Call for Global Nuclear Phase Out

In the aftermath of Fukushima, 50 Laureates of the Right Livelihood Award and members of the World Future Council demanded in a joint statement a global nuclear phase out.

“Nuclear power is neither the answer to modern energy problems nor a panacea for climate change challenges. There is no solution of problems by creating more problems,” states the declaration, issued by experts, activists, politicians, clergy, entrepreneurs and scientists from 26 countries.

Click here to read the full statement and to see the list of signees.

For Brazilian-Portuguese, please click here.

A German translation is available here.

Two Mega Dam Projects in South America

Two of our laureates are currently fighting to prevent the construction of huge dam projects. While Juan Pablo Orrego (Chile, RLA 1998) is campaigning to protect Chilean Patagonia from the HidroAysén dam project that would destroy this beautiful area, Erwin Kräutler (Brazil, RLA 2010) is battling a similarly threatening dam project in Belo Monte, Brazil.

Chile:

The construction project of five hydroelectric power stations in Chilean Patagonia, threatens the Patagonian ecosystem. Patagonia has a high rate of biodiversity, is one of the world’s major freshwater reserves and its unique landscapes have been proposed to UNESCO for a Natural World Heritage status. In addition, the massive earthquake in Chile in February 2011 showed the seismic and flooding risks inherent in the project. The decision to construct the dams will most likely be taken next week.

The Patagonia Defence Council, a growing coalition of about 70 organizations from different countries that tries to protect the environment of Patagonia, is in urgent need of funding.

Juan Pablo Orrego is traveling through Europe in May, trying to find supporters for the Council's "Patagonia without Dams Campaign". He attended the annual shareholder meeting of Enel, the Italian energy company who owns the water rights on the rivers in question. He got 2.5 minutes speaking time and was at all times followed by policemen carrying guns.

Brazil:

Bishop Erwin Kräutler published an open letter, militating against the Belo Monte Hydroelectric project in Brazil, stating it would have irreversible consequences for both indigenous peoples and nature. He furthermore claimes that Belo Monte is illegal and denies dialogue with the affected people, thus risking to be built under the rule of armed forces.

Read the letter here

Nuclear power in decline

Mycle Schneider (France, RLA 1997) co-authored The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2010–2011, which was presented at the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl.

"It points to a bleak future for the nuclear industry. Nuclear reactor startups have been in steady decline since the 1980s, with only China bucking the trend in recent years. The world's total nuclear generating capacity has remained roughly steady for the past 20 years, while the actual output has declined slightly. In contrast, output from wind, solar, and biofuels experienced tremendous growth over the same period. The industry was arguably on life support before Fukushima. When the history of this industry is written, Fukushima is likely to introduce its final chapter,” said Schneider.

His fellow Laureate Amory B. Lovins (USA, RLA 1983) responded to the report, calling it a "uniquely independent, thorough, and timely assessment."

Laureates on Fukushima

Mycle Schneider's expertise as a nuclear security specialist has been very much in demand in the last weeks. A list of his publications as well as recent interviews can be found here.

Judge Christopher Weeramantry (Sri Lanka, RLA 2007), former Vice President of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, has sent an open letter to the world's environmental ministers.

He writes: "In a supposedly enlightened age, we are, with total disregard of any sense of responsibility, proceeding to build more reactors, pursuing short term advantages while being fully aware of the long term perils we are inflicting on our own posterity. Solar and other renewable energy sources provide all the energy the world needs but we neglect them, for there are great profits for those few who are engaged in the nuclear energy enterprise, whatever the costs to the vast majority and the generations yet to come."

Read the complete letter here

This message from Alyn Ware (New Zealand, RLA 2009) and Abolition 2000 was released at the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl:

"The lesson of Fukushima is clear: natural disasters and accidents will happen. If it can go wrong sooner or later it will go wrong. Murphy's law and nuclear technology do not mix. Fukushima is not the first – and won’t be the last – nuclear disaster as long as countries continue to operate nuclear power facilities..."

 Read the statement here

Above mentioned Laureates were not the only ones to comment on Fukushima and nuclear energy. For a link-compilation of statements, articles and interviews by other Laureates, please see our front page.

Call for Cooperation

ATCC (Colombia, RLA 1990) sent us a call for cooperation for saving the rain forest in Colombia. They write:

"Three interesting environmental declarations have been issued in Colombia, but it is difficult for ATCC to put them into use since the forest economy is completely uncontrolled and the protection of forests is really not easy. We are now putting all our efforts into finding partner organizations that would help us protect the last 87 000 hectares of land that still hold natural humid tropical forests in the region of Santander."

If you happen to know somebody who wants to cooperate, please get in touch with us at the foundation.

We cannot eat eucalyptus!

Marcelo Durao Fernandes from MST (Brazil, RLA 1991) visited Stora Enso's annual shareholder meeting in Finland, making an attempt to tell the shareholders about the problems Stora Enso causes in Brazil.

The company, one of the world's largest pulp and paper manufacturers, is accused of environmental crimes and workers' rights violations and has already been convicted of illegal deforestation and inappropriate use of pesticides. Stora Enso's eucalyptus monoculture plantations have led to the displacement of local communities, soil erosion and water shortages. The company has started a greenwashing campaign called "Rethink." recently, but the situation for the people in Brazil remains unchanged.

Marcelo Durao Fernandes was given five minutes speaking time at the shareholder meeting and was interrupted many times while he spoke.

Afterwards he said: "Instead of bringing development, Stora Enso causes land conflicts and threatens food sovereignty. Genuine sustainable development promotes small-scale farming to feed people and not large-scale plantations to make profits for companies. We cannot eat eucalyptus!”

Read more here