The 2nd Nuclear Free Northeast Action Camp will be held August 20-28, 1999 in Dummerston, Vermont, Citizens Awareness Network and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service announced today.
Last year’s first such endeavor drew 500 people to a kick-off rally in Brattleboro, Vermont and twice the expected registration (more than 300 people) to the week-long camp of workshops, seminars and trainings. Last year’s camp concluded with a rally and civil disobedience action at the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor; 21 people were arrested.
The camp is part of the growing Nuclear Free Northeast campaign, which is working to close atomic power reactors throughout the northeast. Already, four major commercial reactors have permanently shut in the region: Yankee Rowe, Connecticut Yankee, Maine Yankee and Millstone-2. But several other reactors are troubled from both safety and economic standpoints, and nearly every reactor in the region is up for sale to virtually any bidder willing to put up 10 cents or less on the dollar.
“This year, we are extending our campaign geographically to include all of New York State, including the Indian Point reactors, and New Jersey, including the Salem, Hope Creek and Oyster Creek reactors,” said Debby Katz, president of Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), a grassroots organization with offices in Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and Connecticut.
The camp is being sponsored by CAN, the Washington-based Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), and training activists The Ruckus Society.
“The list of rally speakers and workshop leaders read like a who’s who of the safe energy movement,” noted Michael Mariotte, executive director of NIRS. “Among them are returning experts like David Lochbaum of Union of Concerned Scientists; nonviolence activist and Chicago 7 alumnus David Dellinger; authors Grace Paley, Harvey Wasserman and Karl Grossman; as well as new faces like Tara Thornton of Military Toxics Project; Marvin Resnikoff of Radioactive Waste Management Associates; Tennessee Valley Authority whistleblowers Ann Harris and Curtis Overall; Scott Denman of the Safe Energy Communication Council, and many more.” Mariotte also predicted some surprises for speakers and entertainerswho currently include hot regional band The Black Rebels and nationally-known folksinger David Rovics. Some international participation is expected as well.
“The participation of Ruckus is another indication how quickly this campaign is growing,” added Katz. Formed by ex-Greenpeace and Earth First! Activists, The Ruckus Society provides trainings across the nation on non-violent activist techniques, and offered to participate in this year’s camp to expand the campaign’s reach.
“Effective citizen action will make a Nuclear Free Northeast a reality,” Katz continued, “and the goal of the camp is to provide the training and expertise necessary to empower people to become effective activists. The fact that nearly every commercial reactor in the region either has been sold, or is up for sale, at bargain-basement prices indicates the true viability of nuclear power: only at 10 cents or less for the dollar does anyone think atomic-generated electricity can be economic. And even then, the nuclear industry is seeking enormous tax rip-offs to make the sales work.”
Katz pointed out that Amergen, a British-US company that recently agreed to buy Nine Mile Point and is considering purchasing Vermont Yankee, is relying on not-yet-implemented tax dodges to help finance the sales. Seabrook and Millstone-2 and 3 also are up for sale. Yet every nuclear reactor sale so far has gone for little more than the price of the fuel already at the plant, leaving utility shareholders and ratepayers holding the bag. “In many cases, however, the shareholders are only too-willing to get rid of these uneconomical lemons,” noted Katz. “But the entire region would be better offeconomically and in terms of public safety–if Vermont Yankee were to simply close. We’re warning now: The British are coming, and they’re looking for some quick profits, not the long-term benefit of our community.”
The Action Camp will open on Friday, August 20. A major regional rally is set for the Brattleboro Commons on Sunday, August 22, from 12-5 pm. Another rally, including nonviolent civil disobedience at the Vermont Yankee reactor will take place on Thursday, August 26. Other, more spontaneous, actions are possible. Last year, the Bread and Puppet Theatre led 90 people on a colorful and peaceful snake dance through downtown Brattleboro, accompanied by numerous giant puppets. The camp is also being supported by Physicians for Social Responsibility, Toxics Action, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and Peoples Action for Clean Energy.
Periodically-!QU!d information can be obtained in the Nuclear Free Northeast section of NIRS’ website (www.nirs.org). Reporters are welcome to tour the camp, arrangements should be made in advance with CAN, 413-339-5781. The camp office will have dedicated phone lines, these phone numbers will be made available to reporters as soon as possible.