December 8: No More Nukes! National Anti-Nuclear protest Demonstration at Jantar Mantar

*Say NO to Nuclear Power: It is unsafe, polluting, costly and not a
solution to our energy crisis *

*Invitation *

*Anti-Nuclear protest Demonstration at Jantar Mantar*

*December 8, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi*

Friends,

Livelihoods and safety of millions of people and the fragile ecology in the
large parts of our country is threatened today by the ruling elite's insane
nuclear power expansion. People in Jaitapur (Maharashtra), Chutka (Madhya
Pradesh), Mithi virdi (Gujarat), Gorakhpur (Haryana) and Kovada (Andhra
Pradesh) are fighting a difficult battle against these projects.

People from these places will gather to demand scrapping of these projects
which are endangering people's safety and livelihoods. Civil society
organisations from Delhi and other parts of the country are also joining
the protest.

*We would like to invite you for the day long National Anti-Nuclear Protest
Demonstration on 8th of December at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. We do hope
you will be able to join us for this.*

These struggles have highlighted some important local issues as well as
generic risks with nuclear technology:

· Nuclear power projects will displace large number of people and
threaten the livelihoods in surrounding areas. The fisherfolk in
Koodankulam, Jaitapur and Mithivirdi, the mango and cashew cultivators of
Jaitapur and the farmers of Haryana and MP are faced with these challenges.

· The proposed plants are coming up in coastal regions and areas
where ecological balance is already under threat as govt's own reports
admit. Environmental clearances for these projects have been obtained by
undermining standard norms and procedures.

· Some of the proposed reactor designs are new and untested.
Areva's EPR has run into trouble in Finland with delays, huge cost
escalations and objections raised by safety regulators.

· Nuclear industry in India has been known for their gross
negligence of safety in the past. Not only is the Indian nuclear
establishment unprepared to handle a large scale accident, it cannot be
trusted to operate properly and safely such large-scale facilities given
their experience chequered with inefficiency, accidents, unaccountability,
non-transparency.

· The nuclear power expansion will put huge burden on the Indian
exchequer as not only nuclear power expensive, the imported reactors are
going to cost exponentially more. Also, the government has exempted nuclear
suppliers from liability and in case of accidents; the financial burden
will fall on the people.

· India's energy needs can be better met with decentralised energy
production through abundant renewable sources.

And then, are some general problems with nuclear energy itself:

· Nuclear Power is inherently unsafe. While nuclear accidents have
very large-scale and long-term consequences unlike other industrial
accidents, even in the normal operation of reactors, workers and local
population is exposed to radiation which causes diseases such as cancer,
thyroid and leukaemia in long-term.

· Nuclear waste is a problem that has no solution. Substances like
plutonium remain dangerously radioactive for thousands of years. India has
nothing more than an ad-hoc policy on nuclear waste.

· Nuclear power is not a solution to Climate Change. It leaves
substantial carbon footprints in uranium mining, transport, and
construction of reactors.

· After Fukushima, most countries have ordered a phasing out of
nuclear power, underlining the inherent dangers.

The Indian elite is pushing the country towards a dangerous future obsessed
with its idea of neoliberal 'development' and under the influence of
nuclear corporate lobbies. When the people in many parts of the country
resisting these projects and facing state repression, we must stand it
solidarity with them.

*We urge you to join us in the protest individually / organisationally and
circulate the invitation widely.*

*Date: December 8, 2011 | Time: 11 AM onwards | Jantar Mantar, New Delhi*

With best regards,

*Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and peace (CNDP) | National Alliance of
People's Movements (NAPM) | All India Students Association (AISA) | Indian
National Social Action Forum (INSAF) | Delhi Forum | Delhi Solidarity Group
| Delhi Platform | Friends of Koodankulam Anti Nuclear Movement | *

* *

*Do endorse and join the protest !*

*For details contact : Sundaram 9810556134 | Malathi 8285815945 | Kavita
Krishnan 09560756628 | Madhuresh Kumar 9818905316* |

Mail to cndpindia@gmail.com