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National Anti-Nuclear Summit (29-30 July 2011)

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON

THE COALITION AGAINST NUCLEAR ENERGY (CANE)
PO BOX 82 PLETTENBERG BAY 6600 SOUTH AFRICA

In March 2011, soon after the catastrophe of Fukushima, the Minister of Energy declared for six new reactors as part of the Integrated Resource Plan for electricity production (the IRP2010). This was also in the face of heavy opposition and many submissions by members of the Civil Society Energy Caucus, including affected communities, the labour movement, faith-based organizations, and many Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).

Moreover, in recent months, Eskom has persisted with public meetings in Cape Town, Overstrand and Kouga Municipalities, in desperate defence of their Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report. Indeed, they were met with fierce resistance on the part of individual CANE members, the Koeberg Alert Alliance, the Save Bantamsklip Campaign, the Thyspunt Alliance, and many others. What is most disconcerting is that no nuclear technology has been specified; many specialist studies have not been completed adequate; and no final solution for the spent fuel has been specified.

This failure to prepare the ground properly for the preferred Thyspunt site (but with Bantamsklip and Koeberg to follow, making up two reactors each on three designated sites) will inevitably lead to a series of court challenges in the following years. A “war chest” has already been started for this express purpose.

In the light of these developments, and in response to popular demand, the Coalition Against Nuclear Energy has therefore convened a National Anti-Nuclear Summit at the Country Crescent Hotel in Plettenberg Bay on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th July.

List of Delegates

Rianne Teule, Johannesburg-based, but Netherlands-born Greenpeace, anti-nuclear campaigner, recently returned from Japan;
Richard Worthington, veteran Climate-Change campaigner, World Wildlife Fund, Johannesburg, and founder of the  South African Climate Action Network;
Dr David Fig, policy analyst, academic researcher, and author of Uranium Road, among other works;
Makoma Lekalakala, (Sustainable Energy Climate Change Project, Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg Branch;
Dominique Gilbert, Pelindaba Working Group, Brooderstroom;
Keith Gottschalk, Senior Lecturer in Political Studies, University of the Western Cape;
Peter Becker, Convenor, Koeberg Alert Alliance, Cape Town;
Rod Gurzynski, Architect, Researcher & Green Building Consultant, Cape Town;
Sibusiso Mimi, Research Officer, National Union of Mineworkers;
Muna Lakhani and Gray Macguire, Earthlife Africa, Cape Town Branch;
Rodney Anderson, Chairman, Save Bantamsklip Campaign & Vice-Chairman, Hermanus Ratepayers Association;
Ebeline de Villiers, Save Bantamsklip Campaign;
John Williams, Stanford Conservation Trust and former Chairman, Save Bantamsklip Campaign;
Lesley Richardson, Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative;
Wilfred Chivell, Dyer Island Trust;
Katja Vinding Petersen, Dyer Island Trust;

Hilton Thorpe, St Francis Residents Association and member, Thyspunt Alliance;
Alison Kuhl, Supertubes Surfing Foundation, Jeffreys Bay;
Derek Luyt, Public Service Accountability Monitor, Rhodes University

Apologies

Len Swimmer (Chair, Greater Cape Town Civic Association);
Louis de Villiers (former Chair, Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa, Western Cape);
Dave Whitelaw (ABI Initiative, Overberg Region);
Helena Kingwill, Writer-Producer of Buried in Earthskin a TV documentary on nuclear waste dumping in Namaqualand;
Bernedette Muthien, Executive Director. Engender, an NPO focusing on Eco-Feminism;
Brenda Martin, Project 90X2030;
Dr Yvette Abrahams, Commission for Gender Equity;
Bobby Peek, Groundwork/Friends of the Earth.

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Tell Government: No More Dangerous Nuclear Plants!

Demand a Nuclear Moratorium and Stricter Safety Regulations

Thank you for supporting our previous efforts to build a nuclear-free future for our kids. More than ever, the Coalition Against Nuclear Energy needs your help to make that future a reality.

The disaster in Japan continues to unfold – with authorities now admitting three meltdowns and some reports putting Japan’s nuclear disaster on a par with Chernobyl.

The terrifying reality is the same thing could happen in South Africa. Government has nailed its colours to the mast by promising SIX REACTORS as part of its “nuclear fleet”. In addition, Rob Adam of NECSA has promised us “localization” with uranium enrichment, fuel assembly and spent fuel reprocessing. All this despite the opposition from the Civil Society Energy Caucus, faith- labour- and community-based Organisations.

We must urgently work to prevent that. To that end, leading campaigners & activists from NGOs and civil society organisations associated with C.A.N.E., academics and professionals plan to hold a “summit” on 27 and 28 July to tackle the problem. And our budget is virtually non-existent.  It is called a “summit”, because – this is designed expressly for leadership to discuss ways and means of defending our country against the threat of a “nuclear fleet”, which (according to IPAP2 by the Department of Trade & Industries) will cost us R1.3 trillion.

We aim to discuss strategy and tactics over the next two years, as well as budgets for fund-raising purposes.  We will also seek fresh elections for the National Executive to take us forward with a renewed mandate from the Summit.

We seek to ensure that the lessons learned from the nuclear meltdown in Japan are incorporated into S.A. regulations, and ensure our government will impose a moratorium on new licenses for dirty, dangerous and expensive nuclear power plants, and no more secrecy over our nuclear legacy.

Please act now and urge your local politicians and media to support this stand so we can build a safer future for generations of South Africans.

Thanks for taking action. And please also consider making a donation to C.A.N.E. today. It is the only group in South Africa that focuses solely on preventing a nuclear future! Your support will help us build a grassroots movement to close dangerous nuclear plants and create a safe energy future for our children. Your donation will also make it possible for a team to dedicate their time and effort to increase pressure on government and the media, and keep you informed and our website going.

Thank you for working with us for a nuclear-free world.

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