“Our dreams are big – our hopes high – our goals long-term – and the path is difficult. But the only failure is not to try.” Jimmy Carter
Disturbing Diablo Update
Mothers for Peace is deeply troubled by actions taken by Governor Newsom and our California legislators who voted for Senate Bill 846 to extend the operation of Diablo Canyon nuclear plant.
Although Mothers for Peace was not a party to the Settlement Agreement to close the plant by 2025, we have been anticipating its closure, participating in decommissioning and waste storage activities, and supporting the well-planned closure process. Like our supporters, we feel betrayed.
Mothers for Peace has joined a coalition of other environmental organizations and individuals from across the country to challenge the extended operation of Diablo Canyon.
- We abhor the state and federal subsidies to resurrect this aging, degraded, dangerous plant.
- We object to the continued use of the once-through cooling system which causes great harm to the local marine environment and sea life.
- We oppose the generation of even more high level radioactive waste to be stored onsite indefinitely, surrounded by a web of significant earthquake faults.
- We are concerned about aging components and systems as well as reactor vessel embrittlement.
- We are done with living under the constant threat of a radiological accident – due to human error, natural disaster, or act of terrorism.
PLEASE
Mothers for Peace has hired publicist Ileana Wachtel to help us counter the disinformation campaign promoting extended operations of Diablo. We are utilizing the services of expert consultants. Two attorneys are exploring our legal options – Diane Curran for work on the federal level and Sabrina Venskus for California law. Your continued donations are needed and appreciated to help support our efforts to close Diablo Canyon by 2025 or earlier!
You may donate online or by mail. P.O. Box 3608, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Much is in flux as we muddle through the repercussions of Senate Bill 846 and Governor Newsom’s push to extend the operation of Diablo Canyon beyond 2025. That includes the role of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel.
As PG&E works simultaneously on plans to decommission the plant and to relicense it, apparently the Panel will continue to work on items such as repurposing and future land use. Mothers for Peace Board Member Linda Seeley continues to represent our interests on the Panel and to keep us informed of the rapidly changing situation.
MEET OUR $CHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT$
Mothers for Peace was delighted to award scholarships to four very deserving high school students this year. We congratulate them and wish them well!
Madeline Bobbitt is a graduate of Templeton High. She is now attending UC Berkeley where she plans to major in Environmental Science, possibly Environmental Engineering with a focus on sustainability.
Helia Bushong graduated from Templeton High. She is attending Cal Poly to study Environmental Engineering. Her interest is in countering climate change, renewable energy resources, and sustainable housing in underdeveloped countries.
Melissa Gonzalez is a graduate of Paso Robles High. She has won two awards – Change Maker Award from Cal Poly and the Sacagawea Medal of Valor. Her plans are to attend either Sonoma State or Channel Islands to study Health Science (pre-nursing), intending to obtain both a BS and RN.
Paloma Nava attended Central Coast New Tech High School. She will be attending either Cal Poly or Wellesley. Paloma aims to be a lawyer for ACLU or NAACP.
Details and the applications for 2023 can be found on our website. Applications are due mid-March.
ICAN is the international campaign to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. Based in Switzerland, ICAN is a coalition of over 600 non-governmental organizations in more than 100 countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty. Mothers for Peace is proud to be one of these partner organizations. Susi Snyder of ICAN was the featured speaker at our February meeting. You can view the recording of that meeting on our YouTube channel.
The nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan is far from over, and Mothers for Peace continues its efforts to educate the public about the ongoing issues. Japanese journalist Hiroko Aihara was our guest speaker for this year’s anniversary webinar. Ms. Aihara has been following the aftermath of the catastrophe and provided a personal and historical perspective of the many problems that Fukushima and Japan still face 11 years after the start of the disaster. One crucial issue is what to do with the millions of tons of radioactive wastewater.
TEPCO initially installed a series of used bolt-together tanks to collect highly contaminated water as they searched for a more permanent process. The seals of some of these tanks failed earlier than expected, creating major contaminated water leaks at the plant. TEPCO is now in the process of replacing these tanks with welded ones. However, they claim that they are running out of space, so the new plan is to dump the water into the ocean as early as spring 2023. This will lead to severe environmental consequences. Many domestic and international organizations, including MFP, are protesting this crime against nature.
On August 6, the 77th anniversary of the U.S. detonating atomic bombs over Hiroshima, Mothers for Peace members and supporters gathered at the Mission in downtown San Luis Obispo to remember the victims of nuclear weapons as well as the threats from the nuclear industry.
If you’d like to be added to the email alert list or receive meeting notices, contact Elaine .
Mothers for Peace sends heartfelt wishes for good health, good election results, a closed Diablo Canyon, peace in the world, clean and sustainable energy, and a bright 2023!
