Quote:
Originally Posted by jeff5may
This topic popped up on another thread, and due to the global implications I believe it deserves its own discussion thread.
|
jeff5may,
Can we trust our government to handle nuclear technology?
I am a bit dismayed by your whole-hearted enthusiasm regarding nuclear fuel.
Any nuclear program, no matter the technology, will be handled by the federal government.
I am not a broad-brush 'govenment-is-bad' type person.
But if our government is acting irresponsibly, we as citizens are the only force on earth that can stop it.
The federal government has not shown itself to be a sufficiently responsible agent to handle any nuclear technology.
As an example that actually threatens me and my children and their children, on into the unimaginable future is the Hanford Nuclear Enrichment facility that is located in Washington state, and is cited adjacent to the Columbia River, which flows next to Portland, Oregon, which is where I live.
Over the years, this facility has had large nuclear accidents wherein hazardous releases of dangerous gases without ever warning the public that they were in danger. In fact, it took many years for people living in the area of the facility to realize that they were falling ill due to very rare forms of cancer. And then it took subsequent medical studies and teams of lawyers to finally gain through Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIA), the records that showed that the government had purposely withheld vital information from the public.
Subsequently, the federal government had resisted giving those affected the medical and financial assistance they need.
This same story has been repeated for all of the "Down Winders" who were affected by above ground nuclear testing. Delay, deny, deny ,deny until death.
And here is a chart of the hazardous nuclear-contaminated ground water that is inching itself toward the Columbia:
The feds are not doing any thing to remediate or stop this deadly leakage. I live, with my children, and grandchildren, down stream about 90 miles.
Hanford Nuclear Waste Tank Allowed To Keep Leaking For Over A Year, According To Deal
400 % Spike in Rare Birth Defects Near Leaking Hanford Nuclear Site | nsnbc international
6 tanks at Hanford nuclear site in Wash. leaking - CBS News
And the governmental neglect has been repeated in the cases of soldiers who were irradiated by the first atomic tests and were ordered to march into the blast area, after the first big blasts. Denial, stalling until most of those affected finally died miserable, impoverished deaths. Yes, our own brave American soldiers... they did it to them.Delay, deny, deny, deny until death.
The same story repeats for the Pacific Islanders who lived close to the Pacific blasts. Delay, deny, deny, deny until death.
It is not like the feds didn't know that radiation was a health hazard, it has been known since July 4, 1934 when Madame Marie Curie died from her work with Radium.
If that were not enough, we have (since all governmental power flows from 'we the people') used the leftover nuclear waste as ammunition.
The US and NATO militaries used DU penetrator rounds in the 1991 Gulf War, the Bosnia war, bombing of Serbia, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and since then in 1991 Iraq & Afghanistan.
Even when the DU testing was being done, the scientists already knew the hazards of DU, and the initial testing procedures and safety precautions proved it.
What of the affected US soldiers who were adversely affected? Delay, deny, deny, deny until death.
Search Youtube for:
Depleted Uranium The Facts and Health Effects.Dr Doug Rokke
Very important information!!
And what about the "Collateral Damage" afflicted upon the adult men and women and children, who were uninvolved civilians during this period?
Toxic fallout from US war produces record child birth defect rates in Iraq - World Socialist Web Site
Depleted Uranium, Fukushima and Karma - End the Lie - Independent News | End the Lie – Independent News
Iraq's depleted uranium clean-up to cost $30m as contamination spreads | Environment | The Guardian
Birth Defects Iraq
Well, cancers have soared, and birth defects have gone up by multiples. In Iraq, the question asked at birth is no longer, 'is it a boy or girl', the question asked is, 'is it a human'.
Huge rise in birth defects in Falluja | World news | The Guardian
We knew the danger before it was used. What will we do now that the effects are becoming public knowledge? (at least in those countries where it was used). Delay, deny, deny, deny until death.
jeff5may, don't you have a contaminated area near you?
As I remember, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, looks something like this:
And if you didn't know it already, the contamination leakage map looks just like this:
Looks to me like the radiation leakage is headed straight for the Ohio River.
Did you know that?
I have a suspicion that a little research will turn up information about patterns of rare cancers showing up in human populations in the area surrounding this plant.
Mortality Patterns Among Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Workers
Washingtonpost.com: In Harm's Way, But in the Dark
I think it is safe to say that the feds in your area are using the standard strategy:
Delay, deny, deny, deny until death.
There are well-documented books and documentary films that cover the unconscionable neglect our government has displayed in it's handling of nuclear materials, time and time again, with no change.
So, I think that we need to ask ourselves:
Can we trust our government to handle nuclear technology?
-AC