Beppe Grillo's Blog

European nuclear referendum

Ms Merkel has declared that “The sooner Germany exits from the nuclear programme the better.” Germany has 17 reactors that will be turned off nine years early, in 2026 and no longer in 2035 as was the plan before Fukushima. In the next three months, all the German power stations will be subjected to a "stress test" and seven reactors will be turned off for maintenance and one definitively. Another five will be deactivated in May for checking. If mathematics is not an opinion, as the nuclearists would like it to be (on this topic is there someone still blathering on about the safe nuclear of the “really new” generation?) Germany by this summer, a world economic power, will have available just 4 reactors (17 - 8 - 5 = 4). How will it be able to survive? With the development of renewable energy that already today is responsible for 17% of the electricity produced (nuclear is at 22%).
There are hundreds of nuclear reactors in Europe. France is the top nuclear nation. France has 19 power stations with 58 reactors. In 2009 nuclear energy generated 75.17% of its electrical energy needs, the most in the world. The other nations arrive at 30% at the most. An EPR reactor is under construction in Normandy, the second after the one in Finland at Olkiluoto that has Enel as a partner with 12.5% of the investment. It has doubled the costs and the time to construct. France has a development model based on nuclear energy, on a nuclear war programme that is closely connected to the civil one, a model kept alive thanks to the taxes of the French people and the supply of Uranium from Niger by the State company Areva (see Greenpeace "AREVA’S dirty little secret"). After Fukushima, France is left with the nuclear match in its hand and with France also Europe. Two irreconcilable development models are in front of us, one connected to renewables and energy saving, represented by Germany, and another one, a nuclear one by France. On this topic Europe has to make a pronouncement by means of a collective referendum. Europeans have to decide on Europe’s energy policy and on their future, not just the individual governments. At the western frontier of Italy there are 7 French nuclear power stations from Super Phénix to Marcoule. Has anyone asked us for permission? If a regular aircraft, as happened on 11 September, were to be hijacked and flown into a power station, part of France and of Italy would become a radioactive desert.
Japan, when it gets back on its feet will abandon nuclear energy. World stock markets have already done so. Nuclear industries have plummeted. The lobbies won’t allow themselves to be put aside so easily. They control the media that has buried Fukushima with the body still warm. Europe needs statesmen, not business people that are Sarkozy-like or Berlusconi-like. We are at war and we will win.

PS: The "nuclear faces" of the Opposition who absented themselves for the voting to bring together the referendum with the local elections are: Capano, Cimadoro, Ciriello, D'Antona, Farina, Fassino, Fedi, Gozi, Madia, Mastromauro, Porcino, Samperi.
- Download the ”Nuclear faces” flier and pass it on
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Comments

In the last year or so I've only seen a few brief articles about the refugees fleeing the northern shores of Africa and make the Lampedusa crossing.

Unbeknownst to the world, this tiny Italian island, a couple of hundred miles away from Libian shores, is being turned into a penal island (actually worse as the criminals landing on Devil's Island had three meals a day, shelter and a bed).

Hundreds of North African teens debark daily from unseaworthy fishing boats onto the docks of Lampedusa. They land and... are let loose on the island.

They have invaded streets, squares and fields, are wandering all over the island searching for nonexistent shelters. They sleep on sidewalks, on hillsides, in caves, stations and makeshift tents. They're cold, hungry and abandoned.

They outnumber the 5000 residents of the island and thousands more are expected. The Lampedusans are swarmed, yet they have remained welcoming and friendly.

But anger is rising toward a government hiding behind a law that criminalizes refugees by labelling them "illegal immigrants" and, thus, law-breakers. The government is half-heartedly dispersing them throughout Italy, but the dispersion is slow, and is meeting resistance from the receiving residents fearful of young men they see as "illegal immigrants and potential criminals."

The "not in my backyard" syndrome has gripped Italians.

By making refugees' lives an hellish experience, the Italian government is seeking to drown yearnings for freedom and a better future.

Italy is telling refugees on Libyan beaches they're "persone non grate."
The E.U. is pretending they don't exist or considers them an Italian problem, the United Nations are nowhere to be seen.

In the meantime, "the heroes of the African revolutions," the "courageous protesters," are isolated on Lampedusa, living in squalid conditions, considered "criminals" by a government supported by former fascists and one of the most racist parties in Europe.

Welcome to freedom and democracy, people!

Posted by: Louis Pacella | March 25, 2011 05:31 PM

There is a far more urgent risk than nuclear explosions that needs treating. It is a financial explosion. Following Portugal's inability to pass austerity plans Europe's countries face bankruptcy and the whole financial system is on the brink of meltdown. Germany will not bail out its neighbours indefinitely while their Governments live beyond their means. The corruption of the privileged elite who are still pocketing the people's wealth and hiding it in tax havens and incompetence of political leaders are leading us to economic and social ruin. There must be some politicians somewhere who can find the courage to take control over the world's banking and financial institutions to avoid disaster.

Posted by: peterfieldman | March 25, 2011 08:24 AM

Berlusconi's last train ride. April 6

He’s got good reasons for taking the easy way out
But he’s just a day tripper, with a one way ticket.
It took Italy so long to find out, but they found out
He’s a big teaser, he took the country half the way there
They all tried to please him, but he only played one night stands!
It took Italy so long to find out, but they found out.

Hopefully.

Posted by: Robert Morrison | March 25, 2011 01:00 AM

Hello, I am from Austria and read your blog regularily. I would be happy if we had a similar blog in Austria, nevertheless the situation of the country seems much better in many ways.
Concerning the nuclear power stations: over 30 years ago, when the government wanted to build (I mean, it was already built for a lot on money) a NPS at Zwentendorf, then we had a referendum. And the people voted against it, so it was never operating. All around our small country - in Switzerland, Slovakia etc. there are NPS and we are worried forever what would happen in case of an accident.
Noone asked us, if we like to have them at our borders!
Fight on, Beppe!

Posted by: Ursula Dehne | March 25, 2011 12:37 AM