[The complete text of the CNDP statement dated March 12 is available at < http://greenyouth.googlegroups.com/attach/69ba8faf453a6a4e/statement+cndp.pdf?view=1&part=2&hl=en >.]
http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/7706118.cms <http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/7706118.cms> Naysayers call for shunning nuke energy 15 Mar, 2011 0208hrs IST TNN NEW DELHI: The crisis in Japan's nuclear power plant has triggered a fresh debate over safety of India's nuclear safety with naysayers claiming vindication of their stand that the country should shun the path of nuclear energy. The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) on Monday demanded a complete moratorium on India's civilian nuclear activity and a safety audit of all nuclear facilities. CNDP's Praful Bidwai called for a transparent public safety audit of all nuclear facilities involving members of civil society and independent experts. "India must radically review its nuclear power policy for appropriateness, safety, costs, and public acceptance, based on a holistic view of our energy needs and best ways of sustainably meeting them," said Bidwai, describing the nuclear meltdown as a wake-up call for India. The statement came on a day when activists from Jaitapur on Maharashtra's Konkan coast – the proposed site of what will be the world's largest nuclear power complex – protested in Mumbai demanding a total scrap of the project. Bidwai readily supported the demand. "There should be a moratorium on all further civilian nuclear activity. The ministry of environment and forests must revoke all conditional clearances granted to nuclear projects, including Jaitapur and other reactors," he added. CNDP activists argued that the Fukushima reactor crisis had proved that despite the best preparations, all nuclear reactors are vulnerable to the risk of a catastrophic accident. "India is planning the world's largest nuclear complex in Jaitapur and several other nuclear power parks along the coast and inland. However, India does not even have an independent nuclear regulatory authority that can evaluate and certify reactor designs and set its own safety regulations and standards. Under the circumstances, further nuclear expansion is deeply irrational," Bidwai said. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
