“Delhi/Anti-Nuclear Rally” was organized on October 1 and 2, 2009 in New Delhi. Around 100 people had come from states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Scores of people from Delhi including the members of “Indian Youth Climate Network” also participated in the program.
October 1, 2009
On October 1, 2009, a National Seminar on “Nuclear Threats to India’s Children and Their Futures” was organized at the Indian Social Institute (ISI). The event began with Tamil and Oriya songs.
The coordinator of National Alliance For Anti-Nuclear Movement(NAAM) Dr. S. P. Udayakumar welcomed the seminar participants and spoke in detail about the status of Nuclear Energy in India and quoted examples of eminent personalities in the U.S. and Germany opposing the adoption of nuclear power as a source of energy. Next, the stage was graced by Dr. Gopal Krishna who stripped the Department Of Atomic Energy(DAE) naked in his address ,talking about the chicanery of DAE, he elaborated upon the vast target-achievement gap of the DAE, calling it a fraud and “an organization that is prone to lie”. For example in 1984, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) had a dream of generating 10,000 MW of electricity by the year 2000. It’s 2009 and India still produces only somewhat more than 4000MW. He expressed his despair over Nuclear energy being a sustainable source of energy. His views were complemented by many a speakers who spoke after him. Prof. Achin Vanaik emphasized on the mad rush by third world countries for nuclear power pointing in particular to India and China. With his emphatic stride, he was instrumental to flint a debate over the extreme emphasis of third world countries on nuclear energy which remained the topic of discussion for quite some time to follow. He vehemently deprecated the stand of Government of India (GOI) which endorses Nuclear Power as a climate solution. The speakers which followed the discussion seemed particularly infuriated over GOI’S covertness towards renewable sources of energy. Professor Banwarilal Sharma went on to say “The Government Of India is not representing the people of India instead it’s a representation of monetary superpowers”. He carried an economic analysis of nuclear power verses thermal power and concluded nuke power to be available at Rs. 19 per unit as compared to Rs. 2 per unit for thermal power. The discussion gave birth to many innovative ideas contributing to an alternate option of energy resources available to India, these included usage of biogas owing to the large amount of agricultural waste produced by us.
Mr. Samuel Jyrwa, President of Khasi Student Union, Meghalaya talked in length about the ill effects of uranium mining in their state and its repercussions as well as it’s immediate effects on the people of Meghalaya. He also threw light on the grave dangers of nuclear power plants which are to be set up in the country for which excessive mining has been carried out in their homeland.
Mr. Sukla Sen from Coalition For Nuclear Disarmament And Peace(CNDP) drew a connection between nuclear power and nuclear proliferation, asserting clearly that nuclear power will serve as a gateway for nuclear armament especially in the third world countries. Saraswati Kavula, an activist from Movement Against Uranium Projects(MAUP) extended her support to this as she shared her experiences relating to Nuclear developments in Andhra Pradesh. Hazards of nuclear radiations were put to focus by a group of doctors from Punjab who enlightened the audience regarding the fatal consequences of radiations caused due to nuclear power plants. Eminent speakers like Professor Praful Bidwai graced the stage following the address of activists from MAUP,CNDP and MAPM which was followed by an interactive question- answer session. The concluding dialogue was delivered by Mr. Neeraj Jain who briefed everyone about NAAM’S future plans and strategies. The event was concluded with thanksgiving remarks by Mr. S. P. Udayakumar.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Rendezvous with an Anti-Nuclear Activist
Saraswati Kavula is an Anti-nuclear activist from Movement against Uranium Projects (MAUP), Andhra Pradesh which enjoys the support of Human Rights Forum (HRF), National Alliance For People’s Movement (NAPM), and National Alliance of Anti-Nuclear Movements (NAAM).She has been actively opposing nuclear developments in Andhra Pradesh for over a decade.
Question (Vinayak). What is the situation in Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) related to “Nuclear” developments?
Answer (Saraswati)- The situation is scary. In A.P.the plan is to build Nuclear reactors in districts of Nalagunda, Kadappa, Shikakulam and Vishakhapatnam (near BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE). All these plants are planned within a radius of 100km. We have opposed the construction of these plants with the support of people from HRF and NAPM. In spite of our efforts the government has remained unperturbed. Everyone knows how harmful nuclear waste is, even the government knows that. What do you think, don’t they know about the alternate sources of energy. Everyone knows, but that is not in the interest of the big money holder’s they work for. No one in this world can dispose off nuke waste in a safe manner yet they are propagating it. “I don’t know where they want to take this country!”
Question: What do you think of the politicians’ stand on Nuclear Power debate especially in A.P.?
Answer: The political stand has always wavered. For example when YS Rajasekhar Reddy(Y.S.R. Reddy) was the leader of opposition in A.P. he opposed uranium mining in Nalagunda but when he came to power, he vehemently supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kadappa.
Question: Many hydel-power projects have been established in A.P. as well. Are you supportive of them?
Answer: Rivers like Krishna and Godavari are sinking because of dams. Do you know by building these days, silt from rivers is not coming down as a consequence of which deltas are sinking. These large hydel projects require huge capital, vast areas of cultivable land are wasted and millions of people are displaced. High dams are not sustainable. We are simply disturbing the nature by building them. It’s utter madness.
Question: How do you think we can meet our growing energy needs?
Answer:-Why do you need so much energy? For whom is this energy required? For big corporates or the common man. The poor man does not want so much energy. His first need is food and water. It is just the rich elite class which is craving for energy.
I am much happy living in a mud house living a happy and healthy life. As far as alternate solutions go we can use solar energy. India has got such vast potential for solar, why not manifest on that. Even countries like Germany are going for it then why can’t we do it.
Question (Vinayak). What is the situation in Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) related to “Nuclear” developments?
Answer (Saraswati)- The situation is scary. In A.P.the plan is to build Nuclear reactors in districts of Nalagunda, Kadappa, Shikakulam and Vishakhapatnam (near BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE). All these plants are planned within a radius of 100km. We have opposed the construction of these plants with the support of people from HRF and NAPM. In spite of our efforts the government has remained unperturbed. Everyone knows how harmful nuclear waste is, even the government knows that. What do you think, don’t they know about the alternate sources of energy. Everyone knows, but that is not in the interest of the big money holder’s they work for. No one in this world can dispose off nuke waste in a safe manner yet they are propagating it. “I don’t know where they want to take this country!”
Question: What do you think of the politicians’ stand on Nuclear Power debate especially in A.P.?
Answer: The political stand has always wavered. For example when YS Rajasekhar Reddy(Y.S.R. Reddy) was the leader of opposition in A.P. he opposed uranium mining in Nalagunda but when he came to power, he vehemently supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kadappa.
Question: Many hydel-power projects have been established in A.P. as well. Are you supportive of them?
Answer: Rivers like Krishna and Godavari are sinking because of dams. Do you know by building these days, silt from rivers is not coming down as a consequence of which deltas are sinking. These large hydel projects require huge capital, vast areas of cultivable land are wasted and millions of people are displaced. High dams are not sustainable. We are simply disturbing the nature by building them. It’s utter madness.
Question: How do you think we can meet our growing energy needs?
Answer:-Why do you need so much energy? For whom is this energy required? For big corporates or the common man. The poor man does not want so much energy. His first need is food and water. It is just the rich elite class which is craving for energy.
I am much happy living in a mud house living a happy and healthy life. As far as alternate solutions go we can use solar energy. India has got such vast potential for solar, why not manifest on that. Even countries like Germany are going for it then why can’t we do it.
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