Joint press release: Environmental Justice Networking Forum, Earthlife Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg), NAMREC, COSATU (WC), National Union of Mineworks (NUM)

Once again, we call for a Nuclear Summit- our right to be heard 3rd June 2004 A parliamentary summit, in which pro and anti-nuclear proponents and experts would put their cases to parliamentarians, was cancelled days before it was due to take place (on 16 and 17 February). A nuclear summit would have provided an opportunity for those of us who have been speaking out against nuclear energy to voice our views. Affected communities and organizations have tried to participate in official processes such as the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed PBMR, and the new radioactive waste policy but with the odds stacked against us. The challenges are enormous. The subject is highly technical and community concerns are largely ignored. In our view, the nuclear industry is a relict of a bygone age when the environmental degradation counted for nothing. Even high flying businessmen like Clem Sunter are advocating a new road where profit is not the prime motive for business. The World Summit on Sustainable Development committed the world to sustainable development - development which occurs within the limits of the earth's recovery systems. Long lived nuclear waste (over 240 000 years before it is safe) produced by nuclear reactors is not sustainable development. The billions of rands being poured into nuclear industry will benefit who - certainly not ordinary South Africans. The nuclear summit provides organizations like us with a platform to put our views, and should enable technical experts to provide information to counter the nuclear propaganda put out by the nuclear industry. We believe that if any rational parliamentarian listens to all sides of the story, there is only one conclusion they can come to - nuclear power is not for South Africa - and our country is not to be used as a dumping ground for nuclear waste. The previous parliament stated that the summit was not cancelled but postponed. We therefore call on parliament to hold the nuclear summit, to listen to the people, before it is too late.