Greenpeace urges Hong Kong government to drop Nuclear power expansion

Greenpeace urges govt to drop N-power expansion
2/29/2012
By Fan Feifei (HK Edition)
China Daily


Greenpeace on Tuesday called upon the government to drop all plans for nuclear power expansion, and to review the "Daya Bay Contingency Plan" immediately. 


The environmental group said there is a lesson to be learned from the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year on March 11. The disaster at the Fukushima reactor triggered off an earthquake and a tsunami.



http://www.facebook.com/nuclearfree
http://www.facebook.com/nukefree



The report, released by the organization indicated that the Japanese government's insistence of setting a 20 kilometer (km) evacuation zone was insufficient. Greenpeace also said there was not enough care for the victims affected by the nuclear leak.


Greenpeace underlined that though Japan was considered one of the best-prepared countries in the world for handling nuclear disasters, the reality of the Fukushima disaster proved to be far worse than any disaster plan or nuclear evacuation plan had anticipated.


The organization said Daya Bay nuclear plant had a similar contingency plan to its Japanese counterpart, namely, full countermeasures to be invoked within a 20 km radius around the nuclear power stations in the unlikely event of a serious nuclear accident.


Prentice Koo, Greenpeace senior campaigner, said Hong Kong has less preparation compared with Japan. He also noticed that the densely packed population of Hong Kong might result in more serious incidents.


"This report shows that nuclear energy is inherently unsafe. Nuclear power must be phased out and replaced with smart investments in energy efficiency and renewable power", said Koo.


Koo added, "this approach will create millions of sustainable jobs, improve energy independence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and will also ensure people will never again suffer radioactive fallout from a preventable disaster".


The organization appealed to Chief Executive candidates to learn from the Fukushima experience, and to formulate more safe energy policies, leading Hong Kong to a sustainable future without nuclear energy.


The environment group also suggested the Security Bereau improve the Daya Bay contingency plan and invite the public to participate in the related formulation.


The Security Bereau said it had set up the advisory panel to make an overall review of the Daya Bay contingency plan since last year and the panel mainly checked the renewal of the infrastructure and safety measures at the Daya Bay nuclear plant.


The group included official members and unofficial members from medical, nuclear power, engineering, atmospheric science, radiology and other sectors.


The Security Bereau still considers the 20 kilometers evacuation zone around nuclear power stations to be sufficient.


The organization also provided mobile phone applications for testing the distance between the users and the location of Daya Bay nuclear plant and then decide where to move in case of disasters.