On the ground at #COP21: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly … so far | GreenWorld

The nuclear industry is well-represented inside the conference hall; anti-nuclear groups haven’t been allowed to set up information booths.

Last Saturday, December 5, two NIRS staff arrived in Paris and joined anti-nuclear colleagues from across Europe for the United Nations climate conference. Officially, this is the 21st Conference of Parties on climate, or COP 21 for short. All year, we have been working as part of the Don’t Nuke the Climate coalition, preparing to mobilize thousands to COP 21 under the nuclear-free, carbon-free banner we flew at the People’s Climate March in New York City last year. That march was, in fact, the first wave of grassroots mobilization to fight for a strong, legally binding climate treaty. Especially with the conference happening in the most nuclearized country in the world, we’ve expected a major push to turn climate action into a feeding trough for poison power. And our expectations have not been disappointed.

Abandon #FalseSolutions at #COP21! We can save the #climate without poison power @sdnfr @nirsnet @beWISEnoNuclear pic.twitter.com/AvqbhEdCEE

— Tim Judson (@TimJudsonNY) December 9, 2015

The good news so far is that nuclear is not even mentioned in the drafts of the climate agreement presented over the last several days. There have been enough countries opposed to nuclear for there to be zero consensus on what to say about it: not a solution, not a problem, no clear direction at all. That might sound good, and is better than an agreement that promotes nuclear power.

But you wouldn’t know that by actually attending the COP. The nuclear industry and its governmental allies in the U.S., France, and elsewhere are here in force–with exhibit booths and events promoting nuclear power as a climate solution–whereas no explicitly anti-nuclear groups have been allowed to have an exhibit booth or hold an official event. Those decisions were made before the prohibition on public protests after the horrible violence on November 13 that have dampened the voice of protest outside the UN conference grounds. But they underscore the influence of corporate sponsors at the COP–like Electricite de France (EDF), the largest nuclear power company in the world. The industry is desperately trying to make itself seem relevant in the face of global stagnation, and avoid accelerating into rapid decline...

more: On the ground at COP 21: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly … so far | GreenWorld

more images from @NIRSnet twitter feed:

The nuclear industry’s COP 21 dilemma: 100% renewables is attainable | GreenWorld

If you think you’ve been seeing a lot more pro-nuclear propaganda in the media than usual in the past couple of weeks, well, it’s not your imagination. The nuclear industry and its champions are out in force, publishing articles and appearing in the media wherever and whenever they can in what may be a last-ditch effort to convince the world–or at least its leaders–that nuclear power is the answer, or one answer, to our climate crisis. As one writer put it yesterday, “At the Paris Climate Summit (COP21), the global nuclear lobby is in overdrive.”

If it all smacks a bit of desperation–and a lot of the pro-nuke pieces out there right now verge on the hysterical, with blatant attacks on those of us who envision a clean energy future–well, that’s not your imagination either. That’s because there is no global consensus on nuclear power. Some nations are against it entirely while a relatively few others are ardently pro-nuclear, with most–including the U.S.–somewhere in-between. And that means, by the very nature of the COP 21 talks, that nuclear isn’t getting what the industry needs; indeed, so far at least, nuclear is simply a non-factor...

more: The nuclear industry’s COP 21 dilemma: 100% renewables is attainable | GreenWorld

!! The nuclear industry is trying to hijack the Paris Climate Summit | #COP21

The new Breakthrough Energy Coalition, backed by billionaires such as Bill Gates and supported by the global nuclear lobby is hijacking climate talks at COP21, writes Noel Wauchope.

At the Paris Climate Summit (COP21), the global nuclear lobby is in overdrive.

The centrepiece of today's global nuclear lobbying is the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, led by Bill Gates, made public at the start of the conference.

Bill Gates announced the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, uniting the efforts of two dozen other billionaire philanthropists such as Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, to sponsor research into energy that doesn’t produce carbon.

Gates was present in Paris together with U.S. President Barack Obama —  the White House is reported to be supportive of the initiative. Article after article in the U.S. and other media outline the purpose of this group, stressing renewable initiatives, or rather, "clean" energy initiatives. Nuclear power is not mentioned but is tacitly included in that weasel word, "clean". 

More about the Breakthrough Energy Coalition later. But what else is happening in Paris at COP21? 

Well, the nuclear lobby is out in force, appearing on various kinds of media and in amongst the gathering, handing out thousands of free copies of its pro-nuclear propaganda book, Climate Gamble...

more: The nuclear industry is trying to hijack the Paris Climate Summit

INSANITY: China has an awful safety record — and wants to run 110 nuclear reactors by 2030 - The Washington Post

It had been about a month since chemical explosions blasted and burned through the port of Tianjin, killing 173. Pictures of rescue workers in hazmat suits became some of the signature images of the disaster. And despite incredible censorship, it was clear to most that unsafe chemical storage — thanks to bribery by local big shots — was to blame.

Still, on Sept. 15, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection announced post-Tianjin nuclear safety checks to "make sure nuclear facilities and equipment are safe and under control." Given the timing, it felt less like an assurance than an afterthought: "We definitely did not forget to check those nukes..."

more: China has an awful safety record — and wants to run 110 nuclear reactors by 2030 - The Washington Post

International Appeal Against India-Japan Nuclear Agreement | C.A.N. Coalition Against Nukes

We strongly protest the proposed India-Japan nuclear agreement, which is reportedly going to be signed during your upcoming visit to New Delhi on December 11-13. This nuclear agreement does not only represent an unacceptable zeal to promote nuclear lobbies on the part of Mr. Abe, despite the deepening crisis in Fukushima, but also gives a new lease of life to the nuclear industry facing a terminal crisis in the post-Fukushima world.

Even as renewable and sustainable energy sources are becoming more efficient and cheaper year after year, the global nuclear industry is using countries like India to compensate for their losses. India has become a playground for multinational vendors like Areva, GE, Westinghouse, Atomsroyexport, Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi despite the non-violent and long-standing protests launched by communities near proposed nuclear reactors as a result of the serious threats to their lives and livelihoods. By attempting to sell nuclear reactors to India, Japan will be undermining the democratic right of people to shape their immediate environment and a future for themselves and their descendants...

more / SIGN: International Appeal Against India-Japan Nuclear Agreement | C.A.N. Coalition Against Nukes

SIGN AT CHANGE.ORG

Great Lakes Nuke Dump Decision Postponed; Critics Call for Dump's Cancellation | Beyond Nuclear - Canada

OPG's DUD would be built on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water, just 3/4ths of a mile from the shoreline of the Great Lakes.The newly appointed Canadian Environment Minister, the Honorable Catherine McKenna, has postponed the deadline for deciding whether or not to approve Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) proposal to bury radioactive wastes on the Great Lakes shore at Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Kincardine, Ontario. The deadline had been next Wednesday, December 2, 2015; she has postponed the decision until March 1, 2016.

more:

Great Lakes Nuke Dump Decision Postponed; Critics Call for Dump's Cancellation

Beyond Nuclear - Canada


Canada is the world's largest exporter of uranium and operates nuclear reactors including on the Great Lakes. Attempts are underway to introduce nuclear power to the province of Alberta and to use nuclear reactors to power oil extraction from the tar sands.

Complaint Filed Against French State Utility EDF- #COP21 Sponsor for False Advertising

Video published on Oct 22, 2013 - members of the public show EDF & govt what they think of nuclear energy policy in the UK and their proposed Hinkley C reactors.

DECEMBER 1, 2015: Based on translation of Sortir du Nucléaire press release, with our additional commentary in brackets:
Greenwashing for COP21: EDF lies will not save the climate!

At the approach of COP21 French State owned EDF, official sponsor of that event, launched a big publicity campaign to present itself as the “Official Partner of a Low Carbon World”. The campaign glorifies their electricity production, which they allege is 98% CO2 free, due to nuclear power. 

To denounce this false advertising, the “Sortir du nucléaire” [Nuclear Exit] Network filed a complaint before the Advertising Ethics Jury and brought a civil liability suit against EDF before the Tribunal de grande instance of Pari [Paris Tribunal-Court]

EDF is not a “Low Carbon World Partner”!

In the context of the COP 21 world climate conference, being held in Paris [30 Nov to 11 Dec. 2015], EDF is trying to present itself as a virtuous player in the fight against climate change. 

In reality, EDF operates 16 coal plants and is ranked the 19th worst greenhouse gas emitter in the world! EDF pretends to act “all over where [it] is present” for carbon free electricity. How can one not to be scandalized by that affirmation, when one knows that EDF’s world emissions represent 80 million tonnes of CO2 per year? [1]

EDF is lying: its electricity is not “98% CO2-free”!

MORE: Complaint Filed Against French State Utility EDF-Climate Conference Sponsor for False...

COP21 :: Events in Paris | Wise International Don’t Nuke the Climate Campaign

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) will be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015. But that’s not the only thing happening in Paris in those two weeks.

Following the attacks in Paris of November 13th, the French government has prohibited mass mobilisation. It is terrible what has happened, but this is not the time to silence the voice of the people. We will be present.

[Below] a list of the activities the Don’t Nuke the Climate campaign will be offering...

>>> Events in Paris | Wise International