Windscale, Chernobyl, Fukushima - never again? 25 years on from Chernobyl

Monday, 25 April, 2011 PRESS RELEASE

On 26th April 2011,  25 years on from Chernobyl, Radiation Free Lakeland
will lay three crosses outside Carlisle Cathedral.

Windscale-Never Again?   Chernobyl-Never Again?   Fukushima-Never Again?

A letter will be delivered to the pro-nuclear Bishop of Carlisle - Bishop
James Newcome asking that the Diocese reconsiders its support for new
build and geological disposal of high level nuclear wastes.  25 years on
from Chernobyl and  "there are so many radiation related health crises
occurring in the region that for the first time in Belarussian history ,
the death rate is HIGHER, than the birth rate”.

Dear Bishop Newcome,

CHERNOBYL - 25 YEARS ON.

Congratulations on your appointment as Lead Bishop on health care issues.

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.  Radiation
Free Lakeland and representatives from other concerned groups will be
laying three crosses outside Carlisle Cathedral.  The crosses will read:

Windscale- Never Again?   Chernobyl- Never Again?  Fukushima- Never Again?

The Diocese is informed by the Churches Together Environment Group which
is largely advised by Supporters of Nuclear Energy SONE.  “Environment
Group” publications reflect this pronuclear bias.   We feel that the
Diocese could do much more to seriously take on board legitimate concerns
about nuclear power.  For two hours on the morning of your enthronement in
2009 we spoke to 150 people who had come along specially to sign a letter
voicing concerns at the Diocese’s pro nuclear stance.  The letter asked:
“Will the Diocese of Carlisle consider listening to independent expert advice
(not from pro nuclear government or industry)  on radiation risks of new
build and geological disposal before making further pro-nuclear
statements?”

Well, the Diocese did agree to hosting a meeting on 6th Feb 2010.  We were
surprised that  you chose at the meeting to reaffirm your commitment to
new nuclear build.  The hope was that people would have time to go away
and reflect on all the points raised during the presentations. Even  local
Parish Newsletters present the Diocese’s pronuclear view as  “the green
route to secure, safe and reliable power”  - no dissenting voices get a
look in.

This July children from Belarus will be spending a month in the South
Lakes to give their damaged immune systems a respite. The damage from
Chernobyl will continue through the "children of irradiated parents for as
many as seven generations."  So "the genetic consequences of the Chernobyl
catastrophe will impact hundreds of millions of people."
Alexey V. Yablokov (Center for Russian Environmental Policy, Moscow,
Russia), Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko (Institute of
Radiation Safety, Minsk, Belarus). Consulting Editor Janette D.
Sherman-Nevinger (Environmental Institute, Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo, Michigan).

“In Belarus cancer of the thyroid is so prevalent that the scar left
after a thyroid operation is now chillingly referred to as a Belarussian
Necklace, thus marking them forever as Chernobyl's victims.
Since the disaster there has also been an increase of 800% in the
incidence of cancers in children living near to the reactor plus there has
been a dramatic increase in the rate of babies born with substantial
physical disabilities. Babies born limbless, deformed and with severe
brain damage. There are so many other radiation related health crises
occurring in the region that for the first time in Belarussian history ,
the death rate is HIGHER, than the birth rate”.
The South Lakeland branch of Friends of Chernobyl’s Children

Given the ongoing Chernobyl catastrophe and since your enthronement, now
Fukushima, will the  Diocese of Carlisle withdraw its support for new
build and geological disposal?

….. and join us in saying NEVER AGAIN!

yours sincerely,
Marianne Birkby
on behalf of Radiation Free Lakeland
Note:
Sent by email attachment is the document :
Why a deep nuclear waste repository should not be sited in Cumbria:  a
geological review
by David Smythe Emeritus Professor of Geophysics, University of Glasgow
11 April 2011

Refs:

http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2010/10/bishop-of-carlisle-appointed-as-lead-bishop-on-healthcare-issues.aspx

http://www.sone.org.uk/content/view/394/30/

http://www.churchestogethercumbria.co.uk/UK%20Energy%20Policy%20and%20the%20Environment%20paper.pdf

http://www.churchestogethercumbria.co.uk/nuclear_energy_discussion.htm

Friends of Chernobyl’s Children
http://focc.org.uk/South_Lakes.html

Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment
Written by Alexey V. Yablokov (Center for Russian Environmental Policy,
Moscow, Russia), Vassily B. Nesterenko, and Alexey V. Nesterenko
(Institute of Radiation Safety, Minsk, Belarus). Consulting Editor Janette
D. Sherman-Nevinger (Environmental Institute, Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo, Michigan).
Volume 1181, December 2009
http://www.nyas.org/publications/annals/Detail.aspx?cid=f3f3bd16-51ba-4d7b-a086-753f44b3bfc1

Following delivery of the letter, Radiation Free Lakeland will be in
Carlisle town centre with a petition - No Nuke Dump!
http://web.mac.com/mariannebirkby1/iWeb/Radiation%20Free%20Lakeland/Radiation%20Free%20Lakeland%20.html

The No Nuke Dump petition can also be signed online - or more petition
forms can be found at:
http://101-uses-for-a-nuclear-power-station.blogspot.com/

Contact : Marianne Birkby - Radiation Free Lakeland
rafl [at] mariannebirkby.plus.com