Solidarity with Japanese Communities in time of Loss and Threat

21Mar11

Philippine groups will gather in front of the Japanese embassy to show their solidarity and support for the Japanese communities currently suffering and coping with the multiple crises of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Join us at this symbolic gathering. Please wear white and bring candles, flowers and your solidarity messages. For more information, Jun Santos of Alliance of Progressive Labor, +639266717261/

Filed under: Mass Mobilization   |  1 Comment
Tags: Japan, Japanese Embassy, Solidarity

Greenpeace calls for improved and coherent evacuation and radioactivity protection plans

21Mar11

As the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan entered its second week and levels of radioactive contamination continue to grow, the international environmental organization Greenpeace, along with the Japanese group Citizens Nuclear Information Centre (CNIC), is calling for improved evacuation plans and other protective measures for people still within the 30km exclusion zone, as well as for pregnant women and children in contaminated areas beyond 3Okm.

“As the Fukushima crisis continues, it is clear that the Japanese authorities are unable to fully protect public health. Despite early assurances that there would be little risk to the public we have now seen extensive evacuation and increasing radioactive contamination in the food chain. Japanese authorities seem to be one step behind the situation, which has to change in the name of public protection. It is now time for full and prompt disclosure so people can be properly protected and adequate emergency plans put into place,” said Jan Beranek, head of the Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaign.

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Filed under: Nuclear Power, Safety   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Fukushima, Japan

Flickering candles of hope

18Mar11

Dusk signals the beginning of darkness in the evening. An opportune time to gather in the spirit of shared identity in the struggle against nukes. In the dusk we congregated to pray and light candles for those who’ve been struck by the tragic events in Japan.

The flickering candles that illuminate the night sky in a sullen riot of emotions brought about by grief, fear and solidarity with the plight of the Japanese people, who in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami are now faced with a dreadful situation, where instead of being able to plough all resources into rescue and relief efforts, the government is dealing with a crisis caused by the inherent and inescapable risks of nuclear power. Read more >>>

Filed under: Environmentalists, Mass Mobilization, Nuclear Power, Partido Kalikasan, People's Organization, Public activities, Safety, Trade Unions, Youth   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: candle lighting, Nuclear Power, Partido Lakas ng Masa, vigil

An 80-km BNPP evacuation radius will include all of Bataan and Pampanga, most of Zambales, Bulacan, Metro Manila and Cavite, and parts of Tarlac, Laguna and Batangas

18Mar11

Laguna and Batangas

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued on March 16, 2011 the following warning to U.S. citizens in Japan: “Under the guidelines for public safety that would be used in the United States under similar circumstances, the NRC believes it is appropriate for U.S. residents within 50 miles of the Fukushima reactors to evacuate.”

The U.S. warning suggests that the Japanese authorities, who only ordered evacuation of people within 20 km of the nuclear disaster, have been downplaying the risks associated with the ongoing nuclear meltdown. Indeed, most governments and the nuclear industry have a long history of downplaying risks, keeping secret the real extent of damage to human life and health, and outright lies about the dangers as well as costs of nuclear plants.

The Fukushima meltdown highlights another problem with nuclear energy: in times of natural disasters, when regular as well as emergency sources of power tend to fail, nuclear plants compete for the attention of emergency services because they absolutely need significant amounts of power and cooling water to prevent runaway overheating and a subsequent meltdown. When the Japanese government’s attention and resources need to be fully focused on attending to the victims of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit their country, attention and resources are instead diverted to coping with the danger of nuclear meltdown, which threatens consequences that are as dire if not worse than the natural disasters themselves.

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Filed under: Geology, Nuclear Science, Safety   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: BNPP, Evacuation, Fukushima, Philippine Greens

Candlelight Vigil for Japan

16Mar11

Time	Friday, March 18 · 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location	QC Memorial Circle
Created By	PLM National Secretariat, Plm Secretariat
More Info	Save Japan! Save the Planet! No Nuclear Power! We all Live on Fukushima! Candlelight Vigil for Japan and Information Action on Impacts of Nuclear Energy Friday (March 18) Quezon City Memorial Circle 5:00PM onwards Teach-in will follow at the Quezon City Hall after the candlelight vigil Spread the News, Repost, and Join us on Friday!

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Tags: Fukushima, Japan, Solidarty

Greenpeace calls on Philippine government to scrap all plans for nuclear power

16Mar11

Greenpeace today called on the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to abandon all nuclear power plans, including those currently included the Philippine Energy Plan and the Energy Reform Agenda, and instead focus on achieving long term sustainable progress through safe and reliable renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

The environmental organization also challenged legislators, particularly those who have just this week reversed their pro-nuclear stance, to author a bill that would declare the Philippines a nuclear energy-free zone.

“Our thoughts remain with the Japanese people, who in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami are now faced with a dreadful situation, where instead of being able to plough all resources into rescue and relief efforts, the government is dealing with a crisis caused by the inherent and inescapable risks of nuclear power,” said Amalie Obusan, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

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Filed under: Nuclear Power, Policy, Press Releases, Renewable Energy, Safety   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Greenpeace, Nuclear Power

Akbayan voices solidarity with the Japanese people

16Mar11

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello today led a “solidarity delegation” to the Japanese Embassy here in the Philippines to express the Filipino people’s deepest sympathies to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit their country.

The delegation also sought a dialogue with Embassy officials to get updates regarding the conditions of Filipinos in Japan.

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Tags: Solidarity

Our Solidarity with the People of Japan

15Mar11

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Laboring Masses, PLM) expresses its deepest concern and sends its condolences to all the families and victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the North-Eastern coast of Japan last Friday. Our thoughts are also with all our Japanese friends and comrades and we pledge our solidarity and support to them in these dark hours.

We also join Filipinos here and abroad who, up to now, wait for official news from the Philippine Government as to the real situation of our Kababayans who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami. We call on the Government to put their contingency plans in motion without losing precious time, which is crucial, when disasters such as these strike. The Government should get its act together to ensure that vital information and other services needed by the victims and their families are given in a prompt and efficient manner.

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Tags: Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Power, Partido Lakas ng Masa

FDC asks Aquino to drop nuclear plans, calls for Nuclear power-free MTPDP

15Mar11

The Freedom from Debt Coalition today asked President Benigno S. Aquino III to drop all options of tapping nuclear power as a solution to the country’s power generation problems.

The group issued the statement following two massive explosions that rocked Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which was damaged in Friday’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake and its consequent devastating tsunami. Japanese officials, according to reports, are struggling to contain radioactive contamination.

FDC also issued the statement after Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Conjuangco voluntarily shelved her proposed bill to revive the controversial $2.3-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

Ric Reyes, FDC President, said that with Japan’s terrifying experience with their nuclear energy systems, “all attempts at reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant must be quashed and the nuclear option indicated in the government’s economic blueprint junked.”

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Filed under: Freedom From Debt Coalition, Policy   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, BNPP, Freedom From Debt Coalition, MTPDP, Nuclear Power

Nuclear Energy is Not the Way!

15Mar11

PARTIDO KALIKASAN would like to convey our deepest condolences and sympathy to all the victims of the recent natural disaster in Japan. The meltdown of Fukushima nuclear power plant north of Tokyo on the other hand is far from completely being a natural disaster. This is bad human judgment to opt for nuclear energy despite all its inherent dangers. The current disaster has raised serious threat not only to Japanese citizens but also to humanity.

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Tags: Fukushima, Japan, Nukes, Partido Kalikasan