nuns, Carol Gilbert and RDF plat. And they were the two nuns who went to jail in protest of nuclear weapons. And they were crying all the women from I can, who have come from all over the world. And then Kathleen Sullivan, who from the, he bequeathed her stories, Robert Croonquist, who's also from Kabaka Russia. Everyone was weeping, many women from all over the world. And then Australia, India. There was an amazing speech by the ambassador from South Africa who spoke about just being the Eve of Nelson Mandela day and how he is watching in this moment. And we being an so proud of this vote. It is thrilling even from a distance to know what has happened and that the history is here right in front of us, right at this moment. And what's the next step? Heidi Huttner 04:47:59 What do we do to start implementing this around the world, including here in the United States, which has been, probably will be the last one to sign on. Right? So I think what this is saying is, look, we have the rest of the world in support of this. And for those of us who are active and advocates on behalf of the abolition of nuclear weapons, we can now use this as a tool, to both divest from banks that invest in nuclear weaponry. That's a really big one, the divestment campaign and get this message out on social media. Everyone should be doing it. You've got plenty of opportunity. Now you have material to work with. You can go to the ICANN website, they're leaders internationally and promoting this. So there's lots of photographs and material there and articles. You can follow me, Heidi huttner.com. You can follow me on Facebook. I've got lots of photos and retweet where you Facebook. I mean, get it out there. We know our president. We know these people, social media works. So use that and write letters to your editor, you know, tell your congressmen and congresswomen and senators reinforce how important this is and how we need to join with the rest of the world and abolish these horrific horrific weapons Libbe HaLevy 04:49:07 Writer, producer, director, and professor Heidi Huttner from nuclear hot seat, number 3, 1 6, July 11th, 2017. There will be more than 100 celebratory events taking place around the world. This Friday, January 22nd, to celebrate the milestone of nuclear weapons becoming illegal. The primary celebration will be presented by ICANN at 9:00 PM, Geneva, Switzerland time, which is 3:00 PM Eastern and noon. Pacific times here in the U S we will link to that and also to a list of other events happening around the world. This is truly something to celebrate, and I hope you can join with your sisters and brothers around the world and marking this historic day in the battle to get rid of nuclear weapons and for a practical tip that you can take right now here, once again is Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb explaining how you too can help cut the financial knees out from under the nuclear weapons industry. Susie Snyder from paps. The Netherlands provided a strategy for taking funding away from companies that make nuclear bombs and delivery components. Here she is with the short version of that strategy, which has implications for nuclear reactors as well. Susie Synder 05:50:29 It's amazing. It's called don't bank on the bomb, and that's the website too. Don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon producers, step to contact your bank, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says, and if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to the companies that make nuclear weapons, you and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallet. And Libbe HaLevy 05:51:07 When people find out whether the companies that were told the bank is supporting, having a connection with the nuclear weapons, India. Susie Synder 05:51:15 Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profiled 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website. Don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in through the website, really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'm happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, tell us we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Love it. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:51 Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb.com. If you haven't yet made that call to your bank, do it now. So this is just a brief sampling of a few of the highlights and teachable moment, myself being the teachable person that I experienced during the creation of the first 500 episodes of nuclear hot seat ask for having taken that step into the great podcasting unknown on June 14th, 2011, not having a clue as to where it might lead. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. If I'd not screwed my courage to the sticking place back then, I would not be speaking with you. Now. I would not have an international network of friends, genuine friends of the anti-nuclear persuasion people in New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Germany, France, England, India, Australia, Turkey, and all the other countries where people have reached out to me, subscribe to the show sent along information, helped me find the right people to interview. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:59 And our influence keeps growing in recent weeks in rankings as a business podcast, nuclear hot seat ranked number 66, 0 in Japan. Number 58 in Russia. Number 12 in Mongolia. Number five in Indonesia. And number one in Bolivia, none of which are countries which specialized in the speaking of English. And I doubt they had anybody doing simultaneous translations of what was coming across on this show. Interviews from nuclear hot seat are being referenced in academic papers. Most recently, one just published in France. While on this journey, I had discovered that the people who fight against this nuclear madness are some of the smartest sharpest, kindest, most compassionate, as well as funniest people. I have ever been privileged to meet head heart and soul. Each one has the full package and I'm honored that I was able to come from out of nowhere and earn your trust as well as your friendship. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:05 Now, despite the fact that it sometimes feels like I'm just sitting alone at my desk, shouting at myself while alive, Mike sits blinking at me in my solitude while my dog looks at me as if I'm nuts and my neighbors shake their heads at my rants and think, oh, there she goes again. It seems that these shows have been of some value in light of that. How could I stop not planning on it? As I promised during my first show, I will take nuclear hot seat one week at a time, one episode at a time, as long as there is still need, I will keep doing this to the best of my abilities and let's face it. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years. Doesn't look like I'm going anywhere, except back to the microphone. After I posted this show to get started on next week's nuclear hot seat, number 5 0 1. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:01 This has been nuclear hot seat number 500 for Tuesday, January 19th, 2021. Thanks to all of you for listening, sharing, supporting, and being on this journey with me into the truth about what nuclear is, what it is already done to us, what it could still do to us with an eye for stopping it from getting any worse and for turning it around. And of course, a big shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers in the world in at least 123 countries on six continents and counting nuclear hot seat is syndicated for broadcast through Pacifical audio port network. That means that if you know of a nonprofit or community radio station in your area, that would be interested in broadcasting the show, let me know who to contact, and I will follow up with them to see if we can get it on the air in your area and let them know about me. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:57 And they can send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com either way, once we're in touch, the Pacific is syndication is an easy thing to set up so that stations can broadcast this program every week. Now, if you want to get nuclear, hot seat delivered by an email every week, it's easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that yellow opt-in box and sign up for weekly email links to the latest show. It will not only have the link. There'll be a short summary of what's inside as well, along with a tweet blimp post that you can copy and paste into your social media to get the show out even further. If you're interested in following up on any of the shows you have heard excerpted today, or any others, you can find our back episodes, all 500 of them@nuclearhotseat.com. And as we move into the future, if you, yes, you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, just send it in an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:05 We check those every day. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com and look for that big red button. Click on it, follow it, commemorate this 500th episode, or just buy us a cup of coffee. The equivalent, of course we won't be drinking the coffee. We'll be using it for the show. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that here in the United States, we now have a new president and he is the one who has the nuclear launch codes. And no one person of any political persuasion should be trusted with the power to end the world on impulse. So let's get something going to change that. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:24 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH: #499: Radioactive Olympics Torch Relay - Again! - thru Fukushima & Futaba - Beverly Findlay Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-olympics-torch-relay-thru-fukushima-futaba-again/ Published: 2021-01-14 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Olympics Torch Relay – Again! – will Run through Futaba. It was host town to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and ground zero for radiation releases from the 2011 triple meltdown. This Week’s Featured Interview: Radioactive Olympics Torch Relay – Again! – Beverly Findlay-Kaneko is Nuclear Hotseat’s Voices from Japan producing partner. She evacuated Japan with her son following the 2011 nuclear disaster. Here, she provides details from on-the-ground reports out of Fukushima Prefecture, along with direct statements by former residents of Futaba translated from Japanese blog posts exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat. We revisit this interview from Nuclear Hotseat #450 and it’s deja vu all over again. The 2021 Olympics are still being called the 2020 Olympics, and every plan made for last year is being implemented this year, as-is. We spoke on January 20, 2020, which was before the Covid 19 pandemic forced cancellation of last year’s Radioactive Olympics plans. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (r) and Libbe HaLevy (l) with Kumar Sundaram (c) Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (r) and Libbe HaLevy (l) with Kumar Sundaram (c) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japan can’t lure evacuees or even newbies to live in Fukushima Prefecture, so maybe a bit of bribery, er, financial incentive might help them along…? Links: (under construction; being added) Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 The radioactive Olympics are on again, according to Japan and the international Olympic committee and the torch run for these Olympics is again, planned as last year to spend the first three days with people running around Fukushima prefecture, including through hu Taba, the town where the triple meltdown still radioactive Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is located the Japanese government TEPCO and the IOC insists that everything is a okay, but then you read a statement from a former resident of Futaba, forced out of the town and her life by the nuclear disaster. And she says, Beverly Finley Kaneko 00:00:43 Reconstruction is just a fantasy. The reconstruction being touted in conjunction with the Olympics, completely divergent from reality in an environment where contaminated water keeps flowing and contaminated debris keeps piling up. We shouldn't be doing PR just for the Olympics. We aren't recovered yet. It's just making up something newsworthy out of nothing. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:07 Well, when you hear from somebody whose life has been torn apart by the nuclear disaster, it starts to come clear that we're all being gaslit by the veneer of normalcy, still being slapped on the ongoing Fukushima disaster, which is using the radio active Olympics to do so. And that means that not only residents, evacuees, Olympic torch, runners, tourists, and the media covering it, but the rest of us are all in that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:43 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:14 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international newsmagazine keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we revisit an on the ground report from Fukushima prefecture on the manipulations around the Olympic torch relay, which is planned to be identical to last year's plans and rooted to go through the highly radioactive, still difficult to return zone. That's an official label of Fukushima Daiichi, host town, Futaba nuclear, hot seats, voices from Japan producing partner, Beverly Finley Kaneko provides the details along with statements by former residents of Futaba translated from Japanese blog posts, exclusively for nuclear hot seat. We will also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information that has been discussed in the us Capitol building since last Wednesday. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:34 For good reason, all of this coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 12th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, starting off with an international notice for all of us to mark our calendars at the equivalent of 10:00 AM Eastern standard time on Wednesday, January 27. That's when the bulletin of the atomic scientists will announce the 2021 time of the doomsday clock. The news conference will take place virtually via zoom and we'll feature among others. Governor Jerry Brown, who is executive chair bulletin of the atomic scientists, as well as the former governor of the state of California, the governor of Hiroshima prefecture, CUDA Hiko you Xochi and many others. How close are we to the possibility of nuclear annihilation? You can check it out at the bulletin of the atomic scientists website, which is the bulletin.org. And we will have a link up on our website, nuclear hotseat.com under this episode, number 4 99 here in the U S the waste isolation pilot plant in New Mexico is moving forward with the use of a fan that could release radioactivity into the environment management. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:58 There has announced that they intend to perform a hot test in coming weeks in order to test the fan, which could release radioactive contamination. It's an exhaust fan that would be used to draw air from the underground to increase the availability of clean air for workers beneath the surface radiation that contaminated the underground was accidentally released in 2014, after a storage drum ruptured, leading to a three-year shutdown of whips primary operations, which is to store low-level and mid-level transuranic waste while whip officials report only quote unquote trace amounts of particles that could emit radiation would be released that ignores the fact that there is no safe level of radiation, and that does not differentiate between external contamination and internal. When you breathe it swallow it, or it gets inside a cut down Hancock nuclear waste program director for the Southwest research and information center, an Albuquerque based government watchdog group said he was concerned that there could be more radiation still in the underground and its ventilation system. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:10 Then estimated he said, testing the fan could prove dangerous and exposing workers on the surface to radioactivity. And that readings from a four hour test would be inadequate to determine the amount of radiation released during years of the fans operation in California, unit two of the Diablo canyon nuclear power plant went offline for the third time in six months, and is not expected to be back in service before Memorial day. At the end of may, both of the plants to unplanned outages last year were due to a hydrogen leak from an electric component at Pacific gas and electric facility. The latest shutdown for unit two was caused by vibration issues and the main electric generator, as it is built on the coast of the rising Pacific ocean, a top multiple earthquake fault in the opinion of this program, they should shut it down now or just shoot it and put it out of its misery. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:11 The Ohio Supreme court postpone the collection of $170 million in fees involving a house bill six, a $1 billion bailout of two nuclear facilities, which became law last year, and is the focus of federal bribery investigation under the legislation approved last year, every Ohio electricity customer must pay a monthly surcharge that amounts to about 85 cents for residents and $2,400 for large industrial plants. The charges will run through December 31st, 20, 27, 6 years worth of it. And what's to happen to this money. It would eventually be dispersed to energy Harbor, which owns the Davis Bessey and Perry nuclear plants along lake Erie, final decision about this matter still pending. So here's an interesting nuclear twist on the inauguration. As you know, from listening to this program, the president has the sole authority to conduct a nuclear strike and wherever he or she projecting into the future goes, they are accompanied by a military aide, carrying a briefcase called the president's emergency satchel, more commonly known as the nuclear football. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:27 The briefcase contains communications tools, codes, and options for nuclear war during presidential inaugurations nuclear command authority, and the nuclear football are transferred to the new president. But if Donald Trump says he will not participate in president elect Joe Biden's inauguration, this could complicate the transfer. The Pentagon claims to have plans, but is not divulging what they are. You can learn more about the football by listening to nuclear hot seat. Number 4 85 from October 7th, 2020 and interview with Garrett Graff, who wrote the book Raven rock and on the website, we're going to link to two articles of interest. How Biden can achieve a first in arms control, a verifiable nuclear warhead freeze, and why the us wastes millions on nuclear weapons. It doesn't need over to Japan. We're about 80% of the people in that country say this year's Tokyo Olympics should be canceled or delayed as worries. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:30 Mt. About a record surge in Corona virus cases across the country. This according to the Kyoto news poll last week, prime minister, yo Shahida Suga declared a state of emergency for the greater Tokyo region and could extend that measure to other areas as Japan struggles to contain a surge in infections. Note that all of this conversation about canceling the Olympics mentioned absolutely nothing about Fukushima radiation and the dangers, not only of being exposed to it, but of the games being used as a leveraging tool to force evacuees back into the area. Speaking of which 65% of the people who evacuated from Fukushima prefecture after the March 11th, 2011, nuclear disaster began have no intention of returning. According to a recent survey conducted by a Japanese university in response to a multiple choice question asking why they have not returned to their homes. 46.1% said they still fear contamination of the environment followed by 44.8%. Who said they have settled down in places they currently live, but Hey, maybe they can be enticed back because Libbe HaLevy 01:10:57 The Japanese government is so desperate to have people move back into Fukushima, to continue their cover up of the dangers of radiation, following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, that they will pay you to move back. No really Japanese government grants of up to 2 million yen will be provided next fiscal year to people who moved to one of 12 municipalities surrounding the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster site. Now, before you get all excited at that sound of 2 million, know that that translates into us dollars 19,200, and that's over a period of five years. So it comes out to only $1,500 a year. And over five years, it breaks down to $321 a month. Is that what your life and your genetic future is worth? The 12 municipality is all in Fukushima. Prefecture are who Taba. Oh, Kuma Tomioka NABI it tatty Kalamata, minimus, Soma katsu, RAL Narada Kawaguchi Tamora. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:13 And Hirono the 2 million yen grants will be offered likely next summer or later to families that did not live in the 12 municipalities at the time of the 2011 accident for a single person household who is a newcomer to the prefecture. The grant will be 1.2 million yen. And somebody from Fukushima prefecture who scoots on back it's 800,000 yen or $7,685, which breaks down to $125 a month. And they would have to live there for five years. Well, I don't know about you, but there isn't enough money in the world to get me to move back to that kind of contaminated environment. And that's the exact same problem you heard about in the previous story? We are 65% of evacuees from Fukushima. Took a look at what was going on there and went, nah, I don't think I'm coming back, but still anybody connected with nuclear things, money is more important than any other consideration. And what do you mean we can't bribe you and trick you into coming back here? And that's why government of Japan, whoever is behind this scheme to broad people back into Fukushima prefecture, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:13:42 And speaking of bribes, subsidies, Japanese local government's dependence on nuclear plant money distributed by the national government was starkly highlighted recently when the town government of and Miyagi prefecture in Northeastern Japan gave to HoCo electric power company permission to restart the number two reactor at the utilities on Angola nuclear power plant, local governments can still get money. Even when the power plant in their jurisdiction has been offline for long periods and the local municipal government officials said we are being greatly helped in terms of finance. Yes, but at what ultimate cost and in the UK, the campaign against Sizewell seen nuclear power station in cell folk has been gathering pace. The coast to be Suffolk is one of the most rapidly eroding sites in Western Europe. And it is difficult to predict what will happen to it as climate change accelerates and sea levels rise. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:40 According to the UKs environmental agency, Sizewell will become an island within a century and it already sports two nuclear plants, Sizewell a and old half decommissioned Magnavox station dating back to 1966 and Sizewell B, which came online in 1995 and is scheduled to operate until 2035 accidents and failures permitting. But the site is already too small, even for the two reactors that are there. The only access is via a road system that was built to carry summer tourist traffic rather than the 1000 plus heavy goods vehicles HGTVs a day predicted to be required for building the massive twin reactor project. A campaign group together against Sizewell sea was established in 2008 by a group of residents, nuclear opponents, and people from all walks of life in the area whose quality of life, livelihoods and homes were threatened by further development of the Sizewell site before any building can commence a year long planning inquiry must be carried out first at which the case against size we'll see will be played out by this group. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:00 And other interested parties. They're requesting signatures on a petition and we will link to it under this episode. Number 4 99, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first 20, 21, what a year, what a year, and it's only two weeks old. At least we can be hopeful that this year will be better than last, because if it's not, well, let's not go there. Whatever happens this year in government, nuclear problems are going to continue to be with us forever. The entire nuclear fuel chain is being supported by endOclear chain. Those businesses don't care. As long as they make enough money, money, money to buy $4.1 million cars. That would be the son of the head of Holtec. Meanwhile, we all have to deal with the dangers of radioactive contamination from uranium mining manufacturer, fuel rods and plutonium pits, transport reactor operations, the forever nature of radioactive voice with no way to safely store it. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:08 The environmental racism that comes along with this plus the overriding planetary life-ending threat of nuclear weapons. Quite frankly, the entire field of nuclear is a mess. And that is why you need nuclear Hotsy while mainstream media has other agendas. We know where to look for the nuclear story and the questions to ask. So we can report the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth every week that the industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand. And that's why the time would be right now to support us with a donation. Just put this on pause for a moment and go to nuclear hotseat.com click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size. And that same red button is where you can now set up a monthly $5 donation, same as a cup of coffee, and a nice tip here in the U S so please do what you can now. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:04 And to know that however much you can help, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care on last week's nuclear hot seat. Number 4 98. We heard from Dr. Alex Rosen of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war about plans for the 2021 radioactive Olympics in Japan, which are identical to the plans for the 2020 Olympics. In fact, they're even still calling them the 2020 games because Hey, if you spend that much money printing up merch, you gotta figure out some way to cut your losses in any event with so much being the same. We are revisiting our interview with Beverly Finlater Kaneko from nuclear hot seat. Number four 50 last January, 2020. Beverly is nuclear hot seats, voices from Japan producing partner, and she evacuated Japan with her son following the 2011 nuclear disaster here. She provides details from on the ground reports out of Fukushima prefecture, along with direct statements by former residents of Futaba translated from Japanese blog posts, exclusively for nuclear hot seat. We spoke with Beverly Finley Kaneko on January 20th, 2020, which was before the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of last year's radio Olympics plans, Libbe HaLevy 01:19:26 Beverly Finley Kinetico. It's always a pleasure to have you on the show and get your direct reports about what's happening on the ground in Japan and especially in Fukushima. Beverly Finley Kaneko 01:19:37 Thank you, Libby. It's always great to be on nuclear hot seat and be able to share this information with your listeners. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:46 Let's go to the basics. It's the Tokyo Olympics. Why is the Olympic torch relay even taking a detour to Fukushima? Beverly Finley Kaneko 01:19:54 Actually the Olympic torch will travel to all 47 prefectures in Japan over the next few months. And there are going to be PR events all, all along the chords to whip up excitement for the Olympics. It's starting in Fukushima because the government has decided to coin these Olympics, the or the official English translation is reconstruction Olympics to signal to the world that Japan has recovered from the triple disaster of March 11th, 2011, Libbe HaLevy 02:20:29 Which of course is not the truth. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:20:31 Well, of course not. But the main driver behind this is that prime minister are, they want to be the prime minister when the Olympics happen. And he has been quoted as saying that he wants to be able to say that Japan has recovered. Unfortunately he just can't just wish upon a star and make it better. So he's doing his best con job that he can to make it seem that way. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:57 Where is the torch relay going in Fukushima? Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:21:01 It's going to be in the prefecture for three days. It's first traveling to the still contaminated and struggling coastal towns of Hamas authority, March 26th through the 28th. And then it'll visit towns in the middle and Western parts of the prefecture after that. And in each area it's going to visit various towns and each day of the time they're in Fukushima and throughout the rest rest of Japan, it's going to end up in a town, that'll have a special event going on Libbe HaLevy 02:21:38 Recently. It was announced that Futaba the town where Fukushima DET is located, has been added to, and is going to be part of this torch relay. But isn't that area still too contaminated for runners to be passing through. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:21:54 First of all, I want to make it clear that Futaba hasn't been officially approved to be on the torch relay. The news was that Fukushima governor ICI Bordi announced that the prefecture would like to include Futaba. The Olympic committee is expected to weigh in on it next month, but it'll probably be included. So yes, to your question for the most part, Chautauqua and many other areas in Fukushima should be off limits for runners, tourists that caters and returning residents and people who have stayed there all along, quite frankly, but the torch relay is protected to travel very short distances on a very carefully curated route. And really that's where the problem lies. According to evacuees who are being affected by the rush to open up areas that should remain closed. Area wise only 4% of Futaba is going to be reopened on March pork. So 96% of that town is still going to be closed. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:23:07 There's a one square mile corner, just north of Fukushima Daiichi. That's right next to an interim contaminated waste site. That's going to have evacuation orders lifted. And then there's a two square mile area around Futaba station that will have limits on entry, relaxed, not really lifted, but they're going to be relaxed. Those areas won't be ready for people to move back in for a whole nother two years, but all the barricades are coming down. Anyway, people are not going to be allowed to stay the night in that area, but anyone including will be allowed to Libbe HaLevy 02:23:46 Visit children, pregnant women, anyone who might be more susceptible to the radiation. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:23:53 Yes. And just people who are really ignorant about what's going on. And I think specifically, you know, the people who've watched dark tourism, those kinds of people that are going for an adventure. I have a feeling there's going to be some trouble with that kind of thing. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:11 What is the requirement for an area to have evacuation orders lifted? Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:24:16 There are several requirements and my need tissue, boom reporter calskate Keno. Who's been covering the unfair treatment of evacuees. Really, since the accident happened, he described a public meeting about reopening these areas in Futaba at the meeting, former mayor of Futaba, who was the mayor at the time of the accident, Mary ITTO gala pointed out several requirements that were supposed to be followed that are being glossed over. The number one requirement is that the radiation dose has to be less than 20 millisievert per year Libbe HaLevy 02:24:55 To give us a sense of what that means. Give us the equivalency for Chernobyl with the evacuation zone and what the levels are there that are allowed. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:25:06 It's my understanding that the exclusion zone in Chernobyl was five millisieverts per year. So if you go to presentations or you hear people speak about giving reasons why this 20 millisievert per year is really unfair, often in Japan, that particular number is sighted. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:26 So cure novels, upper limit for allowing people into the exclusion zone is five millisieverts per year. But in Japan, it's four times that meaning 20 millisieverts per year, wasn't there an original number that was allowed for radiation exposure. That was much lower than that in Japan. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:25:50 Sure. It's a standard for the rest of Japan. And the original standard was one millisievert per year. Now it's 20 times and that's only for Fukushima in 2017 on nuclear hot seat voices from Japan, we spoke with attorney Yuki Cytal. Who's working with citizens and Minami Soma who are actually suing, pursuing a lawsuit, protesting this elevated and unfair standard as discrimination. Libbe HaLevy 02:26:22 What are some of the other requirements that are supposed to be followed, but have been glossed over in this reopening in Fukushima? Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:26:30 Okay. So the second requirement is that infrastructure and services need to be ready for people to live in that area. And this is just absolutely not true for Futaba. Just no, no way, no hell. They don't even have the little convenience stores and things that some of the other areas got. It's not ready for people. The third thing is the understanding of citizens, which should be gained through quote unquote, adequate discussion in public meetings. It's interesting because adequate word adequate was deleted from later versions of the stipulations. The meetings that they have, the public meetings are a lot like the Santa, no afraid of what I call the community enrichment panel. It's actually the community engagement panel meetings on decommissioning that we have here in Southern California. It's more of a chance for the powers that be, to tell the public, whatever they want to. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:27:31 And there's really very little chance for meaningful public comment. For example, at this particular meeting, married Ocala detailed to further requirements for lifting evacuation orders that were stipulated by Fukushima prefecture before the accident ever happened. And that would be number one, the accident site has been stabilized, which is not true in the case of Fukushima Daiichi. I know they talk about shoring up areas of the plant and I'm having boric acid onsite and blah, blah, blah. But if there were to be another big earthquake or if there was some kind of accident that happened during the Olympics, you know, radiation is going to be released, whether they can try to stop that or not, it's still going to be a problem. And the second thing would be that radiation is no longer being released into the environment. And it's really common knowledge that the contaminated water for one is every single day flowing out of the plant, the silly ice wall that never worked when the wind blows there's dust being kicked up from decontamination and so forth. So radiation is still around the environment at the meeting after eight Ocala son pointed these things out, he asked when radiation still continues to flow into the environment. He got no answer to his question because the bell rang that signaled that the meeting time was up. So that's how they treat a former mayor who was mayor at the time of the accident and evacuated to a different prefecture with hundreds of his citizens. He doesn't even get an answer to these questions. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:24 That's the way the nuclear industry, the nuclear establishment always tricks out any kind of meetings with the public to damp down what public people have to say and make certain that what has prominence is the position of the industry. Let's backtrack a bit, didn't you just say that two Taba wouldn't be ready for residents for two years or until 2022 at the earliest. Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:29:52 Yes, that's right. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:54 Why are they reopening it now? Beverly Finley Kaneko 02:29:57 That was the very question that was asked at the public meeting. And again, there was no answer. They just wouldn't admit that it was for the Olympics Libbe HaLevy 03:30:06 In your estimation. What is the purpose of a torch relay coming to and through Fukushima Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:30:14 Personally, I think it's all about PR and trying to Polish something that's impossible to Polish, but let's talk about governor Uchi, Bharti the governor of Fukushima, frankly. He has trouble articulating what it's all about at a press conference in December last year, he spouted some nonsense about showcasing the light and the shadows of recovery and Fukushima. And when he was asked, just what he meant by that. He said that light means the reduction in exclusion zones and an increase in foreign tourists. So that's positive to him by shadows. He meant that the former exclusion zones have only attracted 10% of the people to return. And actually we learned that in places closer to Fukushima Daiichi, like NAMI, where UGI and I visited in September last year, the number is like only 5%. And most of the people that have returned are senior citizens. So I suppose in central and Western parts of the prefecture that were less contaminated, they also want to showcase local culture. They want to foster tourism. They want to Polish the Fukushima brand, which really has been damaged by the whole accident. You know, even areas where it's pretty safe to travel. I think I don't really have a problem with that, just so that they're honest about the really serious problems faced by the hardest hit areas along the coast Libbe HaLevy 03:31:57 And nuclear hot seat episodes, 4 38 and 4 39. Last November. You described some of the towns that you visited in the former exclusion zones, such as tell me Oka NAMI, you painted a pretty bleak picture of them. Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:32:12 Yes. My overall impression was that reconstruction wasn't focused on restoring lives of former residents, as much as it was about building big new projects and fostering new industrial growth. For example, in Kawaguchi village, there were new ventures, such as a wetsuit factory with workers that they've had to import from Thailand because there aren't enough people that live there to staff. The wetsuit factory, the towns we visited were populated mostly with men in grubby work clothes. They looked like they were involved in decontamination work or construction projects. And many, if not, most of the vehicles on the roads and in parking lots were trucks. I saw very few women and I only saw one child in that area. That's probably a good thing. Yes. Do you know what the torch relay will showcase in those towns? Yes, I do. For the most part, you know, you can go online and they, they sort of show you what the courses are and Tomioka is going to start at the train station. Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:33:25 That's going to be reopening in March and in 98, it's going to take in a robot testing field and a hydrogen energy research facility. All of these things are brand new. By the way, in IPAT de Moda, the relay will start at the new commute brand new community center. And it will end at a brand new fancy park and end at a brand new fancy parking rest area to be sure the black bags full of decontamination debris that we see all the time and pictures online and protest signs that we saw on our trip will not be along the carefully scoured route. Radiation levels will also appear to be low along the route, but we've been looking at a blog by a guy named Hideaki Suzuki. It's called boon, citizens' voice newspaper. And he wrote a very interesting post about walking along the route in de Moda. Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:34:31 He took his radiation monitor and he found elevated levels on the sides of the roads and side streets, along the way and comparison to the official monitoring posts along the course. He also said that he saw no decontamination debris bags visible along the course. And just before we talked, I got some new information from the Yomiuri newspaper from January 21st and Fukushima prefectures very own measurements along that route found a 0.25 microsieverts per hour and 0.77 microsieverts per hour at one meter along the side of the road, the prefecture has announced that it will discount those measurements because the renters will only be briefly passing by that area. So when only have a chance to get a little bit pregnant. Yeah, I guess so I just to tell you that their standard is 0.23. So 0.23 is microsieverts per hour is supposedly the safe level by prefecture standards. So this route along a today, Murda is quite at home. Standards is not safe. Libbe HaLevy 03:35:56 So one is the standard, not the standard when it's inconvenient, right? How did the evacuees feel about the torch relay? Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:36:06 Well, for this episode of nuclear hot seat, I was able to translate opinions of Fukushima residents and evacuees about the torch relay that Hiroki Suzuki reported in his blog, Camino koi, Shimbun that I mentioned earlier. And, you know, as I was translating, I kept coming across a phrase in Japanese that was moved to me. And that phrase is Hochul mono. Literally it means box things. And I kept thinking, are they building box factories? I don't understand. Are they going to be manufacturing? Cardboard boxes? Is that the industry? But actually what box things is rather buildings and construction projects. So the residents were talking about the government building construction projects and buildings rather than actually doing things to help restore the lives of the people that live there or the people that are intended to go back there indeed might need to seem boom, reporter Keno, who we talked about earlier. Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:37:15 He quoted present mayor Issaquah, Futaba. That's a little confusing. The mayor now is Issaquah. The former mayor is Edo gala. So president mayor was boasting about trying to attract industry to Futaba. He says there are 16 companies lined up to invest. There are plans for an industrial relations center and a big museum dedicated to the triple disaster of March 11th, 2011. At this point, it appears that most farmers are probably not going to come back to Futaba. So there've been talks with a big agricultural company up in Sendai to take up a farming project on the land. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:58 Let's hear some of those translations from that blog of what some of the citizens that Suzuki talked with had to say first UGI OMA, 43 years old, originally from Futaba presently evacuated to Iraqi prefecture. When he was in sixth grade on HMAS PR phrase nuclear power energy for a bright future was chosen for a sign at the entrance of Futaba village. The sign was finally removed in December of 2015. What did own Nima have to say in this blog post? Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:38:36 I think the torch relay involves nothing more than reconstruction PR and signaling the end of the nuclear disaster by cleaning up a small area of town and lifting the evacuation order. I'm concerned that the torch relay will be greeted skeptically as a one-time performance and Japan will lose the trust of people around the world. Once the evacuation order is lifted, I myself am going to be considered a quote unquote voluntary evacuate reconstruction is just a fantasy. The reconstruction being touted in conjunction with the Olympics completely divergent from reality in a town with no residents. The train station has been impressively restored, and soon the whole job on train with mine will be reopened yet. Every time I go for a short visit, I see the interim waste storage areas, expanding along the coast on the east side of town. Even if the torch relay passes through town, people in Futaba won't feel in their hearts that this means actual recovery. Beverly Finley Kaneko 03:39:45 There are still so many streets that remain exactly as they were when the accident happened. Radiation has gone down, but other than that, there is nothing to base the idea of recovery or reconstruction on. Even if it appears that the town has recovered the lives and the futures of people who would have been living in Futaba, if there hadn't been an accident are in a complete mess. I think the recovery of the heart will be difficult forever in an environment where contaminated water keeps flowing and contaminated debris keeps piling up. We shouldn't be doing PR just for the Olympics. We aren't recovered yet. It's going to take a long time, but we are still trying hard. I think that in itself is good enough. My hometown has become a nuclear waste dump the nuclear power PR sign. That was the symbol of the town before the accident is now riding somewhere that is not visible from route six, the main road through this area, we are being told that our town no longer has any use for the past the era when our forebearers believed in nuclear power and lived alongside the nuclear power plant. Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:41:04 In addition to removing the sign, horrible scenery of mounds of bags filled with decontamination waste, desecrate, the graves where our ancestors sleep, can you really call this recovery Libbe HaLevy 04:41:18 Quite eloquently? Put, now, here are the comments of a 70 year old woman who is now living in the NACA, Dory or central part of Fukushima who is born and raised in Futaba. Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:41:31 Whether the torch relay goes through or not. And whether baseball and softball are held in Fukushima or not, it has nothing to do with us. Nothing is going to change because the torch relay pass through town while it might be good for the town to be seen again by people across Japan and the world. I think being made as symbol of recovery misses the mark in the end, it's just making up something newsworthy out of nothing. If you ask whether the lives of the evacuees have been restored to their original condition, well, they absolutely haven't. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:08 And this from a woman whose ancestral home is in Futaba and who talked about the storehouse roof being damaged in a recent typhoon Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:42:17 In December, I went to my ancestral home to clean up a bit. Precious family history had been ruined with mud and radioactive contamination. Our storehouse had been damaged in the earthquake and the Tyson finished it off. A truck came and carried everything away to the interim storage site for contaminated waste. That wasn't trash. It was my family's history. I want people to understand how sad that makes me feel the torch relay. Won't get that message out to anyone. Even if we return, there is no one there that Jack is being ignored while everyone makes a big deal about the Olympics. The more the Olympics is fussed over actual recovery in terms of local revitalization fails to progress at all. I wish someone could understand these feelings, the catch phrase, reconstruction Olympics does not reflect reality at all. In the shadow of the torch relay, our family homes are silently being cleaned up in the shadow of the spectacular torch relay. I want to say in a loud voice that the hearts of the evacuees are far from recovery. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:35 There were also some comments that were gleaned for this blog from a rice cake pounding event that was held on January 5th at a reconstruction housing development in ni home up to a 60 year old woman from where the torch relay will pass a new robot testing field. Always a good idea because robots go to Fukushima Daiichi to get burned out and die. Anyway, the torture relay will pass a new robot testing field at a hydrogen energy research facility. What did she have to say? Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:44:09 She said the torch relay is strange. Isn't it? Is there some way we can change the plans? Now I could understand if they were going to run around the train station or town hall, but if something or other factory doesn't really emphasize recovery, does it? Libbe HaLevy 04:44:28 I think that's a rhetorical question also at this event was a 50 year old woman who had no idea the torch relay was going to pass by the hydrogen electric research facility and even applied to be one of the runners, Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:44:42 The recruitment PR for the relay said, do you want to run around town? Of course one would think that that means running in the area where the elementary school suffered catastrophic damage in the tsunami and through the town. For example, I didn't want to run as an advertisement for reconstruction by running. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me so far. I wanted to say it's because of you that I have been able to persevere. Unfortunately I wasn't chosen for the relay team. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:17 And finally, we have a comment from town council, chairman, Mr. Tamora. And he had this to say, Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:45:24 After all the torch relay is just an advertisement for the government. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:29 And another man said Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:45:31 Reconstruction Olympics is meaningless. The only ones who are going to be happy about spending all that money are the big general contractors who will benefit. The man suggested that if they really want to show the truth, that the runners should travel along route one 14, but the added, it would be a violation of human rights to force someone to run in such a highly contaminated area. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:57 So the picture that's emerging is that quite frankly, be it hell or high water, both of which Fukushima has seen there is going to be a run on the ground through radioactive areas. Now, there is the question of the use of the words. Sometimes it's recovery, sometimes it's reconstruction. What do either of these words have to do with what is actually going on in Fukushima prefecture and specifically here into Taba? Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:46:29 Actually, as I went translating all of this, there was the phrase Hako mono or box things, which means buildings. That was a new thing for me. And then another thing that I really got to thinking about is the Japanese word football, which is not something that you can directly translate into English. It sort of means reconstruction. And it also means recovery. It means rebuilding and revitalizing. And I asked you T as I said, you know, I'm really having trouble translating this. And the government is saying reconstruction Olympics. And to me that means like just rebuilding building somewhere, or, you know, big pork barrel construction projects. It doesn't mean recovery, the meaning of Fuko. It's not just reconstruction. It also incorporate the idea of revitalizing or recovery. And I just think it's really strange that the government chose reconstruction for the English translation, because it's translating what all of these people who live in Futaba or who used to live in Futaba and NAMI. It seems to me that the towns along some majority, the towns that we visited the Tomioka and NAMI, and then also once we didn't visit like Futaba, all they're really covering in those areas is the reconstruction part of the equation. They're not covering that revitalizing the community or recovery of the evacuees emotional lives. And that seems to be really the missing element here overall. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:21 So it seems that the focus remains on the buildings and the physical evidence that something is happening and the image of the area, but not the truth of what happened to the human beings and continues to happen as they are unable to truly recover from anything that devastating as they keep trying to put their lives together. Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:48:45 Exactly Libbe HaLevy 04:48:46 Beverly, it is always instructive when you and UGI start translating from the Japanese to let us know what's actually happening there and what people are actually saying. And we will be getting back in touch with you for voices from Japan this year, and also for anything that comes up between now and then, and thank you for being my guest and my co-producer for voices from Japan. Always great to have you on nuclear hot seat. Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:49:16 Thank you very much, Libby. This is really always a learning experience for me too, and I really appreciate it. And we appreciate the chance to try and spread some of these actual voices from Japan and let people know people here know what the evacuations are thinking in their hearts. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:37 Anytime you've got anything more, we're here for you. Thank Beverly Finley Kaneko 04:49:41 You. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:43 That was Beverly fin lake, and Aiko the producing partner for nuclear hot seats. Voices from Japan series. We will have further voices from Japan coming up as we approach this Marshall Levin and the 10th anniversary of the star of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear triple meltdown disaster, Announcer 05:50:00 The activists, Libbe HaLevy 05:50:08 The international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, or I can w.org is the 2017 Nobel peace prize winning organization that strategized worked so hard on. And is the force behind the passage? I'm the United nations treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons that treaty enters into force of law as of January 22nd, 2021. And yes, there is going to be an international celebration that we are all invited to join. I can characterize it as a once in history celebration of the moment that we ban nuclear weapons, a 90 minute live stream event, January 22nd, 2021 live from the newly built. I can TV studio. This celebratory event will start as of 9:00 PM in Geneva, Switzerland, which translates into 3:00 PM east coast time noon in Pacific time zone. And we'll feature special guests connecting digitally from around the world. From New Zealand to Hawaii, we will hear from artists foreign ministers, investors, diplomats, academics, and I can campaigners you can sign up for the live stream@icanw.org. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:30 And of course we will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 4 99. So we can all join together and celebrate the start of peace for peace sake and action network.org is asking for signatures on a petition that demands that Congress add checks and balance to our nuclear system and enact no first use. We are asking for a mandate to ensure that the United States would never launch a nuclear weapon as a first strike and start a cataclysmic chain reaction of nuclear bombs going back and forth and destroying the planet. And no single person should have the right to start a nuclear war checks and balances on this power must be maintained no matter who inhabits the oval office, because we cannot afford to have the survival of human beings and life on this planet in the hands of a single individual, no matter what their political persuasion, the link will be up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Again, this is episode number 4 99. That's where you'll find it. And if you're ready to take an action on behalf of getting rid of nuclear weapons, here is my favorite anti-nuclear PSA. Susie Snyder from PACS. The Netherlands provided aid strategy for taking funding away from companies that make nuclear bombs and delivery components. Here she is with the short version of that strategy, which has implications for nuclear reactors as well. Susie Snyder 05:53:06 It's amazing. It's called don't bank on the bomb and that's the website too. Don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon, producers, step two, contact your bank, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says, and if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to the companies that make nuclear weapons, you and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallet. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:44 And how can people find out whether the companies that we're told the bank is supporting, having a connection with the nuclear weapons industry? Susie Snyder 05:53:52 Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profile 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website. Don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in, you know, through the website really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'll happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, tell us we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Love it. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:28 Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb.com. She pointed out that blue cross and blue shield are invested in nuclear weapons manufacturers. This is either a conflict of interest or a great marketing plan. Either way time to let your banks know this is a strategy that has been proven to work and future generations will thank you. As long as they have the opportunity to be born. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 12th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net, Dylan renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons action network.org. Current argus.com CA current.com cleveland.com. Try dash city herald.com. Business insider.com. The bulletin.org responsible state craft.org, reuters.com. the-japan-news.com may Nietzsche dot J p.english.com. Yorkshire by-lines dot co.uk and to the ever co-opted regulatory captured nuclear regulatory commission. Big thanks to all of you who listen, and a shout out to nuclear hot seat listeners and followers around the world in 123 countries on six continents and counting. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:58 Now, if you're interested in following nuclear issues, and you've heard this update today, you need to get nuclear hot seat every week. So don't miss out on a single episode. You can get it delivered via email as soon as it posts by signing up for that email@nuclearhotseat.com. Look for the big yellow opt-in box, and then just put in your first name. It doesn't even have to be a real first name, just put something in there and an email address where we can find you. And every week you'll receive one email from us with the link to that week show, plus a brief outline of some of the material that's in it. Not a week goes by without a ton of nuclear news happening in all directions around the world. And this is your one way to make certain that you get the latest. So if you haven't already done so nuclear hot seat.com, yellow opt-in box putting two pieces of information done and dusted. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:57 If you're not aware of it, this show relies a lot on those of you who are on the ground facing nuclear issues, right? Smack dab in front of you. And we need to know about them. And that's where you come in. If you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And we will do our best to get in on that story and cover it to the best of our abilities. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment, go to nuclear, hot seat.com. There's a red button there. Why don't you click on it? Follow the prompts, anything you do from there, we'll help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Leiby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you. He's still got the nuclear codes and will until January 20th. There you go. If that's not a nuclear wake up call, I don't know what it is. So whatever you do, don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:25 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #498: Radioactive Olympics Deja Vu: UPDATE by Dr. Alex Rosen of IPPNW URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-olympics-deja-vu-update-by-dr-alex-rosen-of-ippnw/ Published: 2021-01-07 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Olympics deja vu – While they're set to happen in 2021, they're still called the 2020 games… same schedule, same dangerous locations for torch relay and first games. Will Japan and the IOC never learn…? This Week's Featured Interview: Radioactive Olympics – Dr. Alex Rosen is one of two co-chairs of the German affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), where he is responsible for the topic of nuclear energy. Dr. Rosen is a pediatric specialist and head of the pediatric emergency department of the Berlin University Clinic Charité. In the past ten years, he has closely followed the developments in Fukushima, especially the Fukushima Medical University thyroid-screenings, and published numerous critical commentaries on the WHO and UNSCEAR reports, the screening publications, and the health effects of the nuclear disaster. We spoke on December 21, 2020. Dr. Alex Rosen Links mentioned during the interview: Saturday, February 27, 2021 Symposium: "10 years living with Fukushima" – https://www.fukushima-disaster.de/information-in-english.html Information on the Olympic games and radiation risks: http://www.radioactive-olympics.org/information-in-english.html Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Micro-nukes at truck stops to charge electric semi-trucks? Oy! LINKS: 6 Things to know about the 2020 Cyberattack and Nuclear Plants by Ed Lynam, Director of Nuclear Power Safety, Climate & Energy, Union of Concerned ScientistsThe Green Fantasy and Messy Reality of Nuclear Power by Mike PlantInviting Nuclear Disaster by Karl Grossman Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:02 The Olympics in a case of radioactive deja VU, Japan is pushing forward with the 2020 games still calling them the 2020 games in 2021 and holding to the exact same schedule as before, including the torch relay, which we'll spend three days in the radioactively contaminated area directly surrounding the remains of the Fukushima Daiichi, triple nuclear meltdown, disaster Japan, and the international Olympic committee are saying, eh, no problem. But then you hear a genuine expert tell you, Dr. Alex Rosen 00:00:38 And your participate in a torch relay that takes place in the contaminated zone, right around the nuclear power plant. This can be an actual danger to your health. And these will be young people who will be essence. It will be children carrying this Olympic torch, those first symbolic few days to focus Shima Libbe HaLevy  00:01:00 Well when Dr. Alex Rosen, a pediatrician and chair of the German affiliate of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war comes out with that kind of warning for athletes Torchbearers and those who think it's a good idea to be on the roadside and cheer them on. You realize that they're all volunteering to sit smack in the middle of that one deadly radioactive seat that we all share. Announcer 00:01:28 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:00 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I'm the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk about the upcoming radioactive Olympic games in Japan with Dr. Alex Rosen. He is a pediatrician and co-chair of the German affiliate of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war or IPP. And w we learn of their information campaign about not only the dangers faced by those who attend the Olympics, but how the games are being used as a propaganda tool to disguise, Japan's push to normalize the area and force evacuees back into their homes, whether they want to or not. Libbe HaLevy  00:02:59 We also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than has yet to come out of Georgia. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, January 5th, 2021. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective, catching up with stories from over the holidays in mid December, hackers tied to Russia hit the nuclear regulatory agency, and at least three states as part of a suspected Russian cyber attack, creating the biggest cyber security breach in recent history. In addition to the NRC, the departments of Homeland security, treasury commerce and state were also hit ed Lyman, director of nuclear power, safety, climate, and energy for the union of concerned. Scientists has published six things you need to know about the 2020 cyber attack and a nuclear power plants. He states that while the scope of a cyber attack is still far from clear so far, there have been no reports that the NRC or any individual nuclear facilities have been affected. Libbe HaLevy  00:04:13 Lyman then states it is highly unlikely that malevolent actors today could directly cause a severe accident at a us nuclear power plant because the instrumentation and control systems for the most important safety systems are primarily analog non-digital. They are relics of an era decades ago when these plants were built, there's more and we will link to it on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 4 92, the wall street journal reports that president Illich Biden is going to review us nuclear weapons programs with an eye towards cuts. On the other hand, the Washington post reports that in the $900 billion Corona virus relief bill $11 billion are earmarked for nuclear related subsidies. Where would that money be going in part to the U S department of energy, which is now backing five projects to develop new nuclear reactor designs, touting them as being quote unquote advanced without describing what the advancement actually is in nuclear branding is everything. And now Libbe HaLevy  00:05:29 Like you thought small modular nuclear reactors were bad enough. We'll Argonne national laboratory is developing a nuclear micro reactor. They say, could be deployed at rest stops. Meaning truck stops providing a reliable quote unquote carbon-free that's a lie right there. Charging source for electric semi-trucks. These guys are so teeny tiny. They're only about the size of two home water heaters. And what kind of terrorist possibilities does that present critics have pointed out the obvious that there's insufficient evidence that small reactors are safer than large nuclear power plants, and also will take years before they're ready to be deployed. Whereas new solar and wind resources could be built much more quickly. So stop linking green electric vehicles to nuclear let alone nuclear that has not even been constructed at this point. So Argonne national laboratories and the brainiacs behind this particular idea, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy  00:06:42 I think in Japan, exceedingly high radiation levels have been found inside the crippled reactor buildings at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The levels were labeled by nuclear regulators as an extremely serious challenge to the shutdown process and overall decommissioning of the site Japan's nuclear regulatory authority said huge amounts of radioactive material apparently had attached to shield plugs of the containment vessels in the number two. And number three reactors radiation levels were estimated at 10 sieverts per hour, a lethal dose for anyone who spends even an hour in the vicinity. Are you sure you still want to go to those Olympics? Speaking of which a peer reviewed journal article published by the journal of environmental engineering science carries the title radioactive isotopes measured at Olympic and Paralympic venues in Fukushima prefecture and Tokyo, Japan. These are the results of a study done by Arnie and Maggie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education and professor Marco, Paul Johann called toughen department of physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts quoting from the article. Libbe HaLevy  00:08:00 It stated that it detected modest radioactive contamination at Olympic venues in Japan and found significant alpha beta and gamma emitter contamination at Japan's national training center. We'll link to fairwinds.org. So you can get the full information Tokyo electric power company TEPCO has just posted on its website, hundreds of aerial photos that were taken between March 20th and 24th of 2011, just after the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. While apparently attempting to give the impression of belated transparency on Fukushima issues. KEPCO has pixelated entrance areas of the reactors and communal swimming pool, which makes us wonder what they're still trying to hide. And four major Japanese life insurers will not invest in or extend loans to producers of nuclear weapons or companies related to them. Sounds like they just signed on to don't bank on the bomb just in time to proceed the entry into force on January 22nd of the UN treaty that will ban nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy  00:09:09 The four life insurers manage eight combined, 151 trillion yen or 145 trillion us dollars in assets, hoping that hurts the nuclear industry. Big time in Ukraine, the river running past the Chernobyl nuclear reactor is being dredged to create a shipping route, potentially resurfacing radioactive sludge from the 1986 disaster that could contaminate drinking water for 8 million people in Ukraine. This goes against recommendations from the international atomic energy agency that, that your noble exclusion zone should remain undisturbed due to long lived contamination from the Soviet era explosion. Iraq has announced that it will be suing the United States over depleted uranium use and the cancer strokes and birth deformities that have followed in its wake Baghdad will be filing suits in courts in Sweden and Germany over alleged major us crimes, including the use of depleted uranium munitions and over the holidays, a disabled and captain lists, Russian nuclear powered freighter container ship face, Gale force eight winds of 34 to 40 miles per hour. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:23 And there was definite danger of it going aground, all credit to the French maritime authorities who recognize the potential threat and deployed a series of escort vessels to help it get to safety. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first happy 2021, or should I say, at least we're hopeful that this year will be better than last because of its not, we're all in a lot more trouble than we expected in truth. All this new year's nonsense with dates is an artificial construct based on a made-up calendar because truly the sun will rise and the sun will set one day at a time and no matter what name or number we give it, we will still have nuclear problems. Radioactive contamination from uranium mining, through manufacturing of fuel rods and plutonium pits for weapons, the transport of materials, reactor operation forever radioactive waste with no way to safely store it. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:27 The environmental racism that comes along with it, no matter what year we're in, nuclear is a mess that will be with us, no matter what date we are looking at. And that is why you need nuclear hot seat. We keep you up to date on the nuclear story. We know where to look for it, know the questions to ask and we report on the ongoing, evolving nuclear truth that the industry would rather we not hear about let alone understand, and let's face it mainstream reporters don't know to ask and probably don't have the time to do so. So yes, that's why this would be the time right now to support us with a donation, just go to nuclear hot, seek.com and click on that big red donate button to help us with a donation of any size at that same red button, you can set up a monthly $5 donation, same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S please do what you can now and know that however much you can help. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:30 I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. Now, here is this week's featured interview. The Olympics are again upon us with Japan and the international Olympic committee mandating that they take place on the exact same schedule at the same venues. And all of it will start in and around Fukushima to find out the latest on the radio active Olympics. We spoke with Dr. Alex Rosen. He is one of two co-chairs of the German affiliate of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war or IPP. And w he is responsible for the topic of nuclear energy. Dr. Rosen is a pediatric specialist and head of the pediatric emergency department of the Berlin university clinic. Sheritta in the past 10 years, he has closely followed the developments in Fukushima, especially the Fukushima medical university, thyroid screenings, and published numerous critical commentaries on the world health organization and unsecure reports and the screening publications and health effects of the nuclear disaster. We spoke with Dr. Alex Rosen on December 21st, 2020, Dr. Alex Rosen. Thanks so much for joining us on nuclear hot seat. Dr. Alex Rosen 01:13:49 Hello, thank you for having me. Libbe HaLevy  01:13:51 When we last checked in, it was about the 2020, what was then the 2020 Olympics and the plans going forward, both for the torch run through the Fukushima area, the radio active area, and also the fact that some of the early heats in the competition were going to be conducted in the Fukushima area at the stadium that was going through to March of 2020, when things got postponed delayed, and then turned into the 2021 Olympics. What, if anything has changed in terms of the circumstances between the lead-up to 2020 and what we are facing now is they, again, are claiming that the Olympics are going to happen this year. Dr. Alex Rosen 01:14:35 That is a very good question. What has changed? Well, everything and nothing. Everything has changed. As we all know in terms of the Corona virus pandemic, the Olympics had to be postponed for a year. Something that we haven't seen happening outside of war times ever, basically. And there is still until now very a great anxiety, whether or not the Olympic games will take place at all. But the Japanese authorities have pretty clearly stated that they cannot imagine a situation which would cause the Olympics to be canceled. So this is quite a statement to make in these very interesting times. What has changed is really not that much. They move the Olympic schedule. One year later, minus one day, everything will take place one day early on the calendar then in 2020, but they even kept the logo and the name, it will be the Olympic summer games, 2020 and taking place in 2021. Dr. Alex Rosen 01:15:36 So it's still Tokyo 2020. They have actually stuck to their plan to have the Olympic torch relay first pass through the radioactively contaminated zone, right around the nuclear power plant. It's focused Yuma hen. They've stuck to their plans to symbolically open the games in focus, Shima city with the baseball and softball matches. So all of our criticism initially, and remember, we don't criticize the Olympic games as such. I know there's a lot of good arguments to criticize Olympic games, the whole commercial aspects of it, the corruption aspect in terms of using this money for venues, rather than using it for development, education and other important issues. But our criticism is, is aimed mainly at the fact that they are using these Olympic games to divert attention from the real story in Fukushima, namely the continuing nuclear catastrophe. The fact that nuclear waste is continually being emitted into ground water into the ocean. Dr. Alex Rosen 01:16:46 The fact that they will dump radioactive water into the Pacific effect that people still can return to their homes and probably will never be able to, to divert this attention away and focus more on the happiest states, Olympic games, people cheering, people, laughing, people having fun. And while this is all true, I think we're all grown up enough and informed enough to be able to see the ambiguity that you can have a little bit games, but still you have to see, you have to visualize, you have to respect the situation that people are still suffering. And these things don't rule each other out in an adult society, you can see both sides. You can address both sides. And this is what we are aiming for. The people going to the Olympic games, going to Japan to celebrate sport and youth and championships. And to also see the continuing catastrophe and Fukushima to respect what's going on and to respect the people who are still suffering. What, if any acknowledgement has Libbe HaLevy  01:17:49 The international Olympic committee or the committee as it has manifested in Japan, given to the fact that Fukushima is there and that there is still radioactivity sometimes at dangerous levels, Dr. Alex Rosen 01:18:02 None, basically the international Olympic committee relies on the Japanese counterparts. We have stated very clearly that there is no danger that there is no continuing threat that everything is under control. I mean, the claims they're making are really preposterous. We contacted our national Olympic committee here in Germany, and we said, you know, what do you say to the athletes, to the visitors? We're asking you, is it safe to go to Japan? And we would have expected rather nuanced or scientifically profound answer. But what we got was we talked to our Japanese counterparts, the Japanese Olympic committee, and they've stated that there's no risk of a natural catastrophe taking place during the Olympic games. Dr. Alex Rosen 01:18:50 It wasn't the question. And, and I'm sure everyone knows that you can make a claim that there will be no earthquake. There will be no tsunami. There will be no volcanic eruption, anything, because you simply don't know. You can say the risk is small or large, but you can't say there's no risk. So basically our main argument continues to be, we're not saying that if you go to the Olympics, you will return as a mute. We're not saying it's dangerous to sit in a sports park in Tokyo to watch big athletes compete. This would be Posterous. What we are saying is that you cannot hold Olympic games in a country that is continuing to suffer from a nuclear catastrophe and not address the issue and act like nothing is happening. And even worse act like everything is normal. Put up Potemkin villages along the route of the torch relay act. As if there was no radiation clean up the place. And then after two days it becomes the radioactive wasteland. It still is. After all the cameras have gone, this is not the right way to go about such an important event as the Olympic games, Libbe HaLevy  02:20:02 From your perspective and the perspective of IPP and w what is the risk to the athletes, to people who would be participating to union members who are with the various broadcast aspects of this who are going to be there and laying wires and putting equipment together, is there zero risk or is there possibly some, Dr. Alex Rosen 02:20:26 Well, there is never zero risk. I mean, if you go to, I don't know, Atlanta and have an Olympic games, there's pollution. If you go to London or to Paris, there is pollution. There is all kinds of toxic agents in the air. And so in those terms, Japan is probably not such a dangerous place compared to other where the Olympic games have already taken place. The main difference is that in Japan, the organizers have opted not just to hold the Olympic games in Tokyo, but to symbolically hold a few events in Fukushima prefecture, they're calling these the reconstruction games, and they do want to bring this point across that after 10 years, they've now come to terms with the catastrophe of 2011 and everything is fine. And this is the main problem. I, like I said, if you fly to Japan, if you sit in a sports stadium in Tokyo and you watch the games, the risk that you have does not come from radioactivity, the risk might come from the flight there. Dr. Alex Rosen 02:21:33 The risk might come from the perpetual risks that you have in Japan of earthquakes and things like that. The difference is if you go and you're participate in a torch relay, that takes place in the contaminated zone, right around the nuclear power plant, this can be an actual danger to your health. And these will be young people. This will be essence. This will be children carrying this Olympic torch, those first symbolic few days to focus Shima. And this is a major criticism where we've started an international petition to really stop these plans. But again, our main issue is not the health of the athletes or the visitors. Our main issue is the greenwashing or the white washing of the current situation for Kashima, where people are suffering. People have become nuclear refugees. People are being forced to relocate into their contaminated hometowns. And this is being ignored. This is not being addressed. This is our main criticism, not so much the health of the athletes participating in the games. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:39 There has been a lot of research that's been done on what the radioactivity is, what the dangers are. I'm thinking of the recent peer reviewed study that was done by Arnie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education and Michael of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. And I'm wondering what their results have shown and how you have incorporated that into your outreach. Dr. Alex Rosen 02:23:07 On the one that there has been a lot of research. There have been some publications. On the other hand, it has to be said that Japan has clamped down on a lot of efforts to really scientifically approach the nuclear catastrophe. We've just gone through in a very broad and very structured literature analysis of the major literature databases, especially with medical literature about the nuclear catastrophe. And 10 years later, we can say that having looked through all of the major databases for the major keywords around the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, it can be set that we found a vast number of publications by the Fukushima medical university, trying to show that the medical effects are in fact, it's not there or that the medical effects that we do see cannot be associated with the nuclear catastrophe. There are some good publications on the psychological and the social impacts of the nuclear catastrophe in terms of post-traumatic stress disorder, in terms of the general psychological welfare of the refugees or the workers. Dr. Alex Rosen 02:24:19 There's a number of good research papers about the effects of radiation on ecology, on the non-human biota on plants and animals in the ocean, and in the forests of Fukushima, there's hardly any literature, any publicized research on the health effects on humans and the ones that are published tend to be published by a small group of researchers and Fukushima medical university, which are centered around scientists called Shinichi Yamashita. Who's in Japan, kind of well-known figure called Mr. Hundred millisievert. He was the spokesperson for the government in the early months of the, of the nuclear catastrophe stating that 100 millisievert of radiation is completely harmless, and you can be exposed to it. In addition to these scientific papers, there are some publications, for example, by Greenpeace or by Fairwinds with woods hole oceanic institutes, which have covered topics like the radiation deposits in coastal waters in the bay of, of Tokyo, which is rather interesting for the water bounds sports competitions that are taking place in the Olympics, but also on nuclear radiological hotspots. Dr. Alex Rosen 02:25:41 And this is rather interesting because it always makes a difference. If you look at the official numbers, the official measurements of MBS and radiation. And if you look at these publications, which clearly show that you can measure low levels of radiation, if that is what you want to show, but you can also go five meters away from these measurement posts and find regular active hotspots. For example, on the side of the road, in gutters, in corners, or on the side of, of rice patties, and you don't have to be a genius to figure out that human beings don't just stand next to measurement posts. They walk along roads children play in forests in fields on the lawn, small children eat dirt from the ground where they play. And that means that if you really want to make a statement about the possible health effects of living, staying, playing in an area, it's not enough to just measure ambient radiation levels at one meter or one meter, 50 height at certain very protected spots behind buildings. Dr. Alex Rosen 02:26:54 But you also have to realize that there are radiological hotspots and Greenpeace, especially has been able to demonstrate this very profoundly alongside the root of the nuclear torch relay. And this is very relevant because there will be people running through contaminated areas with the Olympic torch. And if they pass these areas and there's air, or they are they're running and dust swirling up, they can actually inhale these radioactive isotopes, and this can cause harm to their health. And this is so far away from the official measurements, which have very little bearing on what actually goes on in the ground, because none of these runners will run past this measurement posts, which are hidden behind buildings. They will run them on the roads. And this is where you need to measure. And Greenpeace has, has found some, some hotspots there, which then were cleaned up and then they found new hotspots. And we would wish for a more transparent and honest debate about the real radiological health hazards. And you would very quickly come to the conclusion, which of course you would also come to if you didn't not to these measurements, that it does not make sense from a health point of view, from a humanitarian point of view, from a logical point of view, to hold the torch relay in a nuclear hot cell, Libbe HaLevy  02:28:22 There is an outreach that has been formulated through IPP and W2 Olympic athletes. What does that consist of and what are you hoping to accomplish with it? Dr. Alex Rosen 02:28:36 We wrote letters to a famous Olympic athletes, both in Germany, in the us, in the UK, in Russia, in France, in South Africa, people who were or still are famous for their Olympic wins for their astounding accomplishments in the field of athletics. And what we're trying to do is we're trying to gain some visibility in the athlete community for our cause. And again, and this is very important. Unlike other campaigns, which are calling for the Olympics to be canceled, we have from the very beginning, said, this is not our issue. There are people in our campaign who want the Olympics to be canceled. There are people who are big fans of the Olympics. It doesn't matter what we want is for the reality on the ground to be appreciated, to be visualized, to be respected. And so we've contacted these athletes and we asked them, do you want to become a face of our campaign? Dr. Alex Rosen 02:29:39 Do you want to speak for our campaign? Is this a topic that would interest you? And of course, we contacted a lot of athletes, which are political activists, ecological activists. So far, we haven't been that successful in gaining traction in the athletic field. It seems that this topic is, is rather radioactive. People are, people are, I think, a bit afraid to come out and, and speak on this topic. At least they are right now. I'm very anxious to see, or I'm, I'm, I'm interested to see how this will develop in March when we have the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, when people remember and recall these images 10 years ago, and when they bring them together in their mind of the plans to hold the torch relay in the exact same spots that you're seeing in these videos of people fleeing, being evacuated, radioactive, fallout, taking place. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:30:41 And this will be very interesting because I think that will be a sort of reckoning with the reality that these two things can't be separated. You can't just imagine that this didn't happen 10 years ago, or imagine that it didn't leave a lasting impact. And so our hope is that with this outreach, with this letter, that we're sending out to many different national Olympic committees and Olympic athletes, we will gain some support in the athletic field, perhaps even amongst athletes who are participating in the Olympics, although we are not focusing on them because we don't want to politicize the Olympic games. We don't want to divert people's attention, especially the athletes attention away from what they are actually coming to Japan to do. So I think the responsibility can be placed on the shoulders of the athletes of the young people going to Japan to compete, but the responsibility should be at the Olympic committee level, because these are the people that they're responsible for hosting these games and for being responsible for the athletes as well. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:31:42 And the general public, which, I mean, in past the Olympic games, we were able to address issues that have gone beyond the sporting venues. You don't have to politicize the Olympic games to address topics like colonialism or imperialism. When you host the Olympic games in London, you don't have to politicize the Olympic games when you address issues like deforestation. When you're in Brazil, these are issues that automatically come up. When you look at the country that you are hosting Olympic games in. And I think it's, it's a powerful possibility that the Olympics offer it's kind of a looking glass or a magnifying glass on a certain situation on a country in a certain point of time. And it's very difficult in these times, I think for government or an Olympic committee to filter this image and to create an image that want to be portrayed to the world and black out everything that they deem unacceptable. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:32:46 And I think in this age, this is simply not possible, and it would make much more sense for them to address these issues that we're talking about heads on to be more transparent because anyways, people will be looking at them. We'll be talking about them. I mean, if journalists go to Japan in March of 2011 and are standing on the side of the road with their Geiger counters saying, well, this is radioactive land. Why are we holding a torch relay here? These are issues that will be discussed in evening news that will be discussed in the sports television channels and will be discussed in the newspapers. So why even tried to ignore it from the beginning, it will come up. It won't be discussed. And we hope that people will realize that this, this should have been an issue from the beginning, Libbe HaLevy  03:33:33 February 27th, the German section of international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war IPP, and w is organizing an international symposium 10 years, living with Fukushima, it's going to be held in Berlin, but of course will be available online to the rest of us. What is that going to consist of? Dr. Alex Rosen 03:33:52 Like I said, we've gone through a very structured analysis of the available literature and we've filtered out what we see as the 75 most relevant published peer reviewed pieces of scientific literature on the effects of the nuclear test theme. We've specifically not stated 10 years since the nuclear catastrophe, but 10 years living with the nuclear catastrophe of Fukushima, because this is the reality people today in Fukushima are still living with the impacts of the nuclear catastrophe. It is not over, it is continuing and it's developing. And these anniversaries this 10 year, 20 year, 30 years, anniversaries are always a chance to refocus public attention on an issue that might not have gotten the attention it deserves in recent years. And we try to offer a chance for media, for politicians, for the general public to really get a rundown on which literature informed the past 10 years has been relevant. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:35:00 What do we know for certain, where is there still some need for further research? And I think it will be a very interesting event with a lot of new information, for many people who have not continually managed to follow all of the news coming from Fukushima, but it will also be a lot of mixed messages. I mean, on the one hand, there are 75 very well-researched papers that, that we can present. And on the other hand, there's still a very, very big void, very vast amount of research that never took place that should have taken place that will probably not be able to reconstruct 10, 20 years later. And so these, these very vital first 10 years of the nuclear catastrophe were not researched as well as they should have been. And the main reason for this is that the government, the Japanese government is still very much behind the idea of a nuclear renascence. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:36:07 They still want nuclear power to play a prominent role in the energy mix in Japan. They want the nuclear power plants to go back on the grid. And so they have very systematically tried to subdue research activities to steer, to maneuver research activities towards fields that are less harmful in what they're portray or even manipulate from some of the research such as the thyroid research of the Fukushima medical university, which is more or less becoming less and less useful as the government and the Fukushima medical university are encouraging people to drop out of the research. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:47 Can you explain a little more about the dropping out of people from this particular? Dr. Alex Rosen 03:36:54 The thing is a study that was supposed to be performance in a population of around 380,000 young people from Fukushima people who were under the age of 18 at the time of the meltdowns would offer a wonderful and a unique opportunity to study the effects of a nuclear catastrophe on a pediatric population. This is something that hopefully will never happen again, and it will be a possibility to really understand the effects. So in our view, as scientists, I am a pediatrician, we would put the utmost importance on trying to keep this cohort, this population together, and be able to study it respectfully with the permission of the children and then their parents, or as the children become older of the young people in order to show them that their experiences and their fate was it's not inconsequential. And that we're trying to learn from what happened and trying to also prevent certain events from happening again. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:38:03 But this is not what is happening in Fukushima. What is happening is that out of the original 380,000, 80,000 were initially never extended and out of the 300,000 that were initially examined every two years where there's a second and a third and a fourth round of screenings of ultrasound examinations. More and more people are not followed up on, and there's numerous reasons people can move out of the prefecture. People can just not come to the examinations, refuse to come or forget to come, but there's also a more systemic problem in that the Fukushima medical universities actually visiting schools is holding talks to in city halls to parents stating that, you know, all of this knowledge about early forms of thyroid cancer, it's not so useful. It's better to just let things happen. And if you don't know about a certain cancer, it will not make you so sad and will not make you anxious. Dr. Alex Rosen 03:39:07 So there's a right as they call it to not know and this right, or this privilege to not know, it's something that they are really promoting. And it's leading to people saying, you know, I don't really want to find out if I might have fibroid cancer, I will not go to these examinations. And this is something they are pushing. For example, with the questionnaires, you know, you can make a questionnaire and say great that you're participating wonderful. You're setting a wonderful example. And if you don't want to participate in the bottom line, there's a box that you can tick, or you can put the box up away on top and say, you don't have to participate. Please take care of you don't want to participate anymore. Or if you don't ticket, then you automatically are dropped out. And they're really using these very subtle mechanisms to encourage people or to make it as easy as possible for people to drop out, leading to lower rates of people being examined year to year. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:40:02 We are now in the fourth round at levels of about half of the original population actually being examined. And what's even worse is you would imagine that if someone is, let's say 10 years old at the time of the nuclear meltdowns, you would examine him when he's 12, when he's 14, 16, 18 20 22, 24, 26, 28. And so on to really catch the early signs of cancer, the early signs of radiologically induced disease. If you don't want to show this, what do you do? You finish the examination at age 25. You say two years before you turned 25. You're not allowed to have thyroid checks anymore. And then once you turn 25, we do a separate examination. We give it a separate name. It's a completely separate study. You have to register for it. It's a little bit complicated. You also have to pay for it, but of course your will, you're able to do it. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:41:02 And then you watch the numbers go down. And this is what's happening. There's the official research being done for children until they are 23. And when they are 25, there's a new study called the age 25 milestone study. And guess what the participation rate is in the lower single digits, there's less than 10% of the people who would be illegible to participate are participating. 66,000 people are illegible little bit more than 5,000 have participated so far. So of course, with this, you're really able to bring the numbers down. And by bringing the numbers down, the numbers of people you are testing, of course, you're also lowering the number of the thyroid cancers that you find. And there's more, if they find a fibroid cancer at one of the official screenings, it's registered as an official thyroid cancer. And it enters the statistics. If they find a malign lesion that could become a cancer, but they don't know at one of the screenings, they invite the children in for additional testing, less than two years after this event, which makes sense. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:42:15 If you have a lesion that is highly suspicious, you don't want to wait two years. You look at them again. After six months, they invite them not to the Fukushima medical university, but to the university hospital, just across the street, but it's a different institution. And if they find cancer there, they get the same treatment. They get an operation. The thyroid is taken out. They are taking thyroid hormones, but their case of fibroid cancer is not registered in the official study. Why? Because the fibroid cancer was not found in the Fukushima medical university, but in the Fukushima university hospital. And these are very subtle techniques, which work extremely well in confusing the data, making the data less accessible, less transparent, and in effect, making it worthless because what good is a study population that is depleted to about half spread out over two or three separate examinations, which work in different populations at different ages, with different preconditions in different places where you sometimes counted and sometimes don't count the cases. And in the end, no one really knows what's going on anymore. I mean, I'm a scientist. I know how studies work. This is not how you design a study. If you want to show an effect, this is how you design a study, or this is what you do with a study. If you want the study to not show an effect, Libbe HaLevy  04:43:54 It's like on the one hand with the Olympics, they are changing the international and public perception. And at the other end, they're making certain that the numbers aren't available there was the longevity study that I believe is still going on after Hiroshima Nagasaki, that was started five years after, and that has been consistent. And that data has been mined for some very important revelations for people understanding much more about exposure to radiation. And it sounds like with that as the model of the way a study should be modeled, they're doing as much as they can to make certain that doesn't happen now. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:44:36 Well, they have the experience from the lifespan study that if you do such a study, you do find effects. And if you don't want to find effects, you don't do such a study. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:45 So bringing this back to the symposium, the event that is going to be held on the 27th, 10 years of living with Fukushima, are there results that have been found through the data that will be revealed or discussed at that point that do speak to the dangers that are there? Dr. Alex Rosen 04:45:07 Well, definitely this, if we didn't have data, we would need to have such symposium. So what we're focusing on is mainly five big topics. We've picked out five topics that we see are exemplary for the effects of radio activity. And of course, while we're putting together a leader with all of the literature, we have to focus on certain papers. One of the things that we're focusing on are the effects on the thyroid. I was just criticizing the study a lot, and I think it deserves to be criticized, especially for the way it's being handled. But nevertheless, it's the biggest fibroid cohort study that has ever been performed on a pediatric population. And despite everything that I've just told you, despite all of the problems with this study, it still shows an extremely high incidents of thyroid cancer in children, which can only be explained with the ionizing radiation that they were exposed to because it's incidents arise in incidents of about the factor of 17 over 10 years, it continues to rise year from year to year, there is no possibility that is screening effects can account for an annual rise in thyroid cancer incidents. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:46:23 Very, very much above what we're seeing in the rest of Japan's pediatric population. Especially if you take into account that the highest rise in incidents is taking place in the areas that receive the highest amount of radioactive fallout. Whereas the lowest incidents rise is taking place in the furthest areas west of Fukushima, which received the lowest nuclear fallout. So all of these arguments are going to be presented and discussed. We will have a second big topic being the perinatal effects effects of radioactive fallout on perinatal mortality, perinatal morbidity on the rate of preterms, there will be a third session, mainly focused on the ecological aspects on the non-human biota on animals and plants. There will be a fourth session on the impact on the oceans groundwater and the bay of Tokyo. And there'll be a fifth one. And I think this will be very interesting because it's something that is usually not covered so much the psychological and the social impact of the nuclear catastrophe. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:47:32 And we really are focusing on the nuclear Chester feat. We all know that it was a triple catastrophe, was an earthquake, a terrible, terrible earthquake with an extremely terrible tsunami followed by a triple nuclear catastrophe about three nuclear meltdowns. And we're looking at the effects that we can discern specifically from radiological fallout. There are some very good studies examining the traumatic post-traumatic stress impact on nuclear workers or nuclear cleanup workers on refugees, which had to leave the area, not because of the earthquake and tsunami, but because of the nuclear catastrophe. And there are also some good studies on the psychological impact in correlation with the radioactive fallout. So how does that relate? How do suicides relate to the amount of radioactive fall out in the area? And these are very interesting subjects all the while we have to be careful not to fall in the trap that the nuclear lobby or the nuclear industry is continually laying for us, meaning the radio phobia trap. Dr. Alex Rosen 04:48:37 There's always this argument that the most harmful impact of a nuclear catastrophe is not the radioactivity itself, but the fear of radioactivity causing psychological problems, psychosomatic problems. And this is an argument that we're looking at in depth. In this session, we have a very renowned psychiatrist who will discuss this issue and really look at what's behind these arguments. So these are the five sessions that we're hosting in the beginning. We'll give a, an introduction into the health impact of ionizing radiation as a whole about the events that happened 10 years ago. And in the end of the session, we're trying to put it all together and formulate which research still needs to be performed and which political demands also come out of the research that we already have. What Libbe HaLevy  04:49:29 Language is this symposium going to Dr. Alex Rosen 04:49:31 Be conducted in, in English, in English? It's an international symposium in English. There are some speakers who will speak in Japanese subtitles or translation, but I think everyone else will speak English. We have some speakers from the U S from the UK, from Canada, from Germany, from Switzerland and from Japan. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:49 How will people be able to access it if they wish to Dr. Alex Rosen 04:49:52 Watch it live? Well, there is a website that we've created. It's called Fukushima disaster dot D E. And on this, you can, you can then find the link to the video conference. And we'll also put up the YouTube videos online after, after the event is taking place. So it's possible to watch it live, but it's also possible to watch it a couple of days or even weeks afterwards, we'll publish a reader, we'll publish some, some videos with the best off. So sort of like you don't have to watch all eight hours. You can just watch 10 minutes summary, and this will all be available on our website, focused Shima disaster.as Libbe HaLevy  05:50:28 We're coming up upon, not just the symposium, but the start of Olympic season, as it were with the torch run. What can listeners of nuclear hot seat do to support you and IPP and w in this work Dr. Alex Rosen 05:50:44 Go to the www radioactive minus olympics.org, you will find our petition. This is a petition calling for a rescheduling or a replacement of the torch relay, which we don't think should be taking place in the radioactive hot zone. And also the symbolic opening games in Fukushima city. So the relocation of these two events is what this petition is about. And of course, everyone who hasn't done it yet can sign this international petition. We will be handing over the signatures to the Japanese embassy at the, at the anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. And so we are hoping we're not naive enough to think that they will really relocate the Olympic torch relay because of our petition. We do hope that we get some media attention and that we actually are able to address this topic in the media and in the reports that will take place around the torch relay. Dr. Alex Rosen 05:51:42 Because I mean, if the torch relay takes place in the nuclear hot zone, and the journalists are asking, you know, has anyone thought of this, this, this, this, this critical issue. I hope that they will see our petition. They will see how many tens of thousands of people worldwide have scientists petition. And they will also see that there has not been from the official Olympic or Japanese side, a real conversation on these issues. They've pretty much pushed this issue through from the very beginning. And they weren't open to arguments at all. They weren't open to any suggestions that this might not be a good idea, and this is highly problematic. If you, if you organize such an event and you don't really look at the science, you don't look at the data. You don't look at the arguments against doing it in a certain way. So this is what we're hoping to, to gain with this petition. And of course it does make sense to go to this website also, because there's a lot of information about, for example, the radiological situation of the Tokyo bay area, the situation with the radioactive water that's supposed to be dumped in the Pacific. The thyroid screenings are explained in more detail on this website. So just to inform yourself, it's a good place to visit. Plus you will find the link to our symposium, of course, and all the scientific data that we're publishing there, Libbe HaLevy  05:53:03 Dr. Alex Rosen, you have always been a source of brilliant, concise, focused information on Fukushima every time we've spoken with you and for now, thank you, being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Dr. Alex Rosen 05:53:19 Thank you, Libbe HaLevy  05:53:20 Dr. Alex Rosen, co-chair of the German affiliate of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war IPP, N w we will have links up to the symposium and further information on the Olympics from IPP and w on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 4 98 Announcer 05:53:42 Activist Shoutdown! Libbe HaLevy  05:53:51 To sad acknowledgments as we start off on a new year. The first is that COVID 19 has taken the life of a Russian anti-nuclear activist, Rashid Ali mould from Greenpeace, Russia. He succumbed on December 17 to COVID and was only 40 years old, a journalist before he became an activist. Alimo helped found the Russian language, environmental magazine, ecology, and rights before joining Greenpeace among his major contributions was a series of articles and working papers on remotely positioned radioactive batteries used in navigation, beacons, which pose lethal hazards in Russia's polar region. He was commemorated beautifully by Linda Pence Gunter in a post from beyond nuclear international.org. And we will link to that. The other is Carrie Dan of the Western Shoshone nation, who was an environmental and land rights activist. She died at age 88, along with her late sister, Mary Dan Kerry, Dan firmly campaigned to assert the rights of indigenous people, the Western Shoshone nation, and committed themselves to the political and legal battle to retain their ancestral lands, which were threatened by nuclear tests, carry out by the United States for their actions. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:14 The sisters were awarded the right livelihood award. And as principal man of the Western Shoshone people wrote there is a sacrifice to live here in the desert. The water is our identity and the desert is our identity to our mother. And water is the lifeblood. As Carrie Dan said, she lived a life of sacrifice. That is the Shishoni living way, condolences to all of us. This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, January 5th, 2021 material for this week show has been researched and compiled from nuclear-news.net to own renard.wordpress.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, or I can bloomberg.com wall street, journal news, atlas.com. New republic.com. Courthouse news.com counterpunch.org, asahi.com fairwinds.org, right livelihood award.org beyond the bomb.org Asia Pacific report dot N Z E news.net and the ever co-opted regulatory captured nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to all of you for listening in 123 countries on six continents, as well as those of you who hear us broadcast on the Pacifica audio port network. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:39 If you know of a community radio station in your area that would like to carry nuclear hot seat, let me know of them, let them know of me, and let's get that conversation going. Just send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. Now, if you want to get nuclear hot seat delivered by email every week, it's easy. Go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Look for the yellow box, feel in your first name and an email address, and you will get each week show as soon as it is posted. You know, this is a participatory show, and I count on you, the listeners to let me know what's going on in your area. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, as well as in your own backyard, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:36 Look for that big red button, click on it, follow the prompts and know that anything you can do will help. And we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2021 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of harvest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we can always come up with the date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date that it's over because once it starts, it's never over. That's it? That is your first nuclear wake-up call for 2021. Now, whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:28 Claire hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been braking clear, hot. See the missing our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #497: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year SPECIAL for 2020! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-numnutz-of-the-year-special-for-2020/ Published: 2020-12-31 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Numnutz of the Year – because we're all stuck on the only planet that we have and nuclear is the manifestation of hate and insanity… so why not laugh? This Week’s Feature SPECIAL: NUCLEAR NUMNUTZ 2020 – Numnutz of the Week is Nuclear Hotseat’s most popular feature – always good for a laugh, a head-shake, or a deep sigh at some freshly revealed nuclear absurdity, or to provoke a sense of outrage at how a single industry has been allowed to play so loose and fast with all our futures. 2020 – a year that will live in infamy – was especially rich in nuclear numnutzery, from Japan's attempted use of the Olympics as propaganda to get us to forget about Fukushima to US officials proclaiming nuclear weapons are responsible for "the betterment of society" to just basic stupidity all the way from politicians to tourists seeking selfies with Chernobyl. So come travel with us back in time for a year of highlights from some of the worst, most absurd, insane, short-sighted, or just jaw-droppingly stupid nuclear stories from 2020, culminating in NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR 2020! (Remember: All nuclear decisions are made top-down, not grassroots-up!) Highlights will include: Cancelled treatiesFukushima foodstuffs (mmm mmm GAK!)Radioactive Waste FolliesNuclear recycling – the kind you don't really want to have.The (Radioactively) Green New DealHow/why Star Trek‘s George Takei terminally ticked me off! …and much much more! Come join us for our annual look back upon a year filled with… well, Nuclear Numnutz! Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy  00:00:01 2020, what a year? Fascist famines, frauds and floods, riots, plagues. It's starting to sound like what Moses did to Pharaoh and the nuclear industry. Well, they continue to push for money, money, money to feed the expansion of that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:00:26 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? Ms. Sinking, our time to act is shrinking, but it's Libbe HaLevy  00:00:56 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, our annual numb nuts of the year. I'll look back at 2020 through the lens of nuclear, hot seats, most popular feature numb nuts of the week. Today's Tuesday, December 29th, 2020. And here is this week special nuclear hot seat, numb nuts of the year. I'll look back at 2020s, nuclear news from a different perspective, starting out with this week's brand new, new Libbe HaLevy  00:02:01 Us news and world report searched the country to come up with the healthiest community in America. And what did they find? Los Alamos that's right. The birthplace of the atomic bomb, where since April of 1943, they'd been working with highly radioactive and toxic materials at the Los Alamos national laboratory, or Lanel that it's called. And those radioactive toxic materials. Those are pollutants that have been released into the air, the water, the land, and the land is porous. So when it rains, all of that deadly stuff drains into the real grand watershed. Now the newspaper focused on the beauty of the land, the outdoor sports, the high median income, an average of $115,000 a year. And the fact that just about everybody in that county has health insurance. Well, it's a good thing. They do. According to Joni errands of concerned citizens for nuclear safety in NGO that focuses on Lamel of this dubious accolade for health. Libbe HaLevy  00:03:10 She states considering educational levels, income levels, and recreational opportunities is all well and fine, but us news must include the health, wellbeing and economics of people who live downwind and downstream of these communities. By the way, 22% of the residents in adjacent real Reba county live in poverty, Aaron's goes on Los Alamos county is the location for the only us department of energy facility in America, capable of fabricating, radioactive plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons. Those activities have spread radioactive, toxic and hazardous pollution into the air, water and soil over the past 77 years impacting the health and wellbeing of workers and neighbors, and Lanel continues their operations without adequate plans to clean up the mess that is threatening regional drinking water supplies. So, Hey, it might look like a good place to live, but if you want to risk the longterm health and safety of you and your family for a good hike, some nice scenery and some carcinogenic waste, then you along with us news and world report are this week's no. Announcer 00:04:26 Okay. Your hot seat, Libbe HaLevy  00:04:31 By the way, if you ever want to know the real radiation and toxic pollution impact on a community, talk with local veterinarians about the cancer rate in dogs, it can be a real eye-opener. So that's what a fairly typical weekly numb nut sounds like. I promise for the rest of the show, we'll go light on the theme and the final stinger, but I'd like to provide an explanation while the entire nuclear industry is deserving of numnuts designation and many of the major stories we follow every week qualify big time for that level numnuts of the week is reserved for special stories that feature outrageous overstepping of logic, insanity, greed, misguidedness stupidity, or misguided stupidity short-sightedness heck all the ills that the nuclear industry is guilty of. Plus a healthy dose of ridiculous capitalism numnuts of the week is my chance on every show to have a good old rant, and hopefully for you to have a laugh or a jaw drop or a sad head shake at the insanity of an industry whose ultimate end product is the end. Libbe HaLevy  00:05:46 No matter what they call it. Nuclear is about the extermination of life because, Hey, it's not just the fireball of a nuclear weapon, but the everlasting impact of the radiation, it leaks everywhere, like snapped from a toddler's nose. I get to narrate the weekly stupidity. You get to listen, we get to commiserate and all those trolls who lurk in my audience get to call me shrill. Note that only women get called shrill, never men. And when you look up the synonyms for shrill, you get penetrating acute sharp, intense, well, Hey guys, thanks for the compliment and keep listening because you also might learn a thing or two in any event. This is a stroll through the storm and cluster. That was 2020 from a different perspective, leading to our announcement of numb nuts of the year. Let's take a look at radioactive waste. Numnuts Surrey because Radway strengths along with the wizard of Oz as that little man behind the curtain that we're not supposed to pay any attention to, but it's there undeniably inevitably probably eternally and the nuclear industry does a great job of doing a bad job with it. Libbe HaLevy  00:07:05 Take this story about Fukushima from last January eight, episode 4 46 in a true perversion of renewable energy concepts. Japan is going to use radioactive Fukushima wood to generate power. The country admits that this will help Japan's goal to repopulate the region that has been struggling to restore its population after the earthquake and tsunami interesting that the writer did not at that point mentioned the radioactive contamination and its ongoing nature from Fukushima Daiichi and the triple meltdown in March of 2011. And while the wood will be reduced in volume by 99.5%, that Ash is still going to have radioactivity in it. Shrinking the volume does nothing to the radio activity except concentrate it. But Japan is touting this as a great way to make a lot of clean energy. And that's why anybody who believes in this lame brain scheme, you are this week's Announcer 00:08:10 Okay. Your hot seat Libbe HaLevy  00:08:15 In the UK. Here's what they're doing or not doing about radioactive waste from nuclear hot seat, 4 54 on March 3rd got too much radioactive waste hanging around, Hey, just dump it in the nearest large body of water, preferably an ocean. That's what they say. They're going to do with the radioactive water from Fukushima Daiichi over in Japan. And now here comes England. The UKs ministry of defense is planning to increase discharges of radioactive waste into the Firth of Clyde pristine coastal waters off Scotland. By up to 50 times, the waste comes from the Royal Navy's submarines and from the processing of Trident nuclear warheads. According to the ministry of defense, the proposed discharges were within permissible limits. Yeah. Who gave permission and he'll give them permission to give permission. The Clyde basis. Naval commander said that proposed annual limits for discharges were being reduced where practical, what does that even mean? Libbe HaLevy  00:09:27 He also said there would be no radiological hazard for any member of the public. Nobody can promise that nobody. And that's why you Cay ministry of defense. You are this week's none like radioactive waste. Transportation is always a problem because it takes place on public roads, waterways, railways, and someday soon might or probably will be coming to an area near you think that won't be a problem. Listen to this. Numnuts from number four 70 on June 25th, backers of the proposed so-called interim nuclear waste storage sites, meaning dumps in New Mexico and west Texas claim that it will be perfectly safe to ship the accumulated high level radioactive waste from nuclear reactors all across the country. So let's take a look at that so-called safety factors. Shall we? On Friday, June 19 in Andover, Vermont, a truck carrying a new empty storage cask for nuclear fuel rods. Libbe HaLevy  01:10:37 That was on its way to the shuttered Vermont Yankee plant in Vernon, Vermont crashed and overturned according to the head of the company, which took part in the recovery of the truck and its cargo. It appeared that the driver had slowed the vehicle down for the road construction area where Combs made the lane too narrow for the truck. As the driver moved over in his lane, his wheels ran into the Lomi disturbed earth on the shoulder and began to tip the load was top-heavy and it went over. Imagine if it had carried a full load of so-called spent fuel rods, which are still highly radioactive, the exact things that Holtec wants to be able to transport to west Texas or New Mexico, the total weight of the rig and the empty 125,000 pound nuclear storage cask was a total of 210,000 pounds or 105 tons. Writing the truck took two full days. Libbe HaLevy  01:11:44 And we're just learning that on June 4th, a rail car that was carrying low-level radioactive waste, caught fire in Bedford park, Illinois, just 11 miles from Chicago's midway airport flames engulfed approximately 10% of the car. And it took five and a half hours before the fire burned itself out. It contained zirconium fuel cladding that at one point contained enriched fuel. So there was uranium present. The debris and combustible waste that was being carried was also contaminated with radioactive material. So there you have it, a glimpse into our shared possible future, which is why anyone who supports the two proposed so called interim waste storage sites in the Southwest and thinks that transporting it across country is going to be no big deal. You are out of your minds. And that is why you are this week's numbness. And if the nuclear industry is having problems with anything, nuclear, just give it another name and poof, the problem doesn't go away. Libbe HaLevy  01:12:58 But the majority of people are put off the scent and just don't notice. And that lets them get away with slow motion murder from nuclear hot seat. Number 4 85 on October 17, Utah corporation energy fuels is importing 136 tons of radioactive material from Japan. And the public is not allowed to comment on this because energy fuels is calling the material from the Japan atomic energy agency or not waste. And the Utah department of environmental qualities, uranium mills radioactive materials program agreed because the white Mesa mill already has a permit to process or put that in quotes. It wasn't required to submit a plan for the 136 tons of Japanese uranium, loaded sands, resins and carbon leftover from experimental nuclear extraction techniques as well as natural uranium bearing oars. Once again, semantics in service to nuclear industry malfeasance and public danger. And that is why this week, Utah department of environmental qualities, uranium mills, radioactive materials program, and energy fuel resources, USA, Inc. You are this week's. Libbe HaLevy  01:14:19 And sometimes we get to win one. Even if it's probably only temporary, here's a snippet from a United States numnuts episode 4 61 from April 22nd. The U S nuclear regulatory commission is facing protests. After proposing that low-level radioactive waste be disposed of in commercial landfills, not explicitly designed to hold it rather than it licensed radioactive waste sites. Like I said, that was in April, but just this past week comes news that federal regulators are withdrawing a nuclear waste that had prompted an unusually widespread chorus of opposition from those who worried justifiably that the plan could have led to radioactive waste being shipped to local landfills across the U S under the plan facilities without specific licenses to handle radioactive waste could have taken it anyway, isn't that special. But the proposal sparked a wave of pushback from an unlikely Alliance of state regulators, environmental groups, and even Texas based waste control specialists, a prominent company in the business of nuclear waste management WCS wrote informal comments to the NRC. Libbe HaLevy  01:15:32 In July. We regret to find ourselves in such definitive opposition to an NRC staff proposal. We are not accustomed to being in this position, boys that ever an understatement, but the pushback worked and for now radioactive waste will not be sanctioned to come to your neighborhood dump. We'll see how long that holds and for all of you pushing back against it. Well done. So what to do with radioactive waste? Well, shoot, let's just recycle it. Here's a series of serious suggestions starting out with episode number four 60 from April 16. So the fissile and Haim nuclear reactors in France, both number one, which closed in March. Number two, which is closing in June, have of course, piles of nuclear waste. What to do with it. Well empowered. The French government has announced that its new techno center proposes to recycle metal from the dismantled plant and others around Europe, into everyday household items. Libbe HaLevy  01:16:42 Like what you might ask like casseroles and toasters and stoves and box Springs, maybe even belt buckles. It's the French government's twisted way of recategorized nuclear as renewable. But think of the advantages. I mean the casseroles, you wouldn't have to heat them, just put the food in and the radiation would cook it by itself. Toasters wouldn't have to plug them in ever same with stoves heat by themselves back Springs. I'm not too sure about, but belt buckles, man, if that's not birth control, I don't know what is in episode four 80 from September 2nd, radioactive waste was proposed to be recycled into batteries. Here's the latest Chilton convince you that radioactive nuclear waste is good for you. A company called N D B is touting nano diamond self-charging batteries. Each one powered a small piece of recycled nuclear waste. Not only do they disguise the radioactive nature of these batteries with two buzzwords in a hyphen between nano diamond, but they claim that they will last anywhere from a decade to 28,000 years. Libbe HaLevy  01:18:09 How's that for a spread and they won't need another charge until beyond the half-life of plutonium. There are PR talks about it being indestructable totally safe in an electric car crash and that's at the heart of each cell is a small piece of recycled nuclear waste, high grade nuclear waste. That would be dangerous, difficult, and expensive to store with a very long half-life and leave nothing behind. But quote unquote, harmless byproducts does the 1950s she'll phrase too cheap to meet her in reference to nuclear energy ring, a bell, just more propaganda blah-blah-blah and that's why, oh the heck with it, the nuclear industry in all of its manifestations is this week's Libbe HaLevy  01:19:05 And if batteries and bent Springs aren't to your liking. Here's another suggestion from nuclear hot seat, number 4 87 on October 21st, 2020, the environmental non protection agency has announced that it will allow what it is calling limited use of a radioactive byproduct of phosphate mining to be used in the building of roads. Isn't that special? A billion tons of the solid substance phosphide gypsum is piled high in mountains called stacks throughout Florida. The spokesmodel for the Florida industrial and phosphate research Institute said of radiation it's low-level and we all know how dangerous low level radiation can be. If you listen to this show with any frequency, the fertilizer Institute, a group, which calls itself the voice of the fertilizer industry. So many opportunities here for non-broadcast worthy puns, but I will restrain myself. The fertilizer Institute actually got the EPA to say that in making its determination, reusing the substance for roads is no riskier than keeping it in a stack. Except the stacks are monitored, separated from homes, schools, people, children, pregnant women, women who want to get pregnant. Men who would like to have a sperm count and so many others. And that's just a short list of the possible repercussions from exposure to low level radiation. And that is why not only fertilizer Institute, but the environmental non protection agency. You are this week's no. Announcer 02:20:44 Okay. Your hot seat Libbe HaLevy  02:20:49 Concerned about nuclear safety at shutdown nuclear reactors. Don't be Riddick. Here's the numnuts from episode number 4 91, November 19th, 2020 at the highly radioactive wreckage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The triple meltdown from March 11th, 2011, a worker accidentally pressed the emergency stop button on the monitoring equipment for continuous vision reaction criticality in the fuel debris. This vitally important warning system was stopped for three hours before anybody noticed. And in that three hours, the pressure doubled while I am not a scientist, my intuitive nature leads me to believe that this was not a good thing, that perhaps it was pointing to the fission restarting in the reactor at a dangerous situation that didn't have any kind of warning bells and whistles on it. So it could be ignored for three hours. It's not so much that individual worker, but TEPCO Tokyo electric power company that not only can't run a nuclear reactor, they can't run recovery from a nuclear reactor in a way that's going to be safe for anybody. Libbe HaLevy  02:22:10 And you're planning on going to the 20, 21 Olympics or we're dealing with the exact same thing here in the U S at Santa Ana, Fran Southern California, not only are they burying 73 stainless steel canisters, each five eighths of an inch thick that's all. And each one filled with an equivalent of H or Noble's worth of radiation. Only 100 feet from the Pacific ocean waterline. They've taken out the warning sirens and there's so much more numb. Nuts are at Santa. No freight would take half a program just to go through it. And we'd done so many times, but here's another example of warning system. Numnuts Surrey episode number 4 94 from December nine. Exelon has announced that siren tests will be discontinued in January as part of three mile Island's decommissioning process. The 96 sirens are all located within a 10 mile radius of TMI and supposedly are there not to signal to evacuate, but a warning to tune to a local emergency alert, broadcast television or radio station. Libbe HaLevy  02:23:18 So yes, TMI is shutting down the, they are no longer splitting atoms to create heat, to boil water, to spin a steam turbine generator in order to generate electricity boys that the long way around or what, but there are still fuel pools that are filled with highly radioactive used, said radioactivity capable of being released into the atmosphere. Should anything go wrong there there's also the highly radioactive containment vessel that if something should go wrong, there's an earthquake. There's a crack, there's a terrorist move. It could be releasing radiation as well. So why take the warning system offline on the off chance that nothing will go wrong ever that people need to be warned about, but Hey, it's all part of saving every possible penny that they can so that Exelon executives can keep their bonuses and to heck with the safety of anybody who happens to still be living in that area. And all of this, the combination of both stories is the reason why yes, you Exelon are this week's Libbe HaLevy  02:24:35 We'll continue with nuclear hot seat, special numnuts of the year 2020 in just a moment. But first people ask me how I keep doing nuclear hot seat week after week after week coming up on episode number 500, next month through the years, I've given lots of glib answers like I can't not. Or how do you look away from a train wreck to all? You gotta do something during COVID lockdown, but the truth is I consider it a privilege to be bringing you this information. I started the show because I was reading so much taking in all the post Fukushima bad news that I had to have a way to get it out of me. So I sat in my living room, talked into a microphone and thought maybe a handful of people somewhere or another might be willing to listen. Now, the show is broadcast over the Pacifica audio port network downloaded in 123 countries that we know of. Libbe HaLevy  02:25:35 And we're working to update that stat. And in recent weeks, the show has ranked at number one through number 50 of business podcasts listings in such far-flung places as Bolivia, Mongolia, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Sweden, and whoever signed up to our database from Fiji. Thank you. And of course, we've got the usual suspects in the U S Japan, Canada, UK, basically. There's no place in the world, untouched by nuclear issues and nuclear hot seat covers them all on a rotating magazine format as best we can. And thank you. You are listening as we escape 2020 and move forward. So will the show, but it can only be done with your help. A donation of any size will keep us in the full upright position, feeling you in every week on nuclear numb, nuts, Surrey and evils. So right now, while the spirit is upon you go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button, be it a one-time support or a recurring donation of as little as $5 a month, know that your donations are essential to my ability to continue this work. Libbe HaLevy  02:26:51 So whatever you can do to help please do and know that I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care now back to our annual special nuclear hot seats, numb nuts of the year food glorious food, except if there's radiation involved, Japan's got a lock on the problems of radiation in food, or at least it did according to our numnuts last year, if you like sushi, here's our numnuts from episode number 4 48 on January 22nd. And note that this took place before the 2020 Olympics were canceled. Japanese supermarket chain, Ian company limited Asia's biggest retailer by sales aims to start selling eco certified sushi this year, just in time for an expected surgeon, tourists during the radioactive Tokyo Olympics, Japan has lagged behind Europe and the United States and adopting policies on traceability and sustainability fisheries, but said nothing about testing for radioactivity, Korea, sushi, president Kunihiko Taneka also defended the safety of the seafood in Japan, including those from Fukushima site of the 2011 nuclear disaster proudly claiming that Kora sushi planned to open a restaurant in Fukushima, meanwhile, South Korea, one of six countries that refuses to touch anything that comes out of the ocean near Fukushima has its Olympics committee planning to buy radiation detectors and ship homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes during the Olympics, because of concerns over radiation in the food, you may want to believe in push the belief that everything is a okay with seafood from Japan, but let's just get that clock ticking, counting down to what people's health is going to be. Libbe HaLevy  02:28:51 And let's track it. Anybody who eats sushi, let alone sushi in Japan, including fish from Fukushima, perhaps eaten in Fukushima. Let's find out what your health is like in 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and more years from now. And whether you're going to look back at that meal and go, gee, that was not particularly smart. And that's why Cora sushi and Ian company limited you are this week's none like can't have sushi without rice. Even if it does come from Fukushima prefecture, this is from nuclear hot seat, 4 83, September 23rd, 2020. And it's ongoing struggles to erase all memory of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear and resulting radiation contamination of the land in that prefecture. The prefecture itself has announced it's got a new high quality rice. It's going to be putting out on the market in an attempt to rebrand itself. The new brand labeled puku war, I, which translates into luck. Libbe HaLevy  03:30:00 Laugh. Two words that one does not usually associate with Fukushima. The new rice is labeled as brimming with Fukushima pride, and it's meant to compete with the most luxurious rice strains in Japan. While anyone who disses Fukushima agricultural products is accused of being fear-mongering and being against the farmers of Fukushima. At the same time, there are ongoing citizen monitoring groups that are measuring food and the soil in the area for radioactivity. Some of these are referred to as grandma and grandpa labs, because those are the people who have transformed themselves into citizen scientists in order to determine whether the food they eat and the water they drink and the soil they grow, things in is, or is not radioactive. This is necessary because keep in mind, radiation is measured officially as happening external to the body, but if you eat it, drink it or inhale it, it becomes internal to the body and that much more deadly. Libbe HaLevy  03:31:09 So those officials who are pushing high quality rebranded rice from Fukushima as the latest high end luxury goods without providing measurements, data and the impact of what that rice would do, if there's any radioactivity in it, and it gets inside a human body, all of you who are complicit in that, you are this week's numbness. And if you're looking to have a peach of a time in Japan, head on down to Fukushima for a real sweet treat, at least that's what they're promising from nuclear hot seat. Number 4 75, July 29, a peach full of sugar helps the radiation go down. At least that's what a farmer in Fukushima prefecture is hoping that's because fifth generation peach farmer Koji for Yama has been striving to decontaminate the region's reputation by growing the world's sweetest peaches. He's also getting big publicity about it, which means that he's probably a favorite of the 2021 Olympic committee, but to quote nuclear, hot seats, French friend, and journalist Arivale Courtois, you have to be either a masochist or suicidal to play Russian roulette by eating those Fukushima prefecture peaches agreed eBay. It was a sweet piece of propaganda that got out into the world. And that's why Koji for a Yama. And whoever wrote this article, you are this week's none Announcer 03:32:48 Like Libbe HaLevy  03:32:49 There's lots of nuclear stupidity to go around when it comes to nuclear reactors, every country wants one. It's the illusion that they're playing in the big boys' club. When all they're doing is buying into the generation of a toxic legacy from which they will never be free. Here's one example from nuclear hot seat, 4 71 from July 1st, the latest country angling for nuclear technology, Rwanda, which is working in collaboration with Russia to share nuclear technology expertise. members of the Rwandan parliament oppose the project saying nuclear energy is dangerous and expensive. They raised concerns on the source of funding, nuclear waste management, and how the potential nuclear explosions will be mitigated and how Rwandans will directly benefit current government counters that the acquisition of nuclear technology will help boost major sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, health, education, sciences, and industry, no darlin. It makes you a pawn of Russia for forever because you can't fuel a nuclear reactor with other than whoever created that nuclear reactor to begin with you can't use aftermarket replacement parts. You will forever be tied to Russia for a combination of the parts and the training of personnel for these nukes part of an arms race on the ground. And that's why whoever in Rwanda is still considering this proposition. You are this week's Libbe HaLevy  03:34:37 It has occurred to me that all this push by the United States, China and Russia, to sell nuclear reactors to previously nuke free countries has a potentially sinister subtext. If a new country buys its technology from say China, it needs China to train its personnel and to provide replacement parts. That's because there's no such thing as aftermarket fuel rods and off-brand, you can buy for less through a competing dealer. So a country that buys nuclear technology is forever indebted and under the influence, if not control of the country, that supplies them with the goods and knowledge in the first place. And that bond is forever because when push comes to political shove, if China wants something out of say, Rwanda and Rwanda doesn't want to provide it, China can just turn its back and deny replacement, parts, training personnel, everything needed to keep the damn things running in that way. Libbe HaLevy  03:35:39 The Hawking of nuclear technology might be seen as an invisible arms race from which there can be no exit strategy possible. It's a deal with the devil. When you get a nuke one that the devil will inevitably win. So for any country considering getting this technology that hasn't had it in the past, just say, no, of course there are other stupid offshoots of nuclear. Take this story out of Chernobyl from nuclear hot seat, four 50 on February 5th. What's the latest tourist hotspot Chernobyl ever since the HBO series showed how horrific and the radioactive contamination that followed was, people just can't wait to visit the scene where it happened and take selfies with the invisible radiation that's going to wreck their health and their genetic downline. The guardian, a British paper just published a series of tourist photographs, including some at a souvenir shop with a radiation symbol plainly displayed. Libbe HaLevy  03:36:44 The problem is that as you will hear in today's featured interview, this models, dangerous behaviors that could be duplicated or embellished upon by visitors to Japan, for the Olympics torch relay, or the games themselves coronavirus permitting the boundaries around the radioactive zones are not secure. A determined idiot, like the host of dark tourist, a series on Netflix, a man who ignored warnings and got himself in a serious radiation zone on camera. Those people could go and dance around in a radiation zone that is four times or more higher than what is allowed at the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Mm mm can't wait to see their babies presuming they can even have any thrill seekers, serious thrill seekers can just as well get their adrenaline fix by bungee jumping, running with the bulls in Pamplona or going on armed into Walmart in an open carry state. But Hey, what you can't see can't hurt you unless it's radiation. Libbe HaLevy  03:37:53 And then, oh brother. And that's why any tourist dumb enough to go into Chernobyl or any other radiation zone like Fukushima in order to get their jollies? You are this week's none. That's the 2020 radioactive Olympics provided story. After story about nuclear stupidity, the IOC scheduled preliminary softball matches to take place in Fukushima prefecture. Something we'll be hearing more about in next week's show. But worst of all, they scheduled the Olympic torch run to take place for three days through the Fukushima evacuation and radiation zone in areas still too hot for people to live as the wave of COVID-19 began to rise. The pressure to cut back on the torch run started to rise as well though, as you will hear, not many people took heed. This is from nuclear hot seat, 4 57, March 24th. When the flame first landed in Japan, close to 200 people gathered to watch and pictures of the crowd showed children with no masks or other protections from the Corona virus. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:04 When the flame was displayed in Sendai, which is only 66 kilometers or 41 miles from Fukushima close to 52,000 people stood in line for hours waiting for one minute where they could take a selfie with the flame only as of late Monday, March 23rd, was it announced that the torch relay would not be canceled, but downsized to a lit lantern in a car that drives the route with no runners, no torches and no spectators. Next I predict it will be turned into a big lighter in a clown car and will be canceled as soon as it has gone through Fukushima for three days, just to show how quote unquote recovered things are none. Libbe HaLevy  03:39:49 And regarding that torch run, George Takei best known as playing Sulu on the original star Trek got me good. This is from nuclear hot seat, number 4 58, just one week after the previous numnuts George Takei known internationally as Sulu in the original star Trek series, as well as for his ongoing snarky social media presence has just announced that he has been chosen to be the final torchbearer to light the eternal flame at the radioactive Tokyo 2021 Olympics TK wrote on his Facebook page. Just today. I am honored beyond belief to have been selected, to be the final torchbearer who will light the Olympic flame in Tokyo in 2021. This will be such a unique moment before the eyes of a billion people lighting. The torch is a symbol of hope for the future in 2021 in Tokyo, no George, no. Or as Sulu might understand the prime directive from star Trek prohibits its members from interfering with the internal and natural development of alien civilizations. Libbe HaLevy  04:41:05 Okay? It's not alien it's Japan, but still by your being in Japan, conned into lighting the torch as a symbol, that everything is a okay, and that country, you will be giving support and comfort to the nuclear industry's narrative and interfering with the ability of Fukushima survivors to avoid being forced, to return to highly radioactive lands, to receive an ongoing dose of radiation that will damage their health, the, of their children, their unborn children, and any generation that actually manages to be born after that, June not set up the Japanese Fukushima evacuees for disease and death. It will be an ugly legacy for you and Sulu and destroy all the good you've done until now. Turn down Japan. George turned down the Olympics do not allow yourself to be used by them and stand with the evacuees from Fukushima. That is the statement you need to make. And one that will live long and honorably beyond any thrill you might receive from lighting that flame as for this week's award, the Olympic torch relay committee and its evil minions at Dentsu public relations, which I'm certain dreamed up. This heinous manipulation of you, George, all of them are this week's no. Announcer 04:42:29 Okay. Your hot seat. I'm like Libbe HaLevy  04:42:34 Pretty good head of steam. Huh? The only problem was that I neglected to notice the date that to Chi posted it April 1st. Yep. It was an April fool's joke. And I got to be the fool. I did post a retraction the following week and have lambasted to Kai through posts and messages for his unfunny joke, which gave comfort to the nuclear enemy. Unfortunately, this post is inevitably going to show up again, as we approach April 1st, because Trekkies around the world want to rejoice, just don't fall for it. I already did that well enough for all of us. The nuclear industry keeps inventing and pushing forward its bad ideas. If big old reactors are too large, expensive time consuming and neon too impossible to build any more. They go onto promoting SMRs small modular reactors, which are small modular nuclear reactors only. They don't like to use that word of it's possible to avoid it because it makes a lot of people nervous. Libbe HaLevy  04:43:41 The modular makes it sound like Legos. And now they're touting meltdown three new nukes for designs that have not even been built, let alone tested. And of course, no one is talking about the forever legacy of radioactive waste that will be produced. Here's just one S M N R numb nuts from nuclear hot seat, number 4 72, July nine, the nuclear industry always on the lookout for the next way. They can scam big bucks out of the government by some incredible promise says that they have come up with a new fuel, which they call nuclear power balls and that they may make meltdowns of thing of the past. These theoretical new nukes, none of which has been designed, let alone built will be fueled by what is being called Tereso T R I S O, which consists of millions of submillimeter sized grains of uranium individually wrapped in protective shells. Libbe HaLevy  04:44:48 Industry press releases refer to it as a radioactive Gobstopper, whatever that's supposed to mean. Each particle of fuel has three alternating layers of graphite and a ceramic called Silicon carbide. And each particle is smaller than a poppy seed promoters claim that a combination of new reactor designs, plus this new fuel, you will have essentially created an accident proof reactor, which brings to mind what they used to say about the Titanic before it was built. And it doesn't help their case that the name of this miraculous new fuel comes from the Spanish tree SAR, which means to crack or chip going to have to do a cost benefit analysis on rebranding, that name and all of this is why anyone who is touting these buckyballs of Teresa as the way to create nuclear safety in the future, you are this week's nun in nuclear. The bottom line is that it all comes down to politics. Libbe HaLevy  04:46:00 It's the politicians who make the financial decisions of what to do with our taxpayer dollars, passer block laws and regulations hedge their bets against how much money they're friendly neighborhood nuclear interests will or will not give to their reelection campaigns. And this cuts across party lines, showing both Democrats and Republicans to be as tone deaf and bamboozled by propaganda as the other, the Democrats made it official this summer during their national convention from nuclear hot seat, 4 79, July 27, the democratic party during their national convention released the party platform, which stated that when it comes to energy, they favor a quote technology neutral approach that includes existing and advanced nuclear. It's the first time since 1972, that the democratic party has said anything positive in its platform about nuclear energy and they shouldn't have done it. Nuclear is not carbon neutral from your Rainium mining to transport, to manufacture, to purification, to the debris that gets left over from all nuclear reactor operation to what has to be done to store is nuclear intense. Libbe HaLevy  04:47:18 The darn things don't even run on the energy that they produce. They've got to import it from the grid and where's that grid energy coming from. It's not coming from nuclear sources. And unfortunately in this country, we don't bother to look at what a combination of solar and wind and geothermal and hydro electric and all the other genuinely renewable sources can do to generate that electricity. So it's usually carbon-based electricity that runs nuclear reactors. This is short-sighted numb nuts, rebased on propaganda false information. And who knows how much Monday under which table to which Democrats until suddenly now we're supposed to be in favor of nukes. Well, I got to tell you when it comes to numb nuts, this is top of the line and that's why democratic party and the ass hats behind this particular plank in your let's fall through the floorboards, into the abyss platform. Libbe HaLevy  04:48:17 You are this week's Mike, and to those who look to Alexandria, Ocasio, Cortez, and the green new deal to save us guess again, episode number 4 67 from June 3rd. Oh, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez who slipped you? The Kool-Aid the nuclear Kool-Aid to drink. AOC is now mouthing off saying that nuclear is possibly part of the green new deal. No, no, no, no. And oh yeah, no nuclear is not green can never be green and can never be part of a genuine green new deal. And that is why a O C it breaks my heart to say it, but do you darlin our, this week's none like, and now with the formerly anti-nuclear president, like Biden coming out in favor of nukes in the green new deal, well, we won't be lacking for numb nuts in the coming year. And then there's evil. Numnuts the lies and recasting of history that seemed to imbue our nuclear roots with a golden almost holy glow of goodness. Libbe HaLevy  04:49:34 In this bookend to this week's numnuts on Los Alamos county being cited as the healthiest place to live in America comes this numnuts from July 22nd, episode number 4 74, which happened just in time for some truly awful anniversaries. I hope you've got a strong stomach. Lisa Gordon Haggerty who leads the national nuclear security administration that oversees the nation's nuclear programs has said that the Trinity tests that detonated the first atomic bomb 75 years ago led to great progress in science, national offense, and even peace. Keeping a direct quote. I hope I can impart how it contributed to the betterment of humanity. Oh, what betterment like 200,000 dead from the blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki radiation deaths that follow and continue to this day, the release of deadly radioactive plutonium with a half-life of 24,000 years. How does that contribute to the betterment of humanity and peacekeeping Lisa Gordon Haggerty? Because the only thing I see it contributing to is making you this week's Announcer 05:50:48 Okay, your hot seat. Libbe HaLevy  05:50:52 And as a footnote, there were 23 new active cases of COVID-19 this week at national nuclear security administration sites. The second consecutive week of double digit increases, of course the NNSA does not specify the locations where the new cases were reported because the less, you know, the less you can do about it. And now nuclear hot seats, 2020 numb nuts of the year. Libbe HaLevy  05:51:30 Donald J. Trump and his entire administration. Now, before you go nuts, no that I'm not letting his predecessor Barack Obama off the hook because he also took colossal steps immediately after he took office to ramp up and modernize our nuclear arsenal modernizing quotes, but the trail of nuclear blunders by the still current president boggles the mind and terrifies the heart. We don't have time to be all-inclusive, but here are just a few of the highlights. Even before he took office. Trump said of our nuclear arsenal. If we have nuclear weapons, why can't we use them? He followed Obama's lead and continued to order the department of energy to enhance the U S nuclear weapons arsenal. He canceled America's participation in the intermediate range, nuclear forces treaty, which stopped an entire class of mid range nuclear weapons that Russia could have used to put Europe, the UK and the middle east in terrible danger, withdrew America from the Iran nuclear deal, in which Iran agreed to shift its nuclear program from weapons production to peaceful commercial use for 10 years, tensions between the us and Iran in the wake of that decision have steadily risen and reached a boiling point in the early days of 2020 sparking fears of war. Libbe HaLevy  05:53:01 He threatened North Korea, this back in August of 2017 with fire and fury like the world has never seen escalating tensions between the two countries and reviving the real chance of war with the world's newest nuclear armed nation. Not only pulled the us out of the open skies treaty, which used specially equipped unmanned aircraft to arterial surveillance flights, to monitor military forces and activities of 36 countries. He has since ordered the special planes to be destroyed, smashed down to scrap. So there's no chance of them being revived in a new administration, pushed for more uranium mining, uranium stockpiling, which we don't need increased plutonium PIP production, which are nuclear weapons triggers talked about resuming nuclear weapons, test explosions. Plus there's all that money to the nuclear industry, $11 billion tucked inside. The most recent COVID stimulus package is just one example of it. And there is so much more, here's the big question in a nuclear sense because of this president's actions, are we as a country, more secure or less secure than we were four years ago? And the answer is less far, far less. And remember, Trump is still the only person in the world with irrefutable in controvertible on Blockable access to nuclear launch codes, which gives him the ability to nuke any target we've got within 15 minutes of deciding to do so. And no one can stop him. All of this is why in the waning days of your administration, Donald J. Trump, you have the dubious honor of receiving nuclear hot seats, 2020 numb nuts of the year. Libbe HaLevy  05:55:09 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, December 29th, 2020. I have a whole set of acknowledgements here, thanks to Joanie errands for her insights about Los Alamos counties, toxic legacy, and why it's not such a healthy place to live for help with numnuts of the year. Jim Torson Lonnie Clark, bill Smyrna. You support me in so many ways. I want to thank the nuclear hot seat, weekly posting heroes, Tara Johnson, Douglas for keeping the cats herded Pam mall, Wesley strobing, Patty amino. Tara is retiring to RV around the country with her husband socially distance, of course, and we're in need of more people to help us post the show, get it out so that everybody can find it. So if you've got about 15 minutes a week, you can be instrumental in helping get nuclear hot seat into the world, as well as be joining with a fun group of people who post you are my heroes. Libbe HaLevy  05:56:08 So if you're interested, shoot me an email or a Facebook message to take one of our few remaining spots to all of my guests and those of you who have brought them to my attention. Wow, I could not do it without you. This sharing of the expertise, insights, thoughts, suggestions, and yes, even humor has helped us get through another year of tracking the madness that is nuclear. And I literally could not do it without you gratitude, always for our theme song and numb that stinger to merrily Weeber and John Barnard. I wrote the word Sten, hummed the Diddy, but they turned it into music and recorded it for me at Winslow court studio in Hollywood. Now, for those of you out there who may not be on our mailing list, if you want nuclear hot seat delivered via email every week, it's easy. Go to nuclear, hot seat.com the yellow box. Libbe HaLevy  05:57:04 That's an opt-in and sign up for weekly email links to the latest show. We also need your participation. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion, someone to interview, send an email, please email, not Facebook. This one, send it to info@nuclearhotseat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment and go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, click on it, and anything will help and know that we will really appreciate your support. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 20, 20 Leiby Halevi and hardest street communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. This is Libby Halevi of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that we need all of you in the coming year and years. So unless you live in COVID free New Zealand and you know who you are, Kevin Hester stay home. When you can mask up social distance, wash your hands, stay healthy, stay alive, and whatever you do when it comes to this nuclear, wake up call, don't go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:27 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot? See Ms. Sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral Hotsy it's the bomb. ### NH #496: Peace and Peace Culture: Hope from Hiroshima Peace Culture Village - Steve Leeper URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/peace-and-peace-culture-hope-from-hiroshima/ Published: 2020-12-23 Duration: 00:59:01 Peace and Peace Culture: Are they possible? Steve Leeper, Executive Director of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Village, explains how conflict resolution on a planetary level is the key to achieving peace… along with a real plan of how to get there. A SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat interview that considers what Peace is, what Peace Culture is, and how we might work on a planetary basis to institute new ways of being and building for a sustainable future. A Holiday gift from me and the crew at Nuclear Hotseat for those who are working in what this interview teaches us to call the Peace Industrial Complex. – Libbe HaLevy, December 22, 2020. This Week's Holiday SPECIAL Interview: Peace and Peace Culture: Steve Leeper is Founding Partner & Vice President of PEAC Institute, which stands for Peace, Education, Art and Communication. Steve has spent about half of his 70 years in Japan. He has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and has worked as a family counselor (10 years), management consultant (14 years), translator (30 years to present) and peace activist (16 years). He believes, until he encounters facts to the contrary, that he has translated, edited, or interpreted more A-bomb survivor stories than anyone in the world except his wife. He began working for Mayors for Peace in 2002, which led to his appointment in 2007 as chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. He stepped down in 2013 and currently is visiting professor at Hiroshima Jogakuin University and Nagasaki University as well as executive director of PEAC's Hiroshima campus, Peace Culture Village. His publications include Hiroshima Resolution (bilingual), Nihon ga Sekai wo Suku and Amerikajin ga Tsutaeru Hiroshima (Japanese). We spoke on December 10, 2020. Peace and Peace Culture: Steve Leeper To contact Steve Leeper: Steve@PeaceCultureVillage.orgIf you're interested in booking a virtual tour of Hiroshima Peace Culture Village, email Steve at the above address. Here's a flyer with an overview of the Peace Culture Village tour information: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 Peace on earth. Isn't that what we wish each other during this holiday season, but what is peace? What does it look like? And would we recognize it? If it bit us on the posterior without peace, could it ever be possible to solve the planetary problems like climate change? As one genuine expert tells us, Steve Leeper 00:00:24 I am completely convinced that we will not make any progress on the climate change issue until we overcome the animosity and the cutthroat violent competition that are embodied in nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons are the physical manifestation of hatred and fear. And with those things hanging over our heads, we can't cooperate enough to solve these other really difficult problems. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:54 Well, when the head of the Hiroshima peak Institute and peace culture village spells out not only the problems, but also provides a realistic possible way through them. We get the hopeful inkling that there still may be a way out of that deadly seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:12 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot? See the Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but the visceral linking nuclear Hotsy, it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:44 Welcome to nuclear Huck seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leebee Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as I survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong this week for the holiday season, a special full length interview with Steve Leeper. He is executive director of the Hiroshima peace culture village, and much more. Steve offers some stunning insights into what peace culture is and how it might be attained hands on real world suggestions that dare I say it provide a glimmer of hope as to how to attain a future that is worth passing on to our genetic downline. Today is Tuesday, December 22nd to 2020. And here is this week's nuclear hot seat holiday special from our usual different perspective. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:51 Steve Leeper is founding partner and vice president of the Hiroshima peak Institute, which stands for peace education, art and communications. He is executive director of peaks Hiroshima campus, the peace culture village. Steve has a master's degree in clinical psychology and has worked as a family, counselor management, consultant, translator and peace activist. He began working for mayors for peace in 2002, which led to his appointment in 2007 as chair of the Hiroshima peace culture foundation. I spoke with Steve Leeper on December 10th, 2020, Steve Leeper. It is great to have you here with us today on nuclear hot seat. Steve Leeper 00:03:37 And thank you. I'm very honored to be here Libbe HaLevy 00:03:40 In the audience by telling them a little bit about your background and how you became involved in peace and nuclear issues. Steve Leeper 00:03:48 I came to peace through conflict resolution. I was on my way to becoming a family therapist. When I met a guy who is doing conflict resolution in corporations, and he recruited me to work for his company as a management consultant. So then I became a conflict resolution consultant, and we would go into companies and we would interview all of the partners and anybody that we thought might be involved in whatever the conflict was. And then we would identify what the conflicts are, what the sides are, where the hottest spark is and all that kind of thing. Then we take everybody off on a retreat and talk about these conflicts and get them to make a collective decision about which way the company should go. The theory that my, my boss, the guy who ran this company, his idea was that companies will call and they'll ask for a performance evaluation system or something like that. Steve Leeper 00:04:53 Then you can't give them anything until you find out where the conflict is, because no matter what you give them, they will wreck it unless the conflict has been resolved. So you go in and you find out who is mad at who. And it often happens when the founder of a company is leaving, or some people are in conflict over whether the company should grow or stay the same size, that kind of thing. So, anyway, I got into the idea of resolving conflict that I studied conflict resolution at Emory university. And then when I went to Japan, I was going to do my PhD on Japanese strategies of conflict resolution. But once I got over there, I just got into being a management consultant and being a translator and got too busy. And I just never even got my PhD. I just got into working between Japanese and Americans, because at that time, this is the late eighties. Steve Leeper 00:05:56 I went to Hiroshima in 1984. So in the late eighties, that is when Japan was taking over the world, right? They were buying Rockefeller center in New York, and everyone was talking about how great the Japanese are. And at that time, Atlanta was the fastest growing Japanese community in the world. There were companies coming in all the time. So I thought, okay, I will be a person who works between the Japanese and Americans resolving their conflicts. I went to Hiroshima just to be there for two years and come back and open a branch office of Clark consulting company, which is based in Palo Alto. But once I got to Hiroshima, it was the perfect time to be in Hiroshima because Mazda had just opened an office in flat rock Michigan. So that was helping the Japanese managers manage American employees that they were working with in America. Steve Leeper 00:06:56 And I was going back and forth between the U S and Japan a lot, also my wife and two Japanese women. And I got a translation company going. So we were doing that as well. Gradually though, we got more and more into being peace activists. Why that happened is a very long story, but it ends with India and Pakistan nuclear tests, which happened in 1998, after that some Indian and Pakistani activists came to Hiroshima. And they said, you got to send people over to our countries and tell them what the atomic bombing was like, tell them what a nuclear weapon is because we're all dancing in the streets that we now have nuclear weapons, and we all, we think it's great. And so you have to do something about that. I worked with a woman called and we created a organization called global peacemakers association. Steve Leeper 00:07:55 And the idea was to teach people to go to India and Pakistan. Talk about the problem of nuclear weapons. Talk about what happened in Hiroshima, the importance of peace, that kind of thing. And to do it in English, that was our particular angle was we were going to teach them to do it in English. There were already some organizations sending survivors there and activists there, but they would be doing everything in Japanese, which requires interpreting, but we found people who can already speak pretty good English. And then we taught them how to talk about nuclear weapons and peace and Hiroshima and that sort of thing. And we sent them over or took them over to India and Pakistan. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:42 How did your gearing up to explain all of this to people in India and Pakistan impact you in terms of your increased knowledge about the bomb and how it has impacted human life? Steve Leeper 00:08:59 Thank you. What happened to me is when I went there, I was totally not interested in peace, nuclear weapons. None of that, all I wanted to do was make money and get famous as a conflict resolution consultant, political peace was not a thought for me. I was into how do human beings in families or in companies resolve conflict? That's all I was thinking about. But once I got to Hiroshima, I started getting trained by the survivors and the peace community there. And I gradually came to understand that if we don't have peace. And in fact, if we don't get rid of nuclear weapons, we are not going to solve any of the other problems that we face. For example, right now, the big deal is climate change. Activists that I know are excited about climate change and don't think at all about nuclear weapons, but I am completely convinced that we will not make any progress on the climate change issue until we overcome the animosity and the cutthroat violent competition that are embodied in nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons are the physical manifestation of hatred and fear and animosity. Steve Leeper 01:10:24 And with those things hanging over our heads, we can't cooperate enough to solve these other really difficult problems like CO2, like hunger and poverty, pandemics and things that need cooperation. Don't get cooperation cause we're threatening to blow each other off the face of the earth. And we are stuck in this animosity way of looking at each other. Hiroshima teaches you that you, you have to get out of that. And in fact, that's what happened to the survivors after the bombing, not all of them, but many of them almost instantly understood that this bomb is not just one more tool of war. This is a threat to humanity and that created their own strain of non-violence is not the con the non-violence of Jesus or the non-violence of even Gandhi. It's the non-violence of people who say, if we use these weapons, it's the end of us. And so they were very persuasive to me and I, I really came to believe deeply that this issue, the problem of nuclear weapons is the problem of cooperation. And the problem of cooperation is the problem that we will either overcome, or it will kill us before all this global peacemakers in India and Pakistan, I was already getting trained by the peace community in Hiroshima, Libbe HaLevy 01:12:01 Back to India and Pakistan. What was the result of the trainings that you did and the people that you sent over there? Did you see any appreciable change? Steve Leeper 01:12:13 You know, when we went there, we were invited by peace activists and they would have us going around to rotary clubs, lions clubs, and mostly universities. We went to a lot of universities and spoke to students almost everywhere. We went, we were extremely well-received and well treated and cared for, especially the Japanese. I was subject to some animosity because I'm an American. And they say, you, you should be back in your own country talking about this. What are you talking about this to us for you are the problem. So I came in for a little bit of that, but most of the people that we met, we met because they had some sort of association with the peace activists who invited us over there. So just from the people that we met, I'm not sure how much change we made, but I did see that an awful lot of Indians and Pakistanis do not want war. Steve Leeper 01:13:18 They really do not want war. And they do not want nuclear war. And they are afraid of nuclear weapons. It is true that there are those who were very satisfied or let's say proud. Oh, okay. Our country now is in the nuclear club. Indians, especially were thinking that, and then from the Pakistan is we heard, well, India did it. So we had to do it. And India has a bigger army than we have. So if we don't have nuclear weapons, we can't stand up to them and all that kind of stuff. So there was that going on, but it all got cut short by nine 11 in September, 2011, there was this just disastrous hatred of Muslims that came up. And all of a sudden it was dangerous for us to go to Pakistan. Japan put a travel advisory on Pakistan. That means we could not take Japanese people over there. Steve Leeper 01:14:17 Most Japanese people, we certainly couldn't take young ones. Most Japanese people will not go to places that there's a travel advisory on. So we had to give that up in what we did then was invite five Indian students and five Pakistani students, and one or two escorts from India and Pakistan. And we had them come to Hiroshima and then they would meet with Japanese kids. And we would all talk about the idea of peace in general, but specifically the problem of nuclear weapons. And the great thing about that was that we would meet the Indians and Pakistani kids in Tokyo. And we would get on the bullet train and it takes four hours to get to Hiroshima. And by the time we got to Hiroshima, they were all great friends. I mean, they get off the plane, hating each other. They're trained to hate each other. Steve Leeper 01:15:15 Of course, the ones who come over here are more peace oriented, but they really had system deep suspicion and it's about each other. But once they met each other, they could see that there's not a dime's worth of difference between them in terms of even language and culture. You know, they understand what they're saying. And we all got along extremely well. Then we met with the Japanese kids or the Japanese kids are really good, natural mediators. And they bring out the piece, especially the Hiroshima kids that we were introducing them to bring out the peaceful impulses on both sides, three or four years, we brought kids over and had them do these webinars. I mean, not a webinar Libbe HaLevy 01:16:01 Or sell condition now with everything being digital, right. Steve Leeper 01:16:05 We were having, we had them do what we were calling seminars and just to have the Hiroshima experience and they would stay for about a week and go home Libbe HaLevy 01:16:14 In this period of time or immediately after, while you were bringing over the kids from Pakistan and India to meet with the Japanese kids. How did that lead to other groups and other involvement? Most specifically the peak Institute and peace culture village, Steve Leeper 01:16:34 Because I helped to create the global peacemakers association with how to commoditize McKee, who is maybe the most famous peace activist in Hiroshima. Her father was the leader of the, a bomb survivors. For years. He lived to be 94. He died in the mid eighties. He was an icon in Hiroshima and very, very important to the shift from hating Americans to hating war and hating nuclear weapons, how to go is his daughter. And she and I did global peacemakers association that gave me some credibility as a peace person. And so in 2001, when I officially had to move back to America, although I did keep going to Hiroshima now, and then, but officially I moved back to America because I had told my wife, I would move back to America when her parents turned 80. So we moved back in 2001 after the nine 11 events. Steve Leeper 01:17:42 But when I moved back, the mayor asked me to figure out how mayors for peace, which is the campaigning arm of Hiroshima. And Nagasaki is a NGO called mayors for peace. He asked me to figure out how could mayors for peace be more effective or active at the UN. And he gave me a little money and told me to go to Northern New York. So I'm living in Atlanta, but I go to New York once a month, or I go to attend certain kinds of meetings there that the nuclear abolitionists are paying attention to. So I go up there and then I say, Hey, Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors for peace. And mayor occupy want to be more involved here? What do we have to do to do that? Wow, everyone was very enthusiastic about that. They wanted to get here Sherman, Nagasaki involved. So they trained me and they said, okay, you have to go to this meeting. Steve Leeper 01:18:44 You have to meet this person. You have to say this kind of thing. You have to not say that kind of thing. And you have to get occupy mayor occupy. You have to get him to such and such a meeting. And then we started going to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty prep, comms, and rev cons. We started participating. And then in 2002 in Nagasaki, we formally announced our 2020 vision campaign. And that was to have a nuclear weapons convention by 2020. And we were announcing that campaign well, mayors for peace at that point had 500 members that they had gathered over 20 years after we launched the 2020 vision campaign, we were getting 500 cities a year. And by the time I left in 2013, we were over 5,500 cities in 163 countries. So that began the big growth of mayors for peace. And then in 2007, mayor occupy appointed me to be the chairman of the peace culture foundation in Hiroshima. Steve Leeper 01:19:59 The peace culture foundation is the international relations and the peace arm of the city of Hiroshima. So I had 101 employees and a budget of $18 million. However, I could not manage a thing like that. My Japanese is not good enough, and I am not a city employee. And there's just no way that I could manage that. And the mayor said, you don't have to manage that. What I want you to do is work on mayors for peace. You get mayors for peace growing and doing things. And that's all you have to worry about. You don't, you know, when I was put there, the museum was under me and that caused quite a stir because the boss of the museum of the atomic bombing is at the American who dropped that bomb. Right? So that was an issue, but that was brilliant by mayor occupy. Actually it turned our mirrors for peace into a conversation topic. Steve Leeper 02:20:59 And I was going all around Japan, making talks all the time because people wanted to know who is this American that's now in charge of the museum. So it was really good from the point of view of raising the profile of our campaign. I hired three non-Japanese peace activists to work in various parts of the world to get us growing. And we had hundreds, probably thousands of people who helped us by just going to their mayor and say, Hey, join mayors for peace. And we were growing very fast after that. But my appointment in that position led to me being a peace culture foundation chairman, and as chairman of the peace culture foundation, I had to continually answer the question, what is peace culture? Because I would go and speak to high school kids. And, you know, the high school teachers say to the kids, all right, when he gets done talking, you have to ask him some questions. And most of them knew they were going to ask me, what is peace and what is peace culture? And I realized after looking around a bit that this was very poorly defined anywhere. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:21 One of the major points that came to me in my research for this interview was that you talk about peace culture, but I have never lived in a world where there was peace. And I wonder what it would take for it to be recognized, let alone be something that is so unfamiliar, that it would be comfortable for people to live with it. So, first of all, start out with what you came up with as a, I think rather elegant definition of what peace culture would consist of. Steve Leeper 02:22:57 There is a definition on the UN website. There is no definition on a piece culture foundation website, as far as I know, I think how to co Modi Taki's father invented this concept, Hey, in Japanese. And the peace culture foundation that I worked with started out in the early seventies as the peace culture center. And that is the earliest reference to it that I can find it really not. Well-defined the way that it seems to me to have developed is that peace culture is differs from the war culture in a number of important ways. One is that in the peace culture, you are working for humanity as a whole and the earth as a whole. Whereas in the war, culture or culture is based on a rivalry of some kind competition. The principles of competition are dominant there so that you are always working against the people around you. Steve Leeper 02:24:06 You're not trying to make everybody happy. You are trying to make your own self happy or your family happy, or your company or your team or your tribe or something. But some subgroup, you are not looking at humanity as a whole and the earth as a planet and trying to protect those entities. So us as a species and our habitat, even thinking about those things, our peace culture, from my point of view, or one aspect of it. And then another one is that in the war culture, conflict is perceived as an opportunity to win or lose. And if you win, you go up and if you lose, you go down. And so people get very competitive and you will see this in every company I've ever done consulting with. The competitive principle is dominant there. They don't share information with each other. If they think that information is going to help them go up the ladder somehow, and they will say mean things to each other, even within a company, people are antagonistic and competitive in order to promote their own career, which I think is one of the great disadvantages of American companies compared to Japanese companies, because there's very little of that in a Japanese company in peace culture, when a conflict occurs, this is an opportunity to solve a problem. Steve Leeper 02:25:42 In other words, there's some kind of problem that came up. That's what the meaning of this conflict is by trying to solve the problem in a way that everyone says, okay, hopefully you solve it in a way that makes everybody happy. But in many cases, you solve it in a way that makes most people happy. And a few people say, well, okay, I can put up with that. But even that is a lot better than just voting and getting six people out of 10 to in favor something. And four people out of tend to be angry about it. So this peace culture is a way of resolving conflict and solving problems rather than fighting it out to see who's got the power to win. And then the third one, the most difficult one is nonviolence. Peace culture means you don't kill people. You don't fight and you don't kill in order to get your way. Steve Leeper 02:26:39 I think you don't do it even for a self-defense, but that is not universally held idea. But to me, if someone were to break into my home to, you know, rape my wife and kill my children, I probably would fight them. But that's not the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about war where Americans are trained to hate Iranians and north Koreans and Chinese and Russians. And we are willing to go out and fight them as if they are incarnations of the devil of some sort. If we don't reject war, I don't think you can call yourself a peace culture person. Those are the three fundamental differences, in my opinion, Libbe HaLevy 02:27:24 Obviously conflict resolution and the resolution of whatever the problem is that led to the conflict is the key to generating peace or a more peaceful environment. You talk about that in terms of companies or perhaps families, how does this apply in a larger way when we've got nuclear weapons and a world at war, especially the U S where it seems like we are in continuous war against an ever growing list of countries and ideas Steve Leeper 02:28:00 To get there. Let me start with the company. The best company that I ever worked for was a architectural and design firm in Houston, Texas. And this company was created by seven guys who went to college together and they said, let's make a company. And no matter what happens, we're going to all work together on this company. And they were friends and colleagues and determined to stay that way. And when problems came up among them, they resolved those problems in a way that everyone could live with. They did it because they wanted to stay together. And that company was a pleasure to be in. They just wanted some help confronting some of the conflicts that were happening at various levels in the organization, but they were nothing compared to most of the companies that we've been working with. You know, people are in there hating each other, and this company, they're all friends and they all feel good. Steve Leeper 02:29:06 Nobody quits, nobody leaves. Everyone loves this company. And that's because the love starts right at the top and goes all the way down through the system. We basically have to aim at that. We are not there. Obviously, you know, we still have this idea that the Russians are evil or the Chinese are evil or something like that. But I think the problem is that we still accept the idea that whole countries can be enemies and that we are good and they are bad. And this very childish notion is what we have to overcome. And I think we are overcoming it. I'm in an E rotary club that has Russians as members in our club. Those Russians are, everybody is good and peace loving. And, you know, as we are, they're just wonderful people. And most Russians are, I've met a lot of them through mayors for peace and Russians are not trying to kill us. Steve Leeper 03:30:11 If we were to not have nuclear weapons, I am a hundred percent sure that the Russians would not the next day send over their nuclear weapons to kill us, that it's not in their interest to do that. Really the nuclear industry is based on the desire to use this fear and animosity to make money. It's the money that's behind it. And nobody wants to actually have a nuclear war. Even John Bolton does not want to have a nuclear war. What he wants is to have America be the boss of the world and what a lot of people in the nuclear industry, one is they don't even care about that. They want money. They just want to get the money from the nuclear industry. What we have to realize, I think is that we don't have time for that. We don't have time for that kind of animosity and competition and rivalry. Nature has a knife at our throat, and we need to start cooperating in order to keep our planet habitable. And we need to do that right now. We can't accept these people who think that they are defending us from some other evil empire like that Reagan called the Russians, right? That is a fantasy that is created for the purpose of making money. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:35 We'll continue with our interview with Steve Leeper of the Hiroshima peace culture foundation in just a moment. But first it's the holiday season. When we think about giving and gifts, come in all forms. My weekly gift to you is nuclear hot seat. The program designed to bring you up to date on nuclear issues around the world. Guests this year alone have included activists, attorneys, medical doctors, epidemiologists, engineers, downwinders authors, filmmakers, anyone in every one of interests I could find who is fighting against some aspect of the nuclear industrial complex. It's my honor, and privilege to be able to talk with people such as this week's guest, ask them all the questions I can, and then share their answers with you. Listeners, who are literally around the world, but producing the show takes more than time and energy. It requires money. And quite frankly, the COVID pandemic has hit us really hard. Libbe HaLevy 03:32:35 We've not been making all our monthly nut, which means that I'm out of pocket. And to be honest, I don't have a pocket to keep nuclear hot seat going, requires your support. So whether you're a weekly listener or just pay attention to episodes that are relevant to your area, if you find you get value from what you hear here, please help us keep going. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com, click on the big red donate button. And that's where you can send us a one-time donation of any size. And it's also where you can set up a recurring donation at $5 a month. It's the same as a cup of coffee and a nice tip here in the U S please do what you can so that as we face a year, that hopefully will be better than 2020 heaven help us. If it isn't nuclear hot seat, we'll continue to provide you with nuclear news from a different perspective, know that however much you can help at this time, I am deeply grateful that you're listening and that you care. And, and now back to this week's nuclear hot seats, special holiday interview with Steve Leeper of the Hiroshima peace culture village. Steve Leeper 03:33:42 I met with some young people for three days in a row. And we talked about how could Hiroshima become more of a peace culture city. We advertise ourselves as a piece of culture city. What should we do? And many ideas came out. But one, the one I really liked the most is we need to create a model of what peace looks like and make a model community that is living as much as we know how to do. According to piece culture principles, namely, we are trying to use as little energy as possible. We are trying to use as little resources as possible. We are resolving our conflicts, not fighting. We don't compete and we don't try to defeat each other. What we do is try to resolve our conflicts in a way that makes everybody happy. What we were talked about was making a peace culture village that is a training camp for peace or peace culture, so that people come there from various parts of the world with various languages and various cultural orientations and ideologies. Steve Leeper 03:34:56 We really want to have people come there, everybody from way over on the left to way over on the rights, to all get together and figure out how are we going to live on this planet without wrecking it that's our job now. So we have a farm out two hours from Hiroshima by bus. And we are there trying to experiment with things like permaculture and bio-design and cynical culture and ways of growing food that are sustainable in the long run. So that if all 8 billion people on this planet were raising food in this, we could feed ourselves without destroying the ecosystem. That's one thing we're working on that is peace with nature. We call that. So we're trying to create peace with nature, and then we're trying to create peace with each other, right? How to resolve conflict with people around you. And then we're also trying to have inner peace, because if you are trying to create peace with nature, and you're trying to have peace with the people around you, it's easy to get unhappy, right? Steve Leeper 03:36:12 Yeah. Some people give up too much and some people get taken advantage of some people sacrifice themselves too much for the community. And so the idea is we want peace with ourselves, our inner peace, peace with the people around us and peace with nature. That's what we're working on as the peace culture village. And this was supposed to be a training camp. And we have actually had quite a few camps there. We've had rotary camps. We've had Y YMCA people come there. We've had a lot of colleges and high schools and even elementary school kids have come there to take part in what we're doing and have us tell them why we think we are working on peace culture, right. And what we think piece culture is. And we get them to think about it and get them to think about what are they going to do when they go back to their home community to improve the peacefulness of their environment. Steve Leeper 03:37:13 So we are doing that kind of thing, but COVID to completely puts an end to that, right? Nobody can come to Japan from outside of Japan. And even within Japan, there's little to no travel taking place. You know, we're basically a tourist industry. And so we are done for, but we did get some subsidy from the government because of that, we tell them, okay, we would have made X amount of money. So then they give us some part of that. So that kept us alive. But the young people that I'm working with over there really got into this idea of sending Hiroshima out to the world online. And so we are doing online tours of Hiroshima. So I can take you to Tinian island where the bomb left from. I can take you to Hiroshima. I can help you see Hiroshima as the bomber was looking at it. I can take you to the hypo center. I can take you into the hospital that was at the hypo center, as it was, there was a computer graphics video, a recreation of that hospital that was at the hypo center. And I can show you the garden that was right under the bomb when it exploded. And then I can show you the T-shaped bridge and how the rivers that were full of bodies. I can take you around and give you the Hiroshima experience by our Google earth online tour. Libbe HaLevy 03:38:45 And this is all digital. This is all recreation's correct. Steve Leeper 03:38:49 All of this is digital. Yes. And we're working with some material that was created by Fukuyama technical high school, where they make virtual reality videos, kind of thing, or virtual reality of pure Shima as it used to be. And we are working on that. We have a few of their videos that they have made. We are not yet able to use the virtual reality part, but we will become able to do that too, so that I can have you actually see it in virtual reality. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:25 Now, if somebody listening to this is in any one of the 123 countries where nuclear hot seat is, and they go, gee, I'd like to have a tour of Hiroshima. Like Steve Leeper is talking about what would they do? How would they arrange such a thing is such a thing possible right now Steve Leeper 03:39:43 It is completely possible. Yes, we do it a lot. I've done it several times over here. Since I came here in September, I have gone to Swarthmore college. I have gone to Rwanda. I'm going to go to South Africa. I have gone to Europe, I've gone various places to show people Hiroshima at a distance to take people. Libbe HaLevy 04:40:09 So when you say you've gone to these countries, you're talking about virtually through the power of zoom or some other Steve Leeper 04:40:16 Yes. Through zoom. I have a zoom connection with these people in Rwanda and they are in the genocide museum. And we are talking about the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust that happened in Hiroshima. And it's really a powerful experience. And we get to know each other that way. It's really beautiful. And that's the other thing that's so great about this approach. I mean, I still want to do a model community in Hiroshima. I think there is benefit then merit to doing that. And I want people to come to Hiroshima and meet us and see Hiroshima with your own two eyes. But this actually has more potential to reach more people. There's just a limited number of people. Only people with money and time can get over there. But the online presentation that we have, actually, we have several that we can do depending on what people's interest is, but our online presentations can go anywhere for almost free, right? Steve Leeper 04:41:22 So we do have to charge some money for this, but compared to going to heat, I wish my head is. And not only that, we have a very good relationship with the museum there. And we can, for example, you tell me that you want to meet an, a bomb survivor and you tell me when, and then I will call to the museum or I'll call some of the survivors. I know myself and I'll say, Hey, can you do a zoom with me and Libby on such and such a date? And they'll say, yeah. And then I say, okay, let's do it. And then we get together and you meet an, a bomb survivor, and I interpret for you. And we can do that anywhere. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:03 Let's put that one on the schedule as we get closer to next August. Steve Leeper 04:42:06 Actually, that is a good idea. You should do that. We should have a survivor come on, nuclear, hot seat and be interviewed by Libbe HaLevy 04:42:15 Absolutely. I would cherish and honor the opportunity, but there was something inherent in all of what you were saying about the village and the digital and the working on it. And that seemed to be the presence of younger people. And that is an issue that we face across the board in this movement. So, so many of us are, shall we say of the gray haired on social security generation? And the need is to bring in more young people. Am I correct that this seems to be doing it? And what is it that attracts them to becoming involved? Steve Leeper 04:42:55 The main thing I think that they need to really get involved is money and authority. You know, I used to go around Japan all the time and I would meet with a lot of peace groups and they would say, oh, how do you get young people to participate in your activities? And then I ask about their organization and I discover that the chairman of their organization is 94 years old. And the board is all in their eighties and they control the money and decide everything. And they expect the young people to do what they're told, right. That just doesn't work anymore. Libbe HaLevy 04:43:38 So parents have a teenager would ever tell you anything else Steve Leeper 04:43:42 I learned when I was chairman of the peace culture foundation, I wrote a book that I thought was this great book for activists to read. I went to some young artists. Now. I said, illustrate this book for me, make it interesting. So they took the book away and they came back a week later or so. And they said, you know, this book is not going to be interesting to anybody it's written for activists. We will rewrite the book and illustrate the book. You just let us do it. And then I said, okay, you guys take the book, take my information, make it a book that advertises the nuclear weapons convention that promotes a nuclear weapons. And you do a good job. And I will print it with my own money. I will print this book, but if it's not good, then I won't print it. Steve Leeper 04:44:35 And we were all out that time. So they took the book away. They came back with a fabulous, a really great book and I printed it and we made some money with that book. Plus, we got that book out to a lot of people. And not only that, this book had 80 pictures, beautiful photographs and paintings and collages and everything. 80 really great pictures in it from 50 artists that were all recruited in around Hiroshima. And so these guys got into it. Not only that, but once that book was printed, they sold it. They organized events. They took the book to events that would not have happened if they had just illustrated my book. You know, if they took my book and just drew some pictures for it, they'd say, yeah, here's your book. Good luck. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:27 What's the lesson in terms of reaching out and motivating younger people, something that the rest of us can wrap our heads around and take action on to expand our base before the older generation is too old to do this work. Steve Leeper 04:45:44 Yeah. The more I have done this, the more I have seen that if you give the kids some money and some authority, they will take it beyond your expectations and peace culture village right now is way beyond anything I could have done. And it's done because these young people, especially a bunch of young Japanese people got into it and it's theirs. It's not mine. I'm not even getting paid by it anymore. This is something that I have supported. And I paid a bunch of money into it to get it started, but it's their thing. And they are doing it because it's theirs and they are determined to make peace coder village, part of the peace industrial complex, meaning that people should be able to make money by peace. And they are rebelling against the older generations attitude that everything for peace has to be done for free. Steve Leeper 04:46:47 Right now you can make all the money in the world from war. But if you are working for peace, you should be doing that for free. That's the attitude in Japan. And these guys are rebelling against that. And they're saying, we are guiding you to Hiroshima. We are guiding you around peace park. We are helping you do field trips, doing seminars, and we have to make some money in order to do that. So you're going to have to pay for that. And they are being supported wonderfully by the city, by the prefecture, by the people, by the survivors. And one thing is, everyone is so excited to see these kids and by kids. I mean, they're in their teens. The oldest ones are in there, maybe mid thirties. They now have a network of at least 40 people around them who are studying how to be Hiroshima guides. Steve Leeper 04:47:42 They're studying that and learning to do it. And as a result of this, they are getting any normous amount of work through Japan, travel bureau, bringing in field trips, students who just are starting to do that again, it was all shut down all summer, early spring through the summer, everything was shut down. Then in September, there was one field trip. And that was so successful that October and November, and even now, even in December, which is late for these field trips, they're still busy with field trips. They are making money. They are surviving and they are sharing this money with their network. That's part of why the network is there because kids can't afford to do things for free. No one can afford to give a whole lot of time to something that is not somehow helping them survive. I think that is part of why this, these go to villages being successful. No one in there is getting rich, no one, but they are sharing the money. They are really developing a community. That community aspect is also very important part of why they are doing this Libbe HaLevy 04:48:54 Speaking of community. There's an overarching question that I want to put to you. You are a trained psychologist and we're dealing with a world that is conditioned to expect war, war, war, bullying, threats, violence, all of that. As a response to just about anything, what do you think it would take to switch over society from the assumption of war and violence to solve problems to the assumption of peace and is such an adjustment in national and international psyche away from aggression and its intendant, intense emotions even possible, or are we so addicted to violence and the emotions that we're not going to be able to do it, or if we can do it, it won't be in time. Steve Leeper 04:49:43 I can't say that I am particularly optimistic about that. I think things are going to have to get worse, especially for Americans and Japanese and Europeans. Things are going to have to get worse before they get better. But I do think that we, human beings have tremendous capabilities that we are not using and that we are on the verge of a major change in consciousness. And I get that from the young people that I have met, mostly in Japan, where I go around talking, I talked to high school kids and college kids. These kids are aware of the earth in a way that I was never, when I was age, they know that they are earthlings first and then they are Japanese or Americans or whatever, right? So they are seriously concerned about how to organize human life in a way that is sustainable. This word, sustainability. Steve Leeper 05:50:48 I didn't even know that when I was in high school or college, nobody talked about sustainability. I assumed that life was going to be great forever for a white male. Right? I know. Why am I worried about it? And I wasn't worried about anything. So these people are seriously thinking the earth there's too much plastic in the ocean. There's too many poisons in the water, global warming there's things we need to do. And we are not doing them. They have a sense of crisis about this. You know, the Japanese, when they were threatened by Admiral Perry in a, I think it was like 1868 or sometime like that. Admiral Perry sails over from America and threatens to colonize Japan and within a generation Japan beat Russia in a war. And that is because they suddenly saw the need to be different than they were. They can't just be summarized walking around with swords. Steve Leeper 05:51:51 They're going to have to develop weapons. Okay. That is not the direction. I'm hoping that we go in, but that is an example of the speed with which people can change when they see it's necessary. And I think we do have the possibility of changing at that speed. And I do think that there is one change that we could make that would make all the difference. And that is that all organizations need to have within them, a conflict manager, someone identified as the person who is responsible for identifying and facilitating the resolution of conflict. And politically, we need to get out of the adversarial political system that we're in. Now we are set up to be adversaries in the court system is set up as an adversarial system. We need to abandon the adversarial system and we have to stop electing lawyers who are trained to be warriors. Steve Leeper 05:53:00 That's who they are. They are adversaries. And we elect them and expect them to create peace. That's not who they are. We need to elect mediators and we need to have government as process, not government as policy. So if I'm elected president of the United States, I never make a decision. I never even reveal an opinion. I do nothing but gather the stakeholders around me and have them make the decisions. And we have the technology now to have 300 million people participate in decision-making process. We're not a bunch of tribes on the other side of the mountains from each other that can't communicate. We can communicate. We can resolve conflict at a huge level, including at the UN making decisions peacefully through dialogue and negotiation among nations. But we have to be determined to do that. And within countries, I think we have to see government as a process, not government as a pursuit of power. Steve Leeper 05:54:10 As long as you are having government by people who get there through the pursuit of power, you will get gangsters as your leaders, because those are the people who are most devoted to power and who will do anything for it, right? They lie. They cheat, they steal, they kill in order to be on the top of the hierarchy. And we are led by them. That is the mistake we need to be led by a cast of mediators who take a vow of poverty, never to earn more than a certain amount of money, no matter what happens. And they are the mediators who help the stakeholders resolve conflict. And if Facebook has a problem with some of their advertisers, or maybe some of the companies that they have squashed. So I, as president start a process and that process brings Facebook together with all of the people who hate Facebook. Steve Leeper 05:55:08 And we all, there's not a room big enough. There's not a digital platform. Big enough though, you, we all discuss how can we solve this problem in a way that makes sense for all of us? The reason we don't do this so far is because if you have power, you don't turn to mediation. We have a mediation center in Atlanta here. This is a mediation center. That's ready to mediate any kind of conflict. Nobody goes there. If they think they're going to win, if they think they can go to court in an adversarial system and win, why would they use mediation? They won't. That's why mediators have to be elected and put into a position of power. So that I, as president say, this budget is available, but no one gets one penny until this problem is solved. And the problem is not solved until we're all satisfied. And then we discuss it and come up with a solution that we can all agree on. And so if we had mediators in charge of the government, instead of warriors, we would be able to make really rapid change in how we get along with each other and with nature, all Libbe HaLevy 05:56:22 Of which is tremendously needed. Steve, we could obviously talk for the next five hours without even taking a breath. But for now, if people wish to follow up on you learn more about your work, perhaps book one of those tours of Hiroshima, what would be the best way for them to do so? Where can they contact you? Steve Leeper 05:56:43 They can write to me at Steve at peace culture, village.org. And if they write to me, I will write back Libbe HaLevy 05:56:52 Steve Leeper. This has been more than anything else and encouraging interview because we don't get a chance to hear good news or positive news or ways forward very often. And you represent another way of approaching this. Another way of looking at this that looks like it has a chance of succeeding in attracting a younger generation and then the generation younger than them for as long as we have to in order to keep this moving forward. I thank you for the work you have done and are doing and will continue to do. And I want to thank you very deeply for being my guest this very special week on nuclear hot seat. Steve Leeper 05:57:33 Thank you. It's been a real, and you know, it's been a pleasure to talk to you, really, Libbe HaLevy 05:57:38 Steve Leeper, founding partner, and vice-president of the Hiroshima peak Institute and director of peaks, Hiroshima campus, peace culture village. We'll have a link up to Steve's email and the website on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 4 96, this has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 to receive nuclear hot seat every week, go to our website, nuclear hot seat.com and fill in your name and email address in the yellow opt in box one email a week. We don't bug you beyond that. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to that website, look for that big red button and know that when you follow the prompts, anything will help and we will really appreciate your support. This is Libby Halevi of hardest street communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you of two concepts that came out of today's interview, that there is something called peace culture. And those of us who work for the genuine safety and wellbeing of all the people and environment of this planet, we are members of the peace industrial complex, pass it on happy holidays, be safe, be well. ### NH #495: Nuclear Pacifists Sentenced to Prison: Kings Bay Plowshares 7 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-pacifists-sentenced-to-prison-kings-bay-plowshares-7/ Published: 2020-12-16 Nuclear Pacifists – the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, 6 of whom have now been sentenced and imprisoned for their non-violent protest against the Trident nuclear submarines at the Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear pacifists – Anti-nuclear, anti-war – the Kings Bay Plowshares 7. In 2018, these Catholic Peace Activists performed a non-violent action to protest the nuclear weapons aboard Trident nuclear submarines at the Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia, 38 miles from Jacksonville, Florida. They were arrested, tried, and found guilty on three felony counts and one misdemeanor. Now, all but one has been sentenced. In this Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL ENCORE presentation, we talk with Martha Hennessey and Patrick O’Neill about the Plowshares Movement, their religiously-based dedication to peace, how the Kings Bay action was planned and executed, and what happened the night they did it — April 4, 2018, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s death. Then we learn what has happened to them since the trial. On October 24, 2018, all seven were found guilty of three felony charges and one misdemeanor, which could lead to 20 or more years of imprisonment for each of them. Sentencing has been delayed almost two full years because, according to them, it’s an extension of the cruelty with which the government has treated them, and punishment that cannot be claimed as “time served” once they are sentenced.  Originally recorded on February 14, 2020. NOTE: I’m not often moved to tears by my Nuclear Hotseat interviews, but this one really got to me.  We all deserve to be Nuclear Pacifists. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Do you really want to be carrying around a piece of radioactive nuclear reactor waste in your pocket, up close and personal with your reproductive organs?  LINKS: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War PETITION:  No Olympic competitions in radioactively contaminated regions LETTER TO OLYMPIC ATHLETES (copy and paste; link to site not yet live): PLACE, DATE Dear ____: We contact you in your role as a former Olympic athlete, a role model and an activist. As you know, the Olympic Summer Games are due to take place in Japan in 2021 with a year's delay due to the Coronavirus pandemic. What you may not know is that the Japanese government is planning to use the Games to promote nuclear energy and to distract attention from the plight of the people living in the regions irradiated by the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, which began in 2011 and continues until today. The symbolic first competitions have been moved from Tokyo to Fukushima City, just 50 km (31 miles) from the crippled nuclear reactors, to demonstrate that the city and region have fully recovered from the nuclear disaster and that nuclear energy and radiation are not as dangerous as many people believe.  But Fukushima has not recovered and radiation is indeed posing a continued hazard to the people living in the irradiated areas.  Many of these are upset that the Olympic Games are co-opted for the promotion of nuclear energy and the cover-up of the dire consequences of the nuclear disaster. In addition, the cherished Olympic Torch Relay is going to start near the nuclear reactor and will pass through highly irradiated towns and villages, where just recently, independent researchers have detected numerous radioactive hot-spots near the proposed route. We are not advocating for a cancellation of the games, but are calling on the Olympic Committee and the Japanese government to acknowledge the continued suffering of the people in the irradiated regions and to refrain from holding the opening competitions and the torch relay in Fukushima. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by radioactivity in Japan and oppose any attempt to use the Olympics to portray a false normality in the affected regions. As a renowned Olympic athlete, a role model and an activist, we are asking for your support for our campaign ”Tokyo 2020 – The Radioactive Olympics“ and invite you to get in touch with us so that we can discuss ways in which you can support our cause. Please also visit our website to learn more about us and our campaign: http://www.radioactive-olympics.org Thank you for your time and consideration, Hoping to hear from you, (signature) ### NH #494: Nuclear Downwinders (That's All of Us): Journalist/Playwright Mary Dickson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-downwinders-journalist-playwright-mary-dickson/ Published: 2020-12-09 Nuclear Downwinders Update – Map of U.S. areas hit by fallout from at least three of the 100 atmospheric bomb tests done above ground in Nevada, showing that most of us are truly downwinders. Used by permission of Richard Miller Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Downwinders – and that would be more of us than you might suspect. Mary Dickson is a Salt Lake City journalist and writer whose award-winning play, Exposed, puts a human face on the cost of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders and regularly speaks out against the resumption of nuclear testing as well as her downwinder information talks.  We talk about the horrific price paid by those who were downwind of the atmospheric atomic bomb tests of the 1950's and 60's… and the ongoing legacy of those blasts. Contact Mary Dickson:  Exposed.Downwinders@gmail.com Nuclear Downwinder/Journalist/Playwright Mary Dickson Nuclear Downwinder Map – An excellent explanation of the map (seen above) and what it means.  It includes implications for those who live at distance from the Nevada bomb blasts, but are neverthless at ongoing risk from the radiation it dispersed. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Exelon and Three Mile Island – While the energy company boo-hoos over lost revenue and being saddled with decommissioning the husk of a nuclear energy facility that they readily admits is "worthless" (though radioactive), the corporation cuts a teeny tiny financial corner… and shuts down its warning sirens.  Really?  Really???  You strip out and suck up all the profits for all those years, and then cry poor mouth so you can remove that last line of defense should there be an accident, weather incident or terrorist attack that compromises safety?  Sheesh! Info Links: Nasa's Plutonium Tour! – Learn where the most radioactive substance on work has been "touring" the US on the way to the next Mars rover launch. ### NH #493: Nuclear Lame Duck Legislation: Diane D'Arrigo of NIRS URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-lame-duck-legislation-diane-darrigo-of-nirs/ Published: 2020-12-03 Nuclear Lame Duck Legislation – Diane D'Arrigo of Nuclear Information and Resource Service gives us the rundown on a few of the more than 18 nuclear-related bills currently in front of the lame duck Congress.   This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Lame Duck Legislation – Diane D’Arrigo is the Radioactive Waste Project Director for Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) where she has worked for over 30 years for a nuclear-free, carbon-free future. She has a degree in chemistry and environmental studies, and work experience in industrial and academic analytical chemistry and biological research, as well as community organizing. She has closely followed radioactive waste issues for decades, especially so-called "low-level" nuclear waste, challenging state, national and international moves to deregulate nuclear waste into ordinary trash and commercial recycling. Diane D'Arrigo of NIRS LINK to NIRS Alert Page, with information on all the bills.LINK to Nuclear Information Resource Service – NIRS Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's one thing to bail out of the 10+ year Treaty on Open Skies, which allows aerial surveillance of possible military build-ups in other countries, both allies and opponents. It's a whole other thing to go "scorched earth" and make it impossible for the treaty to be entered into by a new administration. The "trash compacter" school of nuclear "diplomacy"… ### NH #492: Nuclear Racism: Navajo Nation's Radioactive Legacy - The 1979 Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Disaster URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/491-nuclear-racism-navajo-nations-radioactive-legacy-chris-shuey/ Published: 2020-11-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Racism: Navajo Nation's Radioactive Legacy – Uranium mining disaster site: SRIC’s Chris Shuey on site at Church Rock, explaining the devastation of the 1979 uranium tailings pond spill of 94-million gallons of highly acidic radioactive waste into Puerco River on Navajo Nation land. This Week’s Featured Interview: Nuclear Racism – Chris Shuey is Director of the Uranium Impact Assessment Program for Southwest Research and Information Service. He has worked with Navajo Nation communities on uranium mining issues for 38 years. Chris has helped document the persistent impact of the 1979 uranium tailings pond disaster, which dumped 94 million gallons of highly acidic radioactive waste into the Puerco River. The waste was recorded as having traveled beyond Sanders, Arizona. In this special extended interview, Chris goes over the resulting degradation of the water, land, and health on Navajo Nation. He also covers cultural issues that make the people unwilling to leave their ancestral lands, no matter how contaminated. And there's information on the Navajo Birth Cohort Study, which documents the ongoing health damage to the Navajo people. We spoke on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 – just before I left for Church Rock, NM to cover the 40th anniversary commemoration events. Navajo Birth Cohort Study – a link to a PDF explanation and some of its findings. ### NH #491: Social Media for Activists w/Colleen Moore, Beyond the Bomb URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/social-media-for-activists-w-colleen-moore-beyond-the-bomb/ Published: 2020-11-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Social Media for Activists: Beyond the Bomb and Global Zero's Colleen Moore (above) explains powerful social media techniques for anti-nuclear activists. This Week's Featured Interviews: Social Media for Activists: Colleen Moore is Digital Engagement Manager for Beyond the Bomb and Global Zero. She creates content to promote the message of eliminating nuclear weapons. Colleen has experience in campaigning for justice and peace issues, including: ending U.S. support for the war in Yemen; promoting human rights and justice in Indonesia and East Timor, working for peace between North and South Korea, and advocating for access to education for women in Pakistan. Above all, she has a passion for using digital media to advance causes of human rights and justice. Contact Colleen Moore for info on her upcoming social media trainings or to book her for one for your group at: Colleen@BeyondTheBomb.org Susan Hito Shapiro (aka Susan Hillary) helps clarify points from her interview on nukes and global warming on Nuclear Hotseat #488, October 28, 2020. She is a New York State attorney whose practice focuses on environmental water protection and land use in the Hudson Valley. Susan was co-counsel on the groundbreaking litigation against Indian Point’s violation of the Clean Water Act for thermal and radiation pollution of the Hudson River; and against the NRC for reducing fire safety standards at Indian Point from 3 hours to 24 minutes. She laid the legal groundwork opposing re-licensing of Indian Point; participated in the Presidential Blue Ribbon Commission on Nuclear Waste; and represented nuclear whistle blowers.Susan Hito Shapiro is happy to engage in further conversation on the points she raised here and in her original interview. You may call her office at: 845-371-2020. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): TEPCO does it again! Fukushima worker accidentally shuts off Fukushima's monitoring equipment for continous fission reaction criticality. Pressure starts to build up and… NOBODY NOTICES FOR 3 HOURS??? Links: Nuclear Free Future Awards Ceremony – Participate online via Zoom (of course!): https://www.icanw.de/action/nuclear-free-future-award-2020/International Uranium Film Festival in Berlin's award-winning films: Top winner "Balantes – The Brave Ones" by Lisa Camillo Honorable Mention "The Soviet Garden" by Dragos Turea At The Brink – podcast by Lisa Perry and Dr. William J. Perry, 19th U.S. Secretary of DefenseBiden and Harris include fantasy of "small nuclear reactors" in an otherwise progressive climate policy. ### NH #490: Children of Atomic Veterans Carry Heavy Genetic Burden: Victoria Moore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/children-of-atomic-veterans-carry-genetic-burden-victoria-moore/ Published: 2020-11-11 Duration: 00:59:01 Children of Atomic Veterans  – DNA damage, penile cancer, and the message:   Don't have kids! The American devastation of military personnel from the atomic bomb test radiation that devastated the Marshall Islands and its people.  This Week's Featured Interview: Children of Atomic Veterans focuses on medical and genetic issues in those whose parents – primarily fathers – were exposed to nuclear radiation during the atomic bomb tests in the south Pacific 1946-1962. Victoria Moore is one such child. Her father was head of communications for the tests and was aboard ship, in proximity, for anywhere from 20-40 nuclear explosions. She tells the story of his penile cancer and the veil of secrecy that hid his many illnesses, as well as their cause. Then she explains how her father's radiation exposure changed what should have been the trajectory of her own life. Gripping information, along with how to contact the group and register for its upcoming initiatives.Contacts: Website: Childrenofatomicveterans.org EMAIL: children.of.atomic.vets@gmail.com TWITTER: @children_of_atomic_veterans Children of Atomic Veterans co-founder Victoria Moore (l) interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When are the facts of radiation protection not of interest to an international group that claims to have as its focus and purpose radiation protection? Well, you'd have to ask the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), which doesn't see a connection between radiation impact as measured on adult men and radiation impact as measured on little girls – our genetic future. ### NH #489: UN Nuclear Weapons Ban: The Inside Scoop w/Ray Acheson + NPR's Ira Flatow IS Numnutz of the Week! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-nuclear-weapons-ban-ray-acheson-paul-gunter-rebuts-ira-flatow/ Published: 2020-11-04 Duration: 00:59:01 UN Nuclear Weapons Ban – The inside scoop from Ray Acheson, Director of Reaching Critical Will, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom She was in ALL the rooms where it happened! This Week's Featured Interview: UN Nuclear Weapons Ban: Ray Acheson is Director of the Disarmament Programme of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). She has been involved in the campaign to create, promote and enact the United Nations Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons since its inception in 2010, and has been in almost all of the "rooms where it happened." Here, she explains what it took to formulate, strategize, pass and now implement the Treaty, which has been ratified and enters into force of law on January 22, 2021. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is the oldest women's peace organization in the world. For a little background, in 1915, women from countries at war with each other and from neutral countries came together in The Hague to discuss solutions to the causes and violence of World War I. They founded WILPF as an organization with a mandate to challenge militarism, patriarchy, and capitalism as the roots of war and violence. That’s what they’re still doing. LINKS for the Featured Interview: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons or ICAN – the 2017 Nobel Peace-Prize winning organization behind the UN Treaty. ICAN Cities Program, where you can learn how to get your city to endorse the Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons.ICAN Universities Program where you can learn how to get your university to endorse the Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons.Reaching Critical Will Resources Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ira Flatow of NPR's Science Friday never met a nuke he didn't love… and man, did he ever get this one wrong! Which leads us to… Science Friday Rebuttal: Paul Gunter Paul Gunter Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear. Action and Info Links: Fracking Has a Radioactive Problem – Popular Mechanics article90% of Sellafield's Discharged Plutonium Wastes are on the "Cumbirian Mud Patch" Below Which Lies the Coal Mine Plan ### NH #488: Hot Nukes & Global Warming: Nuclear's Climate Change Connection - Attny Susan Hito Shapiro URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hot-nukes-climate-change-connection-attny-susan-hito-shapiro/ Published: 2020-10-28 Hot nukes – The thermal plume from Indian Point and Lovett power plants in this infra-red image taken in 1998 by scientists from GER/SpectroTech, Inc. The reds indicate discharge temperatures from 1-8 degrees hotter than ambient river water, and the yellows go up to 14.5 degrees hotter. One scientist noted that the plume appeared to be devoid of life. LISTEN  HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Hot Nukes & Global Warming – Susan Hito Shapiro (aka Susan Hillary) is a New York State attorney whose practice focuses on environmental water protection and land use in the Hudson Valley.  She was co-counsel on the groundbreaking litigation against Indian Point’s violation of the Clean Water Act for thermal and radiation pollution of the Hudson River; and against the NRC for reducing fire safety standards at Indian Point from 3 hours to 24 minutes. She laid the legal groundwork opposing re-licensing of Indian Point; participated in the Presidential Blue Ribbon Commission on Nuclear Waste; and represented nuclear whistle blowers.  We spoke on Friday, October 16, 2020. Charts Referred to During Interview: Hot Nukes & Global Warming – Compare these charts to consider how heat from all things nuclear parallels the decades-long increase in global warming/climate change:  Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness:) Japanese journalists and/or their editors continue to semantically erase Fukushima's nuclear triple meltdown disaster from any reference to NE Japan's attempts at recovery.  Nuke-washing in preparation for the Olympics?   LINKS: Cindy Folkers Beyond Nuclear article on Carbon 14  Attny. Terry Lodge on Ohio's Nukegate Scandal: Nuclear Hotseat #475, July 28, 2020 Nuclear War Makes a Comeback Earthquakes and the H.B. Robinson Plant: A Case Study in the NRC's Failure to Learn from the Fukushima Accident by Ed Lyman Nuclear Radiation Alert: Could You Have a Dirty Bomb Next Door? by Arnie Gundersen ### NH #487: Radium Girls - New Film on Tragically Radiation-Poisoned Workers + Covid/Nuclear Update w/Dave Kraft URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/487-radium-girls-new-film-on-discovery-of-radiation-dangers-covid-nuclear-update-w-dave-kraft/ Published: 2020-10-21 Radium Girls – WWI era young women paint luminous watch dials with radioactive paint were instructed to lick the brush tips to make a sharper point. A new dramatic film tells of our first awareness of radiation horrors in very human terms. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Radium Girls is a new film, set in 1925.  It tells the story of two young sisters who worked at American Radium Factory.  Their job?  Painting glow-in-the-dark watch dials with radioactive paint. This case marks the first public warning of the dangers of exposure to atomic radiation and was used to warn Gen. Leslie Groves of the Manhattan Project of the dangers his scientists faced from radioactivity.Radium Girls producer/director Lydia Dean Pilcher and writer/director Ginny Mohler are interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy.  They talk about the historic case, the corporate lies and cover-up, and how the film – Executive Produced by, among others, Lily Tomlin – got made.  It’s a very human tale of dreams, loss of innocence, female empowerment, and the emerging awareness of the deadly toxic nature of working with radioactive materials.Radium Girls becomes available digitally and in theatres as of Friday October 23.  If you purchase a ticket through this LINK, Nuclear Hotseat receives a donation of $2/ticket.  Thanks for your help – and enjoy the film! COVID/NUCLEAR UPDATE:  Dave Kraft of NEIS (Nuclear Energy Information Service) brings us up to date on the Covid 19/Nuclear connection.  A group of activists have been monitoring Covid cases and circumstances in the nuclear industry for more than six months.  They've been working hard to tease out the kinds of statistics and issues that the nuclear industry is loathe to make public. They pulled together their current information as a press release and sent to members of Congress and the news media.  LINK to Press Release and List of Nuclear Issues Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Oh yeah, sure, just pave the roads with a formerly-banned RADIOACTIVE byproduct of phosphate production!  Nothing to see here, just move along…  <!> ### NH #486: New Mexico Nuclear Waste Dump UPDATE: Leona Morgan & Eileen O'Shaughnessy URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-nuclear-waste-dump-leona-morgan-eileen-oshaugnessy/ Published: 2020-10-14 New Mexico Nuclear Waste Dump: Two proposed radioactive nuclear waste dump sites in NM and West Texas, and all the routes that existing waste would have to take to get there. Map courtesy Nuclear Issues Study Group LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: New Mexico Nuclear UPDATE:  What's the latest on the proposed Consolidated "Interim" Storage sites – aka high level nuclear waste dumps – in New Mexico and West Texas?  This week's two powerhouse activists bring us up to date on current status and how listeners can still have a voice in the outcome. Leona Morgan is Diné and a community organizer and activist who has been fighting nuclear colonialism since 2007. She helped to successfully prevent a new uranium mining and processing project in Churchrock and Crownpoint, New Mexico. Leona co-founded and did much work under Diné No Nukes, which helped to establish the Haul No! Initiative and Radiation Monitoring Project. Currently, she is focused on stopping storage of nuclear power plant waste in New Mexico. In June 2016, she co-founded Nuclear Issues Study Group, a multi-racial, multi-generational, women-led volunteer organization dedicated to protecting New Mexico from all things nuclear through education, art, and activism. Eileen O’Shaughnessy is a fourth generation Irish-American educator, organizer, and musician living on stolen Tiwa lands in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She teaches courses at the University of New Mexico including Nuclear New Mexico: Social & Environmental Impacts and Environmental Justice Practicum. In 2016, Eileen co-founded the Nuclear Issues Study Group (NISG) with Leona Morgan. Eileen is the front-woman , songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist for the celebrated queer social justice folk band Eileen & the In-Betweens, which has toured around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. New Mexico Nuclear Waste Warrior Women: Leona Morgan (l) & Eileen O'Shaughnessy of Albuquerque-based Nuclear Issues Study Group Actions to take: ASAP – NRC meeting October 15 at 8am Pacific time – how to connect, slides, etc: www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg?do=details&Code=20201101 Community Info about comment periods with talking points for written comments, updated by SEED Coalition:  http://nonuclearwaste.org/ Summary of Draft Environment Impact Statement for WCS/ISP in West Texas:  www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2012/ML20121A016.pdf Overview and where to comment:  www.regulations.gov/document?D=NRC-2016-0231-0317 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Want to make people forget that Fukushima experienced a triple meltdown, radiation release, and is still dangerous today?  ONLY remind them of the earthquake and tsunami… and forget the radioactive rest! ### NH #485: BREAKING: Nuclear Football & Trump's Covid + Meds - Garrett Graff + South African Award-Winning Climate Change Activist Makoma Lekalakala URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-football-trumps-covid-meds-garrett-graff-south-african-award-winning-climate-change-activist-makoma-lekalakala/ Published: 2020-10-07 BREAKING:  Nuclear Football – Nuclear Launch Codes = Armageddon in a Briefcase It follows the President everywhere… but where was it at Walter Reed? Listen Here: [powerpress] BREAKING: Nuclear Football = Nuclear Launch Codes – What does it mean to international security when the President of the United States, who has sole, unimpeded access  and right to launch nuclear weapons, has an illness that often creates hallucinations and is on medication with a range of potential side effects that include "mental problems such as aggression, agitation, and anxiety"? Garrett Graff, author of RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself–While the Rest of Us Die, fills us in.  He is an expert on the "Nuclear Football" – the 35 lb. briefcase containing all the nuclear launch codes.  It is carried by special military personnel follows the president everywhere, from the bathroom to the Covid-contaminated Presidential suite at Walter Reed.  What are the implications in light of the President's illness and medical steroid use?  A Nuclear Hotseat EXCLUSIVE – something even Dan Rather and the New York Times don't yet have! LINK to Nuclear Hotseat #366 interview with Garrett Graff from June 27, 2018:In case of #Nuclear war, politicians/gov't officials survive; we die. #LibbeHaLevy interviews #GarrettGraff, author, RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the US Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself while the Rest of Us Die. Nuclear Hotseat 366. https://nuclearhotseat.com/2018/06/27/366 This Week's Second Featured Interview: Makoma Lekalakala is a South African social-economic environmental activist.  She is the Director of Earthlife Africa, a civil society environmental justice and anti-nuclear organization. She has long been active in social movements, tackling issues from gender and women’s rights, social, economic and environmental justice.  In recent years, Makoma has focused on targeting environmental corruption.  Her commitment to climate justice in South Africa has led civil society to win the first South African climate change legal case against the government — and the reversal of the nuclear deal by South Africa and the Russian government.  For her efforts, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa 2018 award and SAB Environmentalist of the year 2018 award. Makoma Lekalakala (above), South African anti-nuclear and environmental activist, Her actions led to the country canceling a deal to purchase 8-10 nuclear reactors from Russia. Here seen on the inevitable Zoom callwith Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy Action Links (CLICK on titles): New generation of ICBMs means Nebraska will continue to be ‘nuclear sponge,' warn nuke skeptics Why America Should Bring Home Its Nuclear Weapons How a News Report on Hiroshima Helped Prevent Nuclear War  Nuclear power: A gargantuan threat by Karl Grossman ### NH #484: Chernobyl Truth, World Health Org. Lies - Alison Katz of Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-truth-world-health-org-lies-alison-katz-of-independent-who/ Published: 2020-10-01 Duration: 00:59:00 Chernobyl Truth, World Health Org. Lies – Alison Katz of Independent WHO calls out the disinformation campaign by WHO to cover up the ongoing, never-ending radiation dangers from the 1986 nuclear accident. (Above: "Elephant's Foot" – Chernobyl's highly radioactive reactor core, or corium) This Week’s Featured Interview – A Nuclear Hotseat CLASSIC: Chernoby Truth, World Health Org. Lies Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima. The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Given the visibility and popularity of last year's HBO series on Chernobyl series – it now ranks as the most seen television program in the world, ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of Chernobyl’s devastating impacts refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013, the material covered has in no way gone out of date. Scenes from Independent WHO’s ongoing Chernobyl vigil in front of the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Chernobyl Truth – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, but then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) ### NH #483: Seabrook Nuclear Concrete Degradation + Ian Zabarte: Message from the Most Bombed Nation on Earth URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/483-seabrook-nuclear-concrete-containment-degradation-natalie-hildt-treat-ian-zabarte-message-from-the-most-bombed-nation-in-the-world/ Published: 2020-09-23 Duration: 00:58:58 Seabrook Nuclear Concrete Containment Degradation – 40 miles from Boston and licensed until 2050! This Week's Featured Interviews: Seabrook Nuclear Station watchdog Natalie Hildt Treat is Executive Director of the C-10 Foundation, which operates the only real time radiation monitoring system open to the public. This allows it to keep a sharp and critical eye on the Seabrook Station in New Hampshire. Seabrook, which was recently relicensed to 2050, faces an array of safety concerns related to the degraded concrete in key structures. It is the first U.S. plant known to be suffering from alkali-silica reaction or “ASR,” but experts believe it may well appear at other reactors. This puts in question the plant’s ability to operate safely in the future, and may place the public at greater risk of radiological exposure should Seabrook experience an accident, earthquake, or other emergency event.During the interview, Natalie mentioned her work with Safecast in setting up the monitoring system. Safecast is an international, volunteer-centered organization devoted to open citizen science for the environment. Nuclear Hotseat interviewed Safecast founder Sean Bonner for Nuclear Hotseat #394 from February 27, 2018. Ian Zabarte is Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians and a board member of the Native Community Action Council. He wrote and recorded a piece entitled “A Message from the Most Bombed Nation on Earth,” which was originally carried by Al Jazeera. I mentioned it on the show a few weeks ago, but I found it so moving, we used the audio for this week's show and here's the video: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima's ongoing attempts at rebranding now extend to "Luck, Laugh" rice. Really? Really??? Action Links: Linda Pentz Gunter article from Beyond Nuclear International, Womankind Arise. Keep Space for Peace Week, Oct. 3-10, 2020 ### NH #482: VoteClimate2020.org - Maggie Gundersen, Robert Manning + Exelon Nuclear Hostage Crisis: Dave Kraft URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/exelon-nuclear-hostage-crisis-dave-kraft-voteclimate2020-org/ Published: 2020-09-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Exelon Nuclear Hostage Crisis called out by Dave Kraft of NEIS, seen here at his command control console for slaying nuclear dragons. NOTE: Letters are still needed to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission opposing plans for Holtec to build a so-called "Interim" high level radioactive waste storage site in New Mexico. Deadline is September 22, 2020. PLEASE: Go to the site and sign on ASAP. (CLICK ANYWHERE ON THIS PARAGRAPH TO GET THERE. ) Thank you. This Week's Featured Interviews: VoteClimate2020.org is a non-partisan website for vetting candidates at the federal, state and gubernatorial level for their positions on climate-related issues. We interview the two individuals who spearheaded the work to get this site up and running: Robert Manning is the visionary who came up with the idea. He served twenty-eight years as a California firefighter, of which the last fifteen were as Fire Captain. He is a lifetime member of Veterans for Peace engaging in anti-war activism since the first Gulf War in 1991 and worked with Dr. Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers), and the Sonoma County Peace and Justice Center during the war in Iraq. Since the 1960s when atmospheric nuclear weapons testing began and as an active member of The Unity Foundation for the past twelve years, Robert has assisted in creating events that promoted peace, nonviolence, and understanding of different cultures. Maggie Gundersen founded Fairewinds Energy Education, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to educate the public about nuclear power production, engineering, reliability, and safety issues. VoteClimate2020.org organizers Robert Manning and Maggie Gundersen on the inevitable Zoominar being interviewed Exelon's Nuclear manipulations in Illinois gets called out by Dave Kraft, Executive Director of Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS). His commentary, entitled "Exelon's Nuclear Hostage Crisis Tactics Must End," got published by the Chicago Tribune in both online and print versions. It's been kicking up a lot of interest ever since. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): NPR's All Things Considered considered the propaganda line from Japan but didn't even pay close attention to the people they were interviewing for their report, "How 2 Towns That Host Fukushima Power Plant Recover After 2011 Nuclear Disaster." Dudes, you didn't even put "recover" in quotes! For the real story of what life is like on the ground in Fukushima Prefecture – and how "un-recovered" the area really is, listen to Nuclear Hotseat's two-part special from Voices from Japan producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko and her husband, Yugi Kaneko: Nuclear Hotseat #439, November 20, 2019: Is Fukushima Disappearing? Part 1 – Japan would like it to & is trying. 4-day on-the-ground journey through Fukushima Prefecture with Beverly Findlay-Kaneko reveals govt lies, cover-ups, human suffering. Part 1.Nuclear Hotseat #440, November 27, 2019: Is Fukushima Disappearing? Part 2 Activist Action Links: Congressional Panel Examines Environmental Justice Issues in New MexicoU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Uses Pandemic to Push Forward Nuclear Waste DumpHB 6 Costs Go Well Beyond Caimed Harm to Public TrustFor Nuclear Plants Operating on Thin Margins, Growing Climate Risks Prompt Tough ChoicesNuclear Security Educational Webinar – Scott Portzline, Security Consultant for Three Mile Island Alert, will be presenting on the problems associated with sabotage and terrorism of U.S. nuclear power plants. We'll discuss improvements that have been made and the vulnerabilities that still exist. He'll reveal numerous examples of security breaches. The discussion will also include what you can do for nuclear security. Sep 28, 2020 08:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) ### NH #481: Los Alamos Toxic Nuclear Tour of Legacy Radiation at NM LAB w/Joni Arends URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/los-alamos-toxic-nuclear-tour-w-joni-arends/ Published: 2020-09-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Los Alamos Toxic Nuclear Tour – LANL is the Manhattan Project site where Little Boy, the first atomic bomb, was designed and built.  Schematics of bomb above. This Week's Special Feature: Los Alamos Toxic Tour Smug Stupid Los Alamos – its history and current problems – is the subject of this week’s show. Joni Arends is one of the founders of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety and a 32 year veteran of that group. She provided the guided tour of public lands around the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the original Manhattan Project sites. This is where, during World War II, the United States military kicked local farmers, ranchers and a children’s school off their ancestral land in order to build the first atomic bomb in isolation and secrecy. Joni’s Toxic Tour (as it has come to be known) took us to bluffs overlooking Manhattan Project-era laboratories, nuclear weapons facilities, radioactive waste dump sites, and the Rio Grande river, which has been and continues to be impacted by the migration of LANL radioactive, hazardous and toxic contaminants through surface and ground water pathways.Additional information on the tour was provided by Leona Morgan, Diné, who helped to found the Nuclear Issues Study Group of Albuquerque, and Ian Zabarte, Head Man of the Western Shoshone Nation. Los Alamos Toxic Tour – Souvenir tee shirts, including an infant's onesie! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear industry players have NO incentive to act responsibly with nukes or radioactive waste when all they don when they're caught is pay a pittance of a fine, with no ongoing responsability to clean up the waste. Case in point: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Activist Info Links: Back from the Brink ZoominaronOrganizing to Prevent Nuclear War in the Current Moment with Dr. Vincent Intondi, historian and author of African Americans Against the Bomb: Nuclear Weapons, Colonialism an the Black Freedom Movement. Thursday, September 10, 2020 – 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern.Article: Russia's "Slow-Motion Chernobyl"Article: Forest Fires are Setting Chernobyl's Radiation Free ### NH #480: Saskatchewan First Nations Targeted for Untested Small Modular Nuclear Reactors: Candyce Paul URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/480-saskatchewan-first-nations-targeted-for-untested-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-candyce-paul/ Published: 2020-09-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Saskatchewan First Nations activists Candyce Paul (r) and a lurking Marius Paul (lower l) Interview by Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interview: Saskatchewan First Nations activist Candyce Paul has lived in northern Saskatchewan for more than three decades with her husband, Marius Paul. She spent many years living and learning the traditional northern culture which she is passing on to the next generation. In 1987 she graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with an Honours Diploma in Architectural Technology. This led her to supervising construction on a large hospital addition and later to Chairing the Housing Committee at English River First Nation where she and her family live. Candyce has also facilitated Aboriginal Head Start Programs at English River First Nation and trained facilitators in the nine Bands of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. She co-founded Reclaiming Our Youth Home Front School, where she worked with a wide range of students. Most recently, Candyce has taken on the role of Emergency Management Team Command for her community at English River First Nation – La Plonge to coordinate a response to the pandemic and other emergencies like flooding and forest fires. When her community became a target of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization on a proposal to store high-level nuclear waste in her family’s territory she became the Outreach Coordinator for Committee for Future Generations. This group has been educating the public about the risks of nuclear waste and uranium mining for the past 9 years. Committee for Future Generations Inter-Church Uranium Committee Educational Co-operative (ICUCEC) "Mother and Child" Logo for Committee for Future Generations Painting by Marius Paul; used with permission of the painter. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear waste-powered batteries that are "perfectly safe" and will last anywhere from 20 to 28,000 years! Another boneheaded idea to convince the public that nuclear waste is actually a resource! Activism Links: ARTICLE by Beyond Nuclear: All the info you need to make public comments to the NRC on why the proposed Consolidated "interim" Storage Facility (CISF) is a bad idea whose time deserves to never come. Includes ideas for comments you can use for your own submission to the NRC. DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 22, 2020. A Message from the Most Bombed Nation on Earth – article by Ian Zabarte, PrincipL Man of the Western Shoshone Nation of Indians, on the devastation created by nuclear tests conducted on Shoshone treaty lands in the U.S. state of Nevada. ### NH #479: Edison & San Onofre At It Again! "Dismissed" Nuke Exec Tries to Slip Public Meeting Past Public - Charles Langley, Nina Babiarz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/dismissed-edison-nuke-exec-tries-to-slip-public-meeting-past-public/ Published: 2020-08-27 Edison & San Onofre At It Again! "Dismissed" Nuke Exec Palmisano Tries to Slip Public Meeting Past Public re: Radioactive Waste at the San Onofre Lemon (graphic courtesy SanOnofreSafety.org) Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Edison & San Onofre – a match made in hell.  Again, Southern California Edison is trying to manipulate the public's ability to express concerns and hold the utility responsible for its irresponsible actions re: the San Onofre radioactive waste.  Big sleight-of-hand: the return of "dismissed" Edison nuke exec Tom Palmisano, who has been caught lying numerous times about, oh, just about everything connected with San Onofre.  We again talk with Public Watchdogs Executive Director  Charles Langley and board member Nina Babiarz, a board member about the latest deadly shenanigans by Edison. A new documentary on nuclear waste at San Onofre includes many familiar faces, including Darin McClure, Public Watchdogs, Ray Lutz, and Adelia Sandoval. It is tentatively slated to air in San Diego KPBS this Sunday, August 30, although details have not been confirmed. There are 330 PBS stations, so it is possible that this documentary could receive widespread national attention.  Available on Youtube or here, at the Public Watchdogs site. HURRICANE LAURA WATCH:  These are the nuclear facilities in the path of Hurricane Laura that may be impacted by storm surge:  Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Democrats drank the nuclear Kool-Aid and put nukes into their platform as a part of the solution to climate change.  Numnutz to the max!  Info Links: My Tribe Lived on Diablo Canyon Land for Millennia; Now We Have a Chance to Reclaim It by Violet Sage Walker Pennsylvania Regulators Won’t Say Where 66% of Landfill Leachate w/ Radioactive Material From Fracking is Going…”It’s Private” Radiation detections in northern Europe: what we do and don’t know ### NH #478: San Onofre Beachfront Nuke Waste Dump: Edison Sneaks Deadly Rule Change thru Coastal Commission - Public Watchdogs' Charles Langley & Nina Babiarz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/478-san-onofre-beachfront-nuke-waste-dump-edison-sneaks-deadly-rule-change-thru-coastal-commission-public-watchdogs-charles-langley-nina-babiarz/ Published: 2020-08-19 San Onofre Beachfront Nuclear Waste Dump – and owner Southern California Edison's manipulations to abandon the Holtec thin-walled "tin can" canisters to High Tide on the beach.  Can you spot the problems?  HINT:  There are even more!  Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: San Onofre Beachfront Nuclear Waste Dump – what could go wrong?  Plenty!  That's why we talked with  two leaders of the non-profit safety group, Public Watchdogs – Charles Langley, Executive Director, and Nina Babiarz, a board member.  The group has the following lawsuits: Public Watchdogs vs. the California State Lands Commission, Public Watchdogs vs. NRC, and also Public Watchdogs vs. Southern CA Edison, SDG&E, the NRC, and Holtec. Now, they've discovered an alarming rule change that gives Edison the power to tear out the spent fuel pools – the last line of defense should there be an accident with the contents of any of the canisters.  Serious stuff, breaking news. LINK to Public Watchdogs Videos on San Onofre:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-yvEVGbvhcAyACbQceSDw LINK to SanOnofreSafety.org and the work of Donna Gilmore. LINK to SanO whistleblower testimony on Nuclear Hotseat #373:  https://nuclearhotseat.com/2018/08/15/san-onofre-terrorists-plant-dirty-bombs-on-socal-beach-oh-wait-thats-edison-and-holtec/ This is the episode with my favorite headline ever:TERRORIST GROUP PLANTS DIRTY BOMBS ON SoCal BEACH – Oh Wait, That’s EDISON and HOLTEC at SAN ONOFRE! Whistleblower Reveals NUCLEAR DISASTER NEAR-MISS w/RADIOACTIVE WASTE – NH #373 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japan's PM Shinzo Abe cares so little about nuclear bomb survivors – hibakusha – that he cribs from his Hiroshima speech to say virtually the exact same words to the people at Nagasaki.  Whatta guy!  Info Links:  Is Nuclear Power the Solution to Climate Change? – Der Spiegel –  https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-great-energy-debate-is-nuclear-power-the-solution-to-climate-change-a-44490ad7-a151-4c4b-ad01-428a074607ea?sara_ecid=nl_upd_1jtzCCtmxpVo9GAZr2b4X8GquyeAc9&nlid=bfjpqhxz ### NH #477: US Nuke Tech Sale to Bomb-Hungry Saudis Being Legalized: Terry Lodge + How YOU can $top Nuclear Weapon$! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/us-nuke-tech-sale-to-saudis-being-legalized/ Published: 2020-08-13 US Nuke Technology Sale to Saudis being Legalized – Attny Terry Lodge Explains. And the full story of how Don't Bank on the Bomb is helping to defund nuclear weapons producers, one bank account at a time This Week's Featured Interviews: US Nuke Tech Sale to Saudis – How can this be legal? Environmental trial attorney Terry Lodge explains arcane rule changes currently being made aimed to put proprietary nuclear technology in the hands of Saudi Arabia — a country which readily admits it wants nuclear reactors in order to get plutonium (from the waste stream) that they can turn into nuclear weapons.Nuclear Hotseat listeners are familiar with the 2-minute Don't Bank on the Bomb explanation from Susi Snyder that runs on the show as almost a PSA. Here, in a full-length interview, she goes into detail on the program. Learn how anyone (YES, THAT MEANS YOU!) can use their bank account to lobby their bank, credit union, pension fund and financial planner to prevent your money from being used to back nuclear weapons producers. And yes – this process has already been highly effective in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, with Japan quickly catching up and other countries catching on. Total grassroots involvement requested – and it's effective! Very empowering during a pandemic! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): What better way to celebrate the infinite nature of the cosmos… than by smearing radioactive Plutonium all across ur solar system? Activist Shout-Out: Hats off to the coalition behind the HiroshimaNagasaki75.org livestream programming! Two 10-hours days of international livestreaming went off without a hitch. Powerful, emotional, important information and sharing to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on those two Japanese cities. Here is the LINK to all the videos on their Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zKS54-BuOlMRdyHZ76SWA I was honored to participate in two of the segments on August 9. How all mention of post-bombing radiation dangers was intentionally eliminated from the major source of news on the A-bomb and the one man responsible for its omission: New York Times science reporter William L. Laurence, who had been embedded with the Manhattan Project. This is a brief snapshot of the man and the issue. He is the subject of the play that I'm currently writing: ATOMIC BILL AND THE PAYMENT DUE: [KGVID]https://nuclearhotseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HN75-Libbe-HaLevy-William-Lawrence-radiation.mp4[/KGVID] My conversation with Mary Olson of GenderandRadiation.org on reasons for hope regarding our international nuclear situation: [KGVID]https://nuclearhotseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HN75-Mary-Olson-zoom_0.mp4[/KGVID] ### NH #476: Nuclear Hell: 75 Years since Hiroshima & Nagasaki A-Bombs - Alice Slater, Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/475-nuclear-hell-75-years-since-hiroshima-nagasaki-a-bombs/ Published: 2020-08-05 Duration: 00:58:59 Nuclear Hell: Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony, giving her acceptance speech on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons This Week's Special Commemorative Features: Nuclear Hell began 75 years ago with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It continues to this day, with the ongoing threat of nuclear detonation. This week, we honor the messages of two veteran campaigners against nuclear weapons: Setsuko Thurlow is a dedicated campaigner against nuclear weapons for ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear War. She was a 13-year-old child in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, in school when the United States dropped the atom bomb on that city. As a hibakusha – atomic bomb survivor – Setsuko has worked tirelessly with ICAN. When the group received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in realizing the successful UN negotiations for a Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Setsuko – along with ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn – accepted the award on behalf of the group. Here is the deeply moving speech Setsuko Thurlow gave on behalf of ICAN at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 2017.Full Nobel peace prize ceremony link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1daV8n6fTY&feature=emb_err_woyt Alice Slater serves on the Board of Directors of World BEYOND War and is the UN NGO Representative of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. She’s on the Board of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, the Global Council of Abolition 2000, and the Advisory Board of Nuclear Ban-US, supporting the mission of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons which won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in realizing the successful UN negotiations for a Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We spoke on Friday, July 31, 2020. ACTION LINKS TO WORK AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WAR: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons – ICAN – www.ICANw.orgWorld Beyond War – www.WorldBeyondWar.orgDon't Bank on the Bomb – www.DontBankOnTheBomb.comNuclear Age Peace Foundation – www.WagingPeace.org VIDEO: Obstacles to Nuclear Abolition — a discussion with David Swanson, Alice Slater, and Bruce Gagnon Alice Slater, as part of the discussion, "Obstacles to Nuclear Abolition" Documentary: The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons NUKEMAP – To get an idea of what a nuclear bomb would do if it were dropped on your neighborhood, I urge you to google Nukemap, nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein’s site where you can model nuclear holocaust in your own back yard, including blast radius, number of dead and number of injured. It’s a real eye-opener. https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/ Nukemap allows you to program in a location (including your own neighborhood!), size of bomb, type of blast – don't forget to check the boxes for Casualties and Radioactive Fallout – and see for yourself what an atomic bomb would do to the place where you live. Start with a Hiroshima and Nagasaki bomb, and work your way up to Tsar Bomba! Lots of fun for the kiddies during Covid lockdown! ### NH #475: Nukegate in Ohio: Nuclear Bailout Scandal - Attorney Terry Lodge Explains URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/475-nukegate-in-ohio-nuclear-bailout-scandal-attorney-terry-lodge-explains/ Published: 2020-07-29 Duration: 00:59:01 Nukegate in Ohio: Activists against Ohio's bailout of failing nuclear reactors were gamed out of their referendum to block it in 2019. Now, there's a scandal with criminal indictments against the Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Larry Householder for taking First Energy money (aka "bribes"). This may show the way to bailout reversal. Attorney Terry Lodge speaks to all aspects of the issue on this week's show. This Week's Featured Interview: Nukegate in Ohio – and elsewhere: Terry Lodge is an Ohio trial lawyer living in Toledo who has represented many clients in civil rights, civil liberties, and environmental cases. An advocate for the public interest in energy policy issues, he has litigated nuclear power safety and environmental issues for 40 years. Lodge has also represented opponents of nuclear weapons and mountaintop removal mining. This man knows where the metaphoric bodies are buries and here, he proceeds to dig up a whole bunch of them. I spoke with Terry Lodge on Saturday, July 25, 2020.Sign-on to NIRS letter telling the NRC and Congress: NO NUCLEAR WASTE IN OUR LANDFILLS! The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is planning a very dangerous change to the way radioactive waste is handled. Some man-made nuclear waste, mainly from nuclear power, is very long-lasting and dangerous to human health and the environment. Disregarding this danger, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposes to let regular landfill operators dispose of this radioactive waste by authorizing them as "specific exempt." This would almost certainly result in nuclear waste leaks into our water, air, crops, and communities. Tell the NRC and your members of Congress: Don’t dump radioactive waste into our landfills or any other places that are "exempt" from nuclear controls. CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Just a peach full of sugar helps the radiation go down… and the pro-2021 Olympics propaganda push to "normalize" Fukushima to the rest of the world go out in manipulated media. Rotten to the core… Not a picture of an actual Fukushima peach, but you get the idea… ### NH #474: Trinity A-Bomb at 75 - Downwind of New Mexico's "Dirty Bomb": Tina Cordova, Joni Arends URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trinity-a-bomb-downwinders-new-mex/ Published: 2020-07-23 Duration: 00:59:01 Trinity downwinder Tina Cordova First photo of the Atomic Age – the Trinity atomic bomb test of July 16, 1945, 0.025 seconds after detonation. This Week's Featured Interviews: Trinity Downwinders advocating for justice: Tina Cordova grew up in her family home in the Tularosa Basin, 40 miles from the explosion of the first atomic bomb in 1945. A cancer survivor like so many in her community, in 2005, she co-founded the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium.  She and her community have been working for compensation for New Mexico atomic downwinders for the past 15 years.   Video produced by the long term victims of the Trinity atomic bomb blast, Tularosa Basin Consortion Downwinders:   Trinity is but one of the nuclear nightmares in New Mexico.  Joni Arends helped to found Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, based in New Mexico.  The group is dedicated to protecting all living beings and the environment from the effects of radioactive and other hazardous materials now and in the future.  It appears that this country is setting New Mexico up to be a nuclear sacrifice zone.  A longtime activist, Joni previously spoke with Nuclear Hotseat on episode #443 from December 17, 2019 –  Joni’s Toxic Tour of New Mexico. Here, she enumerates the ongoing nuclear problems facing New Mexico. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK (FOR OUTSTANDING NUCLEAR BONEHEADEDNESS): Boneheaded head of the National Nuclear Security Administration visits Los Alamos to claim that nuclear bombs have "contributed to the betterment of humanity." Say what????????? Action Links:  Publication event for Uranium Atlas, presented by Beyond Nuclear.  It contains a collection of maps indicating everywhere that uranium was — or is still — extracted and used.  The editorial team that created it includes Beyond Nuclear, the Nuclear Free Future Foundation, (which earlier published a German language edition) the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Germany. LINK to a free download of the full book. ### NH #473: Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Breach Disaster in Navajo Nation – 40th Anniversary SPECIAL ENCORE: Elders, Activists Speak Out URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/church-rock-uranium-tailings-pond-disaster/ Published: 2020-07-14 Duration: 00:59:01 Church Rock 40th anniversary commemoration, July 16, 2019 – former Uranium Miner Larry J. King (center) explains the site of the 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond breach. This under-reported radioactive disaster dumped more than 94 million gallons of uranium-contaminated waste water into the adjacent Puerco River. Now 41 years later, it has yet to be cleaned up. Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Spill Commemoration, July 16, 2019: Uranium mining marks the start of the nuclear fuel chain, the deadly journey uranium takes to become atomic weapons, nuclear reactors, and tons of highly radioactive waste. NOTE: This is a special ENCORE PRESENTATION of the 2019 40th anniversary of the disaster. On July 13 and 14, 2019, Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy attended commemorative events for the 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond breach and spill. This under-reported nuclear disaster dumped more than 94 million gallons of highly acidic radioactive water into the adjacent Puerco River. The contamination reached Sanders, Arizona, more than 80 miles away. The spill has never been cleaned up. Even after being declared a Superfund site, it needs at least two years before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission finishes its review of the EPA’s clean-up plan. Clean-up can’t even begin until and unless the plan is approved. And even that plan has come in for criticism by activists and community members. Church Rock – This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interviews: This very SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat from July 2019, presents an audio montage of interviews with community leaders from Navajo Nation. They include: residents of the Red Water Pond Road Community, located adjacent to the spill site; commemoration event attendees; government officials; and activists from as far away as Japan. We spoke with: Former uranium miner Larry J. King, who worked on-site at the United Nuclear Corporation mine the day of the tailings pond spill. c Redwater Pond Road Community member Edith Hood, on land across from her home. Behind her, remains of an unremediated uranium mind. Down the road less than two miles, the site of the 1979 Church Rock disaster that dumped 90 million gallons of liquid radioactive uranium tailings into the adjacent Puerco River. Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez New Mexico state senator George Muñoz Southwest Research and Information Center Research Director Paul Robinson and Director of the Uranium Impact Assessment Program, Chris Shuey Environmental Protection Agency District 9 (San Francisco) rep Sean Hogan Journalist and activist Mervyn Tilden ### NH #472: Pilgrim Nuclear Security Lapses, Holtec Decommissioning Lies w/Diane Turco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/472-pilgrim-nuclear-security-lapses-holtec-decommissioning-lies-w-diane-turco/ Published: 2020-07-09 Pilgrim nuclear insecurity – Princeton university projection of what would happen to the radioactivity released should Pilgrim have a fire in its spent fuel pool. THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEW: Diane Turco is Director of the Cape Downwinders on Cape Cod, a group that's been fighting against the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor for more than 40 years. Here, she talks about post-shutdown problems at Pilgrim, including site security issues and her pending trial for trespassing to demonstrate to two NPR reporters how lax security is on the site. Pilgrim's biggest foe; Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders More Pilgrim Information: LINK to article by Dave Lochbaum, best known for his work with the Union of Concerned Scientists, on the "Necessity Defense" to be used by Diane Turco in her trial for trespassing at Pilgrim. LINK to AGO Holtec settlement agreement with the state of Massachusetts. Here's the Poison Ivy warning sign posted on the driveway to the Pilgrim nuclear power station – like that's going to deter terrorists? What – no companion planting of cactus as a terrorist deterrent…? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Leave it to the nuclear industry to invent another magical-thinking "cure" for all future nuclear reactor meltdowns – a new type of fuel! In a new type of reactor! One that hasn't even got an approved design, let alone been built yet! But it "will not be able to melt down!" And if you believe that, I have some land in Fukushima Prefecture to sell you, cheap.d And if that's not enough, let me remind you of two relevant cautionary tales: "Cheap enough to meter" and the ship Titanic. ### NH #471: Radioactivity/Radiation Refresher Course: Joseph Mangano & Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/471-radioactivity-radiation-refresher-course-joseph-mangano-dr-gordon-edwards/ Published: 2020-07-01 Radiation/Radioactivity symbol – For an update on what we need to know about what it does to us so others can understand the fight against all things nuclear. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Joseph Mangano is a health researcher, an epidemiologist who has served as a director of Radiation and Public Health Project since 1989. Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants. Dr. Gordon Edwards, a Canadian scientist, mathematician, and nuclear consultant, is head of of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Rwanda?  A nuclear power country?  Using Russian technology?  Oy! Action and Information Links: Prof. Heidi Hutner's excerpt essay from the anthology Doom With A View: Historical and Cultural Contexts of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. Edited by Kristen Iverson, with E. Warren Perry and Shannon Perry.  The anthology arrives from Fulcrum Publishing in August, 2020. Ian Zabarte, Principal Man for the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians, had a great letter published in the Nevada Review-Journal on Nuclear Tests and the Shoshone People. Podcast on Radioactive Mayak from Project Save the World. In advance of the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the bombs in Japan, HiroshimaNagasaki75.org has created a media toolkit for you to use with logos, visuals, a color palate, suggested wording for tweets and social media posts – all well thought-out and easy to use. To learn more about the group's work and to participate, listen to last week's Nuclear Hotseat #470. ### NH #470: Hiroshima Nagasaki 75th Anniversary: Anti-Nuclear Livestream Seeks Submissions to Blast Bomb Boosters: PSR's Martin Fleck, UCS's Lilly Adams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-75th-anniversary/ Published: 2020-06-25 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Hiroshima Nagasaki 75th Anniversary of the United States dropping atomic bombs on the two Japanese cities — for the first time, activists will provide international online peace and anti-nuclear programs on August 6 and 9. This will be counterprogramming to a media deluge by pro-nukers seeking another bombgasm. A coalition of groups from around the country have been working to pull together a livestream of information, presentations, teach-ins, talks, testimonials, art, music, poetry and more. To learn the details, on Monday, June 22, Libbe HaLevy spoke with two members of the "unbranded" (no one group taking the credit) event. NOTE: Proposals for participation in the Livestream will be held open until July 1. If you wish to speak to commemorate the event, give a call to action, give a testimonial as to atomic/nuclear impact on you/your family/community, lead a teach-in, provide music, art, theatre, or whatever — you can submit a proposal by CLICKING HERE. Martin Fleck is the Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Director for Physicians for Social Responsibility, where he develops and implements national campaigns for nuclear disarmament and sensible national security budget priorities. Martin has been promoting nuclear disarmament for 35 years. His career began with 6 years as a community organizer with Puget Sound SANE (Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy), followed by 16 years as the Executive Director of Washington state PSR (WPSR). In Washington, DC, he served as national coordinator of the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World and joined PSR’s national staff in 2013.Lilly Adams is an independent consultant specializing in nuclear weapons outreach and policy issues. She is currently an outreach consultant with the Union of Concerned Scientists in their Global Security Program. She was recently awarded a grant with the Ploughshares Fund Women’s Initiative. Through the grant, Lilly created Nuclear Voices (nuclear-voices.org), a database and resource center to support collaboration between nuclear frontline communities and nuclear policy groups. Lilly is a 2019 alumna of IGCC’s Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Boot Camp, and previously ran the anti-nuclear weapons program at Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Hiroshima Nagasaki 75 – to Submit a Proposal for the August 6 and 9 Livestream, sign onto their position statement or hear some of the testimonials… Go to: www.hiroshimanagasaki75.org Hiroshima Nagasaki 75 Working Group members Martin Fleck of PSR and Lilly Adams of UCS interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy. Note that Martin looks red because he suffers from bad lighting, nothing worse. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Anyone who thinks that transport of high level radioactive nuclear waste to the proposed so-called "interim" high level radioactive waste dumps in New Mexico and West Texas is going to be safe, just check out two relevant accidents, uh, incidents from the past month – MADNESS! Activist Info Links: If Donald Trump Resumes U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing, India Will Follow ### NH #469: Nuclear Trump & the Election: Bob Alvarez + Covid/Nuclear Letters to Pence: Is Anybody Listening? Tim Judson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tim-judson-on-covid-nuclear-letters-to-pence-bob-alvarez-on-us-nuclear-policy-the-election/ Published: 2020-06-16 Nuclear Trump and the election with Bob Alvarez.  And above, Covid/Nuclear dangers at refueling reactors addressed by Tim Judson, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and a coalition of more than 80 national anti-nuclear groups.  Two official letters have been sent to  VP Mike Pence, national Covid Pandemic Response Czar… but just because you're speaking Truth to Power doesn't mean that Power is actually listening. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Tim Judson is Executive Director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, known generally as NIRS, where he leads the group’s work on nuclear reactor and climate change issues, and has written a series of reports on nuclear bailouts and sustainable energy. Before that, Tim was Chair of the Board of Citizens Awareness Network, one of the lead organizations in the successful campaign to close the Vermont Yankee reactor; co-founder of Alliance for a Green Economy in New York. Here, we discuss two major letters on the covid/nuclear connection at U.S. reactors sent to various Powers that Be, and what if any response they have provoked. We spoke on Friday, June 12, 2020. Letter #1 to VP Mike Pence and the Coronavirus Task Force of April 22, 2020. Letter #2 to VP Mike Pence and the Coronavrus Task Force of June 8, 2020. Bob Alvarez and his late wife, attorneyKitty Tucker, who together were responsible for the successful lawsuit on behalf of the family of Karen Silkwood Nuclear Trump – Bob Alvarez is well suited to comment on how our national/international policy changes on nuclear will impact the November election.  Bob is a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies.  He is currently focused on nuclear disarmament, environmental, and energy policies.  Between 1993 and 1999, Mr. Alvarez served as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Security and the Environment. While at DOE, he coordinated the effort to enact nuclear worker compensation legislation.  In 1994 and 1995, Bob led teams in North Korea to establish control of nuclear weapons materials.  Along with his late wife, attorney Kitty Tucker, he helped organize a successful lawsuit on behalf of the family of Karen Silkwood, a nuclear worker and active union member who was killed under mysterious circumstances in 1974.  He is currently writing his memoir, and if you follow him on Facebook, you’ll be able to read tantalizing excerpts of his stories. ### NH #468: Space Force - Dangerous Farce? Linda Pentz Gunter + Covid/Nuclear Report + 9th Anniversary! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/468-9th-anniversary-space-force-linda-pentz-gunter-covid-nuclear-report/ Published: 2020-06-10 Space Force marks the beginning of Nuclear Hotseat's 10th Year!  More to come! Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview on Space Force: Space Force and Nukes in Space – what, we don’t have enough nuclear problems on earth?  I spoke with Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear. She is their international nuclear specialist, an experienced journalist, and writes columns on the follies and false representations of nuclear energy and the link between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The full list of her credits would take too long, but as a journalist, she is knowledgeable on a wide range of nuclear issues and can discuss all of them with depth, specificity, and clarity.  We spoke on Friday, June 5, 2020 Film referenced by Linda Pentz Gunter:  The Atomic Soldiers and Beyond Nuclear International article on The Atomic Soldiers Atomic Cake celebrating the Castle Bravo nuclear test which decimated the Marshall Islanders and permanently irradiated their homeland.  the device was the most powerful nuclear device detonated by the United States.  The explosion was more than two and a half times greater than expected and caused far higher levels of fallout and damage than scientists had predicted,. Special 9th Anniversary Messages from: Voices from Japan co-producers Beverly Findlay Kaneko and Yuji Kaneko Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education Nancy Burton, Executive Director, Connecticutt Coalition Against Millstone Tsukuru Fors, Los Angeles-based activist originally from Hiroshima Hervé Courtois from France Kevin Hester from New Zealand Award-winning veteran investigative journalist Karl Grossman Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The U.S. Space Force may have to change its name, because guess who owns the trademark on it??? <g> Info Links: Covid-19 and Nuclear Power Plants by Karl Grossman – https://www.smithtownmatters.com/suffolk-county/2020/6/3/suffolk-closeup-covid-19-and-nuclear-power-plant-employees.html#entry36288025  Help Nuclear Hotseat celebrate its 9th anniversary with a donation of any size.  It's easy!  Click on either the big Red or Green donate buttons, or CLICK HERE.  And – thanks for your help!  Couldn't do it without you! ### NH #467: Radiophobia? Schmadiophobia! Nuclear Industry Propaganda Lie: Prof. Majia Nadesan + Covid/Nuclear UPDATE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiophobia-schmadiophobia-nuclear-industry-propaganda-lie-prof-majia-nadesan-covid-nuclear-update-467/ Published: 2020-06-03 Radiophobia? That's what the nuclear industry labels justifiable fears about exposure to ionizing nuclear radiation.  If you know what radiation is and does, your fears are absolutely justified! Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: RADIOPHOBIA? Majia Nadesan rips this nuclear industry propaganda talking point to shreds and shows how "radiophobia" has been used against the people of Japan after Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and now Fukushima. She is a professor at Arizona State University and a researcher on a wide range of interconnected topics including Governmentality, Biopolitics, and Risk Cultural Studies; Autism and Bioethics, Globalization, and Political Economy, Energy Politics, and Organizational Communication.  Her books include: Fukushima: Dispossession or Denuclearization, Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk.  She recently provided a chapter on “Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion” for the book, Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations – and that’s what we’re focusing on today – Radiophobia.  Majia Nadesan’s LINKS: Nadesan, M. (2018). Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion, a chapter in the collection: Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations, edited by B. Fahs, A. Mann, E. Swank; Rutgers University Press. “Lessons of Fukushima” presentation and draft versions of radiophobia chapter BOOK: Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. Palgrave Pivot. VIDEO : “Fukushima’s Genetic Legacy” – Interview produced by EON – Ecological Options Network. BLOG: Majia’s Blog https://majiasblog.blogspot.com/ Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Oh, oh, AOC – what do you think you're doing to me?  Nukes ARE NOT GREEN! Nuclear reactors do not belong as part of the Green New Deal – puleeeeeeeze! From the Jimmy Dore Show, May 28, 2020 Activism Links: Chain Reaction, the Ploughshares Fund’s annual gala – Monday, June 8, 2020, 8pm ET/5pm PT FREE via Zoom – TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE Petition for Congress to Fund Cancer Research Near Nuclear Power Plants – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiIy9OhlIE7jixTEAKkKIEBb4rQd6nwkOj3NAazyiJh-H_eA/viewform?fbzx=-6050629758851890246&fbclid=IwAR0sWWsJLQ1GONl1LzP4uHMr0CX3CIP0LW87aeGKdvbSNMDQx2aZfXcUofw ### NH #466: Navajo Nation Covid/Uranium Contamination Connection: Janene Yazzie URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/navajo-nation-covid-uranium-contamination-nightmare-janene-yazzie/ Published: 2020-05-27 Duration: 00:59:01 Navajo Nation's Janene Yazzie, protesting the missing and dead Navajo women, working on uranium mining/contamination issues, and now on the front lines of covid pandemic relief This Week's Featured Interview: Navajo Nation's Janene Yazzie is a community organizer and human rights advocate who has worked on development and energy issues with indigenous communities across the United States. Among her many positions, she is Sustainable Development Program Coordinator for International Indian Treaty Council and the council’s representative as Co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group of the U.N. High-level Political Forum on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She is also co-founder Sixth World Solutions LLP, Navajo Nation Little Colorado River Watershed Chapters Association. Janene is currently working on the front lines of the Navajo Nation response to the Covid 19 pandemic, and speaks to the connection between Covid and the decades of her people's exposure to uranium mine radioactive contamination. Organizations and Social Media Links for Janene Yazzie: Facebook and Instagram under her name How to connect with Navajo Nation Covid relief efforts: www.navajohopisolidarity.org GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/NHFC19Relief Other relief efforts: McKinley County Mutual Aid – https://ourindigenouslifeways.org/ Kinlani Flagstaff Mutual Aid- http://www.taalahooghan.org/kinlani-flagstaff-mutual-aid/ Ke Infoshop- www.keinfoshop.org/donate/ Nihi K’é Baa’ – www.venmo.com/code?user_id=2994210512830464113 or https://www.paypal.me/nihikebaa Far Eastern Navajo- https://www.gofundme.com/f/far-east-navajo-covid19-relief International Indian Treaty Council Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ah yeah, sure, THAT's the way to guarantee the safety of the American people: promise the world that the U.S. will threaten to "spend adversaries into oblivion” in a new nuclear arms race. Action/Info Links: Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief aims to help elders and struggling families during coronavirus pandemic – providing relief for reservation elders and families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund is providing relief for reservation elders and families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventeen-year-old Charlize Branch provided artwork for the group's Facebook page saying, ‘Everyone needs to work together to fight against this disease.” (Drawing/Charlize Branch) ### NH #465: Leaning (Nuclear) Tower of Vogtle: Arnie Gundersen + Nancy Burton on Millstone Covid Outbreak + Int'l Covid/Nuclear UPDATE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/leaning-nuclear-tower-of-vogtle-arnie-gundersen-nancy-burton-on-millstone-covid-outbreak-intl-covid-nuclear-update/ Published: 2020-05-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Leaning (Nuclear) Tower of Vogtle: Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gundersen on the dangers of a sinking nuclear reactor in Georgia This Week's Featured Interviews: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education, has more than 45 years of nuclear power engineering experience. He holds a nuclear safety patent, was a licensed reactor operator, and is a former nuclear industry senior vice president. During his nuclear power industry career, Arnie managed and coordinated projects at 70-nuclear power plants in the US. Here, he goes over the problems at the Vogtle nuclear reactor build in Georgia, where the weight of the unit is already causing it to sink into Georgia's red clay. Arnie analyzed the data that became the basis for the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL)'s petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission called on regulators to revoke the plant’s license for false statements made by its owners, Southern Nuclear Operating Company. Here is the latest Fairewinds blog post by Arnie and Maggie Gundersen about the sinking reactor of Vogtle.Here is the BREDL legal petition and Arnie's expert report for BREDL via the Fairewinds website.Fairewinds' research about safety issues of AP1000 reactor design, the same reactors at VogtleNancy Burton is Director of Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone (MothballMillstone.org), and she joined us to talk about the implications of the latest Covid cases at Millstone nuclear reactor in Waterford, CT during the current refueling outage. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Would you trust the core of your neighborhood nuclear reactor to a 3-D printing process? Didn't think so… Activist Action Link: Rachel Maddow has opened the door for us to get Covid/Nuclear information to her – and we need your voices! Here's the link to her "Send It To Rachel" page: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/send-it-rachel For a direct email to her show: Rachel@msnbc.com https://streamable.com/1deu1g – LINK TO VIDEO OF GERMAN NUKE TOWERS BEING DEMOLISHED. ### NH #464: Hanford Nuclear & Covid Nightmares: Tom Carpenter, Hanford Challenge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/464-hanford-nuclear-covid-nightmares-tom-carpenter-hanford-challenge/ Published: 2020-05-13 Duration: 00:59:01 Hanford Nuclear Nightmares – before Covid times – being addressed by Hanford Challenge Executive Director Tom Carpenter at January, 2018 Senate hearings. This Week's Featured Interview: Hanford Nuclear and Covid nightmares get explained and exposed by Tom Carpenter, Executive Director of Hanford Challenge, the Washington state watchdog group. He is an attorney and worked as the Director of the Nuclear Oversight Campaign for the Government Accountability Project from 1985 to 2007. Previously, Tom founded Cincinnati Alliance for Responsible Energy (CARE) and served on the Cincinnati Mayor’s Environmental Advisory Council. In this interview, he provides background on the current status of the neverending clean-up, how Hanford has become a budgetary football for the current administration, and the impact of Covid19 on the site’s safety. Even John Oliver has had his eye on Hanford. Activist Support Links: Cleaning Up the Cold War's Nuclear Legacy at HanfordNuclear Power Safety and the COVID-19 Pandemic by Ed LymanU.S. Congress Kept in the Dark about Government Nuclear Negotiations with Saudi ArabiaTrump's Push to use Global Aid for Nuclear Projects Alarms Development Groups Libbe HaLevy (Lee-BEE ha-LAY-vee) is The Nuclear Awareness Expert, an international speaker and author, and producer/host of Nuclear Hotseat, a weekly program on nuclear issues, now in its 9th year. The show is downloaded in 123 countries, syndicated for broadcast nationally by Pacifica, and has more than 460 episodes available on this website, NuclearHotseat.com. Libbe takes the confusion out of understanding complex nuclear issues and empowers people with the best ways they can protect themselves from the ever-present dangers of nuclear radiation. A survivor of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island from just one mile away, she never wants you to face the kind of nuclear terror that she did. Her book is YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK: One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat, available on Amazon. ### NH #463: Nuclear Baloney: 75 Years of Nuclear Lies, Cover-Ups & Now Covid - Award-Winning Journalist Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/463-nuclear-baloney-75-years-of-nuclear-lies-cover-ups-covid-karl-grossman/ Published: 2020-05-06 Duration: 01:09:12 Nuclear Baloney – Award-winning investigative journalist Karl Grossman provides history, context, and where even more nuclear bodies are buried – aka the "baloney" – along with Covid19/Nuclear observations.  Interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Baloney – that's what this week's guest calls the lies, manipulation and PR of the nuclear industry – and he does a great job explaining what it is and what he means. Karl Grossman has done investigative reporting in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a full professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, where his courses include Investigative Reporting.For 28 years Karl has hosted the nationally-aired TV program Enviro Close-Up, produced by the New York-based video production company EnviroVideo. He's written and presented TV documentaries including: Three Mile Island Revisited; The Push to Revive Nuclear Power; and Nukes In Space: The Nuclearization and Weaponization of the Heavens. He's also been the chief investigative reporter for Long Island-based WVVH-TV. His documentaries for WVVH have included Renewables Are More Than Ready and Organic Farming: Can It Feed Us?Karl is the author of six books including Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power; Power Crazy; The Wrong Stuff: The Space Program's Nuclear Threat to Our Planet, and Weapons in Space. For a free download of the newest edition of Karl Grossman's Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power, CLICK on the title. Karl Grossman's book Cover Up is available as a free download in PDF form. CLICK ON THE IMAGE to access. Action Links: The Hidden Nuclear Risk of the Pandemic by Victor Gilinsky and Henry Sokolski. Kings Bay Plowshares webinar: Disarm and Divest During COVID-19 Saturday, May 9, 12-1 p.m. Eastern time Zoom LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89542826756 Livestream LINK: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTEGsYwuvPpwjtIufg7gzA?view_as=subscriber The panel will be moderated by Norman Soloman, RootsAction co-founder, author, & political columnist. Participants include: Medea Benjamin, Code Pink co-founder, author, and global activist Dr. Cornel West, Harvard Divinity School, author, activist, and social critic Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept co-founder, investigative journalist, and authorFREE PODCAST TRAINING – If you have a burning desire to start your own podcast but don't know how to begin, I've been receiving requests for help and information. So I'm putting together a free one-hour training on what you need to know before you start putting your podcast up and out into the world. If you're interested, CLICK HERE to send me an email with your name, email address, and phone number, and I'll get back to you with details and access links to the free one-hour training call. ### NH #462: New Mexico Nuclear Garbage Dump Approved by NRC Behind Covid Smokescreen - Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nrc-approves-new-mexico-nuclear-garbage-dump-behind-covid-smokescreen-kevin-kamps/ Published: 2020-04-30 Duration: 00:59:01 New Mexico radioactive nuclear garbage dump approved by NRC behind Covid smokescreen – Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps (above) gives history, context, dangers, legal objections, and next steps. This Week's Featured Interview: New Mexico – so-called "interim" storage site for highly radioactive nuclear waste given go-ahead by Nuclear Regulatory Commission – and the fight against it continues.Kevin Kamps is the radioactive waste watchdog for Beyond Nuclear, where he specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; Congress watch; climate change; and federal subsidies. He’s been involved in the nuclear waste battle for decades now, as you’ll hear from the breadth, depth and specificity of his information. We spoke on Monday, April 27, 2020. Bruce Gagnon is co-founder and coordinator for Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, found online at www.Space4Peace.org. On April 19, 2020, Bruce took part in the zoominar: War in Space: Weaponizing the ‘Final Frontier.’ I found what he spoke about critical to our understanding of what’s happening in these Covid times, not just on earth, but what the Pentagon and the billionaires are planned for the heavens. This is an excerpt from his talk. Also on the zoominar and of great value were ????. ???? ????, Chair of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the UK, and ????? ??????, an Activist and Science Educator. War in Space: Weaponizing the ‘Final Frontier’ – full video of webinar by Space4Peace.org: ### NH #461: Chernobyl Fire, Chernobyl Anniversary, Covid19/Nuclear: Author Kate Brown, Timothy Mousseau URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-fire-chernobyl-anniversary-kate-brown-mousseau/ Published: 2020-04-22 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl Fire – representation of radioactive smoke dispersion over Europe from the 3+ week wildfire in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone This Week's Featured Interviews: Kate Brown is the author of Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future. She is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of Plutopia, which won seven major awards. Her research has been funded by the American Academy in Berlin and by Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships. In this season of Chernobyl commemorations, she made time in her daunting schedule to talk with us about what’s in her new book. We spoke on Monday, April 15, 2019. Professor Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina since 1991. Beginning in 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. More recently, he initiated a second research program in Fukushima, Japan. This is an excerpt from a much longer interview from February 16, 2016, which will be shared on an upcoming Nuclear Hotseat. Chernobyl Fire Visuals: Chernobyl Fire – Most Recent Smoke Dispersion Animation: The red triangle represents the location of the fires, the time stated is in UTC. The discharge used was evaluated by reverse modeling (exploitation of the available measurements) over the period from April 3 to 12, 2020. This is a dispersion model of radiation from April-May, 1986. It's included to show the initial impact of Chernobyl's radiation on the world. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Covid19 decimating health and threatening the work force at nuclear power plants. So of course, it's a perfect time for the NRC to consider permitting so-called "low level" radioactive waste in regular landfills. Just because we're so distracted, they think they can get away with it…! Activist Links: War in Space: Weaponizing the ‘Final Frontier’ – full video of webinar by Space4Peace.org: – ### NH #460: Covid19/Nuclear: Grand Canyon Uranium Mines Stimulus Money-Grab - Sierra Club's Alicyn Gitlin URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/460-covid19-nuclear-grand-canyon-uranium-mines-stimulus-money-grab-sierra-clubs-alicyn-gitlin/ Published: 2020-04-16 Duration: 00:59:01 Covid19/Nuclear impacts felt even in the wilds of the Grand Canyon as uranium mines cry crocodile tears in an attempt to grab stimulus money. Covid19/Nuclear UPDATE: This Week's Featured Interview: Covid19/Nuclear impact – bad news in even more places. Learn about the uranium industry Covid19 money-grab from Alicyn Gitlin. She is with the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, where she is Conservation Coordinator of the Restore & Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Campaign. Alicyn explains the history of uranium mining contaminating the groundwater of Grand Canyon; the areas near popular trails where hikers and backpackers are warned not to collect water; the devastating impact to the Havasupai native people who have lived for millennia in the Canyou; and the pity-party uranium mining conglomerates are throwing to make themselves appear eligible for stimulus package monies. LINK to the letter Alicyn Gitlin mentions that the nuclear industry sent to the Trump administration. And here's A LINK to the letter just submitted to the government signed by 75 different groups opposing a uranium bailout. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The lengths the nuclear industry is willing to go to convince the public that nuclear materials are really "green" and "recyclable" – look, would you want to sleep on a bed with box springs made out of salvaged nuclear reactor metal? Didn't think so… ### NH #459: Covid19/Nuclear Weapons Connection: ICAN's Alicia Sanders-Zakre + Limerick NPP Nightmare URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-459-covid19-nuclear-weapons-connection-icans-alicia-sanders-zakre-limerick-npp-nightmare/ Published: 2020-04-07 Duration: 00:59:01 Covid19/Nuclear –  ICAN infographic demonstrating how this year's nuclear weapons budget could be better applied to Covid 19 supplies and personnel This Week's Featured Interviews Covid19/Nuclear Connection – Alicia Sanders-Zakre is the Policy and Research Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). She directs and coordinates research on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, and general nuclear weapons policy. Sanders-Zakre did the research that led to creation of the infographic above, which has electrified even mainstream media outlets. She joined us from her home in Geneva, Switzerland.Alice Slater serves on the Board of Directors of World BEYOND War and is the UN NGO Representative of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. She is on the Board of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, the Global Council of Abolition 2000, and the Advisory Board of Nuclear Ban-US, supporting the mission of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons which won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in realizing the successful UN negotiations for a Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.Susi Snyder is project lead for the PAX No Nukes Project and coordinates the Don’t Bank on the Bomb research and campaign. She’s an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades of experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. Related ICAN Links: Story behind the info-graphics on the cost of nuclear weapons vs. healthcare costs. Global doctors oped on Covid 19 and uclear war Sign up for ICAN general emails Sign up for ICAN research/policy emails Newsweek article on ICAN calculations on nuclear spending vs COVID supplies Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): While our backs are turned because we're focusing so much on Covid19, the International Atomic Energy Agency – the nuclear industry's PR mouthpiece – tries to get its ducks in a row to release Fukushima's stored radioactive water into "the sea" – aka, the Pacific Ocean. Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 COVID 19 and nuclear radio activity. The two invisible threats to our health safety and future keeps spreading with dire consequences that are still too much of a moving target to be able to calculate accurately. But when an international expert on the abolition of nuclear weapons follows the money when it comes to the obscene nuclear weapons budget, and its relation to COVID-19 and she tells you the, Alicia Sanders 00:00:31 That we've wasted so much money on nuclear weapons. And now there are shortages in almost every country of ventilators and beds and doctors and nurses. So it's not a coincidence that you have both of these things happening at the same time. They're intricately related. Well, Libbe HaLevy 00:00:48 When you hear about that, COVID nuclear connection from the woman who researched it for the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. And you've seen the infographic that resulted you begin to understand the magnitude of what we waste on these weapons of war and death and gain yet another insight into that awful dangerous seat that we all share Announcer 00:01:13 To clear hot seat. What are those people thinking, Claire? Hotsy what have those boys been breaking their hot? See Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but nuclear Hotsy it's the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:45 Welcome to nuclear hot seat, the weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Leiby Halevi. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we continue to explore the COVID 19 nuclear connection with Alicia Sanders, Zachary. She is the policy and research coordinator at the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and the woman who came up with the dollar equivalency between nuclear weapons, budgets, and the resources necessary to fight the novel Corona virus pandemic. It's a piece of information that has been gaining international traction and blowing minds. We will also hear briefly from the front lines of the fight against nuclear weapons with Alice Slater of the nuclear age peace foundation and Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:52 We'll also have nuclear news from around the world numnuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness, and more honest nuclear information than the nuclear industry wants you paying attention to as they continue their COVID-19 linked manipulations. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, April 7th, 2020. And here is this week's nuclear news from a different perspective. The COVID 19 nuclear update begins with a focus on Limerick nuclear located only 35 miles or 56 kilometers from Philadelphia. This is based on a series of articles by Carl Hesler Jr. For the reporter online contractors working during a refueling project at the Limerick generating station are quote unquote, terrified that they are working in a breeding ground for COVID-19 and express concerns about the company's Exelon's safety practices during the pandemic contractors inside the facility. Speaking as whistleblowers under anonymity said that up to 1400 contractors may have been summoned to work on the project and that the supplemental workers began showing up at the plants days before a unit one refueling outage began on March 27. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:14 The workers interviewed claimed that social distancing measures of standing at least six feet apart were not being respected. Quote, there were no less than 100 people in the training room being processed. People literally sitting on top of each other, no one enforcing social distancing said one. There were computer labs for people to take tests. They need to get into the plant people sitting at every computer elbow to elbow and during shift changes, he said, people from both shifts congregated in the break room, standing room only just packed in there to date. There have been at least three confirmed and admitted cases of COVID-19 among workers at the plant. This before the nuclear regulatory commission announced that they were no longer going to reveal the numbers of ill or testing positive people in any nuclear facility for the reports from inside contractors claimed that the plant was running out of hand sanitizer and things were not being wiped down. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:13 Additionally, the nuclear regulatory commission has been weakening worker fatigue rules at nuclear power plants at allowing workers to work 12 hour shifts. And in some cases, even 16 hour shifts per days with an 86 hour workweek poised to be approved. It is important for you to realize that the highest spike of radiation release that the public is exposed to comes during the refueling process in a 24 to 36 hour period. On average, when the rods are out of the nuclear reactor core, but not yet in the spent fuel pool, the amount of radiation the public is exposed to is hidden by the NRC and the industry by averaging the radiation exposure numbers across a year, and not showing that the intense exposure comes in a 24 to 36 hour period. The NRC is extension of work hours compares badly to that, which is enforced for truck drivers in the United States who are limited to 10 hour driving shifts after which they must rest for at least eight hours before resuming driving to prevent sleep deprived, overstress drivers causing wrecks on the highway that could kill many people. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:30 And depending on what they are carrying cause a hazardous release into the environment, compare that to what could be released if there were a nuclear accident. And don't say it couldn't happen because it already has at Chernobyl and three mile island where sleep deprivation was a factor in the creation of those two nuclear disasters. And what is playing out at Limerick is also on the agenda for 53 other nuclear reactors in this country that are facing refueling in the next six months. The safest course of action is to shut down all nuclear reactors now and leave only skeleton crews onsite to do necessary maintenance, to hear definitive information as to why it is impossible to maintain COVID safety at any nuclear reactor facility. Listen to last week's nuclear hot seat, number 4, 5 8, an interview with irony and Maggie Gunderson of Fairwinds energy education, the nuclear powered USS Theodore Roosevelt from which Navy captain Brett Crozier sent an urgent letter to the U S Navy asking officials to evacuate an isolate. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:44 The crew is cases of Corona virus infection increased on the vessel, which led to him being removed from the ship and taken off command by acting secretary of the Navy Thomas Motley, who was himself then flamed by the push back and forced out of his position in the face of Kroger's bravery. And also the fact that he has tested COVID positive. Now comes word that the Navy cannot take all the sailors off of the vessel and leave it empty because it's loaded with weapons and a nuclear reactor. The Navy would have to keep about 1000 sailors onboard to keep the vessels critical functions operational. And before he turned tail and left, Motley said, you can't leave a nuclear reactor they're running without anybody on the ship. Yeah, I think in Japan, the shortage of protective gear caused by the Corona virus pandemic has hit the workers at the melted down Fukushima nuclear power plant, where they've needed personal protection equipment daily for years to guard against radiation. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:50 The 4,000 workers at the plant cannot always practice social distancing as they must come to each other to carry out the cleanup work, the Olympic torch relay. Remember that was downgraded from a three-day run through the radioactive Fukushima prefecture to a car, carrying a lantern through Fukushima prefecture for three days to it being on display until the end of April in Fukushima prefecture at the J village national training center to now as of April 2nd, no public display of the Olympic flame in Fukushima prefecture because of escalating concerns about the spread of Corona virus in Japan, they take virus seriously, but not that other longer lasting invisible threat to life. The ongoing threat of radioactivity from the remains of the triple meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. Well, we've got another year to work on them to see if we can get them to cancel it this time for the reason of radioactivity and now new Libbe HaLevy 01:10:05 On April 2nd, 2020, the nuclear industry PR mouthpiece, the international atomic energy agency, or IAEA published a review of the management of treated water, meaning radioactive water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan in it. The IAEA says that the two options under consideration for disposing of this water discharge into the Pacific ocean or via vapor release, that both of these methods are technically feasible. Well, that's great. You can technically do it, but should you, how about the human aspect of this problem? Talk to the fishermen. They don't want it. I mean, really is the IAEA going out of its way to buy and cook and serve to its members fish that were caught around Fukushima Daiichi. I sincerely doubt it as for that water. All of it contains radioactive tritium that cannot be removed from the water. There are as of March 12, 979 tanks on site at Fukushima Daiichi with one point 19 million cubic meters of treated water in it treated, but still radioactive. Libbe HaLevy 01:11:29 And by the summer of 2020, all of the tanks are expected to be full. So what to do with it, I suggest bottling it and shipping it to members of the IAEA to drink during their many excursions to discuss nuclear batters, put it in their bathtubs, put it in their swimming pools. They're so cavalier about exposing people and ocean wildlife and the entire ecosystem to radioactive tritium. Why don't they do their fair share and take it on and really demonstrate to us how ultimately quote unquote harmless it is because it isn't, and that's why they are not doing that. And what a voice get off on the rest of us and for your defense of this idea, international atomic energy agency, you are this week's Libbe HaLevy 01:12:26 In the UK while the country is locked down to protect the public from COVID-19 the government's nuclear projects continue. And there's no lockdown for projects at Trident, sell a field or Hinckley. See in Russia for nuclear workers at a single site have tested positive for the Corona virus. And as a result, the staff has been put into isolation in France. Nuclear fuel reprocessing at LA hog has been stalled though. Francis national operator EDF has refused to comment about the level of absenteeism or the number of confirmed Corona virus infections among its staff in Ukraine. A forest fire at the Chernobyl site has increased radiation to 16 times above what's considered normal there in China, masses of tiny shrimp, shut down a nuclear reactor twice in a 24 hour, when they gave their lives to block the water filters, ultimately causing six nuclear reactors to shut down shrimp and jellyfish shut down nuclear reactors. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:31 The rest of us can do it too. And while UK prime minister, Boris Johnson is in intensive care with COVID-19, nobody knows who is in control of that. Country's nuclear launch codes. We'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment, but first it seems still, and for the foreseeable future, that there is only one big story in the news coronavirus COVID-19 and its inexorable seemingly unstoppable progress through the world. The nuclear industry is trying to take advantage of our fears by pushing themselves forward as our energy saviors, when in truth, their sense of opportunism and entitlement fueled by endless propaganda press releases and, and their lapdogs at the nuclear regulatory commission threatens to create an even more dangerous and long lasting set of circumstances than the novel coronavirus while the industry and its mouthpieces flood the world with their PR talking points and they hide any information that just might tell us a larger and more dangerous truth. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:41 Attention must be paid and nuclear hot seat is the one place you can count on every week to continue to report on this ongoing, evolving truth to keep the show going, especially now I need your help. So please take a moment to help us keep digging up and sharing the information on nuclear implications in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic. You can do your part to help us keep getting the word out by providing a donation of any size. Just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button to help us with a donation to send us a monthly $5, which is the same as a cup of coffee. And you can't actually go out and buy a cup of coffee anymore. So why not send it here? Just click on the big green donate button@nuclearhotseat.com. Please do what you can and do it now and know that however much you can help. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:36 I'm deeply grateful that you're listening and that's your care. Now here's this week's featured interview. Even during this ever evolving pandemic, it is important. If not crucial, to keep our eyes on what's happening in the nuclear industry around the world and doing what we can to stop it from pushing forward in the way that it has been. It's certainly a more productive use of our time in isolation than going down the rabbit hole on Facebook. With that in mind, when I got a recent email from the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons known as I can, I felt I had to talk with them about some of their recent work, especially the stunning equivalency between COVID-19 response and nuclear weapons funding. Alicia Sanders. Zachary is the policy and research coordinator at ICANN. She directs and coordinates research on the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and general nuclear weapons policy. I spoke with her from her quarantine in her home in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, April 6th, 2020, Alicia Sanders, Zachary, thank you so much for joining us here on nuclear hot seat. Alicia Sanders 01:16:56 It's my pleasure to be here. Thanks for having me. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:59 I regularly report on the work of ICANN for nuclear hot seat, but this is the first time I've had anyone who has been from the Geneva headquarters on the show. So let's put some basics in place so that listeners can understand what I can is how it came about and what its goals are. Alicia Sanders 01:17:18 I can is a global network of more than 500 partner organizations in over a hundred countries, all with a common goal, which is to ban nuclear rapids simply. But the long version is that in 2017, we worked to achieve the first treaty, banning nuclear weapons adopted at the UN. And now we're working to get that treaty to enter into force. Once it enters into force, it will become legally binding for all of the states, parties, the treaty. So we currently need 14 more countries to join on to the treaty. And we have team of campaigners in all of these different countries, working with their cities, working with their members of parliament, to, to try to get them, to get the federal government, to join on to the treaty. On the other side, we also have a team misses, a lot of the work that I do as the policy and research coordinator, working to stigmatize nuclear weapons and take forward the provisions of the treaty, even in countries that don't support the treaty to, to engage different members of the community that don't support nuclear weapons and try to change the perspectives of those who Libbe HaLevy 01:18:37 I know that recently there were hearings in New York city with the city council about having New York city come out with a very clear statement against nuclear weapons. Alicia Sanders 01:18:48 Yeah, that's been a really exciting development and we've seen these kinds of resolutions coming up in, in local governments and state governments all around the world, you know, in the United States, for example, we have a specific website dedicated to cities that have called on their fed that have adopted resolutions calling on the federal government to join the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. It's amazing, even, even though I work on this all the time for me to see the list of cities that have joined, including the nation's Capitol, for example, Washington DC. And, and there's been some, some really exciting legislation in New York, also about looking into divesting from nuclear weapons companies, which is another really important symbolic and real measure to show that that companies and governments don't support nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:41 We're going to talk a little bit about the organization and how it functions and how you are in connection with other programs and other groups I'd like to know about you. How did you become involved with ICANN and were you involved with these issues before the organization? Alicia Sanders 01:19:58 Yep. So I've been working on a nuclear disarmament now for the past several years, since I was, I started volunteering in university for some really excellent nuclear disarmament campaigners. I went to school around Boston and had the privilege of working with the American friends service committee as a student volunteer. And that's when I really started learning about making their weapons. And I'll, I'll never forget the first time that I heard from the hypocrisy, from the survivors of Hiroshima at the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because they're called to abolish nuclear weapons with such a powerful one and such a morally strong insecure one that I felt even as someone who studied international relations and international security, I hadn't heard as much about how many nuclear weapons are still in the world today and what countries continue to spend on them. And so it was hearing both about the horrible, terrible legacy of making the weapons and knowing that, that I felt there weren't enough people and particularly not enough young people kind of taking for this cause that led me to, to want to work on this issue. I decided I need to learn more after graduating, I went to Washington DC and I worked for a couple think tanks doing research and writing about Nick of the Robbins, and then was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to come work with can, I'm still focusing on our policy and research, but really putting those facts and putting that research to work in our activism to abolish nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 02:21:35 How did I can get started? How was it founded and when was it begun? Alicia Sanders 02:21:41 So I can't, it's about 10 years old and it was started in Australia and since has kind of really become a global organization. You know, the goal has always been to, to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons and how kind of that has happened has evolved and grown over time with a lot of the different campaigns that we've taken on from negotiating the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, to our campaign, to work with cities. And we worked very closely with our campaigners that pursued divestment, and we have a number of kind of new campaigns that we're working on. Now, Libbe HaLevy 02:22:22 How does I can work with an in other countries? You said there were over 500 allied organizations in 100 countries. How is that set up? Alicia Sanders 02:22:33 I mean, I think one of the most exciting things for me coming to work for such a global organization was seeing how all these different national chapters can work together for a common goal. It's very interesting to see how within the, you know, this global network, there are regional calls, there are regional strategy and there's national strategy, and there's even subnational strategies in some of our larger countries. There's a lot of kind of sharing of best practices among countries, but also certainly from the international staff team based in Geneva. A lot of our work is listening through our national campaigners about what works best, what Cal campaigning works best in their national contexts, and really working with them to understand the situation and how we can help support their campaigning on the ground. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:22 What are the qualifications, or is there a certification program or can anybody say, okay, I want to work against nukes and I want to be allied with I can't. How does somebody get into alignment with the organization? Alicia Sanders 02:23:35 We have an open call for partner organizations, and those applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis to make sure that organizations believe in our goals and want to work with us on our shared goal, we actually just accepted about a week ago, a new round of partner organizations. It's always really exciting to see that new groups join the four, including the union of concerned scientists based in the U S I just joined ICANN. So we're, we're really looking forward to working with them and, and all the other new partner organizations. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:10 I'm surprised that the union of concerned scientists took this long to join with you. Alicia Sanders 02:24:15 A lot of our clients have them. Libbe HaLevy 02:24:17 And what about your work with two groups that I have covered on the show, which are don't bank on the bomb and back from the brink? Alicia Sanders 02:24:25 Yeah, I mean, it's, it's really excellent to work with both that don't bank on the bomb and the back from the brink campaign, you know, as the research coordinator with ICANN, part of my role is producing new research, but it's also amplifying the research that our partners are already doing on the really great research, including of course, that don't bank on the bond report, which is a really exciting in some ways tangible marker of the stigmatization of nuclear weapons. When you look at the banks and pension funds that have divested from, and how policies have really changed over the years, it's really exciting to see the work that, that Susie does. We all kind of defer to her as our resident divestment experts. And of course the back from the brink campaign has been doing a lot of really great resolution national resolution work within the United States that we, we also work with, as I mentioned earlier, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:23 Denise Duffield here in Los Angeles from physicians for social responsibility. It has been very active in that. And we've spoken several times about it. Now you did touch upon, I can having a position with the United nations in putting forth and getting past the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. Talk to me about what that process was like so that we can understand what it took and what the involvement of the organization was. Alicia Sanders 02:25:52 Just as a disclaimer, I just joined, I can add this past September, so I wasn't with, I can during the negotiations, but I was there in my role with the arms control association at the time. And it was truly one of the highlights of my, certainly my career and also my life to be a part of those negotiations and to see them unfolds in real time, it was really an amazing thing to witness given that, you know, sometimes UN meetings can feel a bit stale. You know, it's a lot of people coming together sometimes in breeding prepared statements from the floor. And I reported on these meetings for arms control today when I was working at the arms control association and I had to really struggle to write kind of new headlines often and think about how to frame this in an exciting way, but the van negotiations really weren't like that at all every day was these unprecedented challenges of, of how to write a treaty text of how to properly address the suffering posed by nuclear weapons use in testing and in victim assistance and environmental remediation clauses that be interested in, I just produced a video for international women's day about gender and nuclear weapons. Alicia Sanders 02:27:07 And we talked about the ground breaking provisions in the treaty to provide gender sensitive assistance for victims and think of their weapons and to recognize the gendered impact of nuclear weapons in the treaty. It was also exciting, you know, on that line to see all of the really strong female leaders to see Elaine white Gomez as the conference president and how gracefully and, and expertly she shepherded the negotiations all throughout. So, you know, I think it was really an inspiring experience to see the treaty come into form and to see all of the expert inputs that made the treaty, what it is Libbe HaLevy 02:27:46 I wasn't able to be there on that day, but I was certainly listening and watching online and Heidi Huttner who's with Stony Brook university and is very active in eco-feminism issues was there that day. And I caught her 15 minutes after passage. So I caught all of the excitement that was in the room for this. Yeah, it was quite thrilling. Now it's in the ratification process, it passed the United nations, but it has to be ratified by, I believe it's 50 different nations. Where do we stand with that? And what's the latest piece of news here. Alicia Sanders 02:28:21 Currently, the treaty has 81 states that have signed it and 36 that have ratified it though. 14 more states need to ratify for it to reach the 50 threshold. The most recent ratification was on Namibia just a couple of weeks ago. This is another, I think really fascinating process to see from the inside to see how many governments are, are working to ratify it as we speak, you know, there's, there's all of these ongoing internal processes within different countries and a lot of enthusiasm and excitement to join this treaty, especially to be one of the first 50 to make it enter into force. So, you know, it's always really great to hear from my colleagues who are working directly on entering the force about kind of the latest update from this country or that country and, and you know, how close they are to, to getting it the final instrument of ratification deposited. It's an exciting, it's a fast moving process and we're hoping to reach that 50 soon Libbe HaLevy 02:29:25 Namibia was just a few weeks ago. And I have to say in a time when we've not been getting a lot of very good news to cheer, that was a very good piece of information in 2017 in large part because of the work that was done to gain passage of the treaty at the United nations, I can receive the 2017 Nobel peace prize. What difference if any, did that recognition make to the organization and the furtherance of your goals? Alicia Sanders 02:29:55 You know, again, speaking, just since I, the organization after the peace prize was awarded, but having seen kind of the process unfold and actually having talked to I can colleagues around that time, I've heard Beatrice say a lot. It's, it's really exciting to see that such a large group of people in such a campaign can share this award and this achievement and that it's not really, it's not just one person. It's not just Beatrice Finn nurse or someone else in the staff team who did this, but it's this enormous coalition of, of activists who really cared about the school, who were able to create a treaty and make such lasting change. So I think having so many people be able to be a part of this award. And so the treatment was one really exciting thing. I think another is, is, you know, certainly getting more attention to our goals and our objectives. But I think one of the most rewarding things is being able to share it with so many people. Libbe HaLevy 03:30:55 And has this helped with your international visibility for your campaign? And certainly there was an infusion of money that came, how has that changed or enlarged the ability of the organization to reach out? Alicia Sanders 03:31:09 It certainly helps, you know, there's, there's, there's no denying that it's also, you know, a recognition that this work is important, but also that we need to, to continue it. And the thing that can be really exciting about that, I think the Nobel prize committee tries to do is to give the award to people who can really use it and put it to good use. And so to have that recognition to be able to continue the work, I think is really important. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:39 It certainly would have helped if it had turned up on the cover of time or Newsweek magazine, but unfortunately it didn't. However, there's still that possibility in the future. You're not limited to just one Nobel peace prize. Now, as I've been reporting a nuclear hot seat for several weeks, COVID-19 the novel coronavirus is playing out in some dangerous ways in the nuclear industry. I can certainly speak to those here in the United States. And these are problems with safety regulation changes, refueling of reactors and the safety of onsite workers. What, if any differences has I can discern in the way COVID 19 has influenced the nuclear weapons industry and the countries that have the weapons? Alicia Sanders 03:32:24 Well, I think what we've been kind of concerned to see is that there is even when it becomes so abundantly clear that nuclear weapons do not provide security or safety for Americans from the threats that we're facing today, defense industry continues to rely on these weapons. You know, we saw just a few days ago, there was a tweet from the U S defense department saying that we continue to rely on our nuclear weapons and to modernize our nuclear weapons, to provide safety and security for the American people. And we always hear this, and we always say that it's clear that these nuclear weapons are not protecting us from anything. And they're just draining resources and draining money that could be spent helping American space, the real threats and helping the, you know, the world's face, the real threats that we face from pandemics, from climate change, you name it, and it just becomes more clear. Now, if it wasn't before that nuclear weapons don't serve to provide anyone security, Libbe HaLevy 03:33:30 There were three dramatic infographics that I can create it to show what the nuclear weapons budget of the United States, the European union and the United Kingdom, what those weapons budgets could buy if applied instead to necessary medical supplies for battling. COVID-19 now speaking for my country, the United States, I thought it was a brilliant illustration of how my government would rather invest in death than in life. How did those graphic representations come about and what kind of response have you gotten to them? Alicia Sanders 03:34:07 So this was kind of just as we were all getting locked down and thinking about the new reality under this pandemic and reading about the short, the real shortages in ventilators in hospital beds, in the exhaustion of our brave medical professionals, we started thinking about what could a year's worth of nuclear weapons spending by, in terms of real protection, from the threats that we face and real supplies, urgently needed supplies under this pandemic. And so we started looking at the countries that have well-documented expenses for nuclear weapons. We'd love to also do this for some of the other countries where nuclear expenditures aren't as transparent, but we don't have those figures. So we started with the U S the UK and France using documented 2019 spending on nuclear weapons and reported costs of ventilators, ICU beds, and the salaries of nurses and doctors in each country to see just how much one year of nuclear weapons spending could buy in terms of meeting gaps in needed supplies. Alicia Sanders 03:35:21 And I started doing this research. I started with the us and I was just trying to do the calculations and see starting out by, I read an article saying that, you know, there was a gap in a certain number of ventilators or beds. And so I beat that gap. And then I still had like half of the money left over and I was messaging my colleagues. And I was like, how I can't even spend all this money if I wanted to. And so I was just doubling the numbers of supplies that I have initially set out thinking that surely we can't buy this many ventilators. We can't buy these many ICU beds that tens of thousands of dollars each. And it was, it was really astonishing, even as I say, even as someone who works on this every day to see just how much money we're throwing away, I think sometimes it's $35.1 billion. It's hard to really imagine how much money that is until you have to break it down into how many $35,000 ventilators or beds are you going to buy. And then you really see just how much money it is and just what a waste it is. Okay. Libbe HaLevy 03:36:28 I appreciated getting that because it really demonstrated the human costs of nuclear weapons, even when they're not detonated, because there's the manufacturer, there's the storage. And there are other stories we could go into about how the United States for one is ramping up its weapons production, even though we don't need it. What I want to get to is what sparked this outreach to an interview with I cam. And that is the email that you sent out that did have those infographics, but it seemed to frame certain things as being, if not helpful, at least what we can do to not only keep our spirits up, but to be useful and productive. And anti-nuclear in this period of time when we're all suddenly not in the middle of our usual diversions via work, be it what we do for play, be it just being able to do what we want to without being paranoid about what might be floating in the air. What were some of those points that were brought up by ICANN? Alicia Sanders 03:37:34 Sure. I mean, this is something we've been thinking about a lot is how do we take forward our work in this new normal? Because, you know, I think as these graphics and this research makes clear, it's ever more important to be fighting against nuclear weapons in this time. And w we also published an op-ed by several doctors, members of the ICANN community who are doctors who were saying why they fight for nuclear disarmament and why it's such an important issue even now in the midst of a pandemic. So we want to send out some tips and help our members continue their work and continue this fight and activism, even in these challenging times, you know, we've thought about a lot about how to, first of all, turn some of our work online. So for example, as we mentioned in this letter, usually we celebrate ratifications and new signatories in person. Alicia Sanders 03:38:35 And, you know, there's an opportunity for a picture for the signer to be able to kind of see the Nobel peace prize and kind of celebrate with a member of the ICANN team. But given these unusual circumstances, that celebration was moved to a zoom call. You know, we last fall about U S university involvement in nuclear weapons. And I was hoping to speak to some universities in person this spring, since we've kind of moved some of those events online. So I'll be speaking via teleconference to a class that has classes online. So there are a lot of these opportunities to move events online, but we're continuing to listen and learn from other activists and hear about how folks are adapting to this new situation and continuing their work in this new setting. Libbe HaLevy 03:39:28 We're still in early days with the COVID pandemic, and it has overwhelmed our attention, our thinking, our emotions. How do you propose that we keep people's attention on the nuclear agenda in your case weapons, in my case, the entire range of issues, but how do we keep our focus on that? Long-term invisible threat to our life and our health and our safety when we're facing a much more short-term and visible, invisible threat to our life and our health and our safety. Alicia Sanders 04:40:02 I think it's not so much an either or, and I think, you know, we've also been very careful in telling our campaigners, especially of course, campaigners who are members of frontline communities like doctors and nurses, grocery store workers, and all those folks up to keep going out and exposing themselves to risks, to take it easy on themselves, and to understand that this is a new situation and we're all adapting. So I think starting off with that and saying that as much as we are looking for new ways to, to campaign in these times, and to be creative and continue our work, it's also important to acknowledge that it's stressful and, and everyone's dealing with it with a new situation. But I think we also have to recognize that these issues are so intertwined and so related. And we just had a really inspiring conference in Paris in February, bringing together activists and artists and scientists to talk about how to make a change and how different movements make changes and what we have in common. Alicia Sanders 04:41:10 So I think in this really challenging time, we can recognize that the fact that we've wasted so much money on nuclear weapons, and now there are shortages in almost every country of ventilators and beds. And there aren't enough, there's a shortage in the national health service in the U S in the, in the UK, sorry of doctors and nurses. So it's not a coincidence that you have both of these things happening at the same time. It's, they're intricately related. So in order to, to be better prepared to fight a pandemic in the future, you know, we need to seriously reconsider national security priorities in the, the minority of countries that have chosen nuclear weapons. Libbe HaLevy 04:41:55 Just trying to say, is there, this is off interview right now. Is there anything you can think of that you would like to, or need to get to that we haven't covered? Alicia Sanders 04:42:06 I don't think so. I mean, I think, you know, is there you're in, in, based in California? Sorry. If there is, you know, if you'd like to call on kind of your area to, to support a resolution on the ban treaty or something like that. So Libbe HaLevy 04:42:27 I think Los Angeles already has, oh, I think so. Okay. So, but I've, I'm in a little townish area of Los Angeles called and I, we don't have a city council here, but, you know, if I ever get to a chamber of commerce meeting again, but I know that there are lots of little towns in California because we're so aware because of Santa Ana and Diablo canyon right now, there is absolute PA I don't know if you're aware of what's happening that 54 nuclear reactors in the United States need to be refueled in the next six months, which requires bringing in between 1000 and 1500 workers. And two weeks ago, I had a report on how many workers were reported to already be ill or have tested positive at nuclear reactors. And three days later, the NRC said, we're no longer reporting those numbers. And apparently workers on site are panicking. So, but anyway, that's, that's like a whole other thing. Let me just see what I have here. I took a couple of notes, notes. I'll want to have the link to the, the doctors op ed that they posted and it's, and the people you, you send out, it's a newsletter or an email that people can sign up for. Just so I can do this in the Roundup. Alicia Sanders 04:43:48 Yeah. I think the general newsletter, I think it's just, if you go to our website, I should probably check it now, but I think there's just a way to like, sign up for updates. I also do like a policy research newsletter. Yeah. If you just like go to the general website and click I'm in, on the front page Libbe HaLevy 04:44:06 And then I can, or I can w Alicia Sanders 04:44:09 I can w that org, I guess I can let's take in or something. I don't know the full story there. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:15 Yeah. That one would have gone real early. Okay. So let me, let me just leave a little break. So I've got a visual on this and we'll close this out. Alicia Sanders 04:44:27 Okay. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:30 Okay. I'll wait til the noise has Alicia. I really appreciate the thoroughness of the information you shared and taking your time. Now, if people and providing your time to nuclear hot seat this morning. Now, if people want to sign up for your emails and any other announcements that come out from ICANN, where can they go and what do they need to do? Alicia Sanders 04:44:55 Sure. I, you can just go to the ICANN website, which is I can w.org/join, and there you can sign up and we send out kind of regular updates on our activities. I sound out, send out a policy and research newsletter that you can also sign up for on our website. If you're interested in that, Libbe HaLevy 04:45:14 That's it. That's a separate signup. Yep. Okay. I don't think I'm on that one, but I will be as soon as I get off this call. Okay. Anything else you can think of? Alicia Sanders 04:45:26 No, it's, it's really been a pleasure to be here and talk about our work, and I wish you the best and all the listeners the best in these trying times, Libbe HaLevy 04:45:35 We feel the same for you and everybody at ICANN, you're doing really important work. You're doing it well. And you give us hope that perhaps there will be a change hopefully sooner, rather than later, rather than too late for now. Alicia Sanders, Zachary, thank you so much for being my guest this week on nuclear hot seat. Alicia Sanders 04:45:56 Thanks so much. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:57 Alicia Sanders, Zachary. She is the policy and research coordinator at the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. We will have links up to the ICANN website, their email sign up, and also a sign up for policy email, and the physician's letter that she mentioned that will all be up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 4, 5 9. Note that Alicia's reference to the gender information included in the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons came out of the work of Mary Olsen of gender and radiation.org. If you'd like to learn more about that cornerstone information and Mary's crucial work, we have an interview with her up on our website from nuclear hot seat, number 4, 5 6 on March 17th, 2020. To give you an idea of what it's like to actively lobby to get governmental support for the treaty to abolish nuclear weapons. I have a great sample for you to hear. As I mentioned during the interview, there was a hearing in front of the New York city council on January 30th, 2020, to convince the city to officially support the treaty. Alice Slater is a longtime anti-nuclear activist and a member of the board of the nuclear age peace foundation. She was one of those who spoke to the city council. She only had two minutes, but Alice packs a powerful punch give a listen to her testimony. Alice Slater 04:47:29 Oh my name's Alice Slater. I just want to thank you for this wonderful initiative and proceeding. I'm on the broader board of world beyond war and the UN rep at the, for the nuclear age peace foundation. And I'm just so grateful to the council for stepping up to the plate and taking historic action to finally be on the bomb. I was born in the Bronx and went to Queens college when tuition was only $5 a semester in the 1950s, during the terrible red scare of the McCarthy era at the height of the cold war, we had 70,000 nuclear bombs on the planet. There are now 14,000 with about 13,000 in the U S and Russia. The other seven nuclear armed countries have only a thousand among them. So it's really up to us in Russia to move first, to negotiate for the abolition as outlined in the new treaty at this time, none of the nuclear weapons states and our U S partners in NATO, Japan, Australia, and South Korea are supporting the new treaty. Alice Slater 04:48:39 It may really surprise you to know that Russia has generally been the eager proposer of treaties, the verified nuclear missile disarmament, and sadly it is our country in the grip of the military industrial complex, that Eisenhower warned against that provokes a nuclear arms race with Russia from the time Truman rejected Stalin's request to put the bomb under UN control to reg and Bush, Clinton and Obama rejecting Obama and Putin proposals that is documented in, I submitted testimony to Trump walking out of the inf treaty just recently, Walter Kelly. The cartoon is to the Pogo comic strip. During the 1950s, red scare has Pogo saying we met the enemy and he is us. We now have a breakthrough opportunity for global grassroots actions in cities and states to reverse course from plummeting our earth into catastrophic nuclear disaster. At this moment, there are 2,500 nuclear tip missiles in the U S and Russia targeting all of our major cities as for New York city. As the song goes, if we can make it here, we'll make it anywhere. And it's wonderful and inspiring that a majority of this silly city council is willing to add its voice for a nuclear free world. Thank you so much. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:09 That was Alice Slater of the nuclear age peace foundation, speaking truth to power on behalf of the campaign to get the New York city council to officially support the United nations treaty, to abolish nuclear weapons. Now, for one more example of the kind of work being done in conjunction with the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, here's a brief summary of the work of don't bank on the bomb, which at this point I consider to be a public service announcement worthy of repeating don't bank on the bomb is a system for divesting funds from those companies that are actively involved in the design and manufacture of nuclear weapons. This brief explanation of how the campaign works is able to be voiced by Susie Snyder. She coordinates the research publication and campaigning activities for the group and is on the steering committee of ICANN. This brief explanation was recorded app Dr. Helen called the cons symposium on possible nuclear extinction on February 28th, 2015. Dr. Helen 05:51:17 It's amazing. It's called don't bank on the bomb, and that's the website too. Don't bank on the bomb.com. Step one, find out if your bank invests a nuclear weapon, producers, step two, contact your bank, tell them you don't want them to step three, tell the world what the bank says, and if they don't get rid of investments, go public because no bank wants to look like a bad guy. It takes one or two people only to make a huge difference, and that can cut off the money stream to the companies that make nuclear weapons, you and I, we have more power than we think, and that power is sitting in our wallet. And how can people find you? Libbe HaLevy 05:51:57 Whether the companies that were told the bank is supporting have any connection with the nuclear weapon Dr. Helen 05:52:02 As industry? Well, we do a significant investigation every year. Now it's not completely exhaustive, but we profiled 28 companies that have association with nuclear weapons, modernization, and maintenance, and it's on our website, don't bank on the bomb.com. And we really want people to use our information and contact us all the time. You can do that in, you know, through the website really easily contact me on Twitter, whatever works, and I'm happy to find out more. And if you find out, learn about more companies involved in nuclear weapons, jealous, we'll do the research and we'll make it public for everybody to use. Love it. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:40 I loved it when I first heard about it and I love it. Still Susie Snyder of don't bank on the bomb. We have a longer interview with Susie about the program and its implications and the progress it has been making. It's up on nuclear hot seat, number 4 54 from March 3rd, 2020, check it out on our website. Here's today's final thought. It's hard to keep caring about nuclear in this time of Corona virus. But for those of us who are able to, we must times like these are tailor made for people who don't have our general welfare at heart to try to get away with if not murder, certainly actions with longterm negative consequences for health people and the environment under the smoke screen of COVID-19 the nuclear regulatory commission and the entire nuclear industry are behaving despicably. And they are trying to get away with slam bang moves that will put us all at risk from radioactivity for not only the foreseeable, but the unforeseeable future, still information overload. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:54 I get it with so much bad news out there. You might be wondering why look for any more. And my answer to that is for whatever its characteristics COVID-19 will eventually become something the human race adapts to living with, but there is no adaptation to radioactivity and it's deadly impact upon our bodies down to our DNA radioactivity already created in the waste stream from reactors, manufacturing, facilities, uranium mines, transport, nuclear weapons, including the atmospheric bombs that have been exploded. And all the other stations of the cross, we bear from the nuclear infrastructure will be deadly to life for close to half a million years. So, yes, right now, protect yourself, protect yourself in the immediate future. As this virus ravages our life. And our very idea of normal is forever changed. But please, if you can, when you can, as much as you can, don't take your eye off the nuclear ball. However long it takes for COVID-19 to clear or stabilize or us to adapt to it. Nuclear dangers will continue to exist and persist. And the only way that will change is with the work of me and you and all of us together. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:30 This has been nuclear hot Tuesday, April 17th, 2020 research in nuclear press.com beyond nuclear, the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons or ICANN mining awareness.wordpress.com. asahi.com. The reporter online.com times herald.com. Pots merck.com USA today.com roll call.com New York times public news service.org. The hill.com reuters.com. My nietzsche.jp, the guardian.com S C M p.com. bellona.org. The smarmy spinmeisters at world nuclear news and their PR hacks and the nuclear regulatory commission. Thanks to Bruce Brinkmann for his help, with the Ellis Slater audio and to listeners around the world who keep me informed as to what the nuclear situation looks like from their perspective. If you wish to stay connected to nuclear hot seat, we have lots of ways for you to do so. The show is available on all major podcast channels, or the easiest way is to go to nuclear hot seat.com, scroll down to the yellow opt-in box, fill it in with your first name and your email address. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:55 And you'll be sent one email a week with the link to that week's program. Along with other information about what's included in the episode. Now, if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to info@nuclearhotseat.com. We always want to hear what you have to say. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to go to nuclear, hot seat.com. Look for that big red button, and please do what you can to support our work. We will be really grateful for your support, especially these days. This episode of nuclear hot seat is copyright 2020 Leiby Halevi at heart history, communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed as long as proper attribution is provided. So if you're going to quote from the program or use any of the audio, please just give us the credit and mention the website. This is Libby Halevi of hardest street communications. The heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that the nuclear refueling contractor was freaked out by one simple factor. We cannot stay clean from COVID-19 at the Limerick nuclear reactor. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake-up call. So whatever you do do not go back to sleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:26 Clear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Claire hot seat. What have those boys been breaking their hot seat? The Ms. Sinking our time to act is shrinking, but Hotsy, it's the bomb. ### NH #458: Covid19/Nuclear Dangers: You Can't Social Distance at a Nuclear Reactor - Arnie & Maggie Gundersen Call Out Industry Refueling, Safety Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/covid19-nuclear/ Published: 2020-04-01 Duration: 00:59:01 Covid/Nuclear Dangers – More industry lies, problems revealed: Arnie Gundersen and Maggie Gundersen, interviewed by Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy This Week's Featured Interview: Covid/Nuclear Dangers and Lies:  As the Covid pandemic continues to ravage its way through society, the nuclear industry is placed in serious jeopardy of being able to maintain safety at its 98 U.S. operating nuclear reactors.  How bad are the problems?  How much should we believe the industry's claims of being "safe" while asking for enormous bailouts from the Covid stimulous package?  We turned to two experts to find out.  Arnie Gundersen has more than 45-years of nuclear power engineering experience. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where he earned his Bachelor Degree cum laude while also becoming the recipient of a prestigious Atomic Energy Commission Fellowship for his Master Degree in nuclear engineering. Arnie holds a nuclear safety patent, was a licensed reactor operator, and is a former nuclear industry senior vice president. During his nuclear power industry career, Arnie also managed and coordinated projects at 70 nuclear power plants in the US. Maggie Gundersen founded Fairewinds Energy Education, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in 2008. Its mission has remained to educate the public about nuclear power production, engineering, reliability, and safety issues. Maggie also founded Fairewinds Associates, Inc, a paralegal and expert witness services firm in 2003. She has a history as well expertise within the nuclear power industry. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): THAT WOULD BE ME – George Takei, the Sulu from the original Star Trek, posted of his being honored to be the final torch bearer at the 2021 Olympics, the one to light the eternal flame. I caught the story at the last minute and made it Numnutz of the Week, with all due rage. I even included it in my social media posts. Only now, after posting, have I learned that it was his April Fools joke — so tone deaf that it seemed believable to those of us who understand exactly how venal Abe, the IOC and their PR minion Dentsu can be. My apologies to all who fell for it. This is the picture George Takei posted on his Facebook page, holding an Olympic torch, along with his story about having been chosen to be the final torch bearer at the 2021 Olympics. Actually, it's just the kind of thing that Abe, the IOC and PR firm Dentsu would choose to do. My apologies for helping to perpetuate a hoax. Activist Actions: LINK to the Boston University Zoom teleconference on the 2020 Olympics (information still very important!), featuring Dr. Norma Field and Dr, Marco Kaltofen. COVID/NUCLEAR – Request for you to call your Member of Congress to demand funding for nuclear weapons be shifted to support health needs of impacted and vulnerable communities. Find your Member of Congress’s number CLICK HERE Use the following script to make your call: “My name is ____ and I live in _____. I am concerned, at a time when thousands are dying aroudn the world from the COVID-19 Crisis that Trump intends to spend 46 billion more dollars on nuclear weapons. Will you commit to cuting the nuclear weapons budget to spend this money on lifesaving ventilators, surgical masks, and healthcare benefits for millions of Americans who deserve access to healthcare during the COVID19 pandemic?” THREE MILE ISLAND – Respond to Nuclear Regulatory Commission on transfer of Three Mile Island's stricken Unit 2 to a decommissioning firm. You can submit a comment by using any of the following methods: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket ID NRC-2020-0082. Address questions about NRC docket IDs in regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges; telephone 301-287-9127; email jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov.Email comments to: hearing.Docket@nrc.gov. If you do not receive an automatic email reply confirming receipt, then contact the Office of the Secretary at 301-415-1677.Fax comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission at 301-415-1101.Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C., 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. ### NH #457: Covid19/Nuclear Nightmare Begins: NRC's Inadequate Conference Call - Paul Gunter, Eric Epstein, Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/covid19-nuclear-nightmare-nrcs-inadequate-conference-call-gunter-epstein-kamps/ Published: 2020-03-25 Covid19 does what Fukushima and radiation dangers could not do: Takes down the Olympics and has severely minimized the propagandistic torch relay through Fukushima Prefecture. (Graphic courtesy Bruce Brinkman) This Week's Covid19/Nuclear Features and Interviews: A news roundup of nuclear facilities already being impacted by the novel corona virus pandemic Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear provides follow-up commentary to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) public conference call of March 20, 2020, that was meant to calm our fears… and most certainly did not.Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert, who was on the NRC call and did not have his question answered, talks about how CoVid19 creates new complications in the decommissioning and spent fuel storage problems at TMI.Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear was also on the call, and though he asked perceptive questions, the NRC did its best to "foof" him along, including a complete audio blackout after he made a particularly pointed observation.And for those of you who want to hear the NRC for yourself, here's a LINK to the full conference call. BREAKING: OLYMPICS DELAYED TILL 2021! TORCH RELAY = NO TORCH, NO RUNNERS, NO CROWDS – AND NO PRIME MINISTER ABE! "Torch Relay" now slated to be a lit lantern in a fast-moving car. Rumor has it that soon it will be further downgraded to a Bic lighter in a clown car: Proposed prototype for new downsized Olympic Torch "Run" – just waiting around in J-Village for the Bic lighter… BONUS: THE HIDDEN ANAGRAM IN "CORONA VIRUS" – Tell me it doesn't give you chills! ### NH #456: Covid19/Radiation Parallels + Radiation's Disproportionate Impact on Women, Little Girls - Mary Olson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-impact-on-women-little-girls/ Published: 2020-03-18 Duration: 00:59:05 Covid 19/Radiation Parallels + Radiation's Disproportionate Impact on Women, Little Girls – Mary Olson How can a dose of radiation that's deemed safe for a man have the same impact on a smaller, younger Little Girl with much less body mass? Mary Olson of Gender and Radiation Impact Project on the disproportionate impact of radioactivity on women and especially little girls. PICTURED: Body mass comparison of the adult male "safety" model and 5-year-old girl. (Graphic used courtesy Mary Olson.) This Week's Featured Interviews: A CoVid19 UPDATE – How is the growing pandemic impacting the nuclear and anti-nuclear world?A FINAL THOUGHT on on how the impact of CoVid19 may feel familiar to those who have been following nuclear issues, especially after Fukushima… and why we might be uniquely qualified to not freak out in the face of yet another existential threat. Mary Olson of the Gender and Radiation Impact Project on how radiation disproportionately impacts women and especially little girls, and why that information has been hidden from us. This was conducted for a specially-produced program broadcast on KPFA-FM in San Francisco in commemoration of International Women's Day. Mary Olson (L) of Gender and Radiation Project, with Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): AN EXISTENTIAL DOUBLE WHAMMY! The Greeks, who invented the Olympics, cancelled the torch relay through their country because of Coronovirus concerns… but Japan?!?!? Are you REALLY STILL PLANNING on having torchbearers run through not only CoVid19 crowds but THROUGH HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE AREAS IN FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE FOR THREE DAYS????? It's not just the runners, but the media assigned to cover it; the workers who have to set it up, anyone foolish enough to want to view it and damn the risk of not just CoVid19… BUT RADIATION AS WELL??? ### NH #455: Fukushima Anniversary SPECIAL: Voices From Japan 2020 - Tokyo Shimbun Reporter Takeshi Yamakawa URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-anniversary-voices-from-japan/ Published: 2020-03-06 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's SPECIAL Voices from Japan Interviews: Takeshi Yamakawa is a reporter and editor, part of Tokyo Shimbun’s Nuclear Power Reporting Team. He has been covering Fukushima since the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.  He's interviewed in Japanese by Nuclear Hotseat investigative reporter Yuji Kaneko.     CONTACTS:   Tokyo Shimbun Nuclear Power Reporting Team: (THIS IS CLICKABLE) Website原発取材班サイト- https://genpatsu.tokyo-np.co.jp/ 原発取材班 Twitter – https://twitter.com/ kochigen2017 Takeshi Yamakawa of Tokyo Shimbun stands next to a sign on Route 253 near Namie that says, "Exclusion zone: do not enter."  A mega-solar farm built on abandoned farms is on the other side of the highway fence.  (Photo courtesy of U.G. Kaneko) Yuji Kaneko is Nuclear Hotseat's Voices from Japan investigative reporter.  He has gone to Fukushima numerous times to learn the truth about what is happening there.  Today, through a travel diary he kept, we'll gain first-hand insights into radiation problems and how government funds have been used in the Exclusion Zone.   Takeshi Yamakawa of Tokyo Shimbun shows that the air dose level inside a greenhouse in Iitate Village is 0.433 μSv/hour, nearly twice as high as the government standard for outdoors of 0.23 μSv/hour.  (Photo courtesy of U. G. Kaneko) Takeshi Yamakawa of Tokyo Shimbun (black hair) and Iitate Village resident Nobuyoshi Ito (grey hair). Outdoor radiation air dose at this location in Iitate is 0.631 μSv/hour, almost 3x higher than the government limit of 0.23 μSv/hour. (Photo courtesy of U. G. Kaneko) Takeshi Yamakawa of Tokyo Shimbun (black hair) and Iitate Village resident Nobuyoshi Ito (grey hair) conduct experiments on the uptake of cesium in farm products in Iitate Village.   (Photo courtesy of U. G. Kaneko)                           March 3, 2020 Press Conference                at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan:        "Radioactive Hotspots along Olympic Torch Relay Route"   Press conference participants (l-r): Kazumasa Aoki, Vice President of the Radioactivity Monitoring Center for Citizen; Nobuyoshi Ito, an Iitate Village Resident; and Jun Nakamura, Co-Chairman of the Fukuichi Area Environmental Radiation Monitoring Project. Press Conference Handouts: Results of radioactive contamination survey around Tokyo 2020 Olympics Torch Relay Route – CLICK for pdf. Detailed course relay maps  with survey sites and results. Page is in Japanese, but the list of links is for municipalities in the following order: Tomioka Town, Okuma Town, Naraha Town, Kawauchi Village, Minamisoma City, Namie Town, Katsurao Village, Iitate Village, Kawamata Town/Yamakiya.  Website for Chikurin (Radioactivity Monitoring Center for Citizen). There are limited introduction pages in English and French with contact information. Click on the "Foreign Lang" link. ### NH #454: San Onofre Radioactive Geyser Potential? Nuclear Engineer Paul Blanch + Susi Snyder, Don't Bank on the Bomb URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-radioactive-geyser/ Published: 2020-03-04 Duration: 00:57:01 San Onofre nuclear waste storage casks, each containing a Chernobyl's worth of radioactivity, now partially loaded and ID'ed as vulnerable to becoming a "radioactive Yellowstone geyser" if flooded. This Week's Featured Interviews: San Onofre nuclear reactors on the coast of southern California continue to offer a smorgasbord of nightmares to the eight-million people living within 50 miles of its radioactive waste. Public Watchdogs, a San Onofre citizens oversight group, consulted with veteran nuclear engineer Paul Blanch about the feasibility of flooding of high level radioactive waste storage canisters. Might these 5/8″ thin-walled canister – sited only 108 feet from mean high tide – cause superheated steam flashes and geyser-like emissions of radioactive waste? Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy interviews engineer Blanch on the possibilities of an "Old Faithful" at San Onofre.Want to stop nuclear weapons? Nuclear divestment means institutional nuke investments are going down — and Susi Snyder explains how any one of us can join the movement. She is project lead for the PAX No Nukes Project and coordinator for the Don’t Bank on the Bomb research and campaign. She’s an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades of experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. Until the 2019 report is released, here's Don't Bank on the Bomb‘s LINK to the 2018 Global Report on the Financing of Nuclear Weapons Producers. The 2019 report, due in May, 2020, will contain all the same companies; only details and financial figures will change. To find out which financial institutions provide funding for nuclear weapons producers, CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Water, water everywhere… and nuclear boosters in government think it's just swell to dump radioactive waste from weapons production, nuclear submarines, fracking and whatever else into whatever body of water happens to be closest! This week, Oregon, Japan, and the UK Ministry of Defense off the coast of Scotland. Action Links: Radiation Disinformation and Human Rights Violations at the Heart of Fukushima and the Olympic Games by Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace.2.5 Million Pounds Of Radioactive Waste Illegally Dumped In Oregon Landfill Near Columbia RiverTrident commanders ‘not legally responsible’ for nuclear attack ### NH #453: Ontario Radioactive Waste Dump Rejected by Saugeen Ojibway Nation - Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ontario-radioactive-waste-dump-rejected-by-saugeen-ojibway-nation-dr-gordon-edwards/ Published: 2020-02-26 Radioactive waste dump in Ontario on the shores of Lake Huron was resoundingly rejected and the idea killed in a vote by members of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, on whose land the proposed deep geological repository was to be sited… less than a mile from Lake Huron. Listen Here: [powerpress] NOTE: Nuclear Hotseat reached out to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation for a spokesperson to be interviewed for this program, but we did not receive a response. This Week's Featured Interview: Radioactive Waste Dump in Ontario, sited less than one mile from the shores of Lake Huron, was resoundingly rejected by a vote by the Saugeen Ojibway Nation the First Nations people, on whose sovereign land Ontario Power Generation (OPG) sought to build it. Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility fills us in on what was proposed, how and why it fell to this First Nations people to make the ultimate decision, and what happens – or doesn't happen – now. These are the two videos Dr. Edwards mentioned. They are from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, APTN-TV: Part 1: Indigenous communities courted as nuclear industry looks for place to put used fuel https://aptnnews.ca/2020/02/07/indigenous-communities-courted-as-nuclear-industry-looks-for-place-to-put-used-fuel/ Part 2: Opportunity for youth, or sacrifice zone? Community reaction to nuclear waste burial plan is mixed https://aptnnews.ca/2020/02/14/opportunity-for-youth-or-sacrifice-zone-community-reaction-to-nuclear-waste-burial-plan-is-mixed/ Numnutz of the Week: As if Japan's insistence on Olympics-as-planned in the face of coronavirus was not crazy enough, now Fukushima's governor re-insists that there's no radioactive danger from the Torch Relay. As if we'll believe them this time… Action/Info Links: Cascadian Uranium Film Arts Festival, April 3-5, at Alberta Abbey in Portland, Oregon. Atomic Homefront – award-winning documentary about the radioactive legacy from WWII atomic bombs that contaminated North St. Louis' Coldwater Creek and West Lake Landfill… and the awful impact on the community there. Now FREE on Youtube. INDIAN POINT – register your comments with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission against Holtec's position on decommissioning the nuclear reactors ### NH #452: Anti-nuclear weapons, Anti-war Catholic Protestors Facing Prison: Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Defendants Patrick O'Neill, Martha Hennessey URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-weapons-anti-war-catholic-protestors-facing-prison-kings-bay-plowshares-7-defendants-patrick-oneill-martha-hennessey/ Published: 2020-02-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Anti-nuclear, anti-war protestors from the Kings Bay Plowshares action. Front row (l-r) – Clare Grady, Elizabeth McAlister, Carmen Trotta, Martha Hennessy; Back row: Patrick O'Neill, Stephen Kelly SJ, Mark Colville. This Week's Featured Interview: Anti-nuclear, anti-war – the Kings Bay Plowshares 7. These Catholic Peace Activists performed a peaceful action protesting the nuclear weapons aboard Trident nuclear submarines at the Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia, 38 miles from Jacksonville, Florida. They were arrested, tried, and found guilty on three felony counts and one misdemeanor. Now, nearly two years after the action took place, they are still awaiting sentencing. We talk with Martha Hennessey and Patrick O'Neill (71) about the Plowshares Movement, their religiously-based dedication to peace, how the Kings Bay action was planned and executed, and what happened the night they did it — April 4, 2018, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death. Then we learn what has happened to them since the trial. On October 24, 2018, all seven were found guilty of three felony charges and one misdemeanor, which could lead to 20 or more years of imprisonment for each of them. Sentencing has been delayed almost two full years because, according to them, it's an extension of the cruelty with which the government has treated them, and punishment that cannot be claimed as "time served" once they are sentenced. NOTE: I'm not often moved to tears by my Nuclear Hotseat interviews, but this one really got to me. WHAT YOU CAN DO: The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 request the following actions be taken by listeners to Nuclear Hotseat: Sign the petition asking for leniency from the court Write a letter to Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, requesting leniency for the protestors. Visit the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 website to keep informed about the case and learn further actions you can take. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japan can dish it out, but they can't take it! Cries of "Propaganda!" greet South Korean posters that elegantly, brilliantly capture the true nature of the Radioactive Tokyo 2020 Olympics – and Japan pours gasoline on the radioactive torch by taking to the media in high dudgeon to protest them! South Korean Olympics posters in Seoul, placed across from where the new Japanese Embassy is being built. Brought to you by VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea), a self-professed "cyber-diplomacy" group. All I know is – I WANT ONE OF EACH! And in case you never saw the visual was generated by Rainbow Warriors in 2013: Action Links: ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) held its xxx ### NH #451: Chernobyl Truth, World Health Org Lies: Alison Katz, Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-truth-world-health-org-lies/ Published: 2020-02-12 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl children's gas masks. Listen here: [powerpress] Chernobyl – NOTE: We're having computer problems at Nuclear Hotseat that are preventing production of a new show for this week. However, it gives us the opportunity to offer this classic episode of the show, deemed the most important interview we've ever done. We hope to have a completely new episode of the show, #452, for next week… technology permitting. Thanks for your understanding. – Libbe. This Week’s Featured Interview: Chernoby Truth Revealed – Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima. The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Given the recent HBO Chernobyl series visibility and popularity around the world – it now ranks as the most seen television programs ever – it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of Chernobyl’s devastating impacts refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013. And the material has in no way gone out of date. Scenes from Independent WHO’s ongoing Chernobyl vigil in front of the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Chernobyl – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) ### NH #450: Radioactive 2020 Olympics Torch Run - WTFutaba? Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-2020-olympics-torch-run-wtfutaba-beverly-findlay-kaneko/ Published: 2020-02-05 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive 2020 Olympics Torch Relay will run through Futaba, town next to Fukushima Daiichi, near former location of PR sign, "Nuclear Power: Energy for a Bright Future." (pictured above) Runners and tourists will NOT be wearing decontamination garb, unless they're smart – and if they're really smart, they won't be there.. This Week's Featured Interview: Radioactive 2020 Olympics UPDATE: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko again joins us with on-the-ground information about the Olympics torch relay, including blog post interviews with former residents of Futaba, the town that hosted the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, translated from the Japanese exclusively for Nuclear Hotseat. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Stupid tourist tricks: Selfies in Chernobyl? How will that impact the idiots who plan to attend the Radioactive Tokyo #2020Olympics and the torch relay, which is slated to go through areas at least four times more radioactive than the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone? To take a look at the pictures CLICK HERE. LINKS: Petition to STOP MOORSIDE – The Biggest new nuclear development in Europe. If you need a UK postal code, use this one: LA7-7DJBob Alvarez provides another important paper from the Journal of Energy Policy about sea-level impacts on U.S. spent nuclear power reactor fuel due to climate change. HBO Real Sports takes a look at Olympic-sized radiation dangers at Fukushima with Bryant Gumbel of HBO and Shaun Burney of Friends of the Earth. Gumbel is wearing what ALL media people sent by their corporations to cover the Olympics should be wearing at all times while in that radioactive zone. Do you think he rocks it? ### NH #449: Hemp: Can It Remediate Plutonium? Rocky Flats Project w/Tiffany Hansen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hemp-can-it-remediate-plutonium-rocky-flats-project-w-tiffany-hansen/ Published: 2020-01-30 Hemp: A new, natural hope to clean radioactive plutonium contamination out of the environment? New Rocky Flats study reveals promise. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Hemp. Does it have a future in the phytoremediation of radioactive sites? Tiffany Hansen, Director of Rocky Flats Downwinders, fills us in on two separate, major studies taking place in that radiologically contaminated Superfund site area near Boulder, Colorado: a health survey to determine the impact on health of living near the former plutonium pit production facility, and a new study on whether hemp can be used to remediate the plutonium-contaminated site. Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety gives us an update on the leftovers from that nuclear reactor site, and the latest lies of omission by the folks burying dirty bombs on the beach of southern California, er, rushing to store multiple Chernobyls–worth of highly radioactive spent fuel rod waste in 5/8″ thin substandard canisters next to the ocean in an earthquake/tsunami zone.  Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): LOL. Fukushima Prefecture issues a blanket assurance that everything is A-OK for the Olympic torch run and there are no radiation problems, so don't worry your pretty little head about it, Missy! Right – like any sane person is going to actually believe them? Radioactive Tokyo 2020 Olympics Update: Coronavirus versus Olympics – International Olympics Committee's best-laid plans and Japanese Prime Minister Abe's lies about Fukushima and billions of dollars already spent on facilities and Dentsu Public Relations pushing to normalize the perception of Fukushima in order to force former residents to live in the highly radioactive zone vs. a virus. Any bets as to who's going to win? ACTION LINKS: ### NH #448: Nuclear-Free Earth - Possible? Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-free-earth-possible-karl-grossman/ Published: 2020-01-22 Nuclear-Free Earth – Is it possible? Veteran journalist Karl Grossman lays out the options. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear-Free Earth – can we achieve it? Karl Grossman provides the vision. He is an author and journalism professor at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, and host of the television program Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman. Karl is the author of six books – so far – and writer of numerous magazine, newspaper and Internet articles.  He has been covering nuclear issues for over 50 years, and in terms of knowing how things came about and where the bodies are buried – that’s a metaphor, we hope – nobody does it better.  Karl has been an important early and consistent supporter of Nuclear Hotseat, and we talk with him here about the need to make Earth a nuclear-free zone.  We talked on January 12, 2020. Karl Grossman's important, clear-eyed and classic look at nuclear energy: COVER UP: What You Are NOT Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): "Certified" sushi in Japan that doesn't test for radiation? What is it certified against – the difficult truth? And why is a new sushi restaurant opening IN Fukushima? Radioactive Olympics Update: Futaba, the triple-melted-down Fukushima Daiichi's host city, is now included in the Olympic Torch Relay. Nuclear Hotseat's Voices from Japan co-producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko on the proximity of the town to the still-highly-radioactive triple meltdown site. Full interview with her on Futaba and the dangers posed by the Olympic Torch Relay in next week's show. Activist Info Links: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Paris Forum, 2020, February 13 & 14. What's Rotting Under the 2020 Tokyo "Recovery Olympics" – Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Art Share in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. For more information, contact event organizer: Tsukuru Fors New Poll finds Canadians Do Not Trust Nuclear Energy and Reactors ### NH #447: Canada Nuclear False Alarm Freakout at Pickering Reactors - Angela Bischoff, Ontario Clean Air Alliance URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/canada-nuclear-false-alarm-freakout-at-pickering-reactors-angela-bischoff/ Published: 2020-01-15 Canada Nuclear false alarm – Text of the warning sent via cell phones to residents in Toronto regarding the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station – talk about your wake-up call! This Week's Featured Interview: Canada nuclear false alarm – Ontario in Canada got a real nuclear wake-up call on Sunday, January 12, when warning of an accident at the 8-reactor Pickering nuclear facility was sent to toronto-area cell phones at 7:33 in the morning — and wasn't’t rescinded until 9:11 a.m.. So what has been the fallout from that nuclear fail? To find out, I spoke with Angela Bischoff, who is Director the Ontario Clean Air Alliance. We talked on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When is a pretty bouquet awarding a world-class athlete not so pretty? When it's made from Fukushima flowers! And that's what's going to be given to Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Radioactive 2020 Tokyo Olympics. No radiation testing. Of course… Activist Links: Unmanaged climate risks to spent fuel from U.S. nuclear power plants: The case of sea-level rise – Robert Alvarez, Lisa Martine Jenkins, Sarah Marie Jordaan. Important story on how the rising of the oceans will impact nuclear reactors along various bodies of water. Note that every nuclear reactor needs a body of water nearby to cool it, and that flooding of the emergency cooling systems at Fukushima were responsible for the triple meltdown disaster. A Colorado Professor Is Warning The World Of Nuclear Winter — Again – by Sam Brasch. The olde joke is not very funny, but it's true: nuclear winter is not the cure to global warming. Learn why in this important scientific paper.170 Million Americans are Drinking Radioactive Water – This Interactive Map Shows If You Are Too – Nuclear Hotseat covered this story back in August, 2015, when the report it is based upon was first released. Maryland jurisdictions join “back from the brink” nuclear war movement ### NH #446: Tokyo 2020 Olympics - the Radioactive Truth: Dr. Alex Rosen, Int'l Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tokyo-2020-olympics-the-radioactive-truth-dr-alex-rosen-intl-physicians-for-the-prevention-of-nuclear-war/ Published: 2020-01-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Tokyo 2020 Olympics – the Radioactive Truth: Dr. Alex Rosen, Int'l Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Above: Radioactive 2020 Olympics – an alternative logo, more to the point. This Week's Featured Interview: The Tokyo Radioactive 2020 Olympics Dr. Alex Rosen is a German pediatrician who serves as the Chair, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Germany. He and the organization are deeply involved in the international awareness campaign explaining to the public what the Tokyo Radioactive 2020 Olympics are really all about. Dr. Rosen was last heard on Nuclear Hotseat #287 from December 20, 2016, where he presented a Critical Analysis of the UNSCEAR report on Fukushima's radioactivity, decoding the UN agency's methodology and, in effect, demolishing its credibility. Here, he gives us a view of the planned international pushback against the Olympics and the reasons why this action is so necessary. We spoke on Friday, November 29, 2019.To purchase a copy of the English language Citizens Radiation Data Map of Japan, click on this link: mdsbookorder@mp-nuclear-free.com English copy of Citizens Radiation Data Map of Japan – click to purchase ACTIVIST ACTION LINKS: Here is the letter on the Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant demolition dangers and the actions requested by Vina Colley of the Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and National Nuclear Workers for Justice. TO SIGN ONTO THIS LETTER, SEND YOUR NAME AND/OR THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP TO: VINA COLLEY – vcolley@earthlink.net To: Ohio Representatives/Senators/Governor Subject: Please tell the Department of Energy that radioactive bulldozing must stop! Dear —-: There is a dangerous situation in Ohio that you need to know and do something about. In Piketon, Ohio, "dusty bulldozing and open air demolition operations are now under way" at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site, "to deconstruct the complex, decontaminate the grounds, and build a radioactive waste abandonment facility. NBC News reported May 15, 2019, that although ‘the contamination came from [the Portsmouth] plant the Department of Energy has repeatedly refused to cease operations there.'" "In mid-May 2019, the US Department of Energy (DOE) acknowledged that in 2017 it found trace amounts of highly radioactive neptunium-237 in air monitors on the school grounds, the Ironton Tribune reported. The DOE also admitted that it found similarly toxic americium there in 2018. The Dayton Daily News reported that neptunium is a carcinogen linked to bone cancers. Why the discovery of radioactive chemicals was not made public at the time and the school closed then has not been explained by the DOE. "A more recent and independent study, conducted by Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, found enriched uranium actually inside the middle school itself, and it found ‘plutonium, uranium, and neptunium in water and dust samples from other parts of the community', the Associated Press reported." http://nukewatchinfo.org/contaminated-middle-school-indefinitely-closed-in-ohio/ Bulldozing needs to be stopped immediately, it is exposing people to deadly radioactivity. Testing is needed to determine where the radioactive contaminants have settled. Medical evaluation is needed about how much harm has been done to the people already. Residents need to be moved away, and the contaminated area should be declared off limits to everyone, as was done at Chernobyl. Radioactive substances require absolute containment. There is no safe level of radiation. Radioactivity cannot be seen, it has no odor, and it makes no sound. Rather than keeping radioactive materials securely contained, the Department of Energy has permitted the use of bulldozers and other equipment which contaminate the community's schools, houses, and water systems. The Department of Energy made a criminal mistake in not caring about the dangers of radioactivity. We want all actions to stop onsite until the people who live in the community are properly protected. We want a public meeting. ### NH #445: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year 2019 SPECIAL! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-numnutz-of-the-year-2019-special/ Published: 2020-01-02 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Feature SPECIAL: Nuclear Numnutz of the Week is Nuclear Hotseat's most popular feature – always good for a laugh, a head-shake at some freshly revealed nuclear absurdity, or to provoke a sense of outrage at how a single industry has been allowed to play so loose and fast with all our futures. So come travel with us back in time for a year of highlights from some of the worst, most absurd, insane, short-sighted or just jaw-droppingly stupid nuclear stories from 2019, culminating in NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR 2019! (It's da bomb, but fortunately not THE bomb.) Highlights will include: Radioactive nuclear tourism! Don't miss any of the popular hot spots – visit Fukushima and Chernobyl! (NH #300, 394, 400)Magical thinking! Just use language the right way and POOF! "High level" nuclear waste disappears (to be replaced by…)! (NH #416)U.S. military gets all incensed and wants the radioactive waste-leaking Runit Dome cleaned up! …though not in the manner one would hope. (NH #439)Whats the one thing you must not do after a nuclear bomb goes off if you want to avoid radiation? (I don't think it's a priority, but Clairol probably will like it…) (NH #431)But don't count on that nuclear bomb going off as planned, because Mother Nature just might have something else in mind. (NH #435).Artificial intelligence and nukes? If leaving it to computers to decide whether or not to launch a nuclear attack is not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is. What if they decide they're better off without flawed, supid humanity? (NH #428)But really, don't worry about the body count, the perpetual contaminatino of land, water air, the pain and terror created – what will a nuclear bomb do to your growing investment portfolio? (NH #409) From all of us here at Nuclear Hotseat, may 2020 be a better year for us all than 2019 was! With Love from Libbe and Dog-is-my-Co-Pilot, Munchkin! ### NH #444: Anti-Nuclear Peace Nun Sister Megan Rice of Plowshares URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-peace-nun-sister-megan-rice-of-plowshares/ Published: 2019-12-25 Anti-nuclear peace nun Sister Megan Rice of Plowshares with co-protestors Michael Walli (l) and Gregory Bortje-Obed (r) Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week’s Featured Interviews: Anti-Nuclear Peace Nun Sister Megan Rice – To celebrate the holidays, a reminder of one of 2015’s successes — the early release from prison of Sister Megan Rice, one of three brave activists who broke into high security nuclear weapons at the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – the so-called “Fort Knox of Nuclear“- to protest nukes and war.  She was arrested on-site and, at age 82, convicted of sabotage – a conviction that was overturned after she'd already served two years in prison. We’ll hear from: Sister Megan Rice, the now-89-year-old anti-nuclear peace nun.  She speaks at length about the peaceful 2012 Transform Now Plowshares protest action.   She and two other activists broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee which resulted in her being charged with sabotage and sentenced to almost three years in prison.  This interview was recorded when she was newly out of prison pending a re-sentencing hearing.  All further charges were later dropped.  The break in was an antiwar protest referred to as “the biggest security breach in the history of the nation’s atomic complex.” All it took? Three determined senior or senior-adjacent activists, some wire cutters, and a deeply spiritual love for people and the planet. Co-defendant Gregory Boertje-Obed, 60, who along with co-defendant Michael Walli, 68, was sentenced to over five years in prison for their non-violent protest. Originally presented on May 26, 2015, for Nuclear Hotseat #205. Anti-nuclear peace nun Sister Megan Rice, age 84, seen upon her release from prison after serving two years for peaceful protest of nuclear weapons at the so-called "secure" Y-12 facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. LINKS to the Transform Now Plowshares statement and Indictment of Oak Ridge for War Crimes that were drawn up by these three brave activists and read at the Y-12 site. A future program on Nuclear Hotseat will focus on the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, the current group of Plowshares activists convicted of Trident Disarmament Action Against Nuclear Weapons and currently awaiting sentencing. Send Letters to the Judge and Sign Petition calling for their release. They face years in prison for exposing illegal and immoral nuclear weapons that threaten all life on Earth. ### NH #442: Smug Stupid Los Alamos: Joni Arend's Toxic Tour of Radioactive Manhattan Project Legacy Sites URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/los-alamos-manhattan-project-legacy-sites/ Published: 2019-12-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Smug Stupid Los Alamos: A guide to the atomic hot spots – meaning REALLY hot – around the radioactive Manhattan Project legacy sites with Joni Arends of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety. Pictured above: How much more smug can it get than boasting about atomic bombs and making radiation "jokes" on tee shirts for small children and even a onesie for an infant? This Week's Featured Interview: Smug Stupid Los Alamos – its history and current problems – is the subject of this week's show. Joni Arends is one of the founders of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety and a 32 year veteran of that group. She provided the guided tour of public lands around the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the original Manhattan Project sites. This is where, during World War II, the United States military kicked local farmers, ranchers and a children's school off their ancestral land in order to build the first atomic bomb in isolation and secrecy. Joni's Toxic Tour (as it has come to be known) took us to bluffs overlooking Manhattan Project-era laboratories, nuclear weapons facilities, radioactive waste dump sites, and the Rio Grande river, which has been and continues to be impacted by the migration of LANL radioactive, hazardous and toxic contaminants through surface and ground water pathways. Additional information on the tour was provided by Leona Morgan, Diné, who helped to found the Nuclear Issues Study Group of Albuquerque, and Ian Zabarte, Head Man of the Western Shoshone Nation. Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy on the Los Alamos Toxic Tour – double masked ("paper and plastic") for radiation safety. Would that I had a respirator. (You can't see the plastic bags covering my shoes…) Statue in Los Alamos commemorating the apparatus that holds the plutonium pits as they move from station to station through the gloveboxes at LANL. Robert Oppenheimer, the "Father of the Atomic Bomb," as a bobble head. Obviously his ubiquitous pipe is sold separately. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So much nuclear numnutzery, so little time… The European Union including nuclear in its "green" energy planning, or Japan wanting to use radioactive decontamination soil from Fukushima in parks?! Maybe… both? ### NH #441: Nuclear Waste Warriors: USA National Activists Gather to Fight for Truth, Sanity in Radioactive Waste Storage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-waste-warriors-usa-national-activists-radioactive-waste-storage/ Published: 2019-12-12 Duration: 00:07:55 Nuclear Waste Warriors from around the United States gathered in Albuquerque, NM in November to brainstorm, strategize, and coordinate efforts and actions. This Week's SPECIAL: Nuclear Waste Warriors from around the U.S. came together November 7-11, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to brainstorm, strategize, and coordinate work against the nuclear nightmares in their own backyards, as well as national issues. More than 100 individuals shared the most successful and most challenging aspects of their work, trading actions and talking points, networking and bonding, and working to create a unified force against this never-ending nuclear menace. Among those heard on the show: Dave Kraft of Nuclear Energy Information Service in ChicagoKevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Specialist at Beyond NuclearMary Olson, retiring veteran staff member of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Acting Director of Gender and Radiation Impact ProjectHolly Harris, Snake River Alliance (Idaho)John LaForge, Nukewatch (Wisconsin)Molly Johnson, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (California) Dr. Scott Williams, HEAL Utah (Utah)Mervyn Tilden, Navajo NationPetush Gilbert, Laguna/Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment (Navajo Nation)Wally Taylor, attorney (Iowa)Eileen O'Shaugnessy, Nuclear Issues Study Group (New Mexico)Steve Kent (New York, Indian Point)Pat Marida, Sierra Club (Ohio)Pat Townsend (Northwest New York state)…and many more! A report on the van trip we took through Los Alamos National Laboratory-adjacent lands and the town of Los Alamos will be in next week's show, Nuclear Hotseat #443. This Toxic Atomic Road Trip was guided by Joni Arends of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety and Leona Morgan of Nuclear Issues Study Group, with pertinent additions by Ian Zabarte, Director of the Nuclear Oversight Project of the Western Shoshone Nation. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): You want to know why we need action on waste management? Ask Los Alamos National Laboratory, which LOST 250 BARRELS OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLEAR WASTE! Important! Website Redesign! Your Help Needed! Nuclear Hotseat is undergoing a website upgrade and redesign. The goal is to make this site more searchable, aesthetically pleasing, and secure. It's also an opportunity to bring it more in line with current platforms, specifically smartphones and tablet devices. This website change is far above our monthly operating costs, so if you could, please donate to help support this transition. Thanks for any help you can provide. – Libbe. ### NH #441: Nuclear Bailout Battle in Ohio: Harvey Wasserman, Pat Marida on HB 6, Nuke Industry Dirty Tricks, Physical Threats URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-bailout-battle-in-ohio-harvey-wasserman/ Published: 2019-12-06 Nuclear bailout battle in Ohio over a referendum to reverse HB 6, which gives billions of dollars to First Energy and its aging nuclear reactors – Davis Besse and Perry – has at its core the lie that nuclear is going to somehow reverse the climate crisis. It won't. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Harvey Wasserman is a journalist, author, democracy activist, and advocate for renewable energy. He has been a strategist and organizer in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States for more than 30 years. His books include History of the United States (1972), The Energy War: Reports From the Front (1979), and Killing our Own: the Disaster of America's Experience with Atomic Radiation. Media-wise, he has been a featured speaker on Today, Nightline, National Public Radio, CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight and other major media outlets. We spoke on Monday, December 2, 2019. Pat Marida became an anti-nuclear activist in 1981, after her son gave her a copy of Cosmos by Carl Sagan. When she read the last chapter, which talked about nuclear weapons and nuclear war, she realized how a nuclear war could end most of live on Earth. Since then, Pat worked all through the 1980s with the Ohio Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign. From the 1990s to the present time she has volunteered with the Sierra Club, where she is currently a member of the Ohio Sierra Club’s Executive Committee and chairs their Nuclear Free Committee. She is a member of the Core Team of the national Sierra Club’s Nuclear Free Campaign. Pat is also part of an international group of Americans and Canadians raising issues of nuclear threats to the Great Lakes. We spoke on Sunday, December 1, 2019. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Radioactive baby food?!?!????? Action and Info Links: Pope Francis: Not Using or Possessing Nuclear Arms will be Added to the Catholic CatechismGermany is closing all its nuclear power plants. Now it must find a place to bury the deadly waste for 1 million yearsNew report decries unsolved and "incalculable" risks of radioactive wasteExposing the Misinformation of Michael Shellenberger ### NH #440: Fukushima Journey, Pt. 2: Olympics Propaganda, Thyroid Cancers, Japanese Govt. Lies - 4 days in Fukushima Prefecture w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-journey-pt-2-olympics-propaganda-thyroid-cancers/ Published: 2019-11-28 Fukushima Journey – 4 days on-the-ground in Fukushima Prefecture w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (l) and Setsuko Kida-san, here pictured in front of memorial for those who died in the 3/11/11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Note the incinerator in the background (r), built to deal with fields of bags full of decontamination debris. Photo Copyright 2019, Yuji Kaneko; used by permission of photographer. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Fukushima Journey: The "Disappearing" Nuclear Disaster – 4 days on-the-ground in Fukushima Prefecture with Beverly Findlay-Kaneko continues. She lived in Yokohama, Japan for 20 years until March 2011 after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. She worked at Yokohama National University and The Japan Times. Beverly has a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, and speaks Japanese fluently. Since returning from Japan, Beverly and her husband, Yuji Kaneko, have been active in raising awareness about nuclear issues, including the nuclear accident at Fukushima. Their main activities have included organizing speaking tours, giving presentations, networking in activist and nuclear-impacted communities in the U.S. and Japan, and co-producing the annual Nuclear Hotseat podcast “Voices from Japan” special on Fukushima. This is the second half of the "Fukushima Journey" Nuclear Hotseat interview, based on more than three hours of source material. Pt. 1 appeared in episode #439 from November 19, 2019. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima food propaganda aimed at Pope Francis. I don't care if he loves persimmons; he needs to stay away from these! As they say at the end of Time Bandits: "Don't touch it! It's evil!" (BOOM!) Pope Francis in Japan: Hiroshima, Nagasaki Hope Pope Francis's Visit Boosts Nuclear Abolition Campaign. Hopefully, he won't fall for being a propaganda dupe and be seen to eat persimmons from Fukushima. ### NH #439: Fukushima Disappearing?: 4- Day Journey through Japan's Radioactive Olympics Prefecture w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (Pt. 1) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-disappearing-journey-thru-japans-radioactive-olympics-prefecture/ Published: 2019-11-21 Fukushima Disappearing? Tomioka 2019 – the dead end at the "difficult to return" zone. One side of the street is in the repatriation zone; the other, behind the red and white barriacade, is in the exclusion zone. Can you see the difference? Photo: Copyright 2019 Yuji Kaneko; used by permission of photographer. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Fukushima Disappearing? An on-the-ground report by Beverly Findlay-Kaneko. She lived in Yokohama, Japan for 20 years until March 2011 after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. She worked at Yokohama National University and The Japan Times. Beverly has a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, and speaks Japanese fluently. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (l) and Setsuko Kida at a monument dedicated to tsunami victims. Many were never found because Namie was in the exclusion zone, and no one could search for bodies. (Photo copyright 2019, Yugi Kaneko. Used by permission of the photographer.) Since returning from Japan, Beverly and her husband, Yuji Kaneko, have been active in raising awareness about nuclear issues, including the nuclear accident at Fukushima. Their main activities have included organizing speaking tours, giving presentations, networking in activist and nuclear-impacted communities in the U.S. and Japan, and co-producing the annual Nuclear Hotseat podcast “Voices from Japan” special on Fukushima. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Why in the world should the United States worry about removing the radioactive waste stored under Runit Dome in the Marshall Islands when the Marshall Islanders haven't taken seriously the U.S. demand to remove the dome's… graffiti? Don't they realize that anti-U.S. graffiti is more dangerous than radioactive waste??? Action Links: U. S. LISTENERS: Contact your Congressional Representative and urge them to VOTE "NO" ON HR 2699, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019. To find your representative, CLICK HERE.LA Times 12-page insert on Marshall Islands – Brilliant reporting by Suzanne Rust and a team of journalism graduate students from the Columbia School of Journalism. Published November 10, 2019. Cover of Nov. 10, 2019 LA Times 12-page supplement on the nuclear betrayal of the Marshall Islands. Important reporting by Suzanne Rust & Columbia School of Journalism graduate students. KNBC-Los Angeles November 8, 2019 reports on radioactive/toxic water runoff from the Santa Susana Field Lab. Uranium Detected at Maple Grove Elementary School near Honeywell-Metropolis, Illinois. Another public school found to be contaminated by radiation – first Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio, and now Maple Grove Elementary School in Metropolis, Illinois. Aging nuclear plants, industry cost-cutting and reduced safety oversight: A Dangerous Mix by Edwin Lyman for The Bulletin of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Nearly 50 U.S. universities helping to build U.S. nuclear weapons – CLICK HERE for list. Construction Workers Employed at DOE Nuclear Sites at Higher Risk of CancerFukushima Workers Battle Leukemia – and Bureaucracy ### NH #438: Radiation: The Invisible Threat - Mary Olson on Gender/Age Dangers, Joseph Mangano on Thyroid Cancer Risks URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-the-invisible-threat-mary-olson-joe-mangano-nh-438/ Published: 2019-11-14 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Radiation: The invisible threat is discussed by two researchers who have each spent decades focused on nuclear radiation dangers: Mary Olson is a retiring member of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) staff after almost 30 years. She now serves as Acting Director of Gender and Radiation Impact Project. Mary shares startling information on how radiation exposure rates do not impact all ages and biological genders equally. Especially at risk: little girls.Joseph Mangano talks about his 2016 report on Thyroid Cancer’s Invisible Epidemic, an article co-written with the late Dr. Janette Sherman. All of us at Nuclear Hotseat mourn the passing of Dr. Janette Sherman. She died on November 7, 2019, at age 89. Dr. Sherman was a great supporter of myself and the program, as well as my book, and constantly encouraging of the work. This is the obituary put out by Joseph Mangano and Radiation and Public Health Project: Dr. Janette Sherman was an internist and a toxicologist who served as an expert witness in over 5,000 workmen's compensation cases after exposure to toxic chemicals. Janette served RPHP for over 20 years, and is the co-author of many of the professional journal articles the group's members have published. Perhaps Janette's greatest contribution to the effort to fully understand the truth about exposure to radioactivity was as the editor of the 2009 book "Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment." The principal author, Dr. Alexey Yablokov, asked Janette to ensure that the English version was accurate, and she labored tirelessly for 14 straight months to ensure publication in 2009. Please listen to the 12 minute presentation she made about the book's findings: NOTE FROM LIBBE: I've just returned from a major meeting with activists from around the country on nuclear waste issues. Report and interviews will be coming up on Nuclear Hotseat; stay tuned! ### NH #437: Navajo Birth Cohort Study finds Uranium Contamination in Navajo Women, Babies: Dr. Johnnye Lewis, Anna Rondon URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/navajo-birth-cohort-study-finds-uranium-contamination-in-navajo-women-babies-dr-johnnye-lewis-anna-rondon-nh-437/ Published: 2019-11-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Navajo Birth Cohort Study (logo above) discovered uranium in the bodies of more than one-quarter of the women and children studied thus far. This Week's Featured Interviews: Navajo Birth Cohort Study toxicologist and principal investigator Dr. Johnnye Lewis explains the medical research that has been done so far on Navajo Nation women and their babies, what can be proven by current data, and what is still being studied. Navajo Birth Cohort Study info. Dr. Johnnye Lewis contact phone number: 877-545-6775Anna Rondon is the Program Director for the New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute. She provides the perspective of the Navajo people and explains some of the cultural and historic challenges faced by researchers trying to collect medical data from native people. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear cannibal ants?!?!??? Only in Poland… so far! Links to Further Info: North St. Louis UPDATE: Radioactive Waste Could Be Killing Residents in Missouri CommunityPennsylvania is Discharging Radioactive Fracking Waste into Rivers, Impacting the Chesapeake Bay & Ohio River WhatershedsNuclear Wildfires – impact of wildfires on nuclear sites around the country. Written by Robert Alvarez, former senior policy adviser to the Secretary of Energy. It's from 2000, but it's just as relevant today with the current spate of massive wildfires in California.New Study on US-Russia Nuclear War: 91.5 Million Casualties in First Few Hours – from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)Forget Deterrance: Russia and the U.S. Must See Each Other as Partners in Survival by E. Martin Schotz, from Beyond Nuclear International.LINKS to stories warning tourists and athletes about potential dangers of attending the 2020 (RADIOACTIVE!) Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics:Warning on Fukushima fallout for Tokyo 2020 Olympians from The Australian.Fukushima is not safe for 2020 Olympics, nuclear scientists warnAustralian 60 Minutes feature: FALLOUT: Experts Say 2020 Olympics Unsafe Due to Fukushima Australian 60 Minutes feature on the radiation dangers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ### NH #436: Radioactive Nuclear Waste Lies: San Onofre w/Donna Gilmore, Radiation vs. Radioactivity w/Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-nuclear-waste-lies-san-onofre-w-donna-gilmore-radiation-vs-radioactivity-w-dr-gordon-edwards/ Published: 2019-10-31 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Nuclear Waste in Southern California: Google Maps image of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station‘s radioactive fuel rod storage canisters. Each one contains as much radiation as was released during the Chernobyl accident. Note the nearness of the Pacific Ocean. This Week's Featured Interviews: Radioactive nuclear waste and the current lies regarding long-term storage of San Onofre‘s dangerously radioactive spent fuel rods, with Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety. In a separate but related action, Public Watchdogs has filed an Emergency Petition for a Writ of Mandamus to halt the burial of nuclear waste on the beach at San Onofre because it is: ° In a tsunami inundation zone ° Near a major earthquake fault line ° In "canisters that are damaged, defective, and not properly designed." LINK to Public Watchdog's full 1,600 page <!> Emergency Petition for a Writ of Mandamus HERE Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, or CCNR, sorts out radiation vs. radioactivity and why it's so dangerous to life. Here's a LINK to transcript of Dr. Edwards' talk. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Lasers designed for use in machining and eye surgery now proposed as a way to treat highly radioactive nuclear waste! All they have to do is increase the power of the process 10,000 times! But hey, what's reality when you've got a nuclear money-making technology to protect from public scrutiny and panic? Activism Links: PLEASE SIGN: Petition to have all charges dismissed against the Kings Bay Plowshares Seven. LINK HERE. From last week's featured guest, Mari Inoue, who introduced us to the Citizens Radiation Data Map of Japan (NH #435, October 22, 2019): The Minna-no Data site (Everyone's Data Site) is now accepting sludge samples from areas affected by recent flooding after the Typhoon Hagibis, because flood water might have brought radioactive material from areas affected by radioactive fallout after the Fukushima disaster. If you know anyone in Japan who are interested in learning soil radiation level after the recent flooding, please CLICK ON THIS LINK. Beyond Nuclear International's thought-provoking article on why nuclear war needs to be defined by the start of the process, not when bombs go off, is by E. Martin Schotz. An important read: CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK. San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace – HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY! San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace – the 50th anniversary commemoration! Take a look at what they've been doing for all these decades. ### NH #435: Citizens' Radiation Data Map of Japan Exposes Scientific Truth about Fukushima Contamination + Hurricane Hagibis Radiation Update: Mari Inoue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/citizens-radiation-data-map-of-japan-exposes-scientific-truth-about-fukushima-contamination/ Published: 2019-10-24 Citizens' Radiation Data Map of Japan – created by moms, parents, grandparents to supply the information that the Japanese government would not. See what radiation levels have been and will be for the next 100 years. This Week's Featured Interview: Citizens' Radiation Data Map of Japan by the Minna-no Data Site reveals the deadly impact of the radioactivity released by the Fukushima Daiichi triple nuclear meltdown of March, 2011. 4,000 citizens took soil samples to capther the data that created the full 200-page book, written in Japanese, which won a major mainstream journalism award and is a "hot" seller in Japan. Now the English-language digest has been published, and non-Japanese speakers can see for ourselves the radiation contamination that resulted from that disaster. Mari Inoue of the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World is part of the team who worked on the English translation. Here, she explains how the data was collected, what it shows, and provides instruction for any community to duplicate this process to compile accurate radiation data in communities where contamination is suspected.More information about Minna-no Data Site (Everyone’s Data Site) and the English digest booklet of “Citizens’ Radiation Data Map of Japan Digest Edition – Grassroots Movement Reveals Soil Contamination in Eastern Japan in the Wake of Fukushima” is available here: https://en.minnanods.net/If you have any questions about the English booklet, or interested in obtaining a copy of the English booklet, please contact: mdsbookorder@mp-nuclear-free.com.Website of Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World is: https://mp-nuclear-free.com/ Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear escape goes to the birds – literally! (Hitchcock warned us…) Activist Actions: Groundbreaking Bay Area conference on the necessity of nuclear disarmament, delivered En Español! Simultaneous translation. Quit Nukes is an Australian divestment campaign aimed at getting companies to divest their investment funds from companies that produce any portion of nuclear weapons. The campaign officially launches on October 24, which is the first day of UN Disarmament Week. Quit Nukes is asking for you to share this information on social media and with anyone you know in Australia. ### NH #434: Fukushima Hurricane Hagibis Flooding Spreads Radiation Risks, w/Simply Info's Nancy Foust + Radioactive Rocky Flats-Adjacent Toll Road Delayed - Randy Stafford URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-hurricane-hagibis-flooding-spreads-radiation-risks/ Published: 2019-10-17 Fukushima Hurricane Hagibis Flooding – deluge of water washes full bags of "decontaminated" soil, plants, and other radioactive matter into Furumichi river near the Japanese city of Tamura in Fukushima Prefecture (above). No report yet on how much radioactive material from the decomposing, torn waste bags was washed back into the environment. This Week's Featured Interviews: Fukushima Hurricane Hagibis and TEPCO's report of "alarms going off at Fukushima" analyzed by Nancy Foust. She is Communications Manager & Research Team Member SimplyInfo.org, a not-for-profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. Randy Stafford fills us in on plans to build a toll road adjacent to the radioactive Rocky Flats superfund site and "wildlife refuge." Randy joined the Jefferson Parkway Advisory Committee to get the inside scoop on plans for the roadway, then researched and wrote a 26-page report that has changed the official and public perception of the road. INCLUDES BREAKING STORY. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) Fun Facts for Kids! Website devoted to Fun Facts on Atomic Energy AND Fun Facts on Nuclear Energy! (Did they have to cover both alternatives?) Are we having FUN yet????? (…but SHHH! Don't say ANYTHING about what radiation really is and what it does to children's bodies!) Just a picture of one of those wacky Fun Facts for Kids about Atomic/Nuclear (they cover both bases) Energy! Activist Links: Basel Peace Office – United Nations Disarmament Link Action in NYC – full info on NYC actions. Join in counting out one trillion dollars (the U.S. government's nuclear "budget" for the next 10 years) in one-million dollar increments, and envision "reallocating this to climate protection and the sustainable development goals."Red Flags over Radioactive Waste at Indian Point PlantsAs DOE Abandons a Toxic Mess Threatening the Columbia River, the Yakama Nation Fights Back (Hanford site) ### NH #433: Childhood Leukemia Rates Soar for Kids Living near Nuclear Reactors: UK Researcher Dr. Ian Fairlie URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/childhood-leukemia-rates-soar-for-kids-living-near-nuclear-reactors-uk-researcher-dr-ian-fairlie-2/ Published: 2019-10-10 Duration: 00:59:01 Childhood leukemia rates proven to soar in kids living near nuclear reactors, such as has been shown through epidemiological study at this one at Douneray, Scotland. This Week’s Featured Interview: Childhood leukemia rates near nuclear reactors shown to increase in 2014 report by Dr. Ian Fairlie. He is an independent consultant on radioactivity in the environment living in London UK and has studied radiation and radioactivity at least since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. He has a degree in radiation biology from Bart’s Hospital in London and his doctoral studies at Imperial College in London and (briefly) Princeton University in the US concerned the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing. Fairlie formerly worked as a civil servant on the regulation of radiation risks from nuclear power stations. From 2000 to 2004, he was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. Since retiring from Government service, he has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals. His areas of interest are the radiation doses and risks arising from the radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. In 2014, Dr. Fairlie published a scientific paper that compiled the results of 60 studies on child leukemia rates near nuclear reactors and blew the lid off the nuclear industry’s claim that living near a reactor is perfectly safe. He also exposes how the industry intentionally kept that information from the public until it was forced to reveal the data in 2012. LINK to Dr. Fairlie’s article, “Childhood Leukemia Near Nuclear Power Stations”LINK to U.S. statistics on Thyroid Cancer Rates near NYC-area nuclear reactors from Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project. Other articles available on that site as well. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Pssst! Wanna have a hot time in Ukraine? It’s easy: Just go to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and get in line to visit the control room at reactor number 4 — the very one that exploded on April 26 1986, setting off events that would result in the world’s biggest nuclear meltdown ever… until Fukushima. You, too, can expose your reproductive system to 40,000 times so-called “acceptable” limits of radiation! But then, you obviously weren’t planning to have children… or much of a life span… LINK to “horrifying” photos of Chernobyl, then and now. Information and Action Links: Rising Temperatures, Rising Seas – The Growing Climate Change Menace to Nuclear PowerWhistleblowing – Then and Now from Fairewinds Energy Education.Fukushima’s Radioactive Water Crisis by Robert HunzikerVideo from ABC-Australia about the so-called “safety” of holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in proximity to Fukushima: Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:01 The nuclear industry likes to claim that living near a nuclear power reactor is perfectly safe, that there is no danger because the annual exposure rate to radiation is too small to count. But then you learn of a European based compilation of studies that reveal risks, especially to small children, of developing leukemia, as a result of living close to a nuclear reactor, and the man who crunched the data tells you Dr. Ian 00:00:32 With childhood leukemia, it's always led me to be more and more sure that my initial premise was right for that reason. I'm quite happy to the evidence cause that evidence really does show that there are increased leukemias near nuclear reacts. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:51 Well, when you hear something like that from an impeccable international expert, like Dr. Ian Farley, you know that you are sitting in a seat that all of us share Announcer 00:01:04 New clear, hot seat. What are those people thinking? New clear, hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? New Claire hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are linking nuclear hot seat. It's Deba. Libbe HaLevy 00:01:35 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things, nuclear from a different per respective. My name is libi Hala. I'm the producer and host as well as the survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. So I know what can happen when those nuclears so called experts. Get it wrong. This week, we take a closeup. Look at the work of Dr. Ian Farley. He published an article in 2014 that correlated more than 60, 60 separate international studies about health risks to small children living within five kilometers. That's about three miles of nuclear reactors. He not only reveals the results of that study, but explains why the greatest danger from nuclear reactors comes in a very short period of time and how the nuclear industry intentionally kept that information from the public. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:37 We will also have nuclear news from around the world, numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness and more honest nuclear information then appeared this week in all mainstream media outlets, combined. All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, October 8th, 2019. And here is the week's nuclear news from a different perspective in Ohio attorney general, dad Yost has announced that his office is gathering evidence into possible election fraud tied to physically aggressive quote petition blockers hired by supporters of a Ohio's nuclear bailout law. The petitioners are gathering signatures to put house bill six. The bill that led to the bailout of the nuclear industry in Ohio on the November, 2020 ballot, the bailout law set to take effect on October 22nd requires consumers to pay surcharge is on their monthly electric bills ranging from 85 cents at minimum for residential customers to 2,400 for big industrial factories beginning in 2021. Libbe HaLevy 00:03:50 This is to fuel a $170 million a year fund with the vast majority of that money going to rescue Ohio's to aging decaying and unprofitable nuclear power plants. Before the laws passage, first energy solutions owners of the nuclear reactors had said it would begin decommissioning its Davis Bessie nuclear plant by May 31st, 2020, and its Perry plant east of Cleveland a year later. That's because the plants have been unable to compete in this age of cheap and abundant natural gas, but a well financed ad campaign by generation now, which is aligned with first energy has led to the reported harassment of people circulating the petitions against this bill. Ohio's Republican in attorney general said potential charges could be filed against someone, found to have threatened or intimidated a person into not signing that petition in California, Southern California Edison, the majority owners of the shutter San Nore nuclear reactors has applied for permits to demolish the spent few pool from which nuclear waste is being transferred into containers for dry storage. Libbe HaLevy 00:05:07 The canisters are only five eighths of an inch. Thick Germany uses canisters that are close to 20 inches thick. Each one contains a true Nobles worth of radiation. There are 72 of them being loaded at Santa Noray and they will be held less than 110 feet away from mean high tide of the Pacific ocean. The canisters have already been shown to be flawed or damaged. And we have new photos on that which will be linked to on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 4 33, there are lots more of problems with the canisters. And we will link to an episode that contains that information. These canisters among other things cannot be moved, which means that the spent fuel would be marooned indefinitely right next to the rising ocean. And without spent fuel pool infrastructure in place, there would be no place to put it. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:02 It would have to sit there until compromised, by the way, the canisters are only certified for 20 years. And the waste inside is radioactive for a halflife of 24,000 years. Due the math in Japan, down Tokyo electric powers, Fukushima DII nuclear power station, which experienced three massive meltdowns in 2011 is running out of room to store its radioactive water. TECO has announced that in all likelihood it will be forced to dump large quantities of radioactive water into the ocean. But Fukushima fishermen have expressed deep concern for the future. If the radioactive water is released katsu Zaki head of the prefectures Federation of fishing cooperatives told the UK guardian, we strongly oppose any plans to discharge the water into the sea. Citing the public's reluctance to eat fish caught off Fukushima, and the fishermen are not the only ones opposing this wrong-headed idea. Nearly four times as many Japanese citizens oppose the discharge of highly contaminated water, then supported a polling of 3000 citizens in Fukushima. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:17 And they got to pre as well as wider. Japan showed that most expressed their support for storage of over 1 million tons of water, rather than release it into the Pacific ocean. According to a green piece report from January, 2019, the Japanese ministry of economy trade and industry, or Mayi in 2016, deliberately excluded the option to store and process the contaminated water to remove radioactive Tridium the myth promoted by the government and TECO ever since is that Tridium removal is not possible, but the green piece report also provides analysis that shows that over 800,000 tons of contaminated water contain additional radioactive isotopes, such as strum 90 tens to thousands of times above regulatory limits, Japanese government intentions for discharge have been challenged by the south Korean government. In recent weeks note that radio activity in water cannot be quote diluted because that implies that it gets weaker. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:23 The more diluted it becomes, but the smallest unit of impact on the human body by a radio nuclide is a single atom. And when clean water is added to radioactive water, all it does is disperse. The atoms may be exposed to a smaller amount, but it's just as deadly. An appeal has been filed with the Tokyo high court challenging the acquittal of three former TECO executives over the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis. Prosecutors had sought five year prison sentences for the former executives of TECO based on their indictment in 2016 for failing to implement known tsunami countermeasures that they had been told about. According to one of the court appointed lawyers as prosecutors letting this decision stand is clearly against justice taking into consideration the burden of the victims. It is incumbent on us to demand a judgment by a higher court in Sweden. North Korea has broken off nuclear talks with the United States. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:34 These talks were the first such formal discussions since us president Donald Trump and north Korean leader. Kim Jong UN met in June and agreed to restart negotiations that had stalled after a failed summit in Vietnam in February north Korea's chief negotiator cast the blame on what he portrayed as us inflexibility saying the other side negotiators was not quote, give up their old viewpoint and attitude. The state department said Kim's comments did not reflect quote the content or spirit of more than eight and a half hours of talks. And Washington had accepted Sweden's invitation to return for more discussions with pong yang in two weeks in Greenland and abandoned to us, military base buried deep under the Greenland ice has shifted hundreds of meters towards the edge of the ice cap. Since it was built at the height of the cold war, the base powered by the world's first mobile nuclear reactor was officially a research station, but its real aim was to launch nuclear missiles against the Soviet union. Libbe HaLevy 01:10:38 In the event of war, the missiles were to be stored in a network of tunnels, but engineering problems along with objections by Denmark about the real nature of the base. Denmark was the one in charge of Greenland at the time prompted the us military to shut it down in 1966, confident that it would gradually be buried under the ice cap. But climate change has cast doubt on that theory because Greenland's ice is melting much faster than the historical average. And speaking of climate change, rising temperatures and rising seas are creating an ongoing menace to nuclear power. Unfortunately in January, the NRC voted in a three to two decision to water down recommendations from its own staff to reevaluate seismic and flooding hazards at nuclear sites. Commissioner Jeff Baron wrote in his dissent. This decision is nonsensical instead of requiring nuclear power plants to be prepared for the actual flooding and earthquake hazards that could occur at their sites. NRC will allow them to be prepared only for the old outdated hazards typically calculated decades ago when the signs of seismology and hydrology were far less advanced than today and now Announcer 01:11:59 Nuclear hot seed nuclear hot seed, nuclear hot seed, none sound awake. Libbe HaLevy 01:12:08 Fans of the HBO series, true noble are in for quite the treat starting now visitors to the Cher noble exclusion zone, which is a bad idea to begin with will be allowed inside the control room at reactor. Number four, the very one that exploded on April 26th, 1986, setting off events that would result in the world's biggest nuclear melt down ever until Fukushima. But that's a topic open for debate. The state agency of Ukraine on exclusion zone management is opening up 21 new roots through the exclusion zone, two tourists. And one of them is to the control room of reactor. Number four. This is where radiation levels are 40,000 times higher than acceptable levels. Idiots guests have to wear protective suits and face masks when in there, and even then they will only be allowed in the control room for five minutes because as they say anything beyond that might prove seriously harmful. Libbe HaLevy 01:13:17 Yeah. Think, but there's no stopping a bad idea. Once delusions of imortality have taken hold just this year alone 85,000 tourists have visited Cher noble, several travel companies organized regular visits to the exclusion zone, AKA to tour guides to hell because radiation levels are still lethal in certain areas of Cher noble. But as this little press release goes on to say, Yolo, you only live once. You know, perhaps, but why intentionally shorten your stay as a life form? And that's why anyone who chew is to visit the control room at Cherno and those in power and authority who have decided to open it up to tourists, you are this week's Announcer 01:14:07 Nuclear hot seed, none sound awake Libbe HaLevy 01:14:12 For those who would like to have a safer way of looking at Cherno there a site with more than 40 photographs of what your noble looked like immediately afterwards. And today we will have that link up on our website, nuclear hote.com under this episode, number 4 33, we'll have this week's featured interview in just a moment. But first, you know, every week I take, take a few moments out to encourage you to help out financially with nuclear hot seat. I am not a natural born salesperson in case you couldn't tell. And at times it's excruciating to have to ask, but I do because it truly is the only way this show keeps going. I wanna thank those of you who do donate, be it a one time wish to help or that small loyal core of you who help on an ongoing basis with monthly recurring donations of as little as $5 without your help. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:11 We wouldn't be here. And where else would you go to get this information? Nuclear hot seat is pledged to provide news stories on a wide range of nuclear topics with information that is verifiably sourced and fact checked for accuracy. Plus we provide eye opening interviews with people who are genuine experts on the nuclear industry, even if they're not in the nuclear industry. And actually it's better that way, but you know, to keep the show going, we incur weekly, monthly and annual costs plus the occasional surprises. And that's where we need your help. A donation of any size will empower us to keep providing you with the nuclear news that you can count on. It's easy to do. So just go to nuclear, hot seat.com and click on the big red donate button. That's just send a one time donation of any size. And if you wanna support the show while sticking to your budget, we've got a big green Don button, which allows you to set up a recurring donation of $5 a month. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:18 That's the price of a cup of coffee and maybe a tip to the barista here in the us. So buy a nuclear hot seat, the equivalent of a cup of coffee this month and every month know that whatever you can do to help, I am deeply grateful for your assistance and that you care. Here's this week's featured interview over the past weekend, I attended a three day non-nuclear event. Yes, such things do exist as a result. I know that I have a lot of new listeners. So here's a cornerstone interview from 20 E 14 with Dr. Ian Farley. He is a UK based Canadian consultant on radiation in the environment and a former member of the three person secretariat to Britain's committee examining the radiation risks of internal emitters. Ian is a radiation biologist who is focus on the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel and has studied radioactive releases at nuclear facilities. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:22 Since before the Cher noble accident in 1986, in 2014, the date of this interview, he published a scientific paper that blew the lid off the nuclear industry's claim that lived neuro reactor is perfectly safe. He also shows how the industry's standard operating procedures kept that information from the public until 2012. Please note with my apologies that at one point near the beginning of our talk, Skype became more Skype ish than usual, and there's an echo on the line. I've edited it out as best I can. And if you bear with it through that brief bumpy zone, the problem eventually resolves trust that the information is well worth it in fairly welcome to nuclear hop feed. Dr. Ian Fairlie 01:18:13 It's my pleasure to be here. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:16 Let's start out with giving people an idea of your background. Dr. Ian Fairlie 01:18:21 My main degree is in radiation biology. In other words, the effects of radiation on cells. And before that, I was a chemist at university of Western Ontario in Canada, and my postgraduate studies were in how best to deal with radioactive waste. And that was at Imperial college here in London. After that I entered the civil servants and worked for a, the department environment in the UK government for about 10 years of sports. And after that I retired, but during, in my previous, shall I say life before I started studying radiation biology, I actually worked for green peace Canada as an advisor science advisor to them on their various campaigns. So you could say I've had a pretty rounded sense of experience in terms of what an academic and a civil servant, and also a group peace campaigner. Libbe HaLevy 01:19:25 It seems that scientists like to consider themselves outside of politics, at least when they are putting four, the information that they do, do you consider yourself anti-nuclear as a political stance? Dr. Ian Fairlie 01:19:39 Yes, basically what it is is that a long time ago, I became fairly certain that the increased leukemias we see in near fire station came from there discharges. And I thought that it was unconscionable, just totally wrong for kitty winters, little kids to be dying from leukemia because of us generating electricity. There's lots of other ways to generating electricity. And I suppose fair to say that I'm, I'm really very much in favor of net nuclear power, but having said that I'm also a scientist and for scientists, the most important thing is to stick close to the evidence. In other words, if the evidence points in a certain direction, then check the evidence, make sure it's the best evidence. And that means you have to change your goods. So be, but with childhood leukemias, it's always led me to be more and more sure that my initial premise was right. So for that reason, I'm quite happy about being and taking close to the evidence cause that evidence really does show that there are increased leukemias near nuclear reacts Libbe HaLevy 02:20:57 To be clear, you did not do a study on the childhood leukemias showing up around nuclear power plants, but you did compile existing studies and existing statistics. How extensive were those and what led you to take this particular approach? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:21:17 Well, to actually carry out an epidemiological study takes a lot of time and a lot of money and you have to have access to a lot of data. And, and oftentimes that data data is proprietary and you can't get it yourself. You have to rely on other people getting it and giving it to you. On the other hand, there were over 60 studies worldwide on this particular issue of childhood leukemias, near nuclear plants. And that in itself provided enough data for me to do my work properly. 60 studies is a lot of studies and there was a lot of data in those studies. And so that was by far, the best thing to do was to mine, the existing data, rather than actually carrying out a study from de so to speak, using Libbe HaLevy 02:22:10 Explain to us the extent of the danger that you discovered in doing this compilation of existing research. Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:22:19 By the way, I should say that I, I collaborated in a lot of, this was a, a German scientist called Dr. Alfred Coine and he will crop up a lot of in my work. What we found when we were doing this work together was first of all, the large number of studies, I mean 60 studies worldwide in toxicology. This is probably one of the biggest areas sub study. For example, if you were to look at as best or chemical lead poisoning, anything like that, there's nowhere near 60 studies, health effects from particular plants. So there's, this is a very large number. The second thing is that we could do and what are called meta analysis. In other words, what you do is you by careful an examination of the data know you can add the data together. You've got to be sure that you're adding oranges, oranges, and not apples and oranges, but you can do it. And when we've done that, you can get metaanalysis. Other people have done the same by the way. And they all come up with the same answer and that, that there are increased leukemias near the power stations. The thing is beyond there's a very clear pattern of raised childhood leukemias near with the power station. Libbe HaLevy 02:23:43 There was one aspect in the article that you did site where you combined the statistics, apparently oranges to oranges for Germany, great Britain, Switzerland, and France into a single table. I was struck by the fact that what you came up with was 37% increase in childhood leukemias within kilometers, which is about three miles from almost all nuclear power plants in these countries. That's right. Why had no one thought to compile these statistics before? And how alarming is this to you as a result that came from this? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:24:23 Well, the first thing is that the four go government obvious the scientists in those governments obviously knew that this was going on and they all obviously knew that each of the four countries were doing this. It's an obvious step for the data and the four studies to be added together. And I'm absolutely positive that the scientists are relevant scientists in the four countries did. In fact, we know them, we know they did it, but they didn't publish the data we did. And Dr. Corland and I, we did it together very statistically significant increases in channel leukemias, near all the reactors in no small countries, not quite all the reactors in France, there was only about two, but pretty well, all of thes in the four countries. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:10 What conclusions can be drawn or did you draw from the compilation that you put together? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:25:19 Well, it was quite clear that it was an increase. It was beyond the balance of chance. This wasn't the fine meant that it was clear that there were increases near NPPs and that we had move on to the reasons for that and the energy policy consideration. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:40 When did you start this? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:25:42 The actual study itself was commissioned by the organizers of a conference in new in 2012 and myself and many other contributors to the conference. All their proceeding, all the proceedings of the conference were going to be published in the journal. The problem was in my article or my talk was very controversial. It resulted in a lot of, in the peer review process. And as a result of that, the preceding of the conference by about two years, Libbe HaLevy 02:26:19 I understand that there was one scientist who shall remain nameless, who challenged you repeatedly and extensively. Would you talk about what that was like for you and also how you responded to the various challenges that you received? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:26:38 The person concern that I've known for many years, he's awarded the adversaries. Shall we say? I have a lot of respect for his work for his pale. He's a good scientist, but we have different views about nuclear power. And it was a real tussle. How shall we say a long drawn out gladi or battle, but it was, and the basis of science and my article to tell us about scientific evidence. And that took a long time, over many pages, paper, and many, many point the editor of the journal. He was very good. He had to be a referee in this, but he, he was well informed. He knew about the issues and he knew what to allow, what not to allow. And so my congratulations got to him, a lot of other people would've ducked out on this and, but he song right through and in the end he published it. Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:27:39 And his reward is that as a result of the publication, it was in about two or three months, about 500 people downloaded it, which in this, shall I say, the narrow subject area is a lot of downloads. It's, it's gone viral or partly viral. A good chunk of the readership of the journal of environmental video activity must have downloaded the, the article and for the editor that is very heartening because that means he struck a chord and people are picking up on what he's published. So he was very happy. Indeed. There is one other thing I should mention. And that is that I, I waited for about three months after the public, before I went onto the web and with my own log on this. And that is to give time to readers, to point out any errors or omissions or that's for a better long or whatever, maybe in the article and to date Dutch wood there haven't been an at all. So that's given me a lot of confidence in the sense that even although I can imagine a lot of readers won't be, find this difficult to take, they haven't come up with anything which has sent me below the water line. So to a shower hasn't landed below the water line around like that. In fact, I haven't been in shower, so it's, I'm quite please with that. And I'm relatively confident with the hypothesis. Now Libbe HaLevy 02:29:14 It seems that the extensive challenges that you went through with your worthy scientific opponent helped you vet the article to the point where nobody could pick anything apart with it. How accurate was that? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:29:27 That would be very true. Yes, you're right. The fact that the, the peer review process was so tough basically meant that the article itself was pretty water tight. Libbe HaLevy 02:29:38 Now that we have this watertight article that correlates raised leukemia rates in children with proximity to nuclear power plants, what impact has what you've written had on public awareness, in the media and on governmental policy? Dr. Ian Fairlie 02:29:58 Well, it's really hard to say. What I do know is that amongst my colleagues and friends here in the UK and in Germany, they're more or less taking this on board. And it's now accepted certainly in the environmental community, that this is a serious matter that has to be taken on board. And that building nuclear power stations really is very problematic. Now, as far as governments are concerned, now they deny it all the way. It's very difficult for them that they've decided that they're going down the nuclear line to find this evidence, which directly contradicts it. They reject the evidence. Unfortunately, Libbe HaLevy 03:30:40 What do you think going to happen here in the United States as more and more people become aware of this article and have the opportunity to read it? Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:30:49 That's a good question in the United States right now, the national research council is about to embark on a big study of childhood cancers near us or actors. And this is going to be quite important. It's about a hundred reactors in the United States and to get data for all those hundred, that's gonna be a fairly powerful study. Now what this study that I've produced says that in the rest of the world, the evidence is crystal clear. There are increased leukemias near nuclear plant. So I'm pretty sure that government scientists in the other states will have read the article. Indeed, given that the fact that there's been so many downloads and my, the consultant that books have to my, my website says, oh, I could chuckle those. Like the about half are from United States. That means that the scientists who can in the United States, they know about the study, for sure. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:31:53 So that say 200, 300 scientists in the United States have downloaded this and are Reddit. They must be aware in government circles of this arm and it must figure some or other in their thinking. I'm not sure whether they will like the article in the sense that it's bad news for them, particularly in the environment of energy in United States. But nevertheless, the evidence is now there is one other thing, and that is that the United States environmental protection agency is consulting on proposals to relax the limits for radiation doses from us stations. This study applies right in the face of that. It says if anything, it should be the way around. It should be typing them, not relaxing radiation limits near us reactors. So there's two things going on in the United States right now, both of them are addressed by my article. And it's difficult for me to predict what's actually going to happen and have a number of friends in the United States, quite a few impact. And they have said to me that they are surprised and amazed the findings in my study. They say that it has clear implications for what's going on in the United States. So my reaction would be while the jury's still out, watch this space, let's see what happens. Libbe HaLevy 03:33:21 To what extent do you think it would be possible for the us to put together a study this massive and somehow come up with different results than what you came up with in examining 60 other studies? Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:33:37 Well, the first thing is that in did do what we did. In other words, we restricted this to children under five and also the exposure area to less than five kilometers. I under three miles would be extremely surprising if they found out, found anything different than we found it. The reactor that we're talking about are the similar reactors to the United States, but pressurized water reactors, and one water reactors. So it would be very difficult. One of the key things I'd like to mention to your listeners is this up until 2012, we didn't really know what happened with emissions from nuclear reactors. The only data that we had was annual data. So many vectors or better Becker rolls or Giger rolls per from a reactor. We didn't really know the time pattern. Now we do. Now we know that the large majority say two thirds, three quarters of the annual emissions from a reactor occur just once during one spike. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:34:55 And that spike occurs when the reactor is opened up to take out the old fuel and to put in fresh fuel. And during that time period, about a day, day and a half, the reactors are de pressurized in to see huge pressures inside the reactor are well. We open up the valves and the radioactive gases should out it's during that time that we think that the people down when are exposed to high levels of radio activity, a high radiation doses, and that phenomenon. In other words, that time signature, instead of having even little bits of emissions throughout the 365 days, now, you don't have that. You have one big, massive spike, which happens over about a day and a half period. And that happens roughly speaking about once a year, when, if you to taken out your want and, and the new ones are put in. So that's important, very, very important because it results in doses, which are at least 20 times higher. Maybe even as much as a hundred times higher, I discuss this in my article, so that that's a major and that's, that's something that's gonna have to be addressed by both the us CPA and also the national research council in this future studies, they're gonna have to address this big spike in emissions each year from every reactor Libbe HaLevy 03:36:33 That's stunning, because of course, by averaging out over a year, it seems like it would be a much lower thing dose. You wouldn't have to worry about it. It wouldn't be a dose that would be damaging low level, blah, blah, blah. But what you are saying is that the majority of that happens at a predictable time when the fuel rods are being switched out. And there is no notice, no awareness, no correct sirens going off, no protection, no awareness. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:37:04 Correct. And indeed I've said to a number of nuclear operators, like, why don't you do this at nighttime? When people are in bed, why don't you do it when it's really, really windy average, and it's not raining. And the rain brings the really cloud bank. When, when it's windy, you get massive dispersion. But if it's very calm, then it just drifts everywhere and you get big, no response li there's one other thing. I'd like a little story I'd like to tell you, which my interest to readers this time, pattern spikes have been hidden from us ever since the beginning of the nuclear power program. Back in the 1950s or the fifties early sixties, nobody knew about apart from the people who worked in the nuclear industry. And they kept really quiet. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:38:01 What happened was that some German scientists who were anti Clair began to suspect that there was something funny going on here. So back in 2012, when the regional government of bad and Burg became red green by red green, I mean, it was governed coalition of socialists and green parties, rather than the shall say the, the Christian Democrats who are sort of more conservative in their views. The first thing they did was this, this German red, green coalition was that they demanded their nuclear regulatory, give them data, give the minister the energy minister data on the half hourly emissions from the nuclear power plants in their area, bad and Berg. This is intriguing. The energy minister was a woman I'm afraid I've forgotten her name. And I haven't got it written down, but she was a very powerful, determined lady. And the head of the regions, nuclear regulatory commission refused to give the information and said, no, we don't have it. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:39:19 But from the insider, we knew that they did have it. And so the German energy minister said, you will put this data on my desk on Monday morning, or you will be fired. And he said, I don't believe you. She said, right, I want on desk on Friday afternoon, your recognition letter undated. And he had to bring his letter recognition letter undated, and she put it in the drawer and said, right. If I don't get this information on Monday morning, I am putting a date on this letter. That's what she did. In other words, she was playing hardball. Dr. Ian Fairlie 03:39:58 We got the data, but the trouble is that the data was presented in a computer program form format that we nobody had apart from the nuclear industry. So we demanded the data and a sort of user friendly form. And they said, no, you asked for the data, you've got it. We're not helping you anymore. And she was about to stack the regulatory. When some people in the green party who were computer was and said, look, we can put this, this data into a computer program. Shall we call it a, and then transfer that to a computer program B and then transfer further to Microsoft Excel. And once we get it into Excel, we can read out the data. It took them about three days to do it, but they got it. Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:40:49 I love it. And we got the data. And from the first time we saw what was happening, a massive spike, a thousand times higher in terms of concentration than the normal amount. In other words, a set of three backer rolls per attribute meter. We were finding 3000 backer rolls per tribute meter. In other words, thousand fold increase. And then we knew what was going on. And then we knew, cause it had tried hit this since the start of the nuclear program. 50 years ago, they've hidden us. And it went to great lengths to prevent us from getting the information. Now we've got it. Now, what I'd like to say to your American listeners is this is very important. You have to go through your re drawer and say, there's no reason why this is not occurring. Also in UK and us reactors, these data are from pressurized water reactors in that Berg in Germany. And so we know that it's very, very likely the same as time happening with us reactors. So what are you gonna do about it? That's the wake up call that I'd like to issue through your listeners? And I hope that at least some of you, some of your listeners will pick this up at and say, whoa, we got to do something here. Libbe HaLevy 04:42:17 It's a powerful piece of information. And the fact that they knew that the industry knew about these spikes and went to such grit lengths to hide, it means that they understood exactly how devastating information would be to yes, their business and their financial futures. So of course they would do everything in their power to hide it and good for those people in Germany and that environmental minister and you for getting this information, putting it in a usable form so that we have the opportunity to now use this as a very important piece of weaponry as it were on behalf of getting these things shut down and taken care of. So if someone hears this interview or reads your article and realizes that they are living you in proximity to a nuclear reactor and they either have, or they want to have children, what would you recommend that they do? Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:43:23 I've already done this in Canada. In fact, where they've got nuclear reactors, you wouldn't believe in metropolitan. Toronto is crazy. I'm so I don't have any join in saying what I say, but the I Ontario government really has got to get a group of this. And I have said in guidance to Canada, that women of childbearing age who wish or intent to have families, or even if they've got young ones, or if they're already pregnant, they shouldn't live within 10 kilometers of reacting. And that people who already live near reactors and have gardens, they shouldn't eat their own projects that they live within five kilometers. And I've actually given that evidence. He is published on my website and evidence to group Canada. So my advice to would be to young women who are living in the shadow. If her reactions is don't do it. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:31 Ian, if people wish to download a complete copy of your article, how could they do that? Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:44:40 Difficult? It's behind a very stiff, fair wall. My guidance to people who need a full copy for research purposes would be to contact me. And it's permissible under the copyright laws to send individual copies to scientific research rooms. You can do that. What is not permissible is for somebody to get a copy, then immediately send around to hundreds of other people that is not allow from afraid are present copyright arrangements. For those people who are not scientific researchers, my guidance to them would be, do they know anybody who works as a scientist in a, an academic institution and university in United States? Or do they live near big national library either in Washington, DC or New York or LA or near the launch Livermore, labor trees or the bur labor trees or any of the national resource Institute, because they will have copies of these journals and they will have a copy of the journal of environmental radio activity online. So if they have any friends in universities at all, they would be able to, to get them, ask them to download all them. It's not ideal. The present paywall arrangements are unfortunate, but it's how the large publishing companies make their living. So that's my best guidance. Libbe HaLevy 04:46:17 I, anything you would like to add at this point that we haven't covered? Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:46:22 I haven't mentioned the name of the organization in Germany, which got the data of the mission spikes. It's called IPP, N w. And that stands for international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war. I P P w there a large international organization base, their headquarters are in Boston, in Massachusetts. There are good organization. My pats go off to I P P N w cuz they were the people that got Libbe HaLevy 04:46:55 And I P P N w also provided me with Dr. Alex Rosen, who? Yes, in nuclear hot seat, number 1 61, I had the opportunity to interview him about the report, which he took part point by point. It has gone viral. It has been up by a E news and elsewhere and has become one of the most important interviews that I have done. This one ranks up there as well, because right, what you're providing us is with the hardcore scientific evidence that we can use to say, we're not a bunch of emotional tree hugging environmentalists Though. We may be in our spare time, but we also have the data to back up what it absolutely, that we are saying. Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:47:44 Our study provides a lot of ammunition. It really does, and try and get a whole of it. And if there are people who desperately, who really do need to have this, for example, they have children who live very close to a reactor. I will send them the, the article I know so that they can use it to obtain some sort of re rails. I have given evidence in Canada to various public hearings, governmental and stuff like that. And I'm quite prepared to do that in the United States. Here I am ready, willing, and able to help out in any way that I can when the post coming there's two struggles. Now, one is the national research council study, and secondly is the S CPA proposals to the safety limits. Libbe HaLevy 04:48:32 I thank you so much for sharing your time and your expertise with the listeners of nuclear hot seed. Dr. Ian Fairlie 04:48:39 Thank you Lev it's a pleasure for mine and best wish to all the campaigners who are opposing the nuclear saying and United States. And I'd like to say you too well done. And I hope that we can certainly keep him touch Libbe HaLevy 04:48:55 Dr. Ian Farley. You can find a link to his article on the study of childhood leukemia rates in proximity to nuclear reactors on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 4 33, you can also follow him on his blog@infer.org. And that's F as in Frank, a I R L I E just click on the news and comments tab, and we'll also have a link to the listings of boiling water reactors around the world. So you can see if you live near one or more than one activist shoutouts, congratulations to Jose AERA Plaza, the director of the documentary broken arrow nuclear accident in Paloma Plaza received the lifetime achievement award from the international uranium film festival being held in Portugal this year 29 on his investigative efforts and long term dedication to exposing the dramatic nuclear accident at Palomas in Spain, it was the crash of a us military aircraft carrying four nuclear bombs on board. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:08 It happened in 1966, PLA was honored for his commitment to ensure that this accident which caused a permanent contamination of parts of polys with radioactive plutonium will not be forgotten and will provide a link to an article from fair wind's energy education and Maggie Gunderson about whistle blowing, something she and her husband AIE Gunderson, who is chief engineer at Fairwinds and has more than 45 years of nuclear power engineering experience have dealt with firsthand. It's a powerful article that builds upon my interview with a about what his whistle blowing on nuclear safety did to his life. That's in nuclear hot seat, number four 17 from June 18th, 2019. And we will link to that episode as well. Here's today's final thought the callousness of the nuclear industry seems to have no limits as you in today's interview. Reactor operators had to be forced to provide statistics on radiation releases and only did so under great Dures. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:18 And still tried to block our understanding by providing the data in a program that they were convinced couldn't be accessed. You might ask, what do they have of to hide? And it took the work of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war and a very testy government official in Germany to find out every nuclear reactor has to be refueled approximately once a year. This is one, the greatest radiation spike happens. The greatest danger of exposure CS. You would think that conscientious reactor operators would at least put out a notice so people could stay indoors, use air filters or otherwise avoid the area while this operation takes place. But the nuclear industry being the nuclear industry, they don't, the nuclear regulatory commission doesn't make them. And then they disguise this massive short term exposure by averaging it out over a full year. So the numbers look really small and thus, we have decades of exposure to high levels of radiation eroding the health of our children. Libbe HaLevy 05:52:29 Don't take my word for it. It it's documented. And we've got the link. Most nuclear reactors currently in operation are over 40 years old, and you may not know it, but nuclear reactors were only designed to be used for 40 years before needing to be shut down and decommissioned that's because of what's called embritlement the breakdown of the metal in the reactor containment vessel, because it's being constantly bombarded with radioactive particles. Most nuclear reactors currently in operation are over 40 years old or close to it. So by original design, they should all be shutting down just about now, but the completely captured nuclear regulatory commission has never met a license renewal application that it didn't like and has repeatedly granted 20 year extensions to nukes, even as the industry has started embedding talking points to have us consider life after 60, meaning an additional 20 year extension on the license. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:35 After this first 20 year extension, 80 years of operation for a deadly technology that was only supposed to run for 40 year. This is madness. And the older reactor gets the more dangerous it gets. The more likely to develop cracks, operational problems, glitches and radiation releases into the community. Beyond those that happen during refueling, consider it this way. How reliable would you consider a 40 year old car that's been in constant heavy use? How about a 60 year old car? Would you trust it to run full out cross country without blowing a gasket or an engine, at least with a car? If that happened, all you would have as a result is a big repair bill, but a nuclear reactor you could. And according to this report, very likely would end up with desperately ill children, no need for electricity is worth the poisoning of our kids. That's not a quid pro quo. It doesn't equal out. And this danger, as you heard is not a supposition it's fact. It's proven the data exists in 60 studies from multiple countries to take off from a slogan out of the 1960s. Nuclear reactors are not healthy for children and other living things the right time to shut down this technology and replace it with genuine renewables like solar and wind was 40 years ago. The next right time is right now. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:23 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, October 8th, 2019 material for this week's show has been researched and compiled from nuclear dash new news.net to UN renard.wordpress.com. Mining awareness.wordpress.com, Toledo blade, Samuel Lawrence foundation, Colorado sun, the guardian green peace Japan, bloomberg.com counterpunch.org, Japan times.co.jp 60 minutes, Australia Reuters power dash E g.com. The BBC E traveler dot I N. CBS news.com German times.com Fairwinds energy education. And as always the completely captured Andd nuclear regulatory commission, where I really wanna put regulatory in quotes. A reminder that nuclear hot seat is now available on all your favorite podcast platforms. So what are you waiting for subscribe? Or if you prefer, you can have nuclear hot seat delivered via email every week. Just go to the website, nuclear hot seat.com. Scroll down for the big yellow opt-in box. Put in your first name and email address. We promise we won't bug you, but you will get an email one a week with a link to the week's new episode. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:46 Come join listeners around the world. 123 countries and counting as well as people who hear this program broadcast in their local communities. Now here's how you can help us as well. Nuclear hot seat is dependent upon people on the front lines, on the ground, in nuclear battles around the world to keep us up to date on what's happening so that we can then convey the truth to others. So if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, and you're really frustrated because I haven't done it yet, you gotta give me a fighting chance by letting me know. So send an email to info nuclear, hot seat.com. And if you appreciate weekly verifiable news updates about nuclear issues around the world, take a moment to send a donation of any size to nuclear hotseat.com as always, we are grateful for your support nuclear hot seat. Libbe HaLevy 05:57:44 This episode is copyright 2019 libe hall and artistry communications, all rights reserved, but fair use allowed. As long as proper attribution is provided. Just tell people where it came from, and you can use the information. This is libe hall of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of reminding you that we can always come up with a date that a nuclear emergency begins, but we can never come up with a date when it's over, because once it starts because of the radiation released, it is never over. There you go. You have just had your nuclear wake up call. So don't go back asleep because we are all in the nuclear hot seat, Announcer 05:58:32 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Nuclear hot seat. The car is sinking our time to act shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat. It's de. ### NH #432: Nuclear Launch Codes + Impeachment Inquiry = ??? Garrett Graff, author, Raven Rock, on Govt's Secret Plan to Survive while the Rest Of Us Die URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-launch-codes-impeachment-inquiry-garrett-graff-author-raven-rock-on-govts-secret-plan-to-survive-while-the-rest-of-us-die-nh-432/ Published: 2019-10-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Launch Codes, referred to as the Nuclear Football, follow the president everywhere, carried by a military attache and stashed in a briefcase (pictured) making it possible for him to launch a nuclear strike at any country at any time. Yes, even now. Is there any recourse to this insanity, should Trump decide to go rogue? This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Launch Codes are in the hands of the president, under his sole authority to launch a nuclear bomb strike anywhere in the world. Is there any recourse? Garrett Graff, author of RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the US Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself while the Rest of Us Die, explains the workings of the so-called "nuclear football" which contains the nuclear bomb launch codes, plus the survival plan for our "leaders" that lets them (maybe) survive while the rest of the world dies. Quite a pertinent discussion to have in this era of impeachment inquiry, don't you think? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Vatican wades into nuclear waters to influence policy – yet another form of abuse the priests are inflictin in another place they really do not belong! Action Links: Space 4 Peace Week – Link to a list of activities around the world. Keep Space 4 Peace Week – an international action to help us protect our ability to have a future. Robert Hunziker article from Counterpunch on Fukushima's Radioactive Water Crisis, with no answer to the ongoing dilemma of what to do about the tritium-contaminated water being held on-site and the 170,000 tons of radioactive water created every day. In keeping with Keep Space 4 Peace week and all anti-war activists, there's a New Study that Documents Depleted Uranium Impacts on Children in Iraq. You don't need a fireball to commit nuclear war; just releasing vast quantities of "depleted" uranium (which is still plenty lethal) will destroy your enemies over generations. ### NH #431: NUCLEAR UPDATE: TMI Closure, San Onofre Waste Nightmare Continues, Nuclear Weapons in Washington State, Uranium Mining in Saskatchewan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-update-tmi-closure-san-onofre-waste-nightmare-continues-nuclear-weapons-in-washington-state-uranium-mining-in-saskatchewan-nh-431/ Published: 2019-09-26 NUCLEAR UPDATE: Three Mile Island Alert billboard states the plain and ugly truth about the radioactive waste left behind – that closing the reactors is only the first step in an endless process. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Nuclear UPDATE by frontline activists on nuclear fuel chain issues around North America: Eric Epstein, head of Three Mile Island Alert, on what it means for the nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania to finally close… and what lies ahead for the local activist community Once a nuclear reactor closes, the need for citizen action doesn’t end; it just shifts to what to do with the highly radioactive waste that remains deadly for literally hundreds of thousands of years.  Here in southern California, that focuses on San Onofre and the use of thin-walled storage canisters  – only 5/8” of stainless steel – hold the so-called “spent” fuel rods, all of which contain plutonium.  Charles Langley and Nina Babiarz of Public Watchdogs talk about legal action taken by their group to stop the loading of the flawed waste canisters, and bring us up to date on where we stand with San Onofre’s nuclear waste legacy.Activism against nuclear weapons is again building up to take on the build-up of nuclear weapons and what's turning into the new Cold War.  One extremely active group is the Washington state Physicians for Social Responsibility. To find out more about what grassroots activism is happening in that state, I talked with Carly Brook, WPSR’s Nuclear Weapons Abolition Organizer. Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition Uranium mining is the start of the nuclear fuel chain, and we examine its continuing impact on First Nations people in Northern Saskatchewan with Candyce Paul.  She is a member of the English River First Nations and works with the Committee for Future Generations.  She and her people live a traditional lifestyle, close to the land, which is why you will hear her mention moose more than once. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Yeah – the first thing to do to protect your health after a nuclear detonation that takes down your entire city and all infrastructure is… DON'T USE CONDITIONER WHEN YOU SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR! And that's official U.S. government policy! (I swear, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried…) ### NH #430: Nuclear Hollywood Exposed! Secret Government Film Studio Lookout Mountain Uncovered in New Book - Kevin Hamilton, Ned O'Gorman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hollywood-exposed-secret-government-film-studio-lookout-mountain-uncovered-in-new-book-kevin-hamilton-ned-ogorman-nh-430/ Published: 2019-09-19 Nuclear Hollywood exposed in new book, Lookout America! The Secret Hollywood Studio at the Heart of the Cold War, by authors Kevin Hamilton (l) and Ned O'Gorman (r). This Week's Featured Interview: We talk at length with Kevin Hamilton and Ned O’Gorman, authors of LOOKOUT AMERICA! The Secret Hollywood Studio at the Heart of the Cold War. Learn about the U.S. Government’s secret Hollywood studio that not only filmed nuclear above ground blasts and turned them into pro-nuke propaganda, but cranked out other images and films the government used to use to manipulate nuclear consent during the coldest of the Cold War. It’s a whole new take on understanding how we’ve been deceived into believing what we believe about nukes. LINKS: LOOKOUT AMERICA! website includes links to films and research information: www.LookoutAmerica.org.Atomic Blonde – how Marilyn Monroe became involved in Lookout Mountain.Nuclear Savage – a film by Adam Jonas Horowitz on the bombing of the Marshall Islands. Lots of film clips from Lookout Mountain included.OPERATION IVY – full film that made President Eisenhower want to share nuclear information with the country.Dr. Strangelove – end scene, including montage of bomb blasts filmed by Lookout Mountain Laboratory: Full final scene from Dr. Strangelove. All nuclear blasts shown during the final montage were shot by Lookout Mountain Laboratory. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Conk-a-Conca Conga! It's James Conca pontificating and lying about nuclear in the pages of Forbes, yet again. Still. Forever. (That's his job!) "It's OK to if Japan Dumps Radioactive Fukushima Water Into the Ocean" — Really, James? Really?!?!??? Let's dance a Whack-a-Mole dance with you as the mole, shall we? ### NH #429: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year 2018 REDUX – Look Back at Yet Another Year of Nuclear Insanity URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-numnutz-of-the-year-2018-redux-another-year-of-nuclear-insanity/ Published: 2019-09-09 Nuclear Numnutz cartoon by Libbe HaLevy and Raoul Pascual LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] NOTE: I'm taking my annual autumn break from the nuclear world with an off-grid retreat for a week. What better time to let you see how far we have come <NOT!> in holding off the nuclear insanity than by revisiting a full year of Nuclear Numnutzery? Enjoy! – Libbe. This Week's SPECIAL Feature: Nuclear Numnutz deja vu because, let's face it, with nukes, everything old is new again, and again, and again… So we take a look back at 2018 through the lens of Nuclear Hotseat’s most popular feature, Numnutz of the Week. Listen to the "wacky" antics of the world’s most dangerous technology as it sails through: Japan’s hard work to “normalize” Fukushima and its radiation so the tourists dumb enough to show up for the 2020 Radioactive Tokyo Olympics will think that everything is AOK!US nuclear crews who opt for “high” crimes and misdemeanors – not once but twice!Ancient, decrepit or just irrelevent so-called “experts” opining to a transfixed mainstream media in support of nukes… when they have nothing to do with themThe ongoing Fukushima Food Fight – whether it’s propaganda on the ground selling Fuku sake to New York hipsters or Japan taking South Korea and now Taiwan to the World Trade Organization to try to ram Fukushima fish down the throats of safety-conscious residents of other countries.Department of Energy playing word games to make us believe that high level waste is really low level waste – and when the citizens arise against you, with good cause, just invest your money in a good PR firm.Nuclear Regulatory Commission incompetence in letting reactors operate at full power during “snow cyclones” and hurricanes, forgetting that there’s no way to evacuate or get emergency crews on site because, hey, “snow cyclone” and/or hurricane.…and much much more! All of it leading to that Numnutz of all Numnutz for 2018, which is… Well, you’ll have to listen to find out! ### NH #428: Nuclear Weapons Build-Up Insanity, Los Alamos Lab so-called "Clean-Up" - Jay Coghlan, Nukewatch NM URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-build-up-insanity-los-alamos-lab-so-called-clean-up-jay-coghlan-nukewatch-nm-nh-428/ Published: 2019-09-04 Nuclear weapons – a reminder of what they look like and what they can do. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview Nuclear weapons – their design, engineering, chances for implementation – that's the topic we explore with Jay Coghlan, Executive Director of Nukewatch NM. Jay goes over the division of responsibility for nuclear weapons of mass destruction between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia Laboratory, and California's Lawrence Livermore Lab. He then rips into Department of Energy for the lies and "theatre" surrounding claims of a "more-than-halfway-completed" so-called "clean-up" of LANL that ignores the vast majority of radioactive contamination… and ultimately is funding the new nuclear arms race. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Robots in charge of launching a nuclear attack? Artificial Intelligence (AI) just might decide that a world without humans is juuuuuust hunkey dorey! LINKS: New Chris Busby website – www.chris.busby.exposed – tells the truth about this tireless British scientist. Chris is creating serious questions in the UK and beyond about the health effects of ionizing radiation and exposure to Uranium Weapons. And be sure to check out the Nuclear Hotseat interview with Chris Busby from Episode #333, November 7, 2017.Kevin Hester is a lifelong veteran of the eco-wars, with a fierceching, unflin attention to climate change and issues of human extinction.  He currently produces and hosts the podcast Nature Bats Last, where he talks the difficult talk about the abrupt and exponential nature of global warming and the ultimate threat to human survival. But in this short interview (scroll down), we hear a different side of Kevin, about his life on a tiny New Zealand island and the real sense of community that sustains him. He's been a staunch supporter of Nuclear Hotseat since our earliest days, and if you want to learn more about this important international activist, here's a link to our interview on Nuclear Hotseat #233 from December 8, 2015. (APOLOGIES FOR WONKINESS IN PUTTING UP THE POST OF KEVIN HESTER'S INTERVIEW. CLICK ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK UNDER THE PICTURE.) https://waihekeradio.org.nz/podcast/rakino-island/?fbclid=IwAR1Bxah9Ja8zONJ8H_1ws8qM1ZIOhyiN7H-On3LOLwPimv7eay9-PU_O6CI Rakino Island Rakino Island Rakino Island ### NH #427: Radioactive Canada UPDATE: Dr. Gordon Edwards on RadWaste, SNC Lavalin, more + Farewell to 100-year-old Vt. Yankee & Peace Activist Frances Crowe URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-canada-update-dr-gordon-edwards-on-radwaste-snc-lavalin-more-farewell-to-100-year-old-vt-yankee-peace-activist-frances-crowe-nh-427/ Published: 2019-08-29 The late, great Frances Crowe (r), leaving a protest against the Vt. Yankee nuclear reactor. The 100-year-old Peace and Anti-Nuclear activist passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Radioactive Canada: Dr. Gordon Edwards is co-founder and president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, or CCNR. Dr. Edwards has a background in mathematics, physics, and English literature, which explains why he not only understands nuclear issues, he can communicate their complexities with clarity. Here, he not only explains the governmental structures behind radioactive Canada, he breaks down the many ways the nuclear industry confuses any conversation about radiation itself. Plus he busts scandal-riven SNC Lavalin, which is trying to position itself as a U.S. nuclear decommissioning "expert." Dr. Gordon Edwards Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nukes and Hurricanes do not mix, Mr. President… And stop trying to gaslight the public by pulling the "just kidding! false news!" gambit; you said it, multiple sources attest to you doing so on more than one occasion, and it's STILL a bad idea! Activist Links: Frances Crowe LINKS to Robbie Leppzer films featuring Frances Crowe:FRANCES TURNS 100, a 4-minute short film made of Frances Crowe's’ 100th birthday march through the streets of Northampton last March: https://vimeo.com/355675253 .Frances is also one of the “stars” of the feature-length film, POWER STRUGGLE, which chronicles the successful grassroots citizen effort to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. You can watch a trailer that features Frances at: www.PowerStruggleMovie.comEinstein's Atomic Regrets by Karl Grossman. The man who single-handedly launched the nuclear age with a letter lived to not only regret it, but express his regret. Native American Tribe Claims Nuclear Waste Can't Be Stored on its Land – featuring Ian Zabarte on Yucca Mountain, which is located on land held sacred by the Western Shoshone Nation and which was never ceded to the United States. Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Southern Utah Nuclear History at Odds by Lisa Rutherford ### NH #426: Nuclear UPDATE USA: Piketon Radiation Battles, Ohio Nuke Bailout, Holtec/SNC Lavalin Decommissioning Shenanigans at Pilgrim in MA URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-update-usa-piketon-radiation-battles-ohio-nuke-bailout-holtec-snc-lavalin-decommissioning-shenanigans-at-pilgrim-in-ma-nh-426/ Published: 2019-08-22 Nuclear UPDATE: Ohio Nuke Bailout info w/Attorney Terry Lodge Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Nuclear Update USA checks in on several – far from all! – nuclear hotspots around the United States to find out the latest. We hear from activists on the front lines of ongoing nuclear problems: Vina Colley, in her own words, a "sick worker" from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon, Ohio and also a Co-Founder of National Nuclear Workers for Justice (NNWJ) and Portsmouth/Piketon Resident for Environmental Safety and Security, or  (PRESS).  As a whistleblower, Vina has spent decades fighting for transparency in all matters dealing with the uranium enrichment plant in Piketon.  Terry Lodge is an Ohio trial lawyer who has represented many clients in civil rights, civil liberties, and environmental cases. An advocate for the public interest in energy policy issues, he has litigated nuclear power safety and environmental issues for 40 years, Lodge has also represented opponents of nuclear weapons and mountaintop removal mining.  Mary Lampert is founder of Pilgrim Watch.  Diane Turco is co-founder of of Cape Downwinders. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): What is it with nukes and alcohol?!?!????? ### NH #425: RUSSIA NUKES ITSELF? + Hiroshima, Nagasaki & Peace Activism Today: Tsukuru Fors Lauritsen, Setsuko Thurlow of ICAN URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/russia-nukes-itself-hiroshima-nagasaki-peace-activism-today-tsukuru-fors-lauritsen-setsuko-thurlow-of-ican-nh-425/ Published: 2019-08-15 Setsuko Thurlow of the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) addressing the world upon accepting the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of ICAN. RUSSIA! BREAKING & ONGOING: Explosion of a Russian nuclear reactor-powered cruise missile during a test on Thursday, August 8, has killed at least 7 – including 5 high level nuclear scientists. Story continues to develop as details from Russian sources keep changing – hey, it's Russia. Top of the show has a 7-minute update on what is known, plus a caution to avoid giving credence to pictures and video circulating on the internet purportedly showing a nuclear explosion at the site. Those images are from an explosion at an ammunition depot in the Krasnoyarsk region that started on August 5, and are unrelated to the missile explosion. This Week's Feature: Hiroshima, Nagasaki Commemoration in Los Angeles was held in downtown's Little Tokyo on August 8, 2019. Audio and interviews with peace activists, a Fukushima survivor, a Hiroshima resident, and those who stand opposed to nuclear weapons and nulcear war to remember the two times atomic bombs have been used — and why such weapons of mass destruction must NEVER be used again: Tsukuru Fors Lauritsen, primary organizer of the event. She is from Hiroshima and during the interview, we discover the profound link she shares with Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow of the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN. Tsukuru speaks about the culture of remembering in Hiroshima and what has moved her to her fierce, ongoing anti-nuclear activism.Frances Yasmeen Motiwalla, formerly of Peace Action Los Angeles, currently a candidate for Congress. Denise Duffield of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles.Dr. Jimmy Hana, board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.The music heard in the background of several interviews is by Bicultural Music Samurai Goh Kurosawa, who performs under the name, GOH. In addition, we hear the Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech by Setsuko Thurlow of the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN. As a school child, she survived the bombing that killed 350 of her classmates. In this moving account, she admonishes us about nuclear: NEVER AGAIN. Setsuko Thurlow of the International Campaign for the Abolution of Nuclear Weapons, giving her acceptance speech on behalf of ICAN for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. ### NH #424:Kansas City Site: When "Not Nuclear" really means "Nuclear, Radioactive & Deadly" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/kansas-city-site-when-not-nuclear-really-means-nuclear-radioactive-deadly-nh-424/ Published: 2019-08-07 Wilfred Burchett's front page story about Hiroshima in the Daily Mirror. He was the only reporter who got the story and got it right; U.S. military crackdown on access to Hiroshima made accurate reporting on the nature of radiation and its horrific impact impossible – and Burchett's story was buried. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Claire Schaeffer-Duffy is a freelance journalist and worker in the Catholic peace movement.  The three articles she wrote under the title, ENEMY WITHIN, paints an all-too-familiar picture of an unknown nuclear site poisoning land, water and people for decades, with the government still trying to duck responsibility for what it did to those who worked and lived there. LINKS to ENEMY WITHIN stories by Claire Schaeffer-DuffyDan Zak's book, Almighty, about the break-in to Y-12 by Sister Megan Rice and the Plowshares peace activists Other stories covered by Nuclear Hotseat that are referenced by Claire Schaeffer-Duffy in this interview: Mary Olson‘s work on Gender and Radiation that was used by the United Nations to gain passage of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Mary's work was featured on Nuclear Hotseat #383Then-82-year-old Sister Megan Rice‘s break-in with two other Plowshares peace activists to the Y-12 site in Kentucky – The "Fort Knox" of nuclear sites, featured on Nuclear Hotseat #339 Terrie Berrie, founder of the Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups (ANWAG), who has been advocating for nuclear workers for years. Featured on Nuclear Hotseat #320 Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): National Geographic should just stick with its pics of deforested forests, fossils and oceans; when it tries to do nuclear, it gets it ALL WRONG, starting with the headline… Activist Links: More than SIXTY BOXES of documents from the Rocky Flats grand jury probe have "gone missing" – Dog ate homework? Is Fukushima Safe for the Olympics? (short answer: NO!)News Zero: The New York Times and The Bomb by Beverly Ann D Deepe Keever. A breathtakingly important book. CLICK HERE ### NH #423: Uranium Mining Disaster - Church Rock Uranium Tailings Pond Breach - 40th Anniversary SPECIAL, Pt. 2: Navajo Nation Elders & Activists Speak Out on Cancers, Contamination, Slow-Motion EPA Clean-up URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-mining-disaster-church-rock-uranium-tailings-pond-breach-40th-anniversary-special-pt-2-navajo-nation-elders-activists-speak-out-on-cancers-contamination-slow-motion-epa-clean-up-n/ Published: 2019-07-31 Duration: 00:59:01 Uranium Miner Larry J. King (center) explains the site of the 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond breach that dumped more than 94 million gallons of uranium contaminated waste water into the adjacent Puerco River – a nuclear disaster that, 40 years later, has yet to be cleaned up. Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interviews: Uranium mining marks the start of the nuclear fuel chain and the deadly journey that element takes to become atomic weapons, nuclear reactors, and tons of highly radioactive waste that we do not know how to store safely for tens of thousands of years. On July 13 and 14, Nuclear Hotseat attended commemorative events for the 1979 Church Rock uranium tailings pond breach and spill, which dumped more than 94 million gallons of highly acidic radioactive water into the adjacent Puerco River. The contamination reached Sanders, Arizona, and was recorded at least 80 miles away. The spill has never been cleaned up, and even now, while it has been declared a Superfund site, it will take at least two years before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission finishes its review of the EPA's clean-up plan – and clean-up can't even begin until and unless the plan is approved.. And even that plan has come in for criticism by activists and community members. This very special Nuclear Hotseat is an audio montage of interviews with community leaders from Navajo Nation – most specifically the Red Water Pond Road Community, located adjacent to the spill site; commemoration event attendees; government officials; and activists from as far away as Japan. We spoke with: Former uranium miner Larry J. King, who was on-site at the United Nuclear Corporation mine the day of the tailings pond spill Former UNC Church Rock uranium miner Larry J. King on his land facing the site of the 1974 uranium tailings pond breach and spill. He holds a commemorative kerchief. Redwater Pond Road Community members Jackie Bell, Edith Hood, Terracita Keyanna, Anna Benally, who live next to the spill site. Terracita Keyanna next to sign warning "no uranium mining" in Navajo Red Water Pond Road Community member Edith Hood, on the land where she has lived her entire life. Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez New Mexico state senator George Muñoz Southwest Research and Information Center Research Director Paul Robinson and Director of the Uranium Impact Assessment Program, Chris Shuey Environmental Protection Agency District 9 (San Francisco) rep Sean Hogan Journalist and Nuclear Nation Film Festival producer Mervyn Tilden Journalist and Nuclear Nation Film Festival producer Mervyn Tilden, on the job covering the 40th anniversary commemoration of the Church Rock uranium tailings pond spill NOTE: Links to films available online will be posted when available. Stay tuned. ### NH #422: Chernobyl Health Cover-Up, Lies by UN/WHO Exposed: Alison Katz, Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-health-cover-up-by-un-who-exposed-alison-katz-independent-independent-who/ Published: 2019-07-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl liquidators in ineffective hazmat suits prepare to do battle with the nuclear monster unleashed. NOTE: Technical difficulties have prevented the uploading of the second of two specials on the 40th anniversary of the Church Rock uranium tailings pond disaster on Navajo Nation. The program was lost near the end of the editing process; it will be reconstructed and made available for next week's Nuclear Hotseat episode. Apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment this may have created. This Week’s Featured Interview: Chernobyl is again in the news as a result of the HBO series – but Nuclear Hotseat was there getting the truth about its impact on health years before that program even went into production. This is a classic Nuclear Hotseat episode, one of our most requested and downloaded: Alison Katz is a psychologist and sociologist who heads Independent WHO. The international watchdog group draws attention to the World Health Organization’s failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl and, later, Fukushima. The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Given the HBO Chernobyl series visibility and popularity around the world, it seemed the right time to reintroduce this classic Nuclear Hotseat episode to an audience that either has not yet heard it, or wishes to have their understanding of Chernobyl's devastating impacts refreshed. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013. Scenes from Independent WHO's ongoing Chernobyl vigil in front of the World Health Organization's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Chernobyl – Other Excellent Information Sources: Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Superb accounting of the health devastation of Chernobyl, constructed from over three years of investigation into medical archives in eastern Europe. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higgenbotham. NOTE: the author does a superb job reconstructing the horrors of Chernobyl, then goes full-on pro-nuke during the final chapter, citing statistics from only the pro-nuclear WHO, IAEA, and UNSCEAR. I recommend that you skip that chapter and read the rest of the book for its narrative of nuclear lies, miscalculations, cover-ups, and destruction of people and the environment. In particular, the description of the physical devastation of high level radiation exposure is comparable to the visuals provided in the HBO series.) ### NH #421: Uranium Mining Disaster SPECIAL Pt. 1: Church Rock at 40, Navajo Nation Devastation Continues - Chris Shuey, Southwest Research and Information Center URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uranium-mining-disaster-special-pt-1-church-rock-at-40-navajo-nation-devastation-continues-chris-shuey-southwest-research-and-information-center-nh-421/ Published: 2019-07-18 Duration: 00:59:01 Uranium mining disaster site: SRIC's Chris Shuey on site at Church Rock, explaining the devastation of the 1979 uranium tailings pond spill of 94-million gallons of highly acidic radioactive waste into Puerco River on Navajo Nation land. This Week's Featured Interview: Chris Shuey is Director of the Uranium Impact Assessment Program for Southwest Research and Information Service. He has worked with Navajo Nation communities on uranium mining issues for 38 years. Chris has helped document the persistent impact of the 1979 uranium tailings pond disaster, which dumped 94 million gallons of highly acidic radioactive waste into the Puerco River and traveled beyond Sanders, Arizona. In this special extended interview, he goes over the resulting degradation of the water, land, and health on Navajo Nation, as well as cultural issues that make the people unwilling to leave their ancestral lands, no matter how contaminated. We spoke on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 – just before I left for Church Rock, NM to cover the 40th anniversary commemoration events. Navajo Birth Cohort Study – a link to a PDF explanation and some of its findings. NEXT WEEK: Church Rock SPECIAL Pt. 2 Voices of the People, Commemoration March Forming the commemoration march from the site of the 1979 uranium tailings pond rupture and spill next to Red Water Pond Road Community on Navajo Nation. Information Links: Santa Susana Field Lab 60th anniversary. The meltdown of an uncontained experimental nuclear reactor in Simi Valley in 1959 – only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles and hidden for 20 years. Learn more with this article: 60 Years Since the Largest U.S. Nuclear Accident and Captured Federal AgenciesKarl Grossman debunks the hoax that nuclear power is "green" on his program, Enviro Close-Up. Program features actor Alec Baldwin, who has long challenged nuclear power; former U.S. nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Gregory Jaczko, who declares that nuclear power "is not the right way forward" and is not "a solution to climate change;" Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, energy analyst at Stanford University, who emphasizes how "nuclear is not zero carbon at all;" and others: "The Hoax that Nuclear Power is Green" – Enviro Close-Up with Karl Grossman ### NH #420: Nuclear Earthquake Fears: If Ridgecrest 7.1 Quake had Happened Closer to Diablo Canyon Nuke Reactors, It Would Have Been Endgame for L.A. - Harvey Wasserman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-earthquake-fears-if-ridgecrest-7-1-quake-had-happened-closer-to-diablo-canyon-nuke-reactors-it-would-have-been-endgame-for-l-a-harvey-wasserman-nh-420/ Published: 2019-07-10 Duration: 00:36:54 Nuclear Earthquake fears for Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors (above) got kicked up by the 7.1 Ridgecrest quake on July 5. According to veteran activist Harvey Wasserman, if the quake had hit closer than its less than 200 miles from Diablo Canyon, Los Angeles and much of the world would have become "a radioactive dead zone." [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear earthquake fears skyrocketed last week as July 4th's 6.4 and July 5th's 7.1 quakes near Ridgecrest, California – less than 200 miles from the Diablo Canyon reactors in San Luis Obispo – reminded us all how vulnerable we are to nuclear reactors built atop multiple earthquake faults. Veteran anti-nuke activist, journalist/broadcaster Harvey Wasserman spells out the dangers, the recently ducked bullet… and why we are not yet out of the woods. Details spelled out in Harvey's article: The Quake to Make Los Angeles a Radioactive Dead Zone. Listen to Harvey Wasserman's Solartopia program on KPFK-FM, Los Angeles. Chernobyl books mentioned during the interview: Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment – Yablakov, Nesterenko, Nesterenko Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future by Kate Brown. Harvey Wasserman Other Earthquake-related Information: From one of my most trusted sources, Miningawareness.Wordpress.com: California July 4th Earthquakes in Vicinity of US China Lake Propulsion Labs-Naval Air Warfare Test Range Dutch Sinse explains recent earthquake clusters. I'm not a scientist and I cannot vouch for what he's saying, but I found his explanations credible and of interest; YMMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_aBKxBRU0I NOTE: This is for you to check out and decide for yourself if it makes sense. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Here's some of where the money is going that Kris Singh, CEO of Holtec, is squeezing out of nuclear decommissioning funds. Wonder where his son, also Kris Singh, gets the money for a $4-MILLION DOLLAR CAR? And he actually says at 3:58 that he hope this dream car stays in his family AS LONG AS THE PLANET EXISTS?!?!????? WHAT PLANET IS HE FROM? Check out what the son of Holtec CEO Kris Singh (Dad traffics in sub-standard storage systems for nuclear waste and bilking governments out of billions in decommissioning funds) says at 3:58 about how long he wants to keep his newly purchased $4 MILLION CAR in his family. Clueless. Seems to be a family trait. ### NH #419: Radioactive Waste Storage Crisis SPECIAL: NUCLEAR NIMBY Targets New Mexico, West Texas: Kevin Kamps, Diane D'Arrigo, Leona Morgan, Karen Hadden URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-waste-storage-crisis-targets-new-mexico-west-texas-special-nh-419/ Published: 2019-07-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Radioactive Waste Storage – NUCLEAR NIMBY: Activists rally against the proposed Holtec-Eddy/Lea consolidated so-called "interim" nuclear waste dump in New Mexico – January, 2019 SPECIAL REQUEST: Next week, I will be traveling to Navajo Nation in New Mexico to cover the 40th anniversary of the Church Rock disaster, the uranium tailings spill. Over 94 million gallons of radioactive uranium mining waste spilled into the Puerco River, contaminating water, land, and people over 80 miles downstream. It has never been cleaned up, nor can it be. I'm going to help make visible this long-neglected radioactive disaster in our shared nuclear past. Donations requested to help defray costs. CLICK HERE to donate – and know that I am grateful for your support! – Libbe. This Week's Featured Interviews: Radioactive waste generated by U.S. nuclear reactors stands at over 80,000 TONS of the stuff – with nowhere safe to store it long-term. The nuclear industry is pushing hard for an ill-advised so-called "interim" storage site in either New Mexico or West Texas – or both. Recent hearings held by the House and Senate barely allowed the public to be heard, and more hearings are on their way. But what does it all mean to the people most immediately affected? Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy talks with four genuine experts on various aspects of the radioactive waste problem: Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Specialist for Beyond Nuclear, gives the horrifying overview.Diane D'Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director for Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), goes into the legal issues and current manipulations being attempted by the nuclear industry.Leona Morgan, Nuclear Issues Study Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, reveals what it's like on-the-ground, protesting and working to raise public awareness.Karen Hadden, SEED (Sustainable Energy and Economic Development) Coalition, reports on the West Texas proposed site and how the state government is responding to industry pressure… and public outrage. Haul No's Leona Morgan at a Halt Holtec demonstration. That's a mock-up of a transportation cask (much smaller than a real one) in the background. ### NH #418: Radioactive Nuclear Reactors and Cancer Rates: Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-nuclear-reactors-and-cancer-rates-joseph-mangano-nh-418/ Published: 2019-06-27 Radioactive Nuclear Reactors – Millstone Nuclear's strontium 90 spew into surrounding community was exposed by the late Katie the Goat's milk. Her great-granddaughter Victoria carries on the family tradition. This Week's Featured Interview: Radioactive Nuclear Reactors and their impact on public health is the focusof the work of this week's featured interviewee. Joseph Mangano is a health researcher and epidemiologist who has served as a director of Radiation and Public Health Project since 1989. Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants.In an act of overt cynicism, if not evil, the newly announced route for the 2020 Radioactive Olympics Torch Relay will not only START in Fukushima Prefecture… the FIRST THREE DAYS will zig zag a path around the Fukushima Daiichi triple nuclear meltdown site and throughout the evacuation zone! Callous disregard for human life, courtesy Dentsu Advertising's PR campaign to convince the world that everything in Fukushima Prefecture is AOK! and you should all c'mon down to the Olympics! Here's the map: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Radioactive Strontium 90 in goat's milk near Millstone Nuclear in Waterford, Connecticut was proven as of 2001 by Katie the Goat, who became the mascot for Mothball Millstone. Now, her great granddaughter Victoria carries on the cause. Activist Links: Church Rock – Letters of support requested from groups and individuals for Navajo Nation on the 40th anniversary of the uranium mining spill that released 1,100 million tons of radioactive uranium tailings and 94 million gallons of toxic uranium-contaminated water into the Puerco River and downstream for more than 80 miles. Send your statements of support to: Susan Gordon, Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment: sgordon@swuraniumimpacts.org Church Rock events: ### NH #417: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Attacks Gundersen - Again! Plus SSFL/Woolsey Fire Update URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-regulatory-commission-nrc-attacks-gundersen-again-plus-ssfl-woolsey-fire-update-nh-417/ Published: 2019-06-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) doesn't care for nuclear engineer/whistleblower Arnie Gundersen, seen here speaking on Three Mile Island Accident Reconsidered on March 27, 2019 (video link below) This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and management don't like whistleblowers, and somebody who probably ranks as their least favorite one is this week's Nuclear Hotseat guest. Arnie Gundersen is a former nuclear industry executive and nuclear engineer with more than 44 years of nuclear industry experience. He became a whistleblower in 1990. Gundersen has written dozens of expert reports for non-government organizations and the state of Vermont. His curriculum vitae shows Gundersen is a licensed Critical Facility Reactor Operator from 1971-1972. He is Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education. In this extended interview with Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy, Gundersen goes into his history as a nuclear industry insider, the consequences of his bringing safety considerations to the attention of his boss, and the personal and professional "fallout" that resulted from his standing up for the truth. Included is Arnie's update on what can be shared thus far about the Woolsey Fire at the Santa Susana Field Lab and the challenges faced in trying to learn more from ash and soil samples. Links: CNN video of Arnie Gundersen's presentation during the 40th anniversary of TMI: Three Mile Island Accident Reconsidered – March 27, 2019: https://www.fairewinds.org/nuclear-energy-education/nuclear-spring-a-legacy-of-lies?fbclid=IwAR2BpO7qiv3i2j_78Cy_gXWyy28S-CRjpRNFrGk1k0Sn5edEV9y5ZtjRFwgPETITION: Demand the presidential candidates oppose the first use of nuclear weapons – petition from WinWithoutWar.org. Add your name to demand a public commitment from every 2020 presidential candidate to institute a policy against the first use of nuclear weapons if elected president. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's easy to use scatalogical terms for highly radioactive nuclear waste — but what happens when that turns out to be the literal problem? ### NH #416: Radiophobia? Schmadiophobia! The Lie at the Heart of Nuclear Ignorance: Majia Nadesan - 8th Anniversary! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiophobia-schmadiophobia-the-lie-at-the-heart-of-nuclear-ignorance-majia-nadesan-8th-anniversary-nh-416/ Published: 2019-06-12 Duration: 00:58:53 Radiophobia? Fear of radiation is worse than exposure to radiation? Lies and propaganda!! This Week's Featured Interview: RADIOPHOBIA? Majia Nadesan rips this nuclear industry propaganda talking point to shreds and shows how it has been used against the people of Japan after Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and now Fukushima. She is a professor at Arizona State University and a researcher on a wide range of interconnected topics including Governmentality, Biopolitics, and Risk Cultural Studies; Autism and Bioethics, Globalization, and Political Economy, Energy Politics, and Organizational Communication. Her books include: Fukushima: Dispossession or Denuclearization, Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. She recently provided a chapter on "Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion" for the book, Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations – and that’s what we’re focusing on today – Radiophobia. Majia Nadesan's LINKS: Nadesan, M. (2018). Radiophobia and the Politics of Social Contagion, a chapter in the collection: Transforming Contagion: Risky Contacts among Bodies, Disciplines, and Nations, edited by B. Fahs, A. Mann, E. Swank; Rutgers University Press. “Lessons of Fukushima” presentation and draft versions of radiophobia chapterBOOK: Fukushima and the Privatization of Risk. Palgrave Pivot. VIDEO : “Fukushima’s Genetic Legacy” – Interview produced by EON – Ecological Options Network.BLOG: Majia’s Blog https://majiasblog.blogspot.com/ Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet – and high level radioactive nuclear waste will be just as deadly, no matter WHAT the Trump administration and Department of Energy seek to call it. Activist Links: Church Rock – Statements of solidarity from individuals and groups can be sent to: Anna Rondon, Executive Director, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute – nmsjei@gmail.com Beyond Nuclear International just posted my review of Gregory Jaczko's book, Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator. Read the review HERE. Listen to the Nuclear Hotseat interview of Greg Jaczko upon publication of the book HERE. BLACK ROCK – Short documentary on uranium mining on indigenous lands of Northern Saskatchewan. Featured are Candyce and Marius Paul of the English River First Nations people – both previous Nuclear Hotseat interviewees. ### NH #415: PILGRIM NUCLEAR SHUTDOWN! Celebrate, then on to Decommissioning Battles: Diane Turco, Mary Lampert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/pilgrim-nuclear-shutdown-celebrate-then-on-to-decommissioning-battles-diane-turco-mary-lampert-nh-415/ Published: 2019-06-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Pilgrim Nuclear Shutdown! One of the many demonstrations by Cape Downwinders that helped make the closure happen. This Week's Featured Interviews: Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts – the exact same design as the reactors that melted down at Fukushima Daiichi – permanently shut down as of June 1, 2019 after a long struggle by local activists. Nuclear Hotseat spoke with two women who have each been involved for more than 30 years in the Pilgrim nuclear battle. Diane Turco is co-founder and Executive Director of Cape Downwinders. Pilgrim nuclear shutdown demonstration on Cape Cod – Diane Turco on the line, as usual. Mary Lampert is founder of Pilgrim Watch. Shutdown by itself is a good thing, as it takes away the dangers of a catastrophic accident – but it's not over by a long shot. Every nuclear reactor community will face these same issues. Know that both these women acknowledge help they've gotten from other groups, such as the one that shut down Vermont Yankee in 2014, and offer themselves as resources to any group working to shut down their local nuclear nightmare. Click on the links to access their sites and contact them. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear Insanity – a Cataclysm on Earth may not be what the lying propagandists of the nuclear industry had in mind with their "NICE Future" program. Nor would they be fond of Nuclear Is Certainly Expensive! (Feel free to come up with your own acronym!) But their Breakthrough book is so filled with lies about nuclear, it qualifies to win the Pinocchio "Nose Knows When You're Lying!" Award for really horrid, conscious manipulation of nuclear awareness. These people – the ones who thought up, wrote, published and released this waste of trees – have absolutely no shame or conscience. Numnutz fer shure! Nuclear Hotseat brings you honest nuclear news from around the world, every week, in a one-hour podcast/broadcast. Take a moment to share this page and this episode with friends, loved ones, legislators, and whoever you know who is willing to learn what is really going on in the nuclear world. ### NH #414: EMP "Stun Guns in Space" = No Grid, No Nuclear Reactor Controls - 60 Fukushimas in USA? Arnie Gundersen, Robert Manning on Electromagnetic Pulse Dangers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/emp-stun-guns-in-space-60-fukushimas-in-usa-gundersen-on-electromagnetic-pulse-dangers-nh-414/ Published: 2019-05-30 Duration: 00:59:01 EMP – electromagnetic pulse – from nuclear blast in space over Ohio would fry electronic circuits in all nuclear reactor cooling systems from Chicago to the east coast – oh joy! This Week's Featured Interview: A discussion of Electromagnetic Pulses – what they are, what they do, and what they would do to the U.S. energy grid and especially the safety controls of our nuclear reactors. Spoiler alert: it isn't good. We talk with: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education and a leading expert on nuclear technology. The Fairewinds website is designed to be a hub for fact-based, undistorted information about nuclear power in order to fulfill their mission to inform and educate people around the world, legislative officials, and members of the press concerning the scientific and economic issues relating to the production of electricity and the sources of energy used to create power. Robert Manning is a longtime activist against nuclear weapons and the founder of of Nuclear Terror Today, which contains the pledge he spoke about on the show. Susi Snyder is the head of PAX Netherlands and the leader in the international Don't Bank on the Bomb campaign. This program contains a 90 second summary of the DBOTB strategy. A full-length discussion with Susi that explains all aspects of the program — and its growing list of successful divestments from nuclear weapons-producing companies, is on Nuclear Hotseat #412 from May 14, 2019. Resources: Fairewinds video on EMP from nuclear weapon in space Fairewinds video on EMP from Solar StormWatch the video, take the pledge! Nuclear Terror Today Wondering how far the Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio is from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant? Mapquest weighs in at 3.7 miles and a 4 minute drive: Zahn's Corner Middle School is only 3.8 miles from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant – Mapquest ### NH #413: Radioactive Contamination in Ohio School SPECIAL: Whistleblower Vina Colley Exposes Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant History + BREAKING - 4 Years of DOE Monitoring Data to Be Released URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-contamination-ohio-school-whistleblower-vina-colley-exposes-truth-nh-413/ Published: 2019-05-23 Radioactive Contamination found in your kid's school – the letter no parent ever wants to receive. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Radioactive contamination found at Ohio School – where is it from and what does it mean? Interview with Vina Colley; she is, in her own words, "a Whistleblower, a sick worker from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon, Ohio." Vina is a Co-Founder of National Nuclear Workers for Justice (NNWJ) and Portsmouth/Piketon Resident for Environmental Safety and Security, or (PRESS). For more than 30 years, she has pushed the government to take responsibility for the radiological contamination that came from the Uranium Enrichment site, and execute The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), which was enacted in October 2000 to compensate workers for their health issues caused by working within DOE’s nuclear facilities. She provides history and insights into the radiation contamination at the Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio – only two miles from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant. BREAKING: Energy Secretary Rick Perry orders the last 4+ years of radiation monitoring around Portsmouth site to be released to the public. Kevin Kamps, nuclear waste watchdog for Beyond Nuclear, spoke at the May 13, 2019 Congressional Briefing on Nuclear Waste that was held in Washington, DC. In this excerpt from his presentation, he speaks against the proposed Consolidated “Interim” Storage site in New Mexico. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Our tax dollars are paying for lying PR propaganda printouts from the US Department of Energy on the despicable "NICE Futures Initiative" – "NICE" standing for "Nuclear Innovation Clean Energy" – GAK! Lies, lies, lies! ### NH #412: Nuclear Divestment Campaign takes $$$ Out of Nuke Weapons Manufacturing - Susi Snyder of Don't Bank on the Bomb + Three Mile Island Closing by Sept. 30! w/Eric Epstein, TMI Alert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-divestment-takes-profit-out-of-nuke-weapons-susi-snyder-dont-bank-on-the-bomb/ Published: 2019-05-16 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Divestment: Taking money out of the WRONG Financial Choice. Cover of the Don't Bank on the Bomb pdf report on every company that manufactures components for nuclear weapons. This Week's Featured Interviews: Nuclear divestment means institutional nuke investments are going down — and Susi Snyder explains how any one of us can join the movement. She is project lead for the PAX No Nukes Project and coordinator for the Don’t Bank on the Bomb research and campaign. She’s an expert on nuclear weapons, with over two decades of experience working at the intersect between nuclear weapons and human rights. LINK to the 2018 Global Report on the Financing of Nuclear Weapons Producers HERE. To find out which financial institutions provide funding for nuclear weapons producers, CLICK HERE. Eric Epstein is the Executive Director of Three Mile Island Alert, and has been active in the movement for over 40 years. He explains the failed bailout and what's next in dealing with the highly radioactive waste. Numnutz of the Week (For Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The lying Shill-burger of Forbes strikes again. Activist Links: Frances Crowe, 92-year-old veteran activist who helped shut down Vermont Yankee, has written a book: Finding my Radical Soul. Available on Amazon.Nuclear Decision Game – Find out what's involved in determining whether or not to launch a world-ending salvo of nuclear weapons. NOTE: Give yourself time; this is a very intense exercise. Beginning screen of the Nuclear Decision Game Nuclear Hotseat relies on your donations to help us keep going and growing. To make a donation of any size, CLICK HERE, and know that whatever you can do to help is both necessary and deeply appreciated. ### NH #411: Indigenous Nuclear Genocide: Uranium Mining on Native Lands w/International Activists Candyce Paul, Leona Morgan, Ashish Birulee URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/indigenous-nuclear-genocide-mining-issues-on-native-lands-w-international-activists-candyce-paul-leona-morgan-ashish-birulee-nh-411nh-411/ Published: 2019-05-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Indigenous Nuclear activists (clockwise from upper left) Candyce Paul, webinar producers from the UK's Stop New Nuclear, Ashish Birulee, and Leona Morgan This Week's Featured Speakers: Indigenous Nuclear Genocide: The start of the nuclear fuel chain is uranium mining, the weight of which comes down disproportionately on indigenous people, the poor and/or people of color This week's Nuclear Hotseat features excerpts from a webinar produced on May 4, 2019, by Stop New Nuclear in the UK and moderated by Nikki Clark. Participants featured on today's show are: Candyce Paul is an artist and activist of the English River First Nations in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. She works with the group Committee for Future Generations, and talks here about uranium mining and waste burial issues being pushed in what is perceived as being pristine forests and lands in far northern Canada… when it's all being contaminated by the nuclear fuel chain. Other groups dealing with these issues include: Say NO to Nuclear in Northern Saskatchewan and First Nations Say ENOUGH. Leona Morgan is of the Dineh people, what the western world thinks of as the Navajo people of Arizona and New Mexico. She works with many groups, most recently Halt Holtec, against the proposed so-called "interim" high level nuclear waste dumps being pushed onto New Mexico. Navajo Birth Cohort Study LINK. At one point in her presentation Leona refers to a map: Ashish Birulee is of the traditional Adavasi people from Jarkhand in India. You can follow his work at Jhakhandi Organization Against Radiation. Here are links to his writing: ‘I’ve Seen My Own Relatives Die Of Radiation’: Life As An Activist’s Son In Jadugoda Jadugoda: Drowning in Nuclear Greed Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A plutonium implosion test leaks radiation, takes weeks to clean up, IDs cracks in the vessel's fastener washers… but brags about keeping to schedule, DOESN'T do more than inspect the vessel visually, and wow, look at that test data! The nuclear industry and those who inhabit it must be out of their minds. ### NH #410: Chernobyl #3: Harrowing Play-by-Play of an Ultimate Nuclear Disaster - Author Adam Higginbotham URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-ultimate-nuclear-disaster-recreated-author-adam-higginbotham/ Published: 2019-05-02 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl play-by-play of how the disaster happened: new book by Adam Higginbotham This Week's Featured Interview: Adam Higginbotham is the author of MIDNIGHT IN CHERNOBYL: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster, the first complete account of the catastrophe that encircled the world and helped precipitate the fall of the Soviet Union. Higginbotham draws upon recently declassified documents, letters, unpublished memoirs and material from the archives of the Chernobyl Museum in Kiev, as well as scores of original interviews with participants in the events of 1986. The book reads like a thriller, with identifiable characters, arcs of action or inaction, good guys, bad guys, dupes, government corruption, and international politics. It is almost a great book. But as you will hear, he and I also have a complete variance of opinion when it comes to his conclusions as to Chernobyl’s ultimate impact on the world. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Radioactive beer? OK, so it might give me internal contamination – but how does it taste? Activist Links: States are Using Tapayer Money to Greenwash Dirty Nuclear Power – New Republic by Linda Pentz GunterLINK to copy of full-page ad in the Hill Times by 24 Canadian environmental watchdog groups bringing up "grave concerns" about the handling of Canada's federally-owned nuclear wastes by a multinational consortium that includes companies and corporate partners, "some of which have faced criminal charges." Stop New Nuclear in the UK at their World Record Breaking Nuclear Waste Barrel Connectivity event at Surround Springfields! ### NH #409: Chernobyl Radiation Cover-Ups & Deadly Truth: Kate Brown, author, Manual for Survival URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-radiation-cover-ups-devastating-truth-kate-brown-author-manual-for-survival/ Published: 2019-04-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl radiation impact on a father and son This Week's Featured Interview: Chernobyl Radiation's true health impact revealed: A very special interview with Kate Brown, author of Manual for Survival: A Chernobyl Guide to the Future. She is an historian of environmental and nuclear history at MIT and the author of the Plutopia, which won seven awards. She did research on the ground in eastern Europe, through 27 medical archives, to piece together the story of how Chernobyl's radiation impacted and continues to harm the health of people and the environment in Eastern Europe and far beyond. Breathtaking in her clarity, precision… and the info. Not to be missed! Kate Brown's book is available at most bookstores. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): In a so-called "limited" nuclear war, "only" 1% of the world's population would be killed – a mere 76 MILLION PEOPLE — so of course, in the face of such horror and devastation, it's only natural that people would think immediately of protecting… their investment portfolios! Here's the LINK to the article. (Shocking to think this came from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. You'd think they would be able to focus on the science, the health devastation, the destructio of climate, crops, the crumbling of society – do they actually think they'll be able to keep "civilization" together after a nuclear war, even a so-called "limited" one? "Numnutz" is too weak a term to cover that eventuality.) Action Links: Kate Brown‘s article, Chernobyl’s disastrous cover-up is a warning for the next nuclear ageWhy the financial community should work to prevent the market and economic shocks of a nuclear incidentHarvey Wasserman's "America's "Hole-in-the-Head" Nuke Suicide Pact Gets Court Approval"Excellent article: "How nuclear plants are gaming climate-change rules"Beyond Nuclear International's "Chernobyl Children in a Havana Hospital" – filmNuclear power is not a viable solution for Green New Deal HOW TO DISMANTLE A NUCLEAR BOMB How to Dismantle a Nuclear Bomb from Outrider Foundation ### NH #408: Chernobyl 33 Anniversary SPECIAL #1 - Yablakov, Mousseau, Survivor Kouneva, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-anniversary-yablakov-mousseau-survivor-kouneva-more-nh-406/ Published: 2019-04-17 Chernobyl at 33:  The melted, still highly radioactive nuclear fuel at the bottom of Chernobyl, nicknamed the "elephant's foot." Listen Here: [powerpress] The Chernobyl nuclear disaster marks its 33rd anniversary on April 26, and Nuclear Hotseat marks it with two SPECIAL reports on the accident and its aftermath.  This week’s episode features interviews with a Chernobyl survivor; the man behind the keystone book on the disaster and the doctor who edited it; the world's premiere on-the-ground evolutionary biologist investigating mutations, and a photojournalist who makes the Chernobyl/Fukushima connection.  It bring Ukraine’s devastating 1986 nuclear accident — and its ongoing consequences — into sharp, terrifying, and very personal focus. This Week’s Special Interviews: Bonnie Kouneva was a 16-year-old living in Bulgaria when the Chernobyl accident started on April 26, 1986.  She was outdoors in the rain all day at a rally and got hit with the radiation plume.  Bonnie talks about Chernobyl’s impact on her life and the health of her children.  This former mountaineer and Bulgarian Greenpeace member currently lives in the United States. Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. Dr. Janette Sherman is well known for her work with epidemiologist Joseph Mangano on analyses of data after Fukushima.  Their work indicates that the Japanese nuclear disaster led to a spike in US infant mortality and hypothyroidism.  Dr. Sherman edited the English translation of Alexei Yablokov’s groundbreaking book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment. Dr. Alexei Yablokov was environmental advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace, Russia.  His book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl that completely contradict the World Health Organization’s report, which denied, undermined and tried to obscure the serious health risks in the wake of the accident.  Dr. Yablakov died in January, 2017. Ryuichi Hirokawa was the first non-Soviet photojournalist to document the Chernobyl disaster. The website on his humanitarian aid work with the children of Fukushima, based upon his experiences at Chernobyl, is at: kuminosato.net. Helicopter view of Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, shortly after the disaster began.  It was still leaking high levels of radiation when this picture was taken, which accounts for the grainy quality of the image. ### NH #407: Three Mile Island 40th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: Libbe HaLevy's Trip Back to TMI - Gundersen, Epstein, Folkers, Layman, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-40-special-libbe-halevys-trip-back-tmi-gundersen-epstein-folkers-layman-more-nh-407/ Published: 2019-04-11 Duration: 00:56:56 Three Mile Island at 40 – TMI Vigil at the gates to the reactor facility, March 28, 2019, 3:57 a.m. Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy (right) commemorates her past. Listen Here: [powerpress] A very SPECIAL Nuclear Hotseat as producer/host Libbe HaLevy returns to Three Mile Island, site of the 1979 meltdown that changed her life.  An intimate portrait of the experience as she attends the 40th anniversary  events, talks with other survivors, technical experts, and national activists, and provides the "You Are There" experience for those who could not attend. INTERVIEWEES INCLUDE: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education.  Arnie's slides and maps will be made available shortly. Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds, speaking at the Three Mile Island press conference in the rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg. Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert. Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert (l) and Libbe HaLevy at Penn State conference Christine Layman, Admin of the Three Mile Island Survivors Facebook page, which now has more than 3,600 members. Christine Laymen of Three Mile Island Survivors group on Facebook, at the vigil recording the events.  Note the line we could not cross and police presence in BG. Cindy Folkers who specializes in radiation impact on health for Beyond Nuclear.  To learn more about the need for blood tests after a nuclear accident, CLICK HERE for links to a symposium hosted by National Academy of Sciences, March 12, 2019 – March 13, 2019 Tim Judson, executive director of Nuclear Information Resource Service, or NIRS. Participants in Heidi Hutner‘s upcoming film, ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: The Women of Three Mile Island.  LINK to the film's website and sizzle reel HERE. Japanese Journalist Hiroko Aihara from Fukushima The women from Japan at the TMI/40 vigil. Hiroko Aihara is on the right. Survivors of the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown, telling their personal stories. …and many more Penn State's TMI 40th anniversary events will broadcast on C-SPAN3 on April 13.  If video is available after that, it will be linked to HERE. For the full story of Libbe HaLevy's harrowing experience at Three Mile Island on March 28-30, 1979, check out her book:  YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK!  One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat.  Available on Amazon – CLICK HERE or ON THE PICTURE: Joe Rodriguez (l) of Three Mile Island Survivors on Facebook, with Libbe HaLevy and her book. ### NH #406: San Onofre Madness: Edison Lies, NRC Regulators Wimping Out - Nina Babiarz of Public Watchdogs + Langley, Aguirre, Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-madness-edison-lies-pushes-regulators-wimping-nina-babiarz-public-watchdogs-langley-aguirre-gilmore-nh-406/ Published: 2019-04-04 Duration: 00:59:01 San Onofre Madness: nuclear waste storage in "lemon" of a Holtec system? No thanks! We deserve better! This Week's Featured Interview: Nina Babiarz is a board member of Public Watchdogs, a non-profit safety watchdog group which has worked closely on San Onofre issues. Among the testimonies given in front of Southern California Edison's tightly controlled Community Enragement, uh, Engagement Panel hearings: San Clemente resident Jeff SteinmetzSan Diego-based attorney Mike Aguirre Public Watchdogs Executive Director Charles LangleyDonna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Just in case Japan wasn't being besieged by ongoing radiation releases from Fukushima Daiichi and you want more radioactivity, just join the Japanese online auction for depleted uranium and yellowcake uranium concentrate powder! (What – no ebay "buy now" option?) Activist Info Links: Fairewinds Energy Education article refuting the Michael Shill-burger, uh, Shellenberger pro-nuclear infomercial that appeared in Forbes on March 11, 2019 (Numnutz of the Week, Nuclear Hotseat #403, March 12, 2019). Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three MIle Island Prove Why Nuclear Power will Never Be Inherently Safe provides a stunning smackdown of Steve Forbes' favorite nuclear shill – and represents the kind of excellent work we have come to expect from Fairewinds.Startup promotes permanent nuclear waste storage by Christine Legere in Cape Cod Times. A look at a possible means of permanently storing nuclear waste that will not require Yucca Mountain and just might be effective, as well as economically feasible.How To Survive Radiation Exposure – Guidance on Diagnosis and Treatment for Healthcare Providers – government info. I haven't had a chance to check this one out thoroughly. Anyone who has the inclination to do so, vet the info and send me an email at: info@nuclearhotseat.com with your evaluation. This will help guide future coverage. Thanks! ### NH #405: Three Mile Island 40th Anniversary SPECIAL, Pt. 1 - Nuclear Terror, Radiation Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-40th-anniversary-pt-1-wtf-happened-at-tmi-nh-405/ Published: 2019-03-26 Duration: 00:59:00 Three Mile Island button protest designed by Jules Feiffer NOTE: I am currently in Harrisburg, PA, for events surrounding the 40th anniversary of the 1979 nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island. Today's program, Nuclear Hotseat's Annual TMI Anniversary SPECIAL, will be followed in two weeks by another SPECIAL, this one on the result of my current trip, including current actions around TMI, what's been learned about health and safety, and the industry's frantic, high-monied full court press to extend the reactor's life beyond a scheduled 2019 closing. – Libbe. This Week: Three Mile Island 40th Anniversary SPECIAL Libbe HaLevy's recounting of that terrifying accident from having been only one mile away. Includes interviews with and information from: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education. Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Three Mile Island Alert. Peter Bradford, who was a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner during the TMI accident.Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert at TMIA.org.Three Mile Island Alert’s Radiation monitoring at EFMR.orgMary Stamos (Osborn), long time Middletown resident, TMI survivor, and TMIA member, whose collection of mutated plants and flowers has just been accepted by the Smithsonian Institution.Walter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as “the most trusted newsman in America. (Cronkite's CBS network reports on TMI have been SCRUBBED FROM YOUTUBE!) Walter Cronkite, on the CBS network news special on the TMI accident from March 30, 1979 Interviews with residents, doctors, activists, audio from inside TMI as the accident was happening, media reports, and more.PLUS: Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy’s personal story of having been one mile away from TMI while the accident was happening. This is the subject of Libbe’s recently published nuclear memoir, Yes, I Glow in the Dark! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat. Available on Amazon. ### NH #404: Cooper Nuclear Flooding Threat Continues - Paul Gunter, Gail Snyder + Illinois Fast-moving Nuclear Political Trickery - Dave Kraft URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/cooper-nuclear-flooding-threat-continues-paul-gunter-gail-snyder-illinois-dave-kraft/ Published: 2019-03-21 Cooper Nuclear flooding dangers shown in Nebraska Public Power District's (NPPD) website video – Missouri River flooding at facility shown as of Friday, March 15, 2019. This Week's Featured Interviews: Paul Gunter is Director of the Reactor Oversight Project at Beyond Nuclear and a longtime veteran of the anti-nuclear wars. He talks about the history of flooding and water leakage at Cooper Nuclear.Gail Snyder is Board Chair of Chicago’s NEIS – Nuclear Energy Information Service. She addresses the challenge that climate change poses for nuclear reactors and what the future may look like for Cooper nuclear and all other nukes.In a separate story, Dave Kraft, Executive Director of NEIS – Nuclear Energy Information Service, is working on testimony to the Illinois state legislature to stop a move by Entergy (in unholy alliance with the state's high-profile "environmental" groups) to create a separate energy market in Illinois that would allow state nukes currently slated for shutdown to keep running as part of the lie of their contribution to "clean" energy. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Deregulate nukes? Let the operators provide more "self-assessments" and cut back on public disclosures of problems? Sure! And while you're at it, let's put the fox in charge of the hen house, because, hey, what could go wrong? (ANSWER: DON'T ASK!) Activist Info Links: Cancer and Infant Mortality at Three Mile Island by John LaForge of Nukewatch.Changes in Congenital Anomaly Incidence in West Coast and Pacific States (USA) after Arrival of Fukushima Fallout by Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano and Dr. Janette Sherman.Russia, China back nuclear as a clean-power fix for AfricaSo What Really Happens when you "Pop" a Nuke over Topeka? ### NH #403: Diablo Canyon Nuclear Dangers: Solartopia's Harvey Wasserman, Mothers for Peace Linda Seeley, Molly Johnson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/diablo-canyon-nuclear-dangers-harvey-wasserman-mothers-for-peace-linda-seeley-molly-johnson-nh-403403/ Published: 2019-03-14 Diablo Canyon Nuclear activists from 2015 planning event This Week's Featured Interviews: Harvey Wasserman is a veteran activist, author, and host of Pacifica's KPFK-FM program Solartopia. He's a firebrand when it comes to Diablo Canyon's dangers and problems – and ferocious when it comes to how to shut it down. You can reach him at: Solartopia@gmail.com.Linda Seeley and Molly Johnson are longtime activist members of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace – and they've been holding Pacific Gas & Electric‘s feet to the fire to increase safety at Diablo Canyon nukes for decades. Now, it's about planning for the shutdowns, which are scheduled for 2025 and 2026… if it even makes it that long. It Pays to Advertise! San Diego-based Public Watchdogs created this ad and ran 135 paid Public Service Announcements over a two week period. Their next ad will be coming soon! Three Mile Island Alert bus stop ads in Harrisburg, PA. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Bizarroworld is as Bizarroworld does – and when it comes to Forbes, Shellenberger's latest screed on how Chenobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island prove that nuclear energy is really safe <!!!!????!!!!> ranks as the craziest rant yet from this nuclear shill-burger. Or as I've learned to call it – "Gish Gallop" – a technique used during debating that focuses on overwhelming one's opponent with as many arguments as possible, without regard for accuracy or strength of the arguments. Activist and Info Links: Petition to support Fair judgment for the "Trial to Protect Children from Irradiation" in FukushimaFairewinds Energy Education – Arnie Gundersen and Maggie Gundersen with two articles: Atomic Balm Part 1: Prime Minister Abe Uses The Tokyo Olympics As Snake Oil Cure For The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Meltdowns and Atomic Balm Part 2: The Run For Your Life Tokyo OlympicsFair judgment for the "Trial to Protect Children from Irradiation" in FukushimaEPA Adopts Fringe Science Claim That Small Doses of Pollution Are HealthyContractor traded football tickets, rifles for work on SC nuclear fuel plant, feds say ### NH #402: Fukushima Anniversary UPDATE SPECIAL #2: Activist Misao Redwolf, Journalist Carole Hisasue, Simply Info's Nancy Foust, Nuclear Lecturer Dr. Caitlin Stronell, Filmmaker Tsukuru Fors Lauritzen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-anniversary-update-2-activist-misao-redwolf-journalist-hisasue-simply-infos-nancy-foust-nuclear-lecturer-dr-caitlin-stronell-filmmaker-tsukuru-fors-lauritzen/ Published: 2019-03-07 Duration: 00:59:01 Fukushima Anniversary UPDATE SPECIAL: Japanese anti-nuclear activist Misao Redwolf takes a stand at the Friday night Tokyo demonstrations against reactor restarts. This Week's Featured Interviews: Fukushima Anniversary coverage on Nuclear Hotseat continues with a series of interviews with on-the-ground activists from Japan and those who assist their work in the U.S. Misao Redwolf is an Activist/Member and one of the founders of of the Metropolitan Coalition Against Nukes, which coordinated activist response after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. In March 2012, at the one year anniversary, the Coalition began protesting the restart of Japanese nuclear power plants in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence (Kantei) on Friday nights. Interview produced, translated and voice over by Carole Hisasue. Nuclear Hotseat interview with Misao Redwolf in Japanese – 首都圏反原発連合のMisao Redwolf: https://youtu.be/zqrR11UDAcI Read the English language Japan Times article about Misao. Carole Hisasue is a former journalist and media personality from Tokyo. Now, she is an anti-nuclear activist living in California, where she continues to write and work on media projects. Carole has attended the Friday night demonstrations in Tokyo many times, and filed this report exclusively to Nuclear Hotseat.Nancy Foust is Communications Manager and Research Team Member at SimplyInfo.org. Simply Info is a not for profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. This is the conclusion of our interview, the full length version of which is featured in Nuclear Hotseat #401 – February 26, 2019. Dr. Caitlin Stronell is an internationally-trained nuclear lecturer who is presently working as a researcher with the Japan-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center. She gives us a broader picture of the manipulation of Fukushima survivors and the difficulties they continue to face, eight years after having to evacuate their homes in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear triple meltdown.Tsukuru Fors Lauritzen, a Los-Angeles based member of the Fukushima Support Committee. Born and raised in Japan, Tsukuru graduated from a high school in Hiroshima, where 350 students lost their young lives on August 6, 1945 in the atom bomb explosion. She came to the U.S. at age 19 and considers it a life's mission to be an active force to bring forth a nuclear-free future. Most recently, Tsukuru has been presenting presenting documentaries about Fukushima and its impact so audiences can see and hear for themselves what people in Japan are going through since the nuclear disaster began. LOS ANGELES SCREENING: "Fukushima Voices" by Toshikuni Doi 1-5 p.m. includes post-film Q&A Saturday, March 9, 2019 Art Share LA, 801 East Fourth Place, Los Angeles, 90013 To book a screening of "Fukushima Voices," contact Tsukuru Fors Lauritzen at: forfuturefukushima@gmail.com"A-2, B, C" is the film by Ian Thomas Ash cited by Tsukuru. It reveals radiation risks to children and damage to their thyroids following the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Interview with filmmaker as well as more information on children and Fukushima radiation risks with Nuclear Hotseat's Voices from Japan producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko can be found in Nuclear Hotseat #178 from November 18, 2014. Fukushima children show off their radiation dosimeters. ### NH #401: Fukushima Update SPECIAL: Microparticles, Medical Data Manipulation, More! Simply Info's 2019 Fukushima Report w/Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-update-simply-info-2019-fukushima-report-nancy-foust-nuclear-hotseat/ Published: 2019-02-28 Fukushima Update: Photo sequence of the explosion at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors, March 14, 2011, that spewed radioactive microparticles into the environment This Week's Featured Interview: Fukushima UPDATE SPECIAL – Nancy Foust is Communications Manager & Research Team Member SimplyInfo.org, a not for profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. Every year they publish an extensively researched and vetted update on what’s happening at the disaster site and to the people still living with the aftermath. This is a gold standard report, and we’re fortunate to have secured Nancy for an interview before the report is released to the public. We spoke on Monday, February 25, 2019. Copies of the Simply Info Fukushima at 8 – 2019 UPDATE Report will be available at: simplyinfo.org as of March 10, 2019, and on Amazon.com as of March 12, 2019. Godzilla, a metaphor for the impact of the atomic bomb, was created in 1954 by filmmaker Ishirō Honda, who was originally from Fukushima. Activist Info Links: Previous Nuclear Hotseat episode on United Nations Lies re: Fukushima Radiation – SPECIAL long-form interview with Dr Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). He takes down official UNSCEAR report with footnotes, peer-review studies, and a hefty dose of inconvenient truth. Nuclear Hotseat #376 from September 4, 2018To learn about how radiation statistics from Chernobyl continue to be manipulated to hide the ongoing severity and impact of that 1986 nuclear disaster, listen to the classic Nuclear Hotseat interview with Alison Katz of the group International WHO, which has the data and research that prove that the United Nations agency has severely and intentionally understated the number of deaths caused – and STILL BEING CAUSED – by the radiation released by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. You can access the most recent presentation of that information HERE. ### NH #400: Nuclear Brexit: UK's Hinkley C, Sellafield Nightmares w/Veteran Activist Nikki Clark URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-brexit-sellafield-nuke-uk/ Published: 2019-02-21 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Brexit marks the 400th episode of Nuclear Hotseat! This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Brexit?  This week, as Brexit looms over the United Kingdom, we learn about another pending boondoggle in that country: the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant proposed new build.  What's so wrong with this particular new nuke and what are activists doing about it? We talk with Nikki Clark, one of three founders of the UK direct action group South West Against Nuclear, which came into existence in 2010 in response to government plans to go ahead with a program of new nuclear reactors.  She’s been involved in anti-nuclear campaigning for the best part of 17 years, during which time she’s been arrested and taken to court over my actions against Trident submarines – the UK's nuclear bomb delivery service. South West Against Nuclear links:Stop New Nuclear on Facebookstopnewnuclear.org.ukSpringaction2019@stopnewnuclear.org.uk Link to booklet: Spotlight on Springfields And now… HOW TO MAKE A WEARABLE NUCLEAR WASTE BARREL Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Why is it that tourists to Fukushima assume that just because they're from outside the area, they are immune to the impact of radiation exposure? And don't they know they're being used as propaganda pawns, much to the (unofficial) delight the Japanese Government and the International Olympics Committee? When outsiders "visit" the Evacuation Zone and take all those digital snapshots and selfies, they're being used to normalize the perception of Fukushima as being "safe," which undermines the families that know better and absolutely do NOT want to be forced to move back. An elaborate shell game, made palatable to the west because, hey, it's a tour, you're on vacation – what could go wrong? Activist Info Links: 170 Million in U.S. Drink Radioactive Tap Water. Trump Nominee Faked Data to Hide Cancer Risk. – Excellent article by Environmental Working Group that lets you know how likely it is that you're drinking radwater thinking it's safe… when it's not. ### NH #399: Green New Deal & Climate Change: NUKES WILL NOT HELP! – Gundersen has the Science, NEIS's Gail Snyder w/the GND Languaging Tricks. URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/green-new-deal-climate-change-nukes-will-not-help-gundersen-has-the-science-neiss-gail-snyder-w-the-gnd-languaging-tricks-nuclear-hotseat-399/ Published: 2019-02-14 Green New Deal may be co-opted before it ever starts if it allows nuclear energy. Image Credit:  Barnaby Chambers; used with Permission of Fairewinds Energy Education Listen Here: [powerpress] This week's featured interviews: Green New Deal languaging analyzed for hidden pro-nuclear landmines by  Gail Snyder, Board Chair of Chiago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS). Are nukes "carbon-free" and can they actually help turn around global warming?  Arnie Gundersen is Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education, as well as a former licensed nuclear reactor operator and whistleblower — and he rips that nuclear industry propaganda campaign to shreds.  On Sunday, December 3, 2017, Arnie spoke in Chicago and gave a brilliant explanation of global warming and why it's impossible for nukes to help. "Carbon free?"  NOT!Additional clarity from Arnie Gundersen and Fairewinds: Video of Arnie speech at McGill University – CO2 Smokescreen: New Nukes Make Global Warming Worse Two-minute animation  explains why new nukes will not help with global warming:  SMOKESCREEN Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) What better cure for fears about radiation in Fukushima farm, fishery and forestry products than a new 30-second advertising spot!  Just smear it around TV, cinemas and online – et voilá!  Nothing changes but perception. Information Links: Sheila Parks op-ed: A Response to Sen. Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – Nuclear Power Has A Large Carbon Footprint Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:  Russia may have violated the INF Treaty.  Here's how the United States appears to have done the same.  Bob Alvarez:  Plutonium Wastes from the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex October, 2011 Scientific American article:  Fukushima Nuclear Plant Released Far More Radiation than Government Said Libbe HaLevy's Book: Support the show, support my work, learn a lot about me, nuclear, and musical theatre; go to Amazon and buy your copy of… YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat "Absolutely fascinating.  This book must be read by all people who care about the future of the planet and their children" – Dr. Helen Caldicott "Excellent!  Easy reading, breezy, personal, interesting very well-written – and highly informative.  I find the content impeccable." – Karl Grossman, award-winning investigative reporter and author, COVER UP: What you ARE NOT SUPPOSED to KNOW ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER. ### NH #398: Smithsonian Accepts Three Mile Island Plant Mutation Collection! - Mary Osborn URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/smithsonian-accepts-three-mile-island-plant-mutation-collection-mary-osborn/ Published: 2019-02-07 Smithsonian accepts! Just one example of a radiation-mutated flower found near Three Mile Island by local resident Mary Osborn. Her collection has been accepted by the Smithsonian Institution. This Week's Featured Interviews: Smithsonian accepts Mary Osborn's Three Mile Island radiation/plant mutation collection. Mary Osborn, a long time member of Three Mile Island Alert, has been gathering flowers, leaves and plants that show signs of fasciation – mutations that reveal the negative impact of radiation on their growth and reproduction since shortly after the 1979 meltdown. Her full collection has been accepted by the Smithsonian Institution to be preserved, digitized, and made available to the public. This is a HUGE win! We spoke on January 17, 2019.Scott Portzline of TMIAlert sprovides background explanation of what it took to get the Smithsonian to consider Mary's collection – and how rare it is that they accept anything that is offered to them, making this acceptance a real score.Inspired by the work of Daniel Ellsberg, activists Robert Manning and Kenny Dubroff have created a new website and an action to take. An explanatory video narrated by Peter Coyote and the pledge they ask that you sign are at: NuclearTerrorToday.org Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The US Pentagon and Department o)f Defense want to be able to fly small nuclear reactors to battlefields around the world to power, oh, lights, camera, xboxes… I mean, really – what could go wrong? (That was not rhetorical!) Activist Info Links: The Japanese Government Is Lying to the International Community: the Radiological Situation in and around Fukushima is NOT Safe – Appeal from a Japanese Anti-nuclear Activist Etsuji Watanabe Taxpayers Should Not Fund Bill Gates' Nuclear Albatross – good analysis from think progress.org on the Microsoft billionaire's Congressional push to get at least $1 billion to fund unproven nuclear technology — a great way to get gazillions more into Gates' pocket while doing absolutely nothing for climate change. ### NH #397: New Mexico Nuclear Waste Showdown at NOT OK Corral: Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-nuclear-waste-showdown-at-not-ok-corral-beyond-nuclears-kevin-kamps-nh-397/ Published: 2019-01-31 New Mexico nuclear waste dump?  A mock radioactive waste canister representing the 100,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel rods Holtec wants New Mexico to store until a permanent high level radioactive waste facility is built. (Don Hancock photo) Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: New Mexico nuclear waste dump, its illegality, dangers and opposition from the local community as well as national groups is explored with Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Specialist for Beyond Nuclear. Kevin was in Albuquerque for last week's Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearings to decide what, if any, objections can even be allowed to be considered in siting the Consolidated (so-called) "Interim" Waste Facility– aka high level radioactive waste dump.  Kevin has also been  working overtime for months in the preparation for these hearings.  We spoke on January 25, the day after the NRC hearings ended. Scott Portzline of Three Mile Island Alert has compiled a series of "Bizarre Facts about Three Mile Island."  In honor of the upcoming 40th anniversary of Three Mile Island  on March 28 of this year, we're running the Top 10 Bizarre Facts.  The first five are presented in this week's show. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): This is known:  Exposure to radiation causes cancer.  Breathing radon gas can lodge radioactive particles in the air passages or lungs.  Even the Environmental Protection Agency warns against breathing in radon.  So Why TF are people sitting in abandoned uranium mines to breathe radon-tainted air as a "health treatment?"  Some things are just more numnutz than others! Activist Action Info Links: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – Doomsday Clock Set at 2 Minutes to Midnight – "Welcome to the New Abnormal." Climate Protection through Nuclear Power Plants?  Hardly! by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists New Zealand:  Kiwis fear cancer after working near leaky US nuclear reactor in Antarctica ### NH #396: New Mexico Radioactive Waste Showdown: Don Hancock on WIPP and Proposed "Interim" Storage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-radioactive-waste-showdown-don-hancock-on-wipp-and-proposed-interim-storage-nh-396/ Published: 2019-01-24 Duration: 00:59:01 New Mexico's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad This Week's Featured Interview: New Mexico's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) radioactive waste problems examined in Libbe HaLevy's interview with Don Hancock, Executive Director of the Southwest Research and Information Center, a nuclear watchdog group headquartered in Albuquerque. The group focuses on the goings-on at WIPP, this country's only deep geological repository for low level nuclear waste. He gives us an update on conditions at WIPP since its 2014 accidents closed it down, along with the intense political wrangling going on right now about changing regulations to allow WIPP to take high level waste it’s not designed to handle. We also go into the battle raging right now over the threat of the world’s largest radioactive waste dump being situated in New Mexico and/or New Mexico-adjacent in West Texas. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you're in a nuclear submarine and high enough in the water to be able to look out the periscope, don't you think you should be able to notice that you're on a crash course towards a 1,300 person/660 vehicle ferry boat? Activist Info Links: New Film on Sister Megan Rice and the Plowshares movement: The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bombs. Five Reasons NOT to Invest in Nuclear by Bob AlvarezAt Least 340,00 Americans Died from Radioactive Fallout Between 1951 and 1973When ALL of America's New Nuclear WArhead Designs Will be Active — and How Much They'll Cost Yes, I Glow in the Dark! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat by Libbe HaLevy Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy's book about having been one mile from the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. Filled with personal narrative of having been ground zero at almost-Armageddon, stories from her career in show business, how Nuclear Hotseat came to be (and some of its more notable stories), and a guide to how to fight back against the nuclear industry. Available now on Amazon. ### NH #395: "Nuclear: Dangerous, A Failed Technology" - Former Nuke Regulatory Chief Greg Jaczko Goes Rogue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/rogue-nuclear-regulator-jaczko/ Published: 2019-01-17 Duration: 00:59:01 Rogue Nuclear Regulator: Former Chair of the NRC, Greg Jaczko This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interview: Greg Jaczko, the former Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has published an explosive new book: Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator. In it, he gets honest with the American people about the dangers of nuclear technology, which he labels "failed," "dangerous," "not reliable." He particularly comes down against nuclear as having any part in mitigating the problems of climate change/global warming. In this extended Nuclear Hotseat interview, Jaczko brings us inside the NRC's response to Fukushima, the "precipice" on which nuclear safety balances, his own growing doubts about how safe nuclear reactors are in the United States, and how, ultimately, it was that concern with safety that probably brought him down. "Jaczko Nixes Nukes" – A Backgrounder on Greg Jaczko's book and the issues he addresses from Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you want to sell Fukushima food propaganda, what better spokespeople than… children! Children, who are 5-10 times more vulnerable to radiation damage to their bodies than adults! Can you say, "MMmm… MMmm… WRONG!"? Activist Links: Excellent program on the anniversary of Hawaii's nuclear missile false alarm, when one text message turned the state of into a state of emergency. It aired on NPR's SNAP JUDGMENT last Friday, January 11: THIS IS NOT A DRILL. It provides interviews with families affected, including a Hibakusha woman living in Hawaii who, as a schoolgirl, lived in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped… and then experienced this Hawaiian alarm. A truly chilling perspective on the reality of nuclear war dangers and fears, from people who lived through this ham-handed notification "oops" when an inattentive worker clicked the wrong item from a drop-down computer menu. The episode is well worth your time to listen. ### NH #394: UChicago Nuclear Die-In at Atomic Pile Commemoration - New Anti-Nuke Generation's India Weston URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uchicago-die-in-at-atomic-pile-commemoration-new-generations-india-weston/ Published: 2019-01-10 Duration: 00:59:01 UChicago's Henry Moore Statue "Nuclear Energy" was surrounded by body outlines representing the civilians who were killed by atomic bomb blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Photos: Brittney Dorton This Week's Featured Interview: UChicago's India Weston, a remarkable young anti-nuclear activist, fills us in on the new-media way she first discovered the hidden nuclear history, how she grew in her understanding nuclear issues under the mentorship of Prof. Norma Field, and not only what motivated her to head-up two extremely effective protests at UChicago, but what they were and what they did. It’s an encouraging story, for a change, of how to engage a younger generation in learning about nuclear issues and continuing the legacy of anti-nuclear work. Two views of India Weston's most recent anti-nuclear action, at the Henry Moore sculpture "Nuclear Energy" on the campus of UChicago. On the left, the blacking in of outlines of the die-in demonstrators from 2017. On the right, the "ghosts" left behind after either rain or campus-mandated scrubbing of the paint – an eerie reminder that the true legacy of the atomic bomb is not in the sky, but on the ground. View from adjacent scientist-filled building: Original Die-in Body Images in black. "Cleaned up" ghost-like body images – a different kind of nuclear legacy. LINK to India Weston's paper, "Artistic Interventions in UChicago’s Nuclear Media Ecology: Methods and Analysis." Clumsy academic title; interesting read. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Two words: Chernobyl. Rave. Final thought: Oy! Activist Links: Backgrounder on the work of Marco Kaltofen and his work measuring radioactive contamination in communities around nuclear sites. This is the work that busted Hanford on the contamination of workers after two 2018 accidents and is now in place in a 25 mile radius of the Santa Susana Field Lab, the site of a 1959 nuclear meltdown and the start of the recent Woolsey Fire, only 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. ### NH #393: Numnutz of the Year 2018 - SPECIAL! - A Look Back at Nuclear Insanity URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/numnutz-of-the-year-2018-special-a-look-back-at-nuclear-insanity/ Published: 2019-01-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Numnutz of the Year starts out with the year's first Numnutz of the Week – U.S. Strategic Command bares all with its (yuk yuk!) New Year's Tweet!  Feeling safe yet? This Week's SPECIAL: A look back at 2018 through the lens of Nuclear Hotseat's most popular feature, Numnutz of the Week. Listen to the wacky antics of the world's most dangerous technology as it sails through: Japan's hard work to "normalize" Fukushima and its radiation so the tourists dumb enough to show up for the 2020 Radioactive Tokyo Olympics will think that everything is AOK!US nuclear crews who opt for "high" crimes and misdemeanors – not once but twice!Ancient, decrepit or just irrelevent so-called "experts" opining to a transfixed mainstream media in support of nukes… when they have nothing to do with themThe ongoing Fukushima Food Fight – whether it's propaganda on the ground selling Fuku sake to New York hipsters or Japan taking South Korea and now Taiwan to the World Trade Organization to try to ram Fukushima fish down the throats of safety-conscious residents of other countries.Department of Energy playing word games to make us believe that high level waste is really low level waste – and when the citizens arise against you, with good cause, just invest your money in a good PR firm.Nuclear Regulatory Commission incompetence in letting reactors operate at full power during "snow cyclones" and hurricanes, forgetting that there's no way to evacuate or get emergency crews on site because, hey, "snow cyclone" and/or hurricane. All of it leading to that Numnutz of all Numnutz for 2018… Well, you'll have to listen to find out! And with all that, we still have: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Happy New Year from the U.S. Strategic Command! Want to know what they really stand for? C'mon down and read the tweet, not the apologia that quickly followed (but not in time to prevent screen shots!). ### NH #392: Anti-Nuclear Peace Nun Who Broke into “High Security” US Site to Protest Nuclear Weapons: Sister Megan Rice URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/anti-nuclear-peace-nun-who-broke-into-high-security-us-site-to-protest-nuclear-weapons-sister-megan-rice-nh-392/ Published: 2018-12-27 Duration: 00:58:00 Anti-nuclear peace nun Sister Megan Rice, upon her 2015 release from prison on sabotage charges for her peaceful break-in and protest – at age 82 – at the Y-12 "Nuclear Fort Knox" This Week's Featured Interviews: To celebrate the holidays, a reminder of one of 2015’s successes — the early release from prison of the anti-nuclear peace nun, Sister Megan Rice, one of three brave activists who broke into high security nuclear weapons at the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee – the so-called "Fort Knox of Nuclear"- to protest nukes and war. She was arrested on-site and, at age 82, convicted of sabotage – a conviction that was overturned 2 years later. We’ll hear from: Sister Megan Rice, the now 88-year-old anti-nuclear peace nun. Shespeaks at length about the peaceful 2012 Transform Now Plowshares protest action. She and two other activists broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee which resulted in her being charged with sabotage and sentenced to almost three years in prison. Recorded when she was newly out of prison pending a re-sentencing hearing. All further charges were later dropped. The break in was an antiwar protest referred to as "the biggest security breach in the history of the nation's atomic complex."Co-defendant Gregory Boertje-Obed, 60, who along with co-defendant Michael Walli, 68, was sentenced to over five years in prison for their non-violent protest. Originally presented on May 26, 2015, for Nuclear Hotseat #205. Anti-nuclear peace nun Sister Megan Rice & co-protestors Michael Walli (l) and Gregory Bortje-Obed (r) LINKS to the Transform Now Plowshares statement and Indictment of Oak Ridge for War Crimes that were drawn up by these three brave activists and read at the Y-12 site. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): OH NO! They can’t POSSIBLY be telling us to follow BERT THE TURTLE again! AAAAAAaaaahhhh….! BUT THEY ARE! THE ORIGINAL “DUCK AND COVER” FILM BELOW: ### NH #391: Nuclear Fox Revealed! France's Hervé Courtois of Nuclear-News, Rainbow Warriors URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-fox-revealed-frances-herve-courtois-nuclear-news-rainbow-warriors-dun-renard/ Published: 2018-12-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Fox Hervé Courtois & Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy @ the Window Rock of Window Rock AZ This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Fox – Hervé Courtois of France, aka D'un Renard, or "The Fox" – has been a steadfast provider of reliable nuclear news, especially from Fukushima, since the first months after the disaster began in 2011. After many years of trying, at the International Uranium Film Festival, Libbe HaLevy succeeded in cornering him for an interview on why he became so involved with providing nuclear news, and what keeps him going. Here are his links: Nuclear News The Rainbow Warriors on Facebook Blog – Fukushima 311 Watchdogs Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear disaster? Radiation? Contamination of Japanese food? Fukushima sake in Manhattan? I'll drink to that! (… or NOT…) Activist Links: Public Comment needed on Department of Energy's proposal to abandon high-level radioactive wastes in situ – meaning right where it is now, on site at reactors and on already contaminated lands. Suggested wording for comments from Beyond Nuclear, CLICK HERE. DOE's proposal, CLICK HERE. LA Times article on Marco Kaltofen: "Hidden Danger: Radioactive Dust is Found in Communities Around Nuclear Weapons"For the dust testing protocols after the Woolsey Fire, CLICK HERE. Key facts to remember: Protect yourself from the dust and dirt with a mask and clothing that can be easily washed or even thrown away. Do NOT simply send in to Fairewinds; you MUST get approval and registration with them or your sample will be disposed of without being opened. The results will take at least 5 months, if not longer, to show up. This is because of the intensity of the testing program and the number of steps that must be taken. BE PATIENT. When you get the data, it will be solid and scientific. ### NH #390: Uranium/Nuclear Devastation to Navajo Nation, Japan, India, Greenland? Ames, Iowa?!? International Uranium Film Festival SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/explosive-films-on-nuclear-uranium-devasatation-to-navajo-nation-india-japan-greenland-ames-iowa-international-uranium-film-festival-special-nuclear-hotseat-390/ Published: 2018-12-12 Duration: 00:59:01 Norbert Suchanek & Marcia Olviera Gomez, Organizers Filmmakers, Audience Members – and one Podcaster w/a Book – at the International Uranium Film Festival in Window Rock, Arizona. SPECIAL: International Uranium Film Festival Nuclear Hotseat went to the Capitol of the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona, to cover the International Uranium Film Festival – 22 films in three days, along with interviews with filmmakers, organizers, and attendees from France, India, Greenland, Germany, Brazil, UK, Denmark, Navajo Nation, and America. Uranium mining contamination of water and land, nowhere to store the waste, radiation genocide of indigenous people, government cover-ups and individual activists fighting back — the hope came from the fierce and gentle people, the beauty of the films, and the determination to keep on fighting for the one planet we all share. The Films (CLICK on title for link, where available): THE WOLVERINE: THE FIGHT OF THE JAMES BAY CREE Canada, 2014, Documentary, Director: Ernest Webb, Original Langu age: English, 10 min. TALE OF A TOXIC NATION USA, 2018, Director Louis Berry, Documentary, English, 13 min DII’GO TO BAAHAANE: FOUR STORIES ABOUT WATER USA, 2012, 37 minutes, Produced by Deborah Begel. Co-Directed by Deborah Begel and David Lindblom, Navajo with English subtitles. TOO PRECIOUS TO MINE USA, 2017, Director Justin Clifton, Documentary, English, 10 min JADUGODA – THE BLACK MAGIC India, 2009, Director Shri Prakash, English, Documentary, 10 min NABIKEI (FOOTSTEP) India, 2017, Documentary, Director Shri Prakash, English, 66 min NUCLEAR CATTLE Japan, 2016, Director, Tamotsu Matsubara, Production Power-i Inc, Documentary, 98 min, Japanese with English subtitles. Interview excerpt – Hervé Courtois (l) traveled to Window Rock from France. He talks about Fukushima and his trip to Japan only two months after the nuclear triple-meltdown started. The full interview will be featured in early 2019. NUCLEAR WASTE LAND? UK / Australia, Director Timothy Large, Production Thomson Reuters Foundation, Documentary, English,14 min JOURNEY TO THE SAFEST PLACE ON EARTH Switzerland, 2013, Director Edgar Hagen, 100 min, documentary, English DIGNITY AT A MONUMENTAL SCALE USA, 2018, Director Kelly Whalen, Producer KQED Arts, Art- documentary, English, 8 min YELLOW FEVER: UNCOVERING THE NAVAJO URANIUM LEGACY Director Sophie Rousmaniere, Co- Producer Jay Minton, USA, 2013, 56 min, documentary, English TO DIG OR NOT TO DIG: THE BATTLE FOR GREENLAND Director Espen Rasmussen, Norway, 2013, 8 min, documentary, Danish & Norwegian, English subtitles KUANNERSUIT / KVANEFJELD UK, 2017, Directors Joshua Portway and Lise Autogena, Producer Lise Autogena, Documentary, Danish and Greenlandic with English subtitles, 30 min THE REPOSITORY USA, 2017, Directors Daria Bachmann & Anna Anderson, Documentary, English, 80 min CRYING EARTH RISE UP USA,2014,Documentary.Director: Suree Towfighnia | Producer: Suree Towfighnia and Courtney Hermann. Documentary, English, 57 min THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY – UPDATE! USA 2000/2011, 57 min and 15 min Epilogue / Documentary, Director: Jeff Spitz, Produced by Jeff Spitz and Bennie Klain Leona Morgan, a Diné woman involved in multiple anti-nuclear groups, left Window Rock for Poland and the COP 24 climate change meetings. She was one of a group that disrupted a Trump administration-approved presentation on coal and fossil fuels. Democracy Now was there and here is their video of the demonstration, which starts at about 6:30 in. Leona speaks at around 7:55. https://www.facebook.com/democracynow/videos/279232809403191/UzpfSTEyNjg3OTUyMTQ6MTAyMTgzMjYzMDAwMTAwNjY/ OFF COUNTRY in-progress excerpt) USA, 2018, Directors Taylor Dunne and Eric Stewart, 12 min, English URANIUM DERBY US, 2017, Director Brittany Prater, documentary, English, 83 min ANOINTED Marshall Islands, 2018, Directors Dan Lin & Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, poem video, 6 min. BOBBY BROWN HOMELANDS – LIVING WITH THE LEGACY OF BRITISH NUCLEAR TESTING Australia, 2015, Produced and Directed by Kim Mavromatis and Quenten Agius, MAV Media in Association with NITV (National Indigenous TV Australia). Documentary, 5 min GREETINGS FROM MURUROA – TRAILER France, 2016, Director Larbi Benchiha, production: Aligal production and France Télévisions, documentary, English, 52 min. For full information on the International Uranium Film Festival, visit their website: www.UraniumFilmFestival.org Norbert Suchanek (r) and Marcia Gomes de Oliveira ### NH #389: World Health Organization's Fukushima, Chernobyl Lies: Alison Katz of Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-chernobyl-lies-world-health-organization-alison-katz-independent-who/ Published: 2018-12-06 Duration: 00:59:01 Montage of protesters at the headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by Independent WHO This Week's Featured Interview: Alison Katz, the head of Independent WHO (World Health Organization), continues to expose the lies and manipulations of perception regarding radiation impacts on health at Fukushima and Chernobyl. A special Encore presentation from Nuclear Hotseat #331, October 24, 2017. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It's an oldie but goodie – how the EPA under Scott Pruitt increased allowable exposure to radiation TEN TIMES, despite scientific evidence to the contrary – but then again, in the current EPA, who cares about science? NOTE: The promised episode on the International Uranium Film Festival will appear next week as Nuclear Hotseat #390. ### NH #388: Santa Susana Field Lab/Woolsey Fire Radiation Dangers - Shocking History of Nuke Site Health Damage w/Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/santa-susana-field-lab-woolsey-fire-radiation-dangers-shocking-history-nuke-site-health-damages-w-epidemiologist-joseph-mangano-nh-388-joe-mangano/ Published: 2018-11-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Santa Susana Field Lab – aerial photo of the start of the Woolsey Fire BREAKING: Arnie Gundersen and Maggie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education have just released the protocols for collecting dust and dirt samples within 25 miles of the Santa Susana Field Lab for free testing for radioactivity. To download your copy of the Fairewinds Radiation Testing Protocols post-SSFL/Woolsey Fire, CLICK HERE. This Week's Featured Interview: Santa Susana Field Lab/Woolsey Fire Analysis: Joseph Mangano is an epidemiologist – a medical statistician – who has headed Radiation and Public Health Project since 1989. He is author or co-author of 37 medical journal articles on radiation health, and is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998); Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008), and 2013’s Mad Science: The Nuclear Power Experiment. He managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Timing is everything — and the nuclear industry seems to have none of it. Just listen to where they give awards and make claims to nuclear projects that don't even exist any more! ### NH #387: San Onofre Flunks NRC Report on Near-Disaster: Dr. Tom English + Woolsey Fire/SSFL Update URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-radwaste-flunks-nrc-inspection-over-near-disaster-dr-tom-english-woolsey-fire-ssfl/ Published: 2018-11-22 San Onofre canister comparison chart courtesy SanOnofreSafety.org Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: San Onofre gets failing marks from NRC on August 3 near-miss disaster while loading "spent" fuel  thin canister, and Dr. Tom English interprets the NRC webinar with the bad news.  Dr. English advised former President Jimmy Carter’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, along with the government of Sweden, NASA and the California Energy Commission, on high level nuclear waste disposal. He has lectured at over 100 universities and given eight White House presentations.  His academic background includes a postdoctoral MS in Environmental Engineering, a Ph.D and MS in Electrical Enginering, and a BS in Physics. San Onofre Safety's analysis, San Onofre defective Holtec nuclear waste storage system must be recalled.  NRC complete slide presentation from the webinar, which includes the following graphics: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Puerto Rico!  Always the hurricanes blowing – and you are even thinking of installing nuclear reactors?!?  Well, smoke on your pipe and put that in! Action Links: Enviroreporter Michael Collins' article on Woolsey Fire/Santa Susana Field Lab, Officials & media dismiss catastrophic release of chemicals and radiation from Rocketdyne TEPCO Execs Complete Negligence Trial Testimony from Nancy Foust and Simplyinfo.org (fukuleaks.org) ### NH #386: NUCLEAR FIRE SPECIAL: Woolsey Fire's Nuke Origins; Radioactive Smoke? - PRS's Duffield, Mom/Activist Bumstead, Fairewinds' Gundersen, SanO Safety'sGilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-fire-special-woolsey-fires-nuke-origins-prss-duffield-mom-activist-bumstead-fairewinds-gundersen-sano-safetysgilmore-nh-386/ Published: 2018-11-15 Nuclear Fire: Helicopter view of the start of the Woolsey fire, on Santa Susana Field Lab Property Photo courtesy Safecast. NUCLEAR FIRE – WOOLSEY'S NUKE ORIGINS SPECIAL: Denise Duffield, Administrator of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles, Director of its Nuclear Threats program, and leader of PSR-LA’s efforts to ensure a proper cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. PSR-LA's press releases on the Woolsey Fire and nuclear connection. Melissa Bumstead is a longtime resident of the SSFL area who currently lives only five miles away. She is a member of the SSFLaboratory Work Group and admin of the Facebook page, Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab Nuclear Disaster. PETITION: No More Kids with Cancer: Clean Up the Santa Susana Field Lab We are aiming at 1-million signatures; currently almost halfway there. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE! NEW: 4 LIES DTSC Told You About the #WoolseyFire Donna Gilmore is the founder and head of San Onofre Safety.Arnie Gundersen and Maggie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education. IF YOU LIVE WITHIN 25 MILES OF THE SANTA SUSANA FIELD LAB – Learn more about how to get the dust in your house tested for radiation and "hot particles" by sending an email to: info@FairewindsEnergy.org. SAFECAST – Woolsey Fire radiation report and photos. EPA RADIATION MONITORING CHART – showing gamma radiation spike for November 12, 2018. More information from the Facebook group, RADIATION WATCH. Backgrounder on SSFL nuclear accident – "worse than Three Mile Island" RADIATION AWARENESS PROTECTION TALK – RAPT: Health Protection 6-Audio Program: Radiation Awareness Protection Talk – RAPT – Developed by Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy and Certified Nutrition Education Kimberly Roberson of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network. A six-audio series providing you with information to use in the wake of a nuclear accident or incident: Foods to eat Foods to avoid Supplementation Protecting your home, garden, pets What radiation is, what it does, and why it's so dangerous How to learn the truth about how your supplements are sourced Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear submarine maintenance and LSD – what could go wrong? (Can you say, "Human error?") Everyone – stay safe! – Libbe. ### NH #385: Nuke Films in Arizona & NM! Uranium Film Festival's Norbert Suchanek + Filmmakers Rebecca Cammisa, Taylor Dunne, Eric Stewart URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuke-films-arizona-nm-uranium-film-festivals-suchanek-filmmakers-cammisa-dunne-stewart-nh-385/ Published: 2018-11-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuke films from around the world featured in AZ and NM at Int'l Uranium Film Festival This Week's Featured Interviews: Nuke films? This man's got 'em! Norbert Suchanek is the Executive Director of the International Uranium Film Festival and talks about the upcoming screenings in Arizona and New Mexico.Rebecca Cammisa directed the award-winning documentary Atomic Homefront. Taylor Dunne and Eric Stewart are working on the documentary Off Country, an excerpt of which will be shown at the IUFF in Window Rock. ### NH #384: Nuclear Weapons Fright! Trump's INF Treaty Pull-out, Nuke War's Impact - Robt Dodge of PSR URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-weapons-fright-physicians-for-social-responsibility-trumps-inf-pull-out-nuke-wars-impact/ Published: 2018-11-01 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear weapons impact on Hiroshima's ability to have a medical response after the bomb. This Week's Featured Interview: Nuclear Weapons – With Trump abruptly announcing that the US is going to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF, it seemed important that we find out exactly what that would mean, not only to the U.S. but the world. To that end, we called up Dr. Robert Dodge, who is President, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles (PSR-LA), Board Member with National PSR and Co-chair, PSR Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Supporting links mentioned on the show: NUKEMAP: What would be the impact of a nuclear bomb in your community? Check it out at Nukemap: www.nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap.BACK FROM THE BRINK: That’s where you can sign your support to abolish nuclear weapons as an individual, organization, school, religious group, and especially your town, city, county, or state. Learn more at PreventNuclearWar.org.DON’T BANK ON THE BOMB: An international campaign to stop investing in nuclear weapons production by removing your personal funds from any company that is part of the nuclear production chain. It doesn’t matter how much money you do or don’t have – DBOTB it gives you the information, talking points, and verified, footnoted proof of what you’re saying so you can engage with your banker, financial advisor, pension fund manager – and your neighbors. Dontbankonthebomb.comPHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: It's not just for physicians or medical personnel; anyone can join. Check out the national and local chapters at: PSR.org This beautiful short film is based on the Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech by Setsuko Thurlow of ICAN (The International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons). Thurlow is a hibakusha, a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and a tireless campaigner whose work helped lead to the successful passage of the United National Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Not only is the Trump administration planning to pull out of a nuclear treaty and threatening to build lots more nuclear bombs, they're announcing the expansion of nuclear technology and fuel production for "small modular reactors" – but it's a soft, semi-secret rollout because the first interview on the topic took place in… Japan! Activist Info Links: Pence on Nukes in Space? Listen to Global Network's Bruce Gagnon from Nuclear Hotseat #377 explain what they're really talking about: #SpaceForce, proposed new military branch, has roots in #OperationPaperclip #Nazi scientists brought to USA after WWII. Bruce Gagnon of Global Network Against Weapons and #Nuclear Power in Space reveals its dark heart. Libbe HaLevy interviews for #NuclearHotseat 377. https://nuclearhotseat.com/2018/09/12/space-force-nazi-roots-bruce-gagnon-space4peace-nh-377/UN Rights Expert Urges Japan toHalt Returns to FukushimaStudents of Marco Kaltofen of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute have performed a comprehensive analysis of radioactive soils and dusts at Olympic venues in Tokyo and Fukushima. LINK to the study HERE. ### NH #383: Gender & Radiation: The Hidden Nuclear War Against Women & Little Girls - Mary Olson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/gender-radiation-nuclear-war-against-women-little-girls-mary-olson/ Published: 2018-10-25 Gender & Radiation's depiction of "Reference Man" vs. size of a little girl: all radiation doses are not equal! Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Mary Olson is Nuclear Waste Specialist at NIRS (Nuclear Information and Resource Service–) and Acting Director, Gender and Radiation Impact Project. She has addressed the United Nations and other international bodies on the disproportionate impact of nuclear radiation on women and children, especially little girls. As Mary referenced during the interview, it's always good to watch the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, awarded to the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN): Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima rice cited as being the most deeeeee-licious in commercial rice ball stores.  Hmmm, I wonder if it's the Cesium 134 or Strontium 90 that gives it just a piquant flavor with just a hint of heat… Activist Info Links: Washington's Latest Cold War Maneuver: Pulling Out of INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty) UK to Probe Poisonous Genetic Legacy of Nuclear Test "Guinea Pigs" 60,000 Tons of Dangrous Radioactive Waste Sits on Great Lakes Shores ### NH #382: San Onofre SPECIAL: Songs for SONGS Protest Rally - PLUS EXCLUSIVE: New Nuclear Bombshell re: SanO RadWaste from Donna Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-special-songs-for-songs-protest-rally-plus-exclusive-new-nuclear-bombshell-re-sano-from-donna-gilmore/ Published: 2018-10-18 San Onofre rally, Songs for SONGS – Filmmaker Adam Salkin Listen Here: [powerpress] San Onofre SPECIAL: Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety with the latest bombshell revelation about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's inadvertent admission of a lie about the canisters at San Onofre. Songs for SONGS Excerpts from speakers at the October 8 music/rally Songs for SONGS (San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station – get it?) at San Clemente's famous Belly Up music club: Report on a videotaped Welcome by Gregory Jaczko, former Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Ian Cairns is a former champion surfer who was influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Ian has lived in California for 27 years and has family in Laguna Beach. Cathy Iwane was living in Japan with her husband and two children when the Fukushima Daiichi triple meltdown happened.  She shares how that event play out in her personal life and led to her leaving that country with her two children. Leona Morgan is a member of the Nuclear Issues Study Group, Haul No, and Diné No Nukes, and she traveled from her home in New Mexico to address the crowd on nuclear colonialism and the range of nuclear problems in her state. Filmmaker Adam Salkin gave a powerful presentation, based not only on what he has learned about nuclear in the process of shooting his latest film, but because it’s an important part of his personal history growing up in the shadow of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, just north of Los Angeles. A report on the speech by Admiral Len Hering on the need for risk management and why San Onofre scares him.  (I was asked not to use the audio of his speech on Nuclear Hotseat, but a video has been posted and is available in its entirety HERE.) U.S. Rear Admiral Len Hering (ret.) speaking at the Songs for SONGS rally (CLICK on image to watch his entire speech.) The entire livestream of the Songs for SONGS event is available by clicking HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The same week we learn about inhaleable radioactive microparticles from Fukushima being found as far away from the disaster site as Tokyo (still thinking of going to the Olympics?), a Fukushima farmer starts grazing cows and plans to sell raw milk to local consumers. Activist Links: Simplyinfo.org Report: Fukushima Microparticles, An Unrecognized Threat ### NH #381: Holtec so-called "interim" Nuke Waste Dump in NM - Legal, Activist Pushback w/Attny Terry Lodge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/holtec-interim-radioactive-waste-dump-neew-mexico-terry-lodge/ Published: 2018-10-11 Holtec so-called "interim" radioactive storage dump, Yucca Mountain, and uranium mining brings out Native tribal protestors at Red Butte in Arizona Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Holtec, the company trying to own nuclear waste and all its attendant monies, has a ferocious opponent in Terry Lodge.  He is an Ohio trial lawyer who has represented many clients in civil rights, civil liberties, and environmental cases. An advocate for the public interest in energy policy issues who has litigated nuclear power safety and environmental issues for 40 years, Lodge has also represented opponents of nuclear weapons and mountaintop removal mining. Attorney Terry Lodge Scott Portzline of Three Mile Island Alert created this animation on "spent" nuclear fuel transport dangers:  Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Hormesis?!?!  No – whore-YOU-sis if you believe the latest push by the Trump administration to convince you that a little radiation is actually mmm-mmm-good! for you!  It's a get outta jail free card for the nuclear industry! Activist Action Links: Santa Susana Field Lab Petition: No More Kids with Cancer – Clean Up Santa Susana! Marco Kaltofen Report – Hidden Dangers: Radioactive Dust Found in Communities Around Nuclear Weapons Sites Japan – Link to Minnano Data Site for soil and food data around the country. ### NH #380: Ocean Radioactivity Transfer to Land, Food, People: UK Marine Pollution Expert Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ocean-radioactivity-transfer-land-food-people-uk-marine-pollution-expert-tim-deere-jones-nh-380/ Published: 2018-10-04 Ocean Radioactivity from Dumped Hinkley Point Nuclear Mud – Protests in Cardiff, Wales, against radioactive mud-dumping by EDF in Cardiff Bay only 2 km offshore Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Ocean radioactivity and the way it transfers to land is the area of expertise of Tim Deere-Jones, an independent marine pollution consultant who is a specialist in the behavior and fate of pollutants in marine, coastal and estuarine environments. He has been a consultant for many of the major environmental campaign groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and World Wildlife Fund.  LINK to one of his reports HERE. Radioactive mud dumping off a trawler in Cardiff Bay, Wales Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Environmental Protection Agency Denver regional administrator Doug Benevento might think the plutonium-contaminated Rocky Flats "Wildlife Refuge" is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but his neck must be kinked from the self-congratulatory kisses he's been publicly placing on his own posterior.  Can you say "Judas goat?" ### NH #379: Chris Busby Strikes Back against Trumped-Up Attempted Arrest + Dawn Chapman on Good/Bad News re: N. St. Louis Toxic Landfills URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chris-busby-strikes-back-against-trumped-up-attempted-arrest-dawn-chapman-on-good-bad-news-re-n-st-louis-toxic-landfills-nh-379/ Published: 2018-09-27 Duration: 00:59:01 Chris Busby in iconic – and so-called "suspicious" – beret. This Week's Featured Interviews: Dawn Chapman, co-founder of the group Just Moms StL, has helped shepherd community protest of radioactive waste from Republic Services’ two landfills that had contaminated the neighborhood, back yards, even inside the houses where they and others live. She provides background and context for this week's report issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services regarding the health effects of the Bridgeton landfill stench. There's good news – and bad news. Dawn Chapman, self-described "soccer mom" and co-founder of Just Moms StL, fighting Republic Services and the West Lake and Bridgeton Landfills UK's Dr. Chris Busby, a successful science-based foe of the nuclear industry and the government's lack of support for nuclear workers, speaks out on aspects of his attempted arrest on trumped-up suspicions of bomb making — all because, as a scientist, he has a laboratory in his home. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Right hand to left hand, nuclear right hand to nuclear left hand — WTF are you saying about bombs and reactors NOW? Activist Links: Dr. Jim Green of Friends of the Earth, Australia, rips former environmentalist and nuclear shill-burger, Michael Shellenberger, a new one. https://theecologist.org/2018/sep/20/nuclear-power-lobbyist-michael-shellenberger-learns-love-bombGeraldine Thomas goes mirror image on the shill-burger's talking points – how like the nuclear industry to not get its lies straight! http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Help-the-public-understand-radiation,-advises-canc ### NH #378: Brunswick Nuclear/Hurricane Florence UPDATE w/Dave Lochbaum of UCS; Rocky Flats w/Leroy Moore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/brunswick-nuclear-hurricane-florence-update-w-dave-lochbaum-of-ucs-rocky-flats-w-leroy-moore-nh-378/ Published: 2018-09-20 Duration: 00:59:01 Brunswick Nuclear site map of vulnerability to flooding from ocean surge, Cape Fear River. From Dave Lochbaum powerpoint (available below) This Week's Featured Interviews: BRUNSWICK NUCLEAR UPDATE – Dave Lochbaum, Director of the Nuclear Safety Project for the Union of Concerned Scientists, explains the safety status of Brunswick Nuclear Reactors 1 & 2, both the same model as melted down at Fukushima Daiichi. Learn the difference between hot shutdown and cold shutdown – and how the industry simply uses "shutdown" to spinspeak us all! LINK to Dave Lochbaum's pdf on Brunswick specs, CLICK HERE. LeRoy Moore is a writer and former academic closely associated with Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, who since 1979 has focused on issues of public health, environmental well-being, and nuclear abolition related to the now closed Rocky Flats nuclear bomb factory. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): So many choices, so hard to choose, when the entire industry is out of it's f'ing mind! Activist Links: Intertribal Gathering at Red Butte, Arizona – Oct. 5 – tribal members only; open to the public Oct. 6-7. Sponsored by the Havasupai Tribal Council. CONTACT: 928-448-2731 ### NH #377: Space Force has Nazi Roots?! Bruce Gagnon & Space4Peace URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/space-force-nazi-roots-bruce-gagnon-space4peace-nh-377/ Published: 2018-09-12 Duration: 00:31:43 Space Force – will it make the U.S. the Evil Empire? Global Network's 2018 Keep Space for Peace week poster. This Week's Featured Interview: SPACE FORCE / EVIL FORCE? Bruce Gagnon, Co-Founder and Secretary/Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and a 30 year veteran of actions against nuclear weaponry and expansionism in space. Bruce reveals the shocking roots of our space program and NASA, corporate/military/industrial goals for space, and what China and Russia are doing to sidestep our best laid plans.Category 4-5 Hurricane Florence bearing down on N. Carolina coast, with Brunswick 1 and 2 nuclear reactors – THE EXACT SAME MODEL GE MARK I REACTOR MODEL AS MELTED DOWN AT FUKUSHIMA – dead center at landfall. Two Fukushima-model GE Mark I nuclear reactors at Brunswick on North Carolina Coast – smack in the middle of Hurricane Florence landfall. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Is it pro-nuclear? Anti-nuclear? a re-envisioned Bob's Big Boy? How political art based upon a mixed metaphor makes no statement at all. Japan Railroad's Fukushima Space Boy looks like a post-nuclear survivor, finally safe and embracing solar… but given the controversy, who can tell? Not the artist, it seems… Activist Links: Beyond Nuclear Handbook – The Case Against Nuclear Power: Facts and Arguments from A-ZWhat Are Coastal Nuclear Power Plants Doing to Address Climate Threats? Fukushima Microparticles: An Unrecognized Threat by Nancy Foust and SimplyInfo.org ### NH #376: United Nations Lies re: Fukushima Radiation - Dr. Alex Rosen, IPPNW REDUX URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/united-nations-fukushima-radiation-lies-dr-alex-rosen-ippnw-nh-375/ Published: 2018-09-06 Duration: 00:59:01 United Nations UNSCEAR report maintains nothing bad happened to people's health after Fukushima.  Photos of explosion at Fukushima Daiichi, March 14, 2011.  Look harmless to you? This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Alex Rosen is a German pediatrician and Vice President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in Germany. We spoke originally in July of 2014, just after the United Nations UNSCEAR report was released. LINK to Full IPPNW report in English, Critical Analysis of the UNSCEAR Report “Levels and effects of radiation exposure due to the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East-Japan Earthquake and tsunami” Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A practice run dropping a nuclear bomb from a B-2 stealth bomber? What are they practicing FOR? Activist Links: Olympics and Paralympics Warning: Radiation map of Tokyo area, computed in accordance with Chernobyl radiation standards. Red indicates areas w/right to immigrate and cities under contamination surveillance. Is attending the Olympics really worth the exposure? Indigenous and women filmmakers – and others – encouraged to submit your films to the International Uranium Film Festival for the 2018 screenings in Window Rock, NM and the US Southwest.Bob Alvarez article for Union of Concerned Scientists: Under siege: Safety in the nuclear weapons complexNuclear Safety Board Slams Energy Department Plan to Weaken Oversight by Rebecca Moss ### NH #375: Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Nightmares, San Onofre Update, Radiation vs. Radioactivity: Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/vermont-yankee-decommissioning-nightmare-san-onofre-update-radiation-vs-radioactivity-dr-gordon-edwards-nh-375/ Published: 2018-08-30 Duration: 00:58:59 Vermont Yankee protest from 2012, two years prior to shut-down. This Week's Featured Interviews: An update on problems being faced with the decommissioning of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor in Vermont. Sandra Levine is senior attorney with the Conservation Law Foundation in Montpelier, Vermont, where her work focuses on climate change, clean energy, land use, transportation and natural resource protection. I became aware of Sandy after I was sent a link to her op-ed article, Risky Vermont Yankee Transfer Should be Stopped.Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, or CCNR, offers a brief masterclass in what radiation is and what it does. This 10-minute talk was prepared for the Science for Peace Forum “How to Save the World in a Hurry,” held at the University of Toronto on May 30, 2018. LINK to transcript, CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Rocky Flats plutonium-contaminated Superfund site is rebranding itself as a "wildlife refuge" – and they've got the signage to manipulate it! Activist Links: Karl Grossman interviewed on the Evan Greer show: Keep Space for Peace Week – let them know about local events in your area by sending an email to: globalnet@mindspring.comMore from Dr. Gordon Edwards: These five audio files, recorded on August 22, 2018 and dealing with the "Red Canoe" protests in Ottowa, have all been posted on the Digileak web site: https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZxM6s7ZijIl7b91lsYfsJpYHoEjgQWidzLk https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZ3M6s7ZH7U0YNc3JfhmJemmBVVYA8E3QkhV https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZcM6s7Z5C7nTJ6bni0bVuA6t4W1854pc2ty https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZRT6s7Zagwdz3OInzyxKyJFon1tOysxXKek https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZQT6s7ZXJcU6NF3QNJMdyHTaDRHHFwPhV17 ### NH #374: San Onofre SOS! Update on Accident Near-Miss w/Donna Gilmore + New Int'l Nuke News Source - Linda Pentz Gunter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/sos-san-onofre-accident-near-miss-update-w-donna-gilmore-new-intl-nuke-news-source-linda-pentz-gunter-nh-374/ Published: 2018-08-23 Duration: 00:59:01 San Onofre from the air shows how close storage silos are to the Pacific Ocean. This Week's Featured Interviews: San Onofre Safety‘s Donna Gilmore tells what she tried to say to Southern California Edison at the August 9 Community EnRagement, uh, Engagement Panel when the "experts" shouted her down. More scary information on how the nuclear industry is playing loose and fast with highly radioactive nuclear reactor waste, as well as Southern California's future.Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear explains a new project, Beyond Nuclear International – a source for in-depth news stories that get beyond the nuclear headlines to provide history, context and details. Sign up for this weekly email delivery. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): As TEPCO confesses that the radioactive water from Fukushima contains more deadly radionuclides than they'd previously admitted, another Fukushima beach opens to the public! Activism Links: California Wildfires and Nuclear RadiationDid a Canadian foreign minister's tweet about Saudi Arabia women's rights scuttle a new nuclear deal for Westinghouse? Kevin Hester/New Zealand links: Kevin Hester interviewed on Nuclear Hotseat #233 about the climate change/nuclear connection. Archive for climate change show Nature Bats Last Interview with Kevin Hester, Gary Null and Paul Beckwith ### NH #373: TERRORIST GROUP PLANTS DIRTY BOMBS ON SoCal BEACH - Oh Wait, That's EDISON and HOLTEC at SAN ONOFRE! Whistleblower Reveals NUCLEAR DISASTER NEAR-MISS w/RADIOACTIVE WASTE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-terrorists-plant-dirty-bombs-on-socal-beach-oh-wait-thats-edison-and-holtec/ Published: 2018-08-15 Duration: 00:58:00 San Onofre Demonstration in San Clemente, CA, August 12, 2018 SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR NEAR-MISS A Nuclear Hotseat Full-Length SPECIAL Featuring: Charles Langley and Nina Babiarz of PublicWatchdogs return to Nuclear Hotseat to paint the picture of how Southern California Edison, Holtec, and the NRC continue to mishandle the forever-deadly radioactive legacy of San Onofre.The shocking statement by the San Onofre OSHA worker, whistleblower and HERO who blew everyone away (fortunately just figuratively… for now). It involves more than 30,000 lbs. of highly radioactive used fuel rods, equal to One Chernobyl of radiation that almost fell 18 feet! Doubletalking points from Southern California Edison's Tom "Twitchy" Palmisano, showing that SCE was ready to "manage" awareness of the accident if necessary, BUT NOT TO REVEAL IT TO THE PUBLIC!Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org , trying to call out Palmisano's statements as a lie, which got her shouted down by the Edison cabal. Note #3 and #4. Sound like anyone we know…? ### NH #372: Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration - Daniel Ellsberg, Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow, Marylia Kelley of Tri-Valley CARES URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hiroshima-nagasaki-commemoration-daniel-ellsberg-hibaksha-setsuko-thurlow-marylia-kelley-of-tri-valley-cares-nh-372/ Published: 2018-08-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Hiroshima watch frozen at the exact time the atomic bomb landed on August 6, 1945. Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration: Marylia Kelley, executive director of Tri-Valley CARES, explains the group's special focus on the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and its annual August 6 March for Nuclear Abolition and Global Survival.Daniel Ellsberg, best known for releasing the Pentagon Papers and author of the acclaimed memoir The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner, speaks at the March for Nuclear Abolition and Global Survival, where he draws parallels between Climate Change, Hiroshima, and the Titanic to the crowd protesting at the gates of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.Daniel Ellsberg addressing the crowd outside the gates of the Lawrence Livermore Labs. For video of the entire rally, including Ellsberg's speech, CLICK HERE. Video provided courtesy Genta Yoshikawa for No Nukes Action.Setsuko Thurlow survived the atomic blast at Hiroshima, and has lived to work with ICAN – the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, on the campaign to pass the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Here are her comments upon passage of this historic treaty on July 7, 2017. Audio is taken from the short animation, If You Love This Planet by Amber Cooper-Davis. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japanese President Shinzo Abe-baby sees no reason for Japan to sign the United Nations Treaty on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. Really? Really??? Action/Info Links: 7 Things You Should Know about Hiroshima and Nagasaki by ICAN – the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization that promoted the United Nations Treaty on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. Be sure to watch the short video by the International Red Cross on why first responders to a nuclear disaster will not be able to help.Oyster Creek Decommissioning Plan Needs Close Scrutiny by Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear. ### NH #371: Nuclear Trainwreck: Radwaste Transport Dangers Exposed! - Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-trainwreck-radwaste-transport-dangers-exposed/ Published: 2018-08-02 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Trainwreck? – San Onofre high level radioactive waste lurks just above and behind Pacific Ocean high tide mark – and proposed rail transport is a "mobile Chernobyl" disaster just waiting to happen. This Week's Featured Interview: "Nuclear trainwreck" – Let's hope that's a metaphor, not a future reality! Donna Gilmore is founder and head of San Onofre Safety, a public resource for factual information about the serious safety issues with southern California's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste stored smack up against the Pacific Ocean. Her findings on official assumptions about transport of nuclear waste from San Onofre and other nuclear reactors, especially via rail, are truly outrageous. Come listen and get outraged. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When the Department of Energy (DOE) has community demands for radiation testing of plutonium contamination at Rocky Flats near Boulder, Colorado, DOE takes $400K of taxpayer money to hire a PR firm?!? What – if you did your job in the first place, you wouldn't have to hire a spin doctor to make you look better than you are! ACTION LINKS: Harvey Wasserman's Solartopia radio show w/Karl Grossman, Joe Mangano,Susan Shapiro.Does Living Near a Nuclear Plant Give Children Cancer? – Great, definitive article by Cindy Folkers, Radiation and Health Specialist for Beyond Nuclear, drawing upon 60 published studies.Trump Administration Neuters Nuclear Safety Board – Excellent ProPublica article. ### NH #370: Congress Meets Hard Nuclear Decommissioning Truths - SPECIAL: DC Briefing, Education/Lobbying w/Kevin Kamps, Dave Kraft, Manna Jo Greene URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/congress-meets-hard-nuclear-decommissioning-truths-special-dc-briefing-nh-370/ Published: 2018-07-25 Duration: 00:59:01 Congress briefing pros Kevin Kamps (l) of Beyond Nuclear and Ian Zabarte of the Western Shoshone tribe let DC insiders know a genuine nuclear truth. Photo by Galen Tromble SPECIAL REPORT: Two Days with Congress: DC Briefing, Education/Lobbying on Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants This Week's Featured Interviews: Kevin Kamps is the Nuclear Waste Specialist for Beyond Nuclear, and when it comes to problems with existing radioactive waste and what’s being done – or not done – with it, there’s not much that Kevin doesn’t know.Dave Kraft is Executive Director of Nuclear Energy Information Service, or NEIS, based in Chicago. Dave gives us a picture of what nuclear reactor shutdown and subsequent decommissioning means through the experience of just one of the communities that once welcomed the nuclear industry as the answer to their economic prayers.Manna Jo Greene, executive director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, has been involved in decades worth of battles regarding New York’s Indian Point nuclear reactors, located only 30 miles as the crow flies from midtown Manhattan. Manna Jo gets into the impact of Indian Point on the ecology of the Hudson River, the ongoing legal battles, and what needs to be done to protect the people of New York from its potential use as a terrorist target. LINK to Briefing Presser: Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants: What Congress, Federal Agencies and Communities Need to Know Great, clear, concise overview of the issues. Excellent educational tool to be used by ANY citizens group that lives near a nuclear reactor that is or will be going through decommissioning. LINKS to Background Materials and Powerpoint Slides: www.eesi.org/briefings/view/071618nuclear Download Robert Alvarez's SlidesDownload Kevin Kamps's SlidesDownload Geoffrey Fettus's Slides www.eesi.org/files/071618_Nuclear_Plant_Decommissioning_Briefing_Packet.zip Complete briefing packet, enrichment materials VIDEO of the Congressional Briefing Livestream: Many thanks to the organizations active in the coalition that put together this event together: Beyond Nuclear, Clean Water Action New Jersey, Ecological Options Network, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), Riverkeeper, Safe Energy Rights Group, Unity for Clean Energy (U4CE), Western Shoshone Nation, and many others. With thanks for their invaluable support to EEIS – Environmental and Energy Study Institute and media representative Steve Kent. ### NH #369: Nuclear Power Plays: Colorado "Wildlife Refuge" at Plutonium-Contaminated Superfund Site, Gene Stone: San Onofre Real-Time Radiation Monitoring Possible! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-power-plays-san-onofre-radiation-monitoring-rocky-flats/ Published: 2018-07-19 Duration: 00:59:01 Nuclear Power Play: Credentialed journalist Sam Husseini (The Nation) holding so-called "malicious item" that got him forcibly ejected from Putin/Trump Helsinki press conference This Week's Featured Interviews: Gene Stone, founder of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment, talks about a breakthrough in creating a real-time, inexpensive, publicly accessible radiation monitoring system for the "spent" fuel canisters at San Onofre… and everywhere else.Alesya Casse of Candelas Glows, a group dealing with Rocky Flats in Arvada, Colorado, explains how local developers and the government are trying to "sell" the public on the plutonium-contaminated site re-imagined as a wildlife refuge. Don't buy a home in Arvada without listening to this report! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Entergy, the slumlords of the nuclear industry, crying crocodile tears and claiming poverty over having to maintain a 10-mile emergency zone around the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. And what's this — they consider emergency planning for the eight million people in the area "unnecessary?" Where do they live — the moon? Action Links: SIGN THE PETITION! Gene Stone of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment asking for signatures on a petition to support for Real-Time Radiation Monitoring at San Onofre Nuke DumpNuclear Power in Africa? by Ann Garrison ### NH #368: FALLOUT: Int'l Nuclear Disasters, Lies & Secrecy with Author Fred Pearce URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fallout-author-fred-pearce-intl-nuclear-disasters-lies/ Published: 2018-07-12 Duration: 00:59:01 FALLOUT: Disasters, Lies and the Nuclear Age by Fred Pearce includes, of course, Chernobyl, pictured here immediately after the disaster began. This Week's Featured Interview: Fred Pearce is an English journalist based in London. He is a science writer, reporting on the environment, popular science, and development issues from 64 countries over the past 20 years, and specializes in global environmental issues, including water and climate change. His latest book is FALLOUT: Disasters, Lies and the Nuclear Age. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): NO! Put away the cell phone and get back in the car! Selfies in the Fukushima radiation zone are never a good idea! Photo by U. G. Kaneko. Used with permission. Action Links: SIGN THE PETITION! Gene Stone of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment asking for signatures on a petition to support for Real-Time Radiation Monitoring at San Onofre Nuke Dump COMMENT TO THE NRC! David Lochbaum, Director, Nuclear Safety Project, Union of Concerned Scientists, requests comments – open until July 23 – on preventing nuclear plant owners from conducting unreviewed and unapproved fuel experiments on-site at your local neighborhood nuclear reactor. Of course the NRC makes it harder than it should be to comment: Go to: www.regulations.gov Enter "NRC-2018-0109" in the Search window and CLICK Type your comments in the Comment box. Alternatively or additionally, upload a file with comments by clicking on the CHOOSE FILES icon. The form asks for your name. You have the option of providing your contact information or not doing so. After filling out comments and contact info, click on the CONTINUE icon. The next page will tell you that your comment has been submitted and give you a receipt number. You may elect to have the receipt emailed to you. More information on this issue, to guide your comments, is available if you CLICK HERE. ### NH #367: New Mexico Radioactive Battleground over Nuke Dump: Sierra Club's John Buchser URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-mexico-battleground-radioactive-dump-site-sierra-clubs-john-buchser/ Published: 2018-07-05 Duration: 00:59:01 New Mexico's other nuclear problems include the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP site near Carlsbad, NM (pictured), where a 55 gallon drum of stored waste from Los Alamos National Laboratories exploded on Valentine's Day, 2014. It cost taxpayers more than $2 billion and severely limits the ability to store radioactive nuclear weapons manufacturing waste there. What "goodies" might an "interim" high level radwaste storage site have in store for New Mexicans, eh…? This Week's Featured Interview: New Mexico – John Buchser serves as the two-term Chair of the Sierra Club Rio Grande chapter, which is part of a coalition of New Mexico groups fighting against a so-called "interim" storage dump site for high level nuclear waste — "interim" being defined as 60-120 years! Their website is: www.riograndesierraclub.org/holtec.Not an interview, but such a great picture, I must to use it. Greenpeace France flying a drone disguised as "Superman" into the side of the nuclear fuel pool filled with high level radioactive fuel rods at Bugey in France. They then crashed a second one, disguised as the mild mannered Clark Kent/uncostumed drone, into the exact same place. Need any other proof of nuclear reactor vulnerability? Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): NPR – we hardly knew ye! Pro-nuke titles on features, burying the opposition position without contradiction – and using Three Mile Island as a model of why state renewable energy funds need to be shifted over to nukes? SHAME! CLICK HERE for link. TAKE ACTION! Links: Weapons Free Funds will let you know in what companies your mutual funds are invested. Check it out, then talk with your financial advisor about taking your money out and investing in weapons-free, war-free companies. ### NH #366: Nuclear War Aftermath: Politicians/Government Lives, We Die - Garrett Graff, "Raven Rock" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/366-2/ Published: 2018-06-28 Nuclear war – what one Russian 800 kiloton bomb would do to Washington DC Listen here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Garrett Graff, author of RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the US Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die.  Learn how your tax dollars are at work protecting the politicians and policy wonks, but not me or you!  (Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #319, August 1, 2017) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Want to normalize life in the Fukushima 20-kilometer evacuation zone and entice residents back?  Put in a shopping center!  Nothing says "Come back!  It's safe!" like a new bakery and a hardware store… Action/Info Links: Karl Grossman article, Star Wars Redux: Trump's Space Force  https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/06/22/star-wars-redux-trumps-space-force/ Grave Concerns About Storing More Nuclear Waste in New Mexico by Peter Goodman of the Las Cruces Sun-News YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat – Book update: IT’S EDITED! And all the stray bits have been incorporated. That means it’s moving into templating and creating the ebook/Kindle versions. From Dr. Helen Caldicott, one of my first readers: “Absolutely fascinating. This book must be read by all people who care about the future of the planet and their children.”  COMING IN JULY! ### NH #365: Nuclear Hotseat 7th Anniversary! + Prof. Heidi Hutner's film ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: Voices of Women from Three Mile Island URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseats-7th-anniversary-heidi-hutner-on-accidents-can-happen-voices-of-women-from-three-mile-island-nh-365/ Published: 2018-06-21 Anniversary time! Listen here: [powerpress] Anniversary time!  Nuclear Hotseat – Now beginning its 8th year of  weekly programs on nuclear issues… "from a different perspective." Please consider donating to help us celebrate!  This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Heidi Hutner is a professor of Sustainability and English at Stony Brook University, and a scholar of nuclear and environmental history, and ecofeminism.  We get heads-up information on her two most recent projects: the book, ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN FROM NUCLEAR DISASTERS, and the film, ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN: VOICES OF WOMEN FROM THREE MILE ISLAND.  To view the sizzle reel from the film, CLICK HERE.  Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): A purported West Point Mechanical Engineer who serves as a Vice President at Holtec Nuclear, makers of 5/8″ thin stainless steel high level radioactive materials storage tanks that we're supposed to believe will work, seems to think that the tanks can't leak because the nuclear contents are not a liquid!  No, really, she said it at 11 min 15-18 seconds in on this video of a public meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Video courtesy Mary Beth Brangan and James Heddle of EON3.net Activist Shout-Outs: Congratulations to Dennis Riches, a long time listener and supporter living in Japan, on his just published a book of  blog posts on nuclear –  Sayonara Nukes: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons.  It is a selection of essays posted between 2011 and 2016 on Dennis’ blog www.nf2045.blogspot.com. By the terms of the grant with which it was published, this limited run of 800 books is being distributed at no cost to recipients by the Center for Glocal Studies. Request a free copy of Sayonara Nukes by sending an email to glocalstudies@seijo.ac.jp. You may be requested to pay for the cost of shipping… but it's worth it! ### NH #364: San Onofre 5 Years After Shutdown: The Problems Continue: Charles Langley & Nina Babiarz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-5-years-shutdown-problems-continue-charles-langley-nina-babiarz-nh-364/ Published: 2018-06-14 San Onofre's 5th anniversary of shutdown celebration on the beach in front of the reactors featured aerial art of the indigenous Acjachemen Nation's ancestral STARMAN and the word SAFETY?! Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: San Onofre update and aerial art celebration on the 5th anniversary of the permanent shutdown of the two Pacific oceanfront reactors.  We talk with Charles Langley, Executive director of Public Watchdogs, and board member Nina Babiarz.  Prof. Quamrul Haider, a physics professor from Fordham University originally from Bangladesh,  comments on the implications – some might say insanity – of a country as small as Bangladesh making plans to build a nuclear reactor, as was announced last week.   Excerpted from an interview on Nuclear Hotseat #182, originally posted on December 16, 2014. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): What's in a name?  And if DOE renames the nuclear waste at the Hanford Reservation in SE Washington state, will that make it any safer?  (Hint:  NO!) Action Links: Hanford Challenge link to Department of Energy (DOE) proposal to re-label radioactive waste at Hanford to avoid legally-compliant and protective disposal of waste.  Click Here.  (LINK COMING) Marco Kaltofen‘s newly published study, Microanalysis of Particle-Based Uranium, Thorium and Plutonium in Nuclear Workers' House Dusts. Comments requested in support of Japan's Rokkasho Village mayoral candidacy of anti-nuclear fuel cycle candidate Junko Endo.  Click here to get to her Japanese-language Facebook page and leave your comments in any language. Pictures from Dr. Timothy Moussau‘s Dogs of Chernobyl initiative in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Natalia conducting a whole body gamma spectrum of a sleeping Chernobyl dog. Dr. Norman Kleiman of Columbia University showing students how eyes are examined for radiation cataract ### NH #363: TEPCO Nuclear Error = Fukushima Terror: Nancy Foust on Newly Discovered 2011 Fukushima Radiation Releases URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/tepco-nuclear-error-fukushima-terror-nancy-foust-on-newly-discovered-2011-fukushima-radiation-releases/ Published: 2018-06-07 TEPCO's Fukushima plant manager, the late Masao Yoshida, who battled his offsite bosses to continue pouring water onto the melting-down remains of three nuclear reactors Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Nancy Foust of simplyinfo.org, returns to tell us about a shocking new documentary from Japanese public broadcaster NHK.  MELTDOWN: Cooling Water Crisis (see below) reveals new information on how TEPCO corporate policy undermind efforts to keep Fukushima Daiichi stable one week after the nuclear triple meltdown disaster began.  Nancy lets us know what's important about this information. Breaking update:  Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders explains the impact of the Trump energy memo on the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant, and goes ballistic on how the Boston Globe sold out its SHUT PILGRIM NOW! demands of 2016 to try to not only keep the reactor running, but extend its operations until 2032! Send letters to the Boston Globe:  letters@BostonGlobe.com Link to Nuclear Hotseat #338, where Fairewinds Chief Engineer Arnie Gundersen Busts Nuke Industry’s $8.2 Trillion Global Warming PR Ploy: http://ow.ly/Rcso30hcZwo Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): When is "NICE" not nice?  When it really stands for "Nuclear Idiots Creating Extinction" – NOT what the nuclear industry wants it to mean. Missing Links: Why Nuclear Power for African Countries Doesn't Make Sense New Study Shows Full Extent of Radiation Damage to Hiroshima Victims UPDATE:  YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! YAY!  My book is now available for pre-order at: NuclearHotseat.com/book or directly from Amazon.com.  Production expected to be finished by late June/early July – get your copy the very first day it appears! ### NH #362: Chernobyl Dogs, Radiation Genetics, Mutations: Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Timothy Mousseau URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-dogs-radiation-genetics-mutations-evolutionary-biologist-dr-timothy-mousseau-nh-362362/ Published: 2018-05-30 Duration: 00:59:01 Chernobyl – Dr. Timothy Mousseau heads research into plant, insect, bird and small mammal mutations This Week's SPECIAL Featured Interview: Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist best known for his research on-the-ground studying the effects of radiation on animals and plant life around Chernobyl and Fukushima. He has been a faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina since 1991 and began his exploration of the ecological, genetic, and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals, and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus in 1999. He initiated a similar research program in Fukushima, Japan, only four months after that nuclear accident began. TAKE ACTION! Links to Timothy Mousseau's work: To donate to Dr. Mousseau's Dogs of Chernobyl research initiative, CLICK HERE. To access National Geographic video, Chernobyl Mutants, CLICK HERE Dr. Mousseau in silhouette at Chernobyl from National Geographic series One Strange RockReanalysis of original surveys of bird abundance and biodiversity done independently by a group in Czech Republic headed by Frederico Morelli. For more information on Dr. Mousseau's work CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Wow, man, look at all the pretty colors vibrating off the nuclear launch codes… Dude! It's da bomb! (No, it really is THE BOMB!) UPDATE: YES, I GLOW IN THE DARK! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat Book is written except for Afterword and Appendix. It's undergoing final editing. Going out to initial readers this weekend for back cover quotes. I hope to launch it by the end of the month, and intend to have a pre-order link up within the next two weeks. — Libbe. ### NH #361: Radiation NEVER "Good for You" - Dr. Ian Fairlie Rips "hormesis" Lies + Leona Morgan at NRC NM Meetings: Citizens say NO! to Proposed Holtec Radioactive Waste Dump URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/361-radiation-never-good-for-you-dr-ian-fairlie-takes-on-hormesis-lies-nm-w-texas-citizens-say-no-to-proposed-holtec-radioactive-waste-dumps/ Published: 2018-05-23 Duration: 00:59:01 Radiation Dump in NM or West Texas?  No way!  Leona Morgan of Diné No Nukes and Haul No! Reports on NRC Public Scoping Meeting on Proposed Holtec "interim" High Level Radioactive Waste Dump This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Ian Fairlie has studied radiation and radioactivity since the Chernobyl accident in 1986; received his doctorate from Princeton on the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing; and from 2000 to 2004, was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. He has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals.Dr. Fairlie’s article on Linear No Threshold (LNT) vs. Hormesis. Leona Morgan of Nuclear Issues Study Group, Diné No Nukes and Haul No! reports directly from NRC Scoping Meeting with the public in New Mexico to find out how opposed they are to a high level radioactive waste dump in their state. (Easy answer: a whole lot!) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadednss!): If you're near Three Mile Island and feel jittery, the LAST thing you need is a cup of coffee from THIS place! Activist Shout-Out Action Links: Leona Morgan – No Nuclear Waste Dump in New Mexico: REGISTER YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Susan Corbett – Sierra Club fundraising campaign for No Nuclear Waste Dump in New Mexico:Tell the Senate: No Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain Kumar Sundaram/Dianuke.org – Sign the Petition that Asks India and Pakistan to stop the nuclear build-up and sign the historic Nuclear BanTreaty adopted by the United Nations last year. ### NH #360: Yucca Mountain YUCK! + NRC to Geriatric Nukes: "Life After 60? OK!" + New Trinity Site/Rocky Flats Docu OFF COUNTRY URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-580-yucca-yuck-house-vote-flawed-waste-repository-nrc-to-geriatric-nukes-life-after-60-ok-by-us/ Published: 2018-05-16 Duration: 00:59:01 Marker at the Trinity site, where the world's first nuclear explosion took place. This Week's Featured Interview: Filmmakers Taylor Dunne and Eric Stewart on their new documentary-in-progress, OFF COUNTRY, which examines lives impacted on-the-ground after the Trinity test, the first nuclear explosion in the world, and at Rocky Flats, the plutonium contaminated former nuclear weapons production and Superfund site that's now home to spiffy new subdivisions and a wildlife reserve. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): British Parliament toffs still considering placing the UK's nuclear waste dump underneath national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty… so the radiation can muck it all up. But hey — animals, plants and scenery don't vote and can't afford to hire a lobbyist! So there you go… The Missing Links: US Representatives Vote to Revive Nevada Nuclear Waste DumpWhat's Not in NNSA's Plutonium Pit Production DecisionAtomic Minerals Found in Tamil Nadu Beach Sand Samples Meant for ExportKiwis Fear Cancer after Working near Leaky US Nuclear Reactor in Antarctica ### NH #359: Canada Nuclear Waste Dump Upstream of Montreal's Drinking Water? Dr. Gordon Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/canada-nuke-waste-dump-upstream-montreals-drinking-water-dr-gordon-edwards-nh-359/ Published: 2018-05-10 Duration: 00:59:01 Canada Nuclear Waste Dump in Chalk River, Ontario – "Mobile Chernobyl" highway route waste would take from Los Alamos National Labs This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards is president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and one of that country's best known independent experts on nuclear technology. He has worked with the Canadian government, First Nations tribal councils, consulted w/governmental and non-governmental bodies, and spoken internationally at conferences sponsored by Physicians for Global Survival, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and Dr. Helen Caldicott. This interview was originally presented on Nuclear Hotseat #316 from July 11, 2017. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Astroturfing the Grassroots: Entergy was busy manufacturing consent at New Orleans City Council hearing for new power plant they want. The audience was "boosted" by 50 actors paid to impersonate people who supported Entergy's position. Costumes (tee shirts) and speech cheat-sheets provided – bonus payments if you got up to speak! They can't win legitimately, so hey, what's a little lying and cheating when so much money's at stake? Orange tee shirt costuming of "astroturfing" actors, getting paid to play the role of grass roots activists in favor of Entergy's new power plant in New Orleans – $60 for extras, $200 for 5-and-under speaking roles, bad karma forever ### NH #358: Pilgrim Nuclear Dangers Mounting for Boston, New England - Diane Turco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/pilgrim-nuclear-dangers-mounting-for-boston-new-england-diane-turco-nh-358/ Published: 2018-05-03 Duration: 00:59:01 Pilgrim Nuclear public hearing, Diane Turco Photo credit: M. Scott Brauer This Week's Featured Interview: Diane Turco, Executive Director of Cape Downwinders, a group dedicated to the permanent closure of the Pilgrim nuclear power reactor in Plymouth, Massachusetts, updates us on the problems and dangers at that facility in just the first four months of 2018. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima Food Fight Continues! World Trade Organization orders South Korea to buy Fukushima seafood after Japan's second appeal. Time for SK to appeal. Think they can keep this going until after Japan's 2020 Radioactive… uh, Tokyo Olympics? The Missing Links: San Francisco – Toxic soil went from SF's Hunters Point to CA state landfillsHanford – Why Was Plutonium Dust Left to Blow for Miles Across a Washington (state) Plateau? Hanford – Feds Bash Hanford Nuclear Waste Plant Troubles, Question DOE PrioritiesBob Alvarez – Trump Faces Obstacles to a Korean Deal, Some Self-InflictedCanada – Petition urging better regulations and urgent reforms to nsure the best anagement of long-lived radioactive waste. Canadian citizens only can sign HERE. ### NH #357: Chernobyl 32nd Anniversary SPECIAL - Mousseau, Yablakov, Dr. Sherman, Bulgarian Survivor Kouneva, Ryuichi Hirakawa URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-32nd-anniversary-special-mousseau-yablakov-dr-sherman-bulgarian-survivor-kouneva-ryuichi-hirakawa/ Published: 2018-04-25 Duration: 00:58:49 Chernobyl's "Elephant's Foot" – radioactive lava flow which solidified into a mass made of melted nuclear fuel and reactor debris – still highly radioactive. Listen Here: [powerpress] This week's Nuclear Hotseat marks the 32nd Anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with highlights from past interviews.  It bring Ukraine's devastating 1986 nuclear accident — and its consequences — into sharp, terrifying focus. This Week’s Special Interviews: Bonnie Kouneva was a 16-year-old living in Bulgaria when the Chernobyl accident started on April 26, 1986.  She was outdoors all day at a rally and got hit with the radiation plume.  Bonnie talks about Chernobyl's impact on her life and the health of her children.  This former mountaineer and Bulgarian Greenpeace member currently lives in the United States. Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. Dr. Janette Sherman is well known for her work with epidemiologist Joseph Mangano on analyses of data after Fukushima.  Their work indicates that the Japanese nuclear disaster led to a spike in US infant mortality and hypothyroidism.  Dr. Sherman edited the English translation of Alexei Yablokov’s groundbreaking book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment. Dr. Alexei Yablokov was environmental advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace, Russia.  His book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl that completely contradict the World Health Organization’s report, which undermined the seriousness of the accident.  Dr. Yablakov died in January, 2017. Ryuichi Hirokawa was the first non-Soviet photojournalist to document the Chernobyl disaster. The website on his humanitarian aid work with the children of Fukushima, based upon his experiences at Chernobyl, is at: kuminosato.net. A Chernobyl Souvenir ### NH #356: No Nuclear "Sacrifice Zone" in New Mexico! Leona Morgan, Eileen Shaughnessy URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/no-nuclear-waste-dump-in-new-mexico-leona-morgan-eileen-shaughnessy/ Published: 2018-04-19 Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy (l) and Leona Morgan at International Uranium Film Festival, 2015 This Week's Featured Interview: Leona Morgan and Eileen Shaughnessy of the Nuclear Issues Study Group, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They talk about pressure on indigenous people in New Mexico to accept a high level nuclear waste dump and all "interim" storage of radioactive waste for a minimum of 120 years. Hey, nuke industry: go sacrifice your own back yard! REGISTER YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION: www.regulations.gov/document?D=NRC-2018-0052-0001 Click Blue Button on Right: Comment Now!OTHER LINKS mentioned during the interview: www.facebook.com/HaltHoltec www.Nonuclearwaste.org www.nuclearnewmexico.com — for talking points, click on nuclear-waste Info sheet: www.sric.org/nuclear/docs/2017_Stop-Holtec-Spent-Fuel-Dump.pdf CLICK on the Interactive Map below to see the potential impact of a nuclear waste dump on the people and environment of New Mexico: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima Food Fight Continues! Who's in charge of South Korea's food import standards — South Korea, Japan, or the World Trade Organization? Round two, coming up! The Missing Links: Three Mile Island Nuke Accident Linked to Thyroid Cancer – USA Today articleDon't Bank on the Bomb – Easy action to remove your money from companies that support or build nuclear bombs or components. Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma signing the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons ### NH #355: Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 39: WTF Actually Happened to Us? Libbe HaLevy Returns URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-nuclear-meltdown-at-39-wtf-actually-happened-to-us-nh-355/ Published: 2018-04-12 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's RETURN TO TMI at 39 – SPECIAL: Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy, who was at the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island when it happened, returns to cover TMI at 39, a panel discussion featuring journalists who covered the accident as it happened and researchers reporting on the long-hidden medical impact of TMI.   Excerpts from the panel discussion feature: Heidi Hutner, PhD, Director of Sustainability Studies & Associate Dean at the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University Cindy Folkers, Radiation Health Specialist Beyond Nuclear Dr. Renu Joshi, PinnacleHealth Endocrinology Association Michele LeFever Quinn, former anchor and reporter with WKBO Radio Frank Goldstein, former 1979 photo journalist with WCAU-TV Dan Steele, former broadcaster for WKBO and on-air personality at iHeartMedia Inc. Journalists covering Three Mile Island during the accident Gratitude to the organizers of the panel discussion:  Christine Layman, Joe Rodriguez, and Stacey Griffiths.  Deep personal gratitude to those who made it possible for me to take this trip back to where it all began. The Missing Links: Three Mile Island Survivors Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/875561992580399/– Be sure to join and follow! Three Mile Island Alert – TMIA.com– the primary activist group for all things TMI, formed before the accident with information on every action that followed.  Great resource for bringing yourself up to speed. Dr. Steven Wing, "Health Impacts of Radiation Release from Nuclear Facilities: Lessons Past and Present" from Dr. Helen Caldicott's 2013 Symposium,  "The Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction." ### NH #354: Cancer Stats Skyrocket Around Nuclear Reactors: Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/cancer-rate-increases-around-nuclear-reactors-epidemiologist-joseph-mangano-nh-354/ Published: 2018-04-05 Duration: 00:57:03 Cancer researcher Joseph Mangano (r) and supporter Christie Brinkley (l) photo by: Greg Allen Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Joseph Mangano is a health researcher, an epidemiologist who has serves as Executive Director of Radiation and Public Health Project.  Mangano is author or co-author of 33 medical journal articles on radiation health.  He is the author of the books Low Level Radiation and Immune System Damage: An Atomic Era Legacy (1998) and Radioactive Baby Teeth: The Cancer Link (2008). Mangano managed the study of Strontium-90 in baby teeth, and now manages the citizen-based radiation monitoring programs near the Indian Point NY and Oyster Creek NJ nuclear plants. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, just because the San Onofre Nuclear Power station is permanently closed, there is no need for cybersecurity protection!   So it has allowed Southern California Edison to remove it — even thought there is still "spent" fuel rods containing weapons-grade plutonium <!> on site! The Missing Link: Stats on the University of Hawaii study on radiation in Hawaian soil from Fukushima, found at levels 100 times higher than the "models" had predicted. Report from University of Hawaii Fukushima-derived radiocesium fallout in Hawaiian soils ### NH #353: Three Mile Island: Yes People Died/Are Dying! - TMI 39th Anniversary SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-yes-people-died-are-dying-tmi-39th-anniversary-special-nh-353/ Published: 2018-03-27 Duration: 00:59:01 Three Mile Island Nuclear Meltdown at 39 NOTE: I am traveling to TMI for events surrounding the 39th Anniversary. As a result, donations to help me get there will be rewarded with the following bonuses: For $20, you will receive a quality facsimile of the LA Weekly article I wrote at the evacuation site that was published 3 weeks later PLUS an exclusive teleconference Q and A on nuclear issues. $100 or more, you will receive a signed first edition copy of my book, Yes, I Glow in the Dark. $500 or more, you will receive all that plus a signed copy of the cover photo (one you've never see before) and an acknowledgement in the book for having helped me travel to what promises to be my final chapter. This week's full-length Three Mile Island 39th Anniversary SPECIAL includes interviews with or information from: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Energy Education. Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Three Mile Island Alert. Peter Bradford, who was a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner during the TMI accident.Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert at TMIA.org. Three Mile Island Alert's Radiation monitoring at EFMR.orgMary Stamos, long time Middletown resident and TMIA memberWalter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as "the most trusted newsman in America. To view his CBS network reports on TMI click here. Interviews with residents, doctors, activists, audio from inside TMI as the accident was happening, media reports, and more.PLUS Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy's personal story of having been one mile away from TMI while the accident was happening. This is the subject of Libbe's soon-to-be-published book, Yes, I Glow in the Dark! One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Nuclear Hotseat. To get your free chapter, fill out the yellow form to the right. Trajectory of the Radiation Plume released from Three Mile Island Gratitude to filmmaker Robert (Robbie) Leppzer, producer of the two-hour audio documentary Voices from Three Mile Island (http://www.turningtide.com/voicesfromtmi.htm), for permission to use excerpts from that work in this program. To hear an interview with Robbie Leppzer on Nuclear Hotseat #282, Click HERE . That episode also contains a memorial to Dr. Steven Wing, who studied TMI's radiation impact on health and was mentioned in Arnie Gundersn's comments. Dr. Wing died on November 9, 2016. To Donate to help Libbe HaLevy get (back) to Three Mile Island for the 39th Anniversary Events, CLICK HERE. (And yes, that's me in the photo below, at the Middletown neighborhood "hot spot," about 12 days after the TMI partial meltdown.) ### NH #352: Pacific Radiation Levels off CA Coast Triple: John Bertucci, Molly P. Johnson + Voices from Japan: Filmmaker Hitomi Kamanaka URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/pacific-radiation-levels-off-ca-coast-show-alarming-rise-john-bertucci-little-voices-from-fukushima-filmmaker-hitomi-kamanaka-nh-352/ Published: 2018-03-22 Featured Image:  Human mural spells out "Fukushima is Here" on San Francisco beach in August, 2013 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Pacific radiation levels explored with two activists:  John Bertucci, admin at Fukushima Response Campaign on Facebook and a long time anti-nuclear activist, speaks on water sampling of the Pacific off the coast of Pt. Reyes done in conjunction with the scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Our Radioactive Ocean.  Molly P. Johnson explains the increased readings in the Pacific Ocean down the coast at San Luis Obispo, done for San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace.  Donate to support their testing here. Voices from Japan:  Filmmaker Hitomi Kamanaka Trailers:  “Little Voices from Fukushima” “Hibakusha at the End of The World” (trailer is in Japanese; screening is English version) More information on upcoming US screenings below in Missing Links. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The late evangelist Billy Graham's daughter  wishes all of us in the US a Happy Nuclear Detonation! because, like, we're all sinners… and we deserve to be nuked… according to her.  But then again, she's an evangelical who wants the world to end, so hey, why not get the ball rolling? Unexpected Interview: With thanks to Kumar Sundaram of DiaNukes.org for the first interview I've ever been asked to give about Nuclear Hotseat: The Missing Links: Bob Alvarez article: "New Nuclear Policy Expands Arms Race with Russia, China" Filmmaker Hitomi Kamanaka's website and Facebook page. Screenings: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY “Little Voices from Fukushima,” Thursday March 22, 2018, 6:30 – 9:30 pm, HFSC Screening Room; Q&A with Hitomi Kamanaka and Dr. Norma Fields. NIRS “Little Voices from Fukushima,”Monday March 26, 2018, 6:30—9:30 pm, Busboys & Poets, 235 Carroll St. NW, Washington, DC 20012; Q&A with Hitomi Kamanaka and Fukushima activist Ruiko Muto. https://www.nirs.org/actions/little-voices-fukushima-feature-film-screening-filmmaker-hitomi-kamanaka-activist-ruiko-muto/ SAN CLEMENTE “Little Voices from Fukushima,” Thursday March 29, 2018, 6-8pm; San Clemente Community Center – Ole Hanson Fireside Room. Q&A with Hitomi Kamanaka. https://www.facebook.com/events/184579355491670/ SAN DIEGO “Hibakusha at the End of the World,” Sunday, April 1, 2018, 12-3 pm; Museum of Photographic Arts, Q&A with Hitomi Kamanaka and Helen Jaccard of Veterans for Peace. https://www.facebook.com/events/545184575853511/ Donate to Nuclear Hotseat to help us keep bringing you verifiable nuclear information every week. CLICK HERE ### NH #351: Nuclear's Ticking Doomsday Clock w/Rachel Bronson, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/rachel-bronson-doomsday-clock-nuclear/ Published: 2018-03-15 Duration: 00:59:01 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Rachel Bronson is President and CEO of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists – the scientists behind setting the Doomsday Clock. She explains where that image and concept came from, who decides what time to set the clock, and the criteria used to determine just how close to global annihilation we are now, then goes into the group's many publications and programs. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): TEPCO. It's always TEPCO. This time, they're working hard to boost the number of nuclear tourists to still-radioactive Fukushima Daiichi. Will they never learn? (That was rhetorical…) (l-r) Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, Voices from Japan Co-Producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko, Dianuke.org editor Kumar Sundaram at "Nuclear Cattle" screening in Los Angeles ### NH #350: SPECIAL: Fukushima 7th Anniversary VOICES FROM JAPAN: Child Thyroid Cancer Rates Soar in Fukushima URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/350-fukushima-voices-from-japan/ Published: 2018-03-07 Fukushima 7th Anniversary VOICES FROM JAPAN Listen Here: [powerpress] Featured Interviews: Chikako Chiba is a representative of the Ajisai-no Kai Support Group for families with children who have thyroid cancer. Toshio Yanagihara is an attorney who has been seeking to protect the right of Fukushima families with children to live in a safe environment. Dr. Misao Fujita is the Medical Director of the Tarachine Iwaki Citizens Radiation Monitoring Center Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): NRC goes MIA as "Bomb Cyclone" Riley hammers New England, including Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant at the foot of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.  Don't want to face up to what might happen?  Cancel the NRC on account of rain! Links to Donate: Tarachine Iwaki Citizens Radiation Monitoring Center: https://tarachineiwaki.org/english 3.11 Fund for Children with Thyroid Cancer:  http://www.311kikin.org/english It Takes a Village: Profound thanks and gratitude for the energy, insights, talents and expertise offered by so many fine professionals in the creation of this Nuclear Hotseat Voices from Japan SPECIAL: Co-Produced with and English translations by Beverly Findlay-Kaneko of Families for Safe Energy. Interviews and Featured Image by U. G. Kaneko. Voiceover coordinator: Kei Ogawa. Voice Actors: Chihiro Kawamura for Chikako Chiba Yoshi Ando for Dr. Masao Fujita Hiro Matsunaga for Toshio Yanagihara My gratitude to you all for giving voice to what must be said. – Libbe HaLevy, Producer/Host, Nuclear Hotseat. ### NH #349: Citizen Scientists! Build Monitors, Map Global Radiation! - Sean Bonner of Safecast + Massive Indian Nuke Protests Against Westinghouse Planned: Kumar Sundaram URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/citizen-scientists-build-monitors-map-global-radiation-sean-bonner-of-safecast-massive-indian-nuke-protests-against-westinghouse-planned-kumar-sundaram-nh-349/ Published: 2018-02-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Safecast workshop in Japan — building radiation monitors This Week's Featured Interviews: Sean Bonner is co-founder and global director of Safecast, an international, volunteer-centered organization devoted to open citizen science for the environment. It teaches how to build your own radiation monitor and connect it with the Safecast database of real-time, automatically uploaded radiation readings. (Featured image above is of a Safecast monitor-building workshop.)Kumar Sundaram is an Indian anti-nuclear activist and the Editor of Dianuke.org. He fills us in on upcoming protests in that country against a proposed build of six new reactors – and why those protests will be against Westinghouse and French President Emmanuel Macron. Kumar Sundaram (l) and Libbe HaLevy Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The President of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Tomoaki Kobayakawa, actually thinks that his company's "main mission" is the delivery of electricity to customers? NOOOOO! – your "main mission" needs to be cleaning up the nuclear disaster and radioactive mess at Fukushima Daiichi! Activist Opportunities – The Missing Links: Petition from Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) demanding that the nuclear reactors at Ohi in Japan not be allowed to restart.West Lake Landfill – EPA 45-day Public Comment Period LINK. Talking points: Remove ALL radioactive waste Remove ALL radioactive waste from site Buyout homes of those living closest to West Lake Landfill ### NH #348: Hanford's "Atrocious Breach of Safety" - Dangerous Incompetence Fuels Growing Radiation Contamination - Tom Carpenter of Hanford Challenge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hanfords-atrocious-breech-of-safety-dangerous-incompetence-fuels-growing-radiation-contamination-tom-carpenter-of-hanford-challenge-348/ Published: 2018-02-22 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Tom Carpenter is the Executive Director of the Hanford Challenge. He addresses Hanford's recent radiation contamination from demolition of the Plutonium Finishing Plant and maps out the timeline of recent events, which are still breaking in the news.Health Effects of Plutonium – articleInformation on radiation monitors mentioned in the interview: Safecast Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Mmmm mmm! Nothing like a little snack of green laver seaweed – now in new, hot hot hot Fukushima flavor! And yes, it glows in the dark! The Missing Links: List of Fukushima Commemoration events for the March 11, 2011 start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, ongoing for seven years now: https://dunrenard.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/fukushima-7th-anniversary-events-list/ Nagasaki-Hanford Bridge Project – Nagasaki bomb victim returns to Hanford, the site where the A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki was manufactured. For more information, to get the schedule, or to book the speaker, contact: Trisha Pritikin, Hanford Downwinder, President, Board of Directors, CORE (triesq@aol.com) Norma Field, Ingersoll Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Japanese Studies, University of Chicago (norma.field@gmail.com West Lake Landfill – EPA 45-day Public Comment Period LINK. Talking points: Remove ALL radioactive waste Remove ALL radioactive waste from site Buyout homes of those living closest to West Lake Landfill LINK to HBO documentary on West Lake Landfill, “Atomic Homefront” – FREE on HBO until March 5, 2018. ### NH #347: The Hidden Politics Behind NY's Billion Dollar Nuke Bailout: Attny Susan H. Shapiro, Tim Judson of NIRS URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/the-politics-behind-nys-possibly-illegal-nuke-bailout-attny-susan-h-shapiro-tim-judson-of-nirs-347/ Published: 2018-02-15 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews: Susan H. Shapiro is an New York State attorney whose practice focuses on environmental protection and land use in the Hudson Valley. Since 9/11, she has been co-counsel on the groundbreaking litigation against Indian Point’s violation of the Clean Water Act for thermal and radiation pollution of the Hudson River; and against the NRC for reducing fire safety standards at Indian Point. She help lay the groundwork opposing relicensing of aging nuclear reactors by filing 50 contentions against relicensing. She participated in the Presidential Blue Ribbon Commission on Nuclear Waste and has represented whistle blowers. susan@hitoshapirolaw.comTim Judson has been Executive Director of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, since 2014. He had previously been Chair of the Board of Citizens Awareness Network, a leader in successful campaign to close the Vermont Yankee reactor; and co-founder of Alliance for a Green Economy in New York. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): With Hanford site contamination from plutonium and americium found more than 10 miles away from the Plutonium Finishing Plant demolition location, what better time to cut clean-up funds? The administration's 2019 proposed budget – oy! The Missing Links: West Lake Landfill – EPA 45-day Public Comment Period LINK. Talking points: Remove ALL radioactive waste Remove ALL radioactive waste from site Buyout homes of those living closest to West Lake Landfill LINK to HBO documentary on West Lake Landfill, "Atomic Homefront" – FREE on HBO until March 5, 2018.Petition to sign: Statement against Kovvada nuclear plant in Andhra Pradesh, India, as Westinghouse officials from the US visit India next week. http://www.dianuke.org/westinghouse-quit-india-statement-kovvada-nuclear-project-andhra-pradesh/Trump orders Dept. of Energy to Prepare for Possibility of First U.S. Nuclear Test in 26 Years – article ### NH #346: EPA's "70% Plus" West Lake Landfill WWII Nuclear Weapons Waste Clean-Up Plan: The Battle Continues -Dawn Chapman & Karen Nickel of Just Moms StL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/epas-70-plus-west-lake-landfill-wwii-nuclear-weapons-waste-clean-up-plan-the-battle-continues-dawn-chapman-karen-nickel-of-just-moms-stl-nh-346/ Published: 2018-02-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Two exhausted warriors – Karen Nickel (l) and Dawn Chapman (r) of Just Moms StL in video mere moments after EPA's announcement of the West Lake Landfill clean-up plan This Week's Featured Interview: Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel are two North St. Louis mothers who discovered the fact of WWII radioactive atomic weapons waste illegally buried in a neighborhood landfill. They founded the group Just Moms StL and shepherded the protests by friends and neighbors to radioactive waste in the neighborhoods, the back yards, even inside the houses where others in their community live. With this week's monumental EPA announcement, nobody better to comment on what it all means… and where the battle for the clean-up turns next. You didn't think it was over, did you???LINK to EPA site to make your comments on West Lake Landfill known during the 45-day comment period: https://www.epa.gov/mo/forms/west-lake-landfill-public-comment-period Atomic Homefront, the HBO documentary on the West Lake Landfill, premieres on Monday, February 12 at 5:00pm Pacific time, and on demand as of Tuesday, February 13. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Henry Kissinger?!?!????? (And this one contains a moment of prescience – I SWEAR I did not know about Trump's call for a parade when I recorded it!) ### NH #345: Nuclear's Resurrected Safety Lie of "Duck & Cover" - Bo Jacobs, Hiroshima Peace Institute URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclears-resurrected-safety-lie-of-duck-cover-bo-jacobs-hiroshima-peace-institute-345/ Published: 2018-01-31 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Screen shot from the 1984 ABC-TV movie "The Day After" – Impact of atomic bomb detonation and resulting fireball on the human body. You can't "duck and cover" from that. LINK to full film below. This Week's Featured Interview: Bo Jacobs is a Professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and author of the recent Truth-out.org article, "We Cannot Survive a Nuclear Apocalypse by Ducking and Covering." He discusses the recent spate of articles promoting the long-discredited "Duck and Cover" method for "surviving" a nuclear attack and analyzes the psychology behind this misleading bit of pro-nuclear propaganda.Duck and Cover – see and hear the propaganda film we were talking about: And here's the footage of the atomic canon being fired over the Nevada desert that Bo discussed. The device exploded the same 15 kilotons as was dropped on Hiroshima: Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Do you actually need any other explanation of why transporting highly radioactive nuclear reactor waste over the roads is not a good idea? (HINT: No other transport method is much better.) The Missing Links: The Japanese Government Is Lying to the International Community: the Radiological Situation in and around Fukushima is NOT Safe – Appeal from Japanese Anti-Nuclear activist Etsuji WatanabeTokyo Not Fit For Human Habitation Movie: "The Day After." At minimum check out 55:00 – 59:00 for their visualization of a nuclear attack. ### NH #344: FUKUSHIMA: Where are the People? - Arnie Gundersen on the Ongoing Human Toll of the Nuclear Disaster URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-where-are-the-people-arnie-gundersen-on-the-ongoing-human-toll-of-the-nuclear-disaster-nh-344/ Published: 2018-01-24 Featured Image:  Arnie Gundersen in Japan, with bags of radioactive material in background. Sign says "Decontamination is still in progress." Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Feature: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education, focuses on the human toll inflicted by the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi.  Recorded December 2, 2017, at DePaul University, at an event sponsored by Chicago's Nuclear Energy Information Service, or NEIS. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The only "conspiracy" I can determine thus far in Hawaii's 38-minute false alert of an incoming nuclear missile is one to hide GROSS INCOMPETENCE in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.  Password "security," anyone? Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency's Operations Manager, proudly posing last July with… does that Post-it say "Password?"  And is that a password, legible underneath?  OMG, HI-EMA! And then there's this shot of the infamous drop-down alerts menu: Screen shot of HI-EMA's alerts menu. Notice PACOM (CDW) – STATE ONLY and DRILL – PACOM (CDW) – STATE ONLY. Low blood sugar, need-to-pee or just ham-handed operator = Hawaii's 38 minutes in nuclear hell. ### NH #343: Hawaii Dress Rehearsal for Nuclear Hell + Fukushima update w/Nancy Foust, European Radiation w/Shaun McGee URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hawaii-dress-rehearsal-for-nuclear-hell-fukushima-update-w-nancy-foust-european-radiation-w-shaun-mcgee-nh-343/ Published: 2018-01-17 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Nancy Foust of SimplyInfo.org, brings us up to date on the latest at Fukushima and the TEPCO/Japanese government attempts to clean up the site. Shaun McGee of Nuclear-News.net gets down to the nitty gritty on 2017 mystery radiation releases from Eastern Europe and some of the UK's most difficult, ongoing radiation contamination issues. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fight fire with fire?  Pick your poison?  "Neutralize" nuclear radiation with arsenic?  What are those boneheads at the UK's University of Sheffield drinking/smoking? Missing Links: Alice Slater's profound article for The Nation, "The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons is Honored with a Nobel Peace Prize" Nuclear-News.net article on Deaths of Newborns Increased in Areas Irradiated by Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.  To access Environmental Working Group's interactive map on radiation contamination in US drinking water, CLICK ON THE MAP BELOW: ### NH #342: ENCORE PRESENTATION: PSR/IPPNW Report - 10,000+ Excess Cancer Cases Post-Fukushima – Thomasson, Rosen, Mousseau, Alvarez URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/encore-presentation-psr-ippnw-report-10000-excess-cancer-cases-post-fukushima-thomasson-rosen-mousseau-alvarez-nh-342/ Published: 2018-01-10 Because I'm down with the flu, I'm unable to produce a new program this week, so here's a chance for you to listen to an important story from 2016, where Physicians for Social Responsibility and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War issued a report projecting at least 10,000 excess cancer cases in Japan because of the radioactivity releases from the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster. Originally posted on March 16, 2016 as Nuclear Hotseat #247. We'll hear from: Dr. Catherine Thomasson, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility;Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War;Tim Mousseau, PhD, a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina and on-the-ground researcher into insect and animal mutations at Chernobyl and Fukushima. Link to Nuclear Hotseat #243 featuring extended interview w/Tim MousseauBob Alvarez, who specializes in nuclear disarmament, environmental and energy policies for the Institute for Policy Studies. Included will be insights into mainstream media response to this report. Link to full PSR/IPPNW Report, "5 Years Living with Fukushima" – CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week: Tone deaf, brain dead Japanese Minister for the 2020 Tokyo NOlympics announces continued support for siting team sports in Fukushima… AND MAKES THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE NUCLEAR DISASTER THERE! The Missing Link: Reality of Fukushima is Unrecoverable: Interview with Fukushima farmer Kazuya TarukawaThe Fukushima Nuclear Disaster is a Serious Crime: Interview with Koide HiroakiThe Mothers who Set Up a Radiation LabThe IAEA Tries to Cover Up Another Nuclear Health Issue in EuropeIndia's Prime Minister Modi in the Grip of the Global Nuclear SalesmenProfitable Element, Powerful Entity: Saskatchewan's Uranium Industry and Dene EcologyUK Minister and Member of Parliament: "I Was Never Told the Truth by the Nuclear Industry" ### NH #341: Chernobyl Mutations, Fukushima Implications: Tim Mousseau + Don Safer on TVA Small Modular Reactors URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/chernobyl-mutations-fukushima-implications-tim-mousseau-don-safer-on-tva-small-modular-ractors-341/ Published: 2018-01-03 Featured Image:  Mutant Firebugs at Chernobyl.  Photo permission Timothy Mousseau Listen here: [powerpress] This Week’s Featured Interviews: Evolutionary biologist Dr. Timothy Mousseau on his on his groundbreaking, on-the-ground research at Chernobyl and Fukushima on the mutations showing up in a wide variety of species.  A Nuclear Hotseat special encore presentation. Don Safer of the Tennessee Environmental Council and the Nuclear Matters Committee for the Sierra Club on the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), Oak Ridge, and a possible reason behind the push for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).  A must-listen for anyone living in the American southeast. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): It worked for last year; sad to say it continues to work for this year… ### NH #340: SPECIAL: Nuclear Numnutz of the Year 2017! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/special-nuclear-numnutz-of-the-year-2017-nh-340/ Published: 2017-12-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured image: Wealthy guest at Trump's Mar A Lago with the poor schmuck who used to carry the nuclear football, when he was still carrying it. Nothing like a semi-selfie with the nuclear bomb launch codes! Nuclear Hotseat Year-End SPECIAL: A look back at 2017 through the lens of Numnutz of the Week. Revisit the gaffs, goofs, cover-ups, misdirections and madness of the nuclear industry and those who support it through our most popular feature. All this will lead to the announcement of: Numnutz of the Year, 2017! NOTE: I don't think you'll be surprised at all… ### NH #339: The Anti-Nuke Peace Nun Who Broke into "High Security" US Site to Protest Nuclear Weapons: Sister Megan Rice URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/the-anti-nuke-peace-nun-who-broke-into-high-security-us-site-to-protest-nuclear-weapons-sister-megan-rice-nh-339/ Published: 2017-12-20 Listen Here: [powerpress] To celebrate the holidays, a reminder of one of 2015’s successes — the early release from prison of Sister Megan Rice, one of three brave peace activists who broke into high security nuclear weapons at the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  We’ll hear from: Sister Megan Rice, the 85-year old nun, speaks at length about the peaceful 2012 Transform Now Plowshares protest action which resulted in her being charged with sabotage and sentenced to almost three years in prison.  Recorded when she was newly out of prison pending a re-sentencing hearing.  All further charges were later dropped. Co-defendant Gregory Boertje-Obed, 60, who along with co-defendant Michael Walli, 68, was sentenced to over five years in prison for their non-violent protest. Originally presented on May 26, 2015, for Nuclear Hotseat #205. Sister Megan Rice, newly released from prison in 2015 Photo Credit:  Dan Zak, by his permission. LINKS to the Transform Now Plowshares statement and Indictment of Oak Ridge for War Crimes that were drawn up by these three brave activists and read at the Y-12 site. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): OH NO!  They can't POSSIBLY be telling us to follow BERT THE TURTLE again!  AAAAAAaaaahhhh….! BUT THEY ARE!  THE ORIGINAL "DUCK AND COVER" FILM BELOW: ### NH #338: Nuclear Reactors/Climate Change Lies: Gundersen Busts Nuke Industry's PR Ploy URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-reactorsclimate-change-lies-gundersen-busts-nuke-industrys-pr-ploy-nh-338/ Published: 2017-12-14 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Feature: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer at Fairewinds Energy Education , former nuclear industry Senior Vice President and whistleblower, explains global warming in terms of an apple <!>, then takes apart the nuclear industry's claims that we "need" 1,000 new nuclear reactors to combat climate change. Brilliant, concise, filled with talking points we all need to know and use. Watch the following 2-minute animation from Fairewinds to get the picture: CLICK ON IMAGE to access SMOKESCREEN animation. http://www.fairewinds.org/nuclear-energy-education//smokescreen?rq=smokescreen Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Leave it to Japan to promote the produce from the Fukushima region by serving it to the Organizing Committee of both the Olympics and Paralympics, and planning to serve nothing but Fukushima-area food to the athletes in 2020. No testing for radiation contamination, just a PR blitz to convince everyone that there ain't nothing wrong with food grown in a radiation contamination area. The Missing Links: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony: https://youtu.be/P1daV8n6fTY ### NH #337: SPECIAL: U-Chicago Atomic Propaganda Orgy Decoded by Fairewinds' Arnie Gundersen & NEIS - Errors, Omissions & Lies, Oh My! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/special-u-chicago-atomic-propaganda-orgy-given-humanitarian-translation-by-fairewinds-arnie-gundersen-neis-nh-337/ Published: 2017-12-08 Featured Image:  Ce n'est pas une bombe atomique. Listen Here: [powerpress] The University of Chicago produced a month-long orgy of pro-nuclear self-congratulations to celebrate the first atomic pile, the chain reaction which started our collective nuclear nightmare.  The events culminated in a Symposium, "Nuclear Reaction,"  held on December 1, 2017, featuring relentless pro-nuclear propaganda. Nuclear Hotseat was there to cover the events through the eyes of those who know enough to oppose nuclear, along with NEIS-sponsored events presented as a counterbalance. Hear feedback and perspective on the human toll of the Atomic Age from: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer, Fairewinds Energy Education Dave Kraft, Executive Director, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) Norma Field, PhD, the Robert S. Ingersoll  Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Japanese Studies at the University of Chicago NEIS Board Members and Activists, including Gail Snyder, Jan Boudart, Steven Sondheim (NEIS member, Sierra Club Nuclear Free Campaign). Who Was There for the Pro-Nuclear Self-Congratulations? Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz President and CEO of Exelon, Chris Crane Representatives of Department of Energy, Stanford University, and of course, University of Chicago Numnutz of the Week (For Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fireworks?!?  Shaped like a mushroom cloud?!?  Exploded over the site of the first atomic pile, which led to all the rest of the nuclear madness?!?  Someone needs to explain "mixed metaphor" to those numnutz at the U of C! , ### NH #336: Russia Confesses: Radioactive Ruthenium Cloud over Europe Came f/Mayak + Karl Grossman on Indian Point URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/karl-grossman-on-indian-point-russia-confesses-radioactive-ruthenium-cloud-of-europe-came-from-mayak-336/ Published: 2017-11-29 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week’s Featured Interview: Award-winning journalist Karl Grossman shares insights on the Indian Point Closure agreement, the hidden manipulation tactics of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators, and gives us examples of how activists have successfully scuttled nuclear industry plans. An Encore presentation from Nuclear Hotseat, #295, February 14, 2017. Karl Grossman’s Links: Article – “An Engineer’s Perspective on the Indian Point Shutdown“FREE download of Karl Grossman’s book, Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear PowerSuggested Groups: Beyond Nuclear Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) Radiation and Public Health Servic Ruthinium 106 Leak/Mayak Information: For the latest news on Mayak and the radioactive Ruthinium 106 cloud over Europe, check with Nuclear-News.net. This is the source I use and rely upon for its integrity, research, thoroughness, and contacts throughout Europe. They are able to follow the Mayak story on a daily basis – I produce the show once a week – and they are a site to be trusted. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Graverobbers scavange wrecks of WWII war ships for their steel… because it's the only source of non-radioactive steel left on the planet! Activist Shout-Out: ### NH #335: "Chernobyl Disaster in a Can" - 73 Vulnerable-To-Cracking Radioactive Waste Canisters Set for CA Ocean-Front Burial at San Onofre: Donna Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radioactive-waste-canisters-san-onofre/ Published: 2017-11-23 Duration: 00:59:01 San Onofre Nuclear Reactors This Week's Featured Interview: Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org reports on Southern California Edison's plans to bury 1,800 tons – that's 3,600,000 pounds <!> of high-level radioactive waste a mere 36 yards from high tide in canisters that are vulnerable to cracking in 2 years and leaking within 20 years. Each one contains a Chernobyl disaster's worth of radiation on the Pacific Ocean less than 70 miles from Los Angeles! What to do: Download petition and info sheets HERE – it's the top story on the page.Get signatures on the petition and send to San Onofre Safety (hard copy signatures on paper are necessary).Use the info sheet to engage in conversation on the issues.CA RESIDENTS: Call your state representative; locate her or him HERE: www.findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov CALL the California Coastal Commission: (562) 590-5071To read the Federal Register containing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's admission of no requirements for aging of radioactive waste-containing canisters, CLICK HERE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): "Shelter in place" after a nuclear accident… and stay there? New study provides a great way to keep the bodies out of the streets and the clean-up to a minimum! Beware of "*NEW IMPROVED*" methods of measuring radioactive risk… and always check out who's behind the funding for this kind of bogus pro-nuclear "research." ### NH #334: Sen. Corker Challenges President's Authority to First-Strike Nukes - PSR's Martin Fleck was In the Room Where it Happened, Cong. Ted Lieu on Nuke Use Legalities + FUKUSHIMA UPDATE w/Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/presidents-authority-to-first-strike-nukes-challenged-psrs-martin-fleck-was-in-the-room-where-it-happened-cong-ted-lieu-on-nuke-use-legalities-fukushima-update-wnancy-foust-nh-334/ Published: 2017-11-15 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews: Martin Fleck, Security Program Director for Physicians for Social Responsibility, spoke with Nuclear Hotseat less than an hour after his attendance at today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing chaired by Sen. Bob Corker, which confronted the president’s – any president’s – authority to use nuclear weapons.Congressman Ted Lieu’s presentation on the legalities surrounding use of nuclear weapons, taken from the October 26, 2017 Ploughshares conference, "Nuclear Weapons Policy in a Time of Crisis. Monthly Fukushima UPDATE: Nancy Foust of Simply Info knows the latest and shares it. A Nuclear Hotseat EXCLUSIVE. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you already think the nuclear industry and its technology are bananas, wait'll you hear their shenanigans at the COP23 Climate Change Conference! You'll go ape! (ADD PIC AFTER HOOTSUITE) ### NH #333: Kids, Leukemia, Power Lines & Nukes + Why Hiroshima Life Span Study is "Rubbish": Chris Busby URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/kids-leukemia-power-lines-nukes-why-hiroshima-life-span-study-is-rubbish-chris-busby/ Published: 2017-11-08 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured image: Prof. Chris Busby (r) with the late Alexey Yablakov, editor of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment This Week's Featured Interview: Prof. Chris Busby is a British scientist and activist known for his work on the health effects of ionizing radiation. He often appears in UK court as an expert witness in radiation-related cases. His website is: GreenAudit.org. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): San Francisco may have plans and given permission to develop Treasure Island into a mega-development of homes, shops, hotel rooms, parks and office space… but ya think that maybe, just maybe, they should take a look at the radioactively contaminated soil and groundwater they're planning to build it on? Have they learned nothing from the problems in North St. Louis? ### NH #332: N. St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare Explodes in Powerful "Atomic Homefront" Documentary - Director Rebecca Cammisa, Just Moms Dawn Chapman, Robbin Ellison Dailey URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/n-st-louis-nuclear-nightmare-explodes-in-powerful-atomic-homefront-documentary-dawn-chapman-director-rebecca-cammisa-robbin-ellison-dailey/ Published: 2017-11-01 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews: Focus this week is on "Atomic Homefront," a documentary about the families in North St. Louis fighting against radioactive contamination of their homes from the illegally buried WWII nuclear weapons waste in Westlake Landfill — and the underground fire at the adjacent Bridgeton Landfill that can't be put out and is advancing on the radioactive waste. Interviews include: Rebecca Cammisa, director of "Atomic Homefront"Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms, StL She is one of the residents living near the landfill whose activist response is featured in the film.Robbin Ellison Dailey, who lives adjacent to the Westlake Landfill and has discovered radioactive waste inside her home. An Encore presentation from Nuclear Hotseat #283 from November 22, 2016. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Black is white, bad is good, up is down, and Vice President Mike Pence says that nuclear bombs are good for peace! George Orwell must be turning over in his grave! ### NH #331: UN/WHO Chernobyl LIES - Suppression of Critical Yablakov Book w/Devastating Stats - Alison Katz of Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/unwho-suppression-of-critical-chernobyl-book-devastating-stats-alison-katz-nh-331/ Published: 2017-10-25 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Alison Katz of Independent WHO, again helps us understand why the dangers released by Chernobyl have been so downplayed for decades.  In her second major interview for Nuclear Hotseat, she reveals the suppression and  dis-information campaign against the book Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, a compilation of over 500 health studies from Eastern European nations compiled by Prof. Alexei Yablokov. FREE PDF COPY of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment in English: www.foejapan.org/energy/evt/pdf/121214.pdf  Free PDF Copy in French:  http://independentwho.org/fr/livres/ Purchase book in Japanese (alas, no PDF yet available):  https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4000238787 Numnutz of the Week: Hey, Scott Pruitt and Environmental "Protection" Agency – just because you say drinking radiation-contaminated water is safe does not make it so! Action Steps: Sign and Share the Petition in support of the Lieu/Markey Bill to Restrict First use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017:  Karen Hadden of SEED Coalition, working on uranium mining, waste and nuclear waste storage issues, asks that we sign and share the petition:  Prevent Unnecessary Radioactive Risks Across the Nation Crowdfunding request from Radiation Free Lakeland (featured on Nuclear Hotseat #327 from September 26, 2017). They’re raising funds to hire a marine pollution consultant to help fight plans to dump radioactive mud from Hinkley Point into Cardiff Bay. ### NH #330: Nuclear Winter: The Inescapable, Devastating Aftermath of Nuclear Bombs - Steven Starr URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-winter-the-inescapable-devastating-aftermath-steven-starr-nh-330/ Published: 2017-10-18 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Cartoon by Khalil Bendib, OtherWords.com This Week's Featured Interview: Steven Starr is a senior scientist with Physicians for Social Responsibility and an Associate of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. www.NuclearDarkness.org Make sure you check out the Firestorm Simulator.NukeMap – Find out what a nuclear bomb of any size would do to your, yes YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): The Los Angeles-area Joint Regional Intelligence (put that word in quotes!) Center is so freaked out by North Korea having along range missile theoretically capable of reaching the US West Coast that they've sent out a 16-page "Nuclear Attack Response Considerations" that: give "radiation protection basics" almost identical to 1950's "Duck and Cover" exercises;warn that during evacuation (on the 405 Freeway/Parking lot?) the public may be experiencing "high anxiety" (ya think?);instructs government entities to "remain operational… (and) maintain order;and says not one word about the spent fuel pools at San Onofre. Greenpeace Sets Off Fireworks at France's Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant Spent Fuel Pool If activists can get to the spent fuel pool with fireworks, what could someone with malicious intent do with real explosives? THAT'S THE POINT! This handout photograph taken and released by Greenpeace early October 12, 2017, shows a firework exploding at the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant, some 50kms north of Metz. Greenpeace environmental activists were arrested after briefly entering the Cattenom nuclear power plant in Lorraine (eastern France) to alert the vulnerability of these sites to a possible attack. "Greenpeace activists on site, stopped by the gendarmes, no access to the nuclear zone, no impact on the safety of the installations", according to the twitter account of the power station, located a few kilometers from the border of Luxembourg. / AFP PHOTO / Greenpeace / HO / IMAGE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD BY EXTERNAL MEDIA FOR 10 DAYS AFTER RELEASE — RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GREENPEACE " – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS — NO ARCHIVE — ### NH #329: Bob Alvarez Decodes N. Korea & Nukes + ICAN Wins Nobel Peace Prize! YAY! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/bob-alvarez-decodes-n-korea-nukes-ican-wins-nobel-peace-prize-yay-nh-329/ Published: 2017-10-11 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: The Nobel Peace Prize announcement from Oslo, Norway, and press conference interview with Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of ICAN – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Straight talk on North Korea from Bob Alvarez, a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, who served as a senior policy advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Security and the Environment during the Clinton administration, 1993-1999. One of the few Americans who actually visited a North Korean nuclear facility, he understands the politics, pressures and which way lies madness. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): That danged human error launched a torpedo into a UK nuclear dockyard! All the nuclear "safeguards" in the world won't add up to much against the actions of a Darwin-adjacent nominee. The Missing Link: Boeing's Santa Susana Field Laboratory "clean-up" – comments needed to California Department of Toxic Substances Control: SSFL.DTSC.commentinput.comCoalition Against Nukes calling for ACTION on the proposed House and Senate bills: Restrict First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017. Calls needed to your Senators and Congressional Representatives needed to support taking first-strike capability out of the hands of the President without a Congressional declaration of war. ### NH #328: LA's Nuclear Nightmare Continues - Boeing's Santa Susana Field Lab Lies w/Denise Duffield + FUKUSHIMA UPDATE w/Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/la-nuclear-nightmare-continues-boeings-santa-susana-field-lab-wdenise-duffield-fukushima-update-wnancy-foust328/ Published: 2017-10-04 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Children show map of pediatric cancers surrounding Santa Susana Field Lab at Feb. 21, 2017 Department of Energy (DOE) meeting Featured Interview: Denise Duffield is associate director of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles (PSR-LA). She directs PSR-LA's nuclear threats program, which advocates for health protective policies related to nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and radiation regulations. Denise leads PSR-LA’s efforts to ensure a proper cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a former nuclear and rocket testing facility that is highly polluted with radiological and chemical contamination. SSFL Community Hearings – this week: Thursday, October 5, 2017 Open house from 6 -7 and meeting from 7– 9 pm Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley, CA 93065 Saturday, October 7, 2017 Open house from 2 – 3 and meeting from 3- 5 pm St. John Eudes Church, 9901 Mason Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311 FUKUSHIMA UPDATE – New Monthly Feature: A new monthly feature with Nancy Foust of Simply Info bringing us all the latest information on the triple meltdown at Fukushima, with context and interpretation to understand not only what's happening, but what it means. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Deny deny deny deny — whether it's in Southern California or northeastern Japan, the nuclear industry depends on repeating its lies so many times — especially to CHILDREN — that it sounds like truth… but it is not the truth! (Thanks to www.Nuclear-News.net for story and picture of website, below.) The Missing Links: Keep Space for Peace Week Events15-part mini-series, Nuclear Power in Our World Today (CLICK on picture to access latest video) featuring Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gundersen – "nuclear authority, engineer and whistleblower." ### NH #327: North UK Nuke Waste Storage Fightback - Marianne Birkby + "Man Who Saved the World" from Nuclear Holocaust Dies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/north-uk-nuke-waste-storage-fightback-marianne-birkby-man-who-saved-the-world-from-nuclear-holocaust-dies-nh-327/ Published: 2017-09-28 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Stanislav Petrov, "The Man Who Saved the World" (1936-2017) This Week's Featured Interview: Marianne Birkby is a wildlife artist who founded Radiation Free Lakeland in 2008 to oppose geological dumping of nuclear waste and new nuclear developments in Cumbria in the UK. The groups aim is nuclear safety and that has recently included spearheading a campaign to stop a new coal mine within close proximity of Sellafield.RECOMMENDED BOOK: Nuclear Juggernaught by Michael Bond, published in 1992 by EarthScanOngoing petitions can be found here: Stop Moorside – the biggest new nuclear development in Europe Stop Fossil Fuel Extraction Near Nuclear Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): C'mon, World Nuclear News and World Nuclear Association — you call THAT a "HOT SEAT?" Not even warm… but thanks for the free publicity! Commemoration: Stanislav Petrov, ‘The Man Who Saved The World,’ Dies at 77 BBC article contains interview video.Trailer for 2014 documentary with reenactments, "The Man Who Saved the World" ### NH #326: Hometown Nuclear Activist Beats Goliath: Patty Ameno vs. NUMEC URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hometown-nuclear-activist-beats-goliath-patty-ameno-vs-numec/ Published: 2017-09-18 Duration: 00:59:01 Never doubt that a single activist can make all the difference in the world. This week's featured interview: Never doubt that a single activist can make all the difference in the world. Patty Ameno grew up in Apollo, Pennsylvania, 35 miles NE of Pittsburgh, not realizing that her childhood home was directly across the street from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation. NUMEC manufactured fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and the Navy’s nuclear submarines, leaving behind a legacy of uranium and plutonium waste that impacted the health of everyone in the area — including Patty. A trained investigator with Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and former U.S. Federal Criminal Investigator, Patty took on NUMEC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Babcock & Wilcox and Atlantic Richfield… and won. This is the story of how she did it. Patty Ameno at work Numnutz of the Week: The Hurricanes that Would Not Die – and the Radnet Monitors that Would Not Work. ### NH #325: (Almost) Fukushima in Florida? Irma & Harvey, Hurricanes & Nukes w/Maggie Gundersen, Paul Gunter, Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/almost-fukushima-in-florida-hurricanes-nukes-wmaggie-gundersen-paul-gunter-nancy-foust-nh-325/ Published: 2017-09-13 Duration: 00:59:01 Hurricanes and Nukes: A Special Report Post-Irma and Harvey This Week's Featured Interviews: Maggie Gundersen is founder of Fairewinds Energy Education, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission of educating the public about nuclear power production, engineering, reliability, and safety issues. She is also a former employee of the nuclear industry. Fairewinds Reports: Article – Hurricane Season and Atomic Power Reactors Peer reviewed study – LINK to full article: Radioactively-hot particles detected in dusts and soils from Northern Japan Paul Gunter is Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear, which seeks to educate and activate the public about the connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapons and the need to abandon both to safeguard our future.Nancy Foust is Communications manager and research team member SimplyInfo.org. a not for profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster. Numnutz of the Week*: The EPA Irma Coverup, er, I mean, Notice on loss of Radnet Radiation Monitoring Network as of September 8 – just in time for it to not be able to provide readings during Hurricane Irma and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey! Note the wording on today's excuse to the teacher: "Due to Maintenance" – which implies a planned outage."We are working to resolve the issue" – which implies an unexpected problem or emergency that must be handled. WHICH IS IT, DUDES? * Alas, Numnutz of the Week was edited out of this week's show because of time constraints, but this is the script, more or less. Enjoy! Try reading it yourself! Send a recording to me as an audio file and I'll run the best one on a future Nuclear Hotseat! ### NH #324: Texas Nuke Site FLOODED, IRMA Aims at FLA - But NRC Mute on Hurricane Dangers as Nuke Industry PR Hacks Brag URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/324-texas-nukes-flooded-irma-aims-at-fla-but-nrc-mute-on-dangers-as-nuke-industry-pr-hacks-brag/ Published: 2017-09-07 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interview: Nancy Foust of SimplyInfo.org again joins us to review the actual flooding at South Texas Project's nuclear reactors next to Bay City, Texas. Satellite map of flooding at South Texas Project nuclear facility (UC Davis via Simply Info, with permission) Rundown on nuclear threat at Turkey Point and St. Lucie nuclear reactors in Florida in advance of Hurricane Irma, with perspective on previous hurricane/nuke run-ins from Andrew, Camille and Matthew. LINK: Five Reasons Why Turkey Point Could Be the Next Nuclear Disaster Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): We don't know who's more Numnutz this week: Washington State for fining the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a mere $16,000 for inaction on a matter at the Hanford Site – a $2.3 BILLION ANNUAL BUDGET CLEAN-UP – or actually thinking they'll see a dime of it. ### NH #323: SPECIAL: Fukushima in Texas? Hurricane Harvey Nuclear Dangers Not Over - Paul Gunter, Nancy Foust, Susan Dancer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/special-fukushima-in-texas-hurricane-harvey-nuclear-dangers-not-over-paul-gunter-nancy-foust-susan-dancer-nh-323/ Published: 2017-08-30 Duration: 00:59:01 A Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL: The Ongoing Nuclear Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey This Week's Featured Interviews: Paul Gunter is Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear.Nancy Foust is Communications Manager & Research Team Member at SimplyInfo.org, a not-for-profit research collective that holds and manages the world’s largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster.Susan Dancer is President of the South Texas Association for Responsible Energy, headquartered in Bay City, Texas – yes that Bay City. She spoke from a site she evacuated to with all the animals in the animal rescue that she runs, Texas Blessings. LINK to PRESS RELEASE: Don't Play Russian Roulette – Nuclear Reactors Should be Shuttered Due to Hurricane Flooding Risks. Numnutz of the Week: How could The Weather Channel be any more arrogant and clueless? Just put clueless interns on the phones and watch them lose all crowdsourced nuclear information and insights! ### NH #322: Plutonium & Epilepsy? Rocky Flats Health SPOTLIGHT: Downwinders Tiffany Hansen & Dani Ball + Kristen Iversen NH #322 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/plutonium-epilepsy-rocky-flats-health-spotlight-downwinders-tiffany-hansen-dani-ball-kristen-iversen-nh-322/ Published: 2017-08-23 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews: Kristen Iversen, author of the superb book Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats, explains the Preliminary Results of the Rocky Flats Health Survey, which is meant to determine what has happened to the health of those who lived and worked in proximity with that nuclear weapons production site near Denver and Boulder, Colorado. To access the Rocky Flats Health Study, CLICK HERE. Tiffany Hansen, M.A., is co-founder of Rocky Flats Downwinders, a community activist group that focuses on dangers faced by local residents. Dani Ball is a nurse who grew up near Rocky Flats and has epilepsy, just recently connected with Rocky Flats Downwinders and brought a body of knowledge to their attention that is exploding out the possibility of a link between epilepsy and exposure to ionizing radiation. She can be contacted directly via email at DaBall@yahoo.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RockyFlatsResidentRegistry/ LINK to CBS Denver's 3-part series: Rocky Flats: Colorado's Nuclear Shadow Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy's former classmate and eminently successful journalist Rick Sallinger of CBS Denver, interviewing Dr. Mark Johnson, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Health Department, for 3-part series on Rocky Flats. The Missing Link: John Oliver does nuclear waste! (More on this next week…) ### NH #321: Trump's N. Korea WARGASM! Will It Come? A Different Perspective w/Space4Peace's Bruce Gagon & Bo Jacobs in Hiroshima URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/trumps-n-korea-wargasm-a-different-perspective-wspace4peaces-bruce-gagon-bo-jacobs-in-hiroshima-nh-321/ Published: 2017-08-16 Duration: 00:59:01 This Week's Featured Interviews – North Korea Close-up: Bruce Gagnon is the secretary/coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. He provides the history of US/N. Korea relations, a context for understanding what the countries are threatening, Donald Trump's misplaced bellicosity, and the likelihood that Kim Jong Un will drop a nuke on Guam (SPOILER ALERT: Not very likely.)Bo Jacobs, a Professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University, is a historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. He fills us in on how people in Japan are REALLY responding to threats of a missile strike on their country by North Korea. (SPOILER ALERT: Not very.) Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): How could General Electric build a huge six-nuclear reactor facility at Fukushima and — OOPS! — miss an unexploded bomb the US dropped during World War II on the premises? Featured image created by Chelim Yrneh; used by permission. ### NH #320: Nuclear Boondoggle! V.C. Summer DOA but SC Ratepayers Stuck w/the Bill: Beyond Nuclear's Paul Gunter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-320/ Published: 2017-08-09 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: Protesters against proposed Chalk River nuclear waste dump, intended to be sited next to the Ottawa River This Week's Featured Interviews: Paul Gunter, Director, Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear, gets into the complexities of what the abandonment of the V.C. Summer two-reactor build in South Carolina means. For SC ratepayers, the news is not good! V. C. Summer nuclear – "Too cheap to meter" becomes "too expensive to build." Terrie Barrie is a worker advocate with Cold War Patriots and part of the Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups (ANWAG). She explains how recent whistleblower accusations about intentional Department of Labor obstruction to delay payment to radiation-exposed workers workers have led to action. gain compensation under the too-complex Energy Employees Claimant Assistance Projects (EECAP). The following are resources for nuclear and uranium workers: A poll being conducted on medical benefits can be found on the Energy Employees Claimant Assistance Projects home page.EECAP hosts a page for the Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups.Cold War Patriots is a great resource for claimants and potential claimants, too. If you think you have been injured as a result of working on government nuclear or uranium mining sites, contact Terrie Barrie at the ANWAG office: 970-824-2260 Hiroshima Remembrance links: LINK TO WILFRED BURCHETT ARTICLE: "The Atomic Plague" LINK TO NEWLY DISCOVERED HIROSHIMA PHOTOS: ### NH #319: Secret Bunkers for Continuation of U.S. Government while Nuked Citizens Die - RAVEN ROCK author Garrett Graff URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/secret-bunkers-continuation-of-u-s-government-while-nuked-citizens-die-raven-rock-author-garrett-graff-nuclear-hotseat-320/ Published: 2017-08-02 Duration: 00:59:01 Featured Image: What a Hiroshima-sized nuclear bomb would do to Lower Manhattan. This Week's Featured Interviews: Garrett Graff, author of RAVEN ROCK: The Story of the US Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die. Not exactly your light bedtime reading!Nancy Foust of SimplyInfo.org deciphers TEPCO's first batch of robot pictures of inside Fukushima-Daiichi's wrecked containment vessel. Numnutz of the Week: Japan's agriculture ministry may be pushing to certify more agricultural producers in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but between hot particles widely dispersed throughout Japan and mushrooms grown within 20 miles of Fukushima Daiichi showing high levels of radiocesium contamination, this is one seal of approval of which Nuclear Hotseat does not approve! Sarcodon aspratus – Hedgehog mushrooms grown in Kawauchi village, 30 km/18 miles from Fukushima Daiichi, where Cesium 137 in concentration as high as 5,600 Bq/kg <!> found in 68 of 68 samples. Activist Shout-out: 72nd anniversary of the dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). Take a moment and remember, then go to NukeMap and see what a Hiroshima-sized bomb would do to your neighborhood. ### NH #318: Post-UN Weapons Ban, Scottish Protest of UK Nukes + Int'l Disarmament Camp - On-Site w/Nikki Clark URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/post-un-weapons-ban-scottish-protest-of-uk-nukes-intl-disarmament-camp-on-site-wnikki-clark/ Published: 2017-07-26 This Week's Featured Interviews: Nikki Clark, a veteran UK nuclear campaigner who co-founded the group South West Against Nuclear, serves as Nuclear Hotseat Special Correspondent, on the ground at the Coulport Nuclear Disarmament Camp in Scotland. She interviews: Angie Zelter, a founding member of Trident Ploughshares currently in prison for refusing to accept a court ban from protesting against nuclear weapons. (Pictured as Featured Image)Marcus Armstrong, also with Trident Plowshares, known as Britain's most-arrested ant-nuclear protester.French support for the Scottish camp and protests came from Dominique LaLanne and Claude Colombie, anti-nuclear activists from France, who explain why they've come so far to join the camp and the protest.Janet Fenton of the UK Quaker group Northern Friends Peace Board and a member of Civil Society who attended the UN sessions to ban nuclear weapons, on the importance of that United Nations action and why all our voices need to be heard. Numnutz of the Week: Want to convince Japan that it's A-OK to swim on a beach less than 70 kilometers/54 miles from Fukushima Daiichi and TEPCO's planned release of more than 777,000 cubic meters of tritium-contaminated water? Put hula skirts on underage high school girls and have them cavort in the Pacific Ocean waves in front of photographers! Titillate the pedophiles and convince locals and tourists alike that hey, no reason not to come to Japan for the 2020 Olympics! (ps – 33 countries STILL ban Japanese food because of radiation concerns, especially seafood caught from Fukushima and adjacent waters.) As a PR stunt, underage high school girls cavort in the Pacific Ocean less than 70 kilometers/54 miles from the radioactive remains of Fukushima Daiichi. ### NH #317: Canada's Nuclear Waste Nightmare Threatens Great Lakes, Savannah River Site - Dr. Gordon Edwards, Part 2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/canadas-nuclear-waste-nightmare-threatens-great-lakes-savannah-river-site-dr-gordon-edwards-part-2/ Published: 2017-07-19 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards  of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility continues his interview with Libbe HaLevy, covering the transport of highly radioactive liquid nuclear waste from Chalk River in Canada to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Then we shift to the ongoing push by Bruce Power and the Canadian nuclear industry to build a deep geologic waste repository for low and intermediate level nuclear waste less than one mile from the shores of Lake Huron. LINKS from Dr. Gordon Edwards:  Slide show aimed at first responders, medical professionals and elected officials on highly radioactive liquid waste transport from Chalk River, Ontario, to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina:  http://ccnr.org/TRM_Transport_Niagara.pdf YouTube video of his on-line webinar on the Chalk River liquid from February 2017: Numnutz of the Week: Talk about falling upwards!  Only the nuclear industry seems able to make a $1 billion profit off two half-built reactors that are $3 billion over-budget and three years over-schedule.  Numnutz fer shure… at least as far as Georgia ratepayers are concerned! ### NH #316: UN Passes Nuclear Weapons Ban + Dr. Gordon Edwards on Canada's Nuclear Waste Insanity URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-passes-nuclear-weapons-ban-dr-gordon-edwards-on-canadas-nuclear-waste-insanity-nuclear-hotseat-316/ Published: 2017-07-12 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards is president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and one of of Canada's best known independent experts on nuclear technology. He speaks on the Chalk River proposed Nuclear Waste Dump, its history, and the many ways it's a dangerous, wrong-headed idea. The first of three segments with Dr. Edwards. Next week: The OPG proposed deep geological repository for nuclear waste on the shores of Lake Huron. SPECIAL FEATURE: Heidi Hutner, director of the Sustainability Studies Program at Stonybrook University and Associate Dean in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, called Nuclear Hotseat from the United Nations within an hour of passage of the nuclear bomb ban. Historic audio! MORE ICANW INFO AND LINKS TO COME! Featured Image courtesy International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons LINKS: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons – website.Quick animated explanation of Don't Bank on the Bomb: Numnutz of the Week: It may be based on a trade agreement, but why is the European Union considering doing away with radiological testing and certification for rice, seafood and wild plants from Northeastern Japan, site of the Fukushima triple meltdowns? Are they trying to get some advantage for the Olympics? ### NH #315: Three Mile Island 2019 Shutdown - Exelon's Promise or Threat? Scott Portzline of TMI Alert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-2019-shutdown-promise-or-threat-scott-portzline-of-tmi-alert/ Published: 2017-07-05 This Week's Featured Interview: Scott Portzline, Cyber-Security advisor to Three Mile Island Alert, sorts through the verbiage and posturing around Exelon's announcement that they'll be shutting down the Three Mile Island in 2019. Is it a promise or a threat to extract funds from Pennsylvania to keep on running? Plus Scott updates us on Eric Epstein, TMI Alert's esteemed and feared (by the nuclear industry) chair.Just for giggles, a compilation of outtakes from Nuclear Hotseat over the past year. Prepared for the 6th anniversary show (#312) but bumped to today's 4th of July festivities. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Clueless US Energy Secretary Rick Perry wants to make nuclear "cool" again. Was it ever cool? And what idiot ever thought so? The Missing Links: In the event of a nuclear attack, here's how the government will save its own posterior (and ignore yours).International seed bank in Norway stored in a vault with all of Norway's nuclear waste underneath it. Difference in effects on the environment between nuclear bombs and nuclear meltdowns31 government scientists confirmed to have inhaled uranium after warning alarms shut off in 2014 "incident" at the Los Alamos National [Nuclear] Laboratory. Witnesses of the Bomb: Seven testimonies from the era of nuclear testing in French Polynesia ### NH #314: Fukushima Radiation-Hit USS Reagan Sailors Win Right to Sue TEPCO in USA URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-radiation-hit-uss-reagan-sailors-win-right-to-sue-tepco-in-usa-314/ Published: 2017-06-28 Duration: 00:59:50 Encore Presentation of Nuclear Hotseat #272: EXCLUSIVE! USS Reagan vs. TEPCO Hearing Attorneys, Sailors + John Edwards On September 1, 2016, Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy attended the US 9th District Court Hearing on USS Reagan Sailors v. Tokyo Electric Power Company. The sailors were on an humanitarian aid mission to Japan following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which caused the Fukushima Daiichi triple meltdowns. TEPCO never informed the US Navy of the dangerous release of radioactivity from the crippled nuclear reactors and as a result, the sailors were exposed to catastrophic levels of radiation. At stake in this hearing: the right for the already ill sailors to have their case heard in U.S. court, not Japan.* (NOTE: The ruling handed own just this week will allow the case to proceed in the United States court system. This program lets you glimpse what it took to get here.) Hear excepts from the testimony and exclusive interviews with: Attorneys for the sailors Charles Bonner and Paul C. Carlson GarnerSailors from the USS Reagan: William Zeller, Chad Holt and Chris Shamrell.Former US Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards, who reveals a bombshell: why he flew out to attend this hearing and has become so public in his support for the sailors. David v. Goliath? Count on it! (l-r: Attorney Paul C. Garner, [3 USS Reagan sailors], Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy Video of full hearing of lawsuit HERE: Numnutz of the Week: Czech it out! The main qualification required for a two-week internship at the Czech Republic's Temlin nuclear power plant is how good you look in a "bikini" (which is really just a modest two-piece bathing suit). The Missing Links: (Live links to all the Nuclear Hotseat/USS Reagan episodes coming…) Nuclear Hotseat #96 – USS Reagan Sailors at Dr. Helen Caldicott’s SymposiumNuclear Hotseat #129 – Interview w/Attorney Charles BonnerNuclear Hotset #138 – Interview w/Attorney Charles BonnerNuclear Hotseat #159 – Interview w/USS Reagan sailor Steve SimmonsNuclear Hotseat #162 – Steve Simmons and epidemiologist Joseph Mangano refute TEPCO claimsNuclear Hotseat #166 – USS Reagan sailors v. TEPCO Nuclear Hotseat #173 – Yokuska Homeporting of USS Reagan and Unresolved Radiation Issues w/Carole JahnkowNuclear Hotseat #176 – USS Reagan Case Win!Nuclear Hotseat #180 – Internal v. External Radiation Risks for USS Reagan Sailors Featured image: The judges of the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals in upper image; attorney Cabral Bonner (standing) and Charles Bonner (seated) in lower image ### NH #313: Marshall Islands Nuclear Atrocities & the United Nations Nuke Bomb Treaty - The Human Perspective w/Desmond Delatram of REACH-MI URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/marshall-islands-nuclear-atrocities-the-united-nations-the-human-perspective-wdesmond-delatram-of-reach-mi-313/ Published: 2017-06-21 Duration: 00:59:50 Nuclear Hotseat: Downloaded in 122 Countries! (May, 2017 audit) This Week's Featured Interview: Desmond Doulatram of the Marshall Islands is Co-Founder of the NGO REACH-MI (Radiation Exposure Awareness Crusaders for Humanity – Marshall Islands). Desmond has seen the devastating effects of the testing of 67 nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands within his own family. and is at the United Nations helping to showcase the little known side of history and humanity from the Pacific, and human rights abuses by colonial super powers. Marshall Islands Sites: Change Circumstance Petition to the United States Congress Bikini Atoll information Nuclear Savage, the film: 465458 from adam horowitz on Vimeo. ### NH #312: 6th Anniversary: HANFORD AGAIN! Plus Anti-Nuke Peace Boat Golden Rule Takes on CA Reactors and Latest Grand Canyon UPDATE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/312-6th-anniversary/ Published: 2017-06-15 Duration: 00:59:50 Six years of weekly Nuclear Hotseat and still going strong! Please DONATE to support our work! Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Gerry Condon is a national board member of Veterans for Peace and President of the Golden Rule Committee. He will be aboard the anti-nuclear Peace Ship Golden Rule when it sails down the California coast this summer and is available for speaking engagements.Alicyn Gitlin of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter provides an update on uranium mining contamination issues in and around Grand Canyon. As with any third-world country: Don't drink the water! Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Japan buries radioactive waste from Fukushima in Yokohama schoolyards. ### NH #311: Nuclear Waste "Russian" Roulette SPECIAL - Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-waste-russian-roulette-special-kevin-kamps-of-beyond-nuclear-nuclear-hotseat-311/ Published: 2017-06-07 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interview: Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Watchdog/Bulldog for Beyond Nuclear, gives an all-encompassing vision of nuclear waste problems faced by not just the United States, but the world. Included in his discussion are: Hanford Site Waste Isolation Pilot Plant San Onofre Yucca Mountain US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Ontario Power Generation has studied every aspect of the problem and – believe it or not! – come to the conclusion that what's a little desecration of First Nation lands and sacred burial grounds, and putting the safety of the entire Great Lakes water basin in nuclear danger when it's SO convenient to site the nuclear waste REPOSITORY – NOT "BUNKER" AS THEY'RE TRYING TO RE-LANGUAGE IT!!!!! – on its own property. ### NH #310: Hanford, Hanford, Hanford! + Grand Canyon Uranium Contamination w/Alicyn Gitlin + US-Japan Nuclear Energy Cooperation Treaty w/Mari Inoue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/grand-canyon-uranium-contamination-walicyn-gitlin-us-japan-nuclear-energy-cooperation-treaty-wmari-inoue-310/ Published: 2017-05-31 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interviews: Mari Inoue of Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World talks about the issues surrounding the US-Japan Nuclear Energy Cooperation Treaty – and why we really don’t want it to be renewed. LINK to information on the June 17, 2017 NYC protest of the proposed treaty renewal. Alicyn Gitlin coordinates the Campaign to Restore and Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Ecoregion Campaign for the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter. (Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #273, September 13, 2016.) Numnutz of the Week: OOPS! just doesn't cut it when bad programming code takes a private nuke emergency exercise and literally broadcasts it on two counties worth of TV sets – #ReadyNJ indeed!: ### NH #309: HANFORD Accident #2 in 10 Days! + Ian Zabarte on Yucca Mt. Nuclear Desecration of Western Shoshone Land URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hanford-accident-2-in-10-days-ian-zabarte-on-yucca-mt-nuclear-desecration-of-western-shoshone-sacred-land-309/ Published: 2017-05-24 Listen Here: [powerpress] HANFORD UPDATE: New Accident – Radioactive contamination of worker's clothes as underground double-sided tank containing 800,000 gallons of radioactive waste shows signs of leak.  Old Accident – May 9, 2017 collapse of 20'x20′ of tunnel over highly radioactive materials from PUREX facility now "remediated" by 53 dump trucks of soil AND a new plastic tarp held in place by cement blocks (see: featured image above).  This Week's Featured Interviews Ian Zabarte is Director of the Nuclear Oversight Project of the Western Shoshone Nation.  He covers Yucca Mountain, Treaty law, and tribal rights.  Native Community Action Council and the healing center Pooha-Ba, meaning Power Water. Ian Zabarte in Western Shoshone video about Yucca Mountain Alex Cohen of Earth Defense Coalition  gives an on-site report on the sit-in at Rep. Lacy Clay‘s (D-MO) office.  Action was to force his promised introduction of federal legislation to shift jurisdiction over the clean up of the West Lake Landfill WWII nuclear weapons waste in North St. Louis  from the Environemental Protection Agency to the Army Corps of Engineers' FUSRAP program.  Legislation now set to be introduced on Wednesday, May 24, 2017; date was not solid before the demo happened. Earth Defense Coalition lock box occupation of Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) office. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): University of Arkansas thinks it's OK to dump water from a still-hot 50-year-old nuclear reactor into sewers that lead to the town of Fayetteville's drinking water supply.  Oy!  Activist Action: Write letters or post cards to German anti-nuclear activist Hanna Poddig, currently in prison for having locked herself to a railroad track and blocked a shipment of nuclear waste.  A post card from USA to Germany is just $1.15.  Hanna's address in prison is: Mrs. Hanna Poddig JVA Hildesheim Godehardplatz 7 D-31134 Hildesheim Germany German anti-nuclear activist Hanna Poddig (l) ### NH #308: Hanford Tunnel Collapse Problems Continue - Radiation Readings, Workers Health Rights + West Lake Landfill Legislative Update w/Dawn Chapman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/308-hanford-tunnel-collapse-problems-continue-radiation-readings-workers-health-rights-west-lake-landfill-legislative-update-wdawn-chapman/ Published: 2017-05-18 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Laura Welch of Nuclear Care Partners, a company that provides in-home health care to approved government atomic industry workers. Dawn Chapman of Just Moms StL, on the sad fate of SB 22, the home buyout bill for families living in closest proximity to the West Lake Landfill and its 70,000 tons of illegally buried WWII nuclear weapons waste. Numnutz of the Week: Two fer one!  Canada makes radiation propaganda a Family Fun Faire!  And a Trumpette from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gets named Miss USA – see?  Nuclear can be fun AND beautiful… in a superficial, short sighted, propagandistic way! The Missing Links:  Government Reporting on Nuclear Risks: Examining the Recent Forest Fires in Fukushima No-Go ZoneHealth risks in the Fukushima Exclusion zone Highly Radioactive Liquid from Canada Raises Concerns about Worker Safety at the Savannah River Site ### NH #307: HANFORD EMERGENCY SPECIAL: Activist Perspective, Suspicions on Tunnel Collapse, Site Lockdown, Radiation Spike, Health Protection URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/hanford-emergency-special-tunnel-collapse-site-lockdown-radiation-spike-health-protection-nuclear-hotseat-307/ Published: 2017-05-11 Listen here: [powerpress] HANFORD EMERGENCY SPECIAL – Interviews: Bob Alvarez, senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he is currently focused on nuclear disarmament, environmental and energy policies. Julie Wert, researcher and member, Radiation Watch, on radiation spike recorded at Hanford on Monday, May 8. Chuck Johnson, Nuclear Power Task Force Director for the Oregon/Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Mimi German, No Nukes NW and Radcast.org, the citizen radiation monitoring network. Kimberly Roberson, certified nutrition educator and founder of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) Radiation Awareness Protection Talk – for more information on how to protect your health and the health of your loved ones from nuclear radiation. Links to Nuclear Hotseat Hanford interviews of interest: Susannah Frame, KING 5 news, Seattle – dedicated investigative reporter assigned to Hanford site, interviewed on Nuclear Hotseat #109, July 16, 2013 Ace investigative reporter Susannah Frame, mid-reporting on Hanford Emergency Chuck Johnson interview on Nuclear Hotseat #195, March 27, 2015 Tom Carpenter of Hanford Challenge – Nuclear Hotseat #293, January 31, 2016 ### NH #306: Ongoing St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare: West Lake Landfill Fire - Dawn Chapman, Jan Huber URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ongoing-st-louis-nuclear-nightmare-west-lake-landfill-fire-dawn-chapman-jan-huber-nuclear-hotseat306/ Published: 2017-05-04 Listen here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Dawn Chapman, one of the founders of Just Moms StL who lives only a few miles away from the West Lake Landfill. Jan Huber bought her home in North St. Louis in 2000, never understanding that it was one mile away from a nuclear time bomb that had been going off for years. Numnutz of the Week (for outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): It wasn't bad enough that we've trashed our own planet with ever-growing levels of nuclear radiation; now we bring our bad actions to a whole new planet… and on Earth Day! The Missing Links: Karl Grossman nuclear archive at the East Hampton Library. Shaun McGee source notes and links on European stories. Challenge to Florida Power and Light plan to store nuclear waste under Miami's drinking water. ### NH #305: UN's Chernobyl Health Cover-Up Exposed: Alison Katz, Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/uns-chernobyl-health-cover-up-exposed-alison-katz-independent-who-305/ Published: 2017-04-26 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interview: Alison Katz, a psychologist and sociologist heads Independent WHO, the international watchdog group drawing attention to the World Health Organization's failure in its duty to protect those populations who are victims of radioactive contamination. The group has held a vigil in front of WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., since April 26, 2007 – the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Originally recorded for Nuclear Hotseat #118, September 17, 2013. Scenes from Independent WHO's vigil in front of the World Health Organizations headquarters UPDATES to this week's interview: Dr. Margaret Chan is still Director General of the WHO.In 2014, UN Special Reporteur on the Right to Health Anand Grover, referenced in the interview, was replaced by Dr. Dainius Pūras, whose specialty is mental health and, to date, has not published anything on nuclear matters.The 2013 Arnie Gunderson interview for Nuclear Hotseat #117 on what he’d do if he were in charge at Fukushima is available HERE. ### NH #304: San Onofre Radwaste Insanity vs. Google Earth: Ray Lutz, Gary Headrick + The Trauma of Fukushima Kids URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-304/ Published: 2017-04-19 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interviews San Onofre Update with two activists working on legal and public protest against storage of highly radioactive waste in 5/8″ steel canisters only 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean: Engineer Ray Lutz of Citizens Oversight ProjectGary Headrick of San Clemente Green Ray Lutz with San Onofre protest kite SPECIAL FUKUSHIMA REPORT: Kerry Anne O'Connor provides an intimate report on bullying of children from Fukushima, their unresolved trauma, and the breakdown of Japan's usual social order. Exclusive to Nuclear Hotseat. Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness): Nuclear delusions and semantic manipulations from Takashi Imai, chair of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum. I guess they pay him to say that ridiculous stuff… ### NH #303: UN Nuke Bomb Ban Blasts Forward + Don't Bank on the Bomb - Alice Slater, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/un-nuke-bomb-ban-dont-bank-on-the-bomb-alice-slater-nuclear-age-peace-foundation-nh-303/ Published: 2017-04-12 Duration: 00:59:56 This Week's Featured Interviews: Alice Slater, New York Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, was a delegate to the recently concluded four-day conference at the UN on banning nuclear weapons and offers some stunning observations about the event and the hope it provides for the future.Suzi Snyder works with PAX, a peace group in The Netherlands, and with Don't Bank on the Bomb, a brilliant strategy for forcing banks and pension funds to remove their funds from nuclear bomb manufacturing companies. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Family Fun in Washington State – Tour the Hanford Superfund Site! Displaced tribal people, radioactive rubble, view the roots of the nuclear war machine! The Missing Links: Links to groups actively fighting against nuclear weapons: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)Don't Bank on the Bomb World Beyond War ### NH #302: St. Louis Nuke Waste Protests Erupt + Radiation in 2020 Olympics Food? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/west-lake-nuke-waste-protests-erupt-radiation-in-2020-olympics-food-nuclear-hotseat-302/ Published: 2017-04-05 Duration: 00:59:56 This Week's Featured Interviews: A focus on Bequerel Awareness Day (Bqs are a measurement of radiation in food) and the impact on Japan's food supply, especially in light of the impact on athletes and fans at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with events scheduled only 12-1/2 miles from the triple meltdown <!>. Three, count them, three genuine nuclear experts: Kimberly Roberson, founder of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network, and the brains behind Bequerel Awareness Day. Cindy Folkers, the Radiation and Health Specialist at Beyond Nuclear Nancy Foust, Communications manager & research team member at Simply Info From Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network: Around the world children who are currently adolescent and possibly younger are in training to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Japan. Their parents most likely have no idea that some of the venues are being planned near the most devastating and ongoing nuclear and industrial disaster in world history, Fukushima Daiichi. SIGN and SHARE IT here: http://chn.ge/22j0Xko. FFAN's Food Petition – access links for individuals and organizations HERE. Activist Alex Cohen on a successful series of non-violent civil disobedient action he helped plan at the West Lake Landfill and elsewhere in St. Louis to push awareness of the illegally buried World War II nuclear weapons waste and the underground, unstoppable fire barreling towards it from the adjacent Bridgeton Landfill. More to come! Alex Cohen (l) and another activist chained to 500 pounds of concrete ### NH #301: Three Mile Island Will NEVER Be Over - TMI Anniversary SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/three-mile-island-will-never-be-over-tmi-anniversary-special-nuclear-hotseat-301/ Published: 2017-03-29 Duration: 00:59:50 This week's full-length Three Mile Island SPECIAL includes interviews with or information from: Arnie Gundersen, Chief Engineer for Fairewinds Enery Education. Watch a video of Arnie Gundersen speaking about the accident at the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Three Mile Island Alert. Former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Peter Bradford, who was at the NRC during the TMI accident.Eric Epstein, Chair of Three Mile Island Alert. Three Mile Island Alert's Radiation monitoring at EFMR.orgMary Stamos, long time Middletown residentWalter Cronkite, anchor for the CBS Evening News at the time of TMI and known as "the most trusted newsman in America. To view his CBS network reports on TMI click here. Interviews with residents, doctors, activists, audio from inside TMI as the accident was happening, media reports and more.PLUS Nuclear Hotseat host Libbe HaLevy's personal story of having been one mile away from TMI while the accident was happening. Radiation Plume released from Three Mile Island Gratitude to filmmaker Robert Leppzer, producer of the two-hour audio documentary Voices from Three Mile Island, for permission to use excerpts from that work in this program. ### NH #300: Nukes in Space Eat Entitlement Programs! - Global Network's Bruce Gagnon URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nukes-in-space-eat-entitlement-programs-global-networks-bruce-gagnon-nuclear-hotseat-episode-300/ Published: 2017-03-22 Duration: 00:59:56 A reminder to help us celebrate our 300th episode with a donation – 300 pennies, 300 dimes, 300 dollars, 300 good wishes, or any percentage thereof! This Week's Featured Interview: Bruce Gagnon, secretary/coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, explains the dangers of nuclear deterrence, how the Pentagon plans to rob entitlements to pay for Star Wars, and the US drive to nuclearize space — all a run-up to exciting info on “Pivot towards War: US Missile Defense and the Weaponization of Space” Global Network's 25th anniversary conference, April 7-9 in Huntsville, Alabama. Global Network video: Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness) The Radioactive Tokyo #Olympics – the Numnutz that keeps on giving. Play ball! (… or not…) European Report with Shaun McGee Written notes, with links to source material. The Missing Links: This is what happens if every nuclear weapon on Earth is launched – Article originally posted in Discover by Narjas Zatat.Nukemap by Alex Wellerstein – Enter your zip code and pick your bomb to see exactly what a nuclear blast would do to your neighborhood! Loads of fun for the whole family! ### NH #299: Mystery European Radiation Spikes - Sources, Causes & Coverups + Fukushima Facts w/SimplyInfo's Nancy Foust URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/european-radiation-spikes-sources-causes-coverups-fukushima-facts-wsimplyinfos-nancy-foust/ Published: 2017-03-15 Duration: 00:59:50 This Week's Featured Interviews: SimplyInfo's Fukushima 6th Anniversary Report explored and its sometimes shocking revelations explained by Nancy Foust, Communications manager & research team member SimplyInfo.org. Verifiable, footnoted, solid info you can trust: http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=16171 Nuclear Hotseat’s European correspondent Shaun McGee on Europe's mystery radation spikes. Shaun’s done the multi-national research about the sources of this fresh radioactivity… and what may be behind the data about it suddenly disappearing from official the European radiation monitoring site. Link to Shaun's written report here: https://nuclear-news.net/2017/03/12/fuel-error-at-ife-halden-the-handling-of-the-incident-nrpa-report-in-english/ Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness) When is a radiological accident not a radiological accident? When there's no radiation involved. ### NH #298: Radiation Road Signs, Nuclear Refugees, Government Cover-Ups - VOICES FROM JAPAN: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster turns Six URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/radiation-road-signs-nuclear-refugees-voices-from-japan-fukushima-at-six/ Published: 2017-03-08 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Feature: VOICES FROM JAPAN Nuclear Hotseat's annual Fukushima Anniversary program on the ongoing nuclear disaster features VOICES FROM JAPAN – interviews with displaced residents from Fukushima Prefecture whose lives have been profoundly and irrevocably changed by the ongoing nuclear disaster. Featuring: Former Tomioka resident (5 miles from Fukushima) and anti-nuclear activist Setsuko Kida. Photographer and former resident of Miharu Town in Fukushima, Shinshuu Hida. "Voluntary evacuee" Noriko Matsumoto, formerly from Koriyama. Attorney Yuuki Saito who is part of the legal team helping the town of Minimasoma sue the Japanese government. Context and Perspective for VOICES FROM JAPAN provided by Guest Producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko. FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: The Joban Highway (a.k.a. "Radioactive Highway") in Fukushima Prefecture. Radiation monitor indicates hourly radiation dose of 1.5 microsieverts per hour at that particular location. There are nine radiation monitors along the Joban Highway. (photo courtesy of U.G. Kaneko) ### NH #297: Saving Fukushima's Abandoned Pets - Kerry Anne O'Connor URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/saving-fukushimas-abandoned-pets-kerry-anne-oconnor/ Published: 2017-03-01 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interview: Kerry Anne O'Connor works with Nyander Guard Animal Rescue, which went into the Fukushima exclusion zone and rescued 760 animals after the March 11, 2011 meltdown of the three nuclear reactors.  She also runs her own charity, Anywhere Foot Baths, which provides comforting foot baths and hand massages for those who were evacuated after the triple meltdown and still live in "temporary" housing six years later. Canine resident of Fukushima Exclusion Zone – no special license needed. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): How in the world can the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approve any new site in the nuclear fuel chain and publish a Safety Evaluation Report which concludes the facility can, "in a safe manner operate, manage radiological and chemical hazards, protect groundwater, and eventually clean up and decommission."  The essence of "alt-nuclear-facts" – aka LIES. The Missing Links: LINKS to Fukushima 6th anniversary events Untoward pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality in Fukushima Nuclear Hotseat #276 – Nukes in Space with Bruce Gagnon of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space Dr. Helen Caldicott's Symposium on the Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction Links to source documents for Shaun McGee's European Report ### NH #296: Dr. Caldicott on Fukushima: “Decommission or Cleaning Up? It’s Fantasy!” URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/dr-caldicott-on-fukushima-at-6-decommission-or-cleaning-up-its-fantasy-2/ Published: 2017-02-23 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week’s Featured Interview: Dr. Helen Caldicott on why Fukushima will never be able to be cleaned up; the devastating health impacts of radiation; and why the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are a really really bad idea.Dr. Caldicott Links:HelenCaldicott.comHelen Caldicott FoundationBook – Nuclear Power is Not the AnswerBook – Crisis Without End: The Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are numnutz enough by themselves, but to hold events and house athletes in Fukushima Prefecture, less than 13 miles from the reactors? Download Podcast (mp3) Download Transcript (DoCX) View Podcast Transcript Libbe HaLevy 00:00:00 This is nuclear hot seat. We're coming up to the sixth anniversary of the start of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. Dichi three reactors in meltdown jam packed, spent fuel pools filled with radioactive fuel. That's at risk hundreds of gallons of radioactive water released into the Pacific ocean at every day, since March 11th, 2011. So when you hear Dr. Helen, Caldecot say, Dr. Helen Caldicott 00:00:29 I think almost certainly that they will never be able to clean it up or decommission it. I mean, because it's lethal, lethal radiation doses, and that talk about decommissioning and cleaning up in a hundred years, or, you know how much it's going to cost. I think it's fantasy. Libbe HaLevy 00:00:46 That's when you know you are in the seat, we all share Announcer 00:00:51 New clear, hot seat. What are those people thinking? New clear, hot seat. What have those boys been breaking? New clear, hot seat. The is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat. It's de Libbe HaLevy 00:01:23 Welcome to nuclear hot seat. The weekly international news magazine, keeping you up to date on all things nuclear from a different perspective. My name is Libey. I am the producer and host as well as a survivor of the nuclear accident at three mile island from just one mile away. I know what can happen when those nuclear so-called experts get it wrong. This week, we talk with one of the world's ultimate experts on the impact of nuclear radiation on human health and the survival of planet earth. Dr. Helen called a con we'll also have a report from nuclear seats, European correspondent, Sean McGee, who goes over those frightening reports of radiation spikes in Europe to figure out how bad it is and what might possibly be causing it. Plus numb nuts of the week for outstanding nuclear bone headedness revisits that evergreen source of numb nutsy, the 2220 Tokyo Olympics plus international news, a bit of attitude and more honest nuclear information than Steve Bannon will allow in the white house. Libbe HaLevy 00:02:36 All of it coming up in just a few moments today is Tuesday, February 21st, 2017. And here is the week's news from a different perspective, starting out in Japan this week, where it's been nearly six years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster began. And now the local government is preparing to slash housing assistance. For those who fled it would require them to choose between returning to places affected by radiation or to bear the financial burden of remaining in their adopted places of refuge at its peak, about 165,000 people we're made to evacuate from the contaminated areas over 81,000 people are still displaced. However, the number is said to be much larger, including those who voluntarily evacuated from areas, not designated as mandatory evacuation zones, but places they left for fear of high radiation levels in their homes yet on March 31st of this year, when these areas are definitely not decontaminated, if they ever can be the Fukushima local government is preparing to slash unconditional housing assistance for these voluntary evacuees, meaning over 32,000 people are going to, to make a choice to either self support themselves where they landed or return to Fukushima. Evacuee said the government is trying to end the Fukushima issues before the Tokyo Olympics, in order to show the world that Fukushima is under control when it's not one of the areas impact acted is I village, which will affect 6,000. I TA residents. The area is 75% surrounded by forest Hills and mountains, and they are not and cannot be decontaminated. Libbe HaLevy 00:04:37 We'll be talking, talking about the problems in more detail detail. It's Dr. Interview Libbe HaLevy 00:04:45 A part-time English teacher at Sai university in Western Japan, harassed and bullied, a student who was from Fukushima prefecture telling the student she had been exposed to radiation and reportedly then turning off the lights in class saying he thought the student would glow in the dark. When the university chose to discipline him two and a half years after the event happened, the teacher explained that he meant it as a joke. And at the time it was typical of the discriminatory harassment that was being thrown at so many young people who were from Fukushima. He's lost three months of pay and will not get his job back next year two and a half years after this incident. But since the incident, the traumatized student has tended to be absent, could not earn enough credits to pass and requested counseling at the university. I don't know Japanese law, but I would hope that a lawsuit would follow internal contamination from eating food, which is radioactive is far more dangerous than external radiation, which is why the bragging fact that Fukushima peaches are making inroads into Southeastern Asian markets is not exactly good news for those people who eat the produce. Libbe HaLevy 00:06:09 Fukushima grabbed the top share of Japanese peach exports to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Taiwan on the other hand, makes it illegal for any food from Japan to be imported into their country. And now Announcer 00:06:27 Nuclear hot seed nuclear hot seed, no clear hot seed, Nu Libbe HaLevy 00:06:36 A former's soccer training facility close to Japan's crippled Fukushima DII nuclear plant has been used as a staging point for recovery work since the 2011 nuclear disaster began. But that's about to change as the place is being turned back into a soccer field for children and Olympic class athletes. Jay village was Japan's first national training center. It opened in 1997 and over the years saw more than a million visitors. The complex was even used to train the national teams of Japan and Argentina national tournament finals used to be held there. And children from all over the country would practice hard because they aspired to play there. But the facility is just 20 kilometers. That's 12 and a half miles from the Fukushima site. So when the area was evacuated immediately following the 2011 Tokyo electric power company, TECO rented it to set up an operational base to contain the accident. Libbe HaLevy 00:07:47 Well, I know how well that's been going. As of the end of 2016, TECO began work to return the facility to its original form, put original form in quotes. Focusing a prefecture has even bigger plans. It wants to build Japan's first, all weather soccer field at the site. And part of the facility is scheduled to open in the summer of 2018. That's when the Japanese national team will use the new J village as its training base for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with the full blessing and support of the Japan football association, claiming that the site can be decontaminated and radiation levels reduced by replacing the soil, no saying where they're going to put that contaminated soil. The executive vice president of the facility said we can emphasize how safe it is by hosting national teams from Japan or perhaps abroad for training. No, dude, I can't imagine how shortsighted a country. Libbe HaLevy 00:08:53 Well, other than Japan, you've got a vested interest in this, but any country would be to send their elite athletes to Fukushima in order to train for the Olympics. Anyone who does is just showing how little they understand about radiation contamination and how the seeds of cancer are sewn and why elite athletes at the peak of their strength and youth and ability would wanna risk it all to be in an environment like that. Well, if that's not Nu nuts, I don't know what is so TECO Japan football association and all of those of you behind the new J village in Fukushima prefecture, you are this week's Announcer 00:09:41 Nuclear hot seat. None. Libbe HaLevy 00:09:45 Now here's the European report with nuclear hot seats, European correspondent, Sean McGee, based in Ireland Sean McGee 00:09:52 In this week's European report. I think we're gonna start with F a chairman. There has basically turned around and said that EDF are really gonna be looking at doing smaller projects as opposed to the large nuclear, coal and gas project. And on Monday the 21st, we saw to sheep, a shares falling from around 250 Y piece to 186 Y piece. By the end of Monday. Now report has been going around about the ID 1 31, which occurred in January. We looked to the EP radiation system. We can see quite easily that there's been many isolated incidents going on around the actual European union as a whole started in Norway from October and reported officially the early November by the Norwegian radiological protection organization. We can see that Holden nuclear reactor, which is a thorium reactor had damaged fuel rods, and it was releasing ID 1 31 into the atmosphere from the actual damaged fuel rod. Sean McGee 01:10:55 And they had to shut the down and evacuate. Now they've sealed the building up. And as of this report, I have not been able to get any updates on it. They say that the I D 1 31 from that incident is not escaping and that they have the building contained. So this is what we've been told. Moving further south into German a few days ago, rather large spike from a German reactor, probably off gassing from repairs or for nuclear fuel rods to be replaced. And that was a very large increase and went to some 30 micro receivers. It lasted about an hour or so traveling further south we've come FLA Neville, and I've been reporting various releases from that particular nuclear plant in France. And even in Ireland, we saw in cork a peak few days ago that would've been the end of last week of 0.2, zero micro receivers per hour, not too large, but certainly you can notice it on the, your debt mapping system. Sean McGee 01:12:02 And also when I was checking it, this was Sunday morning, the Euro debt radiation mapping was switched off. The reason the Irish switched off the monitor, it was either because of releases from the, the flam Neville nuclear power station, or it may have been because cellar field were doing releases and they were switching off the radiation mapping. So not to pick up the peaks, traveling further south still, and still this month, we can see that there was a switch off in Italy and there was also a switch off in and Portugal with one Portugal monitor, picking up a spike very much like the German spike, you know, fairly high and then getting to the source. I suppose everybody's waiting to find out where this source is. Is it the Russians? No. Well, actually it seems to be from the Hungary medical radio isotope Institute, which is based in Budapest. Sean McGee 01:12:56 This reactor was very famously reported to have had a, a big release in 2011 and around September, the releases were hidden by the Hungarian officials. And then obviously the I a E a did as much as it could to not allow us to know where it was coming for from, it was only citizen journalists that actually looking at UEP and tracked the size of the releases all the way back to Hungary. When the I a E a, the international atomic energy agency actually admitted to it. And it's likely that this is the same case. Again, the I a E a know exactly where this release is coming from. And because it's the medical reactor, they're very protected of it because it's the only one in Europe. And I think they're covering it up again. That's my theory. And it does seem to be born out by CRE rad, who did a, another report, which was talking about all the other releases, but did zero in on hunger as well. And thanks to Herve Corto and who basically helped track down the source, but we're still ongoing investigations. And it's very difficult to find this out. Libbe HaLevy 01:14:06 That was nuclear, hot seats, European correspondent, Sean McGee. Thank you, Sean, here in the us, the corpse of the posed nuclear waste depository at YCA mountain in Nevada is being resurrected, or at least that's what some politicians hope. In 2009, president Barack Obama ordered the nuclear regulatory commission to stop work on the site. In part, because of nearby earthquake falls, the fat that it was being built over in aquifer and on top of porous soil, not a good combination. The site is 140 miles Northwest of Las Vegas, and now nuclear industry insiders are lobbying to revive and complete the site Nevada. And its people have said that they do not want the repository there, but now that Harry Reed is no longer Senator from the state, we're going to have to watch what happens. An article from 2010 has resurface. It deserves another look, according to Texas state laboratory results and public health scientists, hundreds of water providers around the Gulf coast region are providing their customers with drinking water that contains radioactive contaminants. Libbe HaLevy 01:15:27 According to Houston based investigative reporter, Mark Green. He discovered that for more than 20 years, the Texas commission on environmental quality underreported, the amount of radiation found in drinking water provided by communities all across Texas. As a result, health risks to people consuming the water had been underestimated in many water systems were active. Contaminants are present. There's a way to access the statewide database to find out about radiation levels in your water system. And we'll have a link up on our website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode, number 2 96, cause you can bet they haven't fixed it yet. So what's going on at your neighborhood? Nuclear reactor it's time for the nuclear hot seat duck and cover report based entirely upon the event reports from the nuclear regulatory commission at the hatch reactor in Georgia, we have a triple play on February 16, there was an unexpected auto start of an emergency diesel generator. Libbe HaLevy 01:16:41 The next day, February 17, the secondary containment proved inoperable due to the discovery of an 18 inch open pipe penetration in that secondary containment boundary. This constitutes a loss of safety function and on the 19th at hatch, the containment penetration exceeded maximum allowable leakage and represents a degraded principle safety barrier. Shoot it now and put it out of its misery. A two for at lasal in Illinois, the 17th, there was a hot shutdown, automatic reactors SCR slam on the brake shutdown resulting from a feedwater regulating valve failure. Just the day before on the 16th, the secondary containment was inoperable due to an interlock failure. The same thing happened at lasal on January 18th and obviously they have not fixed the problem. Plus two reports at river bend in Louisiana, one at Clinton in Illinois, and one at Browns ferry in Alabama. Libbe HaLevy 01:17:47 We'll have this week's featured interview with Dr. Helen Nikko in just a moment, but first, Hey friends, how about a cup of coffee? Would you buy me a cup of coffee? So we could sit down and have a talk about nuclear issues? That's terrific. So do you realize for the price of that cup of coffee, you can provide the funds that support nuclear Hotsy in its ever expanding quest for the verifiable truth about all things nuclear that's right. Just $5 will help support our website, our social media outreach travel expenses to cover events and the purchase of resource materials that we can get on the internet. We do make it easy for you to donate. Just go to the website, nuclear hotseat.com and click on the big red donate button. Then go pour yourself a cup Joe, and listen to the show. You can make this a one time donation or, Hey, let's have a coffee date every month by making it a recurring donation. Libbe HaLevy 01:18:54 You can make it more than $5 if you're so inspired, but I know you work hard for your money. So let's share this and spread it out as best we can take heart from the fact that whatever you can do to help support the work of nuclear hot seat really does make a difference. And for that, you've got my heartfelt thanks now on to Dr. Helen, Caldecot always one of the most informative people to interview. She is the Australian physician who has devoted the last 42 years of her life to an international campaign to educate the public about the medical hazards of the nuclear age and the necessary changes in human behavior that are necessary to stop environmental destruction. She played a major role in reinvigorating physicians for social responsibility and was nominated for the Nobel peace prize by Dr. Leis Pauling. Dr. Caldecot has been named as one of the most influential women of the 20th century and can certainly be named an inspiration to all of us who are at minimum dubious about nuclear technology and all of its forms. Libbe HaLevy 02:20:09 If not dead set against it. I spoke with Dr. Caldecot on Sunday, February the 19 20 17, Dr. Helen called a co always a pleasure to have you as a guest on nuclear hot seat. Thank you, Libby recently at Fukushima dichi, there were robot photos taken from inside reactor two, which revealed massive radiation measured at a report hundred 30 seas. Now much of the media has taken this to mean that there's a new radiation release of Fukushima or that suddenly the situation has gotten much worse there. And the media echo chamber and the online echo chambers have been amplifying this, what is your understanding of what this new reading means and what it signifies? Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:20:59 All it means is that they at last have been able to get into the reactor near the Mo not at the Moten core, but near it. And the nearer they get the higher and higher and higher will be the radiation readings. This is high one C equals a hundred REMS REM is a measurement of biological damage to the body. The dose of which half a population dies is between two 50 and 500 rims. So it was 530 Seavers, which was 53,000. Is that Libbe HaLevy 02:21:43 Right? 53,000 rim. Yeah, Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:21:45 That's right. Which I mean, if anyone got me that be dead in a few minutes, so the truth is that the deeper they get with their robots towards the bolt co if indeed the robots survive, cause they get fried with the incredibly high radiation doses. So they will measure me higher and higher radiation. So in fact, it hasn't gone up up. All it means is that they've been able to penetrate near the one of the Moten course. That's all. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:16 So they haven't gotten to the equivalent of Cher Noble's elephants foot yet. They're just down the way there. Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:22:23 No, and, and maybe they never will. Number one. And number two, those in high measurements mean, I think almost certainly that they will never be able to clean it up or decommission it. I mean, because it's lethal, lethal radiation doses and that talk about decommissioning and cleaning up in a hundred years or, you know, however much it's going to cost. I think it's fantasy. Libbe HaLevy 02:22:50 What was also revealed in these new photos is what appears to be a hole in a grate at the bottom of the unit two reactor containment vessel. And it's variously been described as one meter or two meters in diameter. What does that mean? Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:23:08 I don't think that means much to the great per I spoke to a Gerson. Who's a, who's a nuclear engineer. And he said that the robot did pick up structural damage to the building of unit two, which means that it makes it unstable. Should there be another earthquake greater than a seven on the Richter scale, which then means that the building could collapse, which then means that it would collapse onto the Moten core. And also with the spent fuel rods, which are incredibly radioactive in the spent fuel pool, they would go down as well. And a huge amount of radiation could be released such that it could be the end of Japan and certainly very much radioactive fallout in the Northern hemisphere, such that I would probably get my family from Boston to come a straight away to Australia. If I could, Libbe HaLevy 02:24:06 Especially in the early days of the accident much was made by TECO about the removal of damaged fuel rods from the spent fuel pool at unit four, which of course was damaged in the explosion and was at most at risk of being released from a collapse of the building. But as you just mentioned, still fuel rods in the cooling pools of units, one, two, and three, are they still a risk to us? Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:24:34 Of course they are. They're, they're very, very radiologically, hot thermally, hot as well. And I think they have to be kept cool continuously as does the core. They're pouring huge amounts of water every day into units, one to and three to keep the Moten core. Cool. Yeah. So you have a doubling impact, should an earthquake occur in a building flat, you have both spent fuel rods, which couldn't in fact easily catch fire. There's a conium cladding would catch fire and release huge amounts of radiation. Plus the Mo poor God knows what would happen. And that, I mean that literally, if there is a God, Libbe HaLevy 02:25:17 Could there be a re criticality meaning an explosion? Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:25:21 No, I don't think so. A thinks that there couldn't be a re criticality, you know, we don't know because there's a lot of plutonium down there and you don't know how packed it is tightly together, five kilos of plutonium or, or I think, or 10 pounds is critical mass. I really don't know. I'm not a nuclear engineer. I'm only a doctor, a physician, but I, I suppose there might be a possibility of that. I don't know. Libbe HaLevy 02:25:55 Let's take a look at that cooling water that is spoken about. So often that's water that is siphoned out of the Pacific ocean that has from the earliest days of the accident been dumped on the reactor is to keep the cause from heating up. And that water is still being poured on the reactors every day. Is that correct? Yes. Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:26:15 Yes. That is correct. And it becomes extremely radioactive. And so then they soften it out of the reactors into huge, huge metal tanks of which there are over a thousand at the location of the reactors and they're running out of room to put more tanks, even though they kept keep siphoning out 300 or more tons a day of water from the reactors, they say, they're cleaning up the water. In other words, they say, they're removing the isotopes like CS 1, 3, 4, 1 3 7, IB 1, 2, 9 90, and probably a hundred more. I don't believe that. I know that they've tried to remove them by they've had terrible luck and trouble in doing that. And I don't believe in most of the tanks that those isotopes have been removed. Number one, number two, they all contain a very large amount of tritium, which is very carcinogenic, H three, three atoms of hydrogen. Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:27:22 And it bio concentrates in food chain, in the sea and in the food. And, and in us, it's a soft Bero emitter. And as such all the energy, it emits is absorbed in the surrounding tissues when it's in the body. So is a potent carcinogen. And they're saying to the fishermen, look, we wanna empty these tanks. And I suppose they're lying to was saying that all the waters been cleaned of all the other icees, which I'm sure that's not true. And trying to convince the fishermen that the Tridium is not a worry. The fishermen are very upset and they're against it, but what are they going to do? I mean, they're running out of room to put more tanks number or number two, if there's an earthquake greater than seven. And these tanks only built to last about five years and they're fragile, they could break and water would board Pacific anyway. So they're between rock and hard place. Literally metaphorically. Libbe HaLevy 02:28:17 There are some other active dangers regarding water app PKU Shima, which has to do with the rain coming down or the ground water coming down off the mountain, explain what the danger is with that. Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:28:30 Okay. So they built these six reactors in front of a mountain range and they also escalated a cliff to build them at sea level. So it would be easier to get water in and out cetera. So water caused from the mountains every day. And a lot of the water actually coming from the mountains is also radioactive because the fallout fell all over the mountains, got concentrated in the leaves of the trees and when the trees lose their leaves, then the radiation gets into the ground water and, and pour down. However, there's a huge amount of water that, that pause down from the mountains every day beneath the reactors, which was all well and good when the reactors were intact. Now they are not. And now there are three cause of co Moten, cause that probably have buried their way or dug their way into the earth beneath the reactors. Dr. Helen Caldicott 02:29:28 Even if they haven't, the reactor buildings have been shattered where the cause are. So the water cause in and over the reactor course continuously. And so that water becomes highly radioactive and then it pour into the ocean from beneath reactors. And so every day, three to 400 tons, tons of very radioactive water has pour into the Pacific every day, since the accident on March the 11th, 2011 and continued used to do so and will do. So. I think for the rest of the time, now there is one, well, they, they thought, well I'll fix it. And so they decided to make an iced wall. In other words, freeze the soil behind the reactors to divert the water sideways from the mountains into the sea. So it does and come in contact with the radio. Cause however, that was a stupid thing to do. First, number one, you'd have to have a continuous supply of electricity. Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:30:31 And where would that come from? And that adds to global warming and nuclear waste, et cetera. Number two, that would have to last for over a hundred years, continuous supply of electricity, which totally unfeasible number three, didn't work and the ground melted, et cetera. Now what could happen and what a Gunson has been suggesting for a long time is that they build a substantial wall beneath the ground, going very deep of bricks and water and, and the, and divert the water sideways, strongly rectors into pipes, leading down into the sea. So it doesn't become contaminated. Now they could do that, but they haven't done it. Why? I don't know, maybe they're saving money. And also because until recently the Japanese they're very proud and they didn't turn to the international expertise that exists around the world from nuclear engineers and nuclear physicists. And they've been trying to do it themselves. And also they're, they're broke. I mean, they're going bankrupt and the government is propping them up and also are they, the prime is lying about the whole thing. And also they wanna have the Olympics in Tokyo, but not just in Tokyo. They wanna have them in Fuku humor, prefecture, which is very, very contaminated as is Tokyo. Libbe HaLevy 03:31:56 What I'd like to do now is follow through though on the poor leered Pacific ocean, because there have been reports of ever are increasing numbers of die off events in areas of the Pacific. Everything from starfish dissolving off the California coast to dead Wells washing as shore in Hawaii, in great numbers. To what extent do you think Fukushima has created or contributed to these situations Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:32:23 When you know, I'm a scientist? So you can't Conject, you, you have to know to my knowledge, these deadish and whales and whatever. Nobody's been measuring the radiation in their bodies to see if it's high or not. I suspect it's not because the fish being caught off the west coast of north America now, and many of them do contain isotopes from the reactor in low concentrations, but they're low concentration is not enough to kill a fish, but if a person eats these rates active fish, you only need a single alpha particle from a single atom of a, of plutonium ti, a single regulator gene, and a single cell to give you cancer years later. So whatever radiation is in the fish is dangerous and you can't taste small or see the radiation when you're eating in the fish. To my knowledge, unless the radiation in the fish and starfish, et cetera, has damaged the immune mechanism. Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:33:29 And there are viruses that are attacking these starfish, et cetera, related to radiation. I think that's unlikely to, so I don't know why they're dying off like that, but I can't, you can't postulate or conjecture. You have to know, and that data is not being collected to my knowledge. Also, there's a wonderful evolutionary scientist called Tim muso. Who's the only person actually collecting data from the exclusion zones around she noble and FIMA looking at birds in particular, but also insects and mammals and plants. And they're finding that for instance, the barn swallows 40% of the males are sterile. They have smaller the normal brains. They have mutations. So they've got crooked wings, abnormal feathers in the like they have cataracts, which humans also get from high radiation levels. They can't see very well and they have tumors cancers, and they're finding abnormalities in Beatles and spiders, et cetera, that they're collecting. Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:34:37 So the radiation causes congenital abnormalities. And we see, see that in chin noble, where there are literally hundreds of homes, full of grossly deformed children who were radiated inro from a radiation, the mother's age and their food as the babies were developing in their first trimester. And we'll be seeing that in, in Fukushima too, for sure, but it's not being reported. The Japanese government and medical profession in Japan are only looking at thyroid cancers. Now all cancers can be caused by radiation. Every single cancer can be caused by radiation. They're not looking at leukemia either, and that's definitely caused by radiation, just thyroid cancer. So they're, they've taken and the children under the age of 18 in the Fuku Shema prefecture and of those children, they've found during, under the age of 18 at the time of the accident that 172 of them have developed thorough cancer. Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:35:37 Some with metastases, which is very, very worrying. The normal incidents in that population is one or two per million. And so the incidence of thyroid cancer is very high, which indicates that we will see lots and lots and lots more cancers. The time for thyroid cancer is short two to four to five years for leukemia. It's five to 10 years for solid cancers. It starts with about 15 years and it goes on 15 to 80 years or 90 years. So the thing is that when the cancer arises, it doesn't de not its origin. So you have to do epidemiological studies to realize that the incidents in an a radiated population is higher than normal as in Hiroshima. And there are many, many such studies of I radiated populations. So already the incidents of over a million people have died in Europe, Belarus, the Ukraine, and the like as a result of noble and the death rate continues to rise from cancers of every sort and premature aging and diabetes and all sorts of things. And we'll be seeing that in Fukushima and the incidence of thorough cancer is an indicator that we will be seeing lots and lots more and congen abnormalities in leukemia. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:02 I live in the Los Angeles area and a doctor friend of mine told me that the talk among his other doctor friends is how cancer rates have in his words been going through the roof. And he knows the work that I do. And if there was any proven linkage between Fukushima's radiation releases and this rapid increase in cancer rates here in the United States, has there been any attempt that you know of to do an epidemiological study to find a verifiable connection? Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:37:36 No. Libbe HaLevy 03:37:37 Do you think that's planned deniable on the part of the nuclear industry or the government or the powers that be? Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:37:44 I really don't know, but I do know that the monitors that measure gamma radiation in the air run by the EPA over half of them. I think there are couple of hundred around the country, over half of them don't work anymore. And I don't think the government is monitoring the radiation and the water on the west coast. I don't think there's an official monitoring and the fish being caught there is in some places I think, but on the whole not, I think that the American government is in hoots with the nuclear industry as is the Japanese government, the Japanese prime minister passed the law recently that any reporter that reports about Fukushima and the truth is what about what's happening could be jail for 10 years. And the doctors have been told that they are not to tell the patients that their symptoms could be related to radiation, which leads to enormous anxiety amongst parents and patients and that's that's obscene. Dr. Helen Caldicott 03:38:47 And also I've heard too from a GSON. And he's heard that doctors who do tell their patients, their symptom, them as a related to radiation, the payments from the government get cut off to the doctors. And there's one other thing I do want to bring up, which is relevant every day. They're injecting huge amounts of nitrogen into reactors, one, two and three, because hydrogen is still being created from the, the radio decor when Theon reacts the Z cutting cutting of the rods, even though it smelled reacts with air and hydrogen, as you know, explodes so that they're injecting inert nitrogen to dilute the hydrogen. So we don't have another hydrogen explosion. So everywhere you look, things are grim. And the other thing to say is that they're running out of human bodies to come in. They need about 46,000 people a day to do all the repairs and fix the pipes and, and do the water and the whole thing. And they're running out of human bodies because people are getting high doses. Some people are dying, some are getting cancers and leukemia. The you cruiser, which is a Japanese mafia, has always been involved in the new nuclear industry in Japan. And they're collecting homeless people from the streets of Tokyo and mentally ill people, alcoholics and the like, and bringing them to be laborers on the site. So things are pretty grim and they're going to have to need, you know, 46,000 people a day for the next hundred years on all, Libbe HaLevy 04:40:26 We've talked in passing about the land contamination from Fukushima and much focus has been put on the ocean because the prevailing winds in Japan blow from to east, and that blew what was perceived to be most of the, or a major portion of the initial radiation out to sea. But what can you tell us about the contamination on land and specifically as relates to Tokyo? Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:40:54 Yes, army Gerson and his co collected dirt from the footpaths in you call it sidewalks in Tokyo and from vacuum cleaner dust and from Moss on the roof of apartments. And some of the measurements are so high that this material would need to be buried by law in a red active waste site in America, that's Tokyo and 30 million people live in Tokyo or more. So this is really serious. And doctors are seeing well, they saw initially symptoms of acute radiation amongst the children and the adults. And they're seeing other symptoms and signs related to radiation in Tokyo. Now in fooding and prefecture, of course, it's a lovely area and a very big food growing area, beautiful peaches and rice, and all sorts of lovely, lovely vegetables and fruits. It's really quite radioactive. And particularly the rivers because the water washes down from the mountains, carrying radiation with it, into the rivers, but the soil itself is radioactive. Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:42:06 And these radioactive developments concentrate in the algae and then in the soil and then in the water and in the plants, the rice is relatively radioactive and mixing it with non radioactive rice and selling it on the open market. They are starting to sell peaches, grown Fukushima abroad. Taiwan has refused to sell food from Fukushima cars in watered into Russia and, and other places secondhand Japanese cars are found to be so radioactive. They're being sent back to Japan, do not buy secondhand Japanese car, do not ever buy any Japanese food. Again, meso seaweed, fish, rice, you name it because you don't don't know where it's being sourced. And there's a big push to sell Fukushima food in the London markets and in Tokyo and stupid politicians like prime minister, are they and others go and eat this Fukushima food to demonstrate that it's okay, not knowing that, you know, could give them cancer five or 10 years later, they don't understand radiation biology. Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:43:18 So it's a very big problem. And of course the Olympics will be a big problem and nobody should go to Japan and ski because you don't know where the food is coming from and may well be coming from radioactive areas and you can't taste, smell, or sea the radiation in the food. I know there's a very big push by Japanese companies to encourage people to holiday in Japan. Don't do it particularly don't take children because they're 10 to 20 times more radio sensitive than adults. Little girls are twice as sensitive as little boys and feet are thousands of times more sensitive, more prone to get cancer. Women are twice as sensitive as men. Libbe HaLevy 04:44:04 Do you know of any movement for awareness or to get to the athletes in various countries regarding the 2020 Olympics and perhaps Institute a, a boycot or at least a consciousness raising about what they will be facing there? Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:44:22 Well, I've written to the head of the Olympic committee coats several times outlining the medical problems associated with having Olympics in Japan. I think I gotta apply, but if they're going ahead anyway, there's money involved. You see a huge amount of money. There are several ambassadors, a Kio, Matt Sama, and another ambassador, Japanese who are pressuring the Olympic committee. But to know, are they, I don't think they're listening. I don't think they really understand what the problems will be for the Olympians who are that peak of their powers. And they're young, and they're so vulnerable to, to get cancel later for eating radioactive food and inhaling radioactive elements too. So it's a very big problem. And I don't know of any international movement to prevent the Olympics taking place in Japan and a, they got the contract by lying and saying, there are no more problems now related to for it's all been fixed up. I mean, a blatant lie. Libbe HaLevy 04:45:30 And that was several years ago and we've seen nothing but problems from the site ever since. Is there any way to mitigate the danger either by putting in place a SAR like Chi Nobles or dumping a whole bunch of zeal light on the site? Is there anything that might still be done? Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:45:52 No, I don't think so because of the water coming down from the mountains because of the inability to locate where the Moten cores are because of the continuous production of hydrogen, which could explode because of the continuous risk of earth earthquakes are built in a very on the ring of fire around the Pacific, you know, the, the earthquake zones, a Sarus wouldn't fix it, wouldn't fix the structural problems that I described and buildings collapsing onto the Moten cause and removing the Moten cause no, I, I don't think there is a solution there'd being, putting the sea lighting will do nothing people to buy my book crisis without in, by health symposium about Fukushima, about three years ago at the New York academy of medicine and got the best specialists from all over the world in science and physics and nuclear engineering and radiation biology, your new name, the cancer induction and the like, and that book crisis without end is a compilation of the proceedings from that symposium, which is really quite profound. And would've outlined most of the problems that you are alluding to Libby. You can get it from Amazon and you can go to my webpage, hello, cold deco.com and get it there. We can read more about the problem@mywebpageandalsoatthehelencocofoundation.org, which is my foundation, which has a lot of information about Fukushima. There. Libbe HaLevy 04:47:28 We will, of course have links to all of these up on the website, nuclear hot seat.com under this episode regarding health. Do you eat Pacific seafood or fish anymore? Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:47:42 Well, it's a good question. Cause I live right on the Pacific ocean and fish when thousands of miles, I mean, they definitely going across with the prevailing current from east to west, from Japan to the west coast of America. But you know, the truth is, I don't know. And, and also we imported fish here. So I don't know if the fish, I don't eat a lot of fish, but I don't know if the fish ages radioactive or not, but daughter's a doctor. And she says, oh mom, you're too old to get cancer. Anyway, I'm nearly 80. So that's a typical daughter. So I don't worry about that per se for myself. But I do warn other people about it who knows. And our government is specifically not testing fish. Of course, Libbe HaLevy 04:48:28 You're talking about the Australia. Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:48:31 I am Libbe HaLevy 04:48:32 Same here in the United States. It's like, Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:48:34 Well also when the accident happened, Hillary Clinton in her wisdom and I'm being sarcastic, signed an agreement with Japan, that America would still keep import food into America. And the levels that you are allowed in your food, the radioactive levels are much in Japan. The Japanese are allowed a hundred big girls for kilo. I think that's it Libbe HaLevy 04:48:55 In Britain and EU it's 1000 in the United States. It's 1200. So food that is 12 times two radioactive to be legally sold in Japan is perfectly all right to bring to the United States. And now we don't even have to label it for country of war origin. Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:49:12 Well, I went fairly recently to a very posh Japanese restaurant in New York and sushi bar. And cetera, I said, where is the fish from, where do you get the fish? And they said, oh, Japan. And the people are drinking as sakes. And they're very sophisticated. And I thought, my God, they don't know. Libbe HaLevy 04:49:30 Is there anything else that you would like to share about Fukushima at this time? Dr. Helen Caldicott 04:49:36 I would say that it's imperative that every person in America becomes well informed about this subject and learns about radiation per se. I suggest that you'll read my book, nuclear paras, not the answer, which goes through all the sort of cancers you can get. And so of radiation that's made and you nuclear reactors, and then you rang mining the whole thing and become well informed and, and closed down all your reactors. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:01 We've got 99 left that are still online. Dr. Helen Caldicott 05:50:04 Yeah. Well you need to close them all down. Pronto. Somehow you've gotta get that president of yours on the right track. I don't know if he's said to that's the problem, but you've got big problems there and you could have a melt done just as easily at one of your reactors in America, children living within 50 miles of three reactors have a higher normal incidence of leukemia and solid cancers. These studies were done in Germany and France and England. So it's well documented that children living near reactors have high incidents of malignancy higher than normal. Libbe HaLevy 05:50:41 What is your next book? And when is it coming out? Dr. Helen Caldicott 05:50:44 Yes. I held a symposium two years ago, again at the New York academy of medicine called the I penning threat of nuclear war. I think that was the title. So we, a book is coming out called sleep, walking to Armageddon with those proceedings. And it's going to be published in July by the new press, sleep, walking to Armageddon, which becomes more relevant and more topical by as Donald Trump reveals his inadequacy, shall I say, and possible mental illness. He is the only one in America who has the authority to press the button. The only person is the president and he has a three minute decision time, whether or not to blow up the world three minute, he's impulsive. He's got a thin skin weed. I mean, we'll be lucky to survive this with you. We'll be lucky to survive this. And there's another book I'm working on, but I haven't got very far cause I'm really perplexed about how to write about it. Now it's called why men kill and why women let them. Libbe HaLevy 05:51:47 And of course, we back with you when your next book is published to concentrate some attention on what you have written there. Thank you for again, being my guest and sharing the breadth and depth and wealth of your wisdom with the listeners of nuclear hot seat. Dr. Helen Caldicott 05:52:06 Absolutely Libbe HaLevy 05:52:09 Dr. Call the Cod. We will have links up to her websites, her books and videos of her two symposia on our website, nuclear hot seat.com. Under this episode, number 2 96, we will also have links to the two nuclear hot seat episodes where I attended and reported from those symposia 20 thirteens the medical and ecological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident and 20 fifteens, the dynamics of possible nuclear extinction. If you want to know the truth about what nuclear has done to our planet, our DNA and our law life expectancy, there is no better expert than Dr. Cal decon and the experts she has gathered around her. Libbe HaLevy 05:53:00 Here's today's final thought. I was a guest on coast to coast am with George nap on Sunday, February 19 as a result, I know that there are all lot of new listeners for this week's show. And if you are one of them welcome aboard. And thank you for most of the show. We focused on Fukushima as is logical when we're coming up for the anniversary. But I wanted you to understand that you don't have to be living in Japan or the west coast of the us to be impacted by nuclear radiation, no matter what state in the United States, you live in, you have nuclear issues and it's the same thing around the world. You don't have to have weapons or reactors. There's radioactive debris from uranium exploration and leftover tailings from mining down window issues, including dust from atmospheric bond tests and uranium mining. Rainouts from the jets stream where radioactive articles suspended up there in the upper atmosphere coming from as far back as the Trinity blast. Libbe HaLevy 05:54:14 Hi, Shima, Nagasaki, every atmospheric bomb blast and the explosions from Cher, noble and Fukushima blew radioactive dust into the upper atmosphere where it become the nucleus for droplets of rain that then fall to earth and create rain outs. So they can deposit radio activity anywhere. Then there's contact with the untested, but undoubtedly ever more radioactive ocean. And as an oceanographer, once pointed out to me, there are not seven oceans. There are is one ocean with seven basins. So it happens to one eventually happens to all, and that means it doesn't have to be the Pacific that you're near. It can be any ocean. And then of course, there's nuclear waste, eternal infernal nuclear waste radioactive for literally hundreds of thousands to millions of years, inappropriately dumped all the way back in the 1940s through the cold war to now, when the us is choosing the cheapest thinnest of canisters to store radioactive reactor waste and the nuclear industry lobbies to be able to dump what they don't want. Libbe HaLevy 05:55:29 Native American reservations in poor communities and anywhere they feel they can get away with it, nuclear is hardly clean or green or sustainable as the pronuclear forces and their legions of PR hacks have propag so much of the world into believing. So yes, every week, every week nuclear hot seat does what it can to present verifiable, non hysterical. Even if it is really upsetting news about nuclear, we source from publications, research papers, activist reports, the world's newspapers email lists from both pro and anti-nuclear groups alike just to find out what's being said, and who's saying it, and when there's an action to take, we let you know that as well, because when it comes to anti-nuclear activism, the more the merrier we need all your help. So for the veteran activists out there and the newbies alike, it's great having you here now, let's get busy. Libbe HaLevy 05:56:46 This has been nuclear hot seat for Tuesday, February 21st, 2017 material for this week's program has been researched and compiled from green peace, Japan, america.cgtn.com. Fuku leaks.org and simply info.org N hk.or.jp Japan times.co.jp CTV news.ca web.archive.org RTO, insider.com star-telegram.com. Thanks to our Intrepid European reporter, Sean McGee, who researched and, and sourced from CRE rod.org, your D N RPA in Norway, nuclear news.net. The guardian.com the building.co.uk. Safecast bologna NEK the us nine dot campaign and Harve OI. Then there are the event reports from the us nuclear regulatory commission, thanks to the work of Erica gray and a shout out to the big hearted planet protectors and peaceful warriors who gather at the nuclear hot seat blog site on Facebook, which you are invited to join like, and with your loved ones. And with those people who love nukes, but just might be willing to learn or not. You can do it to just gripe 'em off theme music written by me, sung by Merri Weber, accompaniment by John Barnard and recorded at Winslow court studio in Hollywood. Libbe HaLevy 05:58:27 One way that you could contribute to the show is if you have a story lead, a hot tip or a suggestion of someone to interview, send an email to me@infonuclearhotseat.com. We are copyright 2017. Libi Hal and harvestry communications, all rights reserved, but their use allowed as long as proper a is provided. And a reminder that the show does rely on your contributions to keep going. So if y'all wanna buy nuclear, hotseat a cup of coffee, please feel free to do so. This is libi Hal Avia of heart history, communications, the heart of the art of communicating, reminding you that a, the last thing, any anti-nuclear activist want to be able to say is I told you so, so consider that your nuclear wake Libbe HaLevy 05:59:21 Up call, go back to sleep. Cause, cause truly we are we're all in a nuclear clear, hot, hot seat, Announcer 05:59:30 Nuclear hot seat. What are those people thinking? Nuclear hot seat. What have those boys been drinking? Nuclear hots. See the is sinking. Our time to act is shrinking, but the activists are licking new hot seat. It's. ### NH #295: Code Red x 100! - Danger Reports the Nuke Industry Hides - Journalist Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-295-code-red-x-100-danger-reports-the-nuke-industry-hides-journalist-karl-grossman/ Published: 2017-02-15 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Award-winning journalist Karl Grossman shares insights on the Indian Point Closure agreement, the hidden manipulation tactics of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators, and gives us examples of how activists have successfully scuttled nuclear industry plans. Karl Grossman's Links: Article – "An Engineer's Perspective on the Indian Point Shutdown"FREE download of Karl Grossman's book, Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power Suggested Groups: Beyond NuclearNuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS)Radiation and Public Health Service Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): One picture is worth a thousand words… but a selfie with the nuclear football? Pictured: Trump cronie Richard DeAgazio (r in top photo) and the hapless aide-de-camp charged with carrying the nuclear launch codes (l in top photo – face obscured for security reasons). Lower picture shows hapless aide-de-camp carrying briefcase with the President's nuclear launch codes into Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort. Guess which one of those two guys undoubtedly lost his elevated position in the world? (HINT: It probably wasn't the guy on the right.) European Report with Shaun McGee: Link to the notes for Shaun's segment, including source attributions: https://europeannewsweekly.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/european-report-for-nuclear-hotseat-podcast-14-february-2017-notes/ The Missing Link: Dr. Helen Caldicott: The Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown Continues Unabate ### NH #294: NO Radiation Spike at Fukushima - Nancy Foust of Simply Info (It's still bad, but it's not suddenly worse) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-294-no-radiation-spike-at-fukushima-nancy-foust-of-simply-info-its-still-bad-but-its-not-suddenly-worse/ Published: 2017-02-08 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Nancy Foust of Simply Info sorts out truth from confusion regarding last week's major media echo chamber on Fukushima radiation levels. Like a pebble can start an avalanche, a mis-translation can and did get blown up into a catastrophe. Step away from the hysteria… LINKS to the Simply Info articles referenced: No, Fukushima Daiichi Did Not Se A Radiation SpikeFukushima Unit 2 Failure Point Found! Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadeness): Leaking radwaste barrels in a van — SO many things wrong with this story, it's both Numnutz AND DUCK!-and-Cover — a Nuclear Hotseat first! EASY URGENT ACTIONS: JOIN THE WORLDWIDE THUNDERCLAP FOR BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS – CLICK HERE. You can sign up to AUTOMATICALLY have the following Tweet sent out on FEBRUARY 10th @1pm “Nuclear weapons are an urgent threat – now states are starting historic negotiations to ban them in March 2017. Join us! http://thndr.me/jFF5Cw” sponsored by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Join your voice with those of the Hibakusha to say “Never Again.” To sign the petition for a new treaty to ban nuclear weapons, CLICK HERE. The Missing Links European Report links: https://europeannewsweekly.wordpress.com/2017/02/08/nuclear-hotseat-europe-report-notes-7-feb-2017 http://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/smog-chokes-coal-addicted-poland/ Algonquin Pipeline still planned to be Indian Point-adjacentNuclear Regulatory Commission Kills Study on Cancer Risks to Residents Near Reactors Featured Image by thierry ehrmann, photographer. ### NH #293: Hanford Radioactivity Dangers, Whistleblowers - Tom Carpenter of Hanford Challenge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-293-hanford-radioactivity-dangers-whistleblowers-tom-carpenter-of-hanford-challenge/ Published: 2017-02-01 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Tom Carpenter heads up Hanford Challenge, a watchdog group that works with whistleblowers and lawmakers to help create a future for Hanford that secures human health and safety, advances accountability, and promotes a sustainable environmental legacy. Here, he explains exactly how much of a challenge that really is. The Missing Links: Click Here for Links to articles that formed the basis for this week's news segment.Click Here for Link to energy healer Barbara Robins‘ free Energy Healing MP3, "Emerging from Catastrophe," meant to be used for those who need relief from Loss, Fear, Uncertainty, Exhaustion, Grief, and Adversity. Kinda sounds like all of us these days… NOTE: I'm still healing from bronchitis, but expect next week's show to be back on track with all your favorite features. ### NH #292: Chernobyl/Fukushima Mutations - Mousseau + Small Modular Reactors w/Don Safer URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-292-chernobylfukushima-mutations-mousseau-small-modular-reactors-wdon-safer/ Published: 2017-01-25 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Evolutionary biologist Dr. Timothy Mousseau on his on his groundbreaking, on-the-ground research at Chernobyl and Fukushima on the mutations showing up in a wide variety of species. A Nuclear Hotseat special encore presentation.Don Safer of the Tennessee Environmental Council and the Nuclear Matters Committee for the Sierra Club on the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), Oak Ridge, and a possible reason behind the push for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). A must-listen for anyone living in the American southeast. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Hail to the…? Ooooh, noooo! ### NH #291: Nuclear Cyber Security Risks w/Scott Portzline + Chernobyl Scientist-Warrior Alexei Yablakov Memorial URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-291-nuclear-cyber-security-risks-wscott-portzline-chernobyl-scientist-warrior-alexei-yablakov-memorial/ Published: 2017-01-18 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Scott Portzline is the the Security Consultant to Three Mile Island Alert in Harrisburg, PA. He fills us in on cyber security attacks, near-misses and lack of vigilance at US nuclear reactors. Alexei Yablakov Memorial: Russian scientist Dr. Alexei Yablakov brought together the work of dissident Soviet scientists and revealed to the world the true health impacts of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. He compiled the work of over 6,000 eastern European scientists to compile his book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe on People and the Environment. He passed away last week at his home in Moscow. Paying tribute to this "Warrior Scientist" are: Toxicologist Dr. Janette Sherman, who co-edited the English version of the book. LINK to free download of Dr. Yablakov's book: Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe on People and the EnvironmentDr. Chris Busby, who claimed Yablakov as both a collaborator in scientific nuclear health work and a dear friend. LINK to Chris Busby's article on Dr. YablakovAlso included is Libbe HaLevy's brief interview with Dr. Yablakov from Dr. Helen Caldicott's 2013 Symposium on the Medical and Ecological consequences of Fukushima. Alexei Yablakov's presentation at Dr. Caldicott's Symposium The Missing Links: Harvey Wasserman's article in progressive.org – "Crumbling Reactors and Other Nightmares of a Trump-Perry Energy Policy"Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps' article in Counterpunch.org: "Radioactive Waste is Good For You, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Rick Perry as Energy Secretary" Karl Grossman's article on Enformable.com: An Engineer’s Perspective on the Indian Point Shutdownhttp://enformable.com/2017/01/an-engineers-perspective-on-the-indian-point-shutdown/ ### NH #290: OMG! Defective French Nuke Parts in 19 US Reactors! - Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-290-omg-defective-french-nuke-parts-in-19-us-reactors-paul-gunter-of-beyond-nuclear/ Published: 2017-01-11 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Paul Gunter is Director, Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear specializing in all aspects of reactor hazards and security. We discuss France's Areva Le Creusot forge and the faulty major nuclear reactor parts produced there which are reported to be in use by 19 US nuclear reactors on 11 sites.LINK to Beyond Nuclear's petition calling for Nuclear Regulatory Commission action will be posted here as soon as it's up. Paul Gunter outside the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant in Seabrook, N.H., which he helped to stop. Photo by Ioanna Raptis/Seacoastonline Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): When is a new nuclear bomb NOT a "new" nuclear bomb? When the government says so, silly! Not even when it comes with – I kid you not – "Dial-a-yield" technology! (SEE: Featured Image at top) European Report with Shaun McGee: Belarus, Hungary, France and the UK challenged the European Commission and common sense!Some history and another recent report on Paks 2 in HungaryTourism campaign to Belarus…and more! LINK to the full stories here. Remember that your donations keep us going and growing. Click the Big Red Donate button Now! ### NH #289: UK Nuke Military Veterans' Court Case "Scrooged" - Dr. Chris Busby URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-289-uk-nuke-military-veterans-court-case-scrooged-dr-chris-busby/ Published: 2017-01-04 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Christopher Busby, a British nuclear scientist who has been representing UK nuclear test veterans in a major court case, shares some remarkable new information about the impact of low dose radiation on fertility and genetic health. Dr. Busby's article in The Ecologist: The "Genetics" Letter, the Euratom Suicide Clause, and the Death of the Nuclear Industry European Report with Shaun McGee in Ireland: UK Nuclear Test Veterans "Scrooged" at Christmas by MOD and courts 2016Campaign to stop bad nuclear health practice in Fukushima concerning thyroid cancer epidemicCorruption in Japan and UK hides Thyroid Cancers …with thanks to Shaun for the "Scrooged" reference in the headline. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Mmmmm mmmmm! Japan's newly discovered Hot Rad Potato Chips, straight from Fukushima-adjacent prefectures to your internal organs. Bet you can't eat just one… Bequerel! ### NH #288: NUCLEAR NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-288-numnutz-of-the-year/ Published: 2016-12-28 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat takes a look back at 2016 through the lens of Numnutz of the Week: Thrill as you hear the unbelievable truths about: Fukushima2020 Tokyo Olympics (aka the NOlympics)Rocky FlatsRadioactive waste shipmentsNuclear industry propaganda, spin and liesRadioactive foodsHow to legally buy depleted uranium – makes a great gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving…Fun ways to recycle radwaste into… more radwaste! And more! Leading up to… Numnutz of the Year – 2016! It's orange! It's bananas! And it could be the death of us yet! All in 140 characters or less… ### NH #287: UN's UNSCEAR lies re: Fukushima Radiation - Dr. Alex Rosen + Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-287-uns-unscear-lies-re-fukushima-radiation-dr-alex-rosen-epidemiologist-joseph-mangano/ Published: 2016-12-21 Radiation SPECIAL – UN's Fukushima Radiation Lies Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews:  Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), uses that group's footnoted, documented, peer-reviewed and fully vetted report to contradict the lies in the United Nations' UNSCEAR report that seeks to minimize Fukushima radiation dangers.  To LINK to full report in English, CLICK HERE. Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project provides another damning response to the UNSCEAR report on Fukushima and the negative impact it is likely to have on the case of the USS Reagan sailors, who were hit with high levels of radiation while on an humanitarian aid mission to Fukushima immediately after the nuclear disaster began. ### NH #286: NRC's Email OOPS! Blows Lid Off Pilgrim Nuclear Dangers - Diane Turco + Rocky Flats Health Study w/Kristen Iversen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-286-nrcs-email-oops-blows-lid-off-pilgrim-nuclear-dangers-diane-turco-rocky-flats-health-study-wkristen-iversen/ Published: 2016-12-14 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders on what it was like to be the recipient of a wayward NRC email that spilled the beans on how bad the Entergy's Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station at the base of Cape Cod really is. Christine Legere's excellent front-page article in the Cape Cod Times (cover pictured above) ACTION REQUESTED TO SUPPORT IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION: Send this tweet:   Contact our elected officials & demand NRC revoke operating license of Pilgrim NOW. #mobilize4survival #ShutPilgrimNow #NRC Call these officials: NRC Chair Stephen Burns: 301-415-1750  chairman@nrc.gov Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker: 617.725.4005 Senator Ed Markey:  202.224.4543 Senator Elizabeth Warren:   202.224.4543 AG Maura Healey:  617.727.2200 Rep. Bill Keating:  202.225.3111 Kristen Iversen, author of the superb book Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats, explains the Preliminary Results of the Rocky Flats Health Survey, which is meant to determine what has happened to the health of those who lived and worked in proximity with that nuclear weapons production site near Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Do NOT trust real estate agents to tell you if there's a nuclear radiation danger in that home you're thinking to buy.  Always ask if there's a problem.  And then – DON'T BELIEVE THEM!  (Cautionary tales included.) ### NH #285: Illinois' Corporate Welfare Bailout of Exelon + Nuclear Waste Strategy Summit SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-285-illinois-corporate-welfare-bailout-of-exelon-nuclear-waste-strategy-summit-special/ Published: 2016-12-07 This Week's Featured Interviews: Activists and genuine experts from around the US, Canada and First Nations gathered in Chicago last weekend for a National Radioactive Nuclear Waste Strategy Summit – a 3-day planning extravaganza focusing on: radioactive waste creation, storage, treatment, and disposal; reactor decommissioning; effects of uranium mining on indigenous population; national proposals for away-from-reactor “centralized interim storage” (CIS) of spent reactor fuel; and small modular reactors (SMRs). The Summit began the day after the Illinois "corporate welfare" bailout of two aging, failing Exelon nuclear reactors. The two events became intertwined, with fascinating comments, perspectives, and more than a little righteous rage coming from the interviewees: Dave Kraft, Director, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS)Karen Hadden, Executive Director, SEED (Sustainable Energy and Economic Development) CoalitionAlice Canestaro-Garcia of My Energy/Energia Mia in San Antonio, Texas.Leona Morgan of Diné No Nukes.Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Watchdog, Beyond NuclearIan Zabarte of the Native Community Action Council, representing the Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute people.Susan Corbett of the Sierra Club Nuclear Free Campaign. The Sierra Club National Office can be contacted by clicking on the name; phoning: 415-977-5500; or writing to: Sierra Club National Headquarters 2101 Webster St Suite 1300. Oakland, CA 94612.Donna Gilmore heads San Onofre Safety. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): If you are anywhere in the EU, do not eat wild-picked "organic" berries from Ukraine! They just might glow in the dark! ### NH #284: CHERNOBYL EXCLUSIVE! - New Arch Not "the End;" It's the Beginning - On-The-Ground Report w/Lucas Hixon URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-284-chernobyl-exclusive-on-the-ground-report-possible-problems-from-nuclear-researcher-lucas-hixon/ Published: 2016-11-30 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Lucas Hixon is a nuclear researcher who has been on-the-ground at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, part of a US-led coalition of experts and professionals who work hand in hand with the workers. We spoke initially while he was in Ukraine, but waited until he was back in the US to talk about issues stemming from the placement of the New "Safe" Confinement structure; questions about the long term soundness of the new structure that require close monitoring in the coming years, and implications for the Fukushima clean-up from what has been learned at Chernobyl.PLUS: Learn how you can help Lucas with medical supplies for Chernobyl workers and rabies shots + spay/neuter for the Dogs of Chernobyl at Clean Futures Fund. Time lapse video of Chernobyl arch rolling into place: Workers (photo below, upper left) rappel down the sides of the New Containment Structure at Chernobyl for one final check, right before the arch is moved into place. Just so you can get a sense of how big this thing really is. Photo courtesy Lucas Hixon Numnutz of the Week (for Outstanding Nuclear Boneheadedness) Ahhh, Gina "Never-Met-A-Nuke-I-Didn't-Like-and-Cover-For" McCarthy, head of the Environmental Protection Agency – did you really thing we'd swallow those "Protective" Action Guides (PAGs) that allow for 1,000, 10,000, up to 100,000 times the Safe Drinking Water Act without becoming Numnutz, yet again??? The Missing Links: Alice Slater of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation published the article, "Seeking Nuclear Disarmament in Dangerous Times."Fidel Castro‘s reflections on nuclear weapons, "Genocidal Cynicism." ### NH #283: "West Lake Radiation 1000x Background In My Home!" - Robbin Ellison Dailey URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-283-west-lake-radiation-1000x-background-in-my-home-robbin-ellison-dailey/ Published: 2016-11-23 Duration: 01:00:00 Photo: Mike Dailey, hanging Christmas Lights at his home in Spanish Village, where tests confirmed radioactive Thorium 230 contamination. © Copyright Christen Commuso and Humans of West Lake Landfill, used by permission This Week's Featured Interview: Robbin Ellison Dailey and her husband Mike own the home in North St. Louis less than half a mile from the radioactive nuclear waste burial site at Republic Service's West Lake Landfill. They recently had the house tested for radiation… and discovered Thorium 230-contaminated dust at 1000x above background radiation levels. We spoke with Robbin on Monday, November 21 about the situation with her home and what it’s like to be hit with that kind of news. Robbin Ellison Dailey, in front of her home in Spanish Village. Contact information for West Lake Landfill Issues: Just Moms StL on FacebookWest Lake Landfill on FacebookJust Moms StL website Numnutz of the Week: Worst Timing Ever: Fukushima Tourism Board kicks off program to attract foreign tourists to its winter wonders… and launches it the day before a 7.4 earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Fukushima sounds the sirens amid announcements to "Please flee immediately! ### NH #282: Vt. Yankee Shutdown Film POWER STRUGGLE w/Robbie Leppzer, Dr. Steven Wing Memorial URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-282-vt-yankee-shutdown-film-power-struggle-wrobbie-leppzer-dr-steven-wing-memorial/ Published: 2016-11-16 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer discusses his new film, POWER STRUGGLE, about the battle to close down the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Excerpts from the film include some choice observations by nuclear engineer and Fairewinds Energy’s Arnie Gundersen. Nuclear Engineer Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education Testifying on the Vermont Yankee Shutdown hearings as shown in the film POWER STRUGGLE by Robbie Leppzer A tribute to Dr. Steven Wing of the University of North Carolina’s Dept of Epidemiology, a brilliant scientist who passed away on November 9. Here is his full 2013 presentation for Dr. Helen Caldicott’s symposium, The Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Dr. Steven Wing from East River Films on Vimeo. Link to the 2013 symposium, The Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident, produced by the Helen Caldicott Foundation and Physicians for Social Responsibility: http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=hcf Numnutz of the Week: After an election like the USA just had, could it be anything else? The Missing Link: Phone Calls Requested by the citizens of North St. Louis demanding that families in the Spanish Village subdivision, which have now been PROVEN by tests to be contaminated with high levels of radiation from the West Lake Landfill, be relocated IMMEDIATELY. Call: Missouri Governor Nixon: 573-751-3222 EPA Federal Administrator Gina McCarthy: 202-564-4700"Nuclear Power is not ‘Green Energy': It Is a Fount of Atomic Waste" by Arnie Gundersen"Nuclear Bomb Test Veterans' Long Wait for Justice: The Last Battle" by Dr. Chris Busby"Why the Nuclear Industry is Killing Off the Human Race" by John Urquhart"The Time Has Come for a Global Mobilization Against Nuclear Weapons" by Dr. Gordon Edwards. ### NH #281: UN International Ethics Summit Needed - Japanese Ambassador Murata URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-281-un-national-ethics-summit-needed-japanese-ambassador-murata/ Published: 2016-11-09 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Mitsuhei Murata, former Japanese Ambassador to Switzerland and an outspoken critic of Japan's nuclear policies, has issued a statement calling for the United Nations to hold an "International Day for Global Ethics" in the wake of their resolution to negotiate a treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. The interview is an Encore Presentation of our conversation on Japan declaring an "honorable retreat" from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, originally presented on Nuclear Hotseat #234, December 15, 2016. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): TEPCO is ending operations at the J-Village Complex in Fukushima Prefecture in March and is handing the facility back to resume its previous purpose… as training camp for the Japanese national soccer team. Besides putting their world-class athletes in harm's way (12-1/2 miles/20 kilometers from the triple meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi and only 4-1/3 miles/7 kilometers from the Exclusion Zone), they will stop doing whole body monitoring of Fukushima workers for internal radiation exposure. Way to go, TEPCO – two for one! The Missing Links: Sign on as individuals or organizations to the Joint Appeal opposing the India-Japan Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: http://nonukesasiaforum.org/japan/archives/217 More information at: No Nukes Asia Forum.Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) free 3-webinar series on the Nuclear Fuel Chain: Thurs, Nov. 10, 2016 6pm to 7:30pm Mountain Time – Centralized ‘Interim’ Storage [CIS] and Nuclear Transport Dangers. Presenters: Karen Hadden, SEED Coalition TX; Arjun Makhijani, IEER; Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear Click link to Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist…/8661573650468092419Thurs, Nov. 17, 2016 6pm to 7:30pm Mountain Time – Irradiated (‘spent’) Nuclear Fuel, High “Burnup,” Aging fuel, Characteristics and Dangers of Pools and Casks, Hardened On-Site Storage (HOSS), Reprocessing Presenters: Gordon Thompson, IRSS, Donna Gilmore, San Onofre Safety Click Link to Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist…/4295273338593027843Third seminar TBA. ### NH #280: SPECIAL: Hiroshima Peace Institute/Global Hibakusha Project w/Bo Jacobs URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-280-special-hiroshima-peace-instituteglobal-hibakusha-project-wbo-jacobs/ Published: 2016-11-02 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Bo Jacobs is a Professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University, where he is a historian of nuclear technologies and radiation techno-politics. He is the author of The Dragon's Tail: Americans Face the Atomic Age, (also available in a Japanese translation), and the editor of Filling the Hole in the Nuclear Future: Art and Popular Culture Respond to the Bomb (2010), along with the author of numerous scientific papers. Since 2010 he has been a co-researcher for the Global Hibakusha Project. He Skyped from his home in Hiroshima only two weeks after he returned from a trip inspecting long term radioactive waste dumps being constructed in Scandinavia. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): Fukushima Prefecture plans to burn "lightly irradiated" wood to shrink the volume of waste by 99.5% – BUT NOT THE AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVITY! Thus they'll be concentrating the contamination and releasing it as smoke, ash and soot. But hey, it LOOKS like it's less! And they have the GALL to call what they'll be creating "green power!" Numnutz fer shure! ### NH #279: Fort Calhoun SHUTDOWN! w/LaVerne Thraen + #ShutPilgrimNow Speakout at Mass. State House w/Diane Turco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-279-fort-calhoun-shutdown-shutpilgrimnow-at-mass-state-house/ Published: 2016-10-26 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: LaVerne Thraen is a veteran energy activist who has been opposing the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station since the 1980's. We spoke less than an hour after it was shut down for good, on Monday, October 24, 2016.Diane Turco of Cape (Cod) Downwinders fills us in on last week's #ShutPilgrimNow Citizen Speak-out at the Massachusetts State House. Call Governor Charlie Baker's office and tell him the reactor needs to be shut down NOW: (617) 725-4005 The Massachusetts State House Citizen Shut Pilgrim Speak-Out: They were told they were not allowed to carry signs. Aren't the tee shirts a great accommodation? Numnutz of the Week: James Hansen uses propaganda tricks perfected by Nazi Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbles to try to convince the world that anti-nuclear is bad and nuclear is **clean** **green** **sustainable**… and also that his own fecal matter is not odoriferous. Just remember what Goebbles said: "Accuse the other side of that which you are guilty" and "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." A perfect description of what James Hansen is doing, whether he understands the source of his strategy or not. ### NH #278: Dr. Ian Fairlie on Attempted NRC Radiation Measurement Con Job (Hormesis) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-278-dr-ian-fairlie-on-radiation-measurments-linear-no-threshold-vs-whoremesis/ Published: 2016-10-19 Listen Here: [powerpress] This Week's Featured Interviews: Dr. Ian Fairlie has studied radiation and radioactivity since the Chernobyl accident in 1986; received his doctorate from Princeton on the radiological hazards of nuclear fuel reprocessing; and from 2000 to 2004, was head of the Secretariat of the UK Government’s CERRIE Committee on internal radiation risks. He has been a consultant on radiation matters to the European Parliament, local and regional governments, environmental NGOs, and private individuals.Dr. Fairlie's article on Linear No Threshold (LNT) vs. Hormesis. Eiji Ogama made the film “Tell the Prime Minister”  on the Japanese anti-nuclear movement.  Using Youtube videos (with permission) and interviews done specifically for the film, he catches the movement at its peak, culminating in the 2012 demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's residence which consisted of over 200,000 demonstrators.  A  sociology and history professor at the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University in Tokyo, Oguma both participated in and researched anti-nuclear movement since the Fukushima accident began in 2011. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), which operated the demolished, radioactive, leaking mess that remains of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, "isn't asking for a bailout," they just "want help to avoid bankruptcy."  TRANSLATION:  Money money money money money money money money — endless amounts of government – meaning taxpayer – money that will never, ever be enough.   Isn't that just like the nuclear industry?  Featured Photo: Still shot from "Tell the Prime Minister" by Eiji Ogama. ### NH #277: India/Japan Nuclear Agreement Lies - Kumar Sundaram URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-277-indiajapan-nuclear-agreement-lies-kumar-sundaram/ Published: 2016-10-12 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Kumar Sundaram is a true firebrand in India's ongoing fight against nuclear technology. He is a Research Consultant with the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, known as CNDP and had done extensive work in Japan. We caught up with him in the middle of a three month fellowship in Japan, where he has been speaking to groups about the India/Japan nuclear agreement and gathering support for protests during next month's visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sign the petition against the India/Japan nuclear deal: click here. Numnutz of the Week: Terminal imprecision as as the Director of the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that some bad stuff of a cyber nature happened at some nuclear reactor, some time in the last two or three years… but he's not saying where, when, how, why, what happened, or who did it. (That's some reporting, Reuters!) BUT – if nuclear reactors are such a terrorist cyber threat, why do we keep building them? The Missing Link: ### NH #276: NUKES IN SPACE - Bruce Gagnon of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-276-nukes-in-space-bruce-gagnon-of-global-network-against-weapons-and-nuclear-power-in-space/ Published: 2016-10-05 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Bruce Gagnon, secretary/coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, is one of the hearts and minds behind the Keep Space for Peace! week activities, being held right now, October 1 through 8, around the world. In this extended interview, Bruce talks about the nuclearization of space, the use of nuclear reactors instead of rockets, the satellite network already in place that could manipulate nuclear war by the United States against Russia and China, and at the end, he shares a vision for how all the major social and environmental justice movements need to come together to achieve one action all of us need. The Missing Links: Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space: www.Space4Peace.orgBruce Gagnon's blog, Organizing Notes"Arsenal of Hypocrisy: The Space Program and the Military" New Army Corps of Engineers Report Reveals that the Problems with MOX Run Deep – article by Ed Lyman, senior scientist of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Numnutz of the Week (for Nuclear Boneheadedness): French nuclear regulator ASN just issued a scathing report about defects, quality control issues for a specific model nuclear reactor, and independent consultant Large & Associates issued a 49-page scathing analysis of the defects and quality problems related to this nuclear power station type. So of course, the UK not only wants this model built for Hinkley Pt. – they signed the contract a week AFTER these damning reports are released! Duck and cover, indeed! ### NH #275: West Lake Update w/Byron DeLear, NM Holtec "Interim" Waste Dump? - Don Hancock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-275-west-lake-update-wbyron-delear-nm-holtec-interim-waste-dump-don-hancock/ Published: 2016-09-28 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Byron DeLear lives near the West Lake Landfill and has been passionately involved in its clean-up, as well as being active in clean energy issues as chairman and CEO of Energy Equity Funding. He is a columnist with Examiner.com and is currently running for state representative from the 40th District, which includes West Lake Landfill. At West Lake Landfill: (l-r) Mali Martha Lightfoot, Libbe HaLevy, Byron DeLear, Kay Drey, Dr. Helen Caldicott Don Hancock is Executive Director of the Southwest Information and Research Center, a nuclear watchdog group headquartered in Albuquerque, NM.AND – September 26, 2016 was the United Nations' International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Major demonstrations took place around the world. Anybody hear about it in America? Anybody…? Numnutz of the Week: In Japan, the mud at the bottom of the dam may contain enough radioactive cesium to be designated waste, but according to the Ministry of the Environment, if you get nuked by being too close to the dam, according to the Ministry of the Environment, it's your own dam fault! The Missing Links: We Need To Ban Nuclear Weapons (In Spite Of Canada) by Cesar Jaramillo, Executive Director, Project Plowshares, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaSupport for a Conference in 2017 to Negotiate a Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN.org)Depleted Uranium Discovered Scattered at Livermore Lab Site 300 – Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CAREsHow Nuclear Power Causes Global Warming – Harvey Wasserman, Solartopia. San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Warning Siren – Powered by a Solar Panel: Featured Image at top: Japanese Protest – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Photo by Yasushi Fujikawa ### NH #274: Journalism's Fukushima Coverage Failures w/Prof. Celine-Marie Pascale, Shaun McGee in UK on Sellafield Documentary's Hot Impact, and Excellence in Journalism Report URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-274-journalisms-fukushima-coverage-failures-wprof-celine-marie-pascale-shaun-mcgee-in-uk-on-sellafield-documentarys-hot-impact-and-excellence-in-journalism-report/ Published: 2016-09-22 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Prof. Celine-Marie Pascale of American University in Washington, D.C. is a sociologist who did a study of mainstream media coverage in the first two years after Fukushima – and not only are her observations stunning, she's got the data to back them up. Originally presented on Nuclear Hotseat #203, May 2, 2015.Nuclear Hotseat European correspondent Shaun McGee reports on growing response to the BBC Panorama documentary on nuclear safety problems at the UK's Sellafield facility. Watch the Sellafield BBC Panorama documentary here: Numnutz of the Week: Thinking about why Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) thinks that nuclear energy is "pollution free" (?!?!?????) is enough to give a girl the (radioactive) vapors! Has he never heard of plutonium? Or does he think that's just one of Walt Disney's characters? ACTION REQUESTED: TWEET THIS IN SUPPORT OF CAPE DOWNWINDERS AND THE CAMPAIGN TO SHUT DOWN PILGRIM NUCLEAR: Pilgrim nuclear dangers last 2 wks – emergency shutdown, gas & water leaks, malfunctions, no evacuation possible. #ShutPilgrimNow! The Missing Links: Study finds Rising Infant Death Rates Attributable to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Informed Consent: What Communities Need to Know about "Interim" Nuclear Waste StorageThreats from Plan to Ship High-Level Radioactive Waste to Texas/ New MexicoWIPP nuclear waste accident will cost US taxpayers $2 billionRadioactive Food And Water The New Normal In Japan ### NH #273: USA Nuclear Wild West - Grand Canyon Uranium Mining w/Sierra Club's Gitlin, HEAL Utah's Pacenza on Green River Nukes + BREAKING: Pilgrim Shutdown Protest Arrests - Diane Turco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-273-usa-nuclear-wild-west-grand-canyon-uranium-mining-wsierra-clubs-gitlin-heal-utahs-pacenza-on-green-river-nukes-breaking-pilgrim-shutdown-protest-arrests-diane-turco/ Published: 2016-09-14 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: BREAKING: After last week's latest SCRAM emergency shutdown at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Massachusetts, Diane Turco of Cape Downwinders and two others were arrested after delivering a letter demanding permanent shutdown to Mass. Governor Baker. Nuclear Hotseat spoke with Diane immediately after her arraignment hearing. Also in the news: Today's Boston Globe Editorial, "Too Risky to Wait for Pilgrim Plant's Shutdown." Alicyn Gitlin, Conservation Coordinator for Restore & Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Campaign of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, on uranium mining issues threatening our great national monument. Show your support here. Matt Pacenza, Executive Director of the environmental group HEAL Utah, brings us up to speed on that state's downwinder, radioactive waste and new nuclear build issues… as well as an unusual activist decision regarding two proposed new nuclear reactors on the Green River. Numnutz of the Week: Plutonium-contaminated Rocky Flats in Colorado – winner of a White House "Keeping it Clean" award? The only thing sustainable there is the radiation! Featured image is of Cold War Horse, created by Jeff Gipe to acknowledge the history of Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, its workers, and the surrounding community. ### NH #272: EXCLUSIVE! USS Reagan v. TEPCO Hearing - Attorneys, Survivors + John Edwards URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-272-exclusive-uss-reagan-v-tepco-hearing-attorneys-survivors-john-edwards/ Published: 2016-09-07 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's EXCLUSIVE Interviews: Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy attended the US 9th District Court Hearing on USS Reagan Sailors v. Tokyo Electric Power Company. The sailors were on an humanitarian aid mission to Japan following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which caused the Fukushima Daiichi triple meltdowns. TEPCO never informed the US Navy of the dangerous release of radioactivity from the crippled nuclear reactors and as a result, the sailors were exposed to catastrophic levels of radiation. Hear excepts from the testimony and exclusive interviews with: Attorneys for the sailors Charles Bonner and Paul C. Carlson GarnerSailors from the USS Reagan during Operation Tomadachi: William Zeller, Chad Holt and Chris Shamrell.EXCLUSIVE BOMBSHELL: Former US Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards, who reveals a bombshell: why he flew out to attend this hearing and is so public in his support for the sailors. At stake is whether the sailors' case will be allowed to be tried in United States courts. TEPCO wants this case tried in Japan, which would effectively make it impossible for our sailors – many of whom are in failing health and would have to interrupt their medical treatments, fly to Japan, and fly out their own experts. The trip would be cost-prohibitive and forcing the trial to take place there would effectively end the lawsuit. That's what TEPCO and its attorneys are counting on. David v. Goliath? Count on it! Hear the Whole Story Here: Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy at 9th District Court's Chambers Courthouse, covering the USS Reagan Sailors' hearing (video monitor behind showing judges, attorneys). Numnutz of the Week: Clear the roads! Clear the air lanes! The UK plans to fly radioactive waste to the US for disposal! (Now who thought THAT was a good idea…?) The Missing Links: (Live links to all the Nuclear Hotseat episodes coming…) Video of full hearing of lawsuit HERE. Nuclear Hotseat #96 – USS Reagan Sailors at Dr. Helen Caldicott's SymposiumNuclear Hotseat #129 – Interview w/Attorney Charles BonnerNuclear Hotset #138 – Interview w/Attorney Charles BonnerNuclear Hotseat #159 – Interview w/USS Reagan sailor Steve SimmonsNuclear Hotseat #162 – Steve Simmons and epidemiologist Joseph Mangano refute TEPCO claimsNuclear Hotseat #166 – USS Reagan sailors v. TEPCO Nuclear Hotseat #173 – Yokuska Homeporting of USS Reagan and Unresolved Radiation Issues w/Carole JahnkowNuclear Hotseat #176 – USS Reagan Case Win!Nuclear Hotseat #180 – Internal v. External Radiation Risks for USS Reagan Sailors Featured image: (l-r) Attorney Paul C. Carlson Garner; USS Reagan sailors Chad Holt, Chris Shamrell, William Zeller; Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy. (Photo courtesy Libbe HaLevy) ### NH #271: How Radiation in Oceans Contaminates Our Food Supply - Tim Deere-Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-271-how-radiation-in-oceans-contaminate-our-food-supply-tim-deere-jones/ Published: 2016-08-31 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Tim Deere-Jones is an independent marine pollution consultant and a specialist in the behavior and fate of marine pollutants in ocean, coastal and estuarine environments. He explains how radiation in the ocean from Fukushima and the UK's Sellafield nuclear facility have impacted food safety at tremendous distances, as far away as the US West Coast. A jaw-dropping eye-opening report. This is an Encore presentation originally presented on Nuclear Hotseat #225 from October 13, 2015. Numnutz of the Week: The only thing "super" about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-Baby showing up dressed as Super Mario at the Rio Olympics is his gall at continuing to lie about the nuclear contamination awaiting anyone who dares to attend the 2020 Tokyo Radioactive NOlympics. (And that ball he's holding is pure projection, if not delusion…) Missing Links: Sign the Petition: "No Olympics or Paralympics in Radioactive Fukushima!" Learn more by going to Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network. (Thanks to FFAN for use of their gas-masked baseball pitcher as this week's Featured Image.Grand Canyon tribe fears for its future amid battle against uranium miningGreenland Inuit oppose open-pit uranium mine on Arctic mountain-topIndigenous Australians Fight Planned Nuclear Dump On Sacred Lands Coming Attractions: Next week – USS Reagan Sailors in court on their TEPCO class action lawsuit and Nuclear Hotseat is there! ### NH #270: Niagara Falls' Dirty Nuke Secrets w/Lou Ricciuti + Myla Reson on Diablo Canyon Info Anniversary URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-270-niagara-falls-dirty-nuke-secrets-wlou-ricuitti-myla-reson-on-diablo-canyon-info-anniversary/ Published: 2016-08-24 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Lou Ricciuti has been a nuclear researcher, writer and speaker for nearly 20 years on the radioactive waste-stream generated by Niagara Falls' vast involvement in the earliest days of the Atomic Age.Veteran anti-nuclear activist Myla Reson reminds us of the leaked report from Nuclear Regulator Commission's Dr. Michael Peck saying that Diablo Canyon should be shut down until Pacific Gas and Electric can prove that the reactors' design can withstand the shaking from one of the 13 adjacent earthquake faults. Numnutz of the Week: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission head Michael Binder pooh-poohs letter claiming withholding of important safety information written anonymously by agency insiders, jokes about whistleblowers, then muzzles a Greenpeace environmentalist and ignores a 26-page safety review, yet encourages concerned employees to "speak up!" Yeah, right! What's that olde joke about a scorpion's nature…? The Missing Link: Dr. Helen Caldicott speaking in San Francisco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hSjloOXzXkMyla Reson's latest video, featuring Harvey Wasserman: "Solar Power to the People!" https://youtu.be/cdstKixcD2INuclear Accident in New Mexico ranks among the Costliest in U.S. History – front page in the Los Angeles TimesCatastrophe in the Making: Growth Machine Politics; Regulatory Capture; Hurricane Katrina; Fukushima; Disasters of Tomorrow by Mining Awareness Sister Megan Rice: "People are Miseducated about Nuclear Weapons" ### NH #269: Australia - World's Nuke Waste Dump? Pt. 2 w/Dave Sweeney + N. St. Louis EPA "Die-In" + European Nukes w/Shaun McGee URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-269-australia-intl-nuke-waste-dump-pt-2-wdave-sweeney-n-st-louis-epa-die-in-european-nukes-wshaun-mcgee/ Published: 2016-08-17 This Week's Featured Interviews: Dave Sweeney is the national nuclear campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation.  This week, we get to the heart of the international manipulation – dare I call it a conspiracy? – to dump the world's nuclear waste in the land down under.  It includes LATE BREAKING NEWS of the international manipulations and decades of planning that has gone into convincing Australians to accept the nuclear industry's plans to turn their country into the world's nuclear ash tray.  Of course, Rupert Murdoch is involved. Context for understanding UK and European nuclear issues with Shaun McGee reporting from Ireland. West Lake Landfill/EPA community meeting hit by activist "die-in" to make the point of the nuclear dangers.  Interview w/die-in organizer Alex Cohen of Soul Much Water. Photo © Christen Commuso; used by permission of the photographer Numnutz of the Week: Entergy buys failing, unprofitable nuke Fitzpatrick in upstate New York, but knows how to blackmail state into giving it forever-funds from Clean Energy Standards meant to support REAL clean energy – solar, wind – NOT NUCLEAR!  Our tax dollars NOT at work! Listen Here: [powerpress] Missing Links: Bob Alvarez:  "Nuclear Power Plant?  Or Storage Dump for Hot Radioactive Waste?" –  the dangers of storing high burn-up nuclear fuel. Harvey Wasserman: "The Real Battle Is – Who's Going to Own the Energy Supply?" Montreal Declaration for a Nuclear-Fission-Free World – To endorse the declaration, send an email to: ccnr@web.ca. Fukushima Disaster's Victims – article written by Evelyne Genoulaz, from a lecture given by Kurumi Sugita, translated by D'un Renard. ### NH #268 - Australia: Nuke Waste Dump to the World? Dave Sweeney - URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-268-australia-nuke-waste-dump-to-the-world-dave-sweeney/ Published: 2016-08-11 This Week's Featured Interview: Dave Sweeney has been active in the uranium mining and nuclear debate for two decades through his work with the media, trade unions and environment groups on mining, resource and indigenous issues. He works as a national nuclear campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation and holds a vision of a nuclear free Australia that is positive about its future and honest about its past. Numnutz of the Week: Good news/Bad news: Surfs up, dudes and dudettes! Only it's in Fukushima! Feeling lucky, punk? ### NH #267: INDIAN POINT Film - Former NRC Chair Jaczko, Director Meeropol URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-267-indian-point-film-former-nrc-chair-jaczko-director-meeropol/ Published: 2016-08-03 This Week's Featured Interviews: Filmmaker, subject and activists converged at the Los Angeles run of the documentary, INDIAN POINT, an exploration of nuclear issues seen through the lens of the two aging nuclear reactors located only 25 miles from New York City. We talk with director Ivy Meeropol about what led her to devote four years of her life to making the film.Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Dr. Gregory Jaczko, who was forced out of the agency, attended the screening and took part in the audience Q&A afterwards. INDIAN POINT recasts Dr. Jaczko as hero… and he was.Interviews with activists who attended the screening from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Japan.Access INDIAN POINT TRAILER here. Numnutz of the Week: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo loses his mind and approves $965 million bailout for unprofitable upstate nuclear reactors under the rubic, "Clean Energy Standard." Who or what got to him…????? Myla Reson's video clip of Greg Jaczko talking about James Hansen – from the Q&A following the INDIAN POINT screening. ### NH #266: External/Internal Radiation Dangers + UK Nuked Soldiers Lawsuit w/Dr. Chris Busby URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-266-externalinternal-radiation-dangers-uk-soldiers-lawsuit-wdr-chris-busby/ Published: 2016-07-27 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Christopher Busby is a British nuclear scientist who has been active, effective, visible and often controversial expert witness on radiation's impact on health. We discuss his very different role in the recent lawsuit in the UK regarding British veterans exposed to nuclear radiation while in the military and suing to receive compensation from the government. Important information for anyone who is dealing legally or legislatively with the nuclear industry claim that "low level radiation can't harm you." Numnutz of the Week: Pokemon No-Go Zone at TEPCO's nuclear reactors – does somebody actually have to say this so people don't look for invisible non-existent creatures in radioactive danger zones? The Missing Link: Harvey Wasserman's brilliant rebuttal of the NYTimes pro-nuke green power takedown piece, "NY Times Pushes Nukes while Claiming Renewables Fail to Fight Climate Change." ### NH #265: EPA's NON-Consent-based Siting of Radwaste - Karen Hadden, Beatrice Brailsford URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-265-epas-non-consent-based-siting-of-radwaste-karen-hadden-beatrice-brailsford/ Published: 2016-07-20 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: When is the Environmental Protection Agency's Consent-Based Siting to decide the location of the next U.S. radioactive nuclear waste repository NOT "Consent-based?" Two activists at ground zero of this domestic nuclear war tell all: Karen Hadden, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development, or SEED Coalition, headquartered in Austin, TX talks about the EPA telling the country that West Texas and New Mexico both want more! more! more! nuclear waste… when the people who live there haven't even been asked.Beatrice Brailsford, Nuclear Program Director of the Snake River Alliance in Pocatello, Idaho, and she covers not only the history of the Idaho National Laboratory, but connects the dots in the nuclear waste stream as it currently plays out. Numnutz of the Week Doesn't take much to buy depleted uranium from the NRC… as the Government Accounting Office (GAO) proved when they conned the agency out of permits for the required ingredient for crude yet effective bombs with dummy corporations. And who exactly might that dummy be, hmmm…? The Missing Link: NRC site for comments on "Consent-base" Siting of Nuclear Waste Dumps by July 31, 2016 (LINK COMING… RIGHT NOW IT REALLY IS MISSING…) ### NH #264: Snap! Crackle! Pop! Ace Journalist Greg Palast on Nuclear Racketeering & Back-Up Generator Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-264-snap-crackle-pop-ace-journalist-greg-palast-on-nuclear-racketeering-back-up-generator-lies/ Published: 2016-07-13 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Greg Palast is an investigative reporter whose news-breaking stories appear on BBC Television, The Guardian, Al Jazeera and Rolling Stone Magazine, and is author of the New York Times bestsellers Billionaires & Ballot Bandits, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Armed Madhouse and the highly acclaimed Vultures' Picnic, which is cited in our interview. He is best known in the US for uncovering Katherine Harris' purge of black voters from Florida's voter rolls in 2000. He is currently finishing the final frames of his new film on the upcoming theft of the 2016 election: "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits." Numnutz of the Week: It's a trifecta of Numnutzery – nuclear reactor "safety" practices ignored at three separate nuclear reactors. Longtime Nuclear Hotseat listener Malcolm Chaddock helping to calm down an armed assailant at a Black Lives Matter rally in Portland, Oregon. Anti-nuclear and so much more activist Malcolm Chaddock (L) tries to calm down gunman at Black Lives Matter rally in Portland, Oregon. ### NH #263: Oh, Canada! Pt. 2 - Dr. Gordon Edwards on Int'l Uranium Mining Ban URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-263-oh-canada-pt-2-dr-gordon-edwards-on-intl-uranium-mining-ban/ Published: 2016-07-06 Duration: 01:00:00 BREAKING: Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy will be interviewed by John B. Wells for Caravan to Midnight, airing Friday, July 8, 2016, available for download thereafter for a small fee. This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards is president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and one of Canada‘s best known independent experts on nuclear technology. Part 1 of our monumental interview posted on Nuclear Hotseat #259 on June 7, 2016. Today, in Part 2, Dr. Edwards continues the saga of how Canada has provided mined uranium to the world, how it figured prominently if not predominantly in the development of India's nuclear bomb, and the steps being taken to institute an international ban on uranium mining. LINKS to Dr. Edwards' materials mentioned on the show: Speech in Greenland: http://ccnr.org/Narsaq_Edwards_2016.pdfPowerpoint used in Greenland: http://ccnr.org/Narsaq_Edwards_2016_show.pdfDanish interview on medical aspects of uranium miningDanish interview on remediation of a uranium mining site in Saskatchewan NOTE: Featured image is of the signing of the Declaration of the World Uranium Symposium calling for an International Moratorium on Uranium Mining. Numnutz of the Week: Japanese town near Tokyo wants its nuclear waste declared not so radioactive so that it can't be dumped in with all the other garbage. Solartopia Green Power and Wellness Hour This program covers the follow-up to last week's devastating vote by the California Lands Commission NOT to require Diablo Canyon's operater, PG&E, to hold an Environmental Impact Review prior to renewing their lease on state coastal land and waters. Hosted by Harvey Wasserman, featuring interviews with veteran activists Myla Reson and Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace. ### NH #262: Diablo Canyon Shutdown? Linda Seeley, Harvey Wasserman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-262-diablo-canyon-shutdown-linda-seeley-harvey-wasserman/ Published: 2016-06-29 Duration: 01:00:00 BREAKING: CA Lands Commission Bails on Responsibility, Won't Hold PG&E Responsible for Diablo Canyon Environmental Impact Report This story hit as production was almost concluded; details in the coming weeks. Enjoy listening to what was a brief moment of optimism. This Week's Featured Interviews: Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace about what was then an upcoming meeting on Diablo Canyon with the California Lands Commission.Harvey Wasserman has been an anti-nuclear, pro-alternatives activist for more than 40 years. He writes regularly for a wide internet readership through Ecowatch, Solartopia.org, Freepress.org and Nukefree.org. His Green Power & Wellness Show is heard at www.prn.fm. Numnutz of the Week: They weren't activists; they were tourists. Listen here: [powerpress] ### NH #261: BREAKING - DIABLO CANYON SHUTDOWN ANNOUNCED - Delayed Gratification Requested - PLUS: Eyewitness Nuke News w/NZ's Kevin Hester, No Nukes NW's Mimi German, West Lake Landfill w/Byron DeLear URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-261-breaking-diablo-canyon-shutdown-announced-delayed-gratification-requested-plus-eyewitness-nuke-news-wnzs-kevin-hester-no-nukes-nws-mimi-german-west-lake-landfill-w/ Published: 2016-06-22 Duration: 01:00:00 BREAKING – Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactors to be Shut Down by PG&E… in 8-9 Years. Interviews on next week's show. This Week's Featured Interviews: New Zealand anti-nuclear and climate activist Kevin Hester offers an in-depth analysis of what his no-nukes country is doing inviting a US naval vessel into its waters next year – an absolute legal no-no since 1987.Mimi German of No Nukes NW and Radcast.org on how the peace sailboat she and Harvey Wasserman of Solartopia were on – the Golden Rule – was intentionally rammed by a Washington State police boat during a protest of war ships. Peace Boat Golden Rule that was rammed by WA state police boat Photo courtesy No Nukes NW Byron DeLear checks it with perspective on the release of a long-suppressed report by the EPA on the West Lake Landfill that proves the Just Moms, the Coldwater Creek activists, and others who supported them were right. Numnutz of the Week: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has some very strange safety concerns at Diablo Canyon. No, not earthquake faults, thin-walled "tin can" dry casks for radioactive waste storage, aging reactor parts, embrittlement of the container vessel. You'll never guess what they're concerned about! (HINT: I never knew that Snapple could be so dangerous…) ### NH #260: 5th Anniversary SPECIAL! Kevin Kamps, Mary Olson, Don Hancock, More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-260-5th-anniversary-special-kevin-kamps-mary-olsen-don-hancock-more/ Published: 2016-06-15 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat – Now Downloaded in 112 Countries* To celebrate five years of continuous, weekly production, Nuclear Hotseat revisits some activists and stories we've been covering. Featured Interviews: Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear on the recent federal court refusal to reconsider nuclear reactor on-site long term radioactive waste storage.Mary Olson of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, on the recent EPA proposal to let us all be exposed to more radiation in our drinking water.Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center on radwaste storage at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP.Linda Seeley of San Louis Obispo Mothers for Peace on a brilliant new strategy to force the closure of Diablo Canyon.Erica Gray of the Sierra Club on current problems w/our country's newest nuclear nightmare, Watts Bar. Numnutz of the Week: What in the world is Japan thinking, deciding to pave its roads with radioactive Fukushima waste and rubble?!? PLUS: *ASTONISHING stats – In one month, Nuclear Hotseat was downloaded in 112 countries on six continents. And that's the stats from just ONE syndicator! (*UCY.TV audit, May 11-June 11, 2016)Funny outtakes from the past year's recordings – proof that Nuclear Hotseat has, at times, gone to the dogs.Flashbacks to earlier episodes, including the time I made Dr. Helen Caldicott laugh.Testimonials from leading activists on the importance of Nuclear Hotseat to our community and our movement. THANKS FOR LISTENING, EVERYONE! ONWARD! STAY TUNED! SHARE! ### NH #259: Oh, Canada! Dr. Gordon Edwards on Canada's Twisted Nuclear Path URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-259-oh-canada-dr-gordon-edwards-on-canadas-twisted-nuclear-path/ Published: 2016-06-08 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) and one of Canada's best known independent experts on nuclear technology, provides a stunningly thorough history of Canadian involvement with US development of the nuclear bomb, as well as issues involving reactors, uranium mining, accidents and attempted clean-ups, of course the waste storage issue, and more. The first installment of a massive, multi-episode visit with Dr. Edwards, who weaves individual incidents and factoids into a clear picture of the nuclear world in which Canada and the rest of us live. Numnutz of the Week: The United States doesn't know what to do with the 75,000 tons of high-level radioactive nuclear waste from domestic nuclear reactors that's accumulated over the last 70 years… but that doesn't stop our country from calling back 331 kilograms of plutonium it loaned to Japan and plunking it down in South Carolina's Savannah River Site and the ever-porous, unsecured "security" at the Y-12 site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Missing Links: Harvey Wasserman: What Will Finally Shut Down Diablo Canyon Nukes? Could a Bernie Win Help? Resuspension and Atmospheric Transport of Radionuclides due to Wildfires near Chernobyl Nucleaer Power Plant in 2015Chernobyl: High Radiation Levels Found in Belarus Milk, 30 Years After DisasterUkranian Children Eating Food Tainted by Chernobyl Radiation ### NH #258: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's Rick Wayman on Obama at Hiroshima + Dr. Caldicott on Nuke War URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-258-nuclear-age-peace-foundations-rick-wayman-on-obama-at-hiroshima-dr-caldicott-on-nuke-war/ Published: 2016-05-31 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: President Obama visited Hiroshima the same day I spoke w/Rick Wayman, Director of Programs & Operations at the California-based Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. We discuss the image vs. the reality of the administration's nuclear policy; the Marshall Islands lawsuits against the nine nuclear bomb-nations, then discusses some easy steps we can all take to pressure our government to change paths and work towards disarmament. Don't Bank on the Bomb – report on banks which have invested in nuclear technologies so you can remove your funds and raise their consciousnesses. Marshall Islands lawsuit – learn what they're doing, why, and how you can help. Dr. Helen Caldicott talks about her February speech to the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in the most poignant terms possible. Numnutz of the Week: Any nuclear reactor can "pass" inspection if the bar is lowered far enough – which is what it seems that Westinghouse, now owned by Toshiba, did with a new reactor it built for China. Hey, 10 minutes, not at full pressure – et voila! An officially approved new nuke! Now, as long as you ignore that little niggling thing called "safety"… Hey, kids, want to know what a nuclear blast would look like in YOUR home town? Just go to: http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/ Add your city, pick the size of the bomb (from Hiroshima to Castle Bravo to the we-haven't-dared-to-test-it-yet Tsar Bomba) – make sure to click on "Casualties" and "Fallout," then let the (thankfully) virtual games begin! Loads of fun for the whole family! Make sure to tell Donald Trump all about it! ### NH #257: Radiation Spike from Hanford or CGS Reactor? Radcast's Mimi German Explains URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-257-radiation-spike-from-hanford-or-cgs-nuke-radcasts-mimi-german-explains/ Published: 2016-05-25 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Mimi German is the founder of RadCast, which focuses on collecting and interpreting radiation data. It helps helping citizen activists learn how to take accurate radiation readings, which RadCast then compiles to figure out what's going on – radiologically speaking – wherever the EPA has fallen down on the job… which is just about everywhere. Mimi walks us through the recent radiation spike(s) recorded by EPA in Richland, Washington, and parses out whether the blame rests with the Hanford site, as has been put out, or the Northwest's only nuclear working nuclear reactor, the Columbia Generating Station. Link to initiatives to shut down CGS. Numnutz of the Week: US pro-nuke orgs plead with Obama administration not to do away with the "Nuclear Energy Policy Czar." Did you know we had a Nuclear Energy Policy Czar? And where's our "Alternative Energy Policy Czar?" Our "Peace Czar?" "Sustainability Czar?" And why a czar? Why not a hippie? ### NH #256: WA's Hanford Site Radiological Dangers w/Gerry Pollet, West Lake/EPA Protests URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-256-hanford-dangers-wgerry-pollet-west-lakeepa-protests/ Published: 2016-05-18 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: How bad is the radioactive threat of the Hanford Site in SE Washington State? Learn the facts, worthy of a Halloween horror house, from attorney Gerry Pollet, Executive Director of Heart of America Northwest, a 16,000 member citizens’ watchdog group for the cleanup of Hanford. You Are There at the Front Lines of the N. St. Louis West Lake/EPA Protest: Nuclear Hotseat special correspondents Terra Johnson-Douglas and Sue Lorel interview protesters outside the monthly community meeting to explain what's the latest nightmare with the illegally buried WWII highly radioactive nuclear weapons waste sitting next to an unquenchable five-year-old underground fire bearing down on it – NOT the plot device of the next Tom Cruise/"Mission Impossible" film. Numnutz of the Week: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch throws a whopping 18,500+ words into promoting cherry-picked "experts" trying to convince people facing the radiological threat of the West Lake Landfill that – eh! – the radiation there is "no big deal." Oh yeah? Buy a house and raise your kids there there, editors! PLUS: A hole in the heart of the anti-nuclear movement at the passing of Michael Mariotte, President and Executive Director of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, who passed away on Monday, May 16, after a long battle with prostate cancer. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Michael Mariotte Legacy Fund. Here are tributes by Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and Graham Nash, recorded for Michael's Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony in November 2014: The Missing Link: The Ten Most Radioactive Places on EarthInternal Exposure Concealed: The True State of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident by Yagasaki Katsuma ### NH #255: Just Moms StL to United Nations - West Lake Landfill as Human Rights Violation? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-255-just-moms-stl-to-united-nations-west-lake-landfill-as-human-rights-violation/ Published: 2016-05-11 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Just Moms StL's Dawn Chapman reports on last week's meeting with the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Topic: whether the WWII nuclear weapons waste illegally stored at the North St. Louis West Lake Landfill and the EPA's "nobody's home!" lack of response to the crisis caused by the underground fire bearing down on the radioactive materials constitutes a human rights violation. Ya think? Numnutz of the Week: "Mothers for Nuclear" may seem like an oxymoron, but two long-term nuclear employees at Diablo Canyon in CA who happen to be mothers are just nuclear mouthpieces fighting to keep their jobs — despite the fact that a whole slew of earthquake faults underlie the reactors and they now what could happen because one of these "mothers" works in earthquake assessment! The Missing Link: Nuclear Plant Containment Failure: Pre-Existing Damage by David Lochbaum, director, Nuclear Safety Project, Union of Concerned Scientists ### NH #254: Nukes Go Hollywood - International Uranium Film Festival URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-254-nukes-go-hollywood-intl-uranium-film-festival/ Published: 2016-05-04 Duration: 01:00:00 Featured Interviews: An audio mosaic of the celebrities, filmmakers, activists, actorvists, fans and media at the first-ever International Uranium Film Festival in Los Angeles, April 27, 2016. Among the featured interviews and personalities: Actor Ed AsnerActor/producer Kat Kramer of Kat Kramer Films that Change the WorldKaren Kramer, wife of the late Stanley Kramer, director of "On the Beach."Mary Kennedy and Paul Jacek of the Oh, Mary! internet TV talk showAward-winning German director Michael Hohenberg (Final Picture)Activist/filmmaker Liz Rogers (Hot Water)Filmmaker Mary Beth Brangan of Ecological Options Network .Solartopian and veteran activist Harvey WassermanActivist Myla ResonElena Nicklasson of the Nuclear Age Peace FoundationMerrily Weber, the voice of Nuclear HotseatNorbert Suchanek, Executive Director of the International Uranium Film FestivalIndian recording artist Asha Puthli Upcoming on Nuclear Hotseat – the International Uranium Film Festival's Nuclear Power Panel featuring: Co-moderators Kat Kramer and Harvey WassermanLou Gossett, Jr.Esai MoralesActorvist Mimi KennedyNuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy The Missing Links: Hanford, not Fukushima, is the Big Radiological Threat to the West Coast by Robert JacobsAP Interview: Fukushima plant's new ice wall not watertightPETITION – PLEASE SIGN: "No" To the Policy to Use Contaminated Soil for Public WorksWho Is Monitoring the Health of Populations Around Nuclear Power Plants? ### NH #253: Chernobyl 30th Anniversary SPECIAL - Mousseau, Yablokov, Sherman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-253-chernobyl-30th-anniversary-special-mousseau-yablokov-sherman/ Published: 2016-04-27 Duration: 01:00:00 A Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL on the Human and Genetic Impact of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster This Week's Featured Interviews: Bonnie Kouneva, Chernobyl Survivor.  She was a 16-year old living in Sofia, Bulgaria, about 800 miles away from Chernobyl, when the accident started on April 26, 1986.  She talks about the impact on her life and the health of her children.  This former mountaineer and Greenpeace member currently lives in the United States.Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Beginning in 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. Full interview here.Dr. Janette Sherman is well known for her work with epidemiologist Joseph Mangano on analyses of data after Fukushima that indicate a spike in US infant mortality and hypothyroidism. She also edited the English translation of Alexei Yablokov's groundbreaking work on the book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment. Dr. Alexei Yablokov is a member of the Russian Academy of Science, and was environmental advisor to the Russian President Yeltsin and to the Gorbachev administration, as well as a co-founder of Greenpeace Russia. His book Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment , compiled and translated into English more than 5,000 separate scientific reports on Chernobyl which completely contradict the World Health Organization's report, which undermined the seriousness of the accident.Ryuichi Hirokawa was the first non-Soviet photojournalist to document the Chernobyl disaster. The website on his humanitarian aid work with the children of Fukushima, based upon his experiences at Chernobyl, is at: kuminosato.net The Battle of Chernobyl – film: ### NH #252: SimplyInfo's Nancy Foust w/Fukushima, Kumamoto/Sendai Nukes FACTS + Christian Brunn on film, "The Man Who Saved the World" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-252-simplyinfos-nancy-foust-wfukushima-kumamotosendai-facts/ Published: 2016-04-20 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Nancy Foust of SimplyInfo.org, which holds and manages the largest public archive of data on the Fukushima disaster in the world, on how that group finds and vets its info. Includes up to the minute report on Sendai nuclear reactors after Kumamoto quakes in Japan. Christian Brunn, Executive Producer of "The Man Who Saved the World," on the story of Stanislav Petrov, the Russian soldier who was in charge of Russia's nuclear launch facility in 1983 when a computer malfunction showed that the United States had launched five warheads at his country. Protocol, nationalism, pressure from those in the control room and the expectations of his position all pressured Stanislav to order them to push the button that would start World War III – but he did not. The film explores the tremendous price he paid for having done the right thing and will be featured in next week's International Uranium Film Festival in Los Angeles.For free tickets to the April 27 International Uranium Film Festival, Email: AlexRadlovic@gmail.com.PETITION: Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) calling for No 2020 Tokyo Olympics Events in Fukushima (yes, they're really planning to have events and housing in the radiation zone!) Bernie Sanders meme by Gail Payne. ### NH #251: West Lake Moms Meet w/White House Reps & EPA's Gina McCarthy! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-251-west-lake-moms-meet-wwhite-house-reps-epas-gina-mccarthy/ Published: 2016-04-13 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: West Lake Just Mom Dawn Chapman reveals the inner workings on the long-desired and oft-thwarted DC meeting she and fellow/sister Just Mom Karen Nickel had with Environmental Protection Agency head Gina Never-Met-A-Nuke-I-Didn't-Like-And-Cover-For McCarthy. And oh yes, they also met with White House representatives who are the EPA's bosses and report directly to President Obama. All to bring to the attention of our government the shocking lack of action to resolve the problem of the illegally buried World War II nuclear weapons waste at the West Lake Landfill that's been poisoning the residents of North St. Louis for over 40 years… and now there's an underground fire that can't be put out bearing down on it. Tra la, tra lay! Numnutz of the Week: French Energy Minister Ségolène Royal must be terribly passive aggressive, have a screw loose or just not understand how nuclear reactor decontamination works because she offered the site of the soon-to-be-decommissioned Fessenheim nuclear plant in the Alsace region near the German border to Elon Musk as the perfect place for him to build a Tesla manufacturing site! The Missing Links: Fukushima animation w/voices by residentsByron DeLear: "EPA Takes Half Measures to Save Face on Radioactive West Lake Landfill" Touring West Lake and Bridgeton Landfills (l-r: Mali Lightfoot, Libbe HaLevy, Byron DeLear, Kay Drey, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Karen Nickel) Photo: Jonathan Lehmann "Changing Nuclear Landscape Alters WIPP's Role" by Rebecca MossEpidemiologist Joseph Mangano and Dr. Janette Sherman: "Fukushima Five Years After: Health Researchers Turn Blind Eye to Casualties"Petition to stop the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics from taking place in radiologically contaminated Tokyo and Fukushima. Please sign here. PHOTO: Courtesy Ed Smith of the Missouri Coalition on the Environment. (l-r) Dawn Chapman, Karen Nickel, Ed Smith ### NH #250: "Chernobyl in a Can" - More Dry Cask Dangers w/Donna Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-250-chernobyl-in-a-can-more-dry-cask-dangers-wdonna-gilmore/ Published: 2016-04-06 Duration: 00:59:57 This Week's Featured Interview: Donna Gilmore, head of SanOnofreSafety.org, offers a chilling update on the problems of short term nuclear waste storage, calling the on-site dry storage canisters approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission "Chernobyl in a Can." Numnutz of the Week: Russia risks doubling the reactor lifespan of the Kola nuclear power plant in Murmansk to 60 years so it can produce energy the area doesn't need. Why? Because the station worked out an "investment plan" because it would be "too expensive to decommission it." What part of "Chernobyl" do they not understand? Photo: Demonstration by Just Moms StL. Used by permission of Christen Comuso. ### NH #249: Three Mile Island 37th Anniversary SPECIAL - Eric Epstein of TMI Alert URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-249-three-mile-island-37th-anniversary-special-eric-epstein-of-tmi-alert/ Published: 2016-03-29 Duration: 01:00:02 Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident – 37 Years Later Historical Audio ŸŸ-Ÿ First-Person Accounts Official Errors – Mutations and Deaths – Lack of Accountability What it was like on the ground at the first major commercial nuclear power reactor accident in US history… and what has happened in the 37 years since. Featuring: Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island AlertArnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy EducationPeter Bradford, former Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdownMiddletown resident Mary StamosWalter Cronkite and members of the mainstream broadcast mediaNuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy's personal story of having been one mile away from the nuclear accident for the first three days. BONUS RECORDING: "Only One Mile from Three Mile Island" From the musical "Armageddon: The Living End!" Lyric by Libbe HaLevy / Music by Grady Sung by Libbe HaLevy The Missing Links: Three Mile Island EFMR StudiesTMI at 35 Project, including graphic novelThree Mile Island Archives – Dickenson CollegeSteven Wing TMI Cancer StudyThe TMI Accident – Summary and ChronologyTMI Had Lasting Consequences ### NH #248: Great Lakes Radionuclides w/Canada's John Jackson, Diablo Cyn Legislation Update w/Jane Swanson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-248-great-lakes-radionuclides-wcanadas-john-jackson-diablo-cyn-legislation-update-wjane-swanson/ Published: 2016-03-23 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Veteran environmental activist John Jackson is author of the report issued on March 2 by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, calling for radionuclides to be designated by the US and Canada as a "chemical of mutual concern" under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. More than 100+ groups signed onto this report because they recognize the dangers of the high concentration of nuclear facilities that surround the largest surface fresh water repository in the world. (Today's featured image is the map showing all the known nuclear sites around the Great Lakes.)Jane Swanson of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace fills us in on the Diablo Canyon nukes, focusing on a piece of California state legislation that could inadvertently trigger support for keeping those dangerous, failing, earthquake-zone reactors open.CONTACT: Sen. Ben Hueso, (916) 651-4040 Tell him that you oppose CA Senate Bill 968 because it calls for examining only the negative aspects of closure of the dangerous Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors and not the positive impact of its closure. Numnutz of the Week: If you're going to drink, drink responsibly; do NOT drink wine made in Fukushima from locally grown produce! The Missing Link(s): Radioactivity Contaminated Wild Boar, Pigs, Sheep and Deer Still Unfit to Eat in Japan, Russia, Europe, Norway, UKTrump's Terrifying Nuke Answer at DebateUS Response to Fukushima: "Defense-in-Depth" or "Defense-in-Shallowness?" by Ed Lyman, Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned ScientistsShocking Health Effects in Fukushima Nuclear Workers Under the Official Radiation Dose Limits ### NH #247: PSR/IPPNW Report - 10,000+ Excess Cancer Cases Post-Fukushima – Thomasson, Rosen, Mousseau, Alvarez URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-247-psrippnw-report-10000-excess-cancer-cases-post-fukushima-thomasson-rosen-mousseau-alvarez/ Published: 2016-03-16 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: The PSR/IPPNW report released last week projecting at least 10,000 excess cancer cases in Japan because of the radioactivity releases from the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster. We'll hear from: Dr. Catherine Thomasson, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility;Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War;Tim Mousseau, PhD, a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina and on-the-ground researcher into insect and animal mutations at Chernobyl and Fukushima. Link to Nuclear Hotseat #243 featuring extended interview w/Tim MousseauBob Alvarez, who specializes in nuclear disarmament, environmental and energy policies for the Institute for Policy Studies. Included will be insights into mainstream media response to this report. Link to full PSR/IPPNW Report, "5 Years Living with Fukushima" – CLICK HERE. Listen to Nuclear Hotseat Here: [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week: Tone deaf, brain dead Japanese Minister for the 2020 Tokyo NOlympics announces continued support for siting team sports in Fukushima… AND MAKES THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE NUCLEAR DISASTER THERE! The Missing Link: Reality of Fukushima is Unrecoverable: Interview with Fukushima farmer Kazuya TarukawaThe Fukushima Nuclear Disaster is a Serious Crime: Interview with Koide HiroakiThe Mothers who Set Up a Radiation LabThe IAEA Tries to Cover Up Another Nuclear Health Issue in EuropeIndia's Prime Minister Modi in the Grip of the Global Nuclear SalesmenProfitable Element, Powerful Entity: Saskatchewan's Uranium Industry and Dene EcologyUK Minister and Member of Parliament: "I Was Never Told the Truth by the Nuclear Industry" ### NH #246: Fukushima 5th Anniversary - Voices from Japan - Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-246-fukushima-5th-anniversary-voices-from-japan-beverly-findlay-kaneko/ Published: 2016-03-09 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko provides an "on-the-ground in Japan" overview of the current situation faced by people living with the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. She is the producer behind our Voices from Japan series and this year is the Voice from JapanKimberly Roberson is the founder of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network, or FFAN. More than four years ago, she and FFAN became involved in bringing awareness of the problems of incineration of Fukushima's radioactive waste, and now takes a look at the newly revived problems of decontamination radwaste incineration. Listen Here [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week: Evil numnutz as a quaint little village puts out the welcome mat for single moms and their kids… not mentioning that the welcome mat is radioactive and the village happens to be in Fukushima Prefecture. The Missing Link: Fukushima Five Years Later: Stanford Nuclear Expert Offers Three Lessons from the DisasterNuclear Meltdown: Releasing Radiation and Containing the Truth – Lucas HixonOn Forgetting Fukushima – Robert Jacobs No Bliss in This Ignorance: The Great Fukushima Nuclear Cover-Up – Linda Pentz Gunter Delivery of Petition to Stop Incineration of Fukushima Nuclear Waste Japanese Consulate, San Francisco, 2012 Thanks to Jim Heddle and Mary Beth Brangan of EON3, Ecological Options Network, for use of this video. Featured image: Piles of decontamination waste at one of 1,073 interim storage sites in Fukushima. ### NH #245: UN/UNSCEAR Fukushima Lies Exposed - IPPNW's Dr. Alex Rosen - ENCORE URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-245-ununscear-fukushima-lies-exposed-ippnws-dr-alex-rosen-encore/ Published: 2016-03-02 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Alex Rosen, a German pediatrician who is Vice President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). On behalf of that group, he takes on the United Nations' UNSCEAR report on Fukushima that drastically, perhaps criminally downplayed the health dangers of that ongoing nuclear disaster.A pdf transcript of this interview is available in both English and German if you CLICK HEREThe IPPNW's Critical Analysis of the UNSCEAR report on Fukushima is available in English, German and Japanese translations if you CLICK HERE. Listen Here: [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week: TEPCO starts incinerating more than 66,000 special containers of radioactive workers' protective suits, gloves, masks with no radioactivity monitoring for the resulting release of particulate matter. But the day after the burning starts, to solve their future problems, TEPCO begins allowing workers to be on-site at Fukushima Daiichi WITHOUT any kind of protective clothing. The Missing Link(s): Harvey Wasserman on Grassroots pressure escalates to shut down Diablo Canyon Nuke PlantExpanded Investigation into Safety Culture Likely at Columbia Generating Station West Lake Landfill – Landfill Fire Creeps Toward Buried Tons of Atomic Waste ### NH #244: SPECIAL - Atoms Next Door: North St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare w/Dr. Caldicott, Bob Alvarez, West Lake Moms URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-244-special-atoms-next-door-st-louis-nuclear-nightmare-wdr-caldicott-bob-alvarez-west-lake-moms/ Published: 2016-02-24 Duration: 01:00:00 "Atoms Next Door" Symposium on the St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare: A Full-Length Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL Dr. Helen Caldicott (R) interviewed by Libbe HaLevy (L) on-site at the Bridgeton Landfill in North St. Louis.  Behind them:  (L-R) – Mali Martha Lightfoot, Byron DeLear, Kay Drey In North St. Louis, World War II era nuclear weapons waste was dumped into illegal landfills; improperly transported; and the people who lived literally next door were never warned about this invisible nightmare.  This is the story of what this means right now. A full-length NUCLEAR HOTSEAT SPECIAL report on the Atoms Next Door symposium on the St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare – World War II-era highly radioactive weapons manufacturing waste illegally buried in a flood plain of the Missouri River. It has been invisibly poisoning residents for over 40 years, resulting in cancer clusters, brain tumors in children, autoimmune diseases and  more. St. Louis Community College in Wildwood sponsored the event. Dr. Helen Caldicott flew in from Australia to be keynote speaker; Bob Alvarez; nuclear workers advocate Denise Brock; and revered Missouri environmentalist Kay Drey addressed an overflow audience of more than 300 people and livestream viewers from around the world, including Nuclear Hotseat listeners from Wales, Ireland, France, and New Zealand. FEATURED THIS WEEK:  A van tour through the nuclear "hot spots" of North St. Louis, with: Dr. Helen Caldicott Kay Drey Byron DeLear Dawn Chapman Karen Nickel Listen to the conversations as a donated Teamsters van filled with anti-nuclear activists tours Laddy Avenue, the Airport site, Coldwater Creek, St. Cyn Park, the Bridgeton Landfill and West Lake Landfill. Dr. Helen Caldicott (l) with Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy FEATURED INTERVIEWS WITH: Dr. Helen Caldicott Bob Alvarez  (article links:   http://thebulletin.org/west-lake-story-underground-fire-radioactive-waste-and-governmental-failure9160 http://www.ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/West-Lake-Landfill-Radioactive-Legacy.pdf Coldwater Creek veteran Mary Oscko Christen Commuso, photographer of Humans of West LakePLUS: Pre- and Post-Symposium talks with audience members to get their take on their knowledge, what drew them to the event, and their feelings once it ended. Link to Livestream of Entire "Atoms Next Door" Symposium:   https://youtu.be/rLlFRe197uQ ### NH #243: Chernobyl, Fukushima Mutations w/Dr. Timothy Mousseau (picture is of mutated fire bugs at Chernobyl) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-243-chernobyl-fukushima-mutations-wdr-timothy-mousseau/ Published: 2016-02-17 This Week's Featured Interview Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and since 1991, a faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Professor Mousseau and his collaborators have explored the ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences of low-dose radiation in populations of plants, animals and people inhabiting the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and Belarus. More recently, he initiated a second research program in Fukushima, Japan. (NOTE: The picture at the top of this page is of mutated fire bugs found at Chernobyl.) Numnutz of the Week The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may not be able to get anything right at West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis, or Flint, or actually anywhere… but that doesn't stop them from coming up with really, really bad PR materials for the public to use: Meet the EPA's mascots! Sammy the Salmon (l) Eddie the Trout (r) Don't you feel motivated to protect the environment??? Activist Action… with Erica Gray Germany's got a lot of balls — radioactive graphite balls — and here's your chance to help stop the US from accepting Germany's radwaste. We've got enough of our own! Comment to the NRCArticle that explains the issue in depth The Missing Link: By Harvey Wasserman: Bernie and Hillary – Speak Out on America's Dying Nuclear Reactors! By Cindy Folkers: Who Is Monitoring the Health of Populations Around Nuclear Power Plants?By Byron DeLear: Helen Caldicott to Conduct Nuclear Symposium in St. Louis: The Atoms Next DoorBy Tim Barribeau: Not-so-Secret Atomic Tests: Why the Photographic Film Industry Knew what the American Public Didn't (HINT: Not your typical "Kodak moment.") ### NH #242: Thyroid Cancer's Silent Epidemic w/Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-242-thyroid-cancers-silent-epidemic-wepidemiologist-joseph-mangano/ Published: 2016-02-10 This Week's Featured Interview: Joseph Mangano is an epidemiologist and executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) research group. He and Dr. Janette Sherman recently published an article, An Invisible Epidemic, about thyroid cancer rates in proximity to nuclear reactors, including Fukushima Daiichi. Numnutz of the Week: Gina "Never Met A Nuke I Didn't Like and Cover For" McCarthy, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, tries to escape the West Lake Moms by putting her fingers in her ears, shutting her eyes and singing, "Lalalala I can't heeeeeeeear youuuuu!" to avoid facing the victims of her incompetence to hear their justifiable complaints. Even the EPA's phone recording systems are jammed because they've gotten so many messages telling her to give them a hearing. Still – I'm betting on the Moms. They know how to handle tantrum-throwing infants with mother issues. This Week's Activist Action – ASAP: Erica Gray points the way to check out Stop the Great Lakes Nuclear Dump… and then do just that. Sign the petition to stop Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) from burying highly radioactive waste just one mile from the shores of Lake Huron, and from there, the Great Lakes. Then, write two email to the Canadians in charge of the decision: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.caCanadian Environmental Minister Catherine McKenna: CatherineMcKenna@parl.bc.ca ### NH #241: BREAKING! Westlake Senate Bill Passes w/Byron DeLear, Dawn Chapman + WIPP 2nd Anniversary Update w/Don Hancock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-241-breaking-westlake-senate-win-wbyron-delear-dawn-chapman-wipp-2nd-anniversary-update-wdon-hancock/ Published: 2016-02-03 WEST LAKE LANDFILL BREAKING NEWS The Senate has passed a bill to transfer remediation authority over the radioactive waste in the West Lake Landfill from the Environmental Protection Agency to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, putting the site in the Corps’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, known by the acronym FUSRAP. The bipartisan bill was proposed by Missouri's U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill. To capture this moment of success, we interviewed two activists directly involved in the battle to move the West Lake clean-up from EPA to the Army Corps – and familiar to regular listeners of Nuclear Hotseat: Byron DeLear lives near the West Lake Landfill and has been involved in clean energy issues for many years. He is a columnist with Examiner.com, was founder of Global Peace Solution, and is currently running for state representative.Dawn Chapman is a Mom who lives only two miles from the radioactive landfill and serves as an admin for the West Lake Landfill Facebook page and a genuine grass roots leader of this campaign for environmental justice. Plus This Week's Featured Interview: The explosion, radioactive plutonium and americium release, and closure of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP Site) took place on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2014. Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center brings us up to date as WIPP hits its second anniversary. CALLS NEEDED: House Bill 4100 is the bipartisan companion legislation introduced by Missouri Representatives Wm. Lacy Clay (202) 225-2406 and Ann Wagner 202-225-1621. Contact them and find your representative here to contact and build support for HR 4100. ### NH #240: HEALTH! Holistic Strategies and Radiation Safeguarding for Porter Ranch and Beyond - Dr. Diane Sandler, Kimberly Roberson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-240-health-holistic-protocols-and-radiation-safeguarding-for-porter-ranch-and-beyond-dr-diane-sandler-kimberly-roberson/ Published: 2016-01-27 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Dr. Diane Sandler is doctor of Oriental medicine and a craniosacral therapist who has been practicing in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles for three decades. Her focus has been to support her patients in co-creating optimum health through lifestyle changes and deep core work that lead to cellular change.Kimberly Roberson is a Certified Nutrition Educator, a former Greenpeace nuclear campaigner, the founder of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network, and author of Silence Deafening: Fukushima Fallout… a Mother's Response. She is the co-creator, with Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy, of Radiation Awareness Protection Talk (RAPT). Numnutz of the Week: Pandora's evil promise starts to visibly take hold of energy policy as two states – two! in a single week! – announce that nuclear must be included in their "clean energy" portfolios. The Missing Links: Department of Energy tries to change the rules on nuclear waste disposal.States Lack Rules for handling disposal of fracking's radioactive drilling waste Harvey Wasserman: Documents say Navy Knew Fukushima Dangerously Contaminated the USS ReaganNuclear Power Plant Accidents since 1952 – a partial list ### NH #239: Patty Ameno's Successful Anti-Nuclear Campaign URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-239-one-womans-successful-anti-nuclear-campaign-patty-ameno/ Published: 2016-01-20 This Week's Featured Interview: Patty Ameno grew up in Apollo, Pennsylvania, 35 miles NE of Pittsburgh… not realizing that her childhood home was directly across the street from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation.  NUMEC, in Parks Township, manufactured fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and the Navy's nuclear submarines, leaving behind a legacy of uranium and plutonium waste that impacted the health of everyone in the area — including Patty.  A trained investigator with Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and former U.S. Federal Criminal Investigator, Patty took on NUMEC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Babcock & Wilcox and Atlantic Richfield… and won. Listen Here: [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week: The Cedars of Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture are NOT appropriate building material for Japan's main stadium for the 2020 Radioactive Tokyo NOlympics. The Missing Links: LA's Nuclear Cover-Up at Brandeis-Bardin Institute – the NBC Los Angeles investigation fact sheet. Since Prime Minister Shizo Abe-baby tightened his death grip on Japan's media, it's hard to find honest, un-spun coverage of the situation of Fukushima nuclear evacuees.  An analysis of the differences from nuclear-news.net Feeding Radioactive Oatmeal t0 Little Kids – the U.S. governments secret experiments on children in the 1950's. ### NH #238: SPECIAL - Porter Ranch/Radon Radiation Risk - Kevin Kamps, Cindy Folkers, Richard Mathews, Terry Lodge URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-238-special-porter-ranchradon-radiation-risk-kevin-kamps-cindy-folkers-richard-mathews-terry-lodge/ Published: 2016-01-13 Duration: 01:00:00 Full program devoted to the radon risk hidden in the methane gas leak disaster at Porter Ranch in Los Angeles. This Week's Featured Interviews: Kevin Kamps is the Nuclear Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear. He gives an overview of the problems created by radon and suspicions about its impact on the people of Porter Ranch.Cindy Folkers is Beyond Nuclear‘s expert on ionizing radiation and its impact on health and the environment. She talks about the health impact of radon and its decay products, emphasizing the need for independent testing at the site. Links to the two articles cited by Cindy Folkers as possibly pointing to an earlier start of the Porter Ranch gas leak: From August, 2015 From July, 2014 Richard Mathews is a long time resident of the Porter Ranch area who is currently running for state assembly from that district. Richard lives four miles away from the gas leak; he talks about the politics behind the scenes and local activist organizing efforts. Petition to have the Porter Ranch gas leak declared a national emergency Terry Lodge is an Ohio trial lawyer living in Toledo who has represented many clients in civil rights, civil liberties, and environmental cases. He talks on the science as well as legal aspects of this case. Listen Here: [powerpress] The Missing Link: Nuclear Hotseat #237 – Byron DeLear interview transcript on West Lake Landfill and legal options. And… …A Reminder to All of the San Fernando Valley from your Friendly Neighborhood Environmental Protection Agency: ### NH #237: West Lake Politics, Update w/Byron DeLear URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-237-west-lake-politics-update-wbyron-delear/ Published: 2016-01-06 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Byron DeLear lives near the West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis, Missouri, and has been involved in clean energy issues as chairman and CEO of Energy Equity Funding. He is a columnist with Examiner.com and is currently running for state representative. We spoke about latest developments on radiological nightare site – the flood, the fire – as well as the politics behind the West Lake "nuclear hot potato." Link to transcript: Byron DeLear interview transcript (with thanks to David Parker for providing it) Numnutz of the Week: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is taking recycling a wee bit too far as it proclaims plans to use radioactively contaminated soil from Fukushima in public construction projects. Hey, those lawn and garden bags haven't been worth anything in holding the nuclear garbage…! And In This Week's News: More than I have time to go into right now – but in 14 minutes, you'll know more about what's happening in the nuclear part of the world than any single politician running for President (…unless Bernie's been listening to the show…). The Missing Links: New scientific, peer-reviewed report on the West Lake Landfill, published in the Journal of Environmental Radiactiivity, shows hows radioactive contamination has migrated off-site. Dr. Ian Fairlie on radioactive Tritium in the water — and why it's not a good idea to try to boil it off, like TEPCO wants to do at Fukushima.National Geographic's (pre-Murdoch purchase) article: As Sea Levels Rise, Are Coastal Nuclear Plants Ready?The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases new Progressive Action Guides (PAGs) on "allowable" radioactivity in your food and water… and it's hardly progressive. ### NH #236: Nuclear Hotseat Numnutz of the Year - SPECIAL! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-236-numnutz-of-the-year-special/ Published: 2015-12-30 Nuclear Hotseat's Year-End Review:  A panoramic overview of 2015's nuclear issues seen through the lens of Numnutz of the Week: THRILL to the daredevils who tempt fate by chowing down on Fukushima-grown food! GASP at the audacity of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-baby as he continues to lie about Fukushima in order to protect the 2020 Radioactive Tokyo No-lympics! MARVEL as Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) makes the Fukushima workers it's killing with radiation more at home with locally sourced "hot" meals served in their new employee center! SHRIEK with laughter at the incomprehensible antics of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). GUFFAW at the wilde and wacky scientists, doctors and researchers who just can't figure out where all that cancer is coming from! …and MUCH MUCH MORE!  Culminating in… 2015 NUMNUTZ OF THE YEAR!  Listen here: [powerpress] ### NH #235: SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION: Sister Megan Rice, Peace Co-Activists Freed from Prison URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-234-special-encore-presentation-sister-megan-rice-peace-co-activists-freed-from-prison/ Published: 2015-12-23 Duration: 01:00:00 Special Encore Presentation: To celebrate the end-of-year holidays, a reminder from May of one of 2015's successes — the early release from prison of three brave peace activists who staged the 2012 peaceful protest against nuclear weapons at the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We'll hear from: Sister Megan Rice, the 85-year old nun, speaks at length about the peaceful 2012 Transform Now Plowshares protest action which resulted in her being charged with sabotage and sentenced to almost three years in prison. Recorded when she was newly out of prison pending a re-sentencing hearing. Also interviewed are her co-defendants Gregory Boertje-Obed, 60, and Michael Walli, 68, both of whom were sentenced to over five years in prison for their non-violent protest. (l-r) Gregory Boertje-Obed, Sister Megan Rice, Michael Walli Listen Here: [powerpress] The website for Sister Rice is: www.transformnowplowshares.wordpress.com Originally posted on May 26, 2015 as Nuclear Hotseat #205. ### NH #234: "Honorable Retreat f/Tokyo Olympics" - Ambassador Murata URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-234-honorable-retreat-ftokyo-olympics-ambassador-murata/ Published: 2015-12-16 Duration: 01:00:00 This week's featured interview: Mitsuhei Murata is a career diplomat and former Japanese Ambassador to Switzerland who has been very outspoken in his opposition to Japan's nuclear policies, especially since Fukushima began in 2011. Recently, his proposal that Japan should seek an "honorable retreat" from the 2020 Olympics because of Fukushima has been gathering international media attention. We learn about the man, how he came to his anti-nuclear position, and what led him to this very public strategy regarding Japan's intention to host the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Ambassador Murata's website: http://kurionet.web.fc2.com/murata.html Counterpunch article by Robert Hunziker featuring Ambassador Murata's comments on the Olympics: www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/14/fukushima-amplifies-murphys-law Numnutz of the Week: Radioactive rice grown in 2013 in Minami-Soma, declared "not guilty!" of any connection with Fukushima's leaking, radioactive triple-meltdown only 12 miles/20 km away — this according to Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) and the government discontinued the investigation. BUT – the people, the petition, the City Assembly are pushing back against the nuclear numnutz in power. Who wins? Stay tuned… This Week's News: West Lake Moms under Twitter assault by waste dump owner Republic Services' paid trolls while the EPA makes excuses ("The dog ate it!") for not taking control of WWII Manhattan Project nuclear waste and Superfund site.DUCK! and Cover Reactor Report features reactor cost overruns at Vogtle in GA, steam leak at Peach Bottom near Three Mile Island in PA.Indian Point 3 driving on expired license only 35 miles from Broadway; at least 10 protesters arrested. Demonstrations around the world in support of banning the India-Japan Nuclear Agreement. (For more information, go to: Nuclear Hotseat #231 – interview with Kumar Sundaram) …and much, much more! ### NH #233: Climate Change/Nuke Connection + Rainbow Warrior w/NZ'S Kevin Hester URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-233-climate-changenuke-connection-rainbow-warrior-wnzs-kevin-hester/ Published: 2015-12-09 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Kevin Hester was born in New Zealand and became involved in the early 1980’s in that country's environmental movement, which was heavily influenced by the anti-nuclear activities that resulted in having NZ declared nuclear-free. Here, he talks about the COP 21 cop-outs, the Climate Change/Nuclear Connection, his witnessing the Rainbow Warrior's destruction, and what the near term holds as everything continues to heat up. Numnutz of the Week: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Japan Atomic Power Company join forces to create… well, an admission of guilt and danger, as well as a product that makes no sense… not unlike nuclear itself. Links: "Nuclear Energy's COP 21 Dilemma: 100% Renewables Is Attainable" by Michael Mariotte"Is Gates' Breakthrough Energy Coalition' a Nuclear Spearhead?" by Linda Pentz Gunter ### NH #232: St. Louis/West Lake Update - Ed Smith, Dawn Chapman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-232-st-louiswest-lake-update-ed-smith-dawn-chapman/ Published: 2015-12-02 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Ed Smith, who is with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, explains the proposed legislation to put Federal supervision of the West Lake Landfill under the Army Corps of Engineers and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP.Dawn Chapman, a Mom who lives two miles from West Lake and Admins the West Lake Landfill Facebook site, on latest developments in the PR "divide and conquer" pushback from Republic Services. Numnutz of the Week: Japan opens an "environmental radiation center," a branch of the Fukushima Prefectural Center for Environmental Creation (emphasis added) in Minami-Soma. Expressed purpose? "(to) conduct more minute and precise radiation monitoring and release accurate data to the public to dispel the anxiety of Fukushima residents and negative publicity about radioactive contamination." In other words, it's not about science; it's planned for propaganda. Numnutz, indeed! This Week's News Includes: Nuke industry invades COP21 Climate Change summit in Paris suited up to promote the "nuclear is green" lie and try to stick the world with 1,000 more gigawatts of nuclear capacity… when they STILL don't know what to do with the eternally radioactive waste they've already got.Australia nuke saga – France ships its radwaste to Australia, which is moving to develop new nuclear waste storage facilities on sites nominated by landholders, which are being fought against by neighbors who don't want to lose their livelihood, and all if it is underscored by the Indigenous Aboriginal community pulls out of environmental demonstration because pro-nukers have been allowed to march in Sidney's Climate March.Tractor-trailor filled with radioactive hazmat suits from Three Mile Island crashes on Maryland highway near Hagerstown.Tennessee doesn't want new nuke landfill at the Oak Ridge facility, which is already a Superfund site because of contamination from WWII atomic bomb constuction.Japan – 11 new cases of thyroid cancer in young people in Fukushima as officials claim "no connection" with 2011 triple meltdown.…and more! Final Thought: A deeply felt apology. ### NH #231: India's Kumar Sundaram on India-Japan Nuclear Agreement + Fukushima Friends Hawaii URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-231-indias-anti-nuclear-gandhi-kumar-sundaram-on-india-japan-nuclear-agreement-fukushima-friends-hawaii/ Published: 2015-11-27 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interviews: Kumar Sundaram is a true firebrand of an international activist in India's fight against nuclear technology. Kumar is a Research Consultant with the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP). Right now, he's in the middle of a two-week trip to Japan, where he has been speaking to groups and rallys as large as 10,000 as he gatherers support against the planned India/Japan Nuclear Agreement. He joined us via Skype from Hiroshima on Sunday, November 22, during a break from the World Nuclear Victims Forum. Vicki Nelson lives in Hawaii and in 2012, after a trip to Fukushima, started the nonprofit Fukushima Friends, Inc. This program invites those living in the radiation to come to Hawaii to, as Vicki put it, "breathe fresh air, swim in the ocean and eat good food." Fukushima radiation refugees stay in people's homes for up to 3 months, or longer if the visas can be managed. She joined us via Skype from the Big Island of Hawaii, along with one of her homestay guests, Tokiko Noguchi, visiting from Fukushima with her 10-year-old son. The interpreter pressed into service for this interview, Kea Uehara, is a volunteer from a local school, and he did a terrific job on short notice despite not being trained as an interpreter or being familiar with nuclear issues. This interview originally aired on Nuclear Hotseat #207 on June 9, 2015. ### NH #230: St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare - Coldwater Creek, Cancer Clusters w/Karen Nickle URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-230-st-louis-nuclear-nightmare-coldwater-creek-wkaren-nickle/ Published: 2015-11-18 Duration: 00:56:58 THIS WEEK'S FEATURE INTERVIEW: Karen Nickle is a long time resident of the North St. Louis area who grew up close to Coldwater Creek, where a social media survey revealed a cancer cluster caused by Manhattan Project-era radioactive nuclear waste in the water. Since 2012, she has been involved in fighting for appropriate action to be taken to clean up the area and secure some kind of justice for local citizens. Along with Dawn Chapman, who was interviewed on Nuclear Hotseat #227, she is the Admin of the West Lake Landfill Facebook page. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: National Parks are supposed to be places to commemorate and rejoyce with thick forests, beautiful vistas, roaring waterfalls… and WWII Manhattan Project sites? I don't think Smokey would like this at all… LINK TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PETITION FOR COMMENTS BY NOVEMBER 18: CLICK HERE THIS WEEK'S NEWS: NY's Governor Andrew Cuomo comes out swinging against Indian Point, denies vital certification.COVER-UP – LA kid's camp found to be contaminated w/strontium 90, tritium… and 1997 report buried, covered-up, denied.DUCK!… and Cover Report: Pilgrim, Sequoyah, Palisades all in trouble …and more! ### NH #229: NIRS' Mary Olson on "Atomic Eggs" - Gender-Based Radiation Impact URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-229-nirs-mary-olson-on-atomic-eggs-gender-based-radiation-impact/ Published: 2015-11-11 Duration: 01:00:00 THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEW Mary Olson is Director of the Southeast Office for Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, on the impact of radiation and how it wrecks disproportionately greater havoc on females than males. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK What are they calling out at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, 76 times over? "Heeeeere, radioactive waste materials… Heeeeeeeeere, radioactive waste materials… Where the heck have those radioactive waste materials gone to now…?!?" WHAT'S IN THE NUCLEAR NEWS? President Obama calls nuclear summit to get creative on how to HELP more nuclear reactors get built. His official stance that nukes will "a way to combat climate change" fails to equate no carbon generation during operation (plenty in the mining, transporting, manufacturing, building and decommissioning processes) with the TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF DEADLY RADIOACTIVE WASTE!Las Vegas nuke waste dump explosion (excuse me – "energetic burning") and fire closes 140 miles of US Highway 95 while feds try to determine what caused it and whether radiation was released.US Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass) challenges Nuclear Regulatory Commission on how reactors will fare when confronted with extreme weather events.Based on two new reports from Japanese medical professionals and TEPCO, Fairewinds‘ Chief Engineer Arnie Gundersen believes between 100,000 and one-million more cases of cancer will hit the Japanese population in the coming years because of Fukushima Daiichi's radiation.Canada – Will new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sink the Lake Huron nuclear waste dump? Activists' fingers are crossed… LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Beyond Nuclear's report on Faustian Fission, the ongoing dangers of Davis-Besse in Ohio.Former Japanese Ambassador to Switzerland calls for the country to take an "honorable retreat" from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because of Fukushima undertainties.Hacking risks to Nuclear Power Plants – anonymous insiders reveal real problems in a new report from think-tank Chatham House. ### NH #228: West Lake Nuclear Political Hot Potato - Byron DeLear on Legal Issues, Mimi German on Radiation Monitoring URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-228-west-lake-nuclear-hot-potato-byron-delear-on-legal-issues-mimi-german-on-radiation-monitoring/ Published: 2015-11-04 Duration: 00:59:57 THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEWS: Byron DeLear lives within seven miles of the West Lake Landfill. He has been involved in clean energy issues as chairman and CEO of Energy Equity Funding. He is a columnist with Examiner.com, was founder of Global Peace Solution, and is currently running for state representative. We talked about the legal situation that makes West Lake ineligible for the federal FUSRAP clean-up program of Superfund sites — and how that might be turned around.Mimi German is the founder of RadCast, (Radcast.org) which helps citizen activists learn how to take accurate radiation readings, then compiles their data to figure out what's going on – radiologically speaking – wherever the EPA has fallen down on the job… which is just about everywhere. She can be contacted directly at: Info@Radcast.org. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Wanna know how to get around having verifiable radiation readings at a nuclear site? Don't hire anyone to do the job when your current staff leaves! Workers, we're not in Kansas any more, but the Wolf Creek nuclear reactor still is! THIS WEEK'S NEWS: Entergy announces upcoming closure of Fitzpatrick nuclear reactor in upstate New York when its tank runs empty, er, when it's time to refuel and they won't.Nevada nuke waste dump explosion and fire only 120 miles from Las Vegas and 21 from Nevada test site.EPA admits to shutting off 99 of its only 135 radiation monitors around the country. If you don't have any data, it can't be contested. Planned deniability?Explosion and fire at Doel nuclear reactors in Belgium near Antwerp.Fukushima radiation at record highs; exposure to deadly radioactivity could kill a person within one hour.…and more! ### NH #227: SPECIAL - St. Louis Nuclear Nightmare - West Lake Radioactive Waste Fire - Dr. Caldicott, Bob Alvarez, Dawn Chapman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-227-special-st-louis-nuclear-nightmare-west-lake-radioactive-waste-fire-dr-caldicott-bob-alvarez-dawn-chapman/ Published: 2015-10-27 Duration: 01:00:00 A full-length Nuclear Hotseat SPECIAL on the West Lake Landfill in North St. Louis – a Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste dump – and the encroaching underground fire less than a quarter mile away. FEATURED INTERVIEWS: The history of the West Lake Landfill nuclear waste with Bob Alvarez, who served as senior policy adviser to the Energy Department's secretary and deputy assistant secretary for national security and the environment from 1993 to 1999. He is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies and wrote the landmark November, 2013 report: The West Lake Landfill: A Radioactive Legacy of the Nuclear Arms Race.The medical consequences faced by those exposed to the West Lake radioactive waste with Dr. Helen Caldicott, arguably the single most articulate and passionate advocate of citizen action to remedy the nuclear and environmental crises in the world. A medical doctor and former instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, she co-founded Physicians for Social Responsibility – which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 – and was herself nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling. She is the author of Nuclear Power is Not the Answer.What it's like on the ground in the North St. Louis neighborhoods impacted by the radioactive waste with Dawn Chapman, a mother who lives less than two miles from the West Lake Landfill. She Admins the Facebook West Lake Landfill page. CALLS NEEDED – CONTACT INFORMATION: President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Please include your e-mail address Phone Numbers Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 Visitors Office: 202-456-2121 Twitter: @POTUS @POTUSPRESSPOOLSenator Roy Blunt United States Senate 260 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 201510 (202) 224-5721 Twitter: @RoyBlunt @RoyBluntMO @RoyBluntPressSenator Claire McCaskill United States Senate Hart Senate Office Building, Ste. 506 Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-6154 Twitter: @clairecmcCongresswoman Ann Wagner United States House of Representatives 435 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-1621 Twitter: @RepAnnWagnerCongressman William Lacy Clay United States House of Representatives 2418 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-2406 Twitter: @LacyClayMO1EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, William Jefferson Clinton Building mail code: 1101A 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Twitter: @EPAGina RADIATION AWARENESS PROTECTION TALK – RAPT The RAPT 6-Audio Series on Best Possible Ways to Safeguard Your Health from Nuclear Radiation (and Other Toxins) www.RAPTawareness.com ### NH #226: Pre- and Post-Shutdown Reactor Woes - Turco on Pilgrim, Gilmore, Headrick on San Onofre URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-226-pre-and-post-shutdown-reactor-woes-turco-on-pilgrim-gilmore-headrick-on-san-onofre/ Published: 2015-10-21 Duration: 01:00:00 THIS WEEK'S FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Diane Turco, one of the founders of Cape Cod Downwinders, discusses ongoing issues at the Pilgrim Nuclear facility in Massachusetts, which is going to be shut down… by the end of 2019.Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org explains what her research has shown about the dangers of the "thin" (tin can) dry casks chosen by utility operator Southern California Edison and the NRC to store San Onofre's deadly radioactive waste.Gary Headrick, c0-founder with his wife Laurie of San Clemente Green, an ecologically-focused group in southern California, looks at the kinds of manipulations the nuclear industry goes through to guarantee profits and negate citizen concerns once a nuclear cash cow reactor is forced to close. Gary discusses the latest rulings on "spent" fuel rods and fuel assembly storage at the San Onofre site, as decided by the California Coastal Commission just two weeks ago, on October 5. ### NH #225: UK Sellafield Radioactivity in Alaska? Sea-to-Land Radioactivity Dispersal w/Tim Deere Jones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-225-uk-sellafield-radioactivity-in-alaska-sea-to-land-radioactivity-dispersal-wtim-deere-jones/ Published: 2015-10-13 Duration: 01:00:00 THIS WEEK'S EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Tim Deere-Jones, an independent marine pollution consultant in the UK, explains how radiation from the UK's Sellafield ended up in the Arctic and Alaska, and applies sea-to-land dispersal patterns observed in England to Fukushima. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese propaganda at the Milan Food Expo touts Fukushima food as "safe!" — even as the country's own Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare  finds cesium contamination in 46 of 50 dried persimmons grown in Fukushima prefecture. THE WEEK'S NEWS INCLUDES: Entergy announces Massachusetts' Pilgrim nuclear plant to close!… but ya gotta wait until 2019! (Why can't they just put it out of its misery now?)St. Louis area schools start modern "duck and cover" shelter-in-place exercises for kids in light of Bridgeton/West Lake Landfill fire approaching illegally buried uranium-tainted waste.Thyroid cancer rates in Fukushima children and adolescents up to 50% higher than the rest of Japan;International researchers publish results of large study of nuclear workers that shows that even tiny doses slightly boost risk of leukemia.Nearly 2,000 people protest restart of Sendai nuclear reactor;Nobel Prize for Literature won by Russia's Svetlana Alexievich for Voices from Chernobyl. And seaweed — seaweed! — forces scram shutdown of Russia's Leningrad nuclear reactor.…and lots, lots more! ### NH #224: Dangers & Protests as USS Reagan Returns to Japan - Goto, Jahnkow URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-224-dangers-protests-as-uss-reagan-returns-to-japan-goto-jahnkow/ Published: 2015-10-07 Duration: 01:00:00 Interviews: Mr. Masahiko Goto, representing the Yokusuka-based anti-nuclear group, Coalition Concerning Homeporting of the Nuclear Powered Carrier Vessel, on activist opposition to the return of the USS Reagan to Japan;Carol Jahnkow, Director Emerita of Peace Resource Center of San Diego, on safety problems she learned about USS Reagan when it was homeported in San Diego after it returned from Fukushima. Filmmaker Spotlight: Marcus Schwenzel, director, writer and producer of "Seven Years of Winter," a short dramatic film shot in the exclusion zone at Chernobyl that has just won the Yellow Oscar for Best Film at the Int'l Uranium Film Festival. Numnutz of the Week: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo"Pinnochio" Abe-Baby claims "safety!" on Japan's second restart of a nuclear reactor, in Sendai, when there's an active volcano 31 miles (50 km) away, the country's in the earthquake-prone Ring of Fire, it's a typhoon zone and a tsunami zone — but hey, can't go all fascistic and militaristic w/o nukes, ya know? PLUS: Third Fukushima meltdown confirmed;Cesium 134 found in water supply in Tokyo and nine other Japanese cities;Drums of radwaste reported "bulged and hissing" at Y-12 in Oak Ridge, TN;and the largest Nuclear Regulatory DUCK! and Cover report ever, covering just one week's accidents at US nuclear facilities. Mercury sure is retrograde! ### NH #223: Anti-Nuclear Films Rock! Uranium Film Festival, "Man Who Saved the World" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-223-anti-nuclear-films-rock-norbert-suchanek-christian-bruun/ Published: 2015-09-30 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Norbert Suchanek, Director of the International Uranium Film Festival, reports from events in Berlin about the week's screenings and specific films, plus plans to bring the IUFF to Los Angeles next year. Countries represented by the 29 films include Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Macedonia, Spain, Denmark, Brazil, Poland, Austria, India, Ukraine, Ireland, Tajikstan, Australia and the United States.Christian Bruun, Executive Producer of "The Man Who Saved the World," talks about the nine years of shooting it took to capture the story of Stanislav Petrov, the Russian soldier in charge of the nuclear defense facility in 1983, who refused to issue launch codes despite computers showing five attack warheads coming at his country from the US. LISTEN HERE: [powerpress] NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: 2020 Olympics Heads-up for new sports baseball for men, softball for women, skateboard, sports climbing and surfing — all of which are proposed to take place in Fukushima Prefecture! ### NH #222: Radioactive Legacy of Rocky Flats w/Author Kristen Iversen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-222-radioactive-legacy-of-rocky-flats-wauthor-kristen-iversen/ Published: 2015-09-23 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Author Kristen Iversen on the history of the Manhattan Project and plutonium trigger manufacturing waste at Rocky Flats, which is about to open as a Colorado Wildlife Refuge <!>. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The New York Times goes in for hard core "hormesis" (no – Whore-YOU-sis) propaganda that completely undercuts its reputation as the "Great Gray Lady" of U.S. journalism and turns it into a shill for radiation deniers everywhere. IN THE NEWS: San Onofre secret meetings over waste and failed clean-up of the 1959 nuclear meltdown at the Los Angeles area Santa Susana Field Lab both subjects of major investigative reports by southern California mainstream media;NRC DUCK! and Cover Report: Five US nuclear reactors have NRC-level "unusual" events – isn't that the definition of "usual?"US Senator petitions Secretary of State John Kerry to intervene with our deadly international neighbor to the north – Canada – to prevent to construction of the nuclear waste storage facility within one mile of the shores of Lake Huron;And no, the enormous wolf fish caught in Japan is not the result of radioactivity and mutation – it's just a big ol' ugly fish. NOT a Fukushima mutation. Neither is the fish. ### NH #221: FUKUSHIMA CONTAMINATION In Ocean, Biosphere w/Mary Beth Brangan on Mousseau, Buessler Info URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-221-fukushima-contamination-in-ocean-biosphere-wmary-beth-brangan-on-mousseau-buessler-info/ Published: 2015-09-16 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Mary Beth Brangan of Ecological Options Network (EON3) reports on the recent California event she helped to produce: FUKUSHIMA CONTAMINATION In the Ocean and in the Biosphere with scientists Timothy Mousseau on mutations at Chernobyl and Fukushima, and Ken Buessler of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on radiation testing of the Pacific Ocean and seafood. Knockout information! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: What to do with former plutonium contaminated nuke sites? Why, if you're Rocky Flats in Colorado, just turn it into a nature preserve! And no, that's not meant to be ironic! (NOTE: Next week's show, #222, features an exclusive interview with author Kristen Iversen on exactly how numnutz this idea really is.) THE WEEK'S NUCLEAR NEWS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE: NRC terminates study of cancer rates near nuclear reactors as "too expensive" and "takes too long" – what don't they want us to know?TEPCO releases first batch of radioactive Fukushima groundwater into Pacific Ocean.Highest level of radioactive Strontium 90 in recorded history detected in seawater of Fukushima plant port – 1,000,000 Bq/m3Flooding from Tropical Storm Etau washes away over 80 bags of Fukushima decontaminated dirt and debris back into the environment. ### NH #220: Journalism's Epic Nuclear Fail - Reporter Susannah Frame, Prof. Celine-Marie Pascale URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-220-journalisms-epic-nuclear-fail-reporter-susannah-frame-prof-celine-marie-pascale/ Published: 2015-09-10 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Susannah Frame, award-winning investigative reporter for KING 5 (NBC Seattle) on her two years of investigations into the Hanford site.Prof/Dr Celine-Marie Pascale on mainstream media's epic fail re: Fukushima coverage. Do-it-yourself media, Social Media Supertips, w/Dave Parrish. http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/NH220-JournalismSpecial.mp3 ### NH #219 - Investigative Reporter Paul DiRienzo on WCS, WIPP, Three Mile Island URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/paul-dirienzo/ Published: 2015-09-03 Duration: 01:00:00 Featured Interview: Investigative journalist Paul DeRienzo reveals the political manipulations, intimidation tactics and loose-and-fast burying of nuclear waste at WCS in West Texas, along with personal recollections of growing up the son of the man who designed both Hanford in Washington state and Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected its own task force's recommendations and has decided to allow the nuclear industry to privately self-police its voluntary plans for coping with a core-melt accident. Fox in charge of the Nuclear Henhouse yet again! SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTIPS FOR ACTIVISTS: Dave Parrish offers SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTIPS #7 – decoding and using Google Plus. THIS WEEK'S NEWS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE: Fukushima waste detected along the southern California coast…again;Baby seals in Pacific Ocean dying of leukemia-linked disorder;And a nuke-powered airplane – what could go wrong?…and much more! ### NH #218: Inadvertent Radiation Special - Uranium in Midwest Aquifers and Drinking Water - Interview w/Karen Hadden URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/inadvertent-radiation-special-uranium-in-midwest-aquifers-and-drinking-water-interview-wkaren-hadden/ Published: 2015-08-26 This Week's Featured Interview: Karen Hadden, executive director of the Sustainabe energy and Economic Develoopment Coalition, or SEED Coalition environmental watchdog group based in Texas, on the discovery of high levels of uranium in U.S. aquifers that provide drinking water to six million Midwesterners. Listen Here: [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week: Kids – don't try this at home!  Israeli scientist Prof. Brend Laster believes in the flawed, ludicrous hormesis theory – which claims that radiation is actually **GOOD** for you!!! – has been injecting herself with radiation as a "vaccination" against radioactive fallout!  (I guess that $500,000 grant – from whom?!? — in 2010 helped persuade her as well.) ### NH #217 - Ian Fairlie on Linear No Threshold Radiation Measurements vs. Radiation Deniers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ian-fairlie-lnt-vs-radiatio-deniers/ Published: 2015-08-19 This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Ian Fairlie is an independent consultant on radiation risks and a former scientific secretary to the UK government’s Committee Examining Radiation Risks from Internal Emitters.  www.IanFairlie.org http://chayallc.com/nuclear/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NH-217-August-18-2015-FINAL-NEW-Ian-Fairlie-LNT-vs.-Radiatio-Deniers.mp3 [powerpress] Numnutz of the Week UK Sellafield former engineer brews up a devil of a commemoration for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  HINT:  He must have been "bombed" when he dreamed this one up! ### NH #216 - Organizations Psychosis and the Nuke Gang w/Dr. Lloyd C. Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/dr-lloyd-c-williams-redux/ Published: 2015-08-12 Featured Interview: Dr. Lloyd C. Williams, an organizational psychologist, coach and management consultant to Fortune 100-level companies. Dr. Williams coined the term "organizational psychosis," and considering how often we see crazy behavior by governments and corporations involved with nuclear, what he has to say goes a long way towards explaining in clinical terms not only the problem we face with institutionalized pro-nuclear behaviors, but how we as a movement might strategize to turn this nuclear stance around. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The White House approves the EPA's "new, improved radiation limits in water!" Way to go, EPA's Gina "never met a nuke I didn't love enough to cover for" McCarthy! SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTRICKS FOR ACTIVISTS: Dave Parrish of Operation: Save the Earth is back with SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTRICKS #4: Twitter! NUCLEAR NEWS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE: Chernobyl forest fires release more radiation;Japan restarts Sendai nuclear reactor despite protests and a nearby active volcano;Pacific Ocean in even worse condition than we feared – w/a Nuclear Hotseat Special Correspondent Report.…and lots, lots more! ### NH #215: Student PSR's Michelle Gin on Millennial Activists URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/michelle-gin-millennial-activists/ Published: 2015-08-04 LISTEN HERE: http://chayallc.com/nuclear/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NH-215-Aug.-3-2015-FINAL-NEW-Michelle-Gin-Millennial-Activists.mp3 INTERVIEW: Michelle Gin, Program Coordinator for Student Physicians for Social Responsibility, who holds an MA in Public Health.  She talks on student anti-nuke organizing around the world and what it will take to attract Millennials to the anti-nuclear movement. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: A floating nuclear reactor based on the technology used for oil drilling platforms – what could go wrong? SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTRICKS FOR ACTIVISTS: Dave Parrish of Operation: Save the Earth provides  Nuclear Hotseat's exclusive SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTRICKS #3: Facebook – it's more than a time-sucking distraction. THE WEEK'S NUCLEAR NEWS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE: RADIOACTIVE FOOD FIGHT CONTINUES!  Japanese companies in Taiwan Fukushima food scandal banned from importing from Japan. Three former Tokyo Electric Power Company executives indicted over the March 2011 nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Arizona Downwinders affected by nuclear tests would be compensated by new bill. Planned March 2016 reopening of WIPP, the underground nuclear waste dump in New Mexico, indefinitely delayed. Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemorations. …and much more! ### NH #214: Churchrock & Uranium-Contaminated Native Lands in SW USA w/Leona Morgan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-214-church-rock-and-uranium-contaminated-native-lands-wleona-morgan/ Published: 2015-07-29 INTERVIEWS: Leona Morgan of Diné No Nukes is a Diné ("Navajo") advocate for clean water, focused on protecting her people and the land from new uranium mining and nuclear developments in the Southwest, specifically around Navajo Nation plus lands within the Diné Four Sacred Mountains. She explains the massive Churchrock uranium spill of 1979 and shares breaking news of radiation contamination of drinking water in Arizona, along with anti-nuclear actions being taken by indigenous people around the world. Leona Morgan (r) and Libbe HaLevy at the 2015 Uranium Film Festival in Quebec City Link to movie, "The River yhat Harms" about the Churchrock spill. Mutated lamb born without wool on uranium-contaminated native lands in New Mexico, near where the Church Rock spill took place. Photo courtesy Red Water Pond Road, via Diné No Nukes. Diane D'Arrigo of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) on the current Petition in front of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to change radiation evaluation standards from current linear no-threshold to the false science of hormesis (no – whore-YOU-sis) which tries to fool people into believing that "radiation is GOOD for you!" Comments are needed before September 8 on the NRC website. HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT: Go to: Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov In the subject line, make certain to include the ID number: NRC-2015-0057-0010 OR – Go directly to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=NRC-2015-0057-0010 CLICK on the "Comment Now" button. Then give the NRC a piece of your mind. You don't have to make it fancy; they count number of responses more than the content. MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD NOW! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK Ah, PBS – did you really have to sell your soul in order to keep your funding? Why else would Nova not do the research necessary to provide a Murrow-quality exploration of Fukushima instead of repeating the pro-nuke party lie/line covering up its real and ongoing impact? More propaganda to overcome. Sigh… PLUS: Japan pushing to restart Sendai nuclear reactor within weeks, despite thousands of protestors.Lots more! ### NH #213: South Africa's "Radioactive Gold" w/Mariette Liefferink URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-213-south-africas-radioactive-gold-wmariette-liefferink/ Published: 2015-07-22 DOWNLOAD HERE INTERVIEW: South African environmental activist Mariette Liefferink, CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, widely recognized as the most prominent of the environmental activist stakeholders in the mining industry.   She reveals the truth of South Africa's "radioactive gold" – the connection between gold mining and uranium pollution in the country.  Plus, she shares advance word of the upcoming November conference in Johannesburg on The Nuclearisation of Africa. Mariette Liefferink and one small reason she does the work that she does. NEW FEATURE: SOCIAL MEDIA SUPERTRICKS FOR ACTIVISTS Social media expert Dave Parrish, founder of Operation: Save the Earth and host of Fuku Friday Happy Hour Hangouts, kicks off a series of tips and tricks for anti-nuclear activists to "up" our online game. Why we need to it, what to do and how to do it – all in weekly bite-sized pieces. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK:   But if you're going to promote Fukushima beer made out of buckwheat grown in the evacuation zone, it should at least contain enough alcohol that you can get drunk and blot out awareness of the radiation risk you're taking by drinking it! PLUS:  Much more to come! ### NH #212: UN/WHO Chernobyl Lies Exposed - Alison Katz, Independent WHO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-212-unwho-chernobyl-lies-exposed-alison-katz-independent-who/ Published: 2015-07-14 Duration: 01:00:00 FULL-LENGTH INTERVIEW: Alison Katz is a sociologist and psychologist who worked inside the World Health Organization (WHO) for 18 years. Now a leader within Independent WHO, an organization dedicated to revealing the lies and coverups perpetrated by WHO, Alison dissects the history, politics and manipulations of the United Nations agency we're supposed to be able to trust to safeguard the world's health – especially in nuclear matters. Special focus on Chernobyl and how the WHO worked to diminish our awareness of this nuclear disaster's true impact on the world's health. This is a Nuclear Hotseat Exclusive and an Encore Presentation. (Originally broadcast on September 17, 2013.) Independent WHO vigil in front of World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland – 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 years. ### NH #211: UN's Fukushima Radiation Lies Exposed - IPPNW's Dr. Alex Rosen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-211-uns-fukushima-radiation-lies-exposed-ippnws-dr-alex-rosen/ Published: 2015-07-07 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, who takes on and eviscerates the United Nations’ UNSCEAR report that criminally underplays the radiation dangers from Fukushima; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; www.ippnw.orgEpidemiologist Joseph Mangano, executive director of Radiation and Public Health Project, who explains why TEPCO’s interpretation of radiation data is intentionally wrong as the company tries to undermine legitimate claims of damages to the health of the USS Ronald Reagan sailors, who were hit with catastrophic radiation while on an humanitarian aid mission in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima. www.Radiation.org. LINKS TO IPPNW’S CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF UNSCEAR REPORT: IPPNW – English: Link to downloadable PDF: http://www.fukushima-disaster.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/english/Akzente_Unscear2014.pdf IPPNW – Germany: www.ippnw.de IPPNW Germany’s Fukushima Website w/link to downloadable PDF: www.fukushima-disaster.de Japanese version of Critical Analysis of UNSCEAR report – WHO (世界保健機関)の「2011年東日本大地震津波後の原発事故がもたらす被曝線量の仮算定」フクシマ大災害リポート：アレックスローゼン博士による分析の 日本語版はこちらをクリックして下さい。: http://fukushimavoice2.blogspot.com/2014/06/psrippnw-unscear.html TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEW W/DR. ALEX ROSEN English version – Interview Transcript: Dr. Alex Rosen – Interview Transcript – English German version: IPPNW report on UNSCEAR/Fukushima – German ### NH #210: Vt. Yankee Dry Cask Lies & Looney Tunes w/Donna Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-210-vt-yankee-dry-cask-lies-looney-tunes-wdonna-gilmore/ Published: 2015-07-01 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org gives lie to dry cask manufacturerer Holtec's presentation to Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel regarding long term storage of the plutonium-contaminated nuclear waste at the now-defunct Vt. Yankee Nuclear Reactor. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: I guess that, according to the Pentagon's new tome, The Laws of War, I‘m a Belligerent Journalist of Unprivileged Persuasion — who knew? PLUS: New forest fires near Chernobyl exclusion zone Illinois nuke reactor almost hit by tornadoSouth Korea/Japan food fight continues as South Korea tells World Trade Organization it has a right to protect its citizens from the radiation dangers of Fukushima food;Pope's encyclical on climate change gives heart and voice to anti-nuke religious denominations around the worldNew poll finds that when it comes to storage of nuclear waste, even Tea Party members go full NIMBY – are you surprised? Can you blame them? Photo credit courtesy Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament – cnduk.org ### NH #209: Swiss IPPNW's Urs Ruegg + TPP Update w/Adam Weissman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-209-ippnws-urs-ruegg-tpp-update-wadam-weissman/ Published: 2015-06-24 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Urs Ruegg of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in Switzerland on that country's nuclear problems and IPPNW's upcoming Nuclearization of Africa Symposium in South Africa.Adam Weissman of Global Justice for Animals and the Environment gives us an update on the Senate's approval of Fast Track for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) – not a good thing. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Head of France's nuclear watchdog group tells the truth about problems with EDF's new nuke in Normandy – the nerve! PLUS: Sister Megan Rice, 85-year-old anti-nuclear nun, not to be re-tried by US government on sabotage charges – she's free except for some formalities!Pope Francis' Encyclical on Climate Change comes out against nuclear issues, skirts reactors. You can Tweet him your thoughts – @Pontifex is his Twitter handle.Nuclear Regulatory Commission agrees w/international study that shows any exposure of the eyes to radiation can increase the possibility of cataracts, but ignores all the other health implications put forth by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Japan approves 40-year Fukushima clean-up plan despite not knowing where the melted fuel is, if it can even be removed and, if so, what it will take, plus needing to invent and build all the proper decontamination equipment from scratch. 40 years just kicks the can down the road. ### NH #208: 4th Anniversary! + Erica Gray on North Anna High Burn-Up Fuel Storage Test, & Diane Turco on Cape Cod Pilgrim Protest March URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-208-4th-anniversary-erica-gray-on-north-anna-high-burn-up-fuel-storage-test-diane-turco-on-cape-cod-pilgrim-protest-march/ Published: 2015-06-17 Duration: 01:00:00 4TH ANNIVERSARY! NUCLEAR HOTSEAT NOW HEARD IN 58 COUNTRIES* ON 6 CONTINENTS! FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Erica Gray, Nuclear Issues Chair for the Virginia Sierra Club, reveals details of Dominion Power's plans to experiment with dry cask storage of high burn-up nuclear fuel at North Anna in Virginia, which was 11 miles from the epicenter of the 5.8 east coast earthquake in 2011.Diane Turco, co-founder of Cape Cod Downwinders, reports from the four-day protest March for All Children, which brought attention to safety issues and the state's lack of an effective emergency plan for those in a 50-mile radius of the Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station. March ended today (June 16) at the Massachusetts state house with a speech by former Governor Michael Dukakis. 4TH ANNIVERSARY! – NUCLEAR HOTSEAT NOW HEARD IN 58 COUNTRIES* ON 6 CONTINENTS! Countries Where Nuclear Hotseat was Heard – May, 2015 Excerpts from Nuclear Hotseat #1How we grew from a conference call to an international phenomenonWhere we're going – if you see it, you can be it!*List of countries will be posted as soon as I figure out how to do it… NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: I don't care how you decide to spin it, there ain't no way nuclear reactors will ever be "aesthetically pleasing." Even in England. Even if that's what Amber Rudd, the new UK Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, has made as one of her priorities. PLUS: High alpha radiation in Los AngelesUS government emergency preparedness contractor calls Fukushima so fragile that at any moment it could "turn globally catastrophic";Canada delays its approval of $1B nuke waste dump on shores of Lake Huron until after its elections – wouldn't want to upset the results, now would we?Radiation Monitoring Project, national initiative to establish monitoring of radioactivity in communities contaminated by the nuclear fuel chain: www.dinenonukes.org. ### NH #207: Fukushima Kids & Moms Escaping Radiation - Hawaii's Fukushima Friends and Japan's Komoro Homestay URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-207-fukushima-kids-moms-escaping-radiation-hawaiis-fukushima-friends-and-japans-komoro-homestay/ Published: 2015-06-10 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Vicki Nelson, founder of the Hawaii-based nonprofit, Fukushima Friends, Inc., a program that puts Fukushima radiation refugees in people's homes for a stay of up to 3 months or longer, if the visas can be managed. Tokiko Noguchi, participating in the program, came from Fukushima with her 10-year-old son, Michael. She speaks through volunteer interpreter Kea Uehara. Her Japanese-language website is: www.aaa3a.jp. Care Your Food by 281_Anti nuke Laura and Gichi Inoue run Komoro Homestay, a safe retreat in southwest Japan for Fukushima mothers and small children needing relief from the radiation in their homes and communities. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Fukushima artisanal saki earns 22 Grand Prizes at annual competition. Made with loving care and locally grown rice from fields near the blazingly radioactive nuclear reactor ruins. Best drunk in great quantities by those who made it to help them forget the radiologic nightmare that surrounds them. PLUS: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) admits record radiation spike in port water from Fukushima Daiichi leak.Japanese government gets pushback for plan to end rent subsidies for some Fukushima evacuees/refugees.Japan plans nuke restarts despite severe volcanic activity less than 50 miles from reactor site.The pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) releases report that Japan's overconfidence regarding the safety of its nuclear power plants was a major reason behind the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.AND – Japan plans for nukes to supply 20-22% of all electricity in the country by 2030. What's wrong with this picture? ### NH #206: Don Hancock WIPP Update, Voices f/Japan - Idogawa, Muto URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-205-don-hancock-wipp-update-voices-fjapan-idogawa-muto/ Published: 2015-06-03 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Don Hancock is Executive Director of the Southwest Information and Research Center, a nuclear watchdog group headquartered in Albuquerque, NM. Don, a Nuclear Hotseat regular, brings us up to date on the ongoing aftermath of the February 14, 2014 container explosion and radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP site) in Carlsbad, NM. Voices from Japan features two encore interviews from Nuclear Hotseat #142 – Fukushima Third Anniversary: Katsutaka Idogawa, the former mayor of Futaba, one of two cities that hosted the Fukushima nuclear power plant, has brought suit against the Japanese central government and TEPCO for damages to his health. He personally led members of his village to safety immediately after the nuclear disaster began and has suffered health difficulties ever since. Former Mayor of Futuba, Katsutaka Idogawa Ruiko Muto, a veteran Japanese anti-nuclear activist, leads a coalition of 20,000 in suing the government and TEPCO for an apology… and compensation. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Does TEPCO really think that a new, fun community/rec center at the wreck of Fukushima Daiichi will cheer workers… especially when they realize that their radiation exposure limits will be raised 150% as of 2016? The company's expectation of the satisfaction and comfort of a hot meal and good conversation between workers will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the exponential increase in cancer rates. PLUS: Kyushu Electric Power Company announced planned restart of Sendai nuke reactors, then four days later announces its delay. Might this have anything to do with the recent 8.5 earthquake and volcanic eruption in the area?FOOD FIGHT CONTINUES! Japan takes trade restrictions by South Korea against their food to the World Trade Organization, threatens to do the same to Taiwan. All they're trying to do is protect against importation of radioactive food, dude – what's the big deal?Waste Control Specialists (WCS) in Andrews, Texas, wants to store all the high level nuclear waste this country can provide, despite being subject to tornadoes and the recent biblical-intensity floods. Even worse, they're turning over the design and development of their site to Areva, the bankrupt French nuclear former giant, with its penchant for thin canisters for dry cask storage and wobbly financial future.…and more! ### NH #205: SPECIAL- Sister Megan Rice, Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli - Transform Now Plowshares: The Interviews URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-205-special-sister-megan-rice-greg-boertje-obed-michael-walli-transform-now-plowshares/ Published: 2015-05-27 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: SPECIAL: Newly freed 85-year old nun, Sister Megan Rice, speaks at length about the peaceful 2012 Transform Now Plowshares protest action against the Y-12 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which resulted in her being charged with sabotage and sentenced to almost three years in prison. Now out of prison pending a re-sentencing hearing, she and co-defendants Gregory Boertje-Obed, 60, and Michael Walli, 68, both of whom were sentenced to over five years in prison, speak at length with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy on what they did, why they did it, what they faced as a result, and what's next. It's not over yet. Stunning information from three genuine heroes of our movement in three separate interviews – a full-length Nuclear Hotseat Exclusive! LINKS to the Transform Now Plowshares statement and Indictment of Oak Ridge for War Crimes that was drawn up by these three brave activists and read at the Y-12 site. For more information on the work of these fine peace activists and to donate, go to: www.transformplowshares.wordpress.com Photo Credit: Dan Zak, by his permission. ### NH #204: NPT w/Alice Slater; Exelon's Kutzpah w/NEIS' Dave Kraft; UCY.TV's Jules Cook on New Fukushima Video Database URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-204-npt-walice-slater-entergy-kutzpah-wneis-dave-kraft-ucy-tvs-jules-cook/ Published: 2015-05-20 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Alice Slater of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation brings us up to date on the UN's Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference;Dave Kraft of NEIS in Chicago eviscerates Exelon‘s attempts to strongarm a bankrupt Illinois into a $1.6 Billion bailout;Jules Cook of UCY.TV unveils a new archive of mainstream media's TV coverage of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster since March 11, 2011. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Two for the Price of One! IAEA thinks it's perfectly swell for TEPCO to solve their water storage problems by dumping radioactive water directly into the Pacific <!>; and…TEPCO thinks it's perfectly swell to take the dust cover off Fukushima Unit 1 at the exact same time that RICE INTENDED FOR SALE is being planted in the evacuation zone; and RICE INTENDED FOR SALE IS BEING GROWN IN THE EVACUATION ZONE! It's raining numnutz out there in nuke-land… PLUS: 85-year-old Sister Megan Rice, Michael Walli and Gregory Boertje-Obed released from prison! 85-year-old Sister Megan Rice gets greeted upon her release from federal prison 18 more thyroid cancer cases found in Fukushima young people;The UK takes steps to guard nuke facilities against invasion by the terrorist hordes… of jellyfish. ### NH #203: Post-Fukushima Media Manipulation w/Prof. Celine-Marie Pascale URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-203-post-fukushima-media-manipulation-wprof-celine-marie-pascale/ Published: 2015-05-13 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Dr. Celine-Marie Pascale, Professor of Sociology and Affiliate Professor for the School of Communication at American University in Washington, D.C. She researched mainstream media coverage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster that shows the bias that those of us in this movement always said was there — and she's got the data to prove it! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Could anything be numnutzier than Canada approving creation of a nuclear waste dump less than 3/4 of a mile from the shores of Lake Huron? PLUS: 85-year-old Sister Megan Rice‘s sabotage conviction overturned by Federal court! Ruling also covers co-defendants 66-year-old Michael Walli and 59-year-old Greg Boertje-Obed.Transformer explosion and fire at Indian Point nuclear reactor in New York, only 40 miles from Manhattan!Radon releases from uranium mine near native lands in southwest Utah!"Significant" amounts of Fukushima radiation detected in Pacific ocean off the coast of north America!Radiation from Chernobyl forest fire found in plume that hits US west coast!Too many exclamation marks in this write-up! Mork from Ork (Robin Williams) learns the truth about nuclear radiation on Earth ### NH #202: PSR's Nukebusters Film Competition + Boone Dam Leaks: Nuke Danger? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-202-prs-film-competition-boone-dam-leaks-nuke-danger/ Published: 2015-05-06 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Lou Zeller, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, on the nuclear reactors downstream of the leaking, sinkhole'ed Boone Dam in Tennessee.Jim Hopson, Manager of Public Relations for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), on current status of Boone Dam.Physicians for Social Responsibility's Christine Herrmann and Martin Fleck on PSR's Nukebusters Film Competition – with cash prizes of up to $5,000 for 1-4 minute films! (Click on logo below.) NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: When is a financial slap on the wrist really an investment in infrastructure? When the Enviromental Protection Agency, New Mexico's Governor Susana Martinez and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP site) in Carlsbad come together! Nothing like a radiological accident at a nuclear facility to spark more interest in developing a new nuclear facility! PLUS: Chernobyl forest fire in the exclusion zone out, but radiation carried by smoke, wind lands throughout Eastern Europe… and probably the rest of the world as well.As Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations meets in New York, global activists present 8 million petitions demanding a world free of nuclear weapons.Food fight! Japan challenges Taiwan – how DARE they propose radiation food safety legislation!TEPCO admits Fukushima radioactive water leak now over 600x "safe" level – and it's going into the Pacific. www.psr.org/nuclear-weapons/nukebusters-short-film-contest.html ### NH #201: Chernobyl Anniversary Special URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-201-chernobyl-anniversary-special/ Published: 2015-04-28 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE This week, we commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine with a Nuclear Hotseat Special.  You'll hear from: Chernobyl survivor Bonnie Kouneva, a teenager in Bulgaria when the accident began, on the impact to her and her not-yet-born children; First picture taken of Chernobyl only 14 hours after the explosion and fire of April 26, 1986. The fogging is caused by the radiation, measured at over 1,500 rems. Dr. Janette Sherman, well known for her work with statistician Joseph Mangano on analyses of data after Fukushima that indicate a spike in US infant mortality and hypothyroidism.  She also edited the English edition of Dr. Alexey Yablokov's groundbreaking book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment; A brief interview w/Dr. Alexey Yablokov from Dr. Helen Caldicott's 2013 Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Impact of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster; The new sarcophagus, intended to encase the radioactive remains of Chernobyl for another 100 years, remains unfinished and $625 million (US) short on funds, caught between Russia and Ukraine in the recent political tensions and fighting. Voices from Japan makes the Chernobyl/Fukushima connection personal with a message from Ryuichi Hirokawa, a Japanese journalist who was the first non-Soviet photo journalist allowed at Chernobyl and began working at Fukushima the day after the disaster began.  He currently works with children and families through the Incorporated NPO Okinawa Kumi No Sato. ### NH #200! - QUEBEC SPECIAL: World Uranium Symposium & Uranium Film Festival URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-200-quebec-special-world-uranium-symposium-uranium-film-festival/ Published: 2015-04-22 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE SPECIAL REPORT NUCLEAR HOTSEAT EXCLUSIVE!  QUEBEC CITY — The world's perception of nuclear issues shifted in mid-April in Quebec at the World Uranium Symposium and the Uranium Film Festival.  More than 300 participants from five continents, 20 countries – including South Africa, Mongolia, Australia, India, Mali, Cameroon, Greenland, Germany, and Japan – and more than 50 films from around the world came together to focus international attention on uranium issues.  Why uranium?  Because all things nuclear start with a shovel!  April 14-16, the World Uranium Symposium made international news by issuing a jointly created Declaration of the World Uranium Symposium 2015.  This is HISTORIC, as for the first time our entire platform and position has been spelled out for all to read in a single document.  READ IT AND SIGN HERE  Interviews with more than 20 activists, world experts, filmmakers and actors Focus on Indigenous People's rights and the need to protect their lands and health from uranium mining. URANIUM FILM FESTIVAL More than 50 films from around the world on every aspect of the nuclear/uranium issue. Gala Red Carpet Opening including performances by Cirque du Soleil.  Libbe HaLevy gets steampunked by Cirque du Soleil at the Uranium Film Festival Special appearance by Hollywood favorite Ed Begley, Jr. Reviews of films and interviews with filmmakers and cast. AND IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN… June 14, 2011 to April 21, 2015 = 200 episodes of Nuclear Hotseat! ### NH #199: Feds Approve Grand Canyon Uranium Mining! - Gitlin, Bahr, Tapp URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-199-grand-canyon-uranium-mining-update-gitlin-bahr-tapp/ Published: 2015-04-15 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Alicyn Gitlin, who coordinates the Campaign to Restore and Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Ecoregion for the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter. She is joined by:Sandy Bahr, who is Chapter Director for the Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club.Anne Mariah Tapp, Energy Program Director of the Grand Canyon Trust. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: More Food News from Fukushima! (Might that be a new feature?) This week: "Award-winning" tap water from Fukushima. CAUTION: this story could hurt you from busting a gut laughing. PLUS: Derelict boat from Fukushima found off Oregon coast… but it's not the first or even the largest piece of debris found in US waters since the disaster began.US NRC okays High Burn-Up Fuel for Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio. SEE: Donna Gilmore's assessment of HBF's dangers at: www.SanOnofreSafety.orgLast week's Numnutz gets even numnutzier as Milan Expo 2015 subject to corruption, scandal, police investigation, arrests and jailings – and that's not even based upon whatever "business" they did w/Japan!TEPCO robot in Fukushima Unit 1 burns out after moving only 10 meters. No word on what data, if any, it was able to collect.Education just became more dangerous as Japan opens new high school in evacuation zone.…and much much more! LINKS: The Real Nuclear Threat by Robert KoehlerTimothy Mousseau's "Current Research which Contradicts the Pro-Hormesis Propaganda of the United States Department of Energy"Keith Baverstock's explanation of how the IAEA and WHO rigged the numbers at Chernobyl… which of course means they're using the exact same strategy for Fukushima. ### NH #198: Dr. Ian Fairlie, Childhood Leukemia Near Nuclear Reactors URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-198-dr-ian-fairlie-childhood-leukemia-near-nuclear-reactors/ Published: 2015-04-08 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Dr. Ian Fairlie, author of a 2014 study that correlated more than 60 studies about health risks to small children living within 5 kilometers – 3 miles – of nuclear reactors. Important information that needs to be deployed in any battle against nuclear reactors. An encore presentation from Nuclear Hotseat #162. Dr. Ian Fairlie NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan keeps trying to convince the world that Fukushima food is really safe to eat (even as Taiwan finds food imports from Japan mislabeled to hide the Fukushima sourcing!). Now, they've announced plans to keep the con going at Milan Expo 2015, where they'll hold Japan Day to continue promoting Fukushima food as mmm mmm good! All part of the ongoing, planned propaganda campaign so that by 2020, Tokyo Olympics tourists will have no qualms about chowing down and exposing themselves to internal radiation. Mmm mmm bad! Epidemiological study of Radioactive Olympics survivors to follow…? PLUS: More TEPCO admissions that they haven't a clue about how to clean up the hot mess at Fukushima…But that doesn't stop Prime Minister Abe-baby's Labor Democratic Party from pushing to restart Japan's 43 remaining nuclear reactors;Evacuees now allowed to stay overnight in Naraha Town in Fukushima Prefecture despite high radiation levels, but former residents of Minami-Soma are suing the government for lifting evacuation advisories in their town, citing high radiation levels;Woods Hole announces Fukushima radiation in ocean off British Columbia, but seems to forget there's been radiation and hot particles in North America since eight days after Fukushima began (see: Fairewinds Energy Education video on hot particles);NRC calls Alert (second of four levels of warning) at Limerick Nuclear Generating Station near Philadelphia after fire impacts emergency cooling system;UK changes law so nuke waste sites can be forced on local communities;"Anomalies" leading to "lower than expected mechanical toughness values" — meaning flaws in the fricking nuclear reactor vessel head — found in French reactor in Flamanville, 231 miles from Paris and across the English Channel from Weymouth. LINK: Three years ago, Fairewinds was one of the first organizations to talk about “hot particles” that are scattered all over Japan and North America’s west coast. In this video, Fairewinds' Arnie Gundersen introduces Marco Kaltofen, who discusses the hottest hot particle he has ever found — more than 300 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi site. Arnie Gundersen provides a brief introduction and summary to the video. Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gunderson w/Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host, Libbe HaLevy ### NH #197: Post-Fukushima W. Coast Birth Defects w/Dr. Janette Sherman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-197-post-fukushima-w-coast-birth-defects-wdr-janette-sherman/ Published: 2015-04-01 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Dr. Janette Sherman of Radiation and Public Health Project on her recent study (with epidemiologist Joseph Mangano) showing an increase in congenital birth defects in west coast infants in the eight months after Fukushima. Full report available at: JanetteSherman.com or Radiation.org Kimberly Roberson of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network on Bequerel Awareness Day and why anti-nuclear activists need to help stop the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). SPECIAL APRIL FOOLS BLOOPER REEL: Outtakes edited from Libbe HaLevy, guests, Munchkin the anti-nuclear dog, and other guest canines. Microphone pointing in the wrong direction, mispronunciations, and more uhs, uhms and stutters than you can possibly imagine. Enjoy! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe-baby has his own "Define what ‘is' is" moment: his admission that he decided to lie to the International Olympic Committee about the situation at Fukushima so he could land the 2020 Olympics for Tokyo. He saw it as his job. I'm sure Hitler did, too. Japanese PM Shinzo "Pinnochio" Abe-Baby waxes poetic on how the leaks at Fukushima are "under control." PLUS: China Syndrome – Melted fuel at Fukushima Unit 1 may be completely out of containment, two stories deep and up to 50 feet across. No robot's going to "scoop" this stuff out any time soon. Estimated wait time for Fukushima clean-up: 200 years or more.US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) model shows Fukushima radioactive gas near Tokyo skyrocketed to 10-billion times normal levels in the immediate aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.Plutonium at 1-million Bequerels per cubic meter detected in Pacific ocean off Fukushima, labeled "the largest influx of artifiial radioactivity into the sea ever occurring over a short period of time."Pope Francis warns Japanese bishops against the dangers of arrogance, comparing Fukushima to the biblical Tower of Babel. New Joban Expressway opens, runs within 3-3/4 miles (6 km) or Fukushima nuclear disaster site. No word if they used "eco cement," which is made with the ash left over from incineration of decontamination debris.US President Barack Obama issues executive order calling for government to use "clean energy sources" – and includes small modular nuclear reactors in the mix. Oy.Kitty Litter takes the blame for the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP site) near Carlsbad, NM. (But really, the cat litter was responsible for the 55 gallon drum rupturing and releasing radiation, but WIPP's contractor, Waste Control Specialists, is responsible for the HEPA filters in the ventilation stacks not turning on for over 30 minutes, allowing the release of Plutonium and Americium into the atmosphere, exposing 22 workers who have tested positive for internal contamination.Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station forced reactor shutdown during the January 27 blizzard makes the Union of Concerned Scientists' annual "near miss" list.Banned Japanese food products from Fukushima discovered re-labeled, sold in Taiwan. ### NH #196: Three Mile Island Anniversary SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-196-three-mile-island-anniversary-special/ Published: 2015-03-25 Duration: 01:00:00 SPECIAL REPORT: THREE MILE ISLAND AT 36 The 36th Anniversary of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, PA, is remembered in this reconstruction of the first three days in human terms – how people first learned of it, the early lies and attempts at a cover-up, how the media dug into the story instead of whitewashing it, and what even hearing the word "evacuation" did to that part of the world. Featuring: Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education (www.Fairewinds.com);Middletown, PA resident Mary Stamos, who lived within six miles of the reactors. She reports on the earliest impact from the accident and the difficulty getting information through official channels;Three Mile Island Alert technical expert Scott Portzline, on suspicions held by the NRC of possible sabotage (www.TMIA.com);Former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Peter Bradford;With media clips of Walter Cronkite's special CBS Three Mile Island report on the third day of the accident;Interviews with Metropolitan Edison officials and nuclear workers done by reporters at the time of the accident;Audio of decisions being made in the control room at the time, recorded by accident on a dictaphone. All interwoven with Libbe HaLevy's story of what it was like to be one mile from a nuclear meltdown as it was happening. Read Libbe's full story of what happened when she was caught one mile from the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island… and its impact on the rest of her life in: Libbe HaLevy's nuclear memoir: Yes, I Glow in the Dark: One Mile from Three Mile Island to Fukushima and Beyond – available as an ebook on Amazon Kindle (click image) Truth and Lies about Three Mile Island (and Fukushima): A Short Video by Myla Reson NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: It's not about the Beirut airport catching radioactive feminine hygiene products shipped to them from Dubai; it's that US airports aren't set up to examine shipments and catch this kind of problem. ### NH #195: Uranium Film Festival - Quebec, + PSR NW's Chuck Johnson on Hanford, CGS URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-195-uranium-film-festival-quebec-psr-nws-chuck-johnson-on-hanford-cgs/ Published: 2015-03-18 Duration: 01:00:00 Caution! Podcaster at work… FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Christian Levesque, organizer for this year's Uranium Film Festival in Quebec, explains how he coordinated the timing of this year's event with an international scientific symposium on uranium issues and a political gathering of Canada's Prime Minister and political elite of the Provinces. www.UraniumFilmFestival.org. Uranium Film Festival 2015 – Quebec City Chuck Johnson, Nuclear Campaigner for Physicians for Social Responsibility NW, representing Oregon and Washington state, goes over the history and problems at the Hanford Site and Columbia Generating Station. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has come up with $4 billion in aid to disaster victims... of any and every disaster in the world EXCEPT Fukushima on the northeast coast of Japan. PLUS: Fukushima at 4 – triple the number of people impacted by radiation in Japan as compared to Chernobyl;Thyroid cancer rates 50x higher than normal in Fukushima children, w/more than 100 cases confirmed or suspected;TEPCO admits rainwater radiation levels at Fukushima surge yet again;Army Brigadier General James A. Blankenhorn double-dips as Deputy Project Manager for civilian contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM, and "goes bananas" confusing the public's understanding of natural, background and man-made radiation. Myla Reson's video, "James Blankenhorn's Radioactive Banana" Utah radwaste company Energy "Solutions" tries to convince South Carolina to re-open tritium-leaking atomic garbage dump w/media blitz;Korean Hydro and Nuclear Power hacker releases more files from December hack and demands money or he'll leak country's sensitive nuke info to other countries – and no, Sony is not involved. ### NH #194: Fukushima 4th Anniversary - Voices from Japan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-194-fukushima-4th-anniversary-voices-from-japan/ Published: 2015-03-11 Duration: 01:00:00 VOICES FROM JAPAN INTERVIEWS: TV and Film star Midori Kiuchi Midori Kiuchi (r, in red vest) with friends Tatsuya Majima (l) and Yasuko Tamanaka (c) in front of the No-Nukes Occupy tents. Note her English-language banner, which was shipped to Germany for a rally and ended up featured on an NHK news report. (Photo © 2015, U.G. Kaneko) No-Nukes Occupy tent veteran Taro FuchigamaProfessor Hiroake Koide, Associate Professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor InstituteKaori Suzuki, Director of the Tarachine Citizens Radiation Monitoring CenterSeiichi Mizuno, businessman and former member of the Japanese Diet Upper HouseTaro Yamamoto, actor and member of the Japanese Diet Upper House. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK If Fukushima's Prefectural government thinks social media will turn around its international image, they're even crazier than I thought! PLUS: Fukushima disaster at four – a radiation rundown;Breaking scandal at Diablo Canyon NPP on California coast over 30 years of seismic lies;Navajo Nation slams door on deal that would have allowed uranium mining on trust lands.Easy actions to commemorate Fukushima.…and more! Weekly candlelight vigil by the Beautiful Energy group in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo. The group asks that you Light a Candle for Fukushima, wherever you are. (Photo ©Copyright 2015, U.G. Kaneko) ### NH #193: SPECIAL - Caldicott Symposium on Possible Nuclear Extinction URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-193-special-caldicott-symposium-on-possible-nuclear-extinction/ Published: 2015-03-06 Duration: 01:00:00 Guess where I was…! (said the future Nuclear Pundit of The Daily Show)! SPECIAL REPORT: Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy traveled to New York to cover the February 28/March 1 symposium put together by Dr. Helen Caldicott. Video archive of the complete two-day event is available HERE. This Nuclear Hotseat Special Report includes interviews, excerpts from presentations, "nuclear humor" and two news scoops with: Dr. Helen CaldicottTheodore Postol, Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology and National Security Policy, MITSteven Starr, Associate of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Former Board Member and Senior Scientist for Physicians for Social ResponsibilityBruce Gagnon, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power In SpaceBob Alvarez, Institute of Policy StudiesRobert Parry, Investigative JournalistSusi Snyder, PAX, The Netherlands –Don'tBankOnTheBomb.comAlice Slater, Nuclear Age Peace FoundationCindy Folkers, Beyond NuclearDiane Turco, Cape Cod Downwinders, on latest developments at Pilgrim Nuclear Power PlantRachel Clark, Freelance interpreter, on Fukushima waste incineration – blockbuster revelation! LINKS: Do-it-yourself map to see what a bomb going off in your neighborhood will look like. (Mega)Tons of fun for kids, parents and nuclear psychopaths! Nukemap and Nukemap3D NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Britain's Prince William may be a dim bulb, but after Japan's PM Abe got him to eat Fukushima food, he may be glowing in the dark! DAILY SHOW SHOUT-OUT: Hey Jon! Guess where I was… (said the future Nuclear Pundit of The Daily Show)! Photo Credit – Dr. Helen Caldicott and Libbe HaLevy featured image – Peny Pkwy ### NH #192: Zombie Mines, Uranium Dangers at Grand Canyon w/Sierra Club's Alicyn Gitlin URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-192-zombie-mines-uranium-dangers-at-grand-canyon-wsierra-clubs-alicyn-gitlin/ Published: 2015-02-25 Duration: 01:00:00 This Week's Featured Interview: Alicyn Gitlin, who coordinates the Campaign to Restore and Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Ecoregion for the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, on uranium mining and "zombie mines" at the world's greatest hole in the ground. Sierra Club letter to President Obama asking him to designate a Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument: https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=8872&s_src=Representative Ann Kirkpatrick's office is accepting public comment on the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument through March 6 at the email molly.brown@mail.house.gov.Arizonans can thank their Representatives for their letter asking President Obama to create a Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument: http://kirkpatrick.house.gov/contact/email-me https://grijalvaforms.house.gov/email-raul https://rubengallego.house.gov/contact/email NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: All Nipon Airways (ANA) combines Fukushima and the locavore movement and comes up with yet another reason to hate airline food… PLUS: Diablo Canyon court case charging NRC and PG&E collusion over earthquake risks allowed to go ahead by US Court of Appeals;Pressure building on California Public Utilities Commission damned by collusion with Southern California Edison over San Onofre settlement;Fukushima radiation suspected of link to Alaska infant death spike by Radiation and Public Health Project's Mangano, Sherman;Fukushima shows record spikes of radiation from tritium, strontium 90;Submerged Soviet nuke waste a ticking time bomb as containers decay and corporations want to mine the seas;UK nukes vulnerable to drone attacks. LINKS: Eon3 video: Protesting Peevey (California Public Utilities Commission former President): ### NH #191: NIRS' Mary Olson on "Atomic Eggs," Increased Female Vulnerability to Radiation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-191-nirs-mary-olsen-on-atomic-eggs-female-vulnerability-to-radiation/ Published: 2015-02-18 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Mary Olson, Director of the Southeast Office for Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, on the greater danger faced by women and girls to exposure to nuclear radiation, including trans-generational DNA damage and a phenomenon she labels "Atomic Eggs." http://www.nirs.org/radiation/radhealth/radhealthhome.htm NIRS‘ Mary Olson speaks on impact of radiation on girls and women at International Nuclear Weapons Conference in Vienna. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: When is a flawed nuclear evacuation plan not a flawed nuclear evacuation plan? When the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives it a "White Finding," basically saying this snafu has only a "low to moderate safety significance." Try telling that to the 46,000 people who live there and who'll have to get outta Dodge on a four lane road! Can the NRC spell "homicidal gridlock?" PLUS: NE Japan experiences 6.9 quake, one meter high tsunami.TEPCO water woes at Fukushima Daiichi so bad, even the nuclear-promoting International Atomic Energy Agency admits, "The situation remains very complex." Chernobyl re-releases 0.5 PETABequerels of radiation from smoke released during forest fires. That's half of a million-billion Bequerels. Do the math.Nuks not all they're cracked up to be: Belgian nukes show 13,047 cracks in Doel 3 and 3,149 cracks in Tihange 2. Feel safer now? LINKS: Residents of Fukushima's Itate Village file petition for nuclear damage compensation. Chernobyl's nuclear threat returns: Forest Fires in Ukraine cause Radioactive Particles to be Released Over EuropeLet the Facts Speak: An Indictment of the Nuclear Industry (nuclear accidents) ### NH #190: WIPP Radiation Accident Anniversary Update w/Don Hancock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-190-wipp-radiation-accident-anniversary-update-wdon-hancock/ Published: 2015-02-11 Duration: 01:00:00 The 55 gallon drum of plutonium-contaminated nuclear weapons waste from Los Alamos National Lab that "popped its lid" and released Plutonium and Americium into the environment on Valentine's Day, 2014. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Sure, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the U.S. without nuclear would be "unthinkable" — but think about your state's Boone Dam, with its leaks, seepage and sinkholes, upstream of SEVEN NUCLEAR REACTORS! You want to talk "unthinkable?" I'll SHOW you "unthinkable!" PLUS: Gundersen: Can we finally stop saying Fukushima is "the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl" — because it's worse than Chernobyl.Internal radiation readings from Fukushima pigs.Concern that wildfires in Ukraine could re-release Chernobyl radiation into atmosphere, Eastern Europe, the world.US nukes snowed under by blizzards.Internationally speaking, United States wears a "black hat" for its stance on EU increasing nuclear safety, which it opposes.…and much, much more! LINKS: Radon's Deadly Connection w/Uranium Mining as Seen from the Navajo Nation.The USS Reagan sailors' $1B lawsuit against TEPCO covered in brilliant detail in the international edition of Spiegel, a German publication.Japanese resident and Nuclear Hotseat interviewee Dennis Riches (#115) has written the thought-provoking: Nuclear Horror Stories from Fukushima Daiichi to Kazakhstan.A video on Davis Besse by Myla Reson, featuring Harvey Wasserman: ### NH #189:  Dr. Helen Caldicott,  Symposium Update,  "On the Beach" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-189-dr-helen-caldicott-symposium-update-on-the-beach/ Published: 2015-02-04 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Dr. Helen Caldicott shares compelling reasons why she decided to produce her upcoming Symposium on the Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction, and gives us a glimpse as to the importance in her life of the film, "On the Beach." Dr. Helen Caldicott's most influential film; to be screened at Symposium on the Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: British Commonwealth ambassadors chow down on Fukushima food and saki to support produce exports. Can an epidemiological study of these men be far behind…? Mmm mmm good! Eating Fukushima food? It's their job. Now, just shut your eyes and think of England… PLUS: TEPCO‘s Fukushima water woes;50% of children tested in Ibaraki Prefecture showing A2 or B thyroid nodules and cysts;Former California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey‘s home raided in investigation by state's Attorney General on his dealings in the $3.3 Billion San Onofre bailout of Southern California Edison;Pilgrim NPP shut down by blizzard;Fiji nuclear victims of British bomb tests 1956-58 finally given an insulting pittance as "compensation" for the illnesses they suffered as a result;Oishinbo manga artist Tetsu Kariya draws new comic about nosebleeds in Fukushima, urges residents to "have the courage to flee." Oishinbo Manga showing Fukushima nosebleed LINKS: Former nuclear energy worker Dan Rudka's GoFundMe campaign to support his double lung transplant. Dan Rudka An American Chenobyl: Nuclear Near Misses at U.S. Reactors since 1986 from GreenpeaceThe Nuclear Wars Waged against First Nations PeopleDumping Radioactive Food from Japan on the World: Why the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) is a Pending Disaster How Karen Kramer met Dr. Helen Caldicott: A Short Film by Myla Reson ### NH #188: DIABLO CANYON SHUT-IT-DOWN SPECIAL! Gundersen! Wasserman! Moglen! More! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-188-diablo-canyon-shutdown-special/ Published: 2015-01-28 Duration: 01:00:00 Activists in San Luis Obispo for the Jan. 24-25 Strategy Conference to Shut Down Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Banner concept and photo by Myla Reson, banner executed by Laura Lynch. Can you spot Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy? THIS WEEK: Full show dedicated to the January 24-25 Diablo Canyon Shutdown Strategy Conference, which took place in San Luis Obispo, California, 12 miles from the nuclear reactors. Event speakers heard in this episode: Jane Swanson and Linda Seeley from San Luis Obispo Mother's for Peace, which hosted the event and has been fighting Diablo Canyon for more than 40 years (www.MothersForPeace.org);Testimony by Daniel Hirsch, University of California, Santa Cruz lecturer on nuclear policy, before Sen. Barbara Boxer's Committee on Environment and Public Works;Jerry Brown of World Business Academy on the Joseph Mangano/Radiation and Public Health Project‘s epidemiological study on cancer rates in San Luis Obispo County (www.Radiation.org);Damon Moglen of Friends of the Earth on shutdown strategies and talking points (www.FOE.org);Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety on the false safety promises of dry cask storage (www.SanOnofreSafety.org);Attorney Mike Aguirre on the need to find and protect whistleblowers;Veteran activist Harvey Wasserman on transitioning to solar (www.Solartopia.org);Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education on focusing our shutdown strategies (www.Fairewinds.org);Chumash elder Fred Collins and Japanese Buddhist monk Sawada-Shonin blessing our efforts Thanks to Mary Beth Brangan, Jim Heddle and Ecological Options Network (EON3) for audio of Dan Hirsch from the Barbara Boxer Senate hearings. EON3 has over 600 videos on nuclear and other environmental issues available on YouTube. NOTE: Many speakers from the conference not heard in this program will be featured on future episodes of Nuclear Hotseat. ### NH #187: Rocky Flats and Atomic Worker Compensation - Kristen Iversen, Terrie Barrie URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-187-rocky-flats-and-atomic-worker-compensation-kristen-iversen-terrie-barrie/ Published: 2015-01-21 Duration: 01:00:00 SISTER MEAGAN RICE'S MAILING ADDRESS: Megan Rice 88101-020 MDC Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center P.O. Box 329002 Brooklyn, NY 11232 TWEET THE POPE: @Pontifex – Free Sister Megan Rice, 84-year-old who protested nuclear weapons, in jail for 32 months. INTERVIEWS: Kristen Iversen, author of Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats, on the dangers and deadly legacy of that atomic weapons manufacturing site near Denver, CO.Terrie Barrie is Rocky Flats Special Exposure Cohort co-petitioner. She has been working to help exposed workers from that nuclear site get compensation from the US government under a little-known government program that admits that exposure to radiation is implicated in at least 22 named cancers! To learn more about this program: Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups – http://eecap.org/ANWAG_News.htm. Terrie Barrie's blog on worker issues: http://eecap.org/ANWAG_blog.htmUS GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNIZED LIST OF 22 CANCERS LINKED TO RADIATION EXPOSURE: http://atomicworkers.com/Cancer_List.html NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: If someone chooses to purchase and eat rice from Fukushima, methinketh they are the Numnutz of the Week! PLUS: Two worker deaths in a single day at Fukushima Daiichi;Sea animals dying in Tokyo, Hawaii and Pacific west coast;Lots more that I had no time to read on the show! ### NH #186: Kimberly Roberson on Radiation Awareness and Protection URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-186-kimberly-roberson-on-radiation-awareness-and-protection/ Published: 2015-01-14 Duration: 01:00:00 "What could have been done without nuclear?" "Live" INTERVIEW: Kimberly Roberson and Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy discuss their new audio program, RAPT, which stands for Radiation Awareness Protection Talk. It's intended to introduce those who don't know about radiation's negative impact on health to the problem and some actions they can take to best protect their health. To learn more about the RAPT program and to access the free Special Report, "7 Misconceptions About Radiation and Immune System Risks – and the #1 Way to Help Protect the Health of You and Your Loved Ones," CLICK HERE. To learn about the Purified Liquid Zeolite product NCD2, CLICK HERE. NCD2 is also available in Japan. LINK COMING. PROJECT CENSORED INTERVIEW Libbe HaLevy and Kimberly Roberson provide an update on Fukushima, media suppression of critical nuclear information, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) accident in Carlsbad, and first notice of RAPT (Radiation Awareness Protection Talk): CLICK HERE NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: "Lettuce" now consider the lunacy of Panasonic for wanting to grow anti-kidney-disease lettuce in Fukushima, where exposure to radiation could give you… kidney cancer. This is not a medicine! PLUS: Beta radiation (cesium 134/137) spikes 57 times higher than four days earlier at Fukushima; TEPCO clueless (what else is new?).Record level of "flesh-eating bacteria" cases in Japan coincides with Fukushima;5 Japanese nukes heading for decommissioning scrap heap (YAY!); Cataclysmic bird die-off litters West Coast US beaches;Thyroid cancer rates in US increasing;Savannah River Site operators divert $3/4-million to develop mini-reactors;Exelon‘s longed-for nuke bail-out from Illinois taxpayers ain't about to happen when agencies report, "We'll do fine without you! ### NHt #185: ACTIVIST SPECIAL! VT Yankee Shutdown Celebration, Lawrence Livermore Vigil, Tweet the Pope! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-185-activist-special-vt-yankee-shutdown-celebration-lawrence-livermore-vigil-tweet-the-pope/ Published: 2015-01-07 Duration: 01:00:00 Jon Stewart hasn't said this on-air yet… but maybe he will in 2015! VERMONT YANKEE ORAL HISTORY MONTAGE Join activists from throughout New England as they celebrate the closure of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Hear from Leslie Sullivan Sachs, Paul Gunter and Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear, plus locals who've been in the battle for more than 40 years – this is what a victory for our side sounds like! SUCCESSFUL LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LAB VIGIL We learn about an action that took place just this morning (January 6, 2015) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories near San Francisco from Marylia Kelley, Executive Director of Tri-Valley Cares, who organized the action. Contains one of the biggest laughs I've had at the expense of nuclear numnutz in a long time! TWEET THE POPE! Boston's Dr. Sheila Parks explains why and how you need to Tweet the Pope regarding his upcoming encyclical on climate change. His Twitter handle is: @pontifex SAMPLE TWEETS: @pontifex Nuclear power is not clean, green or sustainable. Don't support nuke energy in your encyclical! #nonukespope #nuclearhotseat @pontifex every nuclear reactor produces weapons grade plutonium. Don't support nuke energy in your encyclical! #nonukespope #nuclearhotseat NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK Oh, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, do you really think that cancer is a matter of "bad luck," of "losing the lottery?" No no no no nooooooooooooo! (And Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project backs me up on that!) PLUS: Four more Fukushima children suspected of having thyroid cancerUkraine's Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in second emergency shutdown in a month; it's either no big deal or potentially another Chernobyl, depending upon the source you choose. To be continued…301 South Korean villagers with thyroid cancer who live near the Gori reactors in Busan file class action suit against Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corp.Japanese government declares small radiation hot spots in Fukushima "safe" – LOL!Japanese government declares all rice grown in Fukushima pass radiation "safety" checks – 100 Bq/k – LOL! ### NH #184: Fukushima Radiation Lies Exposed w/IPPNW's Dr. Alex Rosen, RPHP's Joseph Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-184-fukushima-radiation-lies-and-truth-wippnws-dr-alex-rosen-rphps-joseph-mangano/ Published: 2014-12-31 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, who takes on and eviscerates the United Nations' UNSCEAR report that criminally underplays the radiation dangers from Fukushima; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; www.ippnw.org Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, executive director of Radiation and Public Health Project, who explains why TEPCO's interpretation of radiation data is intentionally wrong as the company tries to undermine legitimate claims of damages to the health of the USS Ronald Reagan sailors, who were hit with catastrophic radiation while on an humanitarian aid mission in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima. www.Radiation.org. LINKS TO IPPNW'S CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF UNSCEAR REPORT: IPPNW – English: Link to downloadable PDF: http://www.fukushima-disaster.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/english/Akzente_Unscear2014.pdf IPPNW – Germany: www.ippnw.de IPPNW Germany's Fukushima Website w/link to downloadable PDF: www.fukushima-disaster.de Japanese version of Critical Analysis of UNSCEAR report – WHO (世界保健機関)の「2011年東日本大地震津波後の原発事故がもたらす被曝線量の仮算定」フクシマ大災害リポート：アレックスローゼン博士による分析の 日本語版はこちらをクリックして下さい。: http://fukushimavoice2.blogspot.com/2014/06/psrippnw-unscear.html TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEW W/DR. ALEX ROSEN English version – Interview Transcript: Dr. Alex Rosen – Interview Transcript – English German version: IPPNW report on UNSCEAR/Fukushima – German ### NH #183: The Truth about Chernobyl: World Health Organization Coverup w/Alison Katz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-183-the-truth-about-chernobyl-world-health-organization-coverup-walison-katz/ Published: 2014-12-23 Alison Katz is a sociologist and psychologist who worked inside the World Health Organization (WHO) for 18 years. Now a leader within Independent WHO, an organization dedicated to revealing the lies and coverups perpetrated by WHO, Alison dissects the history, politics and manipulations of the United Nations agency we're supposed to be able to trust to safeguard the world's health – especially in nuclear matters. Special focus on Chernobyl and how the WHO worked to diminish our awareness of this nuclear disaster's true impact on the world's health. This is a Nuclear Hotseat exclusive and an Encore Presentation. (Originally broadcast on September 17, 2013.) Independent WHO vigil in front of World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland – 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 years. ### NH #182: Prof. Haider on Russian Nukes in Bangladesh + Dr. Caldicott's Symposium URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-182-prof-haider-on-russian-nukes-in-bangladesh-dr-caldicotts-symposium/ Published: 2014-12-17 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Prof. Quamrul Haider of Fordham University, a nuclear physicist, authored the op-ed explaining nuclear reactor dangers and calling nukes "The Sixth Horseman of the Apocalypse." He blasts nuclear reactors built by Russia as unsafe, reveals why Bangladesh has ordered a technology it doesn't need, and explains why he left behind his (non-classified) work at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratories to move to academia. Then Dr. Helen Caldicott talks about her upcoming Symposium on The Dynamics of Possible Nuclear Extinction, taking place February 28 and March 1 in New York City. An encore presentation excerpted from Nuclear Hotseat #172. For more on the Symposium and to register, click here. Dr. Helen Caldicott NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Hey, you got a better way to nuke invasive weeds on the plutonium-laced site of a former nuclear weapons manufacturing site than nuking 'em out with a prescribed burn? (Guess they haven't heard about goats!) PLUS: Japan plans release of radioactive water held at Fukushima into the Pacific ocean.Fukushima wants to host 2020 Olympic events <!>.Britain's nukes reporting average 20 shutdowns per year.Radioactive beagles at University of California, Davis. Radioactively tortured beagles at UC Davis (not these two) LINKS: How fracking is exposing people to radioactive waste ### NH #181: Entergy Loses Power! Kamps on Palisades Intervenors, Sachs on Vt Yankee Closure URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-181-entergy-loses-power-kamps-on-palisades-petition-sachs-on-vt-yankee-closure/ Published: 2014-12-10 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear, goes into the longstanding issues against Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, a "lemon" of a nuke reactor on the shores of Lake Michigan only 70 miles from Chicago. Highlighted is a coalition of environmental groups that has intervened against Palisades' operator Entergy Nuclear’s attempt to get the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to roll back safety requirements. At stake – the safety of the drinking water of 40-million people. List of 65 Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) like Palisades still operating in the United States:http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/list-power-reactor-units.html How close do you live to one of these PWRs? Check it out here: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/nuclear_power_plants_locations/ Leslie Sullivan Sachs of Vermont's Safe and Green Campaign fills us in on the history and dangers of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant — the exact same GE Mark I reactor design as the destroyed nukes of Fukushima Daiichi. We also get to share the excitement the long-desired and recently announced shutdown of Vermont Yankee by the end of 2014! 22 days and counting! Yes!!! Leslie Sullivan Sachs – two years premature, but a great visioning that is about to come true! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan allowed WHAT senile representative of the British Raj to lecture them on how radiation is good for you?!?!? JON STEWART SHOUT-OUT: Samantha Bee did a GREAT job on the nuke/frack connection only ONE DAY after it was highlighted on last week's Nuclear Hotseat. This marks the most nuclear information to make it on The Daily Show yet! Samantha Bee nukes it outta the park on The Daily Show! PLUS: New Mexico fines the Environmental Protection Agency $54 million over WIPP accidents.Six workers at Wyoming uranium mine receive internal radionuclide contamination dose while cleaning up accident spill… in November, 2013.Feds say cleaning up Hanford site will cost too much – and besides, it will "cast into doubt other nuclear projects" they fund.Strontium 90 spike at Fukushima up to 990,000 Bq/liter – 99,000 times higher than "permissable limits."German broadcaster SWR finds plutonium-laced nuke waste pumped into the ocean through miles of underwater pipes.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMoaK_2DlLQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=1497 LINK: 50 non-governmental organizations in Japan released a declaration to protest the "Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage," which protects the nuclear power industry and technology while ignoring the lessons of the ongoing Fukushima accident: www.foejapan.org/en/energy/doc/141206.html ### NH #180: Dr. Chris Busby on Internal/External Radiation Doses, USS Reagan, Activist Strategies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-180-dr-chris-busby-on-internalexternal-radiation-doses-uss-reagan-activist-strategies/ Published: 2014-12-03 Jon hasn't said it yet… but he might! (Thanks to Rainbow Warriors for their help in visualizing.) INTERVIEW: Dr. Chris Busby has been a brilliant, reliable resource on nuclear radiation dangers since long before Fukushima began. He's a scientist, activist and has a long history of going up against the nuclear goliaths and daviding them down to size. Dr. Busby is the scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk and for a long time was the spokesman on science and technology for the Green Party of England and Wales. Dr. Chris Busby, chained to the fence of the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in England (1992) in a direct action he helped to organize for the Green Party. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Nukes and Fracking are proving to be Tweedledum and Tweedledumber as they dance the Fuel Cycle Tango! NEWS: Vermont Yankee shutting down by end of 2014! Two veterans of Shut It Down at the end of a demo that ultimately helped speed the reactor's shutdown by the end of 2014. Exelon considers closing three nuke facilities in Illinois.Citizen monitoring group at Oyster Creek in New Jersey uncovers two major radiation spikes; Nuclear Regulatory Commission unmoved to action.Anencephaly (fatal neural tube birth defect) rates hit 2,860% of US national rate in Washington state counties that contain and are adjacent to the Hanford site; health "experts" claim they don't know what's causing it. Duh!In Tokyo, British researcher Keith Baverstock blasts United Nation's Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) report that pooh-poohs Fukushima radiation as having any potential impact on Japanese cancer rates… which no one will ever know with any certainty because radiation is not allowed to be discussed in any doctor's office in Japan! PLUS: San Onofre Safety's Donna Gilmore's presentation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the impact of high burn-up fuel on long term dry cask storage: ### NH #179: BREAKING: 2nd USS Reagan Death + US Nuke Accident Updates - WIPP, Metropolis URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-179-breaking-2nd-uss-reagan-death-us-nuke-accident-updates-wipp-metropolis/ Published: 2014-11-26 Duration: 01:00:00 BREAKING: Second death in the USS Reagan/Operation Tomadachi case. Exclusive interview w/Charles Bonner, attorney for the sailors in the $1 Billion lawsuit against TEPCO, General Electric, EBASCO, Toshiba and Hitachi. INTERVIEWS: Don Hancock, Executive Director of Southwest Research and Information Center, again updates us on the most recent radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP site, in Carlsbad, NM.  Not certain if this is sardonic or ironic. Maybe both? Gail Snyder, Board President of Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service, provides the most recent information and analysis of the uranium hexafluoride leak at Honeywell's Metropolis, IL facility. (See video below.) NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: US House of Representatives by voice vote led by Georgia's Rep. Paul Broun passes bill to authorize Dept. of Energy (DOE) to do research on "WHETHER" low-dose ionizing radiation poses a risk. How is this even a question?!?!? Even worse, it appears to be a set-up to gut BEIR VII (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation), the proof of the risk, as creating an "unnecessary economic burdens" that are "detrimental to the health of Americans." Through the looking glass, Alice! ### NH #178: Fukushima Kids, Moms & Thyroids - Filmmaker Ian Thomas Ash, Voices from Japan w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-178-fukushima-kids-moms-thyroids-filmmaker-ian-thomas-ash-voices-from-japan-wbeverly-findlay-kaneko/ Published: 2014-11-19 Fukushima children show their radiation dosimeters. INTERVIEW: Japan-based Filmmaker Ian Thomas Ash talks about how he came to shoot his documentary, "A-2-B-C" on radiation risks to children and damage to their thyroids following the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. VOICES FROM JAPAN: Voices from Japan Co-Producer Beverly Findlay-Kaneko voices her husband, U. G. Kaneko, in a report on his most recent trip to Fukushima and an update on the radiation dangers from waste "removal" and incineration. Man walks by "temporary" storage area for radioactive decontamination waste in Fukushima. ©2014, U.G. Kaneko NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Disaster drill disaster! Niigata calls off 2014 evacuation drill because 2013 evacuation drill had people evacuating directly into the hypothetical plume. This year, they can't even decide when to distribute Potassium Iodide, let alone who should get it! How about RIGHT NOW and EVERYBODY IN JAPAN? STORIES: WIPP exhaust fan restart whips radionuclides into Carlsbad, NM, radiation spikes. Don Hancock of Southwest Information and Resource Center predicted this exact scenario on Nuclear Hotseat #174, Oct. 21, 2014. (Hancock will be interviewed on next week's show.)Honeywell's Metropolis, Illinois uranium conversion facility accident downgraded by NRC to Alert status as intended restart stalls out.Massive radiation spike at Fukushima continues; levels up over 1,000% in just 10 days. LINKS: Beautiful poem by "Sasukensuke" (her Twitter handle), posted under the title, "The Sorrow of Living in Fukushima." (Thanks to Nelson Surjon and www.Evacuate-Fukushima.com.) Fukushima schoolgirl walks past storage facility for "decontaminated" radioactive waste. ©Copyright 2014, U.G. Kaneko ### NH #177: Fukushima Update - Arnie Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-177-fukushima-update-warnie-gundersen/ Published: 2014-11-12 Duration: 01:00:00 Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gunderson w/Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host, Libbe HaLevy INTERVIEW: Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education (Fairewinds.com), Nuclear Hotseat's favorite nuclear engineer, gives a concise, clear interpretation of what's behind TEPCO's recent announcements regarding water radiation levels, the removal of fuel rods from the fuel pool at Unit 4, and the hole in the roof of Unit 1; manipulation of Japanese doctors to eliminate evidence of radiation-related diseases in Fukushima's survivors; and an elegantly brilliant way to deprive the nuclear industry of its peak energy profits, thus hastening its demise. Fukushima Unit 3 Explosion, March 14, 2011 SPECIAL – Nuclear Hotseat's UK Correspondent, Shaun McGee, reports on manipulations by the government regarding the British Nuclear Test Veterans Case, as well as actions taken against well-known opponents to nuclear, Prof. Christopher Busby and Dr. Ian Fairleigh. Exclusive to Nuclear Hotseat. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The United States absolutely denied that there was a need for testing for radiation in food after Fukushima… except when it came to the delegates to the 2012 Republican and Democratic Conventions! Republican Convention in Tampa, FL, 2012: Population cohort for the Next Big Nuclear Epidemiological Study! PLUS: NYTimes publishes nuke industry-inspired propaganda article AGAINST testing for thyroid cancer because too many cases of it have been found!Radiation found in Pacific Ocean off the west coast of North America: Vancouver, BC; Eureka in Northern California; Orange County in Southern California;Prof. Chris Busby hacked after supporting the military personnel in the British Nuclear Test Veterans Case. ### NH #176: USS Reagan Sailors' Lawsuit v. TEPCO Clears Judicial Hurdle, Expands! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-176-uss-reagan-sailors-lawsuit-v-tepco-clears-judicial-hurdle-expands/ Published: 2014-11-05 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Attorneys for the USS Reagan sailors hit by Fukushima radiation won big in court last week: Judge Janis Sammartino ruled that the $1 billion lawsuit against TEPCO for health damages and medical treatment CAN not only move forward, it adds as defendants General Electric, EBASCO, Toshiba and Hitachi – the companies that designed and built the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. Nuclear Hotseat talks with attorneys Paul Garner and Charles Bonner. At USS Reagan hearing August 25, 2014: (l to r) Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy; attorney Charles Bonner; Summer Simmons; USS Reagan sailor (retired) Steve Simmons; attorney Paul Garner NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: What does the calendar have to do with whether nuclear waste cleared from Fukushima Prefecture's schools can be disposed of as… well, nuclear waste? Radwaste from Fukushima schools can't be disposed of as… well, radwaste! PLUS: Fukushima doctors threatened w/loss of right to practice if they tell patients their illnesses are in any way related to radiation;TEPCO‘s obscene first-half profits don't stop the company from dunning Fukushima students who left evacuation for college;Radioactive Tyvek protective suits equal to the contents of 70 25-meter swimming pools piling up at Fukushima: Mountain of radioactive used Tyvek protective suits at Fukushima – all dressed down and nowhere to go! Lawsuits! 9 enviro groups, NRDC challenge NRC's "extended waste storage rule;" 3 states (NY, VT, CT) launch legal challenge to same NRC ruling; and lawsuit filed by 3 northwest enviro groups over water pollution caused by Columbia Generating Station on Hanford site in Washington state.40 civil society organizations from eight countries challenge conclusions of United Nation's UNSCEAR report on radiation exposure after Fukushima;Radiation exposure linked to aggressive thyroid cancers in new international study; CLICK HERE. ### NH #175: SPECIAL - Trial of the 4 Grandmothers for Pilgrim Nuke Protest + Halloween (What's Scarier than Nuclear?)) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-175-special-pilgrim-protest-4-grandmothers-trial-halloween/ Published: 2014-10-29 Duration: 01:00:00 SPECIAL: Full coverage of last week's trial of the Four Grandmothers, Cape Cod Downwinders who were arrested for trespass for their Mother's Day, 2014 protest at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Hear from Downwinders co-founder Diane Turco; first-time-ever activist Mary Conathan (71); and attorney Bruce Taub. Talk about speaking Truth to Power! Dr. Helen Caldicott (l) and Cape Cod Downwinders co-founder Diane Turco HALLOWEEN FEATURE: What could be scarier than nuclear? Activists from both coasts share their most frightening thoughts about the industry that brought us Fukushima, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and a whole lot more! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The United States and Russia finally find something to agree upon and work together towards… more nuclear insanity. PLUS: Nuclear emergency at Honeywell's Illinois Uranium Processing Plant leaks uranium hexafluoride into environment.Volcano experts warn that Mount Ioyama has started experiencing tremors… only 40 miles (65 km) from the Sendai nuclear power facility – and of course Japan wants to start restarting its nukes with Sendai.Fukushima radiation rises to 800-900 times the previous peak, with no end in sight.Major turbine troubles at Kudankulam keeps the brand-spanking-new nuke facility offline since September. LINKS: The World's Toughest Bacterium is the most radiation-resistant organism known:http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/07_02/deinococcus.shtmlBacteria a Potential Threat to Nuclear Waste Repositories:http://actu.epfl.ch/news/bacteria-a-potential-threat-to-nuclear-waste-repos/Thousands of Sick uclear Workers Await Compensation at Hanford (can you say, "when hell freezes over…?"):http://www.dianuke.org/thousands-of-sick-nuclear-workers-await-compensation-at-hanford/ ### NH #174: MacFarlane Bails NRC, WIPP Rad-Fan Restart, Food Safety for Japanese Imports URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-174-macfarlane-bails-nrc-wipp-rad-fan-restart-food-safetyeden-foods-from-2011/ Published: 2014-10-22 Duration: 01:00:00 "Does This Soup Taste Ambivalent?" at Frieze Art Fair in London INTERVIEWS: At Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP Site) near Carlsbad, NM, Department of Energy restarts exhaust fan exposed to Plutonium and Americium during February 14, 2014 radiation leak; Don Hancock of Southwest Resource and Information Center provides us with an update and insights. One From the Vault: Nuclear Hotseat #7, July 26, 2011 Jon Solomon of Eden Foods explains the quick action taken by the company to determine food safety of all products imported from Japan in the immediate aftermath of the start of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Still a model for protection of workers and consumers that deserves to be emulated by all food providers and manufacturers doing business with Japan. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Nuclear tourism at the point where it all started! What's the worst that could happen…? Oh, that! Learn about guided tours from ground zero of the nuclear age, where once a year you can take the spouse and kids to see where everything changed in the flash of eternity. PLUS: BREAKING: Alison MacFarlane resigns as Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effective December 31, 2014. Alison leaves Wonderland; can a book be far behind?BREAKING: She's in! She's out! She's in again – and now she stays! Dr. Helen Caldicott will testify on Wednesday, October 22, on behalf of the Four Grandmothers: Cape Cod Downwinders arrested on Mother's Day for attempting to plant flowers of protest at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. Who wants a transcript? Dr. Helen Caldicott, about to testify on behalf of the Four Grandmothers for protesting at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant on Mother's Day Special report from London on Frieze Art Fair and the soup-from-Fukushima art installation, "Does this Soup Taste Ambivalent?"French nuke giant Areva's CEO Luc Oursel takes leave of absence for health reasons "…in order to pursue treatment." Might the nuke-pusher have contracted cancer, the #1 side effect of nuclear radiation? Could this be karma… or irony?New Canadian nuclear safety regs mandate stores of Potassium Iodide stockpiled, enough to treat everyone living within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor — at the same time the country is trying to convince us that it's perfectly safe to site a nuclear waste repository less than a mile from the shore of Lake Huron. Disconnect, anyone?San Onofre warning siren retired; don't they realize that nuclear waste is dangerous and needs a warning, too? Sayonara, San Onofre sirens. LINKS: Tri-Valley Cares holding video competition for youths – 2 minutes or less about the impacts of nuclear weapons on the environment around the Livermore National (Nuclear) Laboratory. $500 first prize, Oct. 31 deadline.Government report reveals Fukushima radioactive release much larger than that at Chernobyl, as much as four times worse. Former NHK anchor Jun Hori and his frustration at being stopped by management from reporting honesty on Fukushima subject of extensive report on PRI's The World.Fukushima refugee Mrs. Junko Honda, a hairdresser, shares chronicle she kept of Unusual Health Problems that happened to her family, friends and customers after the nuclear disaster began.Britain's nuclear test veterans ARE the victims of "genetic curse," as new research reveals. ### NH #173: USS Reagan Homeporting - Japan or USA? Masahiko Goto, Carol Jahnkow URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-173-uss-reagan-homeporting-japan-or-usa-masahiko-gotu-carol-jahnkow/ Published: 2014-10-15 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Two views across the Pacific on homeporting issues for the USS Ronald Reagan, which sailed into the worst of the Fukushima Daiichi radiation plume beginning the day after the earthquake and tsunami set off the nuclear disaster. Is the ship still radioactive? What happened to the debris from the purported "clean-up?" And why would the town of Yokusuka, the proposed new location for the Reagan, put up with two floating nuclear reactors from a contaminated ship in its harbor? Mr. Masahiko Goto, attorney for the Japanese coalition trying to block the homeporting of the Reagan in Yokusuka as of Summer, 2015, on the current battle and his planned trip to visit the Reagan lawsuit attorneys and activists in California.Carol Jahnkow, a 30-year veteran activist on and now Director Emerita of the Peace Resource Center of San Diego, provides historic perspective and context for understanding issues with our atomic-powered fleet. Carol Jahnkow (r) and Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy at San Onofre Demo, March 11, 2012 NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan goes full NIMBY as Prime Minister Abe-baby's government tries to get cities currently storing contaminated waste from Fukushima to hold onto it for just a wee bit more time than the originally promised three years of "interim" storage. Doesn't look very "interim" to me… PLUS: Typhoon Vongfong threatens Fukushima Daiichi with record rain, storm surges and possible tornadoes, as last week's Typhoon Phanfone caused radiation surges of up to 10 times previous records. California's "top energy cop" Michael Peevey resigns from Public Utilities Commission… but not before he still gets a chance to swing San Onofre decision in favor of a Southern California Edison bailout;New nuke languaging "spin speak" outed by Beyond Nuclear;and Ralph Nader taps Michael Mariotte of NIRS for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mazel tov, Michael! ### NH #172: Dr. Helen Caldicott, "Crisis Without End" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-172-dr-helen-caldicott-crisis-without-end/ Published: 2014-10-08 Duration: 01:00:00 Rudolph's not the only reindeer glowing in Norway… INTERVIEW: Dr. Helen Caldicott – Nobel Peace Prize nominee, founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, pediatrician, veteran anti-nuclear activist and author – discusses her latest book, "Crisis Without End" about Fukushima's medical and ecological consequences, and her upcoming 2015 Symposium on Nuclear Weapons. Dr. Helen Caldicott (r) with Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy at the 2013 Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Two core graphite bricks are cracked, but hey, that's "expected" in the lifetime of the Hunterston B nuke facility in Scotland. So is its lifetime over? Hah! This is nuclear! They just upped the number of "expected" cracks and call it safe. Numnutz, indeed! PLUS: "Enormous orange flash" over Iranian military facility suspected of harboring secret nuke program; was it nuclear?Japan's typhoon Phanfone sets off alarms, triggers leaks at Fukushima Units 1 & 3;Congress wakes up to join Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to oppose Ontario's proposed nuclear waste site less than a mile from Lake Huron;Judge upholds 20-year ban on new uranium mines near Grand Canyon;Department of Energy blows deadline to start emptying leaking nuke waste storage tank at Hanford site in Washington, so the state gives 'em another 18 months before the start… and still, the stuff keeps leaking!Sweden phasing out all nuclear if coalition of ruling Social Democrats and Green Party have their way;Radioactivity in Norway's reindeer hits new high; Rudolph not the only one who's glowing. ### NH #171: Southwest Radiation Leak Update - Hancock on WIPP, Hadden on WCS URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-171-southwest-radiation-leak-update-hancock-on-wipp-hadden-on-wcs/ Published: 2014-10-01 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Focus on the American southwest and the fallout from the Valentine's Day radwaste container explosion at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP site in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Don Hancock, Executive Director of Southwest Information and Resource Center, corrects some misinformation about radiation levels surrounding the site, then gives his take on the "plans" to fix the problem and the recent shake-up at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that removed four managers in charge of transuranic waste — meaning the stuff that exploded at WIPP– from their positions.Karen Hadden, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development or SEED Coalition in Texas, brings us up to date on water woes and contamination possibilities at the Waste Control Specialists (WCS) storage facility in Andrews Texas. This is where the waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory that could not be sent to WIPP ended up. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Yes, it's soup… but is it art? Is it mmm mmm good or death warmed over? Deadly Japanese hospitality offered at the Frieze Art Fair in London when conceptual artists United Brothers – originally from Iwaki in Fukushima – fly their mother in to make free soup out of Fukushima vegetables. Isn't there a zombie movie that starts like this? PLUS: Fuel rods losing uranium pellets at North Anna in VirginiaRadiation hot spots found on ocean floor within 25 kilometers/15 miles of FukushimaExelon asks Illinois for a mere $580 million to keep its nuclear reactors runningPakistan wants a larger place at the international nuclear table – what could go wrong? ### NH #170: Climate Change March Special w/Michael Mariotte, Gail Payne, Dr. Sheila Parks URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-170-climate-change-march-special-wmichael-mariotte-gail-payne-dr-sheila-parks/ Published: 2014-09-24 Leona Morgan (C) and Japanese activist Yuko Tonohira (R) at the NYC Climate Change Rally, 9/21/14 LISTEN HERE: TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK HERE INTERVIEWS: Special report last Sunday's massive, historic Climate Change Rally in NYC: Michael Mariotte, the President of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS, provided key national organizing that helped deliver thousands of anti-nuke demonstrators to the event; Gail Payne not only marched, she designed those terrific posters featuring King CONG – "CONG" standing for Coal, Oil, Nuclear and Gas; Boston's Sheila Parks provides an inspiring, personal vision of what the march meant to her. Dr. Sheila Parks in her stylish tyvek hazmat suit. MICHAEL BRUNE/SIERRA CLUB PETITION THAT ACTUALLY MENTIONS NUCLEAR!  PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE!  NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK:  The nuclear industry decodes its own bad language in dealing with banks and financial institutions.  They just gave us the script to use when we talk with these potential funders of nuclear expansion to make them think twice and decide against it! PLUS: More WIPP woes in Carlsbad, NM, as and additional drum of radioactive waste may have leaked at the only US facility for underground storage of nuclear debris. Radiation in Fukushima groundwater now 25,000 times higher than when 2014 began… and believed to be seeping its way towards Tokyo. Hanford-area birth defects (anencephaly, spina bifida) spike in alarming cluster as Washington State report on 1968-80 study of birth defects in children of Hanford workers "mysteriously" disappears from the state's website. Read Hanford report on bizarre deaths after radiation exposure Watch Seattle KING 5 report Hanford whistleblower "illegally fired" for voicing safety concerns Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-baby actually says that Japan will not restart its closed nucler power plants "unless safety is restored 100 percent."  I guess that means they will NEVER be restarting!  (Of course, it all hinges on Abe's definition of "safety.") LINKS: Paul Langley's article on Academia.edu about "Radiation Sickness in Man – Part 1 of 2":  https://www.academia.edu/8442376/Radiation_Sickness_in_Man_Outlines_Part_1_of_2 ### NH #169: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko on Journalist Iwaji's Death + Karl Grossman on Nukes in Space URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-169-beverly-findlay-kaneko-on-journalist-iwajis-death-karl-grossman-on-nukes-in-space/ Published: 2014-09-14 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko, Nuclear Hotseat's "boots on the ground" in Japan, talks extensively about the recent death of Asahi TV news director Masaki Iwaji, whose passing was officially categorized as suicide but which is believed by many to have been something else. Beverly also discusses how Japan's political shift to the right has impacted the anti-nuclear movement there and reflects on time she spent at a mountain retreat with Fukushima mothers and their children. Award-winning journalist Karl Grossman provides the history of Nukes in Space, from President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative that proposed placing weapons platforms in orbit around Earth to recent breakthroughs in solar-powered interplanetary flight that give lie to the need for anything nuclear in space. (An excerpt from this interview was used on Nuclear Hotseat #163, the August 5 Hiroshima Day Special.) ACTIVIST SHOUT-OUT: Everyone who's marching in the People's Climate March on September 21 – safe journey and make the entire climate change/sustainability community understand that NUKES ARE THE WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE LIVINGROOM! ### NH #168: Millstone's May 25 Radiation Leak w/Nancy Burton URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-168-millstones-may-25-radiation-leak-wnancy-burton/ Published: 2014-09-10 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD BY CLICKING HERE INTERVIEW:  Nancy Burton, founder of the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone, on the horrifying history of Connecticut's aging Millstone nuclear power station, on the ongoing dangers posed by owner/operator Dominion Resources' bottom line approach to safety, and the unreported radiation release that happened during the double-reactor shutdown on May 25, 2014. www.MothballMillstone.com NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK:  Attempted Ukranian sabotage of Iran's Russian-built nuclear reactor possibly caused by  after-market nuclear parts from Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico.  WTF?   PLUS: New Mexico's Environmental Department Secretary accuses federal Department of Energy of blocking probe of Feb. 14 accident and radiation leak at WIPP Site in Carlsbad. 55 Greenpeace activists on trial in France for March 18 protest about lack of security at the Fessenheim nuclear facility that resulted in 20 managing to get into the facility and onto the dome of one of the reactors.  Security, anyone? India's Prime Minister Modi fails to land nuke deal with Japan, but gets a uranium deal from Australia.  Partial victory for India's Anti-Nuclear Gandhi, Kumar Sundaram. Chernobyl radioactivity found in wild boar in Germany must be destroyed uneaten… or shipped to the United States, which considers its 600 Bequerel per kilogram of radioactivity just fine and safe for Americans to eat, mmm, mmm, good! Chernobyl's Legacy: German boar found to be too radioactive to be eaten.  Fukushima radiation detected in West Coast groundwater, meat, fish, milk and vegetation… IN 2011 AND 2012… and they're just letting us know about it now??? ### NH #167: Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps on NRC's Conflict of Interest + WIPP Update URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-167-beyond-nuclears-kevin-kamps-on-nrcs-conflict-of-interest-wipp-update/ Published: 2014-09-03 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear goes after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's latest actions in speeding approval of all nuclear reactor license extensions and  new builds, plus highlights the votes of compromised lame duck (now former) Commissioner Magwood's blatant, possibly illegal conflict of interest. FOR SAMPLE WORDING FROM KEVIN KAMPS TO SEND TO SEN. BARBARA BOXER THAT ASKS HER TO REQUIRE HARDENED ONSITE STORAGE (HOSS) FOR HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORED AT REACTORS, SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 15 oldest reactors, all built for only 40 years of service, now licensed for 20 year extensions and under consideration for an additional 20 years of operation. Feeling safe yet? Don Hancock, Executive Director of Southwest Information and Research Center, updates us on the findings in the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP site) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Even the EPA couldn't ignore the shocking discrepancies in recorded times, radiation data and missing documents. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: What – the US doesn't have enough nuclear waste of its own, it has to import it back from countries that use our technology?!?!????? Well… yes, and 23,000 liters of the junk is on its way to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina from Canada. PLUS: TEPCO OOPS – 800+ pound console falls into Fukushima Unit 3 spent fuel pool… during an operation to remove debris from Unit 3 spent fuel pool;104 Fukushima children now diagnosed with thyroid cancer;Harrowing testimony about the meltdowns as they happened by former Fukushima Chief, the late Masao Yoshida, released to the public in Japanese and English. (LINK to English translation of nine articles about Yoshida's testimony: CLICK HERE) The late Masao Yoshida, Hero of Fukushima Millstone reactors' May 25 dual emergency shutdowns DID release radiation to Waterford, CT, area despite operator Dominion's claims to the contrary;and German activists chain themselves to railroad tracks to stop uranium ore shipment. Rock ‘n roll! LINKS: Comparison of Chernobyl and Fukushima radiation impact on animals and plants, published by the Chernobyl Research Initiative: CLICK HERE WORDING TO USE WITH SEN. BARBARA BOXER, ASKING HER TO REQUIRE HARDENED ONSITE STORAGE (HOSS) FOR HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORED AT REACTORS – FROM KEVIN KAMPS: Action Alert: Prevent Radioactive Waste Pool Fires! Stop Mobile Chernboyls! Support Hardened On-Site Storage! U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) chairs the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, with oversight on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and nuclear power industry. Please email her via the EPW Committee office web form. Urge Sen. Boxer to require Hardened On-Site Storage (HOSS) for high-level radioactive wastes (HLRWs) stored at reactors. HOSS is endorsed by hundreds of environmental groups representing all 50 states. HLRWs are currently stored in indoor pools, and outdoor dry casks, vulnerable to accidents, attacks, natural disasters, leaks, and catastrophic fires. If you are a California resident, you can also fill out the web form for Sen. Boxer's constituent office. Ironically enough, CA's other U.S. Senator, Dianne Feinstein, would make these risks worse. Sen. Feinstein chairs the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. In Section 308 of the Fiscal Year 2015 Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, Sen. Feinstein has proposed providing $89 million of taxpayer money towards rushing irradiated nuclear fuel onto the roads, rails, and waterways, bound for "centralized" or "consolidated interim storage" sites. These are more aptly described as de facto permanent parking lot dumps. They are targeted at Native American reservations, already contaminated Department of Energy sites, as well as nuclear power plants. HLRW trucks, trains, and barges risk Mobile Chernobyls, floating Fukushimas, and dirty bombs on wheels, and would bring us no closer to a permanent solution. Email Sen. Feinstein via her constituent web form, and urge her to support HOSS instead. You can also phone both Senators' Washington, D.C. Member offices via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you would rather phone or write Sen. Boxer's in-state office nearest you, see her listings. Sen. Feinstein also lists her local offices, as well. ### NH #166: EXCLUSIVE - USS Reagan Sailors v. TEPCO - The San Diego Hearing URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-166-exclusive-uss-reagan-sailors-v-tepco-the-san-diego-hearing/ Published: 2014-08-27 Duration: 01:00:00 JON STEWART TWEET-OF-THE-WEEK: Avoid rice in Singapore, Jon; it's imported f/Fukushima! Now enriched w/99 Bq cesium per kilogram! #NuclearHotseat #newCNNshows #nonukes — Libbe HaLevy (@NuclearHotseat) August 27, 2014 EPISODE #166 – LISTEN HERE: TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK HERE EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL REPORT: The USS Reagan v. TEPCO Hearing Nuclear Hotseat's exclusive coverage of this week's hearing in Federal Court in the $1 billion lawsuit on behalf of sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). The sailors got hit with lethal levels of radiation while on an humanitarian aid mission to provide post-earthquake/tsunami aid to Japanese victims… and never were warned of the danger they were sailing into by Fukushima-Daiichi plant operator TEPCO. Interviews with attorneys Charles Bonner (also heard in Nuclear Hotseat #129 & 138) and Paul Garner; USS Reagan veteran Steve Simmons (also heard in Nuclear Hotseat #159 & 161) and his wife Summer Simmons. ADDRESS FOR JUDGE JANIS L. SAMMARTINO: Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse 221 West Broadway, Suite 4136, Courtroom 4A San Diego, CA 92101 (l to r) Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy, attorney Charles Bonner, Summer Simmons, USS Reagan veteran Steve Simmons, attorney Paul Garner NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Does the nuclear industry actually pay its trolls to remove articles from academic databases and think that's going to stop us? A Nuclear Troll, trying to get a clue… PLUS: Change.org petition to pardon three anti-nuclear activists who conducted a peaceful protest of nuclear weapons: 84-year-old Sister Megan Rice, and two US military veterans, 58-year-old Gregory Boertje-Obed and 64-year-old, two-tour Vietnam vet Michael Walli. Click Here to Sign. ### NH #165: Dr. Ian Fairlie on Soaring Child Leukemia Rates near Nuke Reactors URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-165-dr-ian-fairlie-on-soaring-child-leukemia-rates-near-nuke-reactors/ Published: 2014-08-20 JON STEWART TWEET OF THE WEEK – Please Retweet and Favorite: Kids 5 & under living 3 miles from a nuclear reactor 37% more likely to get leukemia – Get angry Jon! #NuclearHotseat #newCNNshows #nonukes — Libbe HaLevy (@NuclearHotseat) August 20, 2014 Dr. Ian Fairlie INTERVIEW: Dr. Ian Fairlie discusses his recently released report compiling more than 60 studies on childhood leukemia rates for those living in proximity to nuclear power reactors. His shocking findings show a 37% increase in leukemia cases in children 5 and under. Learn how the study came about, what it shows — and how we can use it in our fight to shut down all nuclear reactors. Powerful information! Here's a LINK to the article: http://www.ianfairlie.org/news/childhood-leukemias-near-nuclear-power-stations-new-article/ NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: "Fukushima Supporter Chef" serves Fukushima-grown produce to guests at the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka – and brags about it! (Anyone want to cash in their Hyatt stock?) PLUS: Japanese government accused of "crimes against humanity" in its refusal to evacuate children from Fukushima;French nuclear safety group calls Fukushima "comparable to the most contaminated areas around the Chernobyl accident;"DUCK! Safety violations found at Waterford, Connecticut's Millstone NPP while Turkey Point experiences reactor trip, steam dump and Miami gets gamma radiation spikes. Coincidence? (LOL!)South Korea and Australia desperate to find storage for nuclear waste;Nuke industry targets bank boards of directors to skew support for their future funding – long term planning by nuclear-funded think tanks. Any financial wizards got a strategy to stop 'em? LINKS: Dianukes.org has a petition to scrap the Japan-india Nuclear Agreement, which was discussed with interviewee Kumar Sundaram on last week's Nuclear Hotseat #164. Sign it here.Residents Organized for a Safe Environment and San Onofre Safety have prepared an extensive report on what can go wrong with dry cask storage – and it's a lot! A glimpse at the next generation of the battle against nuclear reactors. Access the report here.Banking article – How the Nuclear Industry is targetting bank boards to set up future funding consortia:http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/E-Banking-on-nuclear-1808201401.html ### NH #164: Indian "Anti-Nuclear Gandhi" Kumar Sundaram in Japan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-164-nuclear-gandhi-kumar-sundaram-in-japan/ Published: 2014-08-13 Duration: 01:00:00 Here's the weekly Jon Stewart/Daily Show Tweet; please retweet and favorite: Fukushima nuke fuel exploded to 15 miles f/Tokyo suburb. Ready to order 2020 Olympic tix yet? #newCNNshows #nonukes http://t.co/z8zrYYcxU4 — Libbe HaLevy (@NuclearHotseat) August 13, 2014 FEATURED INTERVIEW: Kumar Sundaram, India's "Anti-Nuclear Gandhi," as he concludes a successful two week trip to Japan to warn the country about dangers inherent in a planned nuclear pact between Japan and India. Kumar Sundaram While in Japan, Kumar spoke with the media, networked with activists, addressed the weekly protest in front of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-baby's home… and went into the Fukushima exclusion zone. He provides a chilling first-hand account of what it's like within six miles of the still deadly Fukushima Daiichi meltdown. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dianuke/ NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Facebook? Let's shoot nuclear fish in a barrel! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nuclear-Regulatory-Commission/1436993716561689 NUMNUTZ OF LAST WEEK FOLLOW-UP: Beverly Kerr, Associate Director of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League BREDL's Beverly Kerr (BREDL) weighs in on last week's Numnutz about Oak Ridge National (Nuclear) Laboratory's scuttled program to provide Southern accent reduction classes to its employees… at $805 a pop! www.BREDL.org PLUS: Thyroid cancer outbreak in Fukushima children now labeled "epidemic" by Japanese professorTEPCO — clueless as usual — keeps pretending they know what they're doing, but admits that they're dumping more radioactive water into the Pacific – oy!Chernobyl adds second arch of second sarcophagi as they build the most elaborate set of nesting Matryoshka dolls ever seen. LINK: Excellent, exhaustive compilation article by A Green Road on radiation found in Japanese cars and car parts: http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/01/fukushima-radiation-contaminated-cars.html ### NH #163: Hiroshima Day Perspective w/PSR's Catherine Thomasson, Karl Grossman on Nukes in Space + Jon Stewart Twitter Campaign URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-163-hiroshima-day-perspective-wpsrs-catherine-thomasson/ Published: 2014-08-06 HERE'S THE JON STEWART TWEET! RETWEET (click the square arrows) AND FAVORITE (click the star), PLEASE! Indian Point nuke reactors only 44 miles f/your studio, Jon. That's why you need to cover nukes. #NuclearHotseat #newCNNshows #nonukes — Libbe HaLevy (@NuclearHotseat) August 6, 2014 HOW TO TWEET TO JON STEWART: Go to Twitter and sign in. If you don't have a Twitter account, sign up for one and sign in. Under the tweet, you should see "Retweet" and "Favorite." Click on both. That's it! You can also email or post on Facebook about it. Here's the Jon Stewart bit that launched the Nuclear Hotseat "Daily Show" Twitter Campaign: The Daily Show – Let's buy CNN via Kickstarter, and crowdsource the programming! (NEW FORMAT: Click on the green "DOWNLOAD HERE" just above to access the week's episode. This should take care of the problem some of you have been experiencing.) INTERVIEWS: In honor of Hiroshima Day on August 7, we focus on the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons in an interview with Dr. Catherine Thomasson, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility. www.PSR.org. Award-winning journalist Karl Grossman, our eminence grise on the history of all things nuclear, fills us in on a breakthrough in a solar space propulsion system that has the power to take nuclear permanently out of interplanetary exploration. www.KarlGrossman.com LINKS for Karl Grossman: Full Article on Solar vs. Nuclear Power in Space: http://enformable.com/2014/08/solar-vs-nuclear-power-space/ Solar Power to Take Us to the Stars The Wrong Stuff: The Space Program's Nuclear Threat To Our Planet — http://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Stuff-Programs-Nuclear-Threat/dp/1567511252Weapons in Space — http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Space-Open-Media-Series/dp/1583220445Documentary video written and narrated by Karl Grossman – Nukes in Space: The Nuclearization and Weaponization of the Heavens — www.envirovideo.com NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: C'mon down to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, y'all, an larn how to talk nukes reeeeeeel good! LINKS: "Nuclear Gandhi" Kumar Sundaram speaks Truth to Power in Japan Kumar Sundaram – India's "Nuclear Gandhi" – speaks Truth to Power in Japan about India's nuclear dealings with the country that brought us all Fukushima. LINK: http://www.dianuke.org/modi-on-nuclear-shopping-spree-with-manmohan-singhs-old-bag-in-his-hand/ Myla Reson's new video, NukeBusters vs. Nuke Boosters: ### NH #162: US Military Radiation Report Refuted by USS Reagan's Simmons, Epidemiologist Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-162-us-military-radiation-report-refuted-by-uss-reagans-simmons-epidemiologist-mangano/ Published: 2014-07-30 Duration: 01:00:00 Abe Road? INTERVIEWS: The United States military just issued a Congressionally-mandated report that says, in effect, that Fukushima's radiation could not possibly be responsible for the catastrophic illnesses being experienced by the sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan, despite all appearances and common sense to the contrary. So two genuine experts take on that report: US Navy (retired) Steve Simmons, a 17-year veteran of the service who was on the USS Reagan and three years later is confined to a wheelchair with a wide range of physical illnesses. He takes on the lack of logic in the report, as well providing his deeply personal response. (Steve was originally interviewed on Nuclear Hotseat #159 http://ow.ly/yWnkf) Joseph Mangano, Executive Director of Radiation and Public Health Project, offers an epidemiological analysis of that report, pointing out flaws in its premises and its historic similarity to other occasions when the US government downplayed nuclear dangers. USS Reagan sailors attempting on-deck radiation clean-up NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: If the officers in charge of arming and firing US nuclear missiles can't pass their tests, the Air Force has the answer: change the way they're graded! Self esteem and anti-bullying classes next on the schedule… PLUS: Ma Nature‘s getting really pissed as monkeys in Japan show low blood counts and cesium in their muscle tissue, caribou herds in Alaska hit record lows, and starfish keep dying and sliming up the beaches of North America's west coast.Fukushima's ice wall is less of a popsicle, at best like a Slushie, and ain't gonna stop no water no how. Didn't anyone ever explain to the Japanese that salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water? No wonder all that ice they dumped in just melted… TEPCO workers try to stop the nuclear party, but there ain't enough ice in the world unless someone clicks and drags Japan to the Arctic Circle. Genuine expert invited to the Japanese Ministry of Environment's Expert Meeting Discussing Health Support After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident tries to discuss providing health support to local residents… and is not allowed to talk by the meeting Chair, who is also the man who invited him. ### NH #161: UN's UNSCEAR Fukushima Radiation Report Blasted by IPPNW's Alex Rosen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-161-uns-unscear-fukushima-radiation-report-blasted-by-ippnws-alex-rosen/ Published: 2014-07-23 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED INTERVIEW: Dr. Alex Rosen, a German pediatrician and Vice President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in Germany, cites his organization's recently published Critical Analysis of the UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee On The Effects Of Atomic Radiation) report on Fukushima that seriously – some might say criminally — minimizes the health dangers of that nuclear disaster. Dr. Rosen decodes the UNSCEAR report's methodology, shows where it cherry-picked its data and, in effect, demolishes its credibility. LINKS: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War: www.ippnw.org English version of IPPNW's Critical Analysis of UNSCEAR report : http://ippnw-students.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/UNSCEAR-Critique.pdfIPPNW – Germany: www.ippnw.de IPPNW Germany's Fukushima Website: www.fukushima-disaster.deWHO (世界保健機関)の「2011年東日本大地震津波後の原発事故がもたらす被曝線量の仮算定」フクシマ大災害リポート：アレックスローゼン博士による分析の日本語版はこちらをクリックして下さい。- Japanese version of Critical Analysis of UNSCEAR report: http://fukushimavoice2.blogspot.com/2014/06/psrippnw-unscear.html NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Fukushima city government launches a new public information program to educate its kids about radiation. It includes such contraindicated gems as: It is important to walk or play outside.Open the window to keep good ventilation (nothing about the need for air filtration).Dry clothes in sunshine (no word about radionuclides in the air or dust)Air your futon outside when it's sunny! Fukushima city government campaign, "Let's Build Radiation Resistance Body" For a more realistic look at what it means to attempt life in Fukushima Daiichi's radiation-saturated environment, here's a picture of Fukushima nuclear refugee Setsuko Kida (from Nuclear Hotseat #134 – http://ow.ly/sP00P) facing the need to do her dishes with bottled water: Setsuko was surprised to see clean dishes stacked on her kitchen sink. “The dishes were still dirty in the sink, but my husband must have brought along some water and washed them,” she said, choking back tears. 台所の食器が綺麗に洗ってあると驚く木田さん。 「汚れっぱなしだったんだけど、お父さんがわざわざ水を持ってきて洗ってくれたのね、、。」 と木田さんが少し声を詰まらせながら言った。 Photos courtesy of Yuji Kaneko for use on Nuclear Hotseat website. Reproduction requires permission. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DUCK AND COVER REPORT: Oconee Nuclear Station in Florida forced to shut down from undetected crack that leaked; NRC forces regulator Duke Energy to attend a conference;Proposed shutdown of Indian Point reactors near Manhattan so heated water discharge doesn't kill billions of fish, fish eggs and larvae; Entergy asks NRC to extend licenses another 20 years each, though Unit 2's license expired in 2013 – and it's still operating! And… When people get concerned about safety limits, change the limit to change the perception = no problem! Florida Power and Light's Turkey Point nuclear power reactors in Miami-Dade County are trying to cool the reactor with canal water that's 99 degrees – only one degree short of the NRC's safety limit for cooling water. FPL's solution? Asking the NRC to raise the 100-degree operating limit to 104 degrees so the reactors can stay on line. OY! ### NH #160: WIPP Radiation Accident Update w/Don Hancock, Voices from Japan w/Filmmaker Yumiko Hayakawa URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-160-wipp-update-voices-fjapan-filmmaker-yumiko-hayakawa/ Published: 2014-07-16 Duration: 01:00:00 URGENT – THE EPA PLANS TO RAISE "ALLOWABLE" RADIATION LIMITS BY AS MUCH AS A FACTOR OF 350! ACCEPTING COMMENTS UNTIL AUGUST 3, 2014 – WRITE TO THEM NOW! http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0689-0001 INTERVIEWS: WIPP ACCIDENT – Don Hancock, Director of Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, NM, brings us up to date again about the February 14 underground explosion and radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site in Carlsbad, NM.LINK TO WIPP TOWN HALL MEETING LIVESTREAM: http://new.livestream.com/rrv/Thursday, July 24 from 5:30 to 6:30 Mountain Time First and third Thursdays of the month. WIPP TOWN HALL MEETING ARCHIVES: http://www.wipp.energy.gov/wipprecovery/photo_video.html VOICES FROM JAPAN – Filmmaker Yumiko Hayakawa on TEPCO's subtle censorship of her film about Fukushima refugee and anti-nuclear activist Setsuko Kida, "A Woman from Fukushima." The film was recently a selection at the Uranium Film Festival in Rio De Janiero.SOARCA – State of the Art Reactor Consequence Analyses – the NRC's flawed computer program for calculating the risks of nuclear accidents, explained by Scott Portzline of Three Mile Island Alert. LINK: http://www.efmr.org/files/2012/SOARCA-2-22-2012.pdf NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Party, anyone? The pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plighted the troth of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 50 years ago and they want everyone to know! They work together on issues of food safety, animal production and insect pest control. If you can't see what's wrong with this picture, check out Fukushima's radioactive rice, the Pacific's marine animals in species collapse, and, oh well, what's wrong with nuking mosquitos? And we wonder why the world's in such a mess… Plants sprout in bags of deconaminated soil at Fukushima. So much for containment! LINKS: AGAIN – EPA'S LINK TO COMMENT ON THEIR PLANS TO RAISE "ALLOWABLE" RADIATION LIMITS BY AS MUCH AS A FACTOR OF 350! ACCEPTING COMMENTS UNTIL AUGUST 3, 2014 – WRITE TO THEM NOW! http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0689-0001Harvey Wasserman's excellent "50 Reasons We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima" – http://ecowatch.com/2014/02/02/50-reasons-fear-fukushima/ ### NH #159: USS Reagan's Steve Simmons & $1B Lawsuit against TEPCO URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-159-uss-reagans-steve-simmons-1b-lawsuit-against-tepco/ Published: 2014-07-09 Duration: 01:00:00 USS Reagan sailor Steve Simmons and his wife, Summer INTERVIEW: Steve Simmons, a 17-year Navy veteran who served on the USS Ronald Reagan when it was called to do humanitarian aid work in Japan following the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, which began the Fukushima nuclear disaster. He is one of 112 sailors currently suing Fukushima Daiichi power plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company – TEPCO – to create a $1 billion fund to cover medical expenses for all the armed forces personnel whose health has been devastated by their exposure to radiation. For other USS Reagan/Fukushima radiation victims to contact the attorneys for the TEPCO lawsuit: www.victims.net To contact lead attorney Paul Garner: PCG@Garner law.com NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Surf's up! Anyone want to go swimming at a cesium-laden beach in northeast Japan? Of course not! So just don't test for cesium – et voila! – problem goes away… er, not! Children swim in the sea at the Nakoso beach in Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture, 65km south of the crippled TEPCO nuclear power plant, on July 16, 2013. NEWS: More suspect nuclear waste containers identified at WIPP repository in Carlsbad, NM; radiation spike believed linked to removal of filters.TEPCO breaks vow, refuses more compensation for Fukushima nuclear victims.Tokyo supermarket sells Fukushima tomatoes for half price; sells out fast!Earthquakes Without Faultlines in New Mexico near WIPP and New York near Indian Point;Hurricane Arthur and Japanese Super-Typhoon Neoguri menace nuclear plants in their path; emergency prep measures taken. LINKS: Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Helen Caldicott, who was founding President of Physicians for Social Responsibility and Founder of Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament, debunks thorium reactors: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-caldicott/thorium_b_5546137.htmlEPA wants to raise radiation limits by a factor of 350! Tell EPA head Gina McCarthy (who was responsible for the EPA's RadNet monitors not working in the immediate aftermath of Fukushima) what they can do with the proposed new standards; public input requested:http://www.epa.gov/radiation/laws/190/#publicinput ### NH #158: San Onofre's Latest Dangers w/Donna Gilmore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-158-san-onofres-latest-dangers-wdonna-gilmore/ Published: 2014-07-02 Duration: 01:00:00 Image by 281_Antinuke BREAKING NEWS: Scott Portzline of TMI Alert, the Three Mile Island group based in Harrisburg, PA, on a new level of cyber-vulnerability in nuclear reactors and other energy generators, with a current attack that originates in Russia. This is a story that has not yet made it into mainstream media. Hear it here first! INTERVIEW: Donna Gilmore, one of the activists deeply involved in the actions that helped shut down the San Onofre nuclear reactors in southern California, now brings us up to speed on the latest set of dangerous possibilities at the site. She focuses on the problems of storing high burn-up fuel in substandard dry casks — and minces no words about the problems created by the California Public Utilities Commission. You thought all you had to do was shut them down? Hah! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: When is an "Unusual Event" (aka Level One Warning of malfunction or potential accident) at a nuclear facility NOT an Unusual Event? When it only happens for a really short time… and nobody notices! PLUS: WIPP radiation release numbers up for the first time since the Valentine's Day Plutonium and Americium releases at the Carlsbad, NM facility;International Fish Oil Standards Program now testing fish oil samples for radiation;More than 50 Canadian and US communities oppose nuke waste dump half a mile from Lake Huron that Canada's government is poised to approve: Government-funded study in Japan shows Fukushima radiation release into the Pacific Ocean exceeds Chernobyl's total releases for land and water;And if you're flying to or from Japan, avoid hard candies and ice cream en route because both JAL and Thai Airways found to be serving sweets made in Fukushima from local ingredients. JAL serves Fukushima candy for free on board flights to "support by eating." ### NH #157: Climate Change w/Nuke Engineer Ernie Goitein, NIRS Head Tim Judson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-157-climate-change-wnuke-engineer-ernie-goitein-nirs-head-tim-judson/ Published: 2014-06-25 Duration: 01:00:00 Image by 281_Anti nuke INTERVIEWS: Nuclear engineer Ernie Goitein offers clear explanations of engineering problems w/aging nuclear plants and provides a new insight as to how nukes directly impact global warming. Tim Judson, Executive Director of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) on this September's People's Climate March and why anti-nuclear activists must rally and participate in large numbers. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-baby wants an integrated research center for "more rapid decommissioning" of Fukushima. So when will it begin? Not until April, 2015, at the latest! Uh, a little behind the ball, Abe-baby? And he wants to wait until then to allow "experts" to teach classes. Never heard of Free Conference lines or Skype or Google Hang-outs for sharing information? And who are the "leading researchers and engineers" from around the world you're asking? Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education? Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, senior advisor at Radioactive Waste Management Associates? This week's guest, nuclear engineer Ernie Goitein? Not holding my breath… Ft. Calhoun nuclear reactors surrounded by Missouri River floodwaters, June-July, 2011 PLUS: Fort Calhoun NPP faces flooding from the Missouri River… again;National call for NRC Commissioner William Magwood to resign in conflict of interest case;Cow showing possible radiation-created white "dots" brought to Tokyo in protest by Fukushima Prefecture farmers; Fukushima cow showing white spots – no bull! Aboriginal people in Australia force proposed Muckaty nuke dump out of business before it can be built; Russia cracks down on anti-nuke activists, calling them "foreign agents." LINKS: WIPP Workers' Uh-Oh Plutonium Valentine! – a video by Myla Reson "Closure of WIPP Casts Long Shadow" by Lauren Villagran, Albuquerque Journal: http://www.abqjournal.com/415944/news/closure-of-wipp-casts-long-shadow.html"An Indian Point Supporter has Second Thoughts" by Paul Gallay:www.riverkeeper.org/blog/watchdog/an-indian-point-supporter-has-second-thoughts/ Fukushima Children to play on uncontaminated soil for 2 weeks in France: www.ulule.com/fukushima ### NH #156 - 3rd Anniversary + WIPP Update w/Don Hancock URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-156-3rd-anniversary-wipp-update-wdon-hancock/ Published: 2014-06-18 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED: Don Hancock, Executive Director of the Southwest Information and Research Center, brings us up to date with another insightful update on what's happening at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site following the February 14, 2014 plutonium leak that shut the facility down. AND – For Nuclear Hotseat's third anniversary, Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy shares the fun of remembering how Nuclear Hotseat got started as a live conference call with only two callers, along with a mere smattering of her favorite outtakes. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The prime minister of Singapore, who met with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe-baby and summarily lifted the ban on Fukushima fruits and veggies. No science, just a meeting. What did Abe-baby promise you, good seats to the opening ceremony of the 2020 Radioactive Tokyo Olympics? IN THE NEWS: The number of Fukushima children's thyroid cancer cases keeps increasing, with some having cancer metastisizing;TEPCO admits that the ice wall around Fukushima's reactors refuses to freeze; Pacific Ocean continues ecological catastrophe as more species collapse;Greenpeace releases study saying French renewables cheaper than nukes by 2019;And Pakistan has more nuclear sense than the US when it comes to protecting its citizens from radiation. LINKS: Harvey Wasserman‘s excellent article, "Fukushima's Children are Dying." http://ecowatch.com/2014/06/14/fukushima-children-dying/ 2011 AP article on "Radioactive Leaks found at 75% of US Nuke Sites" —http://www.cbsnews.com/news/radioactive-leaks-found-at-75-of-us-nuke-sites/LA Times article, "Santa Susana Toxic Cleanup Effort is a Mess" by Michael Hiltzik: http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-20140613-column.html#page=1 ### NH #155: BREAKING: 1st USS Reagan Death + Voices f/Japan: Komoro Homestay w/Laura & Giichi Inoue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-155-breaking-1st-uss-reagan-death-voices-fjapan-komoro-homestay-wlaura-giichi-inoue/ Published: 2014-06-11 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/9be8296a-eae1-763b-5077-de36432384a6.mp3 BREAKING – A NUCLEAR HOTSEAT EXCLUSIVE: First death of a USS Ronald Reagan sailor hit by radiation from Fukushima Daiichi while on the humanitarian aid Operation Tomodachi.  Information just released today by the legal team representing the USS Reagan sailors in their billion dollar lawsuit against TEPCO. Military honors for the late Theodore A. Holcomb, formerly  of the USS Ronald Reagan and one of the sailors represented in the billion dollar lawsuit against TEPCO. FEATURED – VOICES FROM JAPAN: Laura and Giichi Inoue run Komoro Homestay, a program which sponsors Fukushima families with small children to come to the relative safety of the Komoro/Nagano region to alleviate the stress of their daily lives .   They provide educational materials and the chance to speak honestly about their fears and stresses – a rarity in Japan.  To contact Komoro Homestay, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/299490890226766/ For those who wish to share practical radiation-related material with Komoro Homestay, send an email to: LauraJane713@gmail.com.  NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Canadian Nuclear "Safety" Commission has the gall to produce report saying that while the rest of the world's radioactive materials may cause cancer, their s**t don't stink and their radiation won't hurt you… unless… well sometimes… maybe… but not very often… no, really (said Pinnochio as his nose grew longer…). PLUS: NRC needs to "duck and cover" as Sen. Barbara Boxer demands accountability and Sen. Ed Markey blows the lid off NRC reprisals against employees who stand up for safety; Sen. Boxer On Fire re: Wild Fire Within 1/2 mile of San Onofre Nuke Plant – a video by Myla Reson Vermont Yankee critics use laugh track on NRC and Entergy spokesmodels; Radioactive groundwater spikes under Indian Point NPP; TEPCO admits it hasn't a clue what's happening with the melted core or the water leaks at Fukushima; Japan forgets to report on its hidden stash of 80-bombs-worth of weapons grade plutonium – OOPS! Midwest activists unveil media campaign against new Fermi 3 nuke in Michigan: Billboard campaign against proposed new Fermi 3 nuclear reactor in Michigan LINKS: Ace investigative reporter Susannah Frame reports on  workers denied medical care benefits after toxic exposure at the Hanford Site for KING 5 News in Seattle: http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/For-injured-Hanford-workers-its-deny-deny-deny-260041531.html Contact information for Sister Megan Rice: Metropolitan Detention Center PO Box 329002 Brooklyn, NY  11232 Contact information for Michael Walli, 92108-020 FCI McKeanFederal Correctional Institution PO Box 8000 Bradford, PA  16701 Contact information for Gregory Boertje-Obed 08052-016 USP Leavenworth PO Box 1000 Leavenworth, KS  66048 ### NH #154: WHO/IAEA Unholy Alliance - Joe Mangano Shreds WHO's Epidemiology + Never-been-heard Alison Katz Outakes URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-154-whoiaea-unholy-alliance-joe-mangano-shreds-whos-epidemiology-never-been-heard-alison-katz-outakes/ Published: 2014-06-04 Duration: 01:00:00 The second of two special encore presentations on the World Health Organization's "Unholy Alliance" with the pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project (radiation.org) shreds the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) stranglehold on the World Health Organization's (WHO) ability to present honest information on radiation dangers to public health. A point-by-point analysis of IAEA's flawed epidemiological mandate to WHO, based on the late Dr. Rosalie Bertell's analysis. Core information on how the entire world has been tricked into believing radiation is no big deal. Joseph Mangano (r) with RPHP supporter Christie Brinkley (l) Alison Katz of Independent WHO was featured in last week's encore presentation. Here, we provide never-been-heard outtakes from that interview where Alison talks about the geopolitics of the World Health Organization; the impact of the seven-year, five-day-a-week protest at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, by Independent WHO; and a major flaw in the epidemiology that allows the WHO to claim only 50 deaths resulting from Chernobyl. Regular Nuclear Hotseat format resumes next week with #155, including a new Voices from Japan. ### NH #153: Special Encore: WHO/IAEA Unholy Alliance w/Independent WHO's Alison Katz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-153-special-encore-whoiaea-unholy-alliance/ Published: 2014-05-26 Duration: 01:00:00 THIS IS A SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION of Nuclear Hotseat, the first of two on the unholy alliance between the World Health Organization and the pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency. Alison Katz, today's interviewee, is a sociologist and psychologist who worked inside the WHO for 18 years. Now a leader within Independent WHO, which she will explain, Alison dissects the history, politics and manipulations of the United Nations agency we're supposed to trust to safeguard the world's health – especially in nuclear matters. This is a Nuclear Hotseat exclusive. http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/4fe934f5-3bd4-0155-d229-6b32ad5e462e.mp3 NEXT WEEK: Joseph Mangano, Director of Radiation and Public Health Project (radiation.org), will go over the flawed epidemiology used by the WHO in its analysis of Chernobyl's impact, based on the work of the late Dr. Rosalie Bertel. ### NH #152: Voices from Japan: Idogawa, Horikiri and Oishinbo Controversy URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-152-voices-from-japan-idogawa-horikiri-and-oishinbo/ Published: 2014-05-21 Duration: 01:00:00 ニュークリアーホットシート 日本語版を聞く場合はここをクリックして下さい。LISTEN HERE (JAPANESE): ダウンロードをして聞く場合はここをクリックして下さい。DOWNLOAD HERE (JAPANESE): http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/933b7c4e-aae7-fb97-d946-e757dab5cbbf.mp3 FEATURED: Voices from Japan features former Futuba Mayor Idogawa, filmmaker Satomi Horiki, and an examination of the Oishinbo manga comic controversy over nosebleeds, radiation fatigue and government suppression of the medical facts. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: A Kennedy and a Beatle? Yep! When they could get together and save the world. Imagine… Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, in full hazmat at Fukushima. PLUS: Fukushima Prefectural Government and Fukushima Medical University found to have signed secrecy pact with pro-nuclear IAEA;Radiation keeps peaking over previous peaks at Fukushima, but TEPCO plans to just dump radwater into the Pacific starting next week;California wildfires threaten San Onofre nuclear waste: Southern California wildfire threatening San Onofre's spent fuel pools; note the traffic jam of people trying to escape. Thyroid cancer in Fukushima kids jumps 51.5% over February numbers;Los Alamos is the definite source of WIPP underground explosion and radiation leak – more containers at risk at WIPP, at WCS in Texas, and at Los Alamos;Ukraine stops armed gunmen from forcing their way into nuclear power plant;Canada throws out preliminary approvals for two new nukes in Ontario;CA Public Utilities Commission President Michael R. Peevey gets peeved and shouts/curses down honest question at SCE pork barrel evidentiary hearing;…and much more! LINKS: ### NH #151: WIPP Done In by Kitty Litter?!? Maybe Not! Don Hancock, + Ray Lutz on CPUC/SCE $3.3 Billion San Onofre Bailout URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-151-wipp-kitty-litter-maybe-not-don-hancock-ray-lutz-on-cpucsce-3-3-b-sano-bailout/ Published: 2014-05-14 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Don Hancock, Director of Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, NM, brings us up to date on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site, including his take on the "green kitty litter" now being blamed for the "explosion that was not an ‘explosion'" that caused a radiation leak at the government's only site for nuclear waste disposal. CONTACT INFO for DOE Media Spokesmodel Bradley Bugger at WIPP: EMAIL: Bradley.Bugger@cbfo.doe.gov PHONE: 575-234-7545. Worker at the WIPP Site in Full Hazmat Mufti Ray Lutz of Citizen's Oversight Project interprets the confusing shenanigans about the California Public Utility Commission's "done deal" bailout of defunct San Onofre nuclear power facility's operators Southern California Edison, to the tune of $3.3 BILLION in taxpayer funds. But it's not over yet! This was not an invitation to SCE to continue to milk the ratepayers! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Kyushu Electric Power and Hokkaido Electric Power are complaining: "Mom, TEPCO got a bailout from the Japanese government and they made a profit of $4.3 BILLION last year, why can't we get a multi-billion dollar bailout of our own, huh, huh???????" PLUS: NRC sets seismic analyses of 21 nuclear reactors as "a priority" – as long as it takes place by 2019 <!>.Fukushima Prefecture goes bonkers over Manga comic with characters who tell the truth about nosebleeds, fatigue; Worker sues TEPCO for radiation exposure, cites USS Reagan sailors;N. America's Fukushima fallout exposure estimated at 400 TRILLION bequerels of Cesium-137;and TEPCO's frozen sea wall – any bets? ### NH #150: Award-winning Journalist Karl Grossman URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-150-award-winning-journalist-karl-grossman/ Published: 2014-05-07 Duration: 01:00:00 Interview w/award-winning investigative journalist Karl Grossman on how the nuclear industry has gamed the media since before Hiroshima, why mainstream media continues to resist coverage of nuclear news, and thoughts on how to start breaking that logjam. www.KarlGrossman.com FREE KARL GROSSMAN BOOK (pdf): Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power – For your FREE download, just click on Cover Up Sample * NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: TEPCO double-header: Naohiro Masuda, newly appointed head of the Fukushima Daiichi "Decontamination and Decommissioning" Company, on cost-cutting measures which include eliminating what?!?!????? from on-site workers? AND – TEPCO claims they can't afford to keep providing stipends to Fukushima residents forced out of their homes and will cut them off next March. So how much did this genocidal company net last year? Hold onto your knickers… (Full story on Masuda here: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/WR-Taking-on-Fukushima-0205141.html) PLUS: WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) site in Carlsbad, New Mexico, shows damage to bags of magnesium oxide placed atop waste containers to stop radiation leaks – LOL!; WIPP site magnesium oxide bags – intended to prevent release of radioactive material into the environment for 10,000 years. How's that working for you? Hanford explosion during Plutonium Finishing Plant demolition hidden from authorities and public for two weeks; union rep furious;Tokyo quakes register 6.6 and 6.1, but word from Fukushima's Spent Fuel Pool 4: Don't worry, be happy!;Scott Portzline of Three Mile Island Alert offers a special invitation to participate in a webinar on NRC lies with Tim Judson of NIRS, Eric Epstein of TMI Alert and himself. …and if we could talk to the animals – meaning the fish/sea lions/sea birds/whales/owls/otters on the west coast of North America, they'd be really really pissed off at us about what the radiation from Fukushima is doing to them! ### NH #149: WIPP Radiation Leak SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-149/ Published: 2014-05-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat #149: WIPP Radiation Leak SPECIAL – Download Here Spotlight on the radiation leak and closure at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad New Mexico with a trio of interviewees: Don Hancock, Director of Southwest Research and Information Center Karen Hadden, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition Diane D'Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director at Nuclear Information and Resource Service, or NIRS. PLUS: Chernobyl – collateral damage in Putin/Ukraine clash? Nuclear refugees being forced to return to Fukushima despite deadly radiation levels and ongoing health problems. And Obama eats sushi in Tokyo – what's wrong with THIS picture? ### NH #148: Chernobyl Anniversary Special + Voices from Japan: The Chernobyl/Fukushima Connection URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-148/ Published: 2014-05-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat #148: Chernobyl Anniversary Special + Voices from Japan: The Chernobyl/Fukushima Connection – DOWNLOAD HERE Interviews with: Dr. Janette Sherman on the medical consequences of Fukushima Dr. Alexey Yablokov, editor of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment Bonnie Kouneva, Chernobyl downwinder living in Bulgaria, on the personal impact of the disaster on her life and the lives of her family “Voices from Japan” features Japanese photojournalist Ryuichi Hirokawa, the first non-Soviet journalist to document the Chernobyl disaster and one of the first journalists on the scene at Fukushima. ### NH #147: BREAKING - Texas OK’s Foreign-owned Nukes; Italy’s Anti-Nuke Powerhouse Massimo Greco URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-147/ Published: 2014-05-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat #147: BREAKING – Texas OK’s Foreign-owned Nukes; Italy’s Anti-Nuke Powerhouse Massimo Greco – Click here for download link. ### NH #146: Latest WIPP Radiation Release Update, Bequerels Awareness Day, UN's Deadly Radiation Lies URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-146/ Published: 2014-05-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat #146: Latest WIPP Radiation Release Update, Bequerels Awareness Day, UN's Deadly Radiation Lies – http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/1a1ba8c9-5529-9e3b-4a42-98a476bb2688.mp3 . ### NH #145: WIPP & San Onofre Updates + More Voices from Japan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-145-wipp-san-onofre-updates-voices-japan/ Published: 2014-04-02 Fukushima Collective Evacuation Lawsuit attorney Toshio Yanagihara (left), and voluntary evacuee Katsumi Hasegawa (right), met with Noam Chomsky and a Fukushima mother and child in Tokyo recently. FEATURING: Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center provides the latest information on the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Project Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico;Gene Stone, founder of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment, lets us know what the post-reactor decommissioning and clean-up process looks like, based on his recent appearance as the only anti-nuclear voice on Southern California Edison's commmunity panel on decommissioning. Gene provides lots of wise suggestions for local activists in the US;Voices of Japan, the feature that allows people in Japan impacted by Fukushima to directly tell the world the truth of their experience. This week: Katsumi Hasegawa provides a father's perspective on voluntary evacuation from Fukushima for his family, including two small children; and Toshio Yanagihara, the attorney who filed the Collective Evacuation Lawsuit on behalf of the children of Fukushima shares his frustrations and fears. Powerful stuff. (Links in progress) LINKS FOR VOICES FROM JAPAN: The link to participate in the "Matsumoto Project" boarding school plan for Fukushima kids http://www.kodomoryugaku-matsumoto.net/?page_id=614 A subtitled video of Toshio Yanagihara in 2012 speaking at the U.N. and other links will be up on our website, nuclearhotseat.com/blog under Episode #145. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iseUGiGAXh4 Our Planet TV video of Yanagihara, Hasegawa, Chomsky meeting in Tokyo (Japanese only, except Chomsky's part) http://www.ourplanet-tv.org/?q=node/1739 Democracy Now coverage of Chomsky meeting in Tokyo http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/11/chomsky_from_hiroshima_to_fukushima_vietnam Collective Evacuation Trial blog (not presently active in English, but includes many archived translated posts and videos) http://fukushima-evacuation-e.blogspot.com/ NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Fukushima Prefecture's Fishermen's Union approves TEPCO scheme to fool people into thinking they're really doing something about the radioactive water pouring into the Pacific… because of an image problem?!?!??? PLUS: News!Sarcasm!…and Mimi German with RadCast – The Radiation Weather Report ### NH #144: Three Mile Island Anniversary SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-144-three-mile-island-anniversary-special/ Published: 2014-03-26 Duration: 01:00:00 Three Mile Island – 35 Years Later NUCLEAR HOTSEAT SPECIAL: Three Mile Island Anniversary Thirty-five years after the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, what do we remember of it? What is it other than a moment we mention but do not understand? Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy was one mile away when the accident happened. This is her story, along with that of all those who live through the fear and the lingering suspicion that more happened than was ever communicated to the world. Featuring Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education, former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford, long time Middletown resident Mary Stamos, TMI Alert tech expert Scott Portzline, excerpts from news reports, including the CBS Special with Walter Cronkite, and Libbe HaLevy's personal story of what it was like to be one mile away from a nuclear reactor accident as it was happening. ### NH #143: WIPP Update #4 w/Don Hancock + New Food Safety Feature URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-143-wipp-update-4-wdon-hancock-new-food-safety-feature/ Published: 2014-03-19 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center again fills us in on the latest developments at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) in Carlsbad New Mexico following the Valentine's Day radiation leak. What exactly happened, how much leaked, how far has it traveled in which direction, what are the radiation levels — we run it all by Don and get as many anaswers as are possible. NEW FEATURE: Food Safety and Nutrition for Immune Support and Detoxification with Kimberly Roberson, founder and director of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN). She is a certified Diet Counselor and Nutrition Educator and author of Silence Deafening, Fukushima Fallout A Mother's Response. To listen to her free March 23 teleconference on using zeolite for radiation protection, go to her website, http://newhealthdesign.com/events. Image by 281_Antinuke NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: British Navy almost torpedoes its own nuke site. PLUS: Fukushima update from last week's orgy of anniversary coverage;Nova Scotia ship either has or has not released radiation from four cylinders knocked over;Fire at Scottish Dounreay nuclear decontamination facility only one week after officials learn of radwaste leak on site in 2012;Fairbanks, AK unanimously passes Fukushima radiation monitoring resolution requesting monitoring of coastal waters and resources;and RadCast, the Radiation Weather Report, with Mimi German. ### NH #142: Fukushima Anniversary SPECIAL: Voices from Japan - English & Japanese Versions URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-142-fukushima-anniversary-special-voices-japan/ Published: 2014-03-10 Duration: 01:00:00 日本語版を聞く場合はここをクリックして下さい。LISTEN HERE: (JAPANESE): ダウンロードをして聞く場合はここをクリックして下さい。DOWNLOAD HERE (JAPANESE): FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Hiroaki Koide, Asst. Professor, Kyoto University Research Reactor InstituteTaro Yamamoto, actor and member of the Japanese Diet Upper House. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201307220053Midori Kiuchi, popular television and movie actressKaori Suzuki, Director of the Tarachine Citizens Radiation Monitoring CenterRuiko Muto, lead plaintiff of a large group of Fukushima residents who have filed a criminal complaint against TEPCO and the Japanese government. http://japanfocus.org/-Muto-Ruiko/3784 http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/people/AJ201206160009 The last time Setsuko Kida was home was Oct. 7 last year. She forgot her keys, and in an angry moment, she scrawled graffiti on her front door: “This house cost $320,000 21 years ago, TEPCO paid us $90,000, and we still owe $70,000 on our loan. Bureaucrats, politicians, Reconstruction Agency, TEPCO, Keidanren and PM Abe: Before you say anything, TRY LIVING HERE FOR A WHILE!” 去年10月7日。木田さん自身が自宅の玄関ドアに書いた政府、東電への抗議文。 その日は、うっかり玄関の鍵を忘れて中に入れなかったという。 Photos courtesy of Yuji Kaneko for use on Nuclear Hotseat website. Reproduction requires permission. Seiichi Mizuno is a businessman, former president of Seibu Department Stores, and former member of the Japanese Diet Upper House. www.miznos.com. Kosuke Ito is a former citizen of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, who helped to start Frontier Minamisoma NPO. www.frontier-minamisoma.org/‎Laura Inoue of Komoro Homestay Programme for Mothers and Children. Laurajane713@gmail.com MUSIC LINKS: Music at the top of the program, "Sokoniaru Hikari," by Zero-nomi-kuma: http://zeronomikuma.com and https://www.facebook.com/zeronomikuma) Music at the end of the show, "No Nukes, Baby," is based on "Nothing on You" by B.O.B featuring Bruno Mars, with a new lyric by singer Natsu No Color, a Tokyo-based musician who performs regularly at Japanese anti-nuke rallies. http://m.reverbnation.com/artist/natsu ### NH #141: Shocking Cancer Stats @Diablo Canyon w/Dr. Jerry Brown URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-141-shocking-cancer-stats-diablo-canyon-wdr-jerry-brown/ Published: 2014-03-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Libbe HaLevy's Nuclear Memoir Ebook #1 in Category on Amazon Kindle 3 Days in a Row! Buy it here: http://amzn.to/1llNo2w INTERVIEWS: Dr. Jerry Brown, director of the Safe Energy Project for the Santa Barbara-based World Business Academy, talks about the new study commissioned from esteemed epidemiologist Joseph Mangano. It reveals shocking cancer statistics in counties adjacent to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Link to a free pdf of the study: http://worldbusiness.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Report-on-Health-Status-of-Residents-Near-Diablo-Canyon-Nuclear-Power-Plant.pdf Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center provides an update on the Valentine's Day radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Thirteen above ground workers now know to have been exposed to Plutonium, Americium. How big was the release and how far did it go? And when will we know? www.sric.org for updates. LOL if it weren't so upsetting. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Evil Numnutz as World Nuclear News releases a report that they claim "proves" that Fukushima residents are "unlikely to receive doses significantly different to normal background radiation levels as a result of the accident." What are those people smoking/drinking? PLUS: Hanford site threatened by cracked dam 40 miles upstream; Hawaiian state senators call for radiation tracking in their local Pacific waters, citing fish found w/high levels of cesium contamination;Babcock and Wilcox – makers of low quality nuclear reactors including the one that melted down at Three Mile Island – can't find buyers for their small modular nuclear reactors, while Exelon threatens to shut down 3 reactor sites in Illinois because they aren't making any money – awwwwwww! (not!);"Mind boggling" levels of cesium found in Fukushima reservoirs as rockfish caught off the coast found even more radioactive than Japan's permissive permissible levels;Hundreds rally in Tokyo to protest prosecutors letting TEPCO off the hook without a single indictment, while government persecuting journalist Mari Takenouchi for speaking out on radation risks and the need to evacuate children from Fuushima. Here's a link to a petition to support Takenouchi: http://nuclear-news.net/2014/03/03/support-mari-takenouchi-and-radiation-protection-the-attack-on-japanese-truthtellers-continues/RadCast Radiation Weather Report w/Mimi German;…and more! More! More! LINK: Journalist Karl Grossman's article for Counterpunch, "The Giant Lie about Fukushima" – http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/03/03/the-giant-lie-about-fukushima/ Check out Karl's reference to Nuclear Hotseat #118 interview w/Alison Katz of Independent WHO. http://ow.ly/oSftT ### NH #140: NM Radiation Leak Update w/Don Hancock, Dr. Catherine URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-140-nm-radiation-leak-update-wdon-hancock-dr-cathering-euler/ Published: 2014-02-26 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy's Nuclear Memoir is PUBLISHED AS OF FEBRUARY 27, 2014! Get ebook directly from Amazon at: http://amzn.to/1euWD8a Nuclear Hotseat #140 THE INTERVIEWS: Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center (www.sric.org) again provides us with on-the-ground information of what's really going on with the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.Dr. Catherine Wind Euler of Mamabears Against Nukes (https://www.facebook.com/mamabears.againstnukes?fref=ts) goes over radiation basics as applies to the human body.RadCast's Mimi German weighs in on the EPA's pesky air monitors – will they work? will they not work? and Why?!? www.RadCast.orgChizu Hamada, a businesswoman originally from Japan, has been working to coordinate protest efforts around the world to mark the third anniversary of the start of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. She tells us about the website she created that lists all the known events taking place on and around March 11: http://fukushimathirdanniversaryevents.blogspot.com If your event isn't listed, contact her through that site to have it added. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Snow for the Odaiba Snow Festival trucked in to Tokyo… from Fukushima? Oy! PLUS: 84-year-old Sister Megan Rice gets 35 months in prison, asks the judge to sentence her to life in prison for her non-violent peace demonstration at the Y-12 nuclear facility; The "damage" done by 84-year-old Sister Megan Rice at the Y-12 Nuclear Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee Second safety official at Hanford fired after she spoke out for – wait for it! – safety!Georgia's planned new Vogtle reactors receive $6.5 billion in federal loan guarantees as President Obama pays off his top campaign fundraiser;Fukushima Unit 4 cooling system stops for four hours, sirens sound the alarm;High levels of cesium found in Fukushima reservoirs used for agriculture;Ukraine rebels capture Rosnov Nuclear Power Plant… then don't know what to do with it when truce is called. Oy!Radcast Radiation Weather Report with Mimi German.…and much, much more! ### NH #139: Carlsbad WIPP Radiation Leak w/watchdog Don Hancock + Indian filmmaker Pradeep Indulkar URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-139-carslbad-wipp-radiation-leak-wwatchdog-don-hancock-indian-filmmaker-pradeep-indulkar/ Published: 2014-02-19 Duration: 01:00:00 BREAKING NEWS: Sister Megan Rice sentenced to 2 years, 11 months for peaceful protest at the Y-12 nuclear weapons site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Co-defendants get 5 yrs. 2 months each. Details on next week's Nuclear Hotseat #140. Convicted peaceful anti-nuclear protesters Sister Megan Rice, flanked by co-defendants Michael Walli and Gregory Boertje-Obed INTERVIEWS: Don Hancock of the Southwest Research and Information Center on the fire and radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM – two separate incidents within 10 days that point to a company culture that fails to take proper precautions. CONTACT: sricdon@earthlink.net Indian filmmaker Pradeep Indulkar, director of "High Power," winner of the 2013 Uranium Film Festival Yellow Oscar for Best Short Documentary. To book the film or purchase a DVD, CONTACT: highpower@docwebs.com. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Close this week, but we revisit the Fukushima Kids' Cancer Seminar to learn how their slogan, "Especially because this is Fukushima, we need the best cancer education in Japan!" Learn what happens when the event's organizer gets asked how that creepy slogan got picked and why children of Fukushima need "cancer education." Poster for Kids' Cancer Seminar in Fukushima. Subtitle reads, "Especially because this is Fukushima, we need the best cancer education in Japan." (Translation by Beverly Findlay-Kaneko) PLUS: "Experts" miss possible Hanford implications in Washington state rare birth defect cluster; Massive cracks found at Fukushima near radioactive water storage tanks;Fukushima dental assn. to study radiation in baby teeth (shades of Operation Tooth Fairy); UK nuclear sites at risk of flooding; The Irish will soon be able to sue the UK for Sellafield radiation damages; The NRC DUCK! and Cover Report;Radcast w/Mimi German; …and more! LINKS: Interview w/Tokyo-based physician Shigeru Mita on the need to evacuate from Tokyo, an interview by Nelson Groom for Vice.com: http://nsgroom.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/vice-a-japanese-physician-is-encouraging-the-evacuation-of-tokPetition to support journalist Mari Takenouchi and support her effotts to protect children living in areas contaminated with radioactivity: http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/we-stand-with-mari-takenouchi-save-kids-japan-as-she-stands-for-fukushima-children-s-health ### NHt #138: USS Reagan Sailors v. TEPCO Lawsuit Update w/Attny Charles Bonner URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-138-uss-reagan-sailors-v-tepco-lawsuit-update-wattny-charles-bonner/ Published: 2014-02-12 Duration: 01:00:00 USS Reagan sailors on deck trying to clean up radiation during Operation Tomadachi, their humanitarian aid mission to Fukushima immediately after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. (Note the lack of protective gear.) INTERVIEW: Attorney Charles Bonner, representing USS Ronald Reagan sailors harmed by Fukushima radiation, with an update on their lawsuit against TEPCO. Now 79 named plaintiffs with cancers, tumors, blindness, wasting of limbs, internal bleeding and more face off w/power giant for medical expenses on behalf of 75,000 military personnel in Japan during the start of the Fukushima crisis. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: A lying professor claims you can eat 32 grams of plutonium… and not get sick! And TEPCO has solicited Fukushima clean-up suggestions from experts around the world. 200 ideas being vetted… and implementation not expected or possible between 2020. Just in time for the Olympics? PLUS: Eight more children diagnosed with thyroid cancer in Fukushima while medical "experts" claim it has nothing to do w/Fukushima;TEPCO admits their radiation data is "wildly wrong" as new sources of radiation leaks keep showing up;Tokyo gets Abe-baby's hand-picked pro-nuke misogynist Masuzoe as their new governor because anti-nuke vote got split;Hawaii getting hit hard with ongoing radiation, starts to discover how long it's been going on (HINT: longer than they've known);California kayakers report Fukushima radiation on their boat bottoms;Teen cancer cluster in LA suburb calls in Erin Brockovich, who needs to realize they're just ten miles from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, site of a 1959 nuclear meltdown and the largest radiation release in US history;Imminent influx of radioactive Pacific water from Fukushima will leave radwaste residue on west coast beaches;RadCAST radiation "weather report" with Mimi German. …and more! LINK: Three Mile Island at 35 conference, March 28-29, in Harrisburg, PA: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/conference-tmi35-the-three-mile-island-nuclear-crisis-in-perspective-tickets-9802807461 ### NH #137: Sierra Club's Nuke Nuker Susan Corbett vs. South Carolina! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/1707-2/ Published: 2014-02-05 Duration: 01:00:00 NOTE: From now on, Nuclear Hotseat will be posted to YouTube as the one place you'll be able to get the programs. No elaborate visuals yet; exploring ways to do that… CONTENTS OF NUCLEAR HOTSEAT #137: INTERVIEW: Susan Corbett is Chair of the National Sierra Club Nuclear Issues Activist Team and Chair of the South Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club. She shares how South Carolina is the most nuclear-industry-intensive state in our country, Hanford-like leaks from the Barnwell Nuclear site, and the ongoing battle to prevent South Carolina from becoming "the nuclear waste "paid toilet of the south." NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The Kids Cancer Seminar in Fukushima – just the thing for 5th and 6th graders! According to the poster,"Especially because this is Fukushima, we need the best cancer education in Japan!" Oy! Poster for s. Subtitle reads, "Especially because this is Fukushima, we need the best cancer education in Japan." (Translation by Beverly Findlay-Kaneko) PLUS: RadCAST Radiation Weather Report w/Mimi German Sen. Boxer KO's NRC over missing San Onofre documents; Congress calls for investigation into radiation contamination of sailors after Fukushima on USS Reagan; Sen. Sanders tries for repeal of Price-Anderson; NHK forbids its broadcasters from mentioning nuclear issues pre-Tokyo mayoral election; Ukraine on the verge of civil war as protestors threaten nuclear reactors; and Hollywood weighs in on nuclear – the new "Judy Blue Eyes"? LINKS: Harvey Wasserman's great article on "50 Reasons We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima" http://ecowatch.com/2014/02/02/50-reasons-fear-fukushima/NYTimes article by Martin Fackler on NHK: "News Giant in Japan Seen as Being Compromised" – http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/world/asia/news-giant-in-japan-seen-as-being-compromised.html?_r=0 ### NH #136: DC Smackdown! Resnikoff on NRC/High Burn-up Fuel, NIRS' D'Arrigo on EPA/Radiation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-136-dc-showdowns-resnikoff-nrchigh-burn-fuel-nirs-darrigo-eparadiation/ Published: 2014-01-29 Duration: 01:00:00 FOIA email from EPA to air quality districts immediately after Fukushima obtained by Daniel Hirsch, Nuclear Policy Lecturer at UC Santa Cruz and head of Committee to Bridge the Gap INTERVIEWS: First-hand reports on the recent meetings between anti-nuclear activists and top level reps of the NRC, EPA and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, Senior Associate at Radioactive Waste Management Associates, has been an international consultant on radioactive waste management for decades. He met with NRC Chair Alison Macfarlane and Commissioners Magwood and Apostolakis and really burned them up with the hard facts of what they don't know about high burn-up nuclear fuel in their own reactors! Dr. Marvin Resnikoff Diane D'Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director for Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) explains how she took on the EPA over their inability to take radiation readings on the California coast after Fukushima — and perhaps it was something other than incompetence? NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: TRINITY BLAST HEALTH STUDY The Trinity blast on July 16, 1945, marked the start of the nuclear age… and the US government is studying the health impact on downwinders only now…?!? Everyone alive back then is either over 70 or dead! PLUS: Sentencing for 84-year-old Buddhist nun Sister Megan Rice and her co-nuclear-disarmament activists delayed on account of snow, rescheduled for February 18. Alaska cites the Twinkie, uh, banana defense to radiation charges as seals die of "white goo" throughout body that even crows refuse to eat; Gloves come off in Tokyo gubernatorial election as a referendum on nukes as TV/radio commentator "asked" by stations to "steer clear of nuclear power issues;" Canada wants to ship highly enriched uranium by truck to US Savannah River Site; AND: Blinky strikes again! Blinky the Three-Eyed Fish, shows up this time in Canada LINKS: Sr. Megan Rice Petition, asking the judge for leniency: http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9007Martin Fackler Int'l New York Times article on the Fukushima farmer who defies the evacuation order to tend the prefecture's abandoned cows:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/world/asia/defying-japan-rancher-saves-fukushimas-radioactive-cows.html?_r=0Amy Goodman, Democracy Now from Japan: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/17/mayor_of_town_that_hosted_fukushimaRobert Jacobs 3-part series on Radiation Makes People Invisible: http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=12200 ### NH #135: Fukushima On-the-Ground w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-135-fukushima-ground-wbeverly-findlay-kaneko/ Published: 2014-01-22 Duration: 01:00:00 Kida-san was surprised to see clean dishes stacked on her kitchen sink. “The dishes were still dirty in the sink, but my husband must have brought along some water and washed them,” she said, choking back tears. 台所の食器が綺麗に洗ってあると驚く木田さん。 「汚れっぱなしだったんだけど、お父さんがわざわざ水を持ってきて洗ってくれたのね、、。」 と木田さんが少し声を詰まらせながら言った。 Photos courtesy of Yuji Kaneko for use on Nuclear Hotseat website. Reproduction requires permission. INTERVIEW: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko of Families for Safe Energy reports on the deeply human side of Fukushima following her recent trip back home. Learn how nuclear refugees cope with radiation and catch up with the heartbreaking story of former Fukushima resident Setsuko Kida, previously interviewed on Nuclear Hotseat #127. To contact Beverly Findlay-Kaneko: https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesForSafeEnergy Bags of radioactive debris next to Kida-san’s house. Is this where radioactive waste will be stored? There is no interim storage site for this waste. Landowners know that if they allow waste to be stored temporarily on their property, it will likely become a semi-permanent solution, so they don’t give permission easily. This is why in many cases, radioactive debris remains on the sites that have been decontaminated. Kida-san says that there is no way anyone can come back to a dangerous situation like this. 木田さんの自宅横にある空き地に除染廃棄物が置かれていた。 ここも放射性廃棄物の仮置き場になってしまうのだろうか。 除染で出た廃棄物の中間貯蔵場はどこの被災地も足りない状況だ。 一端置かれたら半永久的に動かせなくなることを知っていて、地権者は貯蔵場を容易に作らせないのだ。 だから除染したごみがその掃除した場所にそのまま保管されることも少なくないのだ。 こんな危険な状況で戻れるわけがないと木田さん。 Photos courtesy of Yuji Kaneko for use on Nuclear Hotseat website. Reproduction requires permission. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Alaska salmon showing signs of Fukushima radiation but US government buys cans of it for food pantries <!>. PLUS: Nuclear pork in Congressional budget, courtesy some Tennessee good old boys and their pet Senator;Military meltdowns suspend 34 nuke site officers for cheating, drugs, drunkenness and gambling;NRC goes to Alert for fire at Harris nuke in North Carolina,Gamma ray haze hovers over Fukushima;Fukushima worker health symptoms read like a textbook on dangers of nuclear radiation exposure;and RadCast Radiation "Weather Report" with Mimi German. LINKS: US/Japan Creative Arts Program: http://www.jusfc.gov/creative-artists-programs/Kumar Sundaram "selfie with the poster" campaign to stop Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-baby from selling nuclear reactors to India: https://www.facebook.com/events/262774790547186/ ### NH #134: NIRS New Head Tim Judson + India's Kumar Sundaram URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-134-nirs-new-head-tim-judson-indias-kumar-sundaram/ Published: 2014-01-15 Duration: 01:00:00 Regarding the nuclear that Japan has sold overseas and wants to sell to India: in the case of a nuclear accident, it is the Japanese taxpayers who are obliged to pay (be inevitably billed for) damages. The boys in the manga are like, "Wh…What?!" http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/f6d50b6e-8387-69b7-4fb0-1dd602808c06.mp3 INTERVIEW: Long-time anti-nuclear activist Tim Judson took over as Executive Director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) on the first of the year. Hear what this long-time anti-nuclear activist sees as the strategies our movement can use against entrenched, monied nuclear interests, as well as a fascinating revelation about Entergy that exposes the vulnerable underbelly of that underfinanced nuclear slumlord. Tim Judson, Executive Director of NIRS Kumar Sundaram, anti-nuclear firebrand and organizer in India, offers insights into the upcoming nuclear-fueled visit to India of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo "Pinnochio" Abe-baby and shows us how to join the massive protests by way of a poster and a selfie. FULL INFO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/262774790547186/ Take a selfie w/this poster and send it to Kumar Sundaram for the anti-nuke demonstrations in India when Abe-baby comes to town. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Shinzo "Pinnochio" Abe-Baby. Prime Ministers say the darndest things! PLUS: SPECIAL OCEAN REPORT, with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Ken Buessler organizing a crowdsourced Pacific Ocean water sampling project to determine radionuclides in the water. To participate, go to: www.whoi.eduRace for governor of Tokyo heats up w/former Prime Minister and now anti-nuclear candidate Hosokawa joining the fight;New Japanese study confirms what we've known all along: there's no way to evacuate from a nuclear disaster before the radiation plume hits;and between the Fort Calhoun and St. Lucie nuclear reactors, nukes can't seem to keep operating if it snows or rains. What a wimpy, flawed technology! RadCast w/Mimi German, of course! LINKS: BONUS: How Radioactive is Your Gourmet Jam? Cesium 127 found in European gourmet and organic fruit preserves. Full story from Enformable and Lucas Hixon here: http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=12058 ### NH #133: SKY NOT FALLING! Debunking False Info w/Bonner of Safecast, German of RadCast URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-133-sky-falling-debunking-false-info-wbonner-safecast-german-radcast/ Published: 2014-01-08 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: The holiday season saw rumors flying about Fukushima, radiation and elevated dangers in the U.S. Wildly exaggerated claims got picked up by mainstream media and had people panicking. Nuclear Hotseat gets to the root of the problems with Sean Bonner, one of the founders of Safecast. He talks about how a radiation reading can be misinterpreted in and directly addresses the Internet video claiming Fukushima radiation had risen to life-threatening levels at a California beach. Here's a link to the report referenced in the interview: http://blog.safecast.org/2014/01/radiation-on-california-beaches/ Then Mimi German of RadCast talks about the psychology of the anti-nuclear echo chamber and what we need to do to stay centered, grounded and accurate in interpreting radiation numbers. Image by 281 NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan's Monju nuclear breeder reactor picks up computer virus in control room. Oy! PLUS: Fukushima prefectural government and Fukushima Medical University sign secrecy pact with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);TEPCO restructures so it can still make money while continuing to fumble the Fukushima Daiichi clean-up;Plutonium dump with levels 1,000 times normal found in Pacific Ocean 50 miles west of San Francisco;Russia banned shipments of more than 130 radioactive cars from Japan in 2013;Ireland's government and citizens now able to sue the UK over nuclear contamination, damages. LINKS: Arnie Gundersen‘s report debunking rumors of new meltdown at Fukushima Unit 3: http://fairewinds.org/demystifying/fukushima-daiichi-unit-3-going-explodePetition asking for leniency in the sentencing of peaceful anti-nuclear weapons protesters 84-year-old Sister Megan Rice – a Buddhist nun, Michael Walli and Gregory Boertje-Obed for their non-violent yet deeply embarrassing (to the government) protest at the Oak Ridge Site: http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9007 Sister Megan Rice, flanked by peaceful protesters Michael Walli and Gregory Boertje-Obed ### NH #132: WHO/IAEA Unholy Alliance w/Alison Katz URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/1643-2/ Published: 2013-12-31 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Special Encore presentation of Alison Katz of Independent WHO (World Health Organization) on how the International Atomic Energy Alliance (IAEA) censors WHO's nuclear information and distorts the world's understanding of nuclear radiation dangers. Alison dissects the history, politics and manipulations of the "Unholy Alliance" between the agency we're supposed to trust to safeguard the world's health – especially in nuclear matters — and the pro-nuclear IAEA. This is an Encore Presentation (NH #118) and a Nuclear Hotseat exclusive. Independent WHO vigil outside of the World Health Organization HQ in Geneva, Switzerland ### NH #131: Xmas Gifts: Caldicott, Gundersen, Nader - Oh My! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-131-xmas-gifts-caldicott-gundersen-nader-oh/ Published: 2013-12-25 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURING: Season's greetings in the form of a trio of gifts: the chance to revisit three of the top, most respected voices within the anti-nuclear community, all of them presented during the past year of Nuclear Hotseat. Dr. Helen Caldicott talks about how she became an activist and her then-upcoming Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Impact of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (NH #83 – 1/15/13). In our most popular program ever, with 489,195 downloads in the first five days (and still getting play), nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education explains what he would do with Fukushima if he were in charge. (NH #117 – 9/10/13). And excerpts from a speech by Ralph Nader, who spoke at the east coast conference, Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Ongoing Lessons (NH #121 – 10/17/13). Here are links to the websites mentioned during this program: Dr. Caldicott's Symposium recordings: www.NuclearFreePlanet.org Arnie Gundersen and Fairewinds Energy Education: www.Fairewinds.org. Here are links to videos based on this audio: Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gundersen and Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy in front of the San Onofre Nuclear Reactor, four days before its closure was announced. Ralph Nader – video of his full speech and all the other presenters from Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Ongoing Lessons: www.SamuelLawrenceFoundation.org Ralph Nader ### NH #130: Friends of the Earth's Australian Nuke Campaigner Dr. Jim Green URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/1623-2/ Published: 2013-12-18 Duration: 01:00:00 Japanese National Cancer Institute comic book telling kids that half of them will get cancer… and they need to practice "prevention." Like what? Smiling? This Week's Featured Interview: Dr. Jim Green is Nuclear Campaigner for Friends of the Earth in Australia. What's that country's culpability for Fukushima? How does the country function as a "nuclear umbrella" for the US? How racist are Australia's nuclear mining policies? And was "On the Beach" right, is it really safer from radiation Down Under than in the Northern Hemisphere? All that and more… Numnutzes of the Week: Scientists propose getting rid of nuclear waste by injecting it into fracking boreholes – two bad energy policies in one!TEPCO loses the plant schematics for Fukushima after 3/11/11 — and no one has a duplicate copy!EVIL NUMNUTZ: Japan's National Cancer Institute releases a comic book that tells children that half of them will get cancer but they need to practice "prevention." Blame the victim much? PLUS: 83-year-old Sister Megan Rice continues her anti-nuclear activism in jail while facing a possible 30-year prison sentence for last year's civil disobedience against the Oak Ridge Y12 National Security Complex. There's a call for Pope Francis to acknowledge and champion her. Sister Megan Rice, flanked by peaceful protesters Michael Walli and Gregory Boertje-Obed US Energy Department gives CA company $226 million to build "tiny" nuclear reactors – but how small are they?Indian anti-nuclear protesters complete 365 day relay hunger strike against proposed new reactor in Kovvada. Indian anti-nuclear protesters at Kovvada Fukushima refugee Miki testifies about people dying from radiation in Japan: ### NH #129: US Sailors Vs. TEPCO w/Attorney Charles Bonner URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-129-us-sailors-vs-tepco-attorney-charles-bonner/ Published: 2013-12-11 Duration: 01:00:00 Japanese citizens protest the newly-passed Secrecy Law INTERVIEW: Attorney Charles Bonner, one of the team representing sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan in their lawsuit against TEPCO for the health damages they sustained from Fukushima radiation during Operation Tomadachi, the humanitarian aid mission to Japan immediately after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese government PR stunt feeds radioactive Fukushima rice to workers and executives in a Tokyo government office complex, while the farmer who grew it can only visit his fields, not live there because the area is still too contaminated for resettlement. Japanese Ministry officials chowing down on Fukushima Rice grown by farmers who can't live near their fields because it's too radioactive. PLUS: RadCast w/Mimi German – the nuclear radiation "weather report" Fistfights break out in Japanese Diet during PM Abe-baby's ramming through of state secrets act. Japanese citizens demonstrate, organize against state secrets act;How Japan ignored Chernobyl in setting nuclear safety standards;Explosion and fire in Arkansas nuke facility, more demands for radiation testing for food and the ocean;AARP going after Florida "advance fee" law;And who knew Mexico had a National Commission of Nuclear Safety and Safeguards? ### NH #128: Talkin' Nuke Trash w/Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-128-talkin-nuke-trash-wbeyond-nuclears-kevin-kamps/ Published: 2013-12-04 Duration: 01:00:00 Japanese protestor holds up graphic by 281_Antinuke INTERVIEW: KEVIN KAMPS is Radioactive Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear. He specializes in high-level waste management and transportation; new and existing reactors; decommissioning; Congress watch; climate change; federal subsidies — in other words, all the complex issues at the top of the nuclear-industrial-governmental food chain. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: TEPCO, Fukushima Prefecture AND the Japan Football Association. They plan to turn a soccer training center located so close enough the nuclear accident that it was used as housing for Fukushima workers back into… a training center for elite athletes. Just in time for the 2020 Olympics! Elite athetes training in a radiation zone — woo hoo! Fukushima is Here Baby – by Gail Payne PLUS: Japan in uproar as PM Abe-Baby pushes Secrecy Act through the Diet; Strontium 90 from Fukushima predicted to start hitting the Pacific this week; World Bank sniffs, "We don't do nuclear energy," while Norwegian investment fund dumps TEPCO stock; Chernobyl getting new containment mega-building; NRC DUCK! and Cover report; RadCast radiation "weather" report; and Japan plansto train its 2020 Olympic athletes where?!?!? Image by 281_Antinuke LINK: Japan's Industry Ministry continued promoting nuclear power right after Fukushima accident: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201312020059 ### NH #127: Nuclear Refugee Setsuko Kida URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-127-nuclear-refugee-setsuko-kida/ Published: 2013-11-27 Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (L) and Setsuko Kida, mid-interview (via Skype) on Nuclear Hotseat. Setsuko is holding a book of photographs on Fukushima by Munesuke Yamamoto that is banned from bookstores in Japan. INTERVIEW IN JAPANESE HERE: 第127回のリビーハリビーのニュークリアホットシートは福島第一原発避難民木田節子さんへのインタビューです。 このリンクは日本人の為に日本語のみに編集したものです。 木田さんには原発事故発生時の経験や日本の原子力政策に反対する声を上げることになった経緯や今回のアメリカ訪問についてお話ししていただきます。 彼女は活動家のネットワークからの要請を受け、福島第一原発事故直後に空母ロナルドレーガンの乗組員が高レベルの放射線被曝をし健康被害を受けたとして東 京電力を訴えている件で彼らを支援するためにやってきました。 http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/aa5dde9a-7fbf-4ca7-9b8e-b877a9b8b7b7.mp3 INTERVIEW: Setsuko Kida, a "nuclear refugee" from Fukushima, lived midway between Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daiini when the nuclear disaster began in 2011. She's been in the U.S. to support the sailors of the USS Ronald Reagan in their lawsuit against TEPCO for health-destroying radiation contamination from Fukushima. She tells a harrowing story of events in the immediate aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, then gives us a picture of activism in Japan in the face of presumed passage of the Secrecy Act. (L-R) Miki Bay, Shinshuu Hida, Setsuko Kida, Beverly Findlay-Kaneko, trip organizers Yumiko Kan and Vicki Nelson – at San Diego Japanese Southern Baptist Church. LINK to Nuclear Hotseat #116 interview about Japanese activism with Beverly Findlay-Kaneko: http://www.nuclearhotseat.com/116-japan-fukushima-29-months-wbeverly-findlay-kaneko/ NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Sir Paul McCartney? Yep! PLUS: Japan Diet's lower house passes State Secrets Protection Bill amid fears of growing fascism and censorship;World's engineers express concern over TEPCO's attempts to remove fuel rods from Unit 4 spent fuel pool;Unofficial reports (which will probably be banned under the Secrecy Act) show Fukushima worker deaths already over 4,000;TEPCO president Hirose warns the world that nuclear energy is "not fully safe;"Sen. Boxer boxes NRC's MacFarlane over her agency's refusal to release documents to senate committee investigation;Sea animals massing in unprecedented numbers in California's Monterrey Bay – trying to escape the Pacific Ocean and Fukushima's radiation? LINK: "Women of Fukushima" ### NH #126: Wasserman, Gundersen on TEPCO, SFP4 & Activism NOW URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-126-wasserman-gundersen-tepco-sfp4-activism-now/ Published: 2013-11-20 Duration: 01:00:00 Spent Fuel Pool 4 at Fukushima INTERVIEW: Harvey Wasserman has been an anti-nuclear/pro-alternative energy activist for more than 40 years. He's author or co-author of a dozen books, writes for the Huffington Post and edits the www.nukefree.org website. His Green Power & Wellness Show is at www.progressiveradionetwork.com. Harvey Wasserman (in cap) and friends delivering 150,000 signature petition to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. L-R: Green Party's Kevin Zeese, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's Alice Slater, Jill Stein, Margaret Flowers. INTERVIEW EXCERPT: Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education (www.Fairewinds.org) explains exactly what we're facing as TEPCO begins removal of fuel rods from Spent Fuel Pool 4 at Fukushima. (Excerpted from Coast-to-Coast AM with John B. Wells, Nov. 9, 2013 – http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2013/11/09) Arnie eviscerates the TEPCO "cartoon" about removing the fuel rods: NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Evil Numnutz to Dr. Shunichi Yamashita, the man who advised Japanese doctors NOT to give Potassium Iodide after Fukushima because — as a so-called "expert" — he knew that radiation impact would be "minimal." When he found out how far the radiation had traveled, his respose? "Oops!" OOPS?!?!??? YamaSHITa is now enshrined in the Josef Mengele wing of the Nuclear Numnutz Hall of Shame. RADCAST: Radiation readings around the US (the international report starts next week) with Mimi German. PLUS: Robots nab first pics of the leaks (two) at the bottom of Unit 1;PM Abe-Baby pushes Secrecy Law but his wife Akie Abe makes no secret of her opposition to his nuclear policy; Akie Abe, outspoken critic of Japan's nuclear policy, whose husband just happens to be… nuke-lovin' Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-Baby! Increased hypothyroidism found in US west coast infants born first nine months after Fukushima; Alaska wildlife in heartbreaking collapse, including polar bears, walruses, seals, birds;Alaska experts find Fukushima radiation in 15 separate ocean speciesAll this and a tornado hits a Kentucky nuclear fuel factory. LINKS: Harvey Wasserman, links to his radio program, petitions and thousands of articles: www.NukeFree.org.Report on thyroid damage to California infants born immediately after the Fukushima disaster began: http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2164974/fukushima_fallout_damaged_thyroid_glands_of_california_babies.html ### NH #125: RadCast Radiation Reports w/Mimi German URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-125-radcast-radiation-reports-wmimi-german/ Published: 2013-11-13 Duration: 01:00:00 CNN gets lousy ratings, bad reviews, bad PR from Pandora. INTERVIEW: Veteran activist Mimi German, Co-Creator of RadCast, explains this Rad-ical new service to provide daily and weekly radiation "weather" reports for use by mainstream and online media. Within days of its launch on Oregon radio, RadCast got picked up by Thom Hartmann for his daily rt.com show. Immediately after the interview, catch the first RadCast report for Nuclear Hotseat as it becomes a new weekly feature! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The country of Belarus. They got hit with 60% of Chernobyl's radiation… but now they want to build their own nukes? Did Chernobyl fry their common sense? PLUS: TEPCO delayed start of decommissioning Spent Fuel Pool 4 for two weeks to conduct tests, but they still plan to begin by November 22 despite international outcry to take all authority at Fukushima away from the criminally incompetent company; Would you trust TEPCO to clean this out without triggering the end of the world? Pandora's Promise poops out, handing CNN lousy ratings and devastating reviews while allowing anti-nuclear experts Ralph Nader, Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps and Sierra Club's Michael Brune air time they would not have otherwise gotten;Morningstar analysts make it financially official: New-Build Nukes are Dead is what they tell their institutional investors;Forbes names six reactors most likely to close: Indian Point, Ginna, Fitzpatrick, Three Mile Island, David Besse and Pilgrim;Dallas-based Luminant dumps plans to build two new nukes in North Texas. Yeehah! LINK TO PETITION: Arnie Gundersen petition to remove TEPCO from the decommissioning of Fukushima. Please sign, share: http://www.nukefree.org/new-fuku-petition-remove-tepco-you-remove-fuel ### NH #124: Pandora/Schmandora; We've Got the Uranium Film Festival! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-124-pandoraschmandora-weve-got-uranium-film-festival/ Published: 2013-11-06 Duration: 01:00:00 US Energy Secretary Earnest Moniz well on his way to blackmailing Japan into indemnifying GE over Fukushima. INTERVIEW: Norbert Suchanek is the founder and General Director of the Uranium Film Festival, which covers all aspects of the nuclear issue. A native of Germany, Suchanek is a journalist, author, filmmaker and activist living in Rio de Janeiro. He shares with Nuclear Hotseat listeners how the festival got started, his vision for an international nuclear film archive, and how you – yes you! – can get your film into the 2014 festival. The Uranium Film Festival comes to the United States this month (November, 2013) for showings in New Mexico and Albuquerque, with stops in early 2014 in New York and Washington, D.C. Learn more about the Uranium Film Festival at: www.UraniumFilmFestival.org. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan is offering pregnant women and their children "a new, very good house" — for free! The only problem? IT'S IN FUKUSHIMA! Special bonus: non-stop x-rays for the whole family. (What sociopath thought up this one?) PLUS: Amid a rising chorus of media, doctors, engineers and governments warning of the dangers of Spent Fuel Pool 4 at Fukushima, TEPCO forced to delay the start of Armageddon and puts off start of removal of fuel rods for at least two weeks – PHEWH!Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-Baby suddenly discovers an intense desire for international help with the nuclear disaster on his northeast coast.US Energy Secretary Earnest Moniz visits Fukushima, declares it "stunning" and "daunting," then holds U.S. help hostage until Japan signs a no-liability agreement indemnifying all nuclear manufactureers and suppliers — meaning reactor designer General Electric will be permanently off the hook.Pandora's Promise airs this week on CNN, but activist protests forced the network to provide airtime for the anti-nuke position for Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear. LINKS: India Shouldn’t Buy What Japan Is Selling – on problems at Koodankulam NPP with Russian-supplied parts: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-03/india-shouldn-t-buy-what-japan-is-selling.htmlGerman TV exposes UN coverup of Fukushima cancers: ### NH #123 BONUS: EMERGENCY: Arnie Gundersen on Fukushima, TEPCO's Insane Plans for Spent Fuel Pool 4 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/emergency-arnie-gundersen-fukushima-tepcos-insane-plans-spent-fuel-pool-4/ Published: 2013-10-31 TEPCO plans to begin removing fuel rods from Spent Fuel Pool 4 at Fukushima as of November 6, 2013 – putting at risk the equivalent of 14,000 Hiroshima bombs worth of nuclear radiation.  This could be an extermination level event for the human race.  Nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education (www.Fairewinds.org) explains exactly why TEPCO cannot be trusted with this act and what should be done… before it's too late.  (Interview extracted from Nuclear Hotseat #117, September 10, 2013 .) LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/bf47ad48-e4a8-2be4-3a5b-a36399681be0.mp3 Fukushima Spent Fuel Pool 4 ### NH #123: Nuclear Halloween Fright House! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-123-nuclear-halloween-fright-house/ Published: 2013-10-30 Duration: 01:00:02 http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/e35ece8c-cc97-1261-4652-28535e758597.mp3 SPECIAL FEATURE: NUCLEAR FRIGHT HOUSE! BWA-HA-HA-HA-! What's spookier than Nuclear? Hear what almost two dozen activists from both caosts name as their worst nightmares about nuclear. Then, Donna Gilmore of SanOnofreSafety.org, Dr. Arjun Makhijani, Dr. Marvin Renikoff and Dr. Don Mosher share the scariest information of all about nuclear waste at San Onofre as a preview of what the human race faces everywhere there's been a nuclear reactor. You'd think somebody would have told that industry to take out its garbage… NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2014 is a pro-nuclear international forum for the discussion of issues affecting the commercial nuclear fuel cycle — not one word about Fukushima! (of course…) When is it taking place? Less than one month after Fukushima's 3rd anniversary, two weeks after Three Mile Island's 35th anniversary, two weeks before Chernobyl's 27th anniversary… and just in time for the Pacific Ocean radiation plume to hit the host city, San Francisco. Can you say, "Demonstrations?" PLUS: 7.3 Quake damage at Fukushima suspected; TEPCO resorts to slave labor to get workers into the danger zone; Content of Caldicott/Gundersen/Yablokov (+ 14 other experts) letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon – it's been delivered, but response not yet given; Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy and Dr. Helen Caldicott Pacific Ocean rad-plume predicted to hit west coast of North America in 2014; and for those who can't wrap their heads around the ongoing damage to human health from Fukushima radiation, how about them dead horses? BONUS LINKS: Myla Reson's new video, Nuke Fuel Pool Roulette: ### Nh #122: Puncturing Pandora's Propaganda w/Beyond Nuclear's Linda Gunter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-122-puncturing-pandoras-propaganda-wbeyond-nuclears-linda-gunter/ Published: 2013-10-23 One way for pro-nukers to eliminate themselves from the gene pool:  Japan's PM Abe-Baby (center) and friends chow down on Fukushima seafood. LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/abec57e9-a9cb-6e76-e78f-ec9f5c756a1c.mp3 INTERVIEW:  Beyond Nuclear's Linda Gunter, Physicians for Social Responsibility's John W. Rachow and nuclear physicist Dr. M.V. Ramana give us the facts to counter CNN's November airings of the pro-nuclear propaganda film "Pandora's Promise." Listen to learn how you can be ready to counter the lies, distortions, omissions and pro-nuclear spin-speak by using the information they provide for your op-eds, letters to the editor and more.  LINK TO BEYOND NUCLEAR'S "PANDORA'S FALSE PROMISES" DOCUMENTS – 2-page hand-out and full report: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/pandoras-false-promises/ PLUS: Fukushima‘s radiation releases continue to spike; Highly radioactive rainwater overflows TEPCO‘s Fukushima dams after rainfall as TWO typhoons bear down on Japan promising more of the same; The world's voices rise demanding that Fukushima be managed by an international coalition of experts instead of just TEPCO; Pink salmon turns canary yellow in British Columbia; Koodankulam NPP starts up despite six years of community protests; and Japan's capitalists set to make a killing by selling lead-lined underwear and wetsuits. LINKS: "The Ocean is Broken" – http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2013/10/21/environment-ocean-broken/ Australian sailor Ivan Macfadyen, whose recent journey in the Pacific caused him to write, "The Ocean is Broken." Sign Harvey Wasserman's PETITION FOR GLOBAL INTERVENTION AT FUKUSHIMA:  http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/the-world-community-must Full article:  FDA Refuses to Test Fish for radioactivity: http://birthofanewearth.blogspot.com/2013/08/fda-refuses-to-test-fish-for.html ### NH #121: Nuclear Nader, but Can Kan? "Fukushima Lessons Learned" Events URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-121-nuclear-nader-can-kan-fukushima-lessons-learned-events/ Published: 2013-10-16 The Anti-Nuclear Dream Team:  (l-r) Former nuclear insider/engineer Arnie Gundersen; conference organizer Torgen Johnson, former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay, Ralph Nader, former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/4df606bd-72d4-6267-1ef6-811b69b3e414.mp3 SPECIAL REPORT: On-scene reports from the two Fukushima: Ongoing Lessons Events for Indian Point NPP in New York and Pilgrim NPP in Massachusetts.  Hear from Ralph Nader, Arnie Gundersen, Jean-Michel Cousteau and more! Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy w/a man she has grown to respect: former NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko LINKS: Full livestreamed coverage of both events available on Youtube or here: NEW YORK:  http://new.livestream.com/FukushimaLessons/newyork BOSTON:  http://new.livestream.com/FukushimaLessons/boston If these sites are no longer hosted, go to YouTube.com and search FUKUSHIMA LESSONS and look for either New York or Boston. PETITION LINKS:  To sign Harvey Wasserman's petition going to the United Nations asking for the international scientific/technical community to act now on the Fukushima Disaster and ongoing contamination of the Pacific Ocean:  http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/the-world-community-must NOTE:  IF EMBEDDED LINKS FAIL TO WORK, COPY AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER.  SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy after the New York Fukushima Lessons Learned event in New York.  One city down, one to go! ### NH #120: Nuclear Self-Deception w/ Dennis Riches & Great Lakes Nuke Dump w/Michael Leonardi URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-120-nuclear-self-deception-wriches-great-lakes-nuke-dump-wleonardi/ Published: 2013-10-02 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (l), TEPCO Chair Kazuhiko Shimokobe (c) and Lady Barbara Judge (r)  (per Michio Kaku) LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/2b3c0142-0034-8c6a-7541-4e43e88505d5.mp3 INTERVIEWS: Dennis Riches, Tokyo resident and blogger at Nuclear Free by 2045 (nf2045.blogspot.com), on the psychology of nuclear self-deception, post-Fukushima life in Japan, and why he didn't return to Canada with his wife and kids after the disaster began. Michael Leonardi of Toledo Coalition for Safe Energy and the Coalition Against Nukes, on his experiences both before and after testifying against the Ontario Public Power's proposed nuclear waste dump less than one mile from Lake Huron.  How safe from nuclear radiation would that make this 21% of the Earth's fresh drinking water?  Listen and learn. PLUS: FDA "decision" to test or even ban foods from Japan is non-binding and essentially meaningless (SMOKE AND MIRRORS ALERT!); North Carolina Utilities Commission gives Duke Energy permission to continue to gouge ratepayers for its nuclear debacles w/a 5% rate hike and guaranteed 10.2% profits; Sweden's Oskarshamn-3 reactor, located 211 miles south of Stockholm, shut down by raging jellyfish activists: JELLYFISH POWER: Stealth underwater troops ignore diver, take out Sweden's Oskarshamn-3 nuclear reactor. More cracks found in Davis-Besse containment vessel but the NRC thinks that's just safe as safe can be!; Nosebleed epidemic in Japan w/over 5,000 tweets in two days; 70% of kids in Kanto region, south of Fukushima, have cesium in their urine; 2011 increase in Japanese birth defects documented – more than 100 babies w/polydactyly – extra fingers or toes – waiting for operations: POLYDACTYLY – A mutation in Japanese babies so common, one set of parents told to wait to schedule operation "for a year or two" because 100 others already waiting. Michio Kaku labels TEPCO the equivalent of the Three Stooges: – Wo wo wo wo wo…! Radiation Protection Tip:  Green Tea ### NH #119: Joseph Mangano Shreds IAEA's Straitjacket on WHO's Radiation Reports URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-119-world-health-orgiaea-unholy-alliance-pt-2-joseph-mangano-shreds/ Published: 2013-09-25 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Special feature interview with Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health Project (www.radiation.org) on how the International Atomic Energy Agency's straitjacketed and muzzled "epidemiology" makes it impossible for the World Health Organization to ever present honest information on the dangers of nuclear radiation. Based on an analysis of the IAEA's fatally flawed "science" by the late Dr. Rosalie Bertell. Infuriating, jaw-dropping — and the underlying reason why the nuclear-industrial complex continues to get away with putting the future of all planetary life at risk. PLUS: Activists rise up against NRC waste "confidence," proposed nuclear waste dump on Lake Huron, and the EPA's dramatically weakened radiation guides – the New (Gina) McCarthyism?Japanese PM Shinzo Abe-Baby has ongoing "Mission Accomplished" complications from his "The situation is under control!" claims to the International Olympic Committee; Japanese PM Shinzo "Pinnochio" Abe-Baby waxes poetic on how the leaks at Fukushima are "under control." And isn't it odd that Russia, China and Korea are doing a better job of protecting their citizens than the US? VIDEO: Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps in Toronto on Fukushima and proposed nuclear waste dump in Ontario, on the shore of Lake Huron: Former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Gregory Jaczko in Japan speaking out on Fukushima dangers re: Spent Fuel Pool 4 at Japanese Foreign Correspondents Club. ### NH #118: The WHO/IAEA Unholy Alliance and its Lies about Int'l Nuclear Health Stats URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-118-whoiaea-unholy-alliance-lies-intl-nuclear-health-stats/ Published: 2013-09-14 Duration: 01:00:00 How the World Health Organization came under the domination of the pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency – the first of two exclusive Nuclear Hotseat reports on the unholy alliance that underlies our global misunderstandings of the dangers of nuclear radiation. INTERVIEW: Special full-length interview with Alison Katz of Independent WHO on the history, politics and criminal negligence of the World Health Organization. She is a sociologist and psychologist who worked for WHO for 18 years and now is a spokesperson for the organization that wants WHO to do its job regarding nuclear dangers and international public health. Even if you think you understand this issue, you will be shocked by the specific instances where WHO has abdicated its power. You'll also be inspired by an international tactic Katz proposes that has the potential to turn this issue around. CONTACT: www.IndependentWHO.org Independent WHO Hippocratic vigil in front of World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland – 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for 7 years. ### NH #117: Olympic Insanity + If Gundersen were in Charge at Fukushima URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-117-gundersen-charge-fukushima-vision/ Published: 2013-09-11 Duration: 01:03:22 Two visions of housing in Japan: Proposed Olympic Village (top) vs. Fukushima refugee "temporary" housing, now over 2 years old. PM Abe's priorities are clear. (photo juxtaposition by Cathy Iwane) INTERVIEW: Former nuclear industry insider Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education (www.Fairewinds.com) paints a clear picture of the current state of problems at Fukushima Daiichi… and then explains what he would do if he were in charge of the disaster site. His first five minutes on the job would be awesome – and that's a word I almost never use! Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gunderson w/Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host, Libbe HaLevy NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The International Olympic Committee for awarding the 2020 Olympics to Japan. You had to ask? PLUS: Nuclear Spin-Speak attaining tornado-like vortex as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe-Baby seeks to quash any Olympics opposition based on suspicions of the negative impact of Fukushima radionuclides on athletes and fans? Japanese professor equates TEPCO w/the "Homer Simpson School of Nuclear Safety" <!>;Fukushima crane starts to fall over (the equipment, not the bird or the oragami);Fish of growing public concern to China, Korea, some Canadians and Guam?!? but not the US FDA, EPA, NOAA;British embassy in Japan supports Fukushima by playing cricket in the evacuation zone. There's a reason why they lost the empire… LINK: Article by Mycle Schneider on nuclear's loss of financial viability for investors, w/current stats for how bad they're getting clobbered:http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?Nuclear-Power%E2%80%99s-Renaissance-in-Reverse-&sid=30384&tirsan=10 ### NH #116: Japan at Fukushima + 29 Months - On-the-Ground Report w/Beverly Findlay-Kaneko URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/116-japan-fukushima-29-months-wbeverly-findlay-kaneko/ Published: 2013-09-04 Duration: 00:59:57 The Mystery of Fukushima Harbor: Boiling water, steam, fog, mist, morning marine layer… or swamp gas? INTERVIEW: Beverly Findlay-Kaneko is a former resident of Japan who spent over 20 years in that country. On March 16, 2011, a family emergency brought her and her son Ryan back to Southern California only five days after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. They remained here while her husband remains in Yokohama and commutes to the U.S. every few months to be with the family. Beverly returned to Japan this past August. While there she attended anti-nuclear events, talked with activists and got a feel for what the nuclear issues look like on-the-ground in Japan as we approach the 2-1/2 year mark since Fukushima. Beverly Findlay-Kaneko (left) at August demonstration in Japan. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He's promising a "prompt" solution to the problems at Fukushima. Aren't you about 29 months too late, Abe Baby? No, wait — you're just trying to woo the International Olympic Committee as it's making the final decision on where to hold the 2020 Summer Games. (Anyone bother to ask elite athletes how they'd feel about competing in a radioactive mine field?) PLUS: More leaks, higher radiation found on-site at Fukushima Daiichi; Salt water corroding containment tanks, endangering removal of Fukushima Unit 4 fuel rods; TEPCO finally being acknowledged as incompetent! (Duh!) Cape Cod Downwinders use Labor Day traffic to make the point that no evacuation is possible if Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant pulls a Fukushima. Radioactive seawater plume predicted to hit US west coast in 20 years… or four years… or one… but it's coming. Three Mile Island decommissioning cost set at $918 million but will undoubtedly cost much more by the time it's scheduled to begin – in 2034! Libbe HaLevy at a still-leaking Three Mile Island. Portrait of the artist as a young and stupid woman. And much, much more! ### NH #115: VERMONT YANKEE SHUTDOWN SPECIAL w/Gundersen, Hattie Nestle URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/115-vermont-yankee-shutdown-special-wgundersen-hattie-nestle/ Published: 2013-08-29 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Former nuclear insider Arnie Gundersen, head of Fairewinds.com, explains how and why Vermont Yankee was shut down. Audio courtesy Fairewinds.com from their podcast series. Fairewinds Energy Education's Arnie Gunderson w/Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host, Libbe HaLevy Hattie Nestle, a member of the Vermont Yankee Women's Affinity Group, on why she's not ecstatic over Entergy announcement re: Vermont Yankee. Hiroshima Day blockade of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant by Women's Affinity Group. They were later arrested. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declares global progress on nuclear safety! (Of course, they have to say that; it's in their mission statement to promote nuclear at all times, under any cirucumstances). They neglect to mention spiking radiation levels in water pouring from the wreck of Fukushima Daiichi, what's that's been doing to the Pacific Ocean and seafood – nah, none of them olde mistakes are worth noting; let's just focus on building the market for new nukes! PLUS: Japan finally asks for international help w/Fukushima as highly radioactive water continues to flow into harbor; Russia responds.6 more thyroid cancer cases diagnosed in the children of Fukushima Prefecture.NRC to rule on re-opening Ft. Calhoun near Omaha. Memorial service for Masao Yoshida, Fukushima Daiichi plant manager and leader of the Fukushima 50 whose bravery after the earthquake on 3/11/11 probably saved Tokyo, if not the world. Memorial service for Masao Yoshida, Fukushima hero who sacrificed his life to save the world. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his government will stop the outflow of tainted water… but neglects to say how they'll do it;Leak at Salem Unit 1 in New Jersey at 4 gallons a minute. No big deal? Now, imagine dumping that much milk on your kitchen floor. ### NH #114: Nuclear Organizational Psychosis w/Dr. Lloyd C. Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/114-nuclear-organizational-psychosis-wdr-lloyd-c-williams/ Published: 2013-08-21 Duration: 00:59:54 INTERVIEW: Dr. Lloyd C. Williams is an organizational psychologist, coach and management consultant to Fortune 100-level companies. Dr Williams has accomplished and led programs as chair and professor at UC Berkeley, the Universities of Notre Dame, Massachusetts, Grenoble Business School, the International School of Management and the University of Singapore. He coined the term "organizational psychosis," and helps us understand in clinical terms just what dysfunctions have taken root within the nuclear industry. What he has to say not explores the problem, but offers key insights on how we as a movement might strategize to turn nuclear around. Contact: http://www.drlloydcwilliams.com/ NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: FUKUSHIMA — The Tourist Destination! <!!!> IAEA Executives form the first group of tourists to visit Fukushima-land. Leave only footprints, take only memories! or Chairman of Oregon Republican Party wanted to put radioactive material from San Onofre into drinking water! ("Drink your radionuclides, darling, they're good for you, helps build strong bones that glow in the dark.") PLUS: No States Rights for Vermont when it comes to Vermont Yankee;Fukushima governor labels radioactive water pouring into the Pacific Ocean a "national emergency;"November fuel rod removal from Fukushima Spent Fuel Pool 4 requires sophisticated new TEPCO technology: TEPCO‘s new technology for removing fuel rods from Fukushima‘s Spent Fuel Pool 4. TEPCO goes to Hanford to learn about radioactive waste control <WTF?!?>;100% of Canadian herring in test found to be hemorrhaging from fins, bellies chins, eyeballs.Canadian public health official claims Fukushima‘s radiation "Does not concern Canadian officials." Obviously!Salmon disappearing from Canada, Alaska, Russia — and Arnie Gundersen predicted it!And Indian Point reactor, only 30 miles from midtown Manhattan, given permission to keep running after its license expires in September. Do you think they'd do that for my car, too? LINKS: Update on one sailor from the USS Ronald Regan, who has all the symptoms of radiation contamination but cannot get a diagnosis from government doctors. Shades of Japan! http://bit.ly/127vQg7"Abe's Japan Blind to Scary Nuclear Reality" – http://on.fb.me/1f1nOIsOnline book: Fukushima: A Nuclear War Without a War – http://bit.ly/T6H4yD ### NH #113: BREAKING! San Onofre Decomish Symposium w/Gene Stone, + Joe Mangano URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/113-breaking-san-onofre-radwaste-symposium-wgene-stone-joe-mangano/ Published: 2013-08-14 Duration: 00:59:59 The Future of Art in a Post-Fukushima World INTERVIEW: Closing down San Onofre didn't end the southern California nuclear battle, it just shifted focus. Gene Stone of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment, talks about how the problems of decommissioning, those pesky spent fuel rods, and some surprising news about fuel radiation levels lead to a regrouping of activists and the upcoming Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre and the Ongoing Dangers of Nuclear Waste — a foretaste of what others will be going through when their local nuclear reactor shuts down. BONUS: Joseph Mangano of Radiation and Public Health in a presentation on the impact of Fukushima on American health. This is an encore taken from his speech at Dr. Helen Caldicott's Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. What problems were faced by researchers trying to get the word out? And how bad did it get — and is it getting — in the U.S.? PLUS: TEPCO Radwater releasing BILLIONS of Bequerels of cesium per liter – directly into the Pacific Ocean and the groundwater at Fukushima;Fukushima workers accuse TEPCO of lying about water leak for 27 months;US Federal court commands Yucca Mountain be opened for radwaste storage <!>;Evil propaganda video aimed at convincing Japanese children that Fukushima just had a little belly ache with its poo.And Japan in total breakdown of sanity with FOUR, count them, FOUR Numnutz of the Week! Numnutzes of the Week? FOUR!Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eats a Fukushima peach with two Fukushima "peaches." (Yes, I know it's sexist, but c'mon, these people are going publicly insane!) LINKS: Dr. Helen Caldicott's Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster – link to video of the full two-day conference: http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=hcfJapanese children's propaganda cartoon. Heinous: Coalition Against Nukes map of activists: www.CoalitionAgainstNukes.orgJoe Mangano and Radiation and Public Health: www.Radiation.org. BONUS: Nancy Burton's got EPA head Gina McCarthy's Goat (…and her name was Katie.): http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/12/gina-mccarthy-and-katie-the-goat/ ### NH #112: Hiroshima Anniversary, Fukushima Survivor Chikako Nishiyama, SLOMP's Carole Hisasue URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/112-hiroshima-anniversary-fukushima-survivor-chikako-nishiyama-slomps-carole-hisasue/ Published: 2013-08-07 Duration: 00:59:59 Hiroshima Peace Park's one remaining building from ground zero, August 6, 1945. INTERVIEWS: Carole Hisasue left a successful media career in Japan for an idyllic life in America… but landed within six miles of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Now active with San Luis Obispo Nothers for Peace (SLOMP), she talks about this year's northern California Hiroshima commemoration, including a Peace Walk with Buddhist Reverend Gyosen Sawada; a talk by Chikako Nishiyama, a former government official from Fukushima Prefecture; and Cecile Pineda, author of Devil's Tango: How I learned the Fukushima Step by Step. Then Chikako Nishiyama gives a harrowing account of her experience in the hours and days immediately after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster began… and the chilling way she first suspected that there was a problem at the nuclear power plant. (HINT: The government and TEPCO weren't exactly forthcoming!) Powerful, deeply moving first-hand account from a Fukushima survivor. Chikako Nishiyama NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Dual award: to Prof. Eric Norman, University of California Berkeley School of Nuclear Engineering, for claiming, "No matter what happens in Fukushima, it's not going to be a problem over here" – – when his school measured radiation in California milk, produce and rainwater; and for EPA Spokesmodel David Yogi, who assures us that "Any kind of (radioactive) release in Japan would be non-detectable here." To check out how badly these two are deluding themselves (I hesitate to call them liars because they may simply be mentally ill), go to: http://enenews.com/shock-uc-berkeley-professor-claims-no-matter-what-happens-in-fukushima-its-not-going-to-be-a-problem-over-here and check out any of the links that discuss ocean transport of contamination from the Fukushima nuclear plant to North America. PLUS: TEPCO admits radiation at Fukushima up 47 TIMES since just last week and they haven't a clue why; company admits the situation is "bleak;" Japanese government allows Fukushima residents to "come home" (for what, to get more radiation exposure?); TEPCO games leukemia compensation program for workers so only four of almost 10,000 qualify; Palisades NPP in Michigan leaks radioactive water into Lake Michigan – again; Farley in Alabama at ALERT when former award-winning thermal seals prove defective; St. Louis landfill fire breaches fire line on way to nuclear waste dump; Duke cancels Levy in Florida but ratepayers sucked dry to the tune of $300 million; and the nuclear fight in Taiwan gets physical. LINKS: Robert Trigaux writes a blistering column for TampaBay.com on how Duke Energy scammed Florida taxpayers out of up to $1.5 billion in the Levy NPP scam:http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/thank-you-tallahassee-for-making-us-pay-so-much-for-nothing/2134390"The Legacy of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by Joseph J. Mangano and Janette D. Sherman, M.D.: http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/05/the-legacy-of-the-comprehensive-test-ban-treaty/ ### NH #111: "Fukushima is Here" Human Billboard; Daniel Hirsch SSFL Encore URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/111-fukushima-is-here-human-billboard-daniel-hirsch-ssfl-encore/ Published: 2013-07-31 Duration: 01:00:00 "Fukushima is Here" mock-up – help make the real thing happen on October 19! FEATURED INTERVIEW: John Bertucci, one of the organizers of the "Fukushima is Here" campaign, on what it takes to set up a 2,000-person human billboard on a beach… and how you can do it, too, as part of an international planned October 19 action. Close-up of a "human billboard" in progress. BONUS ENCORE INTERVIEW: Daniel Hirsch, a lecturer on nuclear policy at University of California, Santa Cruz and President of Committee to Bridge the Gap, talks about the nuclear accident you most likely have never heard of — The Santa Susana Field Lab core meltdown in 1959. It's the worst nuclear reactor accident in US history – worse even than Three Mile Island – and it was completely hidden from the public for over 20 years. This is a replay of Nuclear Hotseat's interview with the man who was most intimiately involved with revealing the cover-up and breaking the story. Daniel Hirsch NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Alaska Airlines thinks its flight attendants' mysterious illnesses — rashes, headaches, hair loss, respiratory problems — have been caused by their new uniforms, first introduced in January, 2011. Nobody bothered to look at the timing as being coincidental with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and subsequent radiation plume. So they spent $5 million replacing the uniforms! Has nobody ever noticed that each of those symptoms is consistent with radiation exposure? Flying the radiation-plumed skies? PLUS: TEPCO fakes its apologies with help from its cronies;WHO refuses to consider depleted uranium as a possible cause of Iraqi mutations;Indian Point supervisor arrested for deliberately falsifying critical safety recordsIdle No More! – First Nation activists instrumental in blocking Great Lakes transport of radioactive steam generators to Sweden; South Carolina REFUSES to become a nuclear waste dump; San Onofre fuel removed from reactor in record time, effectively terminating SCE's license – WOO HOO! ### NH #110: Disaster Prep Pro Chuck McCune on FEMA, Global Warming & Nukes URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/110-disaster-prep-pro-chuck-mccune-on-fema-global-warming-nukes/ Published: 2013-07-24 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED INTERVIEW: Chuck McCune, veteran disaster preparedness pro, talks about the nuclear aspects to natural disaster, including some projections FEMA never intended to get out to the public. Chuck includes his vision of what it would take to make the anti-nuclear movement in the US REALLY effective. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Cluster of horrible birth defects in three Washington state counties and government officials can't figure out what might be causing them… DESPITE one of the counties also hosting one of the 10 most polluted places on the planet: The Hanford Site. Can you say, "DUH!" PLUS: Former San Onofre partners SCE, SDG&E and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries battling it out over who owes who what for those faulty steam generators that got the site SHUT DOWN FOREVER;Fukushima #3 blowing off steam, meaning it's hot enough inside to boil radioactive water; Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 releasing steam. July 18, 2013 Ft. Calhoun may force Omaha Public Power District to get moody about a Moody's rating cut; Japan elects a no-nukes actor to Upper House but supports pro-nuke LDP, despite the fact that 80% of the population believes a new nuclear disaster "probable;"And the Vermont Yankee "Shut It Down!" affinity group demonstrates and gets arrested again, which they seem to do every 28 days… IT'S THAT TIME OF THE MONTH: Members of Vermont Yankee women's "Shut It Down" affinity group protesting before their monthly arrest. LINKS: NIRS (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) pdf on reactors due for retirement, "Renaissance in Reverse." http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/aging/renaissanceinreverse71713.pdfWHO (World Health Organization) news release from the end of May: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/01/science/la-sci-sn-world-cancer-incidence-20120601 ### NH #109: KING 5's Susannah Frame on Investigating Hanford Site URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/109-king-5s-susannah-frame-on-investigating-hanford-site/ Published: 2013-07-17 Duration: 01:00:03 INTERVIEW: Award-winning investigative reporter Susannah Frame from KING 5 News in Seattle has not only covered the problems at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington, she has broken several of the most important recent stories. Listen to what a real reporter goes through to get the hottest nuclear news and put it out into mainstream media. Susannah Frame, KING 5 News, NBC-TV Seattle NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan opens the beaches near Fukushima by claiming no radiation… the week after TEPCO admits that the ocean's radiation levels are the highest since the nuclear disaster began. WTF??? Step away from the ocean! PLUS: 30 Greenpeace activists invade French nuclear power plant to make a point about nuclear "safety;" Greenpeace activist (in red jacket on girders) is one of 30 who breached security at France's Tricastin NPP. Switzerland outraged after radioactive cesium found in lake near nuke plant that is used for drinking water;Kudankulam activists "drop dead" as new nuclear facility fires up to criticality for the first time; Protesters of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India "drop dead" in protest of the reactor's start-up. NRC DUCK! Report on the usual "unusual occurrences" – nuclear accidents all over the place in just one week!Dr. Masaru Emoto, know for his groundbreaking work on the Healing Messages of Water and from his appearance in "What the Bleep Do We Know?" leads a Blessing of the Waters outside the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Reactor in southern California. (Pictured: Gene Stone, Hopi tribal participant) Sacred blessing of the waters outside the San Onofre Nuclear Never-Again-Generating Station LINKS: Fairewinds Energy Education podcast: Arnie Gundersen and Marco Kaltofen on Japan's radioactive "black dust" – http://fairewinds.org/podcast/japans-black-dust-with-marco-kaltofen ### NH #108: Nebraskashima? Ft. Calhoun Nuke Update w/LaVerne Thraen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/108-nebraskashima-ft-calhoun-nuke-update-wlaverne-traen/ Published: 2013-07-10 Duration: 01:00:00 Ft. Calhoun nuclear reactors surrounded by the flooding Missouri River (June-July, 2011) INTERVIEW: Remember when Ft. Calhoun was a flood-surrounded nuclear island that threatened to pull a Fukushima? Nebraska energy activist LaVerne Thraen brings us up to date with ongoing problems at Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) that's keeping Ft. Calhoun offline, including floods, fires and that old standby, politics. PLUS: Fukushima radiation levels soaring for "unexplained reasons" according to TEPCO;TEPCO failings revealed by Japanese comedienne Mako Oshidori;The death of Fukushima 50 hero Masao Yoshida, the man who in a very real way saved our world; Leader of the Fukushima 50, Masao Yoshida (1955-2013), whose defiance of TEPCO saved us all. Namaste. Japan's Labor Democratic Party pushes for nuke restarts and nuke-adjacent mayors agree;Rats attack Fukushima Daiini;Japan selling nuke technology to Vietnam (what could possibly go wrong?!?);Scandal! North Anna operator Dominion Virginia Power covered up existence of fault lines to NRC;San Onofre operator Southern California Edison bemoans nuke shutdown as it dumps chemicals into ocean and buys a solar company. Mixed metaphor, anyone? New Cape Cod anti-nuke group, Down Cape Downwinders, makes their major talking point graphic. LINKS: Interview by Japanese comedienne Mako Oshidori revealing TEPCO‘s horrific incompetence at Fukushima: http://www.save-children-from-radiation.org/2013/06/23/stunning-story-from-a-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-worker-interview-by-comedienne-oshidori-mako/Voices of Evacuees: Joint Lawsuit Begins in Hokkaido http://www.jfissures.org/2013/07/03/voices-of-evacuees-joint-lawsuit-begins-in-hokkaido/#.UdSSsC_4Ogk.facebook ### NH #107: Food/Radiation Update w/FFAN's Kim Roberson, Sean Witzling URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/107-foodradiation-update-wffans-kim-roberson-sean-witzling/ Published: 2013-07-03 Duration: 01:00:00 Fukushima native Godzilla decides to get even with TEPCO. INTERVIEW: Kimberly Roberson — nutritionist, author and founder of the Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) on the latest in food/radiation safety, plus the new FFAN petition with the FDA to get "allowable" radiation limits dropped. She's joined by Sean Witzling of Citizens for Health, who explains this new petition process. Once you've listened, go sign and comment: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FDA-2013-P-0291-0001 FFAN Ad Promoting FDA Food Safety Petition – GO SIGN IT NOW! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: The US "alternative energy" loan guarantee program guaranteed to give billions… to nukes! PLUS: Scientists and medical experts take on the UN over Fukushima radiation report;Energy Dept. considers dumping $3.7 billion boondoggle Savannah River Site;Davis-Besse shuts down – again;Millions of shrimp-like krill dead on beaches of northern California, Oregon;India/Russia nuclear liability head-butting may permanently sink proposed Koodankulam #3,4,5 & 6, even as #1 may be commissioned "at any time;"TEPCO shareholders demanding the utility dump nukes;SCANDAL ALERT: In Japan, funds for recovery from the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster diverted to cover utility companies <!>In historic public vote, of Japan's nine political parties, EIGHT come out against nukes: In historic public vote, 8 of Japan's 9 major political parties come out against nukes. ### NH #106: Keegan: Ohio's Davis-Besse follows SanO Lead; MamaBears, Native Elders Protest Grand Canyon Uranium Mining URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/106-keegan-on-davis-besse-mamabear-euler-havasupai-waters-on-grand-canyon-uranium-contamination/ Published: 2013-06-26 Duration: 01:00:00 Davis (R) and Besse (L) at home downwind of the nuclear disaster-in-the-making that bears their names. INTERVIEWS: Michael Keegan, Chair of the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, fills us in on how San Onofre strategy will impact the campaign to shut down Davis-Besse in Ohio. Links: Beyond Nuclear – http://www.beyondnuclear.org/Citizens Environment Alliance SW Ontario – http://www.citizensenvironmentalliance.org/Don't Waste Michigan – http://dwmi.homestead.com/Sierra Club Ohio – http://ohiosierraclub.org/ MamaBears Brigade's Dr. Catherine "Wind" Euler and native American Havasupai Waters on their continuing protest of uranium mining at the Grand Canyon, including elevated radiation readings on tourist walkways. Links: MamaBears Against Nukes – https://www.facebook.com/mamabears.againstnukes?fref=ts&ref=br_tfArticle on recent protests: https://lajicarita.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/protesters-in-santa-fe-say-no-uranium-mining/ Nuclear Tightrope at Grand Canyon as Uranium Mines Create Hotter Tourist Hot Spots than Nik Wallenda NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority PLUS: Hanford leak is "worst case scenario;"MacFarlane survives Sen. Boxer's wrath at NRC refusal to hand over San Onofre documents, gets re-nominated as NRC Chair;David Lochbaum of Union of Concerned Scientists provides the NRC "DUCK!" Report on Non-Detecting Examinations;Elevated levels of tritium, strontium found in harbor at Fukushima Daiichi;Yablokov takes on the UNSCEAR report minimizing cancer risks from Fukushima;First of the Fukushima 50 dies of lung cancer. LINKS for the NRC "DUCK!" Report: Union of Concerned Scientists – NRC slides on their NDE (non-destructive examinations aka non-detecting examinations): http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1315/ML13159A009.pdf ### NH #105: EXCLUSIVE Naoto Kan Interview URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/105-exclusive-naoto-kan-interview/ Published: 2013-06-19 Duration: 00:59:57 The Boys and Girls on the Nuclear Bus, June 4, 2013: (l-r) Gregory Jaczko, Kendra Ulrich, Cathy Iwane, PM Naoto Kan, Arnie Gundersen, Shaun Burnie, Peter Bradford, Eric Pica http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/NuclearHotseat105-EXCLUSIVENaotoKan.mp3 FEATURED INTERVIEW: In this Nuclear Hotseat Exclusive, former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan shares about his anti-nuclear political moves in Japan, social media, and makes a startling request of Nuclear Hotseat's Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy. We also hear the second half of his presentation at the "Fukushima Daiichi Disaster: Lessons for California" panel discussion that took place on June 4, 2013 in San Diego. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK FOR NUCLEAR BONEHEADEDNESS: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for holding a "bizarre bazaar" to sell Fukushima produce at their company's HQ in Tokyo. PLUS: NRC Staff want to void Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) ruling that played a significant role in Southern California Edison's decision to shut down San Onofre.Hanford Site still leaking, getting worse.Brockovich investigator gets involved in St. Louis Landfill fire, now only 1,000 feet from buried nuclear waste.Nevada Governor Sandoval urged to block shipments of uranium waste.Radwaste barrels litter English Channel.Audiences reject pro-nuke Pandora's Promise, now renamed Pandora's Box-Office Flop. ### NH #104: SAN ONOFRE SHUTDOWN SPECIAL! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/104-san-onofre-shutdown-special/ Published: 2013-06-12 Duration: 01:00:00 FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Listen as veteran activists of the battle to shut down San Onofre celebrate the win by recalling where they were, how they received the news, what it means to them and where our movement goes from here (you didn't think we were done, did you?). Hear from: Gary and Laurie Headrick of San Clemente GreenGene Stone of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE)Donna Gilmore of San Onofre SafetyRay Lutz of Citizen's OversightUrban planner Torgen JohnsonCathy Iwane, who works with many groups as our direct connection to Japan PLUS: National activists Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear, Diane D'Arrigo of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), and Priscilla Star, founder of the Coalition Against Nukes (CAN). Southern California activists and their expert advisors celebrate permanent closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant PLUS: Davis-Besse NPP protest gets boost from SanO closure;Browns Ferry NPP implicated in increased mortality rates in surrounding counties;Fukushima child thyroid cancer cases rise to 12 confirmed, 15 suspected; more than double February, 2013 rates; Japanese parents take child thyroid testing to private testing events because they don't trust the Fukushima Health Survey;Transformer at France's Catenom NPP explodes; Cattenom NPP in France, explosion in transformer June, 2013 Swedish utility Vattenfall buying up land for possible new nuke; SWEDEN, DON'T TOUCH IT! IT'S EVIL! LINKS: Mamabears Protest against Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon – at the Grand Canyon. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/mamabears.againstnukes?fref=tsSupport Independent thyroid screenings for Fukushima Children by donating here: http://bit.ly/Wcfe2ASignatures sought for group and individual endorsements in support of UN Special Rapporteur's recommendations on the Right to Health: http://bit.ly/129eEIy ### NH #103: HISTORIC ANTI-NUKE SUMMIT: Hon. Naoto Kan, Jaczko, Bradford, Gundersen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/103-san-diego-summit-hon-naoto-kan-jaczko-branfods-gundersen/ Published: 2013-06-05 Duration: 01:00:00 Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan FEATURING: "The Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Disaster: Lessons for California from Former Japanese Prime Minister Kan" was a public meeting of historic consequence for the anti-nuclear movement. This week, we cover the speeches of the Hon. Naoto Kan and former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Gregory Jaczko, plus an interview with event visionary and organizer Torgen Johnson and a few sage observations by Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education. Next week: an exclusive interview w/Naoto Kan. Nuclear Hotseat Producer/Host Libbe HaLevy asks her question of former Japanese PM Kan, NRC;s Jaczko and Branford (Better pictures next week when I figure out how to upload them.) VIDEO EXCERPTS (Courtesy Mary Beth Brangan and EON – www.EON3.net) NAOTO KAN: http://youtu.be/15Uh1jBwidM GREGORY JACZKO: http://youtu.be/TRTtGNtJ8sQ PETER BRADFORD: http://youtu.be/MC4SbppHGak ARNIE GUNDERSEN: http://youtu.be/MwnAvXOqJKc KENDRA ULRICH: http://youtu.be/PqEPHi717Dw ### NH #102: NUCLEAR GANDHI - Nonviolent India Rebels Against Nuclear; w/Kumar Sundaram URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-102-nuclear-gandhi-nonviolent-india-rebels-against-nuclear-wkumar-sundaram/ Published: 2013-05-29 Duration: 01:00:00 Entire village of Idinthakarai sleeps on the beach to protest Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Credit: Amirthraj Stephen/Gallery Ske from, "Koodankulam: In My Backyard" FEATURED INTERVIEW: Kumar Sundaram, Research Consultant with India's Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, (CNDP) on the Indian government's violent repression of the non-violent anti-nuclear movement, Japan's push to sell nuclear technology to India; and the country's massive, growing anti-nuclear movement. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: A video is worth a thousand words… As George Takei might say, "Oh, my………!" PLUS: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) demands Justice Dept. investigates SCE after 2004 letter surfaces showing company VP already expressed doubts over San Onofre steam generator design;Paducah, Kentucky faces nuclear disaster if/when TVA turns off the lights at uranium plant for nonpayment of the bill <!>;JELLYFISH AWARD FOR NUCLEAR HEROISM: Seaweed shuts down two nuclear reactors in Scotland;Greenpeace lands a warning on Sweden's Ringhals reactor…and gets no reaction;Navaho Nation blocks uranium mining company from transporting ore across their lands – and there's no other way out;TEPCO has problems keeping employees — can you imagine? ### NH #101: Hanford Spotlight w/PSR's Daniel Noonan, Food Safety w/organic farmer Paul Frey URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/101-hanford-spotlight-wpsrs-daniel-noonan-food-safety-wpaul-frey/ Published: 2013-05-22 Duration: 01:00:00 Friends of the Earth's mobile billboard, roving the 50-mile evacuation radius from San Onofre in So. California. FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Daniel Noonan of Washington state Physicians for Social Responsibility fills us in on history of the Hanford Nuclear Site, with its leaks threatening the Columbia River and the entire Pacific Northwest. Includes information on this week's Public Meeting on Hanford to be held on May 23 at the Husky Union Building at the University of Washington, Seattle. www.WAMEC.org Paul Frey, an organic farmer and winemaker, on the impact of a nuclear reactor accident on agriculture. He's the man who superimposed the plume patterns from Fukushima and Chernobyl on a map of California to give a graphic picture of the damage that would be caused by a meltdown at either reactor. Learn how to make a plume map for your local neighborhood nuclear reactor by contacting Paul for his Powerpoint: Paul@FreyWine.com. NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Hanford Nuclear Site requires only a PARADE PERMIT to move high level nuclear materials through the streets of Richland, WA! PLUS: Belgium‘s 2 nukes cracked "but safe!";Hamburg ship fire threatened radioactive materials AND explosives in same cargo hold <!>;Massive anti-nuke protests in Taiwan;Fukushima growing rice for sale in former hot zone <!>;German company to build wind power farm to power US weapons plant. Huh??? The inside story on Friends of the Earth‘s mobile billboard on San Onofre. And so much more…! LINKS: How the US Turned Three Pacifists into "Violent Terrorists":http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/15-7Nuclear Powered Cancer Clusters:http://spoonsenergymatters.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/nuclear-powered-cancer-clusters/Japan Industry Ministry Behind Private Panel's Push for Reactor Restarts:http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201305190024 ### NH #100! Big San Onofre Win: ASLB Rules No Restart without Public Hearings URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-100-big-san-onofre-win-aslb-rules-no-restart-without-public-hearings/ Published: 2013-05-15 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Hotseat Takes the Cake! 100 episodes and counting… INTERVIEWS: Rudolph Herzog, author of A SHORT HISTORY OF NUCLEAR FOLLY: MAD SCIENTISTS, DITHERING NAZIS, LOST NUKES AND CATASTROPHIC COVER-UPS. Kendra Ulrich, Nuclear Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, explains the significance of the May 13 Atomic Safety Licensing Board (ASLB) ruling that mandates an adjudicated public hearing on Southern California Edison's (SCE's) scheme to restart the dangerous, damaged Unit 2 at San Onofre. The leaking, damaged nuclear reactors of San Onofre NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: When is dumping radioactive material into the ocean not dumping radioactive material into the ocean? Leave it to Fukushima to figure out a loophole in that International law! PLUS: 83-year-old Sister Megan Rice and two associates found guilty of conscience-driven break-in at Y-12 nuclear processing plant in Tennessee, could get 30 years <!>; Plowshares Protesters: 83-year-old Sister Megan Rice w/57-year-old Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, 64 – guilty as charged and fearless in admitting it. California Public Utilities Commission tries to stop all recording of its hearings on San Onofre but activists already told them: have digital cameras, will travel;Palisades NPP crack caused leaks into Lake Michigan and Michigan Congressman w/clout demands full accountability; Hanford may be "too dangerous to clean up" – huh?; NRC Commissioner Ostendorff owned stock in NRC licensee Honeywell during labor lockout <!>; Horses dying and stroke rate spiking in Fukushima; SCE still trying to get someone to take that senior management position as Nuclear Communications Project Manager – any takers? <LOL!> LINKS: Three Soma (Fukushima) High School girls write and perform their original play, "Unheard Voices." Powerful truths emerge from this heartfelt piece of student theatre. Unheard Voices (with English Subtitles) by thedeaconrulz California Public Utilities Commission restricts public access to San Onofre Hearings: http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1357NRC Commissioner Ostendorff owned stock in Honeywell during labor lockout:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/william-ostendorff-honeywell_n_3272376.html?utm_hp_ref=tw ### NH #99: San Onofre Heats Up: Friends of the Earth's Kendra Ulrich URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/99-san-onofre-heats-up-friends-of-the-earths-kendra-ulrich/ Published: 2013-05-08 Duration: 01:00:05 INTERVIEWS: Kendra Ulrich, Nuclear Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, who explains what it's like to stand up solo and face down the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on their home turf — and what the macro conversation is about getting San Onofre shut down. Nuclear videographer Myla Reson asks Rep. Henry Waxman tough questions and gets brilliant answers, then explains exclusively to Nuclear Hotseat listeners the politics behind the exchange we just heard. Fascinating insights! PLUS: Numnutz of the Week: FirstEnergy's meltdown over the heroic goldfish of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan. How radioactive WERE they, eh…? Two aquatic anti-nuclear protesters of unknown nationality broke into the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan, but could not survive the reactor water in their lemonade pitcher. RIP. Palisades NPP in Michigan leaks "very slightly/mildly/diluted" radioactive water into Lake Michigan, but "there's no impact on health and safety!" (said no sane person, ever). Duke dumps plans for 2 new nukes in North Carolina;83-year-old nun, Sister Megan Gillespie Rice, and 2 others, face trial this week for embarrassing the government by peacefully breaking in to Oak Ridge nuclear facility, graffiti-ing and praying.Could depleted uranium be behind the US military‘s soaring suicide rate?Japanese mushrooms, bamboo sprouts found too radioactive even for the United States!KEWAUNEE IS HISTORY – 103 AND COUNTING DOWN!… and who put the goldfish in Perry? Don't tell me… Homer Simpson? LINKS: 83-year-old nun, 2 others, and what the trial is all about. Brilliantly written by Dan Zak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2013/04/29/the-prophets-of-oak-ridge/Hanford hero Mike Geffre's struggle to get his bosses to understand the magnitude of the leak under the most nuclearly polluted location in the country and the threat to the Columbia River: http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Hanford-worker-pushed-WRPS-to-action-204789701.html The US Use of Humans in Radiation Experiments: http://www.citywatchla.com/4box-right/5005-humans-used-for-radiation-experiments-a-shameful-chapter-in-us-historyDepleted Uranium (DU) in Middle East implicated in GI suicides, psychiatric complaints? http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/10/02/gis-brains-fried-by-military-dispensed-nose-candy/ ### NH #98: LaSalle SCRAMS x4; Will Chicagoans Have to Scram? NEIS' Gail Snyder, Andrew Kishner URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/98-lasalle-scrams-x4-will-chicagoans-have-to-scram-neis-gail-payne-andrew-kishner/ Published: 2013-05-01 Duration: 01:00:00 Nuclear Engineering at San Onofre (Photo: 10 News San Diego) INTERVIEW: When the LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant 125 miles from Chicago got hit with lightning on April 17, it set up a series of emergency shut-downs, unvented gas releases, and an untold amount of radiation let loose in the environment. The issues are complex and deeply troubling. Explaining the situation are Gail Snyder of the Nuclear Energy and Information Service (NEIS.org) and Andrew Kishner, who investigates technical nuclear issues and reports on them on his website, NuclearCrimes.org. PLUS: NYTimes says TEPCO "just hanging on," hasn't a clue;Japan refuses its responsibility to evacuate kids from Fukushima radiation zone;More peaceful Koodankulam protesters arrested in India;Radiation rises in Tokyo and no one knows — or will admit to — why;Entergy told to pay Red Cross over $700K for evacuation plan… and they doan wanna…! <LOL!>;Leverett, Massachusetts, votes to abolish the NRC! (Would that it were so easy…)And then there's so much more! NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: 2nd Runner Up: Fox anchor finds possibility that radiation from Fukushima may be killing sea lions, "Wow, that would be astounding, and sad certainly."1st Runner Up: Pennsylvania truck from fracking site refused right to dump drill cuttings in its own company's landfill because of 10X permitted radiation levels… so it just goes looking for a different landfill that will let it dump.Winner: San Onofre Unit 3 leak "fixed" with plastic bags, tape, broomsticks (see: picture at the top). Oy. LINKS: From Gail Snyder: Bradley, Illinois: Lake effect snow from Nuclear Power Facility Cooling Pond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGsz8gVxCOQBonfield, Illinois: Lake effect snow from Nuclear Power Facility Cooling Pond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oLmsmUdORIDwight, Illinois: Lake effect snow from Nuclear Power Facility Cooling Pond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcITr_EWX7k Keiko Ichikawa, author of "A Letter from Fukushima" ### NH #97: CHERNOBYL'S LEGACY - Yablokov, Dr. Janette Sherman, Chernobyl Survivor Bonnie Kouneva URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/97-chernobyl-special-yablokov-dr-janette-sherman-chernobyl-survivor-bonnie-kouneva/ Published: 2013-04-24 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEWS: Three special interviews on the Legacy of Chernobyl and the implications to Fukushima and the future of the people of Japan: Chernobyl survivor Bonnie Kouneva, who as a 16-year-old lived in Bulgaria, 800 miles away from the nuclear disaster… but it wasn't far enough.Dr. Alexei Yablokov, who compiled over 5,000 research papers in multiple languages for the book, Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, as well as co-founding Greenpeace, Russia.Dr. Janette Sherman, known for her work with Joseph Mangano on statistical studies indicating infant deaths and hypothyroidism in the US after Fukushima as well as editing the English translation of Alexei Yablokov's book. PLUS: Los Angeles City Council votes unanimously to tell NRC to hold So Cal Edison to an Adjudicated Evidentiary Hearing on San Onofre – a BIG WIN!Florida House committee passes bill to prevent Progress Energy from charging customers for the development of nuclear plants before they even obtain a license to build the sucker!Shut It Down Affinity Group gets arrested yet again for blocking the driveway of Entergy's Vermont Yankee NPP: Ellen Graves (L) and Frances Crowe (R) – two Vermont Yankees blocking Vermont Yankee. Photo by Hattie Nestle NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: US Nuclear Power and the Ebay Connection LINKS: Friends of the Earth full story on the Los Angeles City Council's vote to demand an Adjudicated Evidentiary Hearing on San Onofre with the NRC and Southern California Edison: http://www.foe.org/news/news-releases/2013-04-san-onofre-los-angeles-votes-to-oppose-reactor-restartWatch VP Joe Biden talk about nuclear in 2007; you'll be surprised! Video on non-seismically qualified Spent Fuel Pools in the US: ### NH #96: Naval Personnel Nuked w/Fukushima Radiation - FULL STORY URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/96-2/ Published: 2013-04-17 Duration: 01:00:05 FEATURED: You may have heard about the sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan suing TEPCO for their radiation exposure, but you haven't heard the whole story. "The devil's in the details," as they say, and the details in this story from former quartermasters Jaime Plym and Maurice Enis promises to break your heart and and make you angry. The first audio is a presentation the two did at the Dr. Caldicott/PSR Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of Fukushima. The show closes out with uncensored, unedited audio from the press conference that followed, unheard until now. PLUS: Numnutz of the Week for Nuclear Boneheadedness: Three candidates, but the winner is the Japanese triathlon that has 6-year-olds swimming in a lake so radioactive, it killed off a release of 80-million smelt eggs last year and the four fish they caught to test all had radiation levels more than 3x legal limit. This is what governmental genocide looks like. The new piece of "jewelry" we all may be wearing soon? EPA thinks it's just dandy for 1 in 23 of us to get cancer and they much prefer that to the silly old standard of no more than 1 human-being-American-citizen in 10,000;NRC ignores Sen. Boxer/Rep. Markey to rev up for what looks like The Battle of San Onofre;Los Angeles radiation shows spike of 419%;all 7 Fukushima underground pools leaking radioactive water into the Pacific;50-year old radiation waste found in barrels sunk to the bottom of the English Channel;US committed secret Nazi-style radiation tests on helpless US citizens; might they still be doing that today?…and much, much more! LINKS: Michael Collins on radiation increase of 419% for Los Angeles:Ω&lt;/li>&lt;li>&lt;strong>A Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster&lt;/strong> – videos and Powerpoint presentations of both days: &lt;a href="http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=hcf ">http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=hcf &lt;/a>&lt;/li>&lt;li>&lt;strong>Harvey Wasserman&lt;/strong>:&lt;a href=" www.Solartopia.org "> www.Solartopia.org &lt;/a>&lt;/li>&lt;li>&lt;strong>Comment here on EPA relaxation of guidelines for radiation exposure:  &lt;/strong>&lt;a href="http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268″>http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0268&lt;/a>&lt;/li>&lt;li>&lt;strong>Article on EPA relaxation of guidelines for radiation exposure:  &lt;/strong>&lt;a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/epa-seeks-comment-controversial-nuclear-response-guide/ ">http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/epa-seeks-comment-controversial-nuclear-response-guide/  &lt;/a>&lt;/li> ### NH #95: Radiation & Food Safety: FFAN Actions w/Cindy Folkers, Mary Beth Brangan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/95-radiation-food-safety-ffan-petition-wcindy-folkers-mary-beth-brangan/ Published: 2013-04-10 Duration: 01:00:00 INTERVIEW: Radiation from Fukushima, nuclear reactors and leftover atmospheric testing continue to compromise the safety of our food. Learn the dangers of radiation contamination — and how to take action — from two members of the Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN): Cindy Folkers of Beyond Nuclear and Mary Beth Brangan of EON (Ecological Options Network). Then go sign the FFAN petitions: Sign On Petition: http://signon.org/sign/keep-harmful-radioactive-1.fb26?source=c.fb&r_by=7470505FDA Petition: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2013-P-0291-0001Beyond Nuclear: www.BeyondNuclear.orgEcological Options Network: www.Eon3.net PLUS: Numnutz of the Week for Nuclear Boneheadedness: White House draft report calls for steep rollback of standards for radioactive waste clean-up to levels expected to cause cancer in 1 in 23 people, while EPA spokesmodel tells the public to "put on their big boy pants and suck it up." <!> Former NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko calls for phase-out of current US nuke fleet.Southern California Edison tries to TELL the NRC that they WILL approve a restart at San Onofre by June 1.NOAA testing to learn if Fukushima radiation is behind sea lion beachings and die-offs in Southern California.Fukushima tank leaks 120 tons of radioactive water, runoff channeled into a different tank… and that one leaks, too!TEPCO knocks Fukushima power offline yet again, while setting only mousetraps to catch potentially world-ending rats;Film critic Roger Ebert suspected radiation of causing his cancer, to which he succumbed this week after a decades-long battle.And much more! LINKS: Cindy Folkers on Food Safety at the Dr. Helen Caldicott/Physicians for Social Responsibility Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of Fukushima: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXhlGs5BnnILink to all video from Dr. Caldicott's symposium: http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=hcf# Timothy Mousseau‘s 10 questions for the nuclear industry that show how dangerous it really is: http://japanfocus.org/-Timothy-A__Mousseau/3921Kindergartener Savana Urry‘s video report on Fukushima: http://environews.tv/kindergarten-fukushima-science-project-says-it-all-now-tuna-fish-in-california-have-cesium-yuk/Iowa Petition to stop nuke plant from being built: http://www.change.org/petitions/midamerican-energy-company-stop-the-plan-to-build-a-nuclear-plant-in-central-iowa ### NH #94: San Onofre Shocker: Elmo Out, Howell In! + Gary Headrick Explains SCE's Slickery URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-94-san-onofre-update-wgary-headrick-nrcs-elmo-out-art-in/ Published: 2013-04-03 Duration: 00:31:03 INTERVIEW: Gary Headrick of San Clemente Green walks us through recent manipulations and slickery by Southern California Edison and explains why SCE's request for a licensing hearing by the NRC is not the same as an adjudicated licensing hearing by the NRC. Plus the sudden departure of NRC Region IV head Elmo Collins, the new power of nuclear engineer Art Howell to influence the SanO hearings, and a juicy quote from former NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko on what it's really like on the inside of the institution charged with "Protecting People and the Environment" from the scourge of nuclear. Retirement: It's a good thing… because rats are always the first ones off a sinking ship! PLUS: Arkansas nuke plant accident kills 1, injures 8;New study indicates nuke plant shutdowns reduce local cancer rates;Quebec puts a moratorium on uranium exploration and development;Cops turn Indian anti-nuke protest into mass jailing;Tohoku Electric decides: no new nukes will be built in Fukushima (can you believe they were thinking seriously about it?!?);Nuclear Reactors: When Animals Attack!…and much more! LINKS: San Clemente Green – www.SanClementeGreen.orgNew study by Dr. Janette Sherman and Joe Mangano on reduction in cancer rates once nuclear reactors are shut down: http://www.healthline.com/health-news/policy-closing-nuclear-plant-prevents-thousands-of-cancer-cases-032813Saturday Night Live "Two Mile Island" sketch ("Pepsi Syndrome"): https://vimeo.com/20995501 ### NH #93: THREE MILE ISLAND SPECIAL: America's Forgotten Nuclear Terror URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/93-three-mile-island-special-americas-forgotten-nuclear-terror/ Published: 2013-03-27 Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy as a young, stupid woman standing in front of the still-leaking nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island, approximately April 10, 1979 FEATURING: Nuclear Engineer Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education with a blow-by-blow description of the chaos inside TMI during the first three days of the accident. Arnie Gundersen and Libbe HaLevy in front of the San Onofre Nuclear Reactors three days before decommissioning was announced. Long time Middletown, PA resident Mary Stamos, with a first-hand report of the aftermath of the accident and the impact upon her family.Media excerpts from Walter Cronkite and countless other reporters not yet hobbled by corporate media control.And a "punch line" of unimaginable proportions regarding what happened to the Three Mile Island Plant Manager (HINT: You won't believe it!). LINKS: Three Mile Island Alert, the local Middletown activist organization: www.TMIA.com Mark Catlin, "Voices of Three Mile Island": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmmdh8XlbvgAdam Curtis, Adam Curtis, whose film "A is for Atom" provided excerpts from the Dictaphone recording: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ON-EnaRtAwJohn B. Wells, Host, Coast to Coast AM, Nuclear Power Special http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2013/03/23 – source of the Arnie Gundersen audio.CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite – Three Mile Island Special Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVu92rk4M0Q, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16nAYUIKMiQFRONTLINE: Meltdown at Three Mile Island – excellent documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLPAigMuBk0, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUaywLEEN9U Walter Cronkite, "The Most Trusted Newsman in America," doing a CBS Special Report on Three Mile Island on March 30, 1979 – the third day of the nuclear accident that freaked out the entire eastern part of the US and — oh yes — the rest of the world. ### NH #92: FUKUSHIMA BLACKOUT! Radiation Health Tips from FFAN's Kimberly Roberson URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/92-fukushima-blackout-radiation-health-tips-from-ffans-kimberly-roberson/ Published: 2013-03-20 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/73d1767f-132a-386d-6799-a727b2bb1f01.mp3 INTERVIEW: Kimberly Roberson is a certified Diet Counselor and Nutrition Educator and has served on the board of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. She has worked at Sane/Freeze, CALPIRG and Greenpeace USA;  and has lobbied for environmental and natural health issues on the state and federal level, as well as at the Food and Drug Administration. Kimberly is the founder of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN). Her first book is "Silence Deafening, Fukushima Fallout…A Mother's Response." Kimberly Roberson's Links: Follow: https://twitter.com/RadFreeFoodie Visit: www.silencedeafening.com Support:  https://www.fracturedatlas.org/s/campaign/676 Updates:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/SilenceDeafeningFFAMR Sign and share: http://www.change.org/petitions/urgent-fukushima-radioactive-fallout-food-safety-petitionwww.SilenceDeafening.com STORIES: Fukushima power outage timeline and possible consequences; Southern California Edison wants to restart San Onofre at full power despite likelihood of breakdown <!>; NRC denies license to Calvert Cliffs – first license denial ever <!>; Caldicott Symposium smashing success w/online viewers in 650 cities worldwide; Japanese journalist Jun Hori muzzled, his documentary on Southern California nuclear activism ordered not to be shown by his employer, NHK; France wins Numnutz of the Week for hiding results of a nuclear worst-case-scenario study for six years, then redacting the text and gaming the numbers in full view of the world; Dr. Catherine Euler of the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory 6 (see: Nuclear Hotseat #86 – http://ow.ly/hsvSu) gets the best community service "punishment" ever! Dr. Caldicott/Physicians for Social Responsibility Symposium Video Links – A Partial Listing (with thanks to Chistine Dillon Strickland for her hard work and good eye): Libbe HaLevy, Gail Payne of Coalition Against Nukes, Don Payne of CAN, Cathy Iwane Alexy Yablokov on Chernobyl:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovZIaV-xrXk&feature=youtu.be World Health Organization Pact w/IAEA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qqiPkVhPoI Spent fuel – an afterthought:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4RyFNgrswI Medical consequences of Fukushima:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-sAiwV6MI Q&A:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Nf5UTW2JI Naval personnel poisoned by Fukushma radiation:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6lSgcAO2zs Dr. Caldicott – closing remarks:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOMwJnQjj1A Naoto Kan, experiences while Prime Minister of Japan during Fukushima disaster:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYv3w63us5k Hiroaki Koide, Master of Nuclear Engineering, Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute – Fukushima Daiichi: A Chronologicl Account of the Disaster:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmHptj2RVo Chronology of Fukushima:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clmHptj2RVo Chernobyl – congenital malformations – ionizing radiation:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIRgMLyuNDk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEYZl8-3sDQ Ian Fairley – Fukushima source terms, initial health impact: #2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bLEb7qB1c4 #3:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPbsPx_BLAY Dr. Steven Wing – Epidemiological studies of radiation releases from nuclear facilities #2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1P61cZEAQQ #3:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=094qx-CfyrI Arnie Gundersen presentation: http://www.fairewinds.com/content/fairewinds-arnie-gundersen-presentation-helen-caldicott-foundation-symposium Joseph Mangano:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqW0PVT93d0 Karl Grossman report:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LYClI5orMY Kevin Kamps – 70 years of radioactive risks: #2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3GC1TjmV6w #3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOXLiha9Rqk Cindy Folkers – radiation in food:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9d3I3S99Dc ### NH #91 - Dr. Caldicott's Global Symposium on Medical and Ecological Consequences of Fukushima URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/91-dr-caldicotts-global-symposium-on-medical-and-ecological-consequences-of-fukushima/ Published: 2013-03-13 Duration: 00:31:45 SPECIAL:  Direct from Dr. Helen Caldicott's Global Symposium on the Medical and Ecoogical Consequences of Fukushima, the voices of activists from around the world share what they saw, heard, felt — and decided they'd have to do about it once they got home.  Close to 20 individuals share their take-aways at the most exciting and arguably the most important event in the United States commemorating the second anniversary of the Fukushima anniversary.  Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy and Dr. Helen Caldicott at the end of the exhaustive, exhausting two-day Symposium SPECIAL: Direct from Dr. Helen Caldicott’s Global Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of Fukushima, the voices of activists from around the world share what they saw, heard, felt — and decided they’d have to do about it once they got home. Close to 20 individuals share their take-aways at the most exciting and profound insights and revelations from the two day event. NOTE: COMPUTER GLITCH ERASED SOME OF CONTENT; WORKING ON RESTORING IT. MUSIC:  "Ma Nature" from "Aarmageddon: The Living End!" – lyric by Libbe HaLevy, music by Grady.  Dedicated to Dr. Caldicott. ### NH #90: Organizational Psychosis and the Nuclear Connection w/Dr. Lloyd C. Williams URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/90-organizational-psychosis-and-the-nuclear-connection-wdr-lloyd-c-williams/ Published: 2013-03-06 Duration: 00:55:55 INTERVIEW: Dr. Lloyd C. Williams, international Fortune 100-level coach/consultant/organizational psychologist, on Organizational Psychosis as it relates to Japan, TEPCO, the NRC and the rest of the nuclear industry, with tips to activists on how to break the nuclear cycle of abuse. DR. WILLIAMS' CONTACT INFORMATION: Website: http://www.i-ttl.com/, http://www.drlloydcwilliams.comEmail: orgdoctor@ittl.orgPhone: +1-(678)-834-5441 PLUS: BREAKING NEWS: Canadian company recycling radwaste into consumer goods forced out of business (now comes the clean-up).World Health Organization issues shameful, lying report claiming no health damage in Japan from Fukushima radiation <!>;Hanford update: Now 67 tanks found to be leaking radwaste at Hanford in Washington state, which is heading towards the Columbia River;US legislators souring on nuclear because it costs too much;And activists around the world gear up for Fukushima‘s second anniversary. WHO says there will be no ill effects from radiation from Fukushima? What have they been smoking? Nuclear Bunny w/o ears in Japan, 3 months after Fukushima ### NH #89: World Premiere of Filmmaker Christopher Noland's "3.11: Surviving Japan" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/89-world-premiere-of-filmmaker-christopher-nolands-3-11-surviving-japan/ Published: 2013-02-27 Duration: 00:36:05 PLUS: Hanford leaking up to two Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of plutonium-laden waste, endangering Columbia River;Germany facing nuke waste dangers and admits they haven't a clue how to handle it;Nuke workers dying – three in February alone!Rep. Markey suspects Southern California Edison, operators of San Onofre, guilty of violating federal securities laws;Entergy gets spanked by Beyond Nuclear;Gundersen reports on mutations and miscarriages in Japan.And more! Learn the facts about the steam generator failures at San Onofre and the 1959 Simi Valley no-containment meltdown. Go to: www.NuclearHotseat.com and scroll down the home page. LINKS: Beyond Nuclear's report on Entergy's "Dirty Dozen" reactors:http://www.beyondnuclear.org/nuclear-power/2013/2/21/entergy-watch-fitzpatrick-indian-point-palisades-pilgrim-ver.htmlNo Nukes Action Committee Nuclear Whistleblower Conference, March 9 in San Francisco: http://nonukesaction.wordpress.com/Nuke Action in Billboards: http://lasg.org/billboards/bill.htm ### NH #88: Bicoastal Activist Special - San Onofre in CA & Climate Change in DC URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-88-bicoastal-activist-special-san-onofre-in-ca-climate-change-in-dc/ Published: 2013-02-20 Duration: 00:30:59 SPECIAL BICOASTAL REPORT: Interviews with participants in two major actions on opposite coasts. Gary Headrick, Grace Van Thillo and San Diego Mayor Bob Filner (via proxy) weigh in on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's public hearing on Southern California Edison's dumbass intention to restart the aging, leaking, dangerous reactors at San Onofre. In DC, Coalition Against Nukes founder Priscilla Star shares her perspective on the nuke issue at the Climate Change Rally – the "elephant in the Climate Change livingroom." PLUS: Hanford, WA radwaste leak threatens Columbia River;Russian meteor barely missed 7 nuke facilities;Two more confirmed cases of thyroid cancer in children near Fukushima;Snow collapses roof at Chernobyl;It's official: with Crystal River closing, the number of nuke reactors in the US is down to 103. Progress, not perfection.…and of course, a lot more! So. Cal. Activists greet union workers being bussed in to San Onofre Hearing. Photo: Myla Reson Letter to the NRC from San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, read by Dr. Rob Wilder, the mayor's Public Advocate for Energy and Climate Change (video courtesy Myla Reson): Coalition Against Nukes in DC for Climate Change Rally ### NH #87: Boxer/Markey Nuclear Bombshell, Toronto Trainstopper Zach "No Cameco" Ruiter URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-87-boxermarkey-nuclear-bombshell-toronto-trainstopper-zach-no-cameco-ruiter/ Published: 2013-02-13 Duration: 00:44:42 INTERVIEW: Zach "No Cameco" Ruiter, Canadian activist, on the recent Toronto Idle No More-led blockade of a train outside GE-Hitachi's mid-city uranium processing facility. Plus words of wisdom and strategy for activists hoping to make a difference in their local communities. Zach "No Cameco" Ruiter joins with Idle No More at the Toronto Train Blockade protesting GE-Hitachi PLUS: Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Ed Markey blister the NRC w/a leaked document from Mitsubishi showing that SCE knew of design flaws BEFORE it installed the flawed, leaking steam generators at San Onofre;Navy seamen exposed to the worst of Fukushima radiation as part of the humanitarian Operation Tomodachi now suffering from leukemia, testicular cancer, brain lesions, loss of sight;Fukushima physicians report their "physical state is not well;Fukushima boy found w/6,000 disintegrations per second in his body – 50 disintegrations per kilogram of body weight leads to irreversible lesions in vital organs;NEW! Nuclear Hotseat's weekly NRC report, otherwise known as DUCK! REMEMBER: Dr. Helen Caldicott is producing a landmark Global Symposium on the Medical and Ecological Consequences of Fukushima March 11 and 12 in New York. Come to learn from scientists, researchers, medical doctors and genuine experts on the cutting edge of the information of what's happening as a result of the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen… and it's not over yet. www.HelenCaldicottFoundation.org for the line-up of speakers and all the latest information on livestreaming. ### NH #86: US Dumps Military Radiation Database; Crystal River Down Makes 102! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-86-nuke-protesters-arrested-convicted-crystal-river-down-makes-102/ Published: 2013-02-06 Duration: 00:47:22 Dr. Catherine Euler was arrested last August 8, the 67th anniversary of the atom bomb blast at Hiroshima for blockading entry to the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory in New Mexico. As one of the LANL 6 and an articulate spokeswoman for our cause, she describes what's it's like to get arrested by the police but held by Bechtel private security, along with why she's willing to go to jail and info on the underestimated dangers of uranium mining and low level radiation. PLUS: Duke Energy to close Crystal River NPP for good! Good!;Vermont Yankee crone-age activists arrested again – huzzah!US dumps medical registry for military personnel and families exposed to Fukushima radiation;Staggering cancer and birth defect cluster found in St. Louis;Osaka burning Fukushima waste and spreading radionuclides despite public outcry;Virginia activist opposition blocks attempted repeal of state ban on uranium mining;Dirt and Fukushima cherry blossoms vie for numnutzery, but lose to… NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: NRC's Usual "Unusual Occurrence" caused by overreaction and poor eyesight, along with why the proper response to the NRC's "Usual Occurrence" is: DUCK! LINKS: Lucas Hixon's Enformable.com story, NRC representation of San Onofre outage contested: http://enformable.com/2013/01/nrc-representation-of-san-onofre-outage-contested/Report says Georgia nuclear power plant could be Solyndra redux: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0130/Georgia-nuclear-power-plant-could-be-Solyndra-redux-report-saysExtended story on background of Crystal River NPP shutdown:http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/crystal-river-nuclear-plant-13b-and-counting/1273570 ACTIVISTS AT THEIR FINEST: Vermont Yankee protesters: Vermont Yankee Protesters at Entergy HQ Pre-Arrest TORONTO WEST URANIUM PROTEST STOPS TRAIN: ### NH #85: Journalist Karl Grossman Reveals 40+ Years of Nuke Media Manipulation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-85-journalist-karl-grossman-reveals-40-years-of-nuke-media-manipulation/ Published: 2013-01-30 Duration: 00:52:14 INTERVIEW: Special encore presentation of Karl Grossman, veteran journalist with over 45 years of covering nuclear issues. Karl knows where the metaphoric "bodies" are buried and reveals how the nuclear story has been gamed since before the Trinity Test in New Mexico in 1945. One of the most fascinating interviews ever to appear on the podcast. PLUS: Republicans on House Energy and Commerce Committee refuse to learn any lessons from the Japan Lessons Learned from Fukushima Task Force, rejects NRC's safety recommendations.NRC pushes back San Onofre never-start decision to late April or early May.Vogtle and Summer new nuke construction delayed again because contractor Southern Company can't even get the concrete and rebar right.TEPCO may be forced to permanently shut down largest nuclear facility in the world because "inactive" quake faults may not be so inactive.Bulgaria nixes nukes by voter no-show at referendum.European Union finds nuclear decontamination a growth industry, but Fukushima can barely fill 10% of its decontamination jobs. Gee, I wonder why… NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: "Critical Blocks" – toy block set to create your own miniature nuclear power plant! Can you say, "Propaganda?" KARL GROSSMAN LINKS: Free book (pdf) by Karl Grossman: COVER UP: What You Are NOT supposed to Know about Nuclear http://www.thepermanentpress.com/p-354-cover-up.aspx Additional sites to visit to learn more about Karl Grossman‘s extraordinary work: www.KarlGrossman.comwww.Envirovideo.comwww.Envirovideo.blip.tvwww.Radiation.org ADDITIONAL LINKS: Friends of the Earth has a new TV ad campaign on San Onofre, just in time for the first anniversary of the shut-down: ### NH #84: Nuclear Collusion, Radioactive Food w/Beyond Nuclear's Cindy Folkers URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-84-radioactive-food-nuclear-collusion-wbeyond-nuclears-cindy-folkers/ Published: 2013-01-23 Duration: 00:53:07 PLUS: IAEA declares 47 Japanese reactors in "Long Term Shutdown;"Allegations of voter fraud arise after Japan's general election that brought in a pro-nuke government;Nuke industry pre-3/11/13 talking points pushing the disinformation that "radiophobia" – fear of radiation – as more harmful to health than radiation <!>;Fuku fish caught w/2,500 times more radiation than Japan's bloated safety limit – it would even be illegal to import to and sell in the US!; NRC asleep at the wheel – literally – as committee chair (NOT Allison MacFarlane) nods off during Arnie Gundersen's report on San Onofre… and the #2 man gets upset that Arnie had the NERVE to offer more info than he was willing to accept. LINKS: Beyond Nuclear is at: www.BeyondNuclear.org.To learn when the Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network (FFAN) petition will be ready to roll, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124537680994270/?ref=ts&fref=ts or check at: www.beyondnuclear.org or: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/radiation-health/Story on the United National Human Resources Special Rapporteur on health: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/radiation-health-whats-new/2012/11/26/un-special-report-on-fukushima-criticizes-handling-of-radiat.html Cindy's story on the conflict of interest between WHO and IAEA: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/storage/documents/conflictingmandates.pdfHow some ways we "measure" radioactivity can be deceptive: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/children-health/2012/8/17/deception-in-sieverts-how-a-measure-of-radiation-damage-can.htmlPrecaution and radiation: http://beyondnuclear.squarespace.com/storage/precaution_roadmap.pdf This goes with the discussion of "how do we know when to stop exposing ourselves and how much is too much" also here is the link to the "reversing the birth of life" piece: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/radiation-health-whats-new/2012/12/7/a-recent-review-of-radiation-studies-should-lead-nrc-to-exam.html ### NH #83: Dr. Helen Caldicott! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-83-dr-helen-caldicott/ Published: 2013-01-16 Duration: 00:39:19 Dr. Helen Caldicott talks for the first time about her March 11-12 Symposium: The Medical and Environmental Consequences of Fukushima – a watershed event for our movement, involving doctors, scientists and researchers from around the world. She explains how she became an anti-nuclear activist while still a teenager, how she founded three of our most important organizations, and offers insights on how to make our activism even more effective. Simply the best! PLUS: Vogtle reactor ready for the nuclear "ding and dent" center (but the NRC says the shrinkwrap wasn't damaged!);Fukushima governor hospitalized with symptoms consistent with exposure to radiation;Miyagi rice contaminated with too much radiation for Japan… but it's still legal to sell it in the US;NRC's Chair Macfarlane meets with San Onofre activists, but will it make any difference in the other Commissioners' decision on restart?Arnie Gundersen on the failing economics of nuclear energy (http://www.fairewinds.com/content/fairewinds-podcast)And much, much more…! LINKS: Books by Dr. Helen Caldicott are available at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dr.+helen+caldicott Tom English's new song, "What Part of Fukushima Do You Not Understand?" – video by Myla Reson Good article from Forbes on New Centralized Nuclear Plants – and lots of reasons Why They are Not an Investment Worth Making: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/01/15/new-centralized-nuclear-plants-still-an-investment-worth-making/ ### NH #82 - Iran's Nuke Accident? SanO DAB seeks Whistleblowers, Cesium in Fuku Food URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-82-did-irans-nuke-goof-sano-strategies-and-cesium-in-fuku-food/ Published: 2013-01-09 Duration: 00:40:13 PLUS: Did Iran have a nuclear accident or is there some other cause for the evacuation of 1.5 million people?Osaka to burn radioactive Fukushima debris as the government detains and arrests anti-nuclear protestors.Turkey to test all food imported from Japan for suspected radioactivity, but US continues to do NOTHING to protect our food supply;Lupus cluster near former uranium-processing facility in Cincinnati;Nuclear dump will NOT be built on Utah's Skull Valley Goshute reservation;NRC keeps NDA on SanO; FOE agrees; HUH?…and more! LINK ON IRAN'S POSSIBLE NUCLEAR ACCIDENT: LINKS: Joe Mangano report on Decrease in Infant Deaths After Closings of Nuclear Reactors in US: http://www.radiation.org/spotlight/reactorclosings.htmlGreat article in The Mainichi on Fukushima as it approaches Year 2 anniversary: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130106p2a00m0na004000c.htmlStudy on lupus cluster near former uranium ore processing plant in Cincinnati: http://healthnews.uc.edu/news/?%2F21316%2FDr. Helen Caldicott‘s archive for "If You Love this Planet" – www.ifyoulovethis planet.org/index.html ### NH #81: Nuke Year's Resolutions from CAN's Priscilla Star URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-81-nuke-years-resolutions-from-cans-priscilla-star/ Published: 2013-01-02 Duration: 00:31:24 INTERVIEW: Priscilla Star, founder of the Coalition Against Nukes (CAN) shares her passion and vision for a women-led meeting with a White House superstar! PLUS: BIG STORY: US Navy rescue workers sue TEPCO over radiation exposure while on Fukushima disaster relief.ANOTHER BIG STORY: NRC smacks SCE upside the head over San Onofre "restart" plans, demands tougher info, may actually have started to "Protect People and the Environment."NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan's Prime Minister Abe for announcing that his government will endorse the building of new nuclear reactors in Japan; he is out of his mind.Tokyo residents report thyroid cysts and nodules.Quebec's Gentilly 2 NPP decommissioned!"Three Mile Island," the musical, wins international Music Theatre NOW award. ADDITIONAL LINKS: Christina Consuelo's video on the US Navy's negligence towards sailors on the USS Ronald Reagan regarding their radiation exposure. Shocking video! Michael Collins' write-up on the current status of the Santa Susana Field Lab, which was contaminated by uncontained nuclear meltdown in 1959 and is still hot today: http://bit.ly/Wdxu8OArnie Gundersen and Fairwinds Energy Education on storage of nuclear waste — is it even possible? http://fairewinds.org/content/can-humans-find-way-store-nuclear-waste ### NH #80: Dear Santa - NO NUKES! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-80-dear-santa-no-nukes/ Published: 2012-12-26 Duration: 00:20:42 IN THIS NUCLEAR HOTSEAT PODCAST: Activists send in their requests to Santa for a nuclear-free 2013;US 2012 nuclear scorecard show nukes a losing proposition everywhere;NRC denies San Onofre hearing;Russia gives us a clue what could be happening with Fukushima produce;Construction cost overruns and construction delays at Vogtle;French electricity giant EDF‘s Flamanville reactor's construction delays and cost overruns loses Italy as their partner;death toll from Chernobyl now believed to be 1.5 million;Fukushima kids are getting fatter because they can't exercise outside any more. LINKS: "Did the Atom Bomb Test Fallout Cause Cancer?" – Great Huffington Post article on the updated study of Strontium 90 in baby teeth and the health risks posed by both weapons and reactors. http://huff.to/h0MCI7 Truth-Out is offering a free bonus copy of Gar Smith's Nuclear Roulette: The Truth about the Most Dangerous Energy Source on Earth as a bonus when you donate to them. http://bit.ly/WxjQ2J THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR: Just a reminder of what we're fighting for… THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST: The flooded Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant in June, 2011: Just a reminder of the nuclear dangers we face: Flooding of the Ft. Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant, 18 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska in June, 2011. The only thing keeping us from disaster was the 8′ inflatable berm that surrounded the facility that, at one point, was damaged and deflated, causing flooding. ### NH #79: Home for the Hellidays: Christmas in Japan as 2 Evacuees Return URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-79-home-for-the-hellidays-christmas-in-japan-as-2-evacuees-return/ Published: 2012-12-19 Duration: 00:51:31 INTERVIEW: This week, a special interview with two women who have lived the nuclear nightmare. Cathy Iwane and Beverly Findlay-Kaneko are American-born, fell in love with and married Japanese men, and were raising families in Japan when the Fukushima disaster began. Both evacuated with their children to southern California, where they've become active in the battle to keep San Onofre shut down. Now they're heading back to Japan for the holidays. Learn how their lives have changed and what they're facing with this trip back to Japan. PLUS: LA City Council gamed out of having a voice in NRC's actions as Southern California Edison continues to forge towards a San Onofre restart;Japan's election manipulations yield bad news for nuclear sanity as right wing, pro-nuke LDP wins; lawsuits immediately filed against results;TEPCO proves once again it doesn't know its ass from its elbow when it comes to the condition of Fukushima – where the dickens did that corium go?!?Black gunk radiating 40-MILLION bequerels per kilogram found in Fukushima;EVIL NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: Japan mandates use of Fukushima rice in all school lunches.…and ever so much more! LA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON NRC/SAN ONOFRE RESTART SAFETY RESOLUTION (Video courtesy Myla Reson) Nuclear Hotseat's Libbe HaLevy: DAN HIRSCH from the Committee to Bridge the Gap: STRONG WOMAN SONG performed by Lisa Muswagon and Raven Hart-Bellecourt BONUS: Great article in LA Times about ongoing nuclear contamination of the Santa Susana Field Lab in Simi Valley, 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles: http://lat.ms/WnJpmx ### NH #78: Nuclear Perpetrators, Urban Planners, UN Preps Int'l Nuke Gag Order URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-78-nuclear-refugees-nuclear-perpetrators/ Published: 2012-12-12 Duration: 00:53:50 INTERVIEW: Torgen Johnson is a Harvard-educated Urban Planner with a professional degree in Architecture from USC. He brings a unique perspective to the nuclear conversation based upon three separate professional disciplines. As a resident of southern California who lives near San Onofre, he interprets the risks to community and accumulated wealth from a single major accident at SanO. PLUS: Passionate final word from producer/host Libbe HaLevyJapan 7.4 double-quake raises new concerns about the SFP at Unit 4UN tries to straightjacket international nuclear conversationThe WHO (World Health Organization, not the band) actually has the gall to say there's no health danger from radiation at Fukushima <!>.Thousands join P-MANE at Koodankulam to again blockade the sea in ongoing protests against the NPP going online.Researchers are going to study the health impact of uranium mines on Navajo children… 30 years after the mines were closed. Timing is everything…And, of course, much more… RECOMMENDED BOOKS, ARTICLES and PODCASTS: Joe Mangano and Dr. Janette Sherman, MD, published Double Your Trouble with Nuclear Power in Counterpunch – KAPOW! The whole anti-nuclear argument, up to date and ready to fly: http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/12/05/double-your-trouble-with-nuclear-power/Joe Mangano, one of the authors of the Counterpunch article, is the author of, "MAD SCIENCE: The Nuclear Power Experiment," of which Alec Baldwin who writes in the forward: "Joe Mangano is the constant, tireless voice that has helped keep me linked to reports from the front lines of the battle to expose the staggering risks to public health posed by nuclear power . . . Joe has been one of the most dedicated, intelligent and even-handed public activists I have ever known. He has also proven to be one of the most effective, on a battlefield where gains are measured in inches, if not centimeters." http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/mad-science/Michael Collins (Enviroreporter.com) wrote an extensive article on Boeing's PR blitz to hide the leftover nuclear dangers of the Santa Susana Field Lab from neighbors in Los Angeles' Simi Valley: http://www.enviroreporter.com/2012/12/dirty-deeds/all/1/Arnie Gundersen‘s podcast from Fairewinds Energy Education on the impact of the 7.4 (then thought to be a 7.3) earthquake: http://fairewinds.org/content/what-are-consequences-siting-nuclear-plant-seismically-active-area TEPCO-CAM OF FUKUSHIMA – VIDEO OF 7.4 EARTHQUAKE: (go to 2:35) Mutated insect (note leg growing out of its head on the Left), with thanks to Fukushima Diary: ### NH#77: SAN ONOFRE SPOTLIGHT - SCE/NRC Meeting, Buddhist Monks, Plant Sabotage URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-77-san-onofre-spotlight-scenrc-meeting-buddhist-monks-plant-sabotage/ Published: 2012-12-05 Duration: 00:36:14 SPOTLIGHT: San Onofre really heated up last week: Possible sabotage at Unit 3 now being investigated by the FBI;Radwaste steam generator leaking radiation at the SanO gates;Buddhist monks in San Clemente praying/fasting/chanting/meditating for an end to nuclear;NRC/SCE public meeting on SCE planned restart muzzles activists (as usual)… and Nuclear Hotseat is there! PLUS: Greenpeace releases weather balloon to track potential Darlington radiation release at Canadian nuke summit;Whistleblowers charge NRC with valuing secrecy over safety;Oyster Creek springs a leak post-Sandy;Chernobyl getting a new containment structure ('cause the sarcophagus is falling apart);and the body/mind connection betrays SCE's biggest lie and weakest link. BONUS: Enenews.com, one of the most reliable sources for nuclear information, recently compiled a list of the 33 top headlines/articles of the year to date. Even if you're familiar with the individual stories, seeing them all together is a mind-blower. Check it out here: http://enenews.com/top-33-headlines-nrcs-fukushima-foia-releases Nuclear Hotseat producer/host Libbe HaLevy asks her question at the Southern California Edison/Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meeting on SCE's plans for a San Onofre restart (video courtesy Myla Reson): This is the Buddhist monks' prayer/fast/meditation vigil site: ### NH #76: SAN ONOFRE/NRC/SCE SPECIAL URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-76-san-onofrenrcsce-special/ Published: 2012-11-28 FEATURED INTERVIEWS: Hear from four activists involved with the battle to stop the San Onofre restart as we head into this Friday's public meeting between the NRC, Southern California Edison and (hopefully squeezing in there, eventually) the public. Host Libbe HaLevy interviews: Video activist Myla ResonGary Headrick, head of San Clemente Green (www.SanClementeGreen.org)Gene Stone, founder of Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (www.ResidentsOrganizedforaSafeEnvironment.org)Ray Lutz, an engineer and National Coordinator for Citizens' Oversight (www.citizensoversight.org) Learn about the politics, the spin, the manipulation… and how Buddhist monks came to be fasting and praying for six days outside San Onofre's main gate. PLUS: UN chastises Japan for post-Fukushima incompetence and cruelty to its own citizens;UK activists successfully blockade Hinkley NPP;Illinois provides free potassium iodide to residents within ten miles of only one of its reactors (why not the other five locations?);and South Korea wonders if cracks in their nuke plant control rod tunnels will impact their efforts to export nuclear technology to other countries (ya think?!?). United Nations special rapporteur and health investigator Anand Grover on Japan's shameful actions in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster: ### NH #75: Activists Share Gratitude; Nuclear is the Turkey URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-75-activists-share-gratitude-nuclear-is-the-turkey/ Published: 2012-11-21 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/f3b18260-038f-1942-bfd3-a757897d2180.mp3 INTERVIEW: What do we anti-nukers have to be thankful for?  Listen to a montage of national activist voices expressing their gratitude for skirmishes won, battles shared, losses commiserated, unexpected camaraderie and the miracle that is our growing movement.  If you need a reminder as to why we do it, listen with your heart, because it's all about love. PLUS: Whales and dolphins safe from PG&E in Diablo Canyon showdown! Exelon admits to wanting to shutting down Oyster Creek, then retracts it; Switzerland to have a national vote on shutting down all its nuclear reactors! U.S. allows 12 times more radiation in our food than Japan does <!>; NUMNUTZ ALERT AND RANT: The newly formed Japan Nuclear Safety Institute (JANSI) has been formed "to strive to achieve the world's highest level of nuclear safety" by "enhancing safety culture, disseminating information about nuclear safety, and conducting peer reviews."  How about CLEANING UP FUKUSHIMA, YOU NIMRODS?!?  YOU'RE THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE AREA IN THE WORLD AND YOU BUILD NUCLEAR REACTORS ON FAULT LINES, YOU ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAVE BEEN ATTACKED WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO ATOM BOMBS SO YOU KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES, AND NOW YOU'RE SETTING UP A TRADE ORGANIZATION TO GO ALL "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" IN SUPPORT OF NUCLEAR SAFETY WITHOUT A SINGLE MENTION OF FUKUSHIMA?  WHERE ARE YOUR BALLS, JAPAN?!?!?  You want nuclear safety? SHUT ‘EM DOWN, CLEAN ‘EM UP, DON'T BURN THE RADIOACTIVE RUBBLE, DON'T DUMP RADIOACTIVE  ASHES IN THE OCEAN, HONESTLY TEST AND TREAT YOUR PEOPLE FOR RADIATION-RELATED ILLNESSES, COP TO THE SHIT YOU'RE IN! YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PRETEND YOUR WAY OUT OF IT!  DENIAL DOES NOT WORK!  WHEN IT COMES TO NUCLEAR, JAPAN SHOULD, ONLY JAPAN COULD LEAD THE REST OF THE WORLD… AWAY, FAR, FAR AWAY FROM ALL THINGS NUCLEAR!!!!! NIRS LIST OF THINGS THE ANTI-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT HAS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1226759 California Coastal Commission Announces their Decision re: PG&E's Seismic Testing: ### NH #74: First Nations Battle Nuclear Genocide in Canada URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-74-first-nations-battle-nuclear-genocide-in-canada/ Published: 2012-11-14 Marius Paul and Candyce Paul of Committee for Future Generations in Saskatchewan discuss their ancestral warnings against touching "black stone" (uranium), the impact of 12 uranium mines on the health of their people, the politics of poverty in guaranteeing the nuke interests always win, and the genocidal dangers of building Canada's proposed nuclear waste repository on their ancestral homelands. Walk across Saskatchewan to protest proposed nuclear dump for nuclear waste from Canada… and the US? PLUS: NRC, SCE duck the public and their responsibility for safety re: San Onofre while preparing to restart one reactor w/o any safety tests <!>;Fukushima clean-up now estimated to cost 10 TRILLION yen ($125.6 billion US$);Japan ships radioactive apples from Fukushima to Thailand… and the idiots accept them!And Russia (RUSSIA?!?) tests imports for radioactivity and sent 316 shipments back to Japan – but the US doesn't even bother to check. AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH! CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MARIUS AND CANDYCE PAUL: www.committeeforfuturegenerations.wordpress.comemail: committeeforfuturegenerations@gmail.comFacebook Pages: First Nations Say No to Nuclear and Say No to Nuclear Waste Storage In Northern Saskatchewan ACTION ALERT: CALLS NEEDED to the NRC RE: SAN ONOFRE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR NRC COMMISSIONERS: Chair Allison M. Macfarlane: Tel: 301-415-1750 E-Mail: Chairman@nrc.govCommissioner Kristine L. Svinicki: Tel: 301-415-1855 E-Mail:
CMRSVINICKI@nrc.gov (She is on Facebook, too: Kristine Svinicki, you can Message her w/o being Friends.)Commissioner George Apostolakis: Tel: 301-415-1810 E-Mail: CMRAPOSTOLAKIS@nrc.govCommissioner William D. Magwood: Tel: 301-415-8420 E-Mail:
CMRMAGWOOD@nrc.govCommissioner William C. Ostendorff: Tel: 301-415-1800 E-Mail:
CMROSTENDORFF@nrc.gov ### NH #73: Japanese Seniors Thwarted in Fukushima Clean-Up Effort URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/japanese-seniors-thwarted-in-fukushima-clean-up-effort/ Published: 2012-11-07 INTERVIEW: Remember the senior citizens who volunteered to help clean up Fukushima to spare younger workers from radiation exposure? Nuclear Hotseat interviews Yastel Yamada, the man who helped start the Skilled Veterans Corps for Fukushima. Listen closely as he talks about graft, censorship and the politics of the nuclear clean-up. PLUS: Post-Sandy round–up of nuclear near-misses and industry denial;How Japan's medical system is guaranteeing there's no evidence of radiation damage and illness from Fukushima;Radiation contamination in Tokyo Bay;The ugliness of Japan's Prince Takeda, who's no "prince" unless we're talking "nuclear denial";A nuclear amusement park (what were they thinking???);Radioactive tobacco so hazardous to your health, even Japanese cigarette makers won't touch it!…and lots, lots more! BONUS: Nuclear Policy lecturer Daniel Hirsch from UC Santa Cruz on San Onofre nuclear plant problems: ### NH #72 - SPECIAL: The Nuclear Threat of Superstorm Sandy URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-72-special-the-nuclear-threat-of-superstorm-sandy/ Published: 2012-10-31 Duration: 00:28:05 SPECIAL REPORT: THE NUCLEAR THREAT OF SUPERSTORM SANDY It seems we ducked the nuclear bullet from Superstorm Sandy… but what happens the next time there's an attack like this from Mother Nature? In this Special Nuclear Hotseat: Learn about what the real nuclear dangers were that 13 nuclear power plants faced from Sandy;Find out the current status of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in New Jersey, located near Sandy's landfall, where the NRC has declared a LEVEL 2 ALERT. Cringe at how the NRC "responded," including the Nuclear Numnutz of the Week: a suggestion to use a fire hose to cool off a nuclear reactor… but only if necessary <!>;Hear from Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.com and Michael Mariotte of NIRS.org about the unfolding events and ongoing dangers;GET ACTIVE! Learn what we in the nuclear-free movement can do to reinforce the need to shut down these disasters-in-waiting. LINKS TO OTHER STORIES: There was other nuclear news this week which didn't get featured on the podcast, so here are the links: Fish caught off the west coast of the US found to be consistently contaminated with cesium: http://enenews.com/tuna-contaminated-study-entire-food-web-including-humans-be-affected-fukushima-radionuclides-spread-west-coastTEPCO admits that Fukushima's radiation-contaminated cooling water running out of storage space: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/fukushima-nuclear-disaster_n_2016407.html?utm_hp_ref=twReport out of Vermont highlights how a 50-mile evacuation radius from nuclear power facilities is impossible: http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_21849742/experts-claim-evacuation-plan-inadequate2,000 protesters arrested in India at Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant: http://on.fb.me/ScTsIv Oyster Creek NPP flooding after Hurricane Sandy. Note the total flooding of the road as water overflowed the channel. Reactors are now at NRC Level 2 Alert status because the flooding threatens the cooling system for the spent fuel pool. Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant – Before Hurricane Sandy. Note the channel for the water and the surrounding roads. ### NH #71 - Nuclear Reactors = Nuclear Bombs: Alice Slater; Wisconsin Nuke Plant to Close, SanO Leaks Again! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-reactors-nuclear-bombs-alice-slater-wisconsin-nuke-plant-to-close-sano-leaks-again/ Published: 2012-10-24 Duration: 00:37:30 INTERVIEW: Alice Slater, Founder of Abolition 200 and New York Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Learn how every nuclear reactor has "a bomb in the basement,"and how nuclear is just one outpost in the global fight for freedom and sanity. www.abolition2000.org; www.wagingpeace.org. PLUS: San Onofre leaks again and it's not even on line!Dominion's Wisconsin nuke plant Kewaunee goin' down for good because no one wants to buy it!Lithuania‘s nonbinding referendum, which showed 62% against nukes, bums out GE-Hitachi (awwwww!);Butterfly mutations showing up in genomic progression in Japan;NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK: a "nuclear preparedness" boilerplate press kit suitable for any level of disaster! A Homeland Security special! Our tax dollars at work, indeed… http://www.crcpd.org/Homeland_Security/NuclearPowerPlantMaterial.pdfDutch Sinse outs the entire "sky is falling" Fukushima hoax that hit the Internet this week: http://sincedutch.wordpress.com/ FREE: Steve Zeltzer's documentary, FUKUSHIMA: NEVER AGAIN – FREE ON YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU-Z4VLDGxU ### NH #70 - Karl Grossman Demystifies Nuclear Media Manipulation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-nuclear-media-manipulation-withkarl-grossman/ Published: 2012-10-17 LISTEN HERE: DOWNLOAD HERE: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/aa21a17d-314f-324c-c0a8-09317cc79b03.mp3 INTERVIEW:  Karl Grossman condenses 45 years of reporting on nuclear issues into a primer on where the lies started (HINT: Before Hiroshima!), how they became entrenched, why it seems so impossible to get mainstream media coverage, and what we can do about it.  Double the usual interview because man, this man knows stuff we all need to understand if we're to succeed. PLUS: Greenpeace invades two Swedish nuke plant; six activists stay the night undetected! Japan again allowed to export Kobe beef to the US; Massachusetts activists planning to sue Entergy over Pilgrim NPP; Lithuanian nuclear referendum shows there's more common sense in Eastern Europe re: nuclear than there is here in the US; Indian glossy coffeetable book funded by the nuke industry shows butterflies <!> at nuclear exclusion zones… but not mutations.  This qualifies as Evil Numnutz. LINKS: Free book (pdf) by Karl Grossman:  COVER US: What You Are NOT supposed to Know about Nuclear – available at this link: http://www.thepermanentpress.com/p-354-cover-up.aspx Karl suggested several sites to visit to learn more about his work: www.KarlGrossman.com www.Envirovideo.com www.Envirovideo.blip.tv www.Radiation.org Karl also suggested the following sites for basic information on all things nuclear: www.NIRS.org www.Greenpeace.org www.Enformable.com www.Counterpunch.com Here's a video of one crucial question being asked — and ducked — at last week's San Onofre hearings w/the NRC, SCE and the public (Thanks to Myla Reson for the video.).: ### NH #69 - Japan's Tragic Update (kids, food, Fukushima clean-up); Author Kristen Iversen URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-69-japans-tragic-update-kids-food-fukushima-clean-up-author-kristen-iversen/ Published: 2012-10-09 Duration: 00:36:02 PLUS: Japan's new Nuclear Regulation Authority to create framework by which all nukes can be brought back online (this from a country that announced it would be "nuke-free by the 2030's")… but no one is willing to take responsibility for authorizing restarts (I wonder why…);Children in Fukushima exercise on land registering over 100,000 bequerels of radiation per square meter — aka genocide;Researcher at Kyoto University Research Rector Institute states: "There is no longer ay such thing as clean and safe food."Mass cattle die-offs in Fukushima;Former licensed Senior Reactor Operator reports that TEPCO believes corium has eaten through the floor at Unit 1, while former Japanese ambassador to Switzerland tells of the nearly three feet of sinkage of Unit 4, making it even more precarious;Gundersen: "Entomb [the reactors] and come back in 100 years. LINKS: For Kristen Iversen and her book: KRISTENIVERSEN.COM FALLOUTREPORT.COM AUTHOR PAGE ON FACEBOOK Fukushima children run a marathon on contaminated route: Fukushima children exercising on land that registers over 130,000 bq. per square meter . ### NH #68: US Commands Japan's Noda: Keep the Nukes! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-68-us-commands-japans-noda-keep-the-nukes/ Published: 2012-10-03 Duration: 00:23:54 INTERVIEW: Dr. Lora Chamberlain of Chicago, founder of Nuclear-Free Illinois, with some practical tips on how to build a state-wide grassroots anti-nuclear network. STORIES: US demands that Japan's PM Noda retain nuclear… so his announcement two weeks ago that the country would be nuke-free by the 2030's is now a worthless lie;Japan experiences cluster-quakes – 6.3 and 5.0 in NE Japan, three in Fukushima 4.4-5.2, all in one day!Exxon to drill for oil in Soviet offshore Arctic Ocean radiation dump;Koodankulam activists jam entrance to port with their boats, thousands of women and children stand in formations in knee-deep water to block passage, and bury themselves in sand up to their necks so they can't be moved as they protest the fueling of the nuclear reactors (and Americans can't get a hundred people to show up at the Capitol in DC for a simple rally on the lawn);PG&E to scale back sea life destruction disguised as seismic testing, but it's still an insane plan and activists won't accept it!Fukushima to be center for medical research into cancer; you mean "staying happy" isn't enough to keep the kids and their parents cancer-free? Now they tell us! (Actually, they don't; this is Mengle territory.)And you want a scary Halloween story? Tell the kiddies about nuclear! Be sure to include lots of pictures from Fukushima and Chernobyl… LINKS: Gene Stone, www.ResidentsOrganizedforaSafeEnvironment.org – to learn about setting up a citizen-run radiation monitoring system around your local neighborhood nuclear power facility. ### Nuclear Hotseat #67 - SPECIAL - Report on CAN Rally for a Nuclear-Free Future URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-67-special-report-on-can-rally-for-a-nuclear-free-future/ Published: 2012-09-26 Duration: 00:35:49 Nuclear Hotseat Special Report on the Coalition Against Nukes Rally for a Nuclear-Free Future September 20-22, 2012 An audio journey through three days of top-level activism, starring the best minds and hearts in the Nuclear-Free Future activist community. This podcast includes interviews with or speeches by: Green Party Presidential candidate Jill SteinRep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)Gene Stone of ROSELinda Seeley of San Luis Obispo Mothers for PeaceSusan Hito Shapiro of Radiation and Public Health Project & Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (Indian Point)Mariko Bender, World Network for Saving Children from RadiationKevin Kamps of Beyond NuclearDavid Kraft of Nuclear Education and Information Service (Illinois)Courtney Hanson of Georgia WAND and Stop Plant VogtleAlice Slater of the Nuclear Age Peace FoundationGary Shaw of Indian Point Safe Energy CoalitionJim Henry, an attorney and economist with Tax Justice Networkand Priscilla Star, founder of the Coalition Against Nukes Come take an audio ride through our three days of activism in "the belly of the beast," Washington, D.C. Then — GET ACTIVE! LINKS: Nuclear Hotseat host/producer Libbe HaLevy sings two songs she wrote about Three Mile Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JWbWyWgku4&list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&index=8&feature=plpp_videoVideos of the Sept. 20 Capitol Rally: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&feature=em-share_playlist_user Congressman Dennis Kucinich speaking on nuclear at the Sept. 20 Congressional Briefing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIz_Q3l_qtU&list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&index=2&feature=plpp_videoCongressional Briefing on Nuclear, Pt. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhaDFzhvCU4&list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&index=3&feature=plpp_videoCongressional Briefing on Nuclear, Pt. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG9xeBRYOSs&feature=relmfuGreen Party Presidential candidate Jill Stein at the CAN Busboys and Poets fundraiser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8onWkY36xqc&list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&index=5&feature=plpp_videoFull playlist of videos: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_kG76Xcvg_Y5AKuJ9XPDFrDNlYHjaU8h&feature=em-share_playlist_user My favorite picture from the three days, with Arnie Gundersen: Here's my other favorite photo from the rally — my first photo w/a Presidential candidate, Jill Stein of the Green Party: ### NH #66: Sean Bonner of Safecast; Japan Govt. Says "No!" to Nukes (Sort Of...) URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-66-sean-bonner-of-safecast-japan-govt-says-no-to-nukes-sort-of/ Published: 2012-09-19 Listen here: Download here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/fbc331c3-4c4f-bf9a-0fae-8e74a74b5bbb.mp3 Interview:  Sean Bonner, one of the founders of Safecast, which provides radiation testing devices on the ground in Japan and elsewhere in the world to map radiation levels. This group is the definition of grassroots humanitarian efforts. Plus: Japan declares they're phasing out nuclear by the 2030's, but there are some holes in their announcement; Two nukes in Belgium shut down because of cracks; Quebec will shut down its one reactor; Spain closing down another; NRC accused of covering up flood threats from upstream dams; Indian Point loses to "terrorists" in safety drill as workers encouraged to watch DVDs and play video games to stay awake (according to a whistleblower); Japan cuts health benefits to Fukushima workers, saying they deserve the same treatment as workers at any other nuke plant; Dialog on Nukes announces the first-ever (but definitely not the last) Nuke Liar Awards!  Nominate your favorite numnutz! Give them the recognition they so richly deserve.  https://www.facebook.com/events/490763737615204/ ### NH #65 - Dr. Janette Sherman & Joseph Mangano on Post-Fukushima Deaths in US URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-65-dr-janette-sherman-joseph-mangano-on-post-fukushima-deaths-in-us/ Published: 2012-09-12 Duration: 00:38:26 Plus: Police kill anti-nuke protesters, including a small girl, as thousands continue to protest at Koodankulam NPP in India;The fight is on to stop PG&E from exterminating CA sea life to justify keeping Diablo Canyon NPP chugging away atop its earthquake faults;TEPCO says Unit 4 is "perfectly safe" in a quake up to 6.0… as long as it only shakes up and down, not side-to-side; nuclear physicist Nils Bohmer and Arnie Gundersen point out the problem;TEPCO alters unit 4 photo w/bad Photoshop, then pulls it, then crops it, then admits to it… but won't say why and we can't figure out what they were trying to hide;Japan feeding school children radioactive milk, oranges, apples – why? Because they're the government and they say so and anyone who doesn't eat the food is a "chicken!" (the Mayor of Kawasaki City really said that to concerned parents!).Coalition Against Nukes Rally for a Nuclear-Free Future coming up next week; will you be in DC or will you donate from home? Links of interest: www.CoalitionAgainstNukes.orgKoodankulam protests:</li> ### NH #64: Fukushima Diary's Iori Mochizuki; NRC Denies License (!) to Calvert Cliff URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-64-fukushima-diarys-iori-mochizuki-nrc-denies-license-to-calvert-creek/ Published: 2012-09-05 Duration: 00:34:34 PLUS: For only the second time in history, the NRC denies a request for a license! NIRS Exec. Director Michael Mariotte labels this action, "A blow to the so-called ‘nuclear renaissance.'"San Onofre to get cost/benefit analysis to see if it makes sense to attempt to reopen it (CLUE: The answer is NO!);Dr. Michael Nobel of the Nobel Prize family focuses attention on radioactive contamination of milk and water in Hawaii and on US west coast;Arnie Gundersen reports on Japan's lawmakers laughing at TEPCO (see video below);And double the Nuclear Numnutz this week: Fukushima trying to attract Tokyo's high school students as tourists <!> AND three cities in Saitama prefecture to recycle radioactive rubble from Fukushima as… cement <!>. So much insanity, so little time… Links: Koodankulam petition link; please sign: http://www.indianvoice.org/stop-kudankulam-nuclear-plant-help-save-petition.htmlArnie Gundersen's trip to Japan as presented by Green Action Japan: ### NH #63 - BREDL's Lou Zeller, Whales Picket Diablo, India's $9 Nuclear Special! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-63-whales-picket-diablo-indias-9-nuclear-special/ Published: 2012-08-29 Duration: 00:37:03 Lou Zeller, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, on how to grow grassroots activism, southeastern U.S. nuke issues, support for the CAN Rally for a Nuclear Free Future. News: Whales Picket Diablo Canyon;India's $9 Numnutz – the ultimate pro-nuker's sweet deal;tsunami debris already hitting Alaska hard;Dr. Caldicott's 14 recommendations for Japan, none of which has been taken;Katie, the radioactive goat, has died;Dominion Resources denies that its Millstone nuclear power plant, only five miles away from Katie's meadow, where she grazed all day, was the source of the strontium found in her milk. (By that logic, Dominion would also like to interest you in land speculation in northeast Japan.) No word on where else the strontium might have been sourced. Great teleseminar on Post-Fukushima Food Safety issues this Sunday, September 2, featuring Kimberly Roberson, author of Silence Deafening… Fukushima Fallout… A Mother's Response and Mary Beth Brangan of EON3, an award-winning filmmaker and veteran activist. Go to: www.SilenceDeafening.com and learn more. ### NH #62 - Hanford Leaks, Mutated Worms, Kucinich sics NRC on NRC over Davis Besse URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-62-hanford-leaks-mutated-worms-kucinich-sics-nrc-on-nrc-over-davis-besse/ Published: 2012-08-22 Duration: 00:27:34 Mary Olson of NIRS on what it means when nuclear reactors are in hot water – literally. How To Be a Homebound Activist (hint: Yes You CAN – in time for the Coalition Against Nukes Congressional Briefing on Sept. 20 in DC);Hanford site leaking;NRC just might decide to maybe study health risks for those who live near nuclear reactors – ya think?;SCE letting 730 San Onofre workers go "because Unit 3 is unlikely to produce power any time soon!" (Anyone want to offer the workers job retraining for solar?);Kucinich demands NRC Inspector General investigate the agency's handling of Davis Besse restart;Mutated worms in Japan;Radioactive fish 258 times higher than Japanese government deems safe caught 12.5 miles off Fukushima;Pennsylvania gives free potassium iodide tablets to anyone living near Limerick NPP – the big question being: WHY??? Five conjoined eggplant harvested in Fukushima Prefecture ### NH #61: Mary Olson of NIRS.org on Nuclear Waste; "Terrorist" 82-Year Old Nun Assaults Nuke Facility w/a Bible! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-61-mary-olson-of-nirs-org-on-nuclear-waste-and-terrorist-82-year-old-nun-assaults-nuke-facility-wbible/ Published: 2012-08-15 Duration: 00:38:51 Interview: Mary Olson, Director of Southeast Office of NIRS.org, on what the June 8 DC court ruling means to the battle against nuclear waste production (meaning reactors and their radioactive legacy). This woman is a clear, concise powerhouse! News: 82-year-old "terrorist" nun breaks into Oak Ridge nuclear facility armed w/a Bible, candles and spray paint. Her biggest crime? Embarrassing the National Nuclear Security Administration over their ridiculous lack of security for 100 tons of highly enriched uranium (Jellyfish*, meet Numnutz**);On a scale of 1-7 for nuclear disasters, Fukushima now ranks at an 8 (The level was invented just for them!);Iodine 131 showing up in Japan again – indicative of fresh radiation release;Mutated butterflies in Japan auger what's coming up for humans;Suspicion of cracks in Belgian reactor;Republican VP nominee's wife lobbied for Vermont Yankee <!>;New NRC Chair Macfarlane wonders how quake-proof all those nuclear reactors really are;NASA's recommended foods to protect against radiation;And a challenge to reporters from one of their own. *Jellyfish – Nuclear heroes. Named after the jellyfish and their cousins, the salp, who have swarmed the intake channels of nuclear reactors around the world and forced them to shut down. If a spineless jellyfish can shut down a nuclear reactor, why can't the rest of us? ** Nuclear Numnutz – Just what it sounds like. The inmates who are in charge of the asylum and aiming to kill us all. Further resources: Learn the quake-risk rating of the nuclear reactor nearest you: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/42103936/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/what-are-odds-us-nuke-plants-ranked-quake-risk/#.UCp__0S5OzsFull story on Indian Point challenge by Clearwater: http://www.clearwater.org/as-nrc-acknowledges-spent-fuel-dangers-defers-relicensing-decisions-clearwater-files-contention-on-unsafe-on-site-storage-of-indian-point-spent-fuel/ ### NH #60 - NRC Freezes Nuclear Reactor Construction, Plus Kevin Kamps on Reactor Waste URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-60-nrc-freezes-nuclear-reactor-construction-plus-kevin-kamps-on-reactor-waste/ Published: 2012-08-08 Duration: 00:41:20 Interview w/Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear on radioactive waste storage problems, options, how we got in this mess and what if anything can be done about this ever-lasting health menace. www.BeyondNuclear.org BREAKING NEWS – NRC freezes all nuclear reactor construction and operating licenses! PLUS: San Diego's COPS (Citizens Oversight Projects) challenges San Onofre's failure to review steam generator failure (Go, Ray Lutz!);California Democratic party calls for independent design review before restart can be considered;Prime Minister "The Pendulum" Noda agrees to meet with protestors, then cancels, says Japan's nuke future will be decided by end of month, then says maybe not;TEPCO games radiation monitors in FukushimaRadiation showing up 300x normal in mushrooms 80 miles from the damaged reactors;And Mochizuki Iori from Fukushima Diary does the math: the radiation released from Fukushima equals 168 Hiroshima-type a-bombs… and they did it to themselves. ### NH #59: Consciousness Raising for West Hollywood Mayor's Office URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-59-consciousness-raising-for-west-hollywood-mayors-office/ Published: 2012-08-01 Duration: 00:27:14 PLUS: Japanese anti-nuke demonstrators get pushy at their Parliament building;Extreme increase in mortality from heart attacks in Japan since Fukushima disaster began;Southern California Edison laying plans to restart San Onofre by November while activists prepare to launch their "Hell, no!";US nuclear power production at 9-year low because of heat and drought;Anti-radiation advantages of a plant-based diet;And the Numnutz of the Week Award returns because the TVA and Brown's Ferry deserve it. Happy anti-nuke activists w/West Hollywood mayor's aide Michael Haibach And here's a link to a great talk between Dr. Helen Caldicott and Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.com: http://ifyoulovethisplanet.org/?p=6282 ### NH #58 - Ray Lutz Shreds the NRC's Whitewash of SCE/San Onofre Steam Generator Redesign URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-58-ray-lutz-shreds-the-nrcs-whitewash-of-scesan-onofre-steam-generator-redesign/ Published: 2012-07-25 Duration: 00:40:58 Featured Interview: Engineer and activist Ray Lutz "nukes" the NRC's cover-up of SCE's responsibility for San Onofre's steam generator problems. PLUS: Four nuke plants trigger NRC "Unusual Events" in a single day. With that many, is it still "unusual?" (And still, no blackouts!);Illinois reactor in "hot water" – at 102 degrees, cooling water can't cool but the nuclear reactor's still on line;Japanese Prime Minister Noda admits that nuclear energy is dividing the nation;TEPCO gets a rate hike as well as a bailout;Temperature gauge cables on verge of breaking at Fukushima;Subcontractor forces Fukushima clean-up workers to cover their dosimeters w/lead shields;And Russia is doing a better job at protecting its citizens from radiation than the US. <!> ### NH #57 - Filmmaker Chris Noland, CA's Radioactive Almonds & Prunes URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-57-filmmaker-chris-noland-cas-radioactive-almonds-prunes/ Published: 2012-07-18 Duration: 00:31:12 Interview w/filmmaker Chris Noland (NOT Christopher Nolan from "Batman"), who recorded the first months after Fukushima as a relief worker in the field. His film, "311 Surviving Japan" is in post-production and already garnering overwhelming response in preview screenings. PLUS: 170,000 march against nuclear energy and the Oi restart in Japan;KEPCO cooked the energy books, turning off eight functioning thermal plants to "justify" restarting the nukes;Cesium 134 and 137 found in 2011 crop CA almonds and prunes;internal radiation found to be 100 times worse than a chest x-ray;the power of mint;and SCE warns San Onofre employees not to leak documents to Arnie Gundersen at Fairewinds.com… which we learned about because somebody leaked THAT document to Fairewinds! ### NH #56: Fukushima Activist Chieko Shiina, Czechs Help "Radiation Refugees" URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-56-fukushima-activist-chieko-shiina/ Published: 2012-07-11 Duration: 00:30:33 FEATURED: Report on Fukushima resident and activist Chieko Shiina's heartrending presentation on current life in Japan and Fukushima, along with information on how to help her start a Children's Clinic to address pressing health problems. PLUS: Fukushima determined by Japanese committee to be "a man-made disaster" (incompetence can do that!);TEPCO top execs resign… only to get their golden parachutes <!>;San Onofre whistleblowers not covered by state protective laws (blame it on the Marines!);More evil doings by Dr. Shunich Yamashita, Japan's equivalent of Dr. Mengele;Health problems growing in Fukushima (TB, rubella outbreaks) but the governnment isn't listening;International nukes take a business hit across the board;Japanese TB outbreak believed linked to radiation;Czech Republic to give sanctuary and healing protocols for 30 "radiation refugees" — Fukushima children ages 12-14;and 150,000 protest restart of Oi reactors, but it's the direct attack by swarms of jellyfish that slowed it down. Let's hear it for Ma Nature's spineless warriors! Get information on Chieko's tour of California here: https://www.facebook.com/events/172834516181681/ Paypal account to donate money for the Fukushima Children's Clinic: ClinicFukushima@yahoo.co.jp Learn more about the project to get Japanese farmers to Costa Rica to raise healthy food for Japan by going to Pia Jensen's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/piacjensen61 ### NH #55 - Oi Restarts in Spite of Protests and Seismic Dangers, Sept. National Anti-Nukes Actions in DC URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-55-sept-national-anti-nukes-actions-in-dc/ Published: 2012-07-04 Duration: 00:32:59 Get the inside scoop on this September's Coalition Against Nukes rally and actions in Washington, D.C. from Dr. Heidi Hutner and Michael Leonardi, long time anti-nuclear activists serving as coordinators for the event. Plus: Japanese scientists share earthquake data and dire predictions as KEPCO restarts the Oi reactors;Fukushima Unit 4 a mere gasket failure away from catastrophe, while Unit 1 radiation is so high its dismantling (a 40 year process at best) will require robot technology that has not yet been invented;Federal appellate court sinks Vermont's recent strategy to deny Entergy's Vermont Yankee re-license;Colorado's Rocky Flats $926 million judgment struck down;South Korea bans 35 Japanese seafood products, bringing their total to 64 (the US bans NONE);Contact info from last week's interviewee, environment attorney Susan Hito Shapiro, for anti-nuke lawyers who want to support and strategize with each other: phaseattorney@gmail.com;Evacuation advice from Fukushima survivor to Oi citizens — also works for the 1/3 of all Americans who live within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor. ### NH #54 - The Battle for Indian Point (NYC) and Activist Legal Strategies w/Susan Hito Shapiro URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-54-the-battle-for-indian-point-nyc-and-activist-legal-strategies-wsusan-hito-shapiro/ Published: 2012-06-27 Duration: 00:41:12 MUST LISTEN! Slammer interview w/environmental attorney Susan Hito Shapiro on the battle to shut down Indian Point near NYC, plus some legal strategies applicable for anti-nuke activists throughout the country. Plus: 45,000 Japanese protest at PM Noda's front door against Oi nuclear restart, which has already been plagued by 27 WARNING ALARMS GOING OFF!;TILT! Bulge in Fukushima Unit 4 now 40% larger than in May;The swallows did NOT come back to Fukushima, in a big way (Silent Spring, Summer, Fall…);LA Times editorial to keep San Onofre shut down marks the most important major media anti-nuclear stance in decades;And both TEPCO and Japanese government tell skeptical consumers that fish caught near Fukushima is safe to eat… even though they won't let independent experts test within 12 miles of the still-leaking nuclear facility. Sushi, anyone? (Hell, no!) SAKAIDO HANSAI! (No Restart!) LA Japanese Consulate Protest of Restart of Oi Nuclear Reactors June 22, 2012, Japanese Consulate, Los Angeles. Protest "Die-In" against restart of Oi Nuclear Reactors. ### NH #53 - Radiation Monitoring Devices and Crowd-Sourced Readings URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-53-radiation-monitoring-devices-and-crowd-sourced-readings/ Published: 2012-06-20 Duration: 00:28:03 Dr. Bill Cardozo of CreativeElectron.com and Darin McClure of SanOnofre.com on radiation monitors, what they'll do and won't do, crowd-source radiation monitoring and how to hook up some monitors directly to the Internet for real-time result posting. Radiation 101 classes the last Saturday of each month, w/streaming video and online posting available at: www.CreativeElectron.com. Plus: Japan's PM Noda approves restart of Oi reactors over thousands of protestors;10 Fukushima mothers confront elected officials in Japan with their painful truths before staging a die-in (Watch their powerful testimony below or access it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYQNd2ybiDg);Friends of the Earth file lawsuit to force NRC relicensing hearings of faulty San Onofre reactors;Tsunami debris docks in Oregon;Northeast Japan bracing for monster typhoon that's taking aim at Fukushima. Plus some cautions about taking zeolite, pro-nuke as mental illness, and a chance to join a die-in demonstration of your own on Friday, June 21 by going to your nearest Japanese consultate! And if you can't get there in person, call the Consulate General of Japan at the Los Angeles consulate to state your opposition to the restart of any nuclear reactors in Japan: (213) 617-6700. ### NH #52 - Effective Anti-Nuke Political Activism w/Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-52-effective-local-political-activism-wirvine-city-councilmember-larry-agran/ Published: 2012-06-11 Duration: 00:31:52 A special interview on the politics of nuclear energy with Irvine City Council member Larry Agran, an outspoken anti-nuke Southern California politician. He offers a picture of how local community activism can move up the political food chain to create the crucial changes we need to permanently get rid of nukes. Think globally, act locally: this is how we do it. PLUS: Fight radiation w/algae superfoodsHow to take action in your local community to bring and keep the issue of nuclear energy in front of elected officials. ### NH #51: EXCLUSIVE! The Roy Process for Neutralizing and Eliminating Radiation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-51-exclusive-the-roy-process-for-neutralizing-and-eliminating-radiation/ Published: 2012-06-04 Duration: 00:49:11 Nuclear Hotseat Exclusive: Special panel discussion on The Roy Process for Neutralization and Elimination of Nuclear Waste. Is this the missing technology for ultimately getting rid of the radioactive byproducts of the nuclear industry? Learn about the process, the doubts, the tantalizing possibilities, and what stands in the way of this potentially game-changing nuclear technology. Featuring: Dennis Nester, agent for The Roy Process; engineer and physicist Ernest Goitein; veteran anti-nuclear activist Ace Hoffman; and a surprise deus ex machina appearance by New York environmental attorney Susan Shapiro. Be sure to listen through to the end, when the final piece of information clicks into place. Then scroll down here at www.NuclearHotseat.com/blog to access the links referenced in the call. NOTE: While this may not be the smoothest or easiest interview/discussion I've done on Nuclear Hotseat, it contains the seeds of what is arguably the most important information I've yet reported. LINKS FROM THIS PODCAST: Ace Hoffman's website, where you can download his free ebook, The Code Killers: www.AceHoffman.org Ace Hoffman's blog posts can be accessed at: www.AceHoffman.blogspot.com Film on The Roy Process: Note that there are four separate Youtube segments to this film. The last two of them contain an episode of 60 Minutes from 2007 about nuclear waste at the Hanford site in Washington State and other nuclear waste boondoggles. Contact Information for The Roy Process: Robin Roy Ph.D Nikki Roy Ph.D. rroy@nextenergy.com.au Let Nuclear Hotseat know about any response you get from the Roys and what if any progress you make on gaining access to the formula! ### NH #50: Tuna Sushi? No Thanks! Plus NIRS on NRC Evac Zones URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-50-tuna-sushi-no-thanks-plus-nirs-on-nrc-evac-zones/ Published: 2012-05-30 Listen here: Download Here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/NuclearHotseat-50-May29-2012-NIRS.mp3 This week on Nuclear Hotseat, produced and hosted by Libbe HaLevy, Michael Mariotte of NIRS.org explains how NRC evacuation zone radius and emergency exercises have no relationship to real world reality. PLUS: Bluefin tuna caught off CA all found contaminated with Fukushima Cesium 134 & 137; Jaczko stands for safety as NRC rubberstamps Massachusetts' Pilgrim reactor for 20 more years; Canada reports 3 radioactive nuke leaks in just one month!; former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan comes out strongly against nukes; Japan radiation still circling the globe, prevents TEPCO from even starting decommissioning work, mutating cedar seeds… How the NRC and the nuke industry gamed the system to make THEM in charge of defining what constitutes alternative energy <!>; A cell phone that empowers users to avoid radiation; The International Olympic Committee implies that if Japan would only restart its nuke plants to guarantee electricity, it still might be chosen to host the 2020 Olympics.  TOTAL NUMNUTZ! ### NH #49: Umi Hagitani - The Japan Connection, and NRC's Jaczko Resigns URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-49-umi-hagitani-the-japan-connection-and-nrcs-jaczko-resigns/ Published: 2012-05-23 Japanese interpreter/anti-nuke activist Umi Hagitani talks about the real concerns of the Japanese people and her experiences translating for Fukushima survivors who addressed U.S. anti-nuke demos and the media. Plus: NRC's Jaczko resigns his Chairmanship;Sen. Barbara Boxer goes after Southern California Electric over sidestepped licensing amendment for steam generator design changes;Alaska Senator Begich says tsunami debris will be worse than Exxon Valdez – but Washington still can't tell him a plan for dealing with it;Koodankulam protestors get UK MP support;Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds says Unit 3 may be just as bad as Unit 4; meanwhile Unit 1 has only 15″ of water and no one's sure where the corium is;and Indian government numnutz sending shrinks to Koodankulam to create "don't worry, be happy" mental exercises to calm down those wascally nuclear protesters! Alaska Sen. Mark Begich on Capitol Hill: http://enenews.com/senator-japan-tsunami-debris-will-be-worst-single-pollution-event-hit-west-coast-america-exceeding-exxon-valdez-raises-radiation-concerns-during-opening-statement-video First tsunami debris hits Alaska coast: http://www.frequency.com/video/first-wave-of-tsunami-debris-hits-us/48023735 ### San Onofre: We Can't Ignore the Warnings ad from Friends of the Earth - NH #48 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-we-cant-ignore-the-warnings-ad-from-friends-of-the-earth/ Published: 2012-05-21 Here's the lastest ad regarding San Onofre's dangers, courtesy our friends at Friends of the Earth.  Check it out, feel free to link to it: ### NH #48: Radiation Remediation w/Mushrooms, Hemp, Nanotechnology URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-48-radiation-remediation-wmushrooms-hemp-nanotechnology/ Published: 2012-05-16 Play Here: Download Here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/2f9556c5-0532-961f-b3a4-bf4e37bf3aaa.mp3 Long time activist Elise Longhi shares info on how to get radiation out of the soil using mushrooms and hemp, out of water using nano technology that already exists, then reveals shocking information on long-suppressed research by physicist Dr. Roy that actually neutralized radioactive cesium and strontium!  Why is no one grabbing onto these technologies to solve the radiation threat? Plus: Koodankulam protests in India being taken to National Human Rights Commission; French election may sink British nukes, Iowa legislature too smart to fall for nuclear Ponzi scheme; Radioactive black dust all over Tokyo; Cesium spike in Tokyo Bay "no IMMEDIATE health risk" (note that adjective!); Radioactive mice found just outside Fukushima evacuation zone; and Radiation Protection Clothing for Infants! Watch this video of NRC Commissioner Kristine "Flat Affect" Svnicki, then RUSH to sign the NIRS.org petition (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1203202) to keep her from getting another five years to protect the nuclear industry from the threat of safety: ### NH #47 - Dan Hirsch on Hidden LA Nuke Accident - Santa Susana Field Labs, 1959 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-47-dan-hirsch-on-hidden-la-nuke-accident/ Published: 2012-05-09 Duration: 00:33:09 Interview with Daniel Hirsch of Committee to Bridge the Gap on the 1959 Santa Susana Field Laboratory nuclear meltdown – more radiation released than Three Mile Island! – and the current status of clean-up attempts. PLUS: The battle over San Onofre heats up, with four times the number of damaged pipes in the steam generators announced even as SCE assumes restart in June… and NRC Chairman Jaczko smacks 'em down;Japan celebrates the shut-down of its last nuclear reactor;Physicians for Social Responsibility press conference in NYC presents Japanese physicians and nuclear experts telling the truth about Fukushima's current impact (scary health risks and Unit 4 dangers); videos available at: www.cinemaforumfukushima.org;70 Japanese civil organizations petition UN to organize a Nuclear Security Summit re: Unit 4;Koodankulam activists continuing massive peaceful protests, hunger strikes in India;Washington State finally testing seafood, clams for radioactivity;and Greenpeace activist bombs French nuclear reactor! (Smoke bomb, but still, it makes the point.) ### NH #46 - Shaun Burnie of Friends of the Earth, Japan Nuke-Free on May 5, CA Nuke-Free Now URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-46-shaun-burnie-of-friends-of-the-earth-japan-nuke-free-on-may-5-ca-nuke-free-now/ Published: 2012-05-03 In this week's episode of Nuclear Hotseat: Interview w/Shaun Burnie, nuclear consultant to Friends of the Earth U.S. and Greenpeace Germany, on the current status of Fukushima and Japan as the country is about to shut down its last operating nuclear reactor on May 5;New Chernobyl structure started to replace sarcophagus, but radiation released by digging at 100 to 1000 times normal;In India, Koodankulam activists resume hunger strike against nuclear power;California temporarily nuke-free after jellyfish-like salps jam water intake pipes and shut down Diablo Canyon as San Onofre remains offline;90% of Japanese urine samples within 200 kilometers of Fukushima contaminated w/cesium;Vermont Yankee protesters ages 60-92 breach reactor site security before arrest… and subsequent release;NIRS continues the growing protest against NRC's Svnicki's attempt to re-up for another 5 years as Commissioner. Keep the momentum going; sign the protest letter here: http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/licensing/svinickiboxerletter42712.pdfBeyond Nuclear spearheads protest of Washington Post pro-nuke editorial that labels Fukushima "non-catastrophic." Full info at: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/. Scroll down to the article, "Were You Outraged?"Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.com tells us exactly how to shut down the entire U.S. nuclear industry (hint: it's a "capital" idea)! Watch the video: ### NH #45 - Arnie Gundersen on San Onofre - EXCLUSIVE! URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-45-arnie-gundersen-on-san-onofre-exclusive/ Published: 2012-04-24 Duration: 00:38:47 An exclusive Nuclear Hotseat interview with Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.com on San Onofre, how and when the problems happened with the steam generators, and the dangers of even thinking about a restart this summer (as SCE has announced they are planning to do). PLUS: Battle heats up over NRC's anti-safety Svnicki going for second term as Commissioner;EPA's Radnet "potentially impaired" during the worst of Fukushima and not in great shape if/when a nuclear accident happens in the US;TEPCO to dump groundwater into the ocean at a rate of 1,000 tons a day – the equivalent of 240,000 gallons;Fukushima women organize to share reliable information about radiation;Rumors spread of dead fetuses in utero and birth defects possibly traceble to Fukushima radiation;Big demos coming at GE shareholders meeting on April 24 and at San Onofre this Sunday, April 29;Poetry helps Japanese people heal via iPhone/iPad app;Radiation safety for your car;And when 92-year old Frances Crowe, arrested for protesting Vermont Yankee, was asked what her plea was to the charge, she answered, "I plead for the future of life and all living things in New England." Amen, Sister! Arnie Gundersen asked for us to make our nuclear wishes known to our Senators and the President. Here's how you can do it: SENATORS: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm PRESIDENT OBAMA: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact ### NH #44 - April 17, 2012 - Cecile Pineda, author Devil's Tango + US Senator Focuses World on Unit 4 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-44-april-17-2012-cecile-pineda-author-devils-tango-us-senator-focuses-world-on-unit-4/ Published: 2012-04-18 Interview w/Cecile Pineda, author of "Devil's Tango: How I Learned the Fukushima Step By Step," an eminently readable mosaic of information on the nuclear situation — terrific for the person in your life who hasn't a clue but is willing to risk getting one! Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) publicly acknowledges the risks of Fukushima Unit 4 and pushes for international support in eliminating the risk;TEPCO starts covering Unit 4;Exelon's Limerick nuke plant leaks several thousand gallons of radioactive water into Philadelphia's drinking water source;Florida Power & Light's Turkey Point nuke plant fined for "forgetting" to report a 7-month power outage in its emergency preparedness center;Japan to be nuke-free on May 5, but nursery school children fed radioactive mushrooms;European pro-nukers try to get subsidies from the EU budget paid for by anti-nuke countries;California Nuclear Initiative on hold until 2012; Activist Alert! — NRC Commissioner Kristine L. Svinicki's term ends June 30 unless she gets Senate approval for another 5 years. She voted against the implementation of safety concerns spotlighted in the NRC's Near Term Report on Fukushima Safety. Send letters to your US senators and let's get someone in there who cares about "protecting people and the environment," shall we? Learn how to contact your US Senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm ### NH #43 - 4/10/12 - NRC Chairman, Sen. Feinstein Inspect Crippled San Onofre URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-43-41012-nrc-chairman-sen-feinstein-inspect-crippled-san-onofre/ Published: 2012-04-11 Duration: 00:33:40 Interview with Gene Stone of ROSE on visit by NRC Chairman Jaczko and Sen. Feinstein to San Onofre last week in the wake of burst pipes and pipe degradation in the new steam generators.ACTIVIST ALERT: Requests for letters to the NRC and live bodies to show up for San Onofre demo on April 28.CONTACT INFO FOR CHAIRMAN JACZKO: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001 1-800-368-5642, 301-415-7000; www.nrc.govFukushima shown to be 85 times worse than Chernobyl;Newly leaked Japanese faxes show TEPCO knew it was the quake, not the tsunami, that caused the reactor damage;UK nukes at risk over possible downgrade of credit rating of two energy behemoths;NRC finds last years Ft. Calhoun fire of "high safety significance" [it took them a year to figure that out?];UC Berkeley tests SF area milk and discovers almost double EPA's maxiumum contaminant level for Cesium 137;and Japan paying Chinese tourists to come to Fukushima, see the sights, take pictures and post them online. A continuation of traditional hostilities between these two countries? Here is the first of two videos of the press conference activists held on April 6 just outside San Onofre: http://youtu.be/mtWzlCTGY_o For the other video, go to: www.ResidentsOrganizedforaSafeEnvironment.org. ### NH #42 - Foodchain Safety Issues w/Kimberly Roberson & Mary Beth Brangan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-42-foodchain-safety-issues-wkimberly-roberson-mary-beth-brangan/ Published: 2012-04-04 Duration: 00:38:47 Terrific food safety interview w/Kimberly Roberson of Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network and Mary Beth Brangan of Ecological Awareness Network. Learn about the increasing dangers posed to our food supply by the radiation from Fukushima, as well as what you can do to boost your health and resist the effects of radiation. Plus: Radiation in Fukushima #2 too hot for even the robots;Japanese politicians furious that Sapporo mayor refuses radioactive waste from Miyagi and Iwate;Former Prime Minister Kan now an anti-nuke activist!;San Onofre slammed into shutdown by NRC over steam generator pipe failures;NRC licenses 2 new nukes in South Carolina — already in cost overruns and they haven't even started building;Radioactive kelp in southern California;Japan to provide canned radioactive fish to Cambodia for school lunches w/United Nations approval <INSANITY!>; andFriends of Earth produce a TV ad to keep San Onofre shut. (Scroll down to view it.) Hey, Jon Stewart — when will this be on The Daily Show? ### NH #41 - Three Mile Island Anniversary Special, The Koodankulam 15, Dr. Helen Caldicott URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-41-three-mile-island-anniversary-special-the-koodankulam-15-dr-helen-caldicott/ Published: 2012-03-28 Duration: 00:24:01 Download it here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/e0e8afa5-1b3d-95df-37be-2ffd0ba3ade2.mp3 Special report on Three Mile Island on the eve of the 33rd anniversary, including host Libbe HaLevy's personal story of having been one mile away when it happened;Exclusive interview w/Dr. Helen Caldicott;15 Koodankulam activists in India now 9 days into a fast to the death (if necessary) to stop two nuclear reactors from going online;Ongoing radiation woes in Japan;North Anna hits NRC's "Unusual Occurrence" list yet again (it's not so unusual…);and according to Japanese psychiatric workers, if you're afraid of radiation, you're nuts! With thanks to sources for the Three Mile Island Special. Please visit and watch these two amazing videos: Voices from Three Mile Island, compiled and uploaded by Mark Catlin; on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmmdh8Xlbvg; and "A is for Atom" – a film by Adam Curtis – http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/03/a_is_for_atom.html# ### NH #40 - San Onofre Failing Tests, Jon Stewart Gets Nuked URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-40-san-onofre-failing-tests-jon-stewart-gets-nuked/ Published: 2012-03-21 Here's the player: Here's the download link: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/NuclearHotseat-40_3-20-12-CA-Update.mp3 On this week's Nuclear Hotseat Podcast… Donna Gilmore and Ace Hoffman interviewed for a CA update on San Onofre testing, the state's TRUE energy needs, and the CA Ballot Initiative. Jon Stewart/Daily Show to carry nuke industry ads – NIRS.org starts the protest, Nuclear Hotseat joins in. As of March 15, TEPCO no longer provides stats on the reactors. Japanese radiation hits new high in Iitate and farmers face a deadly harvest. Arnie predicts 20% cancer rate in Fukushima girls. US finally admits post-war nuke workers got cancer from being nuke workers – DUH! Protesters of India's Koodankoolam nuclear power plant arrested as government mandates that those reactors must open. …and a 68-year old Japanese man urges other seniors to buy and eat Fukushima rice so it doesn't get eaten by children and expose them to radiation. One of the most vulnerable populations urging voluntary suicidal action on behalf of the other most vulnerable population.  Commit slow hiri-kiri, death by TEPCO. Where is government?  Where is protection? Where are the cranes…? ### NH #39 for March 13, 2012 - 1st Anniversary of Fukushima, San Onofre Demonstration URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-39-for-march-13-2012-1st-anniversary-of-fukushima-san-onofre-demonstration/ Published: 2012-03-14 Duration: 00:36:59 On the first anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and the start of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster: Special audio report from the March 11 San Onofre anti-nuke demo;Interviews with two survivors of Tohoku quake, tsunami and ongoing Fukushima Daiichi disaster, direct from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture in Japan, who were speaking at the demo in So Cal;SHOCKING! radiation levels found in parking lot adjacent to San Onofre;Spent fuel pool at Fukushima #4 continues to be a serious risk to Tokyo;Three of the "Fukushima 50" speak out on TEPCO lies and manipulation, safety and risk at the devastated nuclear reactors;Radioactive debris to be shipped to one of the cleanest areas of Japan for disposal (aka, contamination);Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds.com on Fukushima vs. Chernobyl (guess which is worse?), future cancer epidemics, and random Tokyo soil samples equal to radioactive waste in the US;The ongoing cancer epidemic in Chernobyl, just showing up 25 years after that disaster;Plus how anti-nuclear activists need to protect themselves before and after demonstrating near an aging, leaking nuclear reactor like San Onofre. ### NH #38 - Meeting w/CA Top Aide to Governor, March 11 Demos at San Onofre URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-38-meeting-wca-top-aide-to-governor-march-11-demos-at-san-onofre/ Published: 2012-03-07 Report on anti-nuke activists meeting w/CA Gov. Jerry Brown's senior aide;this weekend's demonstrations at San Onofre features two Japanese survivors of the Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and resulting nuclear disaster at Fukushima;transcript of NRC audio quashing US National Labs monitoring of radiation the day after the earthquake – OUTRAGEOUS!LA area cesium levels found to be 1,000 times higher than standard 53 years after SSFL meltdownSen. Barbara Boxer asks NRC to review San Onofre safety (they're "thinking about it!");First Energy tries to blame 1979 blizzard for 2012 cracks in David-Besse (aka, "the dog ate it")legal loophole means Vermont Yankee may still be forced to shut down on March 21;iodine 131 found in Japanese drinking waterradiation has been detected in Sri Lanka fish and 100,000 square miles in the Pacific.And with all this, Department of Energy head Steven Chu announces, "We are committed to restarting the nation's nuclear industry." WHY? See you at San Onofre on Sunday! ### NH #37: US Media Pick Up Severely Flawed Pro-Nuke "Study" of Radiation in Japan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/us-media-pick-up-severely-flawed-pro-nuke-study-of-radiation-in-japan/ Published: 2012-03-06 Duration: 00:19:59 This from simplyinfo.com, forwarded from Dr. Helen Caldicott's Facebook page: US Media Promotes Another Flawed "Study", Downplays Fukushima Journalism standards hit a new low as the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine's blog and Scientific American all picked up the story without fact checking. So much for mainstream media's credibility on the nuclear issue. ### NH #36: Holistic Protection from Radiation Exposure URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/holistic-protection-from-radiation-exposure/ Published: 2012-03-03 A brilliant article on why radiation is dangerous and what we can do to naturally protect ourselves from the impact of radionuclides using food and supplements. Very important: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/226021-Detoxify-or-Die-Natural-Radiation-Protection-Therapies-for-Coping-With-the-Fallout-of-the-Fukushima-Nuclear-Meltdown ### NH #35: Arnie Gunderson + Greenpeace = Nuclear Info You Can Believe URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arnie-gunderson-greenpeace-info-you-can-believe/ Published: 2012-02-29 Duration: 00:42:43 Here's the latest from Arnie Gunderson and Fairewinds, done in conjunction with Greenpeace. Fairewinds was retained by Greenpeace to write a chapter of their newly released report entitled "The Echo Chamber: Regulatory Capture and the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster". Fairewinds concludes that Fukushima Daiichi was not just a nuclear accident; rather, for decades it was a nuclear accident waiting to happen. Flaws in the GE Mark 1 containment design were well known for four decades. The likelihood of seismic/tsunami events far worse than the Fukushima Units were designed to withstand were well understood for more than 20 years. Against this prophetic backdrop, Tokyo Electric, Japanese regulators, and international nuclear organizations turned a blind eye toward these obvious warnings and continued to operate the reactors. Indeed, Japanese regulators relicensed Fukushima Unit 1 to operate beyond its initial 40 year design life one month before the accident while ignoring seismic/tsunami warnings. Fukushima Daiichi is not unique. These same nuclear regulatory institutions oversee other reactors in Japan, and indeed worldwide. Fairewinds concludes that truly independent worldwide nuclear reactor regulatory institutions do not exist, setting the stage for similar accidents somewhere else in the world. Read the report here: http://fairewinds.com/content/echo-chamber-regulatory-capture-and-fukushima-daiichi-disaster ### NH #34: February 28, 2012 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-february-28-2012/ Published: 2012-02-28 Duration: 00:47:57 Japanese government shown to have been in chaos after Fukushima, w/possible Tokyo evacuation;only 2 nuke reactors left online in Japan… and no rolling blackouts;stillborn calves at Fukushima-area farm;NRC cites Palisades Power Plant in Michigan for safety violations, plus Perry near Cleveland and Susquhanna near Harrisburg, PA;North Anna tritium double federal standard, but plant operators Dominion claim no knowledge of where it's coming from or how it happened;Iowa taxpayers to shell out for nuke construction costs whether the plant gets built or not;Indian Prime Minister blames US for local Kudankulam anti-nuke protests;DISINFORMATION ALERT: Germany NOT restarting nukes, but using alternatives to send electricity to France;Czech Republic and Kuwait decide to go nuclear-free;How to get radiation out of your water supply. ### NH# 33 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-33/ Published: 2012-02-17 Duration: 00:42:26 ### NH #32: Vermont Yankee Activist Hattie Nestel URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-for-february-14-2012-vermont-yankee-activist-hattie-nestel/ Published: 2012-02-15 Duration: 00:34:31 Kick-ass interview w/Hattie Nestle, 73-year-old anti-nuke activist arrested on Feb. 13 at Vermont Yankee nuclear facility;Fukushima 2 in recriticality;NRC licenses two new nuclear reactors for Georgia;Two quakes – 6.2 and 5.5 – at Fukushima within the past 24 hours;1/3 of kids from Fukushima who were tested have "lumps" on their thyroids only 10 months after the accident;Thousands march in Tokyo against nuclear energy;The healing power of green foods;The power of valentines to combat nukes ### NH #31: SPECIAL REPORT: San Onofre: How SaFe Is It? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-special-report-san-onofre-how-safe-is-it/ Published: 2012-02-08 Duration: 00:47:00 A summary of the current status of San Onofre nuclear reactors in San Diego after last week's leaks, the discovery of over 800 damaged pipes, and an employee falling into the radioactive refueling pool. Featuring an interview with James Chambers, a licensed nuclear reactor operator and whistleblower from San Onofre, who offers his unique perspective on what these alarming developments might mean. ### NH #30: How Nuclear Activists Can Get on the Radar of Reporters BEFORE March 11 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/how-nuclear-activists-can-get-on-the-radar-of-reporters-before-march-11/ Published: 2012-01-23 Duration: 00:46:01 Reporters always need sources and don't know where to find them. They'll also take the easiest way out whenever possible. News and journalism have been so degraded since I got my BA in the field that it's sad to see such simplistic "reporting" when stories are so much richer and more complex than get represented in mainstream media (MSM). With March 11 and the first anniversary of the Fukushima disaster coming up, reporters and editors will be sniffing around for stories. You can bet the commercial nuke industry is muscled-up in terms of its PR firms having spokespeople, organized legions of (often paid) bloggers and comment writers, strategies and tactics already in place. That's how they get out their word fast and strong. They've spent millions and have been developing their methodologies for decades now… and unfortunately, some of their people possess an evil genius for getting it right. What can anti-nuke activists do? One easy, basic, necessary move is to get registered as a source for reporters. Thanks to the Internet, there are now a number of sites that allow people to register as sources on topics of expertise. They are all free. What we all need to do is go on these sites and register: HARO – helpareporterout.comREPORTERCONNECTION.COM – Steve HarrisonRTIR.com – Steve Harrison RadioPublicity.com – Alex Carroll — He charges big bucks for some of his promotional packages, but sign up for his free info. He has EXCELLENT 60 second tips for radio that come about once a week. In addition, these sites send out multiple daily email listing stories reporters need people to comment on. Sign up for these reports… with this warning: HAVE A DEDICATED EMAIL ACCOUNT (GMAIL, YAHOO, HOTMAIL). They will inundate you w/email – up to 3 a day, 5 days a week. But check them out regularly because right now is when editors and reporters are looking to March 11 and knowing they have to have stories. If you want to get the anti-nuclear and perspective heard loud and clear on March 11, do this now. ### NH #29: The (Nuclear) Chain of Life: Are Cancer and Autism Linked to Your Grandmother's Radiation Exposure? URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/the-nuclear-chain-of-life-do-you-know-your-grandmothers-radiation-exposure/ Published: 2012-01-20 Duration: 00:20:45 An email forwarded to me from Mary Olsen of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS.com) has been haunting me. It's well known within the anti-nuclear movement that radiation most profoundly affects fetuses and the very young. In explaining this phenomenon, Mary wrote, "In addition to radiation impacts on DNA (both egg and sperm), there is heritable impact on cytoplasm (egg only) as well. Note that the cytoplasm/egg is formed while the female is in utero… which means the egg forms in its GRANDMOTHER's body." Let's wrap our heads around that one. Females are born with their full allotment of eggs already in place. At adolescence and the onset of menstruation, these eggs can potentially become fertilized and grow into independent living beings, but at birth every female already contains within them every egg they will ever have. That means the grandmother's health is a key factor in the health of the grandchild, because the grandmother's body forms the fetal female's eggs. If a mother is exposed to toxins, pollutants and/or radiation, it may not directly effect the child she bears, because the egg to create that baby was formed before the toxic exposure happened. But another generation down the line, the damage created by radiation or other pollutants has the potential to show up in her grandchildren… and from them, continue down the generations. I was born in 1949. The DNA in my mother's egg came from her mother, who gave birth in 1917 – well before the current nuclear problems. The first nuclear blast took place on July 16, 1945, a test in New Mexico before the Japanese bombs, and by 1949 only eight atmospheric explosions had occurred. So I probably was born with pretty undamaged DNA and healthy eggs. Still, following Three Mile Island and my inability to know what damage the radiation exposure might have done to my genes, at 30 I decided not to have children for fear of what I might be birthing into the world. Here's the part of Mary's email that really got to me: "If there are a bunch of healthy Japanese babies NOW it does not mean that there will not be a cancer/other epidemic coming in another two birth cycles… which I think does at least correlate to the outburst of cancer in the USA, about two birth cycles after we started this mess!" Cancer used to be a rare disease. But since 1945, its growth has been exponential. Now we're facing epidemics of cancer, autism and other formerly-rare illnesses. Coincidence? A sign of our increasingly poisoned lives with depleted soil, chemically fertilized crops, unrelenting stress, GMO "frankenfoods," etc.? Or is it the payoff of the atomic age two generations down the line, as the eggs created in the post-atomic grandmothers' wombs have led to grandchildren being born from damaged DNA? In this delayed way, are we currently reaping the "rewards" of our nuclear recklessness in the diminished and diminishing health of our children? And if that is the case, will the human race ever again have a chance to be as it once was, with the easy assumption that our kids will enjoy health and a fair chance to live illness-free as they achieve a productive, extended adulthood? Or have we so poisoned our future that can we will last for only a limited number of life cycles before human life itself collapses under the weight of our terminally ill, mentally ill or mentally diminished children? No way to know for sure. We'll have to live it through and see. There's an old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." Would that it were not so. ### NH #28: How to Book "The China Syndrome" as a Fundraiser/Consciousness Raiser URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/how-to-book-the-china-syndrome-as-a-fundraiserconsciousness-raiser/ Published: 2012-01-06 Duration: 00:21:57 I believe that entertainment is a great way to get beyond people's resistance to the nuclear issue and start them thinking and feeling about what needs to be done. I don't know if there is a more powerful commercial film for us than "The China Syndrome." Big names, great acting, harrowing message, funny hair and clothing — it has a lot going for it. I compiled this information because we're coming up on March 11 and booking a performance of this movie could prove to be an easy visibility piece on the nuclear issue to bring to your local communities. Raise consciousness, raise money, anchor a one-day event – there's no limit to what's possible. Use it in good health! – Libbe HaLevy, Producer/Host, Nuclear Hotseat Podcast THEATRICAL SCREENING In an Established Movie Theatre CONTACT: Chris Lane at Sony – 310-244-7913 (Los Angeles), Chris_Lane@spe.sony.com You would have to approach a local theatre about a one-day booking, find out their terms.Sony leases out the film for $250/day vs. 35% of the box office, whichever is higher. This is a deal they make directly with the theatre. As a result, you need to speak with the theatre first. They will initiate contact with Sony.For you to have a percentage of box office as a fundraiser, you'll have to negotiate with the theatre.One option would be to book the theatre for the day, show the film in the morning, have a day of consciousness-raising events, then show the film a second time at night. At either screening, one-off viewers can be asked to pay a suggested donation.If the theatre can play the film off a DVD, it is the responsibility of the theatre to secure a copy to play.If the theatre can only play off a 35mm print, you need to get on this NOW, as there are very few prints available and shipping arrangements will have to be made. NON-THEATRICAL SCREENING Anything not a motion picture theatre: School, church/synagogue, auditorium, arts center, museum, outdoors, etc. CONTACT: Donna Call at Swank Motion Pictures (St. Louis); dcall@swankmp.com (email only for first contact) In order to have a public performance, you have to obtain a Public Performance License from Swank, for which there is a fee. (Note: You cannot promote or advertise a screening if you do not have this license.)The fee is based upon many variables, including where the screening takes place, size of venue, #screenings, #people expected, etc. It can range from $100 to $500, averages $150 for a church.If the venue is a K-12 school or public library, they may already have an annual license to present films. If that is the case, there is no fee.Most venues will play from a DVD – direct projection.If you charge admission, the studio will want 50% of the box office. You can get around this by: Asking for a suggested donation, or Making the screening part of a larger event with admission provided as part of the event at whatever the day costs. Depending on where you live, the rep you deal with at Swank will be different. They work from regions.NOTE: This information is for the US only. I'm certain if you're in another country, an email here will give you a lead to the local info you need. The way to get started is to email (do not call!) Donna Call at: dcall@swankmp.com Put "China Syndrome" in the subject line. She will direct you to the proper rep. (We've chatted about the issue and I think she will do everything she can to help you secure your booking.) We're now at January 5. You'll need lead time to make this as effective as it deserves to be and we're at just about two months, which is not a lot. It will take some time to get the Public Performance License, so if you want to do this for March 11 and give yourself enough time to promote it, best to start ASAP. Go get 'em! ### NH #27: November 24, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-for-november-24-2011/ Published: 2011-11-23 Duration: 00:52:27 My tech guy just fixed a weeks-long lock-out from this site, which is why I've fallen behind. I'll catch up on the missed podcasts and blog posts as quickly as I can, but for now, here's today's podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-hosted-by/id458213762 Terrific interview on the proposed California ballot initiative to shut down all in-state nuclear reactors with Ben Davis, Jr., who wrote it and spearheads the drive to collect signatures and get it passed.Fukushima Diary blogger Mochizuki interrogated by 4 "officials" in Japan on his anti-nuclear activities and has been intimidated into considering leaving the country – help needed, fast, on political asylum and donations so he can move. Go to: www.FukushimaDiary.com.Fukushima designer admits that the reactors are now in China Syndrome – melt-through to possible hydrovolcanic explosion;TWO, count them, TWO accidents in TWO days at Brunswick Nuclear Plant in North Carolina;two important Fukushima studies revealed to be edited by pro-nuker;NRC poses the zen question, "When is strontium 90 NOT strontium 90?"Background radiation spikes to danger level (3 x Background radiation) for first time in Los Angeles;Japanese food supply showing first indications of radioactivity above even the government's inflated levels;1% of Fukuoka, Japan's population (15,000) show up for an anti-nuke demo; what would 1% turnout look like in YOUR home town? Let's try, shall we…?! ### NH #26: Michael Keegan of Nuclear-Free Great Lakes Interview URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-october-25-2011-michael-keegan-of-nuclear-free-great-lakesinterview/ Published: 2011-10-27 Duration: 00:44:43 In the latest Nuclear Hotseat Podcast: Interview with Michael Keegan of Nuclear-Free Great Lakes;radiation news and health problems from Japan;Swedish nuclear plant fire;Canadian radiation higher than originally reported; Cesium in San Francisco-area milk… again;NIRS report on radiational harm worse for women than men;apple pectin good for more than jelly… radiationally speaking;BIG WIN – San Clemente City Council unanimous in lobbying Federal Government for disposal of nuclear waste at San Onofre and funds for construction of additional roads for evacuation;and "eyedrop" on email between Arnie Gunderson and Prof. Christopher Busby on why there's no info available on birth defects in Japan. Listen by clicking here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/040e8c06-e61c-45ed-4a06-7d5f544d6b20.mp3 ### NH #25: Fukushima update with Arnie Gunderson - October 20, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/fukushima-update-with-arnie-gunderson-october-20-2011/ Published: 2011-10-20 Duration: 00:46:15 Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds.com can always be counted on for sober, clear, unbiased information. He's one of the sources upon which I base much of my understanding of the issues of nuclear power. In this update, he talks about the true meaning of TEPCO's claim for pending "cold shutdown" and the problems created by the AREVA system used to decontaminate water used in the cooling system. http://youtu.be/nKzOF97QuuU. ### NH #24: October 18, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-for-october-18-2011/ Published: 2011-10-19 In today's episode of Nuclear Hotseat (http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/5e28ed99-7d9c-625b-8c04-289765cb4890.mp3): Interview with Barbara George of Women's Energy Matters of Marin County, CA on legal briefs against Diablo Canyon filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, including where activists can find copies to use in their states: www.womensenergymatters.org; radiation news from Japan, including compromises to the food chain in plankton and rice; TEPCO muzzles anyone who wants to work for them and makes workers who accept a "danger bonus" of 10 euros ($13.50) an hour give up the right to sue later if they get sick; TEPCO cuts monthly payments to Fukushima evacuees who have lost everything from the equivalent of $1,300 to $650; A 30-foot crack found in nuclear reactor head in Ohio; New reactor design for Florida provokes "non-concurrence statement of dissent" from the NRC's lead structural reviewer — in other words, he's not buyin' it; Interfaith Peace Walk from Diablo Canyon to Sogorea Te/Glen Cove, Vallejo, California: http://protectglencove.org/2011/sacred-sites-peacewalk/; Prof. Christopher Busby offers video on supplementation, available at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/NuclearHotseat/ (scroll down the page to the white-haired man in beret); A surprisingly relevant nuclear warning from President John F. Kennedy. ### NH #23: San Onofre Hearings in San Clemente - full video URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-onofre-hearings-in-san-clemente-full-video/ Published: 2011-10-18 Duration: 00:47:12 Here's the video of last Tuesday's hearing on San Onofre with the San Clemente City Council. Our side's turn; great presentation by Arnie Gunderson via teleconferencing, Dr. Helen Caldicott via Skype, and an especially powerful (though understated in delivery) talk by Dan Hirsch at about the 3 hour mark. Watch Democracy in action: http://www.san-clemente.org/Videos/ShowVideo.aspx?VideoID=290 ### NH #22: Why I'm an Activist on Nuclear Issues URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/why-im-an-activist-on-nuclear-issues/ Published: 2011-10-05 Duration: 00:42:53 My life has changed dramatically in the past 6-1/2 months. I've gone from ignorant of/in denial about/blind to all issues nuclear-related into a 24/7/365 activist on the issues. I've spoken in public, posted videos, addressed the NRC (in a rogue kind of way; they didn't want participation but I participated anyway), begun producing a weekly podcast on nuclear issues, put a bumper sticker on my car, a button on the strap of my purse, and created resource materials for anyone who wants to follow this issue on their own. I realize that this make me… hmmm, obnoxious? Difficult? Socially unacceptable? … to some people. I'm simply NOT the woman they knew "before." Exactly. "Before" means before Fukushima, which was my wake-up call. But buried deep inside was a more authentic me, one that used to care about issues, take an activist stance, work with government and public, and do what I could to make what I deemed would be a positive difference in the world. I stopped doing this work after Three Mile Island, because the pain I experienced made it impossible to focus on anything outside of myself. I kept to that path, with a few exceptions, because that's what seemed to be in front of me — least resistance, personal growth, business building, like that. Now that the blinders are off, I cannot go back into that somnambulant state. I feel like I've been called to battle in the fight of my life, for the right of life on earth to continue unmolested from the horrors of radiation and mutation. I do this work because I can't NOT do it. If I can make one iota's bit of difference in the outcome on this issue, how dare I not do so? If by withholding my voice we go over the nuclear edge and into the abyss of nightmares and the end of life as we've known it, I will have committed a crime against humanity, my karma and my soul. This, I refuse to do. Last night, I spoke at a local library. Because of weather issues (Rain! In Southern California! In October! We're all gonna melt!), the turnout consisted of one woman who just happened to be at the library by accident, not intent. But I spoke to that one woman, and before I was done she'd become an activist as well, wanting more information and committed to helping in whatever way she can. This is how the future gets changed: one person, one mind at a time. Make no mistake: our genetic future is at stake. The consequences of inaction will make themselves known in irreversible ways. By then, it will be too late… but right now, it is not too late and we still have the chance to turn this thing around. So come join me in this battle, as other battles are being joined all over the planet. Speak out – anywhere, everywhere. The way out of despair and anger is to take an action, any action. I suggest them in my weekly podcast, Nuclear Hotseat; I post about them on Facebook under Nuclear Hotseat (a group page; I'll make it a fan page when I can figure it out); and I will continue to speak about them in public. Yes, I am that obnoxious – albeit well dressed – activist who won't shut up, who reminds you that the nuclear dangers are real and we're only a whisker away from facing a situation from which we will never be able to recover. Let's work together to make certain that never happens. I welcome the joining of your voice to all the others. ### NH #21: Animation of Nuclear Bomb Blasts, 1945 - 1998 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/animation-of-nuclear-bomb-blasts-1945-1998/ Published: 2011-09-26 Duration: 00:45:52 A clearly animated representation of how many blasts we've had since the first ones in 1945. Remember, each blast releases radiation into the atmosphere and/or the ground, where it remains until a minimum of ten half-life cycles are completed. None of us will outlive the radiational pollution of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let alone the domestic "dirty bombs" of Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SlGQaCUoqc ### NH #20: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-for-tuesday-september-20-2011/ Published: 2011-09-21 On this week's Nuclear Hotseat: Great interview w/author-activist Ace Hoffman on problems at San Onofre and the power of his free ebook, an expose of the nuclear industry, THE CODE KILLERS; available for free at: www.AceHoffman.org. multiple problems emerging at Fukushima including evidence of renewed criticality, groundwater contamination, missing plutonium <!> and radioactive cesium coming soon to an ocean near you; 60,000 Japanese in Tokyo demonstrate against nuclear power; new Arnie Gunderson video on design flaws in the GE Mark I reactor (www.Fairewinds.com) a list of 23  GE Mark I reactors still online in the US; radioactivity detected in France following explosion at Mancoule nuke plant last Monday; radical suggestion for managing radiation exposure (HINT: it's legal for some in California…) http://www.naturalnews.com/032674_marijuana_radiation.html#ixzz1Tvx67kg9 NRC hearing on San Onofre in San Clemente next Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m., Community Center Auditorium, 100 Calle Seville in San Clemente – be there! http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/4cd1fa9c-f7f9-0dfe-f310-294c042818b2.mp3 ### NH #19: How Much Power does the Nuclear Industry Wield over Nuclear Decisions? Rachel Maddow video URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/how-much-power-does-the-nuclear-industry-wield-over-nuclear-decisions-rachel-maddow-video/ Published: 2011-09-14 Duration: 00:46:58 Rachel Maddow nails it about Vermont's battle to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor in this brief but powerful excerpt from her MSNBC program: http://www.nuclearfreeplanet.org/rachel-maddow-how-much-political-power-does-nuclear-power-wield.html So who has the right to decide aabout ongoing exposure to the radioactive detritus of a nuclear reactor – We-the-People or corporation-as-"legal-person"? Corporations can't sicken and die from radiation, but people can. Do the emotional math. ### NH #18: September 6, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-september-6-2011/ Published: 2011-09-07 Duration: 00:46:28 Today's Nuclear Hotseat Podcast: North Anna's operators caught in a lie about quake-readiness of that plant, even as they break ground for reactor #3;Fukushima radiation levels for workers more than 10 times too high;Interview with Dr. Robert Gould of Physicians for Social Responsibility on radiation dangers;Report on Vermont's nuclear sanity – a big win!Why is President Obama is giving $8 BILLION in loan guarantees to build nuke plants in Georgia?;Synopsis of Arnie Gunderson's interview by Dr. Helen Caldicott (access full call at: www.ifyoulovethisplanet.org)Orthomolecular medicine's take on holistic health-building to resist radiation (http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v07n04.shtml)and the one policy Lloyds of London will not write. http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/159b80f0-6d0b-6ccc-b309-a0e8775a2455.mp3 Download here or subscribe on iTunes. ### NH #17: Nuclear Hotseat Podcast for August 29, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-august-29-2011/ Published: 2011-09-07 Duration: 00:25:21 On today's Nuclear Hotseat Podcast: Interview w/Sean Bonner of Safecast on his work providing free on-the-ground radiation monitoring devices to groups in Japan; post-quake damage suspected at North Anna nuke plant in Virginia; post-Hurricane Irene "Unusual Event" at Calvert Cliffs in Maryland; Tweets and email from Japan reveal the devastating human toll of Fukushima, including animal birth defects and women seeking abortions; Activist opportunities in California, DC, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis; and a superfood for radiation detox that was used successfully on children after Chernobyl. Subscribe on iTunes or download from here: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/c84e4d37-1ef5-d49b-2a57-78e197eaa703.mp3 To access free ebook on holistic healing from radiation, go to: radiationdetox.com Produced and hosted by Libbe HaLevy. ### NH #16: Ma Nature vs. the Nukes - North Anna, Brunswick, Quakes and Hurricane Irene URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/ma-nature-vs-the-nukes-shes-gaining-ground/ Published: 2011-08-26 Duration: 00:44:34 An olde commercial from the 1970's showed Mother Nature getting ticked off at some margarine that tasted to her like butter. "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature," she warned, and at the stretch of her arms created a raging thunderstorm. Today it's not margarine, it's nuclear power plants that seem to be the object of Mother Nature's wrath. First Fukushima got hit by a 9.0 earthquake and 30 ft. tsunami, touching off Japan's ongoing nuclear nightmare. This summer, wildfires threatened the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory in New Mexico and the Nevada Test Site — both repositories of nuclear waste and contamination in the wake of 60+ years of nuclear bomb tests. Simultaneously, the Missouri River floods threatened the Fort Calhoun and Cooper nuclear reactors in Nebraska, coming within a few feet of overwhelming theme and triggering a Fukushima-like loss of cooling. As I write this, we're three days past the 5.8 earthquake that hit the east coast of the U.S. with an epicenter 13 miles north of the North Anna nuclear power plant in Mineral, Virginia. Being on the east coast, "where earthquakes never happen," these reactors were built to withstand a quake of 5.9 to 6.1 – pretty minor by Los Angeles standards. There is some question as to whether there's been damage to North Anna, as coolant water stored in an artificial lake dropped 22 inches in less than a day. No one yet knows where it went. In addition, after that quake 12 other nuclear power plants in five other states issued an NRC "unusual event" declaration, including Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and two reactors as far away as Michigan. And now, Hurricane Irene. This Category 3-4 storm is bearing down on the east coast, heading smack towards the Brunswick Nuclear Reactor on the coast at Southport, North Carolina. The rain and winds will also reach North Anna, where if it turns out there is a problem, the weather could make it much worse. If Mother Nature wanted to alert us to the problems of nuclear energy, she's doing one heck of a job. Quakes. Fires. Floods. Storms. All these have come very close to disaster, turning away from the worst case scenario at seemingly the last second. How long will our luck hold? How long will the pipes and back-up systems continue to hold on our aging, in-use-beyond-original-licensing-plans lives? And here's the bigger question: what will it take for the American public to WAKE UP to the lack of logic behind nuclear energy? When will the mainstream media shake off its inertia and start covering this as the enormous, potentially game-changing story that it is? When will politicians realize that money and posturing mean nothing if a nuke plant starts spewing radiation? Right now, our safety and security are at the mercy of tectonic plates, weather patterns, wind and humidity. In other words, we can't control the larger physical world in which these nuclear reactors operate. We can't guarantee that there won't be another quake near North Anna bigger than 6.2, or at San Onofre in California bigger than 7.0 (the upper limit of the design's quake-resistance). All the NRC, the nuclear plant operators and the government can offer us are false assurances that "everything is all right, children, go back to your normal lives." What's "normal" now for me is looking past every natural disaster to discover the location of the nearest nuclear reactor and find out its condition. Quake-to-hurricane isn't that much different than quake-to-tsunami. This combination of "shake ‘n soak" threatens to create a homegrown nuclear disaster. At minimum, our federal government and the corporate plant owners need to stockpile boron and zeolite, along with a fueled and ready airborne armada to immediately dump these radiation-absorbing materials on any reactor that goes rogue. But before that happens, let's just get rid of the suckers. Turn 'em off, get 'em cold, and then figure out what to do with the over 75,000 TONS of nuclear waste already stockpiled in this country. Let's do it before Mother Nature decides she's had it with we humans and unleashes a disaster from which we and the planet will never recover. ### NH #15: East Coast Quake, Kevin Kamps/Beyond Nuclear Interview URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-august-23-2011-east-coast-quake-kevin-kampsbeyond-nuclear-interview/ Published: 2011-08-24 Duration: 00:06:28 Here's what happened on today's Nuclear Hotseat podcast: Interview w/Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Watchdog for Beyond Nuclear, on what to do with 75,000 TONS of nuclear waste and how to keep one's balance while dealing with such intense information;Today's 5.8 East Coast quake knocks out emergency generator at Virginia nuke plant and causes NRC "unusual occurrences" at eight others;Arnie Gunderson on Japan's burning of nuclear waste as "recreating Fukushima"Canada to finally test food sources for radiation – fish and caribouEvacute Fukushima video and petition to force the Japanese government to evacuate the children of Fukushima – please sign and share!Activist Minute w/Phil Klasky of San Francisco State University speaking to the students among you…and what the Nuclear Numnutz say to each other when they think we aren't listening. Here's the link: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/rss/nuclear-hotseat-with-host-libbe-halevy.xml ### NH #14: Arnie Gunderson on Japan's Burning of Nuclear Waste, Lack of Plan URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arnie-gunderson-on-japans-burning-of-nuclear-waste-lack-of-plan/ Published: 2011-08-24 Duration: 00:49:19 Any time Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds.com posts an updated report, it's important to pay attention. As a former nuclear industry insider who ran a power plant, he has a clear eye on the truth of what's happening and presents the most reliable information, directly from the source. As I don't yet know how to post the actual video on this site, here's the link: wwwFairewinds.com. It's the video at the top as of today, August 23, 2011. If you're viewing this at a later date, just scroll down or search the site; Fairewinds keeps its videos available. I'll be citing the content in today's Nuclear Hotseat, but it's important that you listen to it as well… of course, only if you want to know the truth. ### NH #13: Evacuate Fukushima - Video and Petition URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/evacuate-fukushima-video-and-petition/ Published: 2011-08-22 Duration: 00:50:01 Rarely have I seen anything as profoundly moving as this video, which makes the indellible case for international support in forcing the Japanese government to evacuate the children of Fukushima from the danger zone. The picture painted, which pinpoints many of the aspects of the story we've been featuring on the weekly podcast, is concise, artistic, infuriating, heart-wrenching — and true. Please – watch the video. Sign the petition. Donate if you can. Share the link. Pass it on. The international media will not even cover the biggest environmental story of our lifetime and an unconscionable government betrayal of its people. Your voice is needed. Please lend it. Now. http://www.nuclearfreeplanet.org/evacuate-fukushima—%E7%A6%8F%E5%B3%B6%E3%81%AE%E5%AD%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%82%92%E5%AE%88%E3%82%8C-.html (And if someone can teach me how to embed a video and install a widget, I'd appreciate it.) ### NH #12: Simi Valley Nuclear Meltdown in 1959 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/simi-valley-nuclear-meltdown-in-1959/ Published: 2011-08-19 Duration: 00:49:52 The great cover-up of the Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory nuclear accident in 1959 – the worst on U.S. soil because there was no containment building. Information only came out 20 years later when some of Dan Hirsch's nuclear policy students at UC Santa Cruz did research and discovered the long-hidden documents that proved it. 52 years after meltdown, it's still being cleaned up. Link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAHmaEs5cYU&playnext=1&list=PL5D60756CC039ABF3 ### NH #11: Detoxing from Radiation URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/detoxing-from-radiation/ Published: 2011-08-18 Duration: 00:45:12 Today, I watched my 10-year-old dog frolic in the yard with her favorite ball, playing like a puppy, with more energy than I've seen her have in years. Why is this worth a mention on an anti-nuclear website? Because as part of my program to rid my body and hers of as many toxic materials as possible — including nuclear materials possibly absorbed post-Fukushima — I have added bentonite clay to our diets. Bentonite is used internally and externally as a detoxifying agent. You can put it in baths and soak in it to draw toxins out of the body. You can dust it on yourself like a talc, where it will have the same effect. You can put it in food and eat it (more on this in a second) to draw internal toxins out of your body. When bentonite comes in contact with radioactive particles, it sucks them up, surrounds them, and allows you to excrete them through your skin or bowel movements. Other natural materials that can be used in this way are French green clay and zeolite. Zeolite in particular is used in the soil to trap radiation and keep it from being absorbed by plants, thus providing some measure of protection for the food chain. The problem with ingesting any of these is that they taste like, well, dirt. When I sprinkled bentonite on my dog's water, she – who is fond of munching coyote skat and drinking from stagnant puddles – would not touch it. So now, every morning, I mix a teaspoon with a few spoons of canned dog food and put it atop her kibble. She gloms it down, never noticing a difference. For me, I started by gagging it down in an alkiline drink I regularly make, but it was truly awful. Then I started putting a tablespoon in my daily smoothie, and it worked. A little gritty in the background, with hints of oak, gravel and mud pie <g>, but a banana blended in goes a long way towards disguising it. The results so far? My dog has more energy, has exercised more and thus lost weight. Even more impressive, a few of her "lumps and bumps" (usual with aging dogs) have reduced in size or disappeared entirely. Coincidence? I don't think so. As for me, I feel better, with more energy, better concentration and better sleep. My skin is clearer, as are my eyes. Of course, I take a lot of supplements, but since taking bentonite, I just feel better. Even if I had no radiation in my body, other toxic gunk of modern life has been removed, and for that I am grateful. We all have to take better care of our health in the wake of Fukushima, with unpredictable exposure to radiation capable of happening at any time. Taking bentonite every day is one of the things I have chosen to do for myself. You need to do your own research and make your own decisions about supplementation, but whatever you decide, take impeccable care of your health. We need all the anti-nuclear activists we can get. ### NH #10: Nuclear Hotseat Podcast for August 16, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-podcast-for-august-16-2011/ Published: 2011-08-17 Duration: 00:46:42 Here's the link to the most recent Nuclear Hotseat Podcast: Interview with Jane Swanson of the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace on legal actions taken to shut down Diablo CanyonExcessive radiation found in fish caught 35 miles from Fukushima, in the thyroid glands of half of children tested, and on containers shipped from Japan to Egypt and RussiaFirst-hand tweets from a hospital nurse in Sendai City – really scary stuffArnie Gunderson's latest update on hot particles, radiation, and government collusion to downplay Fukushima to the American publicAudio of yesterday's radiation rain in TorontoNew York demonstration against Indian Point nuclear reactorHow to prevent or recover from Adrenal Fatigue in the wake of all this distressing, stressing nuclear talkThe music of decaying isotopes. ### NH #9: Arnie Gunderson Interview - Fukushima Update URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/arnie-gunderson-interview-fukushima-update/ Published: 2011-08-15 Duration: 00:30:31 A new podcast interview w/Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds Associates, one of my personal heroes for his clarity, calm and vision. Very specific update information on Fukushima and radiation "rain out" projections for the coming year: http://solarimg.org/shows/solarimg_podcast_Arnie_Gundersen_130911.mp3a If that link doesn't work, try this one: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=526_1313252896 VERY IMPORTANT – Near the end, Arnie drops a bombshell about an agreement reached "at the highest levels of government" between the US and Japan that our government not make a big deal out of Fukushima and that we continue to import from Japan without additional testing. Outrageous! ### NH #8: New Fairewinds video URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/new-fairewinds-video/ Published: 2011-08-15 Duration: 00:48:55 More clarity and a nuclear timeline from our friends at Fairwinds Associates.  Check out this video at: http://fairewinds.com/content/dial-m-meltdown-brian-rich . ### NH #7: San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace file an important challenge to the NRC's relicensing of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/san-luis-obispo-mothers-for-peace-file-an-important-challenge-to-the-nrcs-relicensing-of-diablo-canyon-nuclear-reactor/ Published: 2011-08-13 Last Monday, I had the honor and priviledge of meeting up with several members of San Luis Obispo's Mothers for Peace (MFP), a focused, brilliant, powerhouse force for a sane, nuclear-free world.  Today, I receive an email with their latest news: a filing to challenge the NRC's relicensing of Diablo Canyon based on information gathered in the wake of the ongoing Fukushima nuclear tragedy. Here's the link: http://mothersforpeace.org/dat​a/2011/SLOMFPMotionandContenti​onwithattachments81111.pdf. Scroll down about 7 pages to get to their actual arguments. They included a big-picture press release about the actions by all 26 intervenors that filed on the same day.  Each filing is different in order to reflect the specifics of the given plant. The bulk of the legal work was done by Diane Curran, who is the attorney for MFP and also for many of the other intervenors.  Here's the link: http://mothersforpeace.org/data/2011/2011-26-groups-including-mothers-for-peace-call-on-the-nrc-to-delay-or-cancel-reactor-licensing-due-to-existing-federal-law And go to http://mothersforpeace.org/ to get a sense of all their work. Way to go! ### NH #6: Nuclear Hotseat for August 9, 2011 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-for-august-9-2011/ Published: 2011-08-10 Duration: 00:30:20 Here's the link to this week's Nuclear Hotseat podcast: http://lhalevy.audioacrobat.com/download/NuclearHotseat_9-08-9-11.mp3 Interview with Aileen Mioko Smith, Executive Director of Green Action – Japan, based in Kyoto, about her work with families of Fukushima on evacuation issues;Mainstream media stories on Japanese government hiding the radiation plume path after Fukushima;Activist Voices – Mary Beth Branagan from EON3.net on how to fight depression stemming from the state of the world (HINT: if you're here, you're doing it already!)Mainstream media starts to wake up.Easy activist actions: sign a petition, write a letterNuke plants as eco-tourist attractions…? Ailene Mioko Smith has requested that we send letters of support for her group's efforts on behalf of Fukushima families to allow the 300,000 children living in the radiation zone to be evacuated. Details on the show; here's the address: The Honorable Ichiro Fujisaki Ambassador of Japan to the United States of America 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20008 Sources for this week's show included: enenews.com, Dr. Helen Caldicott's Facebook site; New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NuclearFreePlanet.org, nirs.org, and citizen-activists like you! ### NH #5: Welcome to Nuclear Hotseat URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/welcome-to-nuclear-hotseat/ Published: 2011-08-05 Duration: 00:42:56 NOTE: This was the first posting of Nuclear Hotseat on the website, as opposed to social media and email. In updating this website, it appears that the first four episodes of Nuclear Hotseat have somehow vanished. When time permits, I'll go back into the original files and add them – for historical reference, if not current importance. For now, this is the first of what are now more than 500 episodes. May this resource prove valuable to you in your understanding of the issues. – Libbe HaLevy, producer/host, December 3, 2021. Hello! This website is dedicated to sharing the latest information regarding Fukushima, nuclear energy, holistic protection from radiation, and anti-nuclear activism. It is a direct offshoot of "Nuclear Hotseat," a podcast produced every Tuesday, live at 4 p.m. Pacific time. Links to each week's pcast will be posted here, along with links to current information, activist alerts, and my personal thoughts regarding the insanity represented by nuclear power. Why am I doing this? Because I was one mile from the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island when it happened, visiting friends who had just moved to quiet, sleepy Middletown, PA. This terrifying experience mule-kicked me out of the life I'd been living and into a Twilight Zone of post traumatic stress (before we knew the term) and ongoing fear. It also, as I've only learned in the past two years, stressed my adrenal glands so badly that I've been suffering from adrenal fatigue/exhaustion for years, suffering from low energy that severely limited my life. (Fortunately, that condition is now under control by holistic supplementation and diet/lifestyle changes.) When Fukushima happened on March 11, it snapped me to attention. Retraumatized, I felt fear for the future of Planet Earth and the human race. All my leftover emotions from 3MI returned to the surface. I felt helpless, alone, panicked, in pain. Then I got angry. Then I took action. As a citizen-activist, I announced to my Facebook friends that I'd be doing a podcast on nuclear issues… and started Nuclear Hotseat two days later, on June 14, 2011. I'm not a scientist, a politician, a nuclear expert of any kind, but I am a trained journalist with a broadcast background. Passing along information on this subject to people who normally would miss it strikes me as something I can do that makes me feel less powerless, less hopeless about the future, and able to make a difference in the nuclear discussion. HERE'S THE MESSAGE: If you feel frightened, helpless, depressed, triggered into obsessive or addictive behaviors or any other emotions when you think about Fukushima and what the ongoing radiation release means to the future of life on Planet Earth, only one thing will help you genuinely feel better: TAKE ACTION. DO something. Write a letter stating your concerns to the president, your senators, your representative, your governor. Follow up with phone calls. Stay informed, not only about the current nuclear news but on what activist groups are doing. Join them in any way you can — donate, forward their posts on social media, comment on blogs, connect with others who are willing to engage in the conversation. This is no time to be alone. There are also actions you can take to protect your health and the health of your family. I'll be sharing those as well as links to sites that will allow you to do further research by yourself. The nuclear industry and its political apologists are working their PR firms overtime to convince you that nuclear energy is clean, green, safe and sustainable. Don't let them fool you; they are lying. On this site, you'll gain access to cutting edge information on nuclear energy, Fukushima, and the ongoing health dangers we face. My goal is to inspire you to join the battle to turn off your neighborhood nuclear reactor. As Helen Keller once wrote, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." I invite you to join me and work to get us all out of the nuclear hotseat. ### NH# 4 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-4/ Published: 2011-07-05 Duration: 00:40:31 ### NH# 3 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-3/ Published: 2011-07-04 Duration: 00:40:05 ### NH #2 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-2/ Published: 2011-07-03 Duration: 00:51:49 ### NH# 1 URL: https://nuclearhotseat.com/podcast/nh-1/ Published: 2011-07-02 Duration: 00:35:01