Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Press release here:
WHO: Folks concerned about changes in federal nuclear waste policy that could bring the nation’s highly radioactive “spent” nuclear fuel waste through WNC heading for South Carolina — and possibly re-open the plan to build a national repository here in WNC, as well as opposing the expansion of nuclear energy in the Carolinas.
WHAT / WHERE: A rally and walk from Pritchard Park to the Federal Building and around it.
WHEN: Friday July 15, 4 pm at Pritchard Park
Activities will proceed from there and will include street theater, signs and songs. Procession and rally will be respectful of local regulations.
WHY: Nuclear Information and Resource Service engaged for three decades in national nuclear policy on behalf of its nationwide grassroots membership has its only field office here in Asheville, NC. Mary Olson, the NIRS coordinator said: “I am excited that intergenerational Katuah EarthFirst! has chosen to focus on the growing possibility of mega nuclear shipments — waste so concentrated that it is millions of times more hazardous than the waste coming through these mountains today,” referring to the prospect that this waste might pass through Asheville area on the way to the Augusta GA area (in South Carolina) for storage and possible reprocessing.”No Nukes Summer is a great vehicle to reach out to everyone!” said Olson.
Mountain Protectors Campaign was born in January, 2011 when people from WNC attended a meeting of the federal Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future in Augusta GA. “In Augusta we heard the South Carolina + Georgia business community volunteer to take this waste for so-called “recycling” — but only 1% of the waste can being reused, where is the other 99% going to end up? We got very worried that the 1980’s plan to put a nuclear dump here in WNC could be revived,” said Coleman Smith. The Campaign has a website: http://www.nonuclearwasteinwnc.com
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League http://www.bredl.org
The League was organized in 1984 by mountain people in North Carolina and Virginia to prevent a national high-level nuclear waste dump. The campaign was successful but today we find ourselves again on the front lines. Julius Kerr, leading the League’s Mock Nuclear Waste Cask Transport Team, said “No, we have not forgotten. Yes, we will again defend our homes and families from nuclear waste. We will never give up this fight.” Kerr added that people would get harmful doses of radiation sitting in traffic next to a nuclear transport cask. He concluded, “Even very low levels of radiation are harmful.”
The event on Friday at 4 pm is open to all who practice free speech peacefully to participate
