Countdown to deadline for appeal – wake up citizens of Cape Town.

Earthlife Africa Cape Town press release July 21

Environmental groups and concerned citizens of SA now have only 5 working days to appeal the decision of DEAT regarding the PBMR.   Earthlife Africa will be appealing to the minister to overturn the approval that his departmental officials gave in June.

Why are we appealing?
A number of critical substantive  issues have been raised during the EIA process.  Earthlife Africa Cape Town made an input into the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report, raising very important issues that were then mostly ignored by Eskom.

Amongst these issues is:
- the economic viability of the PBMR, 
- the radioactive nuclear waste that remains toxic for at least 250 000 years with no place to store it, and
- the health impacts, particularly of low dose radiation

For more details see attached.

How to appeal?
Every South African has the right to appeal to the minister.  Unfortunately, the process is yet another obstacle to true public participation.  The appeal must be filled in on a requisite form, available from the DEAT and must be completed and signed by a commissioner of oaths.  Earthlife Africa has obtained a copy of the form and it is available from us or off our website.  earthlife-ct.org.za.

Earthlife Africa is asking all concerned citizens to appeal to the Minister to stop this nuclear nonsense.  You can support us, write a letter of support and send it to us and we will include it in our appeal papers.

Legal process:
Notwithstanding our appeal, Earthlife Africa believes that the EIA process is fatally flawed and our lawyers have commenced the legal process; requesting from the DEAT reasons for their decision.