ISU Student Environmental Group to Host Midwest Nuclear Reality Conference

Normal, IL - On February 20-22, 2004, the Illinois State University (ISU) chapter of the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) will host the Nuclear Reality Conference (NRC). The conference will feature speakers from around the country addressing many nuclear power topics and training attendees to make positive changes in their community's energy policies.

Topics will encompass several aspects of nuclear power including information on the basics of nuclear power, biological impacts of radiation exposure, nuclear waste transportation and storage, and information on energy efficiency and available sources of alternative energy. Speakers will include Dave Kraft from the Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) and Kevin Kamps and Paul Gunter from the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS).

The Exelon Corporation has applied for an Early Site Permit (ESP) for a proposed second nuclear reactor at Clinton, Illinois, 25 miles south of Normal. The ESP is the first step in securing federal approval to construct a new reactor. The proposed second Clinton reactor and proposed new reactors in Virginia and Mississippi, represent the first actions to build new reactors in the United States in over 20 years. No new reactor has been ordered in the United States since 1973 and the last reactor constructed cost over 8 billion dollars.

Once promoted as a source of energy that would be "too cheap to meter," nuclear power has now proven to be the most expensive source of electricity. It is also one of the most complicated and dangerous methods of electrical generation. ISU SEAC faculty advisor Angelo Capparella dismisses myths about nuclear power, countering that "nuclear energy is 'clean' only if one ignores reality." Spent fuel rods will remain dangerous for millions of years. No government in the world has a better plan for nuclear waste disposal than burying it underground, which risks serious groundwater contamination among many other legitimate concerns.

This conference ties in with the SEAC National Youth Power Shift Campaign. SEAC National is a student and youth run national network of progressive organizations and individuals whose aim is to uproot environmental injustices through action and education.

For more information: Nuclear Reality Conference (including registration info): http://www.nukereality.org
Nuclear Energy Information Service: http://www.neis.org
Nuclear Information and Resource Service: http://www.nirs.org
SEAC National Youth Power Shift Campaign: http://www.seac.org/energy
Planned speakers include: Paul Gunter Director of the Reactor Watchdog Project for NIRS; Oscar Shirani, whistle-blower against Exelon, GE Nuclear Energy, Holtec International, US Tool & Die, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Information & Resource Service; Bonnie Urfer, Nukewatch; John LaForge, Nukewatch; Dave Kraft, Nuclear Energy Information Service; Sandra Lindberg, No New Nukes; Kalynda Tilges, Shundahai Network; Julie Elzanati, Ecology Action Center; Ann Alexander, Environmental Law & Policy Center; Stanley Campbell, Blackhawk Sierra Club; Andy Borbely, Illinois Student Environmental Network; Chris Lempa, Illinois Student Environmental Network
Contact:
Geoff Ower geoff (at) nukereality.org>geoff (at) nukereality.org, (309)454-1836
Dan Moriarity dan (at) nukereality.org>dan (at) nukereality.org, (309)451-1789
Illinois State University Chapter
Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)