Camapign for a nuclear free Africa
Nuclear power is the epitome of extremely dangerous concentration of energy, with massive cost externalization and is antithetical to the very idea of justice.
Against the planned building of nuclear power plants by the South African government, many groups have come together to launch a campaign for a nuclear free Africa. This resonates with the many vibrant anti-nuclear movements in India that many of us are involved in. And this needs to be supported by the international climate justice community.
We have often seen short sighted support of nuclear fission-based power, in the misguided belief that this is carbon-neutral, even from sensible and intelligent scientists and journalists (Lovelock & Monbiot being two prominent examples). We need to counter these narrow sectoral focus, and highlight the larger connections - nuclear power being the epitome of extremely dangerous concentration / centralization of energy, with massive cost externalization and antithetical to the very idea of justice.
In India too, we have seen narrowly focussed 'environmentalists' / activists propagating one for of dirty energy while opposing another (coal plant for big-dams, nuclear for coal etc). These must be resisted.
This initiative by SA's anti-nuclear groups is very encouraging and they have stayed clear on the clean renewable energy demand. This initiative deserves and needs support from all the climate justice communities.
Humanly,
Soumya Dutta, South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED) / National Alliance Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM), India