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NUCLEAR ENERGY COSTS THE EARTH CAMPAIGN RELEASE: Immediate Thursday, 22 May 2003 Att: Environmental Editor Subject: Nuclear EARTHLIFE AFRICA GOES TO COURT TO FORCE GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN Today, on the 22nd May, Earthlife Africa Cape Town will go to court to stop the government from making a decision on the proposed nuclear pebble bed modular reactor. For the past 2 years, Earthlife Africa has been trying to participate meaningfully in a complex EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) process which aims to assess the risks and benefits of the proposed PBMR from an environmental, economic and social point of view. However, the organisation has battled to access important reports which would enable it to analyse and review the proposed project fully. For example, the PBMR proponent refused to release vital safety information, on the basis of commercial confidentiality. However, once the deadline for inputs was past, this information was available, too late for an analysis to be made. ?“Earthlife Africa believes that the final EIA report on which government is about to make its decision is biased and that we have been effectively prevented from telling our side of the story?” stated ELA spokesperson, Liz McDaid. Earthlife Africa is arguing that it has a right to a hearing before the decision is made and that those rights will be irreparably harmed once the decision is made. ?“Despite repeated requests, the government has refused to listen. Given that government wants to make a decision in May, we have no other recourse now but to go to court to stop them in their tracks and make them listen.?” McDaid said. Contact: Liz McDaid - 021 683 5182 or 082 731 5643 Email: [email protected] end ?? |
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