Occupy is protesting the inequities that come from socializing risk onto the 99% and privatizing profits for the 1%. The collapse of housing and financial markets is a good example.

Nuclear power is another case of how the public pays for energy choices that favor corporate profits and control. Public dollars concentrate profits to nuclear corporations, warping energy choices to support centralized, capital intensive electric generation. Decentralized renewables and energy efficiency lose out.

THE 50-YEAR NUCLEAR POWER BAILOUT

Astonishingly, it would have been cheaper to buy electricity on the open market and give it away, than to have built and operated the 104 privately owned U.S. nuclear power reactors! Since 1960, public subsidies to nuclear power companies are worth more than all the electric power their reactors generate.

The public props up the nuclear power industry through a complex mesh of:

Ø Federal loan guarantees, now at $18.5 billion; Pres. Obama wants to raise them to $54 billion,
Ø Accelerated depreciation for fuel and construction,
Ø Ratepayers footing the bills for construction work before electricity is generated,
Ø Tax abatements,
Ø Long term operating costs for high level waste storage and reactor decommissioning,
Ø Hidden costs of nuclear proliferation and necessarily heavy reactor security,
Ø Limitations on disaster liability.

PUBLIC RISK, PRIVATE PROFIT. The Price Anderson Act of 1957 (extended to 2025) was enacted to protect the fledgling privately owned nuclear industry “against potentially enormous liability claims in the event of a nuclear accident.”

Ø First, members of the public—homeowners, businesses— cannot get nuclear disaster insurance.
Ø Insurance is limited to $300,000 per reactor issued by CT-based American Nuclear Insurers (ANI).
Ø More extensive damages at any reactor are to be covered from a common pot every owner funds
Ø The pot is about $11.6 billion, much too small considering:

• US government studies show potential losses could rise as high as $560 billion;
• The catastrophe at Chernobyl (different from US reactor models), cost about $350 billion;
• The disaster at Fukushima Daiichi (same models and ages as the VT Yankee, Indian Point, and Pilgrim reactors) could cost as much as $130 billion by Japanese government estimates.

In 2001, ANI’s senior vice president told Congress that without Price Anderson, the nuclear industry cannot be insured, so the industry itself is not viable without this massive liability cap.

JOBS FROM CONSERVATION AND SAFE RENEWABLES. No other energy source enjoys this colossal and market-distorting support of public dollars. Millions of jobs can be created by opting for decentralized renewables and energy efficiency, choices that can provide safe, reliable energy.

Ø For every $1 million invested, solar, wind, and a smart electric grid create 14.25 jobs; nuclear: 4.2.
Ø An all-out WPA-type energy efficiency program can provide massive employment. Rather than perpetuating the wartime economy, give soldiers and veterans nail guns and training to use them.
Ø Replacing energy from a nuclear reactor (cost $41 billion; 2,400 jobs) by spending the same amount on retrofitting 3.2 million homes would create 440,000 jobs.
Ø Conserving energy in every building in the US would pull the US out of this economic depression. We would save half the energy we use, and put ourselves firmly on the road to true energy security.

SOURCES: Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org); Nuclear Information and Resource Service (www.nirs.org); Beyond Nuclear (www.beyondnuclear.org); the Cato Institute (www.cato.org); Political Economy Research Institute (www.peri.umass.edu), Office for Sustainability, Southern NH University (http://www.snhu.edu/9474.asp ); Institute for Energy and the Environment, Vermont Law School (environmentallaw.vermontlaw.edu).

Link to Occupy-Nuclear Power

We will not allow this reactor to operate beyond its scheduled closure date. It is time to close up and clean up. Join us Sunday, October 30 at Noon to demonstrate loudly, clearly and peaceably.
Stay tuned for more details.

WHO: Jochen Flasbarth, President of Germany’s Federal Environment, similar to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Arne Jungjohann, Director for the Environment Program in the Washington, DC office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
WHEN: Monday, October 10-Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

WHAT: Flasbarth, an architect of Germany’s green energy revolution, is touring Vermont to discuss his country’s decision to shut down the remaining nine of its once 17 operating nuclear reactors by 2022, and how a nuclear phase-out will accelerate the country transition toward 40% renewable energy by 2020 and to 80% to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Jungjohann will discuss Germany’s transition toward a low-carbon economy based on renewable energy and efficiency technologies, and the opportunities to model Germany’s green energy plan, which will create new jobs while removing the threat posed by operating reactors.

BACKGROUND: Germany has chosen to close its nuclear power program by 2022. The State of Vermont voted in favor of shutting the troubled reactor when its current license expires on March 21, 2012. However, that decision is being challenged in court by Yankee owner, Entergy. The Flasbarth visit was initiated by Beyond Nuclear, a national safe energy group, and is being organized by a regional coalition of activist groups working to shut down the Vermont Yankee reactor.

ITINERARY OF EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA

Monday, October 10 7:00-8:30pm: Public forum at the Center Congregational Church, 193 Main Street, Brattleboro.

Tuesday, October 11 12:15-1:00pm: Press conference, Room 11, State House, Montpelier. Speakers: Jochen Flasbarth, Arne Jungjohann, Rep. Tony Klein. Moderator, Linda Gunter.

7:00pm-9:00pm: Public event. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier.

Wednesday, October 12 12:50pm-1:50pm: Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) conference, Burlington, VT. Lunch and keynote. Keynote speaker is Søren Hermanson of Denmark. Jochen Flasbarth will follow him for five minutes.

Beyond Nuclear ■ Citizens’ Awareness Network ■ Safe and Green Campaign ■ Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance ■ VPIRG

Contact: Linda Gunter, Beyond Nuclear, 301.455.5655;

WHEN: Sunday, September 18, 2011: 10:00 am ­ 4:00 pm, WHERE: Bugbee Senior Center, 262 North Main Street, White River Jct., VT WHAT: A CALL TO JOIN THE ORGANIZING OF A REGIONAL CAMPAIGN OF NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TO SHUT DOWN VERMONT YANKEE, 

Initiated by: Randy Kehler, Bob Bady, Nancy Braus for Safe and Green Campaign; Debra Stoleroff, Chris Williams, Robin Cappuccino, David Detmold for the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance; Deb Katz and Chris Williams for VT Citizens Awareness Network; Hattie Nestel for the Shut it Down Affinity Group, Denis Rydjeski and Betsy Eldredge for the Sierra Club of the Upper Valley.

Puppet parade, radical marching band, street theater and direct action.

Creative action planning at the Amherst, MA common @ noon on sat. aug. 20 and 27, and sept. 3^rd and 10th

More info: amherstshutitdown@gmail.com     Anyone with something positive to contribute to this action is welcome to come and help, and we would love your support.  We are a totally grass roots, no budget,  mostly single- mother group organizing family-friendly actions to shut down Vermont yankee.

        September 12^th at 6pm                  

at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

Join us for a family affirmative, community action!

Puppet parade, radical marching band,

street theater and direct action.

*Children and families encouraged to participate in parade

and childcare will also be organized near the site.

Come out and show your support on the first day of the federal court case of

                                        Entergy(the company…boo) vs. Vermont (the people…yay!). Entergy’s goal

 is  to  prevent the closing of Vt. Yankee by 3/21/12

Creative action planning at the Amherst common @ noon

on sat. aug. 20 and 27, and sept. 3^rd and 10th

Contact: amherstshutitdown@gmail.com

Anyone with something positive to contribute to this action is welcome to come and help, and we would love your support.  We are a totally grass roots, no budget,  mostly single- mother group organizing family-friendly actions to shut down Vermont yankee.

Thank you very much for your consideration,

Jade
See Life affinity group

Picnic at the Planet

A CALL TO JOIN THE ORGANIZING

OF A

REGIONAL CAMPAIGN OF NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION

TO SHUT DOWN VERMONT YANKEE

Sunday, August 28, 2011

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

at the Norwich Congregational Church

15 Church St, Norwich, VT (see directions below)

PURPOSE OF MEETING: to develop a people’s campaign of nonviolent direct action to shut down Vermont Yankee on schedule – by March 21st, 2012. Vermonters and our tri state community have worked for 20 years to shut down Vermont Yankee and are committed to a green energy future. Our voices were resoundingly heard when the Vermont Senate voted overwhelming to replace Vermont Yankee in 2012.  Now Entergy is trying to undermine the will of the people and steal our vote away.
We support the state of Vermont in its efforts to fight this untrustworthy, corporation. However, the people must also make it clear to Entergy, the courts, the State of Vermont and the media, that it is unacceptable for Vermont Yankee to continue to operate after its license expires in March 2012.  In the event that Entergy Corporation defies Vermont law and continues to operate Vermont Yankee or, that the courts, ruling on the lawsuit brought by the Entergy against the State of Vermont, refuse to uphold Vermont law, the democratic process, and the will of the majority of Vermonter’s and our neighbors in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we will act. We must not allow this Louisiana, profit-driven corporation to subvert democracy and imperil the future of the New England region.

In the aftermath of  Fukushima, there is no longer any doubt that nuclear power is an imminent threat to our lives, health, environment, and livelihoods. Vermont Yankee, approaching the end of its 40-year operating license, and running at 120% of its original design capacity, is an  aging Mark-I reactor,  identical in design and age to the reactors that exploded and melted down  in Fukushima. The inadequacy of the Mark-I design has long been known, yet the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has allowed 23 of these reactors to continue to operate in America. It is time to close these dangerous reactors, starting here and now with Vermont Yankee.

August 28th will be a meeting, for those who want to commit the time necessary for organizing a non-violent direct action campaign with the goal of closing Vermont Yankee on schedule. The focus of this meeting will be on affirming a participatory organizational structure and an open decision making process and approving action guidelines. as well discussion of possible scenarios for a broad and sustained non-violent direct action campaign and a name for the organization will be chosen.

Informational sessions about Vermont Yankee, action camps and nonviolence training workshops will be scheduled for later dates, (already scheduled: VT Yankee Action Camp at Wheelock Mountain Farm, in Wheelock, VT, on Friday evening Sept 9th – Saturday evening, Sept 10th – for info call Robin at 802-533-2296.)

WHO IS INVITED:  Anyone who agrees with the purpose of this meeting and is willing  to dedicate the time necessary to organize the campaign.

WHEN & WHERE:  This founding assembly will take place on Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 11:30 am – 5:30 pm at the Norwich Congregational Church in Norwich, VT.  Please try to carpool, and to arrive early.   Coffee, tea, etc. will be available.  A small lunch will be provided; as well, potluck offerings would be appreciated (there may be up to 50 people at the meeting).

RATIONALE: We, the People, cannot allow a mega-corporation like Entergy to subvert democracy and continue irradiating our region while adding to the tons of high level nuclear waste stored high above the banks of the Connecticut River. The people of this region – by means of petitions, letters, public hearings as well as demonstrations, and votes by the Vermont legislature and annual town meetings – have long and repeatedly expressed their will to close Vermont Yankee and replace its power with safe, renewable alternatives.
Many nations – including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan – are taking action to halt the continued use of nuclear power. Vermont has done the same.

Entergy is determined to keep the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant operating. In a last ditch effort, Entergy is suing in federal court to prevent the sovereign will of Vermont from prevailing in the shutdown of Vermont Yankee.  If the courts rule against Vermont or if Entergy defies Vermont law we must take action for the sake of our lives, democracy, future generations, and the environment.
 

                                        PLEASE JOIN US!

In a People’s Campaign to Close Vermont Yankee

Signed by:

Randy Kehler, Bob Bady, Nancy Braus for Safe and Green Campaign;

 Debra Stoleroff, Chris Williams, Robin Cappuccino, David Detmold for the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance,

Deb Katz and Chris Williams for VT Citizens Awareness Network

Hattie Nestel for the Shut it Down Affinity Group

Respond by email confirming you will come by Aug 26 to the following address:

Bob Bady (Safe and Green)  email: bobbady@gmail.com

Deb Katz (CAN)  email: deb@nukebusters.org

Debra Stoleroff (VYDA) email: debra@vtlink.net

DIRECTIONS TO THE NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH:
Directions from the South:
Take I-91 to exit 13 toward US-5/Norwich
Turn left onto VT-10A W/S Main St
Continue to follow S Main St
Take the 1st right onto US-5 N/Church St
Destination will be on the left

Directions from Central Vermont:
Take I-89 to the I-91 S exit toward Brattleboro/White River
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-91 N/White River Jct and merge onto I-91 N
Take I-91 to exit 13 toward US-5/Norwich
Turn left onto VT-10A W/S Main St
Continue to follow S Main St
Take the 1st right onto US-5 N/Church St
Destination will be on the left

Directions from the East:
Take I-89 North to the exit onto I-91 N toward White River Jct
Take I-91 N to exit 13 toward US-5/Norwich
Turn left onto VT-10A W/S Main St
Continue to follow S Main St
Take the 1st right onto US-5 N/Church St
Destination will be on the left

Directions from North:
Take I-91S to exit 13 toward US-5/Norwich
Turn left onto VT-10A W/S Main St
Continue to follow S Main St
Take the 1st right onto US-5 N/Church St
Destination will be on the left

PLEASE JOIN US!

In a People’s Campaign to Close Vermont Yankee

We’re pleased to be holding a

CLOSE IT DOWN! ACTION CAMP

at

Wheelock Mountain Farm

on the

evening of Friday, Sept. 9th and all day Saturday Sept. 10th

The focus of the Action Camp will be to develop and prepare a response to any effort to keep Vermont Yankee operating beyond the end of it’s Vermont license in March of next year.

You are all invited to help strategize, organize and realize a campaign to ensure that Vermont’s democratic process, it’s laws and the people’s will be respected.  I’ve attached a poster for distribution, and would very much appreciate your help in getting these up and the word out.

Below is a portion of a Call To Action by members of the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, the Citizen’s Awareness Network, the Shut it Down Affinity Group and the Safe and Green Campaign co-sponsors the Action Camp.

To register and For more info –

Robin Cappuccino at 533-2296,

Debra Stoleroff at 476-3154 or

Wmtnfarm@together.net

Many Thanks,

Robin Cappuccino, Wheelock Mountain Farm, Greensboro Bend, VT

member of the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance

We, the people, cannot allow a mega-corporation like Entergy to subvert democracy and continue irradiating our region while adding to the tons of high level nuclear waste stored high above the banks of the Connecticut River. The people of this region – by means of petitions, letters, public hearings as well as demonstrations, and votes by the Vermont legislature and annual town meetings – have long and repeatedly expressed their will to close Vermont Yankee and replace its power with safe, renewable alternatives.

Many nations – including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan – are taking action to halt the continued use of nuclear power. Vermont has done the same.

Entergy is determined to keep the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant operating. In a last ditch effort, Entergy is suing in federal court to prevent the sovereign will of Vermont from prevailing in the shutdown of Vermont Yankee.  If the courts rule against Vermont or if Entergy defies Vermont law we must take action for the sake of our lives, democracy, future generations, and the environment.

Clamshell Alliance 2011 Reunion

On July 23, 2011, thirty-eight anti-nuclear organizers met at World Fellowship in Conway NH to discuss resistance, particularly focused on the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant (VY) in Vernon on the Connecticut River at juncture of VT, NH & MA. These are notes from the meeting: those attending, commitments made by the end of the day, morning (large group) and afternoon (break out and large group) discussions. (Notes taken by Lynn Chong, Shel Horowitz, and Randy Kehler; organized by Sharon Tracy.)

Attending Andy Davis and Andrea Walsh (World Fellowship co-directors, www.worldfellowship.org); Arnie Alpert, Canterbury, NH; Bob Bady, Brattleboro, VT (Safe & Green, www.safeandgreencampaign.org); Randy Kehler, Colrain, MA (Safe & Green); Eric Bachman, Barre, VT (VT Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, VYDA, formerly of Germany); Dorie Wilsnap, Barre VT (VT Action for Peace); Shel Horowitz, Amherst, MA (re: closing nukes via AP report,write shel@greenandprofitable.com); Charles Smith, Wendell MA (Conservation Commission); Lynn Chong, Sanbornton, NH; Paul Gunter, Takoma Park, MD (Beyond Nuclear, www.Beyondnuclear.org,19-yr NH resident); Judith Kauffman, Cornish, NH, (Upper Valley Energy Coalition & Beyond Nuclear board);  Elizabeth Cushing, Hampton, NH, (youth activist); Jean Sherlock, Pelham, MA; Peter Kellman, N. Berwick, ME (Southern ME Labor Council); Rebekah Yonan, N. Berwick, ME; Jeff Brummer, Jamaica Plain, MA; Rob Pearlman, Sanbornton, NH; Court Dorsey, Wendell, MA; Debbie Lynangale, Wendell, MA; Robbie Leppzer and Maria, Wendell, MA (Turningtide.com, filming new no nukes documentary); Doug Bogen, Barrington NH (Seacoast Anti-Pollution League, www.sapl.org); Mary Cupp; Jay Gustaferro, Gloucester, MA; Linda Gunter, Takoma Park, MD (Beyond Nuclear); Nancy Brous, Putney, VT (Safe and Green); David Detmold, Montague, MA (Solar Rollers, Montague Reporter); Jessica Rosenberg and Ethan Cummings, extreme northern Wisconsin; Martha Yates, NH/NM, (former Bur. of Land Mgt Citizens Advisory Council, marthayatesarchaeology@yahoo.com); Pam Moffet Pam Moffat, jaymoffat@aol.com; Donlon Wade, Lebanon area, NH; Patricia Green, Lebanon area, NH; Renny Cushing, Hampton, NH; Tom Wyatt, Warwick, MA (Clamshell website affinity group—WAG: clamshellalliance.org,  http://facebook.com/ClamshellAlliance); Sharon Tracy, New Salem, MA (WAG); George Mokray, Cambridge, MA (WAG & solar civil defense, http://solarray.blogspot.com).

Commitments made, Saturday afternoon, 7/23/11 (notes — Randy and Shel)

ü     Arnie Alpert, judyarni@gmail.com: Will lead a nonviolence training-for-trainers in Brattleboro with Eric Bachman and Dorie Wilsnap if Safe & Green Campaign will take care of the logistics.  Will put information coming from this meeting on his blog and spread the word re VY.

ü     Dorie Wilsnap:  Will work with Arnie and Eric and is available for other trainings.

ü     Eric Bachman, ebachman@gmx.net : Will work with Arnie and Dorie on training, is available to talk about his no-nukes organizing in Germany, and will help the WAG re international communications, particularly Europe.

ü     Lynn Chong, chonglyn@metrocast.net: Will talk to her daughter and son-in-law (a doctor) about hosting a meeting in Lebanon.

ü     Patricia Green and Donlon Wade, peagreen@earthlink.net: Will work on forming an affinity group in the Lebanon, NH, area, perhaps with Lynn’s daughter. Patricia will help Sharon re mapping project.

ü     Judith Kauffman, jpk52@aol.com: Will send out “next steps” to her network as soon as she receives specific word about an action. Focus on local people who can ask a farmer if we can use their field.

ü     Paul Gunter, paul@beyondnuclear.org : Beyond Nuclear is willing to serve as a D.C. spokesperson for whatever actions at Vermont Yankee take place; the organization is also doing a public outreach campaign to recruit around New England using the Into Eternity film and educational materials for house gatherings, etc. Paul will also form a D.C. affinity group.

ü     Linda Gunter, linda@beyondnuclear.org : Can make more short satirical videos of the kind she’s been making for Facebook, YouTube, etc., can do other multi-media, and will work on getting national and international media attention on VY. Beyond Nuclear has an ad we can send around, maybe it could work as a poster.

ü     Doug Bogen, dbogen@metrocast.net: Will serve as a conduit to Seabrook-area activists for VY-related updates.

ü     Sharon Tracy, tracy.sharon@gmail.com: Building on the anti-VY support among W. MA elected officials to extend further (Costello rep. in MA Seacoast for example). Will connect with the progressive Date Collaborative group also at WF for the weekend re mapping potential effect of VY and other nukes; and will work on communications.

ü     George Mokray, gmoke@world.std.com : Can do solar workshops where needed and will continue to monitor Harvard and MIT nuclear-related events. Produced a series of solar PSAs on youtube which are available for use and as an open source model:  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/29/1000203/-Solar-PSA:A-South-Facing-Window-Is-Already-a-Solar-Collector.

ü     Rebekah Yonan, yonanrebekah@gmail.com: Will work on forming an affinity group in No. Berwick, ME, emphasis on farmers.

ü     Tom Wyatt, tom@tomwyattphoto.com : Will work on developing a strategic communication network nationally and internationally. Will attend bi-weekly VT/MA/NH planning meetings that are developing action scenarios.

ü     Shel Horowitz, shel@greenandprofitable.com: Will help with press releases and work on AP series implications for VY

ü     Renny Cushing, rrcushing@earthlink.net: Has blocked out March 21-25 for participation in nonviolent direct action at VY.

ü     Jeff Brummer, jbdocs@tiac.net: Also blocking out March 21-25 on his calendar for participation in nonviolent direct action at VY.  And will form an affinity group.

ü     David Detmold, reporter@montaguema.net : Do bicycle outreach (a la Solar Rollers). Will start a system to keep affinity groups in touch (maybe an e-newsletter) also for trainers. Will start affinity group.

ü     Mary Cupp: Will help with training.

ü     Court Dorsey, court@crocker.com: Will help with search for good ideas re possible nonviolent actions re VY

ü     Nancy Braus, nancykb1@peoplepc.com: Writing oral history about efforts to shut VY, looking for gallery space.

ü     Randy Kehler, rkehler@crocker.com , Bob Bady, bobbady@gmail.com, Nancy Braus, nancykb1@peoplepc.com: carry on the resistance via Safe & Green Campaign, www.safeandgreencampaign.org, and building coalition.

7/23/11 morning discussion

Linda Gunter of Beyond Nuclear informs on international nuclear power. On Sept. 11, 2011, the German equivalent to the head of the federal EPA, Yocham Flasbort is coming to speak in VT around the VT Yankee re-licensing issue. Germany’s renewable energy path/gains can inspire the renewables effort. In 1987 Italy had a post-Chernobyl referendum and closed three reactors. Two months ago, Italy had a 95% vote never to restart nuclear power. The Swiss are also phasing out their nuclear power. Japan will live without it. Germany’s Christian Democrats were quick to decide against nuclear power, post Fukushima-Daiichi (F-D). They’ve had significant renewables growth since 2000 of a regional system administered through the Univ. of Kassel, (more at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/20/987155/-Fully-Renewable-Grid). Their goals are 90% achieved/ 370,000 jobs from renewables. Lesser number of jobs from nuclear, coal. Their success links to their proportional representation voting system. Looking to compare VT to Germany: German is cloudy much of the time; VT is further south. “We can map the impact of Germany’s success story on VT.”

Comments: VT is similar to Germany because the sitting governor and legislators were elected for renewables interest and being against VT Yankee’s continuation. Linda makes point that French easily, quickly call anti-nuclear demos and wear bright yellow shirts. George M. says Karlsrud in Germany has 100% base load in renewables – solar, wind, hydro, storage. Mary Cupp questions when wind power leaves an objectionable footprint. Eric Bachman, who has lived in Germany and here, reminds us of density of population in Europe compared to here. “We” is more unified there; all can feel a need.

Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear and Doug Bogen of Seacoast Anti-Pollution League: Seabrook update. Licensing renewal process: now it can begin 20 years ahead of time. Groups challenge this: Beyond Nuclear, SAPL, Sierra Club, on the legal front. U. of Maine at Orono is actively engaged in mounting wind turbines in Gulf of Maine, can be equal to 5 Seabrooks for output. This needs to be included in the licensing process: alternatives are available. Seabrook and VT Yankee both need public and politicians to be interested. Petitioners are pushing for 10 year period as more legit than 20 year relicensed period. Timeline: October for a decision overruling themselves and allowing in dissenters. Good meeting with SAPL in June, public gathering at Portsmouth Public Library. We need to move away from our 20th Century mistakes. From Maine to the Carolinas we have potential deepwater base load power. We can ban incandescent bulbs, get maximum efficiency in buildings, get renewables into the base load. New England can collaborate and be a leader. Doug Bogen of SAPL points out that the Achille’s heel is that a nuke’s foundation (back to Seabrook’s crumbling structure) can’t be dug up and fixed.

Comments/Questions: What about the current news of Seabrook’s deteriorating concrete? Cheap sand was used, corners cut. An underway evaluation was put off to the end of 2012. The re-licensing process should have started in 2010. Portsmouth Herald had two editorials pushing a delay. Randy Kehler asks if there will be any post re-licensing scrutiny possible to address problems post re-licensing? Paul says, “No; it’s all a scam.” Martha Yates asks about the 5 NRC commissioners. Shel pointed out that the standards are dropped to accommodate continued operation. David Detmold points to an NRC split after F-D. Some commissioners don’t want a blind-eye process. Paul Gunter and others discuss if the industry will sacrifice the 24 F-D look-alikes (including VY, Pilgrim, Indian Pt. in NY) in order to keep on line the other 72, for gaining public confidence.

Randy Kehler, Nancy Braus, Bob Bady of Safe and Green update on VT Yankee. Nancy: in 2002 Entergy bought VT Yankee at bargain basement prices. In 2005 the spent fuel pool overload needed legislative permission. In the deal, Entergy agreed the legislature could vote to cease operation post-2012. In 2007 the cooling tower collapsed. Photo went around the world. 2010 had news of tritium leaks. Feb. 24, 2010, VT Senate voted against continued plant operation.

Randy informs us about Entergy’s suit in federal court against the Gov. Peter Shumlin, Att. Gen. William Sorrell, VT Public Service Board. Judge Murtha in 18-page decision ruled against Entergy’s temporary injunction bid. July 23 fuel rods need reordering. [July 25 news, post our weekend meeting, is that Entergy is spending $60 million on new fuel rods purchase.] Groups fighting against VT Yankee re-licensing: Safe and Green, NECNP, Safe Power Vermont, Citizens’ Awareness Network, Nuclear Free VT, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, VT PIRG. There’ve been 3 years of festivals, rallies, public forums. David Detmold said the Solar Rollers have reached 1% of VT’s population in personal leafleting. Bob informs us that a key success element has been people power, knowing the governor and legislators personally. The legislative process has been a “win.” Plumbers and carpenters in-the-know say VT-Yankee will close. We’ll need a one-decision group, non-guerilla tactics, Ghandian non-violence if we get a “yes” decision on re-licensing. The state has not been our enemy in this.

Comments/Questions:  Jean Sherlock asks what’s next, if VT-Yankee closes? Seabrook? Pilgrim? Many answer – “A party!” Need to involve campuses, students. On 9/17 in Newfane, VT, will be a music festival to pull in anti-nukes. Look into VT’s “transition towns,” back-to-the-landers who are young. What’s noted is lack of non-violence training / awareness. Tom Wyatt asks about action planning being at the reactor or not at the reactor? Bob says the actions should prevent the reactor from operating. VT’s Congressional delegation opposes the re-licensing. Matthew Wald, NYTimes reporter, writes about the “checkerboard” method of placement/spent fuel rods (new among old). Paul Gunter raises the fact of Yucca Mt.’s cancellation and its effect: Indian reservations will be looked at for spent fuel storage. Not okay. [July 25 news is about German spent fuel being sent to the U.S., to Dept. of Energy handling in our South.]

Brainstorming actions, pressure points, public outreach, public education, finding friends and allies:

+ State of VT is an ally; don’t alienate with arrests; + VT public and legislative officials are won; we show the US/world our people power; + action may need childcare arrangements, for days; + leverage around the AP report – be prepared for victory; + establish “friendlies” in the surrounding area, as they are needed for staging; + pull in faith communities, get Buddhists in photo ops; + get VT Senators, reps & D.C. delegation to join us in our action (and the MA elected officials—entire W. MA state & fed. Delegation on our side); + action at refueling time? At March decision deadline-time? + Set up non-violent affinity groups, giving trainings; + who are “we” in relation to the VT groups existing now?; + never assume enough people are on our side; + organize around uncontained fuel rods (as at F.-D.); + Ghandian civil disobedience is “cherry on top” of continued, daily activity; + pitch for renewable energy, demonstrate renewables and efficiency; + 6000 farmers’ markets meet every week around the U.S. / direct action can help your neighbors constructively; + reach out to VT Attorney General and State Police – “we are not seeking mass arrests; we don’t need to be removed.”; + promote green jobs (transition away from VT-Yankee); + Germans will be here on 9/11 – we want massive outpouring / audience some place; + theater around leaky fuel; + affinity groups – around economic security – link with Institute for Policy Studies, “safe living,” “transition towns,” “common security clubs”; + catalyst meetings around New England – show Into Eternity film, route the film from Boston to VT-Yankee; + Young people need nukes-awareness, Nukes 101; + work against corporate subversion of democracy = need for direct action; + monitor F-D fallout; + create / provide historical analysis that reminds what happened there; + show images of children eating radioactive ice cream cones; + social networking can get to young people; also still poster well; + communications using decentralization can work well, web/mapping for our New England allies; + be in touch with environmental groups – get into their newsletters; + walkers converge on Boston NRC headquarters; +40 years ago, VT was on the short list for the national nuclear repository, and NH had 3 proposed sites. Let’s look at how people were so energized back then. It brought out the Green Mtn Boys (conservatives) as well as progressives). Back then, Lahey put his own house on the line. + Think about UNusual suspects: vigils that involving people you wouldn’t expect to see,not being what they expect. In France, Germans came, and it was happy, upbeat, musical. That helps with media. Street theater.

Break for lunch. Reconvened into  afternoon discussion groups from the brainstorm topics: NVD/CD scenarios (Bob Bady convene); Internal infrastructure: decision-making, friendlies, coordinating groups, communication (Randy Kehler convene); Public education including “green alternatives,” media, publicity, theater, corporate power addressed, fuel rods (Shel Howitz convene); Strategic outreach/action recruitment broad and narrow, networking (Paul Gunter convene); Training for NV action / CD (Arnie Alpert convene).

Reports from small group discussions, 7/23/11 afternoon

Internal infrastructure: decision-making, friendlies, coordinating groups, communication: Randy reporting: Decision process has to be transparent and accountable, and respect the special status of those closest to the reactor, but not so much that they get to override. Need for initial guidelines, statement of intent and guidelines so when affinity groups are recruited (even without action dates and descriptions) people can decide if they want to be part of it. Those of us starting out as some kind of steering committee can write a paragraph and send around for feedback, ask if people want to be kept informed, would they participate? Do they have resources, experience, time, etc. to give? Judith: Assume the coordinating committee would see info as a two-way activity? Eric: Discussion of what is a local. With n-power, local takes on more miles. I lived 900 miles from Chernobyl and was strongly affected by it. David: if you’re in the evacuation zone or in the state of VT.

Public education, “green alternatives,” media, publicity, theater, corporate power addressed, fuel rods: Shel reporting: See VY as a national pilot for shutting down, involving the workers in retraining and job help. George’s posters. Linda: can VT go 100% renewable?—VPIRG has this info, we want an easy pamphlet. Bob: It exists. Martha: positive organizing on green power, may or may not even mention nukes. Ipswich model of municipal power. George: showing the solar toys, educating at preexisting local venues, over time, consistently. George is willing to offer trainings on solar and the alternatives. Leftist computer geeks: connecting with them, but don’t leave paper totally behind. Posters can draw people in and show their commitment. But cyberspace will make a lot of difference.

Linda: Beyond Nuclear has a contract to offer showings of Into Eternity, a powerful movie about the high level waste storage facility being built in Finland. People can gather a group and show it in their homes for about $30 and Beyond Nuclear will provide educational materials specific to the showing’s location. We need to link it up with positive messages because it is a very dark movie, it needs something positive.

Strategic outreach/action recruitment, broad and narrow, networking: Patricia reporting: To encourage youth involvement: cartoons, make alliance with food and solar groups, bike groups, youth groups. Recruitment: people could take a pledge Freeze Our Fukishimas, revoke the license/Linkage to the German visits. What does it take to activate people now? We can be organizers of organizers. Flashmobs. Interactive map with evacuation zone and Chernobyl dead zone imposed on the region. We need a headline: The Nuke in Your Back Yard? Need a public face, Paul: spokesperson. Get Randy on the Colbert Report. But not a cult of personality. Various spokespeople of national recognition could rotate through. We need to know who amongst us can carry a national message. The big Q: how to develop an outreach plan without an action plan and date. We can develop a schematic and start, but in order to build momentum, we need a goal, date, specific action. Patricia: doesn’t have to be just one action.

Action Scenarios: Bob reporting: We need a timeline. We will probably know within the first week whether Entergy will continue to operate. They could order the fuel rods (ed. Note: they did so on 7/25) but not have them delivered, and decide not to refuel. The only way they can stay open past 3/21/12 is to win in the 1st District federal court case. Most lawyer opinion is that if they lose, they will appeal to 2nd district in NY, and that won’t happen right away. If they move forward, Safe & Green will start getting ready for an action. We’ll come to your community and do workshops, we’ll do press work, goal of preventing VY from operating beyond 3/2012 when its certification of public good expires. We’re leaning against starting a sustained we’re-not-going-away action during refueling. Our action will be dictated by the level of support. It might build slowly or be a big splash.

Tom: We talked about a massive legal rally, 40,000 people or so,. Might be CDs with it, or not.

Bob: We’re planing a bunch of things, the rock concert in September, German tour, Japanese tour, some sort of large visible demo relative to the court action (maybe).

George: 350.org is doing an action in September (can we piggyback?) And within a week of that, Al Gore’s Current TV will do a week of programming on climate change. Look on current.tv. They are looking to give space to climate change actions. We could tie in. 9/14 & 9/15: Climate Reality Project (http://climaterealityproject.org); September 24:  Moving Planet (http://www.350.org/)

???: What happens if VT state doesn’t like the action? We don’t necessarily need their permission.

Paul: we could ask for an endorsement, but also give them a convenient out so they don’t have the question posed them.

Linda: What if we win? Have we thought about a big shindig, a celebratory thing? (consensus: yes).

Nancy: but then, is “Safe Store” [casks on site] really a victory?

Training: Dorie reporting. 1. We recognize that doing CD at a n-plant now is in a different political environment post 9/11. Police are more militarized, punishments draconian. 2. When we instill NV discipline, that increases our strength and weakens the state’s ability to use repression. (The chair of the Albert Einstein Institute is Neilia Sargent, longtime Clam activist.)  3. Organizing NV training is different from being the trainer. We focused on the doing the trainings; the organizing would be local community based. 4. We need to reinvigorate the network of NV trainers in New England, including those who were trained e.g. with Actup or international solidarity movements in Israel/Palestine. And update the resources, publications, agendas, etc. 5. We will offer a training for trainers in Brattleboro area, organized by local people; Arnie: we could do this pretty quickly—we already involved Joanne Sheehan from War Resisters, who coordinated the old network. 6. Bob and Randy willing to handle the logistics? We’re fired up and ready to go.

Also the Shut it Down Affinity group has had its members arrested a total of 11 times and we’d like to be acknowledged in the list of activist organizations working to shut down Vermont Yankee. Our last action with 15 women arrested was June 30th at Vermont Yankee and we all have court dates in groups of 3 starting with arraignments on August 30th at the Brattleboro District Court. I could be listed as the contact person for the group. Hattie Nestel  email: Hattieshalom@verizon.net tel:978-249-9400>978-249-9400

For local citizens, the lack of available, trustworthy information on current radiation levels has been a cause of anxiety and fear. According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, TEPCO — the corporation that manages the Fukushima power plants — has been accused of falsifying data in the past, and in this recent disaster has been reprimanded more than once for inadequate data collection processes.

Even if official data was more reliable, there are more needs for radiation monitoring than current infrastructure can provide. For local residents, it is a matter of being able to measure their household risk, while for farmers in the area it is necessary to monitor their crops, and for community groups to be able to scan radiation levels of donated food before distributing to those in need. A group of local engineers in Tokyo has been training local citizens and community leaders to interpret radiation readings, and online data platforms like pachube have set up maps and feeds so that anyone with radiation measuring devices can share real-time data online.