Difference between revisions of "Nuclear Contamination"
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Mfeinstein (talk | contribs) (existing text of GPCA platform at this link http://www.cagreens.org/platform/platform_ecology.shtml#nuclear as of 4/20/11) |
Mfeinstein (talk | contribs) (general rephrasing, add "decommission all existing nuclear power plants", add "Overturn the Price-Anderson Act") |
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Greens promote the healthiest possible environment for current and future generations. We therefore strongly oppose current energy policies which continue producing nuclear wastes which can not be stored safely. | Greens promote the healthiest possible environment for current and future generations. We therefore strongly oppose current energy policies which continue producing nuclear wastes which can not be stored safely. | ||
| − | Ionizing radiation is inherently injurious to life. While unavoidable background levels of radiation exist, we must minimize future releases of radiation into the environment. Any increase in radiation, no matter how small, adds to the cumulative | + | Ionizing radiation is inherently injurious to life. While unavoidable background levels of radiation exist, we must minimize future releases of human-created radiation into the environment. Any increase in radiation, no matter how small, adds to the cumulative risk for living organisms. |
| − | Historically, nuclear electric energy was a spin-off from nuclear weapons production for the military. It gave an ideological justification for continued proliferation of nuclear technology around the world. It served to make nuclear fission appear more benevolent, and promoted the myth that nuclear power was cheap and safe. | + | Historically, nuclear electric energy was a spin-off from nuclear weapons production for the military. It gave an ideological justification for continued proliferation of nuclear technology around the world. It served to make nuclear fission appear more benevolent, and promoted the myth that nuclear power was cheap and safe. It is neither. |
| − | + | The Green Party calls for a halt to nuclear contamination and to the continued production of nuclear wastes: | |
* Immediate halt mining of uranium, most of which occurs on indigenous lands here and on other continents. | * Immediate halt mining of uranium, most of which occurs on indigenous lands here and on other continents. | ||
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* Adopt a policy for the safest possible storage of existing radioactive materials, and discontinue attempting their "disposal" in land repositories. | * Adopt a policy for the safest possible storage of existing radioactive materials, and discontinue attempting their "disposal" in land repositories. | ||
| − | * Rapidly phase out production of electric power from nuclear sources, and oppose the | + | * Rapidly phase out production of electric power from nuclear sources, decommission all existing nuclear power plants and oppose the construction of any new nuclear ones. |
* Curtail the medical profession's overuse of radioactive isotopes in diagnostic and treatment procedures, and increase research for alternatives. | * Curtail the medical profession's overuse of radioactive isotopes in diagnostic and treatment procedures, and increase research for alternatives. | ||
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* Ban shallow land disposal and incineration of all radioactive wastes. | * Ban shallow land disposal and incineration of all radioactive wastes. | ||
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| + | * Overturn the Federal Price-Anderson Act, which limits the liability of the nuclear industry in the event of nuclear accidents. | ||
* Hold all nuclear producers responsible in perpetuity for wastes they generate. | * Hold all nuclear producers responsible in perpetuity for wastes they generate. | ||
Revision as of 13:57, 20 April 2011
Greens promote the healthiest possible environment for current and future generations. We therefore strongly oppose current energy policies which continue producing nuclear wastes which can not be stored safely.
Ionizing radiation is inherently injurious to life. While unavoidable background levels of radiation exist, we must minimize future releases of human-created radiation into the environment. Any increase in radiation, no matter how small, adds to the cumulative risk for living organisms.
Historically, nuclear electric energy was a spin-off from nuclear weapons production for the military. It gave an ideological justification for continued proliferation of nuclear technology around the world. It served to make nuclear fission appear more benevolent, and promoted the myth that nuclear power was cheap and safe. It is neither.
The Green Party calls for a halt to nuclear contamination and to the continued production of nuclear wastes:
- Immediate halt mining of uranium, most of which occurs on indigenous lands here and on other continents.
- Halt all U.S. research and development of new nuclear weapons systems and continue dismantling existing stocks.
- Stop U.S. involvement in international proliferation of nuclear weapons, and sign a meaningful Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [see Disarmament plank]
- Adopt a policy for the safest possible storage of existing radioactive materials, and discontinue attempting their "disposal" in land repositories.
- Rapidly phase out production of electric power from nuclear sources, decommission all existing nuclear power plants and oppose the construction of any new nuclear ones.
- Curtail the medical profession's overuse of radioactive isotopes in diagnostic and treatment procedures, and increase research for alternatives.
- Recycle medical radioactive materials when possible, and develop storage-to-decay facilities for short-lived medical wastes.
- Ban shallow land disposal and incineration of all radioactive wastes.
- Overturn the Federal Price-Anderson Act, which limits the liability of the nuclear industry in the event of nuclear accidents.
- Hold all nuclear producers responsible in perpetuity for wastes they generate.
- Establish strong, enforceable penalties for radioactive contamination of the environment.
- Disallow "deregulation" of any level of wastes to "Below Regulatory Concern" (BRC) status, or their use in consumer products.
- Establish independent monitoring networks for all military and civilian nuclear facilities.
- Ban irradiation of food products.
- Ban nuclear materials in international transportation and trade.
- Ban nuclear materials aboard craft launched into space.
