feeds from sacw.net
print versionPakistan Peace Coalition
Press Release
Karachi:
15 March 2011
Pakistan Peace Coalition Terms Japan’s Nuclear Tragedy a Wake Up Call for the World
Warns a Modest Natural Disaster Impacting Pakistan’s Nuclear Plants Could Eliminate Entire Cities and Life Systems for Generations to Come
March 15, 2011: The Pakistan Peace Coalition reiterates its stand on the dangers of nuclear technology in the backdrop of the recent catastrophe in Japan, which has highlighted the potential hazards of nuclear power in a dramatic way. The description of nuclear power as reliable, secure, and a source of unbeatable energy has turned out to be a myth. Japan unmasks nuclear energy for what it is: an irresponsible, expensive and unnecessary high-risk technology.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 15, the PPC stressed that the
post-earthquake and tsunami nuclear disaster in Japan is a strong wake-up call for the enthusiasts of nuclear power all over the world, and especially for those in the developing countries who are completely sold out to the charms of nuclear technology.
Japan is among most advanced countries, which manufacture and export nuclear power reactors, its tragedy illustrates how easily things can get out of hand, leading to catastrophic accidents.
Severe nuclear explosions have now happened in the most technologically advanced countries "USA, Soviet Union, and now Japan" showing that even the most robustly built nuclear power plants are susceptible to completely unforeseen elements, including human errors.
Japan’s tragedy must be honoured genuinely. Countries like Pakistan should meet their energy needs from the abundantly available renewable resources rather than fall for flashy but life-threatening technologies of mass destruction. Economists need to rethink their obsession with high energy-high growth - in the blink of an eye all social progress is eliminated.
Pakistan’s own nuclear power plants are situated in risky geographical locations. The aged Karachi nuclear power plant on the coast is as much susceptible to the catastrophic effects of a tsunami from the Arabian Sea as the Japanese reactors were, with much more serious consequences than in Japan because of the proximity of dense population. It’s not just that the poor of Karachi will be wiped out, but the entire city will be contaminated from the coastal winds blowing inland. Hyderabad and Thatta will not be spared either.
The two reactors in Chashma are known to be sitting on top of a number of
criss-crossing tectonic plates. An earthquake of modest intensity originating
from its vicinity can easily lead to several subsystems of the reactors failing
to work, leading to catastrophic consequences. It has been estimated that a
Chernobyl-like accident at the two reactors will adversely impact human health, food chain and water tables over a vast inhabited area of Punjab, extending to other provinces and even to neighbouring countries. All crops, livestock and even fisheries will be poisoned for hundreds of years.
We demand the dismantling of all nuclear reactors everywhere. International donors do no favour in extending aid for nuclear energy either. Grateful as Pakistan is to Chinese aid, we believe that additional reactors must not be built.
Armed forces of India and Pakistan have become a threat to all South Asia with their nuclear weapons. Dismantling reactors is a necessary step to eliminating threats of mass destruction.
PPC believes that if predatory elites reduce over-consumption of energy and
development maximise labour use, there is no hurdle to affordable, ecologically sustainable, solar energy for life and livelihoods of the peoples of South Asia.
Signed by:
A.H. Nayyar, President PPC, B. M. Kutty PCC Secretary General and Karamat Ali Member PPC
Pakistani Press Coverage of Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) Press Release on dangers of Nuclear Power technology
PPC terms Japan’s nuclear tragedy a wake up call for world
* Warns a modest natural disaster impacting Pakistan’s nuclear plants could eliminate entire cities and life systems for generations to come
KARACHI: Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) reiterates its stance on the dangers associated with the possession of nuclear technology in the backdrop of the recent catastrophe that hit in Japan in the shape of a tsunami, says a press release issued on Tuesday.
“Recent events in Japan demonstrate that how a nuclear power may get exposed to the hazards of radiation in the aftermath of a natural disaster,†the statement said, adding, “Description of nuclear power as reliable and secure has turned out to be a myth.â€
PPC opined that post-tsunami Japan was a strong wake-up call for all those advocating the possession of nuclear technology. “It especially serves as an eye-opener for those in the developing countries who are completely sold out to the charms of this technology,†it noted.
“Although Japan manufactures nuclear power reactors besides exporting the technology, its tragedy illustrates how easily things can get out of hand, leading to catastrophic accidents,†it said.
It said that severe nuclear explosions had been the feature of most of the technologically advanced countries, including the US and Soviet Union. “Now recent events in Japan have proved that even the most robust nuclear power plants are susceptible to completely unforeseen elements, including human errors,†it observed.
“Countries like Pakistan should meet their energy needs from the abundantly available renewable resources rather than going for flashy, but life-threatening technologies of mass destruction,†it said, adding, “Economists need to rethink their obsession with the nuclear technology as in the blink of an eye all social progress is eliminated.â€
It said that Pakistan’s own nuclear power plants were located in geographical areas prone to natural calamities. “The age-old Karachi Nuclear Power Plant that is situated on the coast is as much susceptible to the catastrophic effects of a tsunami as the Japanese reactors are. In fact, it may invite more serious consequences because of close proximity to dense population,†it added.
PPC said that it was not just that the poor of Karachi would be wiped out, but the entire city will be contaminated with radioactive elements blowing inland from the coastal areas with the help of winds. “Hyderabad and Thatta will not be spared either,†it prophesied.
PPC said that it was a known fact that two reactors in Chashma were located on the top of a number of tectonic plates. “An earthquake of modest intensity originating from the vicinity can easily lead to the failure of several subsystems of the reactors, leading to catastrophic consequences,†it cautioned.
“It has been estimated that a Chernobyl-like accident at the two reactors will adversely impact human health, food chain and water tables over a vast inhabited area of Punjab, extending to other provinces and even to neighbouring countries,†it said, adding, “All crops, livestock and even fisheries will be poisoned for hundreds of years.â€
“We demand dismantling of all nuclear reactors everywhere,†it said, adding, “International donors are also not in the favour of giving aid for nuclear energy. We believe that additional reactors should not be built.â€
PPP observed that the armed forces of both India and Pakistan had become a threat for the peace of entire South Asia due to the presence of nuclear weapons. “Dismantling reactors is a necessary step for eliminating threats of mass destruction,†it asserted.
PPC said it believed that if predatory elites reduced over-consumption of energy, there was no hurdle to affordable, ecologically sustainable, solar energy for people of the South Asia.
o o o
Nuclear technology is full of risks: PPC
our correspondent
Karachi
The Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC), while reiterating its stance on the risks of nuclear technology in the backdrop of the recent disaster in Japan, highlighted that the source of energy is unreliable and can lead to disaster.
“The notion that nuclear technology is reliable, secure and unbeatable source of energy turned out to be a myth. The aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan highlighted that it is expensive and full of risks,†the PPC said on Tuesday.
The PPC stressed that the post-tsunami disaster in Japan was a strong wake-up call for the enthusiasts of nuclear power all over the world and especially for those who belong to developing countries.
“Japan is one of the most advances countries in the world that manufactures and exports nuclear reactors. The recent tragedy illustrated how this technology can lead to catastrophe,†the PPC said.
Nuclear explosions have taken place in the most technologically advanced countries such as the USA, Soviet Union, and now Japan, showing that even the most robustly built nuclear power plants are susceptible to unforeseen elements, including human error, the PPC further said.
“Countries like Pakistan should meet their energy needs from the abundantly available renewable resources, rather than fall in love with technologies that could cause mass destruction. In the blink of an eye all progress could be eliminated.â€
The PPC said that Pakistan’s own nuclear power plants are situated in risky geographical locations. The ageing Karachi nuclear power plant on the coast is as much susceptible to the catastrophic effects of a tsunami from the Arabian Sea as the Japanese reactors were, with much more serious consequences than in Japan because of its proximity to densely populated areas. It’s not just that the poor of Karachi will be wiped out, but the entire city will be contaminated from the coastal winds blowing inland. Hyderabad and Thatta will not be spared either.
“The two reactors in Chashma are known to be sitting on top of a number of criss-crossing tectonic plates. An earthquake of modest intensity originating from its vicinity can easily lead to several subsystems of the reactors failing to work, leading to disastrous consequences. It has been estimated that a Chernobyl-like accident at the two reactors will adversely impact human health, the food chain and water tables over a vast inhabited area of Punjab, extending to other provinces and even to neighbouring countries. All crops, livestock and even fisheries would be poisoned for hundreds of years.â€
The PPC demanded the dismantling of nuclear reactors everywhere. It added that International donors do no favour extending aid for nuclear energy either.
o o o
