Nuclear | Be a Seed for Change

The nuclear situation in Japan continues to deteriorate. Our thoughts are with the people of Japan as they grapple with this crisis.

Like everyone else, I couldn’t stop following the news after I first learned of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. While these things are nothing new to the region, it was obvious that this was something bigger. The Japanese response has been nothing short of amazing, and it’s awe-inspiring to see the human spirit in action to help worldwide.

But sadly, the worst was far from over.

Within hours, reports started surfacing that the nuclear facilities at Fukushima had been seriously damaged. Soon our fears were confirmed.

Greenpeace is no stranger to the issue of nuclear power. In fact, monitoring nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska was our first mission. For nearly 40 years, we’ve been educating on the dangers of nuclear power as an unacceptable risk to humanity and the environment. Obviously, we’re concerned for the people of Japan as the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters unfold.

Many of our members have come to us with questions and concerns about this crisis. Could we face a similar disaster in the U.S.? What’s our country’s policy on nuclear power? These are important questions, and, we’ll be working to bring you the most up-to-date information. And we’ll continue to be the voice we have been for nearly 40 years — one committed to protecting and conserving the environment and to promoting peace.

To read more about our history and our work on nuclear energy visit our website at:

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=B1mwKbkpEeaPu8AGAKofeg..

In peace and solidarity,

Philip Radford

Greenpeace USA Executive Director

P.S. Please forward this message on to any of your friends and family who are following the situation in Japan

Over the last several days, we’ve received many calls and emails from UCS members and supporters asking about the current crisis involving several of Japan‘s nuclear power reactors. Like most of you, we are deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy of last week’s earthquake and tsunami, and our hearts go out to the many victims.

The massive earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan have caused a potentially catastrophic situation at multiple nuclear power facilities. The situation is still evolving.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=sgQWt4U0rHXeUSbxGoVFDw..

For more than 40 years, UCS has served as a nuclear safety watchdog and a reliable, independent source of information on nuclear power technology and its risks. UCS technical experts are working hard to provide timely, updated analysis of what is happening at the stricken facilities and what the implications may be.

You can find regular updates on our blog “All Things Nuclear” and learn about why events have unfolded in the way they have, where the situation may be headed, and what it may mean for the people around the facilities and the environment. http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=rD2ht7Iwc6iSgCvOO27XpA..

We are also being called on frequently by a wide range of media outlets to provide independent, unbiased information and analysis about the rapidly changing situation on the ground.

For more information, see our Nuclear Accident ABCs factsheet, which provides background information on nuclear accidents and explains some of the terms frequently being used in media reports about the crisis.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=YcQs3bMM1qUmpgj0_5OHrg..

As events unfold in Japan, we will be regularly updating the UCS website with our most current assessment of conditions at the affected facilities.

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=qcgNe5T6-3IqyAy1gd-yeA..

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch

President