It's time: demand permanent shutdown of GE Mark I reactors!

A call to action from Michael Mariotte, Executive Director of Takoma Park-based advocacy group Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS):

There are 23 nuclear reactors currently operating in the United States using the same General Electric Mark I design as those that have failed so catastrophically at Fukushima.

The flaws in this design are fundamental, cannot be fixed, and have been documented for 40 years now. They have led to containment building explosions at three of the Fukushima reactors, the exposure of irradiated fuel pools to the environment and enormous radiation releases.

It is time to close them, permanently. Please take a moment to tell that to President Obama, your Congressmembers, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Take action.

Action: War Profiteers' Ball at Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, 1/19/09, Noon)

The PeaceAction Montgomery Inaugural Committee Requests the Honor of Your Presence at the War Profiteers’ Ball

Join us on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19, 2009, at noon for The War Profiteers’ Ball, a spirited demonstration that will be held near the front gates of the corporate headquarters of the world's largest military contractor and arms exporter--Lockheed Martin.

Where

We'll meet at the Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda Maryland, 12:00 sharp.

After a brief rally at Davis Library, we’ll march two blocks to the intersection of Democracy Blvd. and Fernwood Road. The busy intersection is within sight of Lockheed’s corporate headquarters. We’ll congregate on a grassy knoll on the Northeast side of the intersection. The familiar Lockheed Martin logo, perched high atop a large Lockheed building, is visible from the demonstration site.

What

Demonstrators will gather under a makeshift tent and toast their champagne (and fruit punch!) glasses to the demise of the global arms peddler. Signs directed at passing motorists will encourage people to contribute to Handicap International, a non-profit that aids civilians devastated by the effect of land mines and cluster bombs. Protesters in formal attire will work all fours sides of the intersection, encouraging motorists to contribute to Handicap International to help relieve the suffering inflicted by Lockheed’s weaponry. Participants will be provided with identical small, decorated buckets for cash donations. Wear your ball gown or tuxedo!

More details:
Visit the Peace Action Montgomery website.

Action: Non Merci Nuclear Power!

The Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition and Maryland activists will deliver more than 8,000 petition signatures to the Constellation Energy Headquarters, urging Constellation to close its UniStar Nuclear subsidiary and abandon its partnership with French-state controlled nuclear company, EDF.

When
December 23, 2008 at 8 a.m. to 9a.m.

Where
In front of Constellation Energy Headquarters in downtown Baltimore -750 East Pratt Street

Since October, the coalition, with the help of activists on the ground and online, have collected more than 8,000 signatures on a petition asking Warren Buffett--in the event of a successful merger between Constellation and Mr. Buffett's company MidAmerican-- to sever the relationship with the French government-owned nuclear developer, EDF.

NOW that Constellation has broken its contract with Warren Buffett, in favor of an eleventh hour pitch by EDF our voices are even more critical. Let's tell Constellation that they can't strike deals on Maryland's energy future behind closed doors:

Abandon the $10 billion nuclear boondoggle proposed for Maryland!
Invest in robust energy efficiency programs and renewable energy!

Join us to deliver this important message to Constellation, hand out candy canes with special messages to Constellation staff and announce our clean energy activists' wish list.

RSVP: It's helpful if we can get an idea how many people will be joining us.

If you have any question, please contact Allison Fisher at afisher [at] citizen.org

To learn more about the dangers of nuclear power and to express your opposition to Calvert Cliffs Unit 3, visit Public Citizen's Energy Program and Nuclear Information Research Service and the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition.

Urge Obama to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons (FCNL)

During his campaign, Barack Obama said that as president he would "set a new direction in U.S. nuclear weapons policy" and "work to ultimately eliminate all nuclear weapons."

Urge President-Elect Obama to act on this promise by securing Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This treaty prohibits all nuclear test explosions and is essential to any effort to prevent the development of new generations of nuclear weapons.

Visit FCNL's Legislative Alert to send an e-mail or fax.