"Greenpeace" in Vilnius: nuclear is dangerous - vote NO
Representatives of the global environmental organisation have urged the Lithuanian public to say NO to dangerous nuclear in the upcoming referendum this weekend.
Today Greenpeace volunteers hanged a banner on the White bridge in Vilnius, warning the public about risks posed by nuclear technology. The banner which was suspended by four climbers over the Neris River said: Nuclear is Dangerous - Vote NO.
“There is nothing like safe nuclear energy. We have been told now for 60 years that nuclear can be safe, but history taught us different. Nuclear lobby is always claiming that a serious accident will not happen again – just like they said before Chernobyl, Fukushima and many others that keep happening worldwide. Lithuanians shouldn´t risk of being the next “impossible” accident,” said Greenpeace representative Andrea Zlatňanská inVilnius today.
Environmentalist also noted that countries that are now phasing out nuclear and choosing safe, modern alternatives for the future still have to deal with burdensome nuclear heritage – risks and costs linked to managing long lived radioactive waste for thousands of years to come. According to Greenpeace this is the moment, when Lithuania can learn from western mistakes and jump straight on the moving train of energy efficiency and renewable energy which will ensure real energy security and green jobs.
“Claiming that Lithuania is by building its own reactor heading Western way is nonsense. There is nothing like “western nuclear” any more. Western countries are turning their backs to this dangerous technology, starting from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and even France. Accident stricken Japan is also changing its energy policies. Relying on nuclear means still being dependent on foreign energy sources, there is nothing like “our own nuclear” for Lithuania,” said Andrea Zlatňanská.
The new reactor proposed to be built by a Japanese consortium Hitachi-GE in Visaginas raises serious concern to the international community. Greenpeace reminds that it was Hitachi and GE that were responsible for the Fukushima Daiichi reactors. The accident was strongly complicated by known technical weaknesses that they resisted to address for decades. This was confirmed by two of the three Japanese government investigations into the catastrophe.
“The government is avoiding nuclear energy criticism and instead of providing balanced information as urged by the President is offering us emotional propaganda. With the help of the State Security Department, any objection to current energy policy is considered country betrayal. State funded propaganda campaign presenting one-sided view on Visaginas nuclear power plant project is not a transparent and civilized way to discuss matters of such scale and importance. This is a real threat to our civil society and Lithuania as democratic country“, said Kestutis Navickas, a chairman of the Environmental Coalition in Lithuania.
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