Tag: #WorldTeamNow (Page 5 of 5)

OPEN LETTER TO WORLD LEADERS CALLS FOR AN END OF THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR POWER

March 8, 2012 / Suzanne Maxx / 1 Comment

Open letter to world leaders calls for an end of the threat of nuclear power

This “Open Letter” below was drafted by Green Peace International and was sent to the 300 member organization of the international Tcktcktck global campaign to give to our world leaders. World Team Now is about making team work, so we signed this open letter, along with many global activists, entertainers, peace keepers, and other NGO’s. The common thread is clear when the majority of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) signatories to this international letter are from Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Korea. World Team Now is a stand for renewable energy, this does not include nuclear energy, and we have made our stand clear over a year ago by signing this national letter to President Obama and this recent international letter for our World Leaders. The ramifications of nuclear power live beyond these divisions of territories and human life — the use of nuclear power is a world issue. World Team Now contributed to Green Peace this summary paragraph:

It’s time to make a change, and World Team Now supports real renewable energy solutions. It is impossible to engineer for a “black swan” (heavy tailed probability distribution) and there is also still the conundrum of radioactive wastes, high risk, and ridiculous expense with nuclear energy. Let’s use our resources to combine the real renewable energy solutions; solar, wind, tidal, heat coolant geothermal together and “teamed up” to help us live in better balance with our resources, for global transformation.

Suzanne Maxx
World Team Now
Founder/President/Chair

Open letter to: World leaders

Subject: The risks of nuclear reactors

7 March 2012

On behalf of the millions of people in the world who live with the threat of a nuclear disaster ruining their lives, we are writing to ask you to recognize that now is the time to put people ahead of the nuclear industry and hold the industry fully liable for the risks and damages of its disasters. It is time to remove the risks of nuclear from people’s lives and shift our economies to clean, safe energy systems.

The earthquake and tsunami that devastated the east coast of Japan almost a year ago exposed the serious failures in the system for regulating nuclear reactors and for protecting people from nuclear accidents.

Tens of thousands died as a result of the destruction of the earthquake and tsunami. Hundreds of thousands continue to suffer from their impacts and also from the nuclear disaster that followed. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by these disasters.

The main lesson from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is that the significant failure of the institutions that were supposed to protect people from such an accident in fact enabled it. Years before the disaster, the risks of earthquakes and tsunamis were well known. Yet, the nuclear industry and its regulators chose to ignore the dangers.

The first to suffer from their negligence were first responders such as plant workers and firefighters who risked their health and even their lives to reduce the radiation risks for others.

Despite their efforts, more than 150,000 people have been forced to leave areas with the highest levels of radiation — losing their homes, communities and livelihoods. Many more still live in contaminated areas including pregnant women and children who are more vulnerable to the effects of radiation exposure.

The overall costs of the Fukushima accident, including compensation and decommissioning the Daiichi plant’s six reactors, have been projected to reach $500 to $650 billion US dollars. Japanese law makes a nuclear operator fully liable for all the costs of a disaster, but in practice the Japanese people will end up paying almost all of the costs out of their taxes, not the nuclear industry.

The mistakes in Japan are repeated in every country in the world with nuclear reactors. No reactor is safe, and no regulatory system ensures safety. Millions of people are at risk, since at any time, any reactor could have a serious accident. Furthermore, even after 60 years of nuclear power, no one in the world can look us in the eye and say that a secure, long-term solution to storing radioactive waste exists. This highly hazardous waste must be stored safely for hundreds of
thousands of years.

The nuclear industry often claims, incorrectly, that nuclear energy is needed to combat climate change. On the contrary, expensive and dangerous nuclear power diverts investment from renewable energy — the real solution to climate change.

Yet, in every country, decision makers and regulators are more concerned about protecting the profits of the nuclear industry than in fulfilling their responsibility to protect people.

It is now time to put people first.

Signed

Kumi Naidoo, ED Greenpeace International
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laurate, 1984
Josh Karliner, International Team Coordinator, Health Care Without Harm
Joanna Kerr, Chief Executive, Action Aid
Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth
Oliver Tickell, Founder, Kyoto2
Helen Kelly, President, Council of Trade Unions, New Zealand
Kjeld Jakobsen, President, Insitituto para o Desenvovvimento da Cooperacao e Relacoes internationais
Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General, CIVICUS
Senator Bob Brown, Leader, Green Party Australia
Richard Harvey, International Human Rights Lawyer
Suzanne Maxx, Founder/President, World Team Now
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, President, African Monitor
Kelly Rigg, Founding Director, Varda Group
Rosa Lizarde, Global Coordinator, Feminist Task Force of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty
Senator Doug Cameron, Senator from New South Wales, Labour Party Australia
Ralph Nader, American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney
Marina Silva, Brazilian environmentalist and politician (running in the 2010 Brazilian elections)
Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen US-Organisation
John Hall, Former U.S. Congressman
Ed Begley, Jr., Actor/Activist, acting in famous US television series St. Elsewhere
Mike Farrell, Actor/Activist, best known for his role in the television series M*A*S*H (1975–83)
Peter Yarrow, Singer/Activist, part of folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary
Alek sey Yablokov, Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
Askhat Kayumov, Ecological center “Dront”, Russia
Elena Stepanova, Russian Physicians for ecology
Milya Kabirova, Russian Nuclear Victims Organization “AIGUL’
Andrey Laletin, Friends of the Siberian Forests, Russia
Alexey Zimenko, Russian, Biodiversity Conservation Center
Natalia Mironova, Russian Movement for Nuclear Safety and Institute of Public Policy and Law, Russia
Andrey Talevlin, Russian Fund for Nature
Feodor Kronikovsky, Russian Ecological group “Taiga”
Boris Rezhabek, North-Caucasian Department of International Ecological Fund and Institute
Noosperical Research and Investigation, Russia
Mikhail Piskunov, Russian Center for Assistance to Citizen Initiatives
Aleksandr Zaytsev, Murmansk regional public organization “Kola Environmental Centre”, Russia
Nikolai Zubov, Krasnoyarsk regional public organization «Krasnoyarsk Regional Ecological Union», Russia
Alexey Toropov, Siberian Ecological Agency, Russia
Ms. Young-sun JI, Co-representative, Korea Federation of Environmental Movement (KFEM)
Mr. Nam Boo-Won, National General Secretary, YMCA of Korea
Ms. Mee-Jung Nam/Ms. Young-Sook Park, Co-representatives, Korean Women’s Environmental Network
Father Hong-Pyo Park, Chairman, No Nukes Samchuck Coalition, Korea
Prof. Ik-Jung Kim, Chairman, Gyung Ju Branch of Korea Federation of Environmental Movement, Korea
Dr. Byungok Ahn, Head, Institute for Climate Change Action, Korea
Ms. Younghee Kim, Representative Lawyer, Lawyers Association for Nuke-free Korea
Dr. Do-Myung Paek, Chairman, Korean Doctors Association for Nuke-free society, Korea
Prof. Moo-Young Choi, Co-Chairman, Korean Professors Association for Nuke-free and Energy, Korea
Mr. Anselmo Lee, Managin-Director, Korea Human Rights Foundation, Korea

Father Kyu-hyun Mun, Director, Majungmool for Life & Peace, Korea
Ms. Sohee Im, Secretary General, Naummmunhwa Global Peace Activities, Korea
Mr. Heon-Seok Lee, Representative, Energy Justice Actions, Korea
Mr. Jin-Young Jeong, Chairman, Korean Teacher’s Organization for Ecological Education and Activity, Korea
Mr. Yong-Hwi Kim, Secretary General, Cheondogyo Hanwool-Yeondae, Korea
Mr. Seung-Jo Roh, Representative, Climate & Energy Center, Korea
Mr. Kwang-soo Choi, Representative, Ecobuddha, Korea
Adenex, José María González/President, Spanish environmental NGO
Ecologistas en Acción, Francisco Segura/ Coordinator ,Spanish environmental NGO
Bonnie Raitt

Team Leads “Charge” with New EV Stations and Vehicles in Malibu

August 4, 2011 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

Photo by Stefano Paris

World Team Now’s local efforts to promote electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure, was celebrated in Malibu, California on that same day President Obama announced that fuel standard would be raised to 54.5mpg for the USA. Large scale adoption of vehicle electrification and the new fuel standards are both active steps to inspire environmental and economic sustainability.

World Team Now (WTN) our non-profit organization that is part of our emergent multi-media project, World Team, connected the City of Malibu with electric vehicle charger manufacturer, Clipper Creek to upgrade the chargers to “work” with state grant funds from the California Energy Commission. “Our goals is to raise awareness and educate the public,”says Founder Suzanne Maxx.

The City of Malibu is the first beachside city in the USA to take advantage of the new charger upgrade grant program. To augment the local City of Malibu’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the new electric vehicle charging stations, WTN brought in the leading global rental company, Hertz.

Hertz’s Tesla Roadster and Nissan Leaf both came from Hertz on Demand and Hertz Entertainment Services

Jim Boysen of Hertz Entertainment Services took to the podium to share about Hertz’s vision:

“To make electric vehicles accessible to consumers and to assist private industry, municipalities and government in the creation of an infrastructure that supports a transition to the wide use of electric vehicles,” (a mission supported by World Team Now).

Jim spoke about Pepperdine University being one of the nationwide college campuses offering Hertz on Demand. Hertz has plans for the source of their electricity used to be generated by solar energy, and is rolling out solar roof projects.

Rt-lft, Jim Boysen (Hertz) City Council Member Lou LaMonte, Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Rosenthal, Mayor John Sibert, Actor Larry Hagman, Councilmen Jefferson Wagner, and center, World Team Now's Founder Suzanne Maxx

World Team Now’s Honorary President Actor Larry Hagman was one of the VIPs, there to support World Team’s activities. Larry produces the nation’s largest amount of residential solar energy. Since WTN’s benefit dinner sponsor Solar World, who has donated solar panels to WTN joined forces with Larry for the campaign “Shine Baby Shine” which promotes solar energy globally.

The City Council event attracted network coverage, local media, EV enthusiasts, WTN supporters, and local residents with EVs. There were about a dozen EV’s on site ranging from the new Tesla to the old Toyota RAV4 driven by Malibu local “William” and his two little special needs dogs.

Hertz' Tesla- Leafs and Toyota's RAV4 Photo by Stefano Paris

A real mini horse & carriage pulled up along the side the EVs charging– it put “energy” and the transformation of transportation in perspective– we have come along way. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place in front of the Civic Center and Library across the street from the City’s new Legacy Park. Mayor John Sibert presided over the City Council’s ribbon cutting along with Laura Rosenthal and advocates of World Team Now’s efforts for the City Charger project Lou LaMonte and Jefferson Wagner who went out on a limb to make the grant happen with WTN for the city.

Rt. Jim Boysen, John Sibert, Lou LaMonte, Laura Rosenthal,Jefferson Wagner, Suzanne Maxx and Larry Hagman (photo by Stefano Paris)

Former USA Ambassador of Malta Professor Douglas Kmeic rode an electric bike to the chargers’ installation where World Team documented the EV chargers– conducting interviews and filming the process of the installation on July 27^th. Doug helped to frame the local action into the big picture perspective of the USA’s dependency on foreign oil, and the international politics that affect our country’s economic and environmental safety and security.

Kava Seward was there from State Senator Fran Pavley’s office who presented The City of Malibu an award for sustainability.

WTN's installation shoot actor/activist Max Gail, singer Laura Fercano, and WTN cameraman "Zac "!

Other VIP attendees and supporters included Steve Soberoff, actor/activist Max Gail, activist John Quigley, local/global musician John Zambetti, his wife Joan, and singer Laura Fercano. World Team Now had a great crew to film both days of action. We offer a special thanks to all who made the filming and installation possible—you know who you are—we appreciate our local constituency in Malibu who helped and invite all who are interested to join us.

WTN's Suzanne Maxx and Hertz's all electric Nissan Leaf

World Team Now’s Founder and President Suzanne Maxx traded in Hertz’s Nissan Altima, for the Hertz’s all new Nissan Leaf, which boasts zero emissions. “Life in an EV is a new reality– it changes ones perception about time, distance and energy! Suzanne in her new leaf was the first one to lead the “charge” at the new electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Malibu. “There is a sense of integrity and freedom to be as responsible as possible for the resources used to harmonize on this World Team journey with life, said Suzanne. “It takes a team, to transform transportation”.

Local and global non-profit World Team Now (WTN) utilized teamwork for the public to have access to free electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Malibu.

Hertz's Nissan Leaf takes Charge @New EV Charging Station in Malibu

Malibu’s electric vehicle charging initiative is an example of teamwork. The City of Malibu old electric vehicle charging stations were repaired and replaced (see “Time for the Charge”). World Team Now knew there were funds available from the state through a program from the California Energy Commission to cover the cost for cities for their electric vehicle chargers to upgrade to the newly adopted universal plug standard SAE J1772, and repair the old charger that is needed for EV’s like the RAV4 that have been in existence before the plug standard was adopted.

World Team Now built a constituency and approached the Malibu City Council who decided to accept the state grant. Manufacturer Clipper Creek won the grant to supply their leading electric vehicle chargers. EVConnect orchestrated the installation.

This local government action and the national fuel standards increase are steps to address the United Nation’s Security Council declarative statement issued last week that climate change is a threat to all nations’ security and welfare. Governments were asked to take action. World Team Now leads the EV “charge” forward for public awareness and to grow the charging infrastructure.

IAEA's Warning Sign for Ionizing Radiation (changed)

New “Sign” of Radiation

May 26, 2011 / Suzanne Maxx / 6 Comments

IAEA's New Warning Sign for Ionizing Radiation

It may be better to not “know” what is happening now. We have meltdowns in all three of Fukushima’s Power Plants’ reactors, plus number four’s elevated floor storage pool is in jeopardy of collapsing from inside of what remains of the building.

Aftershocks continue in Japan. It is amazing how many people knew about “The Rapture” and how few know that there is a very real radioactive catastrophe still unfolding in Fukushima, Japan that affects us all, and our world. It is not just the air we breathe; it is the food we eat, the water we drink, and our whole bio-diverse interconnected system to consider. Radioactive particles are being found in the USA and continue to be a concern for all of us around the world. Learn more about the danger, click here to watch video on radioactive particles.

Meltdown through containment vessels in three nuclear reactors via a global media perspective;

The radiation exposure seems minimal; 3 millisieverts in 20 minutes is what is being reported that workers are exposed to who entered the No.#3 reactor at Fukushima. The wording below reduces the severity of the amount of radiation exposure, comparing ten minutes with the amount of radiation for the entire year, instead of an hour, (which the amount is greater than) and using words like “less than”. Can the media distract public fear?

“The two TEPCO employees that entered the No. #3 reactor building on Wednesday evening were exposed to less than 3 millisieverts of radiation during their 10-minute stay, compared with the government-set limit of 250 millisieverts per worker per year.”

These workers are continuing to go onsite…What is not mentioned (see below), or in the many articles that concern the amount of radiation exposure, is that the radiation dose is cumulative. This is a high dose of radiation for 20 minutes.

The media, government and corporate officials’ approach to minimize the severity and calm the public perception of the situation in the long run does not serve anyone, especially the public. People deserve the opportunity to make responsible decisions regarding their own health and livelihood, and be informed from authority that is endowed with trust.

If the reactor’s pressure vessels are damaged, as we now know is the case in No.#1, and looks to be the case recently proven also in No. #2 and No.#3 reactors, this remains unchartered territory. This is a critical situation with unknown outcomes that will continue for at least several months more. If you are wondering how TEPCO in good conscious can now make the statement; “We don’t think it will develop into a worse situation,” take into consideration that this comes from a company who was brought to court about the back-up safety systems of their nuclear power plants, and failed to make the safety changes when warned prior. Unfortunately none of this is comforting.

One thing all can agree on is that this situation is constantly changing so check out the IAEA’s Facebook page for up to the minute status of the continuing nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima, the IAEA team is there now to review. They also are now using a new sign to communicate a radio active area, to reduce deaths and serious injuries from exposure to radioactive sources. Have you seen this yet? “It is a supplementary warning to the trefoil, which has no intuitive meaning and little recognition beyond those educated in its significance,” said staff report from the IAEA. A study about the old sign showed the symbol did not clearly communicate to the public any inherit danger.

Fukushima can’t be stopped at this point, but we can take a look at what we continue to have at stake, in each country with nuclear power. Germany recently, and today we congratulate Switzerland for the decision to phase out nuclear power now entirely– for renewable energy.

Many countries have begun a review of their nuclear power plants. The EU protested yesterday the proposed review of nuclear to exclude the possibility of safety if terrorist attack, in the assessment. There seems to be agreement on the concern here from both the English and the Irish, but some controversy about Sellafield; an Irish media outlet says it will be excluded in the review, while an English media outlet says it will be included ?

Here in the USA right now, the NRC is reviewing all power plants with a report expected to be complete mid July. World Team Now is focused on these potentially “fatal 4” power plants in largely populated coastal areas;

The Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2011 reflect our concern about these plants. We can make different choices –with the best method to solve a catastrophe; avoid one. Defense: close antiquated nuclear power plants. Offense: open up renewable energy sources on a large scale. It is a step that Japan is now considering 20% renewable energy by 2020. We need both defense and offense for humanity’s game of life. The points from Arnold Gunderson of Fairewinds in this presentation; “The Implications of the Fukushima Accident on the World’s Operating Reactors” brings home some considerations about the nuclear power.

More Radioactive Water into the Ocean:

The levels of radiation from Fukushima now: