nuclear free india - wordpress.com · 2008. 12. 16. · issuing cityspecific and police reporting...

Mumbai bloodbath: A joint statement by Pakistanis and

IndiansThis Joint Statement is being released to the press simultaneously in Pakistan and India today, 29th November 2008.

We are deeply shocked and horrified at the bloody mayhem in Mumbai, which has claimed more than a hundred and twenty five lives and caused grievous injuries to several hundred people, besides sending a wave of panic and terror across South Asia and beyond. We convey our profound feelings of sorrow and sympathies to the grieving families of the unfortunate victims of this heinous crime and express our solidarity with them. ......Continued in page 2 →

15 DECEMBER 2008 1 NUCLEAR FREE INDIA VOL.1, ISSUE 2

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 15 DECEMBER 2008

NUCLEAR FREE INDIA

ACTIVISM OF THE WEEKEND

InsideNews:

France plans to sell large 1,600 MW reactor

to India ..................................................... p. 4

Radioactive pollution in Karaikal Beach ............................ p. 10

Articles:

The SuperMega Nuclear Power complex at Jaitapur The Last nail on Konkan ...................................... p.5

Interview:“French Nuclear Programme – An Overview”Interview with André Lariviere ............ p.11

Activism:

Bangaluru .................................................... p.1

Koodankulam ............................................... p.18

Bangaluru Anti Nuclear Activists

distribute pamphlets in the middle of a talk by Victor Reis, Senior Advisor to the US Department of Energy on 8 December 2008 at Bangaluru, highlighting the plight of the people living

around the Kalapakkam Nuclear Complex

Courtesy: The New Indian Express, 9 Dec, 2008 Bangaluru Edition

As usual, all sorts of speculations are circulating about the identity of the perpetrators of this act of barbarism. The truth about who are directly involved in this brutal incident and who could be the culprits behind the scene is yet to come out and we do not wish to indulge in any guesswork or blame game at this point. However, one is intrigued at its timing. Can it be termed a coincidence that it has happened on the day the Home Secretaries of the two countries concluded their talks in Islamabad and announced several concrete steps to move forward in the peace process, such as the opening of several land routes for trade – Kargil, WagahAttari, Khokhropar etc –, relaxation in the visa regime, a soft and liberal policy on the issue of release of prisoners and joint efforts to fight terrorism? Again, is it just a coincidence that on this fateful day the Foreign Minister of Pakistan was in the Indian capital holding very useful and productive talks with his Indian counterpart? One thing looks crystal clear. The enemies of peace and friendship between the two countries, whatever be the label under which they operate, are unnerved by these healthy developments and are hell bent on torpedoing them.

We are of the considered opinion that the continued absence of peace in South Asia peace between and within states particularly in relation to India and Pakistan, is one of the root causes of most of the miseries the people of the region are made to endure. It is the major reason why our abundantly resourcerich subcontinent is wallowing in poverty, unemployment, disease, and ignorance and why militarism, religious and sectarian violence and political, economic and social injustice are eating into the very vitals of our societies, even after more than six decades of independence from colonial rule.

At this moment of unmitigated tragedy, the first thing we call upon the Governments of India and Pakistan to do is to acknowledge the fact that the overwhelming majority of the people of India and Pakistan ardently desire peace and, therefore, the peace process must be pursued with redoubled speed and determination on both sides.

The sooner the ruling establishments of India and Pakistan acknowledge this fact and push ahead with concrete steps towards lasting peace and harmony in the subcontinent, the better it will be not only for the people of our two countries but also for the whole of South Asia and the world. While the immediate responsibility for unmasking the culprits of Mumbai and taking them to task surely rests with the Government of India, all of us in South Asia have an obligation to join hands and go into the root causes of why and how such forces of evil are motivated and emboldened to resort to such acts of antipeople terror.

It is extremely important to remind the leaderships of Pakistan and India that issuing statements and signing agreements and declarations will have meaning only when they are translated into action and implemented honestly, in letter and spirit and without any further loss of time. It assumes added urgency in the prevailing conditions in South Asia, with the possibility that so many different forces prone to religious, sectarian and other forms of intolerance and violence may be looking for ways to arm themselves with more and more sophisticated weapons of mass murder and destruction. The bloodbath in Mumbai must open the eyes of our governments, if it has not already happened.

We urge upon the governments of India and Pakistan to immediately take the following steps:

1. Cessation of all hostile propaganda against each other; 2. Joint action to curb religious extremism of all shades in both countries; 3. Continue and intensify normalization of relations and peaceful resolution of all conflicts between the two countries; 4. Facilitation of trade and cooperation between the two countries and in all of South Asia. We welcome the fact that the SrinagarMuzaffarabad and PoonchRawlakot borders have been opened for trade and that the opening of the road between Kargil and Skardu is in the pipeline. 5. Immediate abolition of the current practice of


issuing cityspecific and police reporting visa and issue countryvalid visa without restrictions at arrival point, simultaneously initiating necessary steps to introduce as early as possible a visafree travel regime, to encourage friendship between the peoples of both countries; 6. Declaration by India and Pakistan of No First Use of atomic weapons; 7. Concrete measures towards making South Asia nuclearfree; 8. Radical reduction in military spending and end to militarisation.

Signatories:

Pakistan

1. Mr. Iqbal Haider, CoChairman, Human Rights Commission Pakistan and former federal Minister of Pakistan 2. Dr. Tipu Sultan, President, Pakistan Doctors for Peace & Development, Karachi 3. Dr. Tariq Sohail, Dean, Jinnah Medical & Dental University, Karachi 4. Dr. A. H. Nayyar, President, Pakistan Peace Coalition, Islamabad 5. Justice (Retd) Rasheed A. Razvi, President, Sindh High Court Bar Association 6. Mr. B.M.Kutty, Secretary General, Pakistan Peace Coalition, Karachi 7. Mr. Karamat Ali, Director, PILER, Karachi, Founding member, PIPFPD 8. Mr. Fareed Awan, General Secretary, Pakistan Workers Confederation, Sindh 9. Mr. Muhammad Ali Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Karachi 10. Mr. Zulfiqar Halepoto, Secretary, Sindh Democratic Front, Hyderabad 11. Professor Dr. Sarfraz Khan, Area Studies Centre ( Central Asia), Peshawar University 12. Syed Khadim Ali Shah, Former Member National Assembly, Mirpur Khas 13. Mr. Muhammad Tahseen, Director, South Asia Partnership (PAK), Lahore 14. Mrs. Saleha Athar, Network for Women’s Rights, Karachi 15. Ms. Sheema Kermani, TehreekeNiswan, Karachi 16. Ms. Saeeda Diep, President, Institute of Secular Studies, Lahore 17. Dr. Aly Ercelan, Pakistan Labour Trust, Karachi 18. Mr. Suleiman G. Abro, Director, Sindh Agricultural & Forestry Workers Organisation, Hyderabad

19. Mr. Sharafat Ali, PILER, Karachi 20. Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, PILER, Karachi 21. Mr. Ayub Qureshi, Information Secretary, Pakistan Trade Union Federation 22. Ms. Sheen Farrukh, Director, Interpress Communication Pakistan, Karachi 23. Mr. Zafar Malik, PIPFPD, Lahore 24. Mr. Adam Malik, ActionAid Pakistan, Karachi 25. Mr. Qamarul Hasan, International Union of Food Workers (IUF), Karachi 26. Prof. Muhammad Nauman, NED University, Karachi 27. Mr. Mirza Maqsood, General Secretary, Mazdoor MahazeAmal 28. Ms. Shaista Bukhari, Women Rights Association, Multan

India

1. Kuldip Nayar, journalist, former Indian High Commissioner, UK., Delhi 2. S P Shukla, retired Finance Secretary, former Member, Planning Commission, Delhi 3. PEACE MUMBAI network of 15 organisations, Mumbai 4. Seema Mustafa, Journalist, Delhi 5. Manisha Gupte, MASUM, Pune 6. Dr. Ramesh Awasthi, PUCL, Maharashtra 7. Jatin Desai, journalist, Mumbai 8. Prof. Ritu Dewan, University of Mumbai 9. Prabir Purkayashta, DSF, Delhi 10. Prof. Pushpa Bhave , Mumbai 11. Paromita Vohra, filmmaker, Mumbai 12. Achin Vanaik, CNDP, Delhi 13. Meena Menon, Focus on the Global South, Mumbai 14. Romar Correa Professor of Economics, University of Mumbai 15. Anjum Rajabally, film writer, Mumbai 16. Anand Patwardhan, filmmaker, Mumbai 17. Kamla Bhasin, SANGAT, Delhi 18. Dr. Padmini Swaminathan, MIDS, Chennai 19. Sumit Bali, CEO, Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited 20. Dr Walter Fernandes, Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Assam, 21. Rabia, Lahore Chitrkar 22. Rakesh Sharma, filmmaker, Mumbai 23. Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU, Delhi 24. Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, JNU, Delhi 25. P K Das, architect, Mumbai 26. Neera Adarkar, architect, Mumbai 27. Datta Iswalkar, Secretary, Textile Workers Action Committee, Mumbai 28. Madhusree Dutta, filmmaker, Majlis, Mumbai 29. Amrita Chhachhi, Founding member, PIPFPD

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In the News

France plans to sell large 1,600 MW reactor to IndiaFrance is confident of its nuclear power prowess: over threefourth of the country's electricity is provided by nuclear power stations that were pressed into service in the 1970s as a strategic move to rid itself of dependence on imported energy.

K. Venugopal

Paris, Oct 2 France's nuclear energy establishment is delighted at the prospect of dealing again with India. It did not matter that the US Senate had not formally voted for the IndoUS nuclear deal; the French were raring to go and their agreement with India was signed during the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's stopover in Paris on September 30.

"We have been waiting ten years for this," said a senior industry executive, who did not wish to be quoted.

Preparatory work

France is likely to be among the first off the block as the world's nuclear industry tries to bid for a piece of the action which will see India adding up to 40,000 MW of capacity with imported reactors in the next decade.

Although negotiations over the deal took many months more than anticipated, a lot of preparatory work has been done in the meantime. Time was not really lost, aver industry executives. Yet, nuclear plants take time to build; even if the contracts are signed today by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India with a supplier such as Areva of France, it would take at least six to eight years before the project can start supplying electricity.

What France plans to sell to India is the large 1,600 MW reactor, indeed, the largest of kind in commercial operations in the world. The biggest reactor working in India is the 540 MW model that debuted in Tarapur, Maharashtra, a couple of years ago. All other domestic reactors are 235 MW or smaller.

Although there has been no formal agreement to the effect, the understanding is that Areva, the French company the majority of whose shares are owned by the Government, and the one that has built all the 56 nuclear power reactors working in France, will supply equipment for the four reactors that NPCIL will set up at JAITAPUR, a greenfield site in Maharashtra. The French have already seen the site.

France is confident of its nuclear power prowess: over threefourth of the country's electricity is provided by nuclear power stations that were pressed into service in the 1970s as a strategic move to rid itself of dependence on imported energy.

Areva exports

France has not added much to its nuclear capacity in the past few years but Areva has exported four reactors to China and is helping the local company there to build several more.

And it is not just nuclear power plants that France hopes to sell. With uranium mining interests in many parts of the world, Areva could also be there bidding to sell natural uranium to power India's homemade reactors which are currently low on fuel and, therefore, operating far below their capacity.

The French do not make the kind of fuel that India's heavy water reactors use. But they can supply the natural uranium that India can fabricate the fuel with. The fuel can start coming in a few months of the contracts being signed, said Dr S.K. Jain, Managing Director, NPCIL, in an interview to Business Line recently.

The French touch may be felt in months rather than years.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/10/03/stories/2008100351671000.htm

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/10/03/stories/2008100351671000.htm

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Introduction The reckless development has finally caught up with the Konkan. Of late the Konkan coast is in news for all the wrong reasons. The Maharashtra state has targeted this area for the power generation, totally ignoring the environmental and socio economic concerns. There are around 12 different Thermal Power Plants that are either proposed or in different stages of construction across this narrow coastal strip. The tremendous scale at which these plants are proposed within a small stretch of highly ecologically sensitive area would appear highly illogical even for a hardcore ‘prodevelopmet’ observer and is a major cause of concern and there are ground level struggles going against this atrocity against environment, people and their livelihoods in the name of ‘development’. Even at this juncture, there is no positive response from the authorities towards

the people’s genuine concerns; on the contrary they are audacious enough to raise the initial proposal of 1000MW Nuclear Power plant at Jaitapur to 6400MW Super mega Nuclear Power plant. Jaitapur is an audacious last nail that would devastate Konkan region irreversibly.

The Konkan RegionThe state of Maharashtra has a long coastline of about 720 km as its western boundary. Of this, the coastal strip of about 500 km south of Mumbai, up to Goa is known as the ‘Konkan coast’. The narrow strip of land between this coast and the imposing Western Ghats mountain range (Sahyadri range) along its eastern side is known as the Konkan region.

The Konkan region is blessed with spectacular natural beauty along with rich biodiversity as well as Agro biodiversity. The Konkan region harbours diverse and sensitive ecosystems ranging from tropical evergreen forests to estuaries, mangroves and even corals. Being a part of Western Ghat mountain range, it is also a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot area ((Mayers et al. 2000)). The Konkan region presents a microcosm of the most imposing and extremely threatened topographic, floristic, and faunistic features of the Western Ghats ((Gaonkar 1996)) and is among areas with highest conservation value ((Khoshoo 1994)). The undulating terrain along the sea coast although sharply raises from the sea at most places, it also has beautiful silversand beaches and protected natural harbours spotting its coastline at several places.


The SuperMega Nuclear Power complex at Jaitapur The Last nail on Konkan

Dr. P R Arun

Green Alternatives, H2/16, Hillside Colony, Mumbai79. [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Power Projects; A cause of concern for KonkanThermal power stations are proposed in a massive scale along the Konkan coast. (Table1) The cumulative capacity of these

plants runs into tens of thousands of MWs, which is several folds higher than the requirement of the state (presently at around 18,000 MW) in any foreseeable future. However it is interesting to note that the present power shortfall during the peak summer season is around 5000 MW only and recent study have clearly shown that this deficit could easily be met by proper management of the existing generation and transmission itself ((Narasimha Rao 2005)) and according to this study, “..much of this planned baseload thermal capacity is unsuitable for Maharashtra’s needs. As evidence of this, even a more responsive unit than coal (strictly baseload) such as a restarted Dabhol

may operate at a PLF of 60 percent or less. MH needs fastresponse technologies, or those that deliver during peak hours, or reduce peak demand. Baseload type units, such as coal and slowmoving combined cycle gas turbines would be underutilized, and therefore may be

imprudent investments.” The cumulative impact from these projects coming up along the Konkan coast would be severe. It would devastate the environment and livelihood security of millions of people and would almost wipe out the thriving agriculture and fisheries along this coast. One of the most important immediate casualties of Power plants along Konkan would be the internationally acclaimed mango variety, the ‘Ratnagiri Alphonso’ which is a highly sensitive orchard crop that requires the pristine environments of Konkan for developing its exquisite taste relished world over.


Table 1 Power plants along the Konkan coast

# Location Project Capacity (MW)

1 Dolvi Ispat Energy (Coal) 1000

2 Shahpur TATA power (Coal) 1600

3 Shahpur Reliance Energy (Coal/Gas) 4000

4 Jaigad JSW Energy (Coal) 1200

5 Niwadi Jindal (Coal) 1000

6 Ratnagiri * Finolex TPP (Coal) 22 +1000**

7 Devgad Coal TPP; NTPC 4000

8 Dronagiri Urban Power (Coal) 2200

9 Dhopave Maharashtra Power Gen Co. (Coal) 1600

10 Bhopan GMR Energy (Coal) 1980

11 Dabhol * RG&PL (Gas) 2200

12 Jaitapur NPCL (Nuclear) 10000 +(1600×6)**

Total

* Exiting Power Plants, ** Proposed expansion

Compiled from Official websites of MoEF, PCBs and media reports

The Indian Nuclear Power Programme

In 1944, Dr Homi J Bhabha, father of Indian nuclear programmes, wrote a letter to Sir Dorab Tata trust and the government of Bombay asking money to set up an institute for studying the subject, so that "when nuclear energy has been successfully applied for power production in, say a couple of decades from now, India will not have to look abroad for its experts, but will find them ready at hand." Unfortunately more than six decades and billions of rupees later we are still eager for western for technology and fuel.

There are seven different Nuclear power stations in operation (Table2) across India, and a majority of them produce far less power than it was originally envisaged and in fact many of them were derated to lower capacity levels at various stages for varying reasons after commencing operations. For details refer NPCL website. Apart from these there are several more proposed reactors under various stages of execution at these Nuclear Power stations.

Health ImpactsNuclear energy and associates institutes and establishments are under strict protective net for obvious reasons, however this protectionist environment and lack of transparency make it almost impossible to impartial assessment of their actions and impacts. Rajasthan Atomic Power Station ( RAPS) located at Rawatbhata near Kota in central India is one of the very few station in India around which there has been any scientific study of health consequences on the local population (http://members.tripod.com/~no_nukes_sa/overview.html). This study surveyed five villages (total population: 2860) within ten kilometres of the plant and compared them with four other villages (total population: 2544) more than fifty kilometres away was done in 1991 and published in 1993. And the conclusions of this study was as follows

An extraordinary rise in congenital deformities

Spontaneous abortions, still births and one day deaths of new born babies significantly higher

Significant increase in chronic diseases especially amongst the young, No


Table 2 India's operating nuclear power reactorsReactor State Type MWe net, each Commercial operation

Tarapur 1 & 2 Maharashtra BWR 150 1969

Kaiga 1 & 2 Karnataka PHWR 202 19992000

Kaiga 3 Karnataka PHWR 202 2007

Kakrapar 1 & 2 Gujarat PHWR 202 199395

Kalpakkam 1 & 2 Tamil Nadu PHWR 202 198486

Narora 1 & 2 Uttar Pradesh PHWR 202 199192

Rawatbhata 1 Rajasthan PHWR 90 1973

Rawatbhata 2 Rajasthan PHWR 187 1981

Rawatbhata 3 & 4 Rajasthan PHWR 202 19992000

Tarapur 3 & 4 Maharashtra PHWR 490 2006, 05

Total (17) 3779 MWe

* Dates are for start of commercial operation.

http://members.tripod.com/~no_nukes_sa/overview.html

differences in acute infections Solid tumours significantly higher

Their is mounting body of evidence against the Nuclear Power industry. It includes recent reports from Dr V Pugazhendi from Kalpakkam (Nuclear free India; Vol1(1)) to reports of alarming rise in breast cancer incidence around

Nuclear Power stations from America. However the health impacts are often conveniently ignored. It is time to have systematic longterm environmental and public health monitoring programmes to understand and devise response strategies.

Jaitapur

15 DECEMBER 2008 8 NUCLEAR FREE INDIA VOL.1, ISSUE 2 Figure 1 Location map of Jaitapur

Jaitapur of Rajapur, Maharashtra is a typical Konkan village with no polluting industries around, mainly because of the remoteness of these areas. People depend mainly on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods. The area also has good Mangrove vegetation that is also responsible for the rich fishery resources. Mango orchards with internationally famous ‘Ratnagiri Alphonso’ variety are a common here. People here are prosperous and are happy with their sustainable livelihood practices. The Topography of the area comprises of undulating laterite terrain with steep edges towards the sea at several places. The laterite tops often does not allow the growth of trees and grasslands are the climax vegetation. This is often mistaken for barren land because of the absence of tall trees, and this is one of the reasons why more and more industries are being proposed in these areas. However it would be a blunder to surmise that these grass lands are any less important than forest. These are the catchment zone for the coastal freshwater resources of the area (Sweet water springs are a common sight within a few feets from sea at several areas across Konkan). Once these barren looking grass lands are destroyed, the seawater ingress would be inevitable and would affect the water security of millions all along this coast.

Jaitapur was one of the four possible sites suggested for 1000MW Nuclear Power Plants by a national level survey in 2005. Two of the sites Kakrapar and Rawatbhata, are to have 700 MWe indigenous PHWR units, Kudankulam is to have imported 1000 MWe light water reactors alongside the two being built there by Russia, and the fourth site was greenfield for two 1000 MWe LWR units Jaitapur (Jaithalpur) in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state, on the west coast. However further to the 123 agreement with US, and consequent green signal from Nuclear Supply Group, the plan has since expanded to six 1600 MWe EPR units here. There were no further studies undertaken regarding the suitability of the area for such a monstrous capacity addition. Concentration six mega nuclear power facilities of 1600MW each at close proximity, as it is

reported in the media recently, is a huge concern for not just Jaitapur of Maharashtra but for the entire nation. Considering our past experience with Nuclear Power plants rife with leakages, Dome collapses, flood damages etc. along with the harsh realities of today such as sea level rise and a possible Indian Ocean tsunami, it would be nothing less than a monumentally suicidal mistake we are about to commit at Jaitapur. We have precious little time left to get our act together and save ourselves!.

ReferencesGaonkar, H. (1996) Butterflies of the Western Ghats, Including Sri Lanka: A biodiversity assessment of a threatened mountain system. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore India;86 p

Khoshoo, T. N. (1994) India's biodiversity: Tasks ahead. Current Science, 67(8), 577582.

Mayers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittelmeier, C. G., daFonseca, G. A. B. and Kents, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, 853858.

Narasimha Rao, D. (2005) Switching the energy paradigm Towards a new capacity planning approach for Maharashtra, 31, Greenpeace.

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"Dr PR Arun has obtained his Master of Science degree from University of Calicut, Kerala in 1993 and was awarded doctorate by the Bharathiar University of Coimbatore, Tamilnadu in 2001 for his ecological studies at Siruvani forests in the Southern Western Ghats. He has got over thirteen years of environmental research experience in various fields including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). He has wide ranging researchinterests such as EIA, Ecological entomology, Traditional knowledge systems, Pharmaceutical pollution and Environmental legislations and jurisprudence. Hewas earlier associated with the Environmental Impact Assessment Division of Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) of Coimbatore and has authored several scientific papers in various national and international journals. He had also been involved as a team member in around fifteen different Environmental Impact assessment studies in the past on variousdevelopmental projects such as hydroelectric dams, long distance gas petroleum pipelines, bauxite mines, Thermal power projects, etc. from various parts of the country. Presently he is associated with the ‘Green Alternatives’ of Mumbai" as an Environmental Consultant.

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Prasad Somasundaram

Puducherry, 3, December

The presence of radioactive minerals in the beach sands of Karaikal has reportedly induced miscarriages and stillbirths among fisherwomen in several coastal villages.

Miscarriages were more after the tsunami, which struck Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in 2004,

forcing scientists to undertake a serious study. According to the study the giant killer waves had changed the beach pattern and brought loads of thorium on to the beaches of Karaikal.

Highly placed sources told Deccan Chronicle that an analysis of the beach sand in Cottuchery Medu, Kilinja Medu, Akaraivattam and Patanacheri hamlets revealed the presence of

thorianite, a highly radioactive mineral. Though

a detailed scientific report was sent to the office of Director of Science and Technology in Puducherry it is yet to come out with the test results for reasons best known to officials.

Fisherwomen in these coastal villages exposed to radiation face the risk of miscarriages and delivering babies with deformities.

The study also reportedly found incidence of cancer in a few pockets in the coastal region due to background radiation.

However, health authorities said though stillbirths and miscarriages were reported in villages on the Karaikal coast it could not be confirmed if they were due to exposure to radiation.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle, Chennai Edition 3 December 2008


In the NewsRADIOACTIVE POLLUTION IN

KARAIKAL BEACH

* the French Network to PhaseOut Nuclear Power

Harsh: Dear André, We would like to begin by asking you to give brief overview of the origins, size and scale of Nuclear Estate in France. Specifically when was it that France made the major shift to go for a massive Nuclear power development programme? Who was behind this? What is the social influence and power of the Nucleocrats ? Size of the Nuclear economy? What type of technology? How many reactors, their age. ? Where are the Uranium mines in France ? How does France ensure a steady supply of Uranium ? What is the arrangement with Niger ?

André: The French nuclear octopus is actually including 58 nuclear power plants on 19 sites + a huge reprocessing center + many nuclear waste repositories (3 main ones for now) + nuclear research centers + secret military nuclear centers + abandoned uranium mines + the transportations of nuclear materials between all these sites. Spoiling now most of the country (but difficult for people to realise it because radioactivity is not perceived by any senses. Most French NPPs are over half life for their duration. But the tendency is to make it last longer. As usual, without asking the advice of the population.


French Nuclear Programme – An Overview

Interview with André Lariviere Réseau "SORTIR DU NUCLEAIRE "*

by Harsh Kapoor

Before the Chernobyl sarcophagus - Photo: A. Lariviere

The decision to start a large scale nuclear civilian program was done at the beginning of the seventies when the militaries where willing to get more plutonium for their atomic bombs. Most of the previous French presidents and political parties wanted to go nuclear (civilian and military). The only struggle was in the choice of the nuclear technology. In spite of the

fact the French had already started their own program with boiled water technology, those who were promoting pressurised water reactors won ; and the US Westinghouse license was bought to build it. But there was not a single vote in the parliament on this question. Everything was always decided in restricted committees. So, to resume : the French militaries were the first ones to push on the nuclear program, followed quickly by proud politicians who installed the various state structures for this purpose (EDF, CEA, Framatome, etc.) Through the years, these structures became a "state in the state" with a powerful lobbying capability to influence energy

choices and to reach citizen's money without their direct consent.

In the last decade, a part of these structures where gathered in a huge nuclear consortium (Areva) playing the multinational game ; but with 80% of their money coming from the French tax payers... Not to forget that : 100%

uranium in French NPPs is actually coming from Africa (Niger and Gabon), Australia and Canada. In Niger, the agreements to get this uranium are built on a postcolonial system with underpaid mineral and ecological "desinvolture".

Harsh:

What is the size and scale of the Military Programme ? Could you say something about the linkages between the military and civilian programmes ?


André:

The French nuclear weapons count now 348 deployed nuclear warheads (enough to eliminate nearly 100 millions human beings !) ; far behind the mass destruction weapons of USA and Russia, but still the third one in the world. Nuclear weapons are one of the main French taboos. We could say that if civilian nuclear is 10 times taboo (it is still possible to get critical articles on this question in medias), military nuclear is 100 times taboo. It does mean that never any mainstream medias mention it as a special problem and that all French presidents consider it as a notnegotiable question. But how to forget that the Nukes monster is a Siamese with 2 heads, one civilian and the other military. Simply because when we build nuclear plants and use nuclear energy, we produce at the same moment the needed materials (enriched uranium and plutonium) for the atomic bomb.

Harsh:

Can you tell us about the Superphenix project and about La Hague? How much did it cost and what happened, its current status?

André:

1) Superphenix was supposed to be a new industrial scale machine used as a fastbreeder (burning plutonium for electricity and to produce more plutonium > what is the advantage to produce more of the most terrible garbage on earth ?). This project worked so badly with so many problems and costs (10 billions euros) that after 11 years, a political decision was made to definitely stop it. The terrible waste (tons of plutonium and liquid natrium as coolant are still on place).

2) In La Hague on the Normandy coast, we find the huge French reprocessing center where plutonium and a part of the enriched uranium

are separated from other radioactive waste. 80 tons of plutonium are stocked on place in little boxes of less than 3 kilos to avoid a spontaneous chain reaction giving the... atomic bomb. Larges quantities of liquid radioactive wastes are ejected in the powerful Gulf Stream in front of La Hague that get transported and diluted far North through the Channel up until Norway that is protesting on it. It is said that if only the 1/4th of the La Hague reprocessing center were toexplode, it would be equivalent to 70 Chernobyls. The justification to separate plutonium is to use it as a recycled fuel in the form of a mixedoxide (MOX). But less than 10% of the French NPPs use it because it is more dangerous and damaging. And the real deadend comes after it : Absolutely nothing more to do with it ; and so hot you must wait 70 years before to touch it again...

Harsh:

What is new and different about the EPR (the european pressurised reator) compared to the old reactors. It is being touted as big advance on the previous ones. Is there any controversy and debate on it France? What is being built in Flamenville ? There seems to have big publicity and promotional blitz in the international media about the project in Flamenville?

André: The EPR is presented as the third generation of French NPPs but it is in fact the second generation with some slight ameliorations. The first prototype was sold to Finland for a fixed price of 3 billions euros but the schedule is already 2 years late and 1 billion more. They now quarrel to know who will pay for the cost overruns. Probably again the poor French taxpayers through a state insurance called Coface that is used to cover losses with unsolvable buyers at the international level (like for dictators buying weapons). But the French state was needing so much a "shop window" to present this EPR that they allowed this risky contract.


Now, they try to give a better impression with the EPR in Flamanville, France ; but there are already major cost overruns there as well. Funny to know that Areva to try to sell it to the USA renamed it "Evolutionary Pressurised Water" because it seems the word "European" is not a good seller overseas... A secret defense document (that the antinuclear activists revealed) was also recognizing that an EPR would not resist to an airplane crash in the style of the 11th of September 2001. And they now realise that this EPR is oversized for the actual electricity lines of many developing countries. A handicap when you dream to cover the earth with your EPR... To finish, let's point that the future fourth generation of NPPs pretendedly will use other fuel than uranium (that will be in short supply at the actual level of use in 50 or 60 years). What's left ? Still the wonderful fastbreeder working with plutonium or more sciencefiction dreams like nuclear fusion with the ITER project (a little artificial sun on earth where you reach the incredible warmth from the very center of the sun)...

Harsh:

In the footsteps of the US, France has just signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with India. There were some claims in the Indian media that France may sell the EPR type reactors to India? Do you think this is a possibility? India wants a guarantee on hassle free uranium supplies for any reactors it gets from France? Does France have to right to use the uranium from Niger for Indian supplies?

André:

I'm not informed enough about the both the Indo US and Franco Indian deal to comment it.

The first thing to underline about this US and FranceIndia deal is that we face now a grave infraction on the NonProliferation Treaty. Until now, the few countries (like India,

Pakistan and Israël) who refused to sign this NPT were denied help for civilian nuclear energy. This deal is creating a precedent that will demobilize the many countries who signed this treaty with a good faith. It is weakening further a treaty that was already in a bad condition mainly because all the main nuclear weapons countries don't respect their own part of the treaty that is to desarm with good will ; when they rather do everything they can to maintain and modernize their nuclear weaponries. With these new developments, proliferation is on its way. And the world more and more dangerous.

But it is sure that France and Areva are willing to sell the EPR to India. They are atomic merchants and if they can, they will sell it as well to Pakistan, Lybia, Arabia... Same for the uranium fuel : because they are maintaining a postcolonial situation with Niger, they surely give themselves the right to sell it (when it is extracted) to any country they choose (including India if it is to favorise their business).

Harsh:

The world knows little about the hidden underside of France's Nuclear programme, i.e. the problems, accidents, leaks, other problems that have have taken place over the past three decades you may want to list some of these?

André: In the French NPPs, there is an average of between 500 and 700 "incidents" (this word is choosen by the authorities so that it looks always like almost nothing) happening per year; a part of them grave enough to slow down or to stop the machines. And we must realise that climatic disorders are attacking nuclear power plants (and not NPPs fighting climatic chaos). Some examples : by the end of 1999, there was a huge storm (rather a sort of cyclone > quite unusual in North Atlantic) and the Blayais power plant on the sea side was flooded. We


came very close to a total loss of control with Chernobyl type effects. But they spoke about it only in the regional news... During the high heat wave of 2003, 17 French NPPs were forced to slow down or to close because of too few and too hot water in rivers to cool the system (and killing aquatic species by the way). On one of the nuclear power plant (Fessenheim), they even had to spray fresh water on the control building to cool it because over 50 ° electronics could disrupt. How vulnerable are high technologies !In this summer 2008, there was also a series of leaks and mishaps in Tricastin power plant (along the Rhone valley) polluting underground water and making people who live near having anger, fears and doubts, finally....

Harsh:

How does the Nuclear industry in France manage to keep a lid on any criticism in the media. ? How is the cloak of secrecy kept? Have there been instances of repression and intimidation?

André: The tendency is to declare "confidential defense" or even "commercial secret" most things related to nukes (civilian and military). And to keep under watch in details in a more or less permanent way those who are the most active on the antinuclear scene. The secret police (Renseignements généraux) calls on you at home and policemen visit you once a month or two. They look almost comrades and they simply want to help you "because you know if the event you prepare is gathering 2000 people rather than 200, we deal in an other way for safety". But they also tape your telephone in some periods and check your emails. More it is electronic, easier it is. And on most public actions, they photograph you and write down your car's number plate. In one month, we had 2 activists put on temporary arrests for publishing an illegal leaflet or for revealing a socalled secret defense. With the media, still easier : or they receive direct advisories from the central

government that they must not cover some specific events. Or, in a more subtle way, because the nuclear structures are investing billions in propaganda/publicity, they simply inform the medias that if they are too critical or give too much room to critics, they could lose this good publicity income. An other word for that is "voluntary slavery" and it is working well. Often the journalists our events cover correctly but their senior media bossses block or refuse to publish or they choose to put it in a little corner. All these are usual in a "Bananukes Republic".

Harsh:

Many have forgotten about the famous episode when Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was sunk by French secret service agents ? Was anybody tried or brought to justice for what happened?

André:

Already an old story. Yes, 2 French secret agents (a man and a woman) were caught in New Zealand for having actively contributed to explode the Rainbow Warrior ship of Greenpeace that was campaigning in South Pacific against the French nuclear tests. According to what I know, they were kept for a short while in a New Zealand jail where they also got married. Then, they were sent back to France where they were quickly released... Since that time, sheep from New Zealand are sold at a cheap price in France (at a low customs tariff) and French sheep owners complain about this "favoritism". Business everywhere. And not to forget a Portuguese photographer was killed on the Rainbow Warrior at this moment.

Harsh:

There is an impression that all the political elites and political parties treat the nuclear programme as Holy cow, every one seems to be pro Nuclear ? How was this consensus built?


André: You are right ! Except for the ecological parties and some rare farleft parties, the whole French political class is considering the nuclear program (civilian and military) with a stupid pride to still appear among the most powerful ones of the planet and for this reason, as a "Holy cow". The word is not too strong. So taboo that most of them are unable to reconsider it seriously. On one side, France would like to cover the world with NPPs for good business. But at the same time, they try to forbid to all nonnuclear countries to imitate them in having nuclear weapons. As if these choices were not linked. Something schizophrenic in this attitude. In other fields, France is the # 1 consumer of chemicals and pesticides in Europe for agriculture, the # 1 consumer of antidepressive and sleeping pills in the world and the 4th weapons seller in the world as well. In spite of the remaining nice image of a special art of living and native country for the Human rights, it is probable there is something very sick presently in the French spirit.

Harsh:

Recently France announced that it was going to compensate people whose health may have been affected due to Nuclear testing conducted decades ago in French territories in the Pacific? Would you comment on that.?

André: This is a rare and late positive step to acknowledge the link between radiation and illness. Until now, "the great mude one" (nickname in France for the army) always refused completely to recognize it. After that, we must see to how many people they accept to give this status of sick persons from radioactivity. Let's remark that with the use of Depleted Uranium in amunitions by the USA, France and some other countries on various battlefields in the 15 last years, many new radiation cases will appear. And of course, the civil victims of the attacked countries have no rights to claim as soldiers do now...

Harsh:

France is engaged in modernising its nuclear tippied missiles ? The new missile project is called M51 ? Would tell us a bit about that what are the costs ? Has there been any debate in France, in parliament or outside about why go in for this project ? If you recall there was long heated debate in the British parliament about the Trident missile?

André:

Such debates don't exist in France. I remind you that it is a great taboo ! Some activists do citizen inspections and invade the test sites where they are arrested. But this hardly ever reachs the mainstream medias. The first concerns with these protests are that France, with the modernisation of its own nuclear weapons is violating the letter and the spirit of the NonProliferation Treaty ; and that it is opening the route to mininukes. But the French public opinion is rather worried about unemployment and buying power...

Harsh:

Tell us the story of reseau “Sortir Du Nucleare”. How did this citizens movement of opposition and resistance develop Some highlights . And some of your latest campaign work examples?

André:

Our network Sortir Du Nucleare [Phaseout nuclear power] does exist now for the past 10 years. It is a gathering of 835 groups and NGOs + 20,000 individual members. It is a strong and very alive movement with many resources, talents, knowledges and skills. But still like David in front of Goliath because we oppose the most maniac people in power who sold their souls to the atom and have the means to promote and impose it, at least in France. It is a heavy work to oppose nuclear in France. But


more and more come in this fight before the first French Chernobyl, and also many young people. Many big successful campaigns happened in the last years : human chains, big petitions and demonstrations with tens of thousands people. With also direct nonviolent actions stopping radioactive trains or occupying high voltage pylones. With public meetings everywhere and booklets publication and law suits to oblige the government to respect his own safety rules. Our last campaign with postcards to be sent to the president : "No nukes neither greenhouse effect". Many little ants working on public opinion to build patiently and urgently the world of tomorrow for more safe and healthy energetic choices and energy savings. Stopping to behave as if we are the very center of the world and as if the earth and other countries owe everything to us. Rather modestly apologize for being the heaviest predators in human History.

To end, let's remember the 5 grave and unforgivable weak points with nuclear energy :

1) Eventual catastrophic accident (Chernobyl style) at any moment in any place in the world2) Production of eternal radioactive waste that will be a lasting burden for the 1,000 next generations. All of it for our little egoïstic electrical comfort of the actual 40 years. If this is not "obscenity" ?

3) Proliferation from civilian nukes to military nukes, making the earth a more and more dangerous place where to live. Do you really enjoy dancing on smoking volcanos ?4) An endless financial gap of investments that only crazy States can afford. In this times of economical crisis, don't we need to give a better direction to money in respect of mankind and Nature ?5) Deeply antidemocratic. Everywhere nuclear is imposing its rule, it is done over the heads of citizens and with many policemen to "educate" the primitive persons not understanding where stands progress. But if men and women do not stop a certain form of socalled progress, this false and insane progress will stop Mankind.

Let's actively hope a better future for all of us.

⧫⧫⧫


André Larivière, was born in 1948 in Quebec, Canada, has lived in Europe since 1986. Andre has been active in the international peace and ecological movement, he organised or

was involved for decades in many actions, especially long activist walks, fasts, camps, seminars and civil desobedience actions in Europe.

For the past five years Andre was the International liaison official for Reseau Sortir du Nucleaire (the French Network to PhaseOut Nuclear Power).

http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/

http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/


Ongoing Agitations against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project...Thoothukudi Hunger Strike

November 21, 2008

The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy organized a oneday hunger strike in front of the Thoothukudi District Administrator’s office on November 24, 2008 with the three demands that the Koodankulam nuclear power project that is threatening the people of southern Tamil Nadu and southern Kerala be scrapped immediately, that the nuclear agreements India has signed with the US, Russia and France rescinded totally, and that the nuclear weapons program of India abandoned completely. Advocate S. Sivasubramanian welcomed the hunger strikers. Sr. Assuntha presided over the program in the presence of Dr. S. P. Udayakumar. Professor M. S. M. Sahubar Hussain, Mr. George Gomez, Ms. Rosemarie, Mr. Anthony Dasan, Mr. Venice, Mr. Amaladhas and many others spoke at the strike.

The Thoothukudi district unit of the DMDK had sent a party delegation to felicitate the hunger strike and the group included the district secretary Mr. Gomathi Ganesan, district deputy secretary Mr. Arumuga Nainar, and the Thoothukudi town secretary Mr. N. Shanmugaraja. This is the first time a major Tamil political party had shown interest in the issue. The hunger strike was widely reported in the media.

Organization Against Violence on WomenNovember 25, 2008 to December 10, 2008

A fourteenday awarenessraising tour was organized by the Organization Against Violence on Women to educate the people of Kanyakumari district about the physical, psychological, cultural and structural violence that are inflicted upon women in the Indian society. Besides political, economic, social and cultural violences, the government also inflicts violence on women in the form of socalled development projects. The event was organized in various towns across the Kanyakumari district for almost 3 hours every single day. The women and men volunteers gave speeches, sang songs and played musical instruments to educate the public. Many of them pointed out that the “development” project such as the Koodankulam nuclear power plant would cause so much violence on women in the form of radiation illnesses, abortion, cancer, birth of deformed and mentallyretarded children and so forth. All the speakers focused on the information that is available about the Kalpakkam projects to warn the public about the upcoming Koodankulam projects. The speakers included Lidwin, Joyce, Philo, Usha, Angel, Boaz, Anthony Dasan, Venice and S. P. Udayakumar. Many local people, shopkeepers, bystanders, and others attended the events with enthusiasm. The tour was concluded on the Human Rights Day at Kanyakumari.

NFI Editorial Team:

S.P.Udayakumar

Harsh Kapoor

R.Ramesh

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