Nuclear Hotseat

A summary of the current status of San Onofre nuclear reactors in San Diego after last week’s leaks, the discovery of over 800 damaged pipes, and an employee falling into the radioactive refueling pool.  Featuring an interview with James Chambers, a licensed nuclear reactor operator and whistleblower from San Onofre, who offers his unique perspective...

Reporters always need sources and don’t know where to find them.  They’ll also take the easiest way out whenever possible.  News and journalism have been so degraded since I got my BA in the field that it’s sad to see such simplistic “reporting” when stories are so much richer and more complex than get represented...

An email forwarded to me from Mary Olsen of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS.com) has been haunting me. It’s well known within the anti-nuclear movement that radiation most profoundly affects fetuses and the very young.  In explaining this phenomenon, Mary wrote, “In addition to radiation impacts on DNA (both egg and sperm), there is...

I believe that entertainment is a great way to get beyond people’s resistance to the nuclear issue and start them thinking and feeling about what needs to be done.  I don’t know if there is a more powerful commercial film for us than “The China Syndrome.”  Big names, great acting, harrowing message, funny hair and...

My tech guy just fixed a weeks-long lock-out from this site, which is why I’ve fallen behind.  I’ll catch up on the missed podcasts and blog posts as quickly as I can, but for now, here’s today’s podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclear-hotseat-hosted-by/id458213762 Terrific interview on the proposed California ballot initiative to shut down all in-state nuclear reactors with...

In the latest Nuclear Hotseat Podcast: Interview with Michael Keegan of Nuclear-Free Great Lakes; radiation news and health problems from Japan; Swedish nuclear plant fire; Canadian radiation higher than originally reported; Cesium in San Francisco-area milk… again; NIRS report on radiational harm worse for women than men; apple pectin good for more than jelly… radiationally...

Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds.com can always be counted on for sober, clear, unbiased information. He’s one of the sources upon which I base much of my understanding of the issues of nuclear power. In this update, he talks about the true meaning of TEPCO’s claim for pending “cold shutdown” and the problems created by the...

Here’s the video of last Tuesday’s hearing on San Onofre with the San Clemente City Council. Our side’s turn; great presentation by Arnie Gunderson via teleconferencing, Dr. Helen Caldicott via Skype, and an especially powerful (though understated in delivery) talk by Dan Hirsch at about the 3 hour mark. Watch Democracy in action: http://www.san-clemente.org/Videos/ShowVideo.aspx?VideoID=290

My life has changed dramatically in the past 6-1/2 months.  I’ve gone from ignorant of/in denial about/blind to all issues nuclear-related into a 24/7/365 activist on the issues.  I’ve spoken in public, posted videos, addressed the NRC (in a rogue kind of way; they didn’t want participation but I participated anyway), begun producing a weekly...

A clearly animated representation of how many blasts we’ve had since the first ones in 1945.  Remember, each blast releases radiation into the atmosphere and/or the ground, where it remains until a minimum of ten half-life cycles are completed.  None of us will outlive the radiational pollution of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let alone the domestic...