Bobby Ramakant - CNS
[Online poster image gallery] [हिन्दी] Over a hundred poster exhibits made on "Lessons From Japan" theme by Lucknow youth had sent a strong message on Hiroshima Day, 6th August 2013 in favour of low carbon and no-nuclear energy. Using nuclear energy for power generation is a very dangerous and expensive option with serious risk of irreparable and/or long term damage to environment and human life, argued the activists. This Lessons From Japan poster exhibition was organized at Daffodils Convent Inter College campus in Lucknow by Vote For Health campaign, CNS, Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
Posters on "Lessons From Japan" theme made by students of La Martinere Girls’ College (LMGC), Loreto Convent Inter College, Christ Church College, City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow University (LU), Ram Swaroop Memorial Public School, Dabble College, Daffodils Convent Inter College, Eram Inter College, Unity College, Bal Bharti School, Sherwood College, Arvind Academy, Navyug Public School, Spring Dale College, Punjab Technical University, Awadh University and other educational institutions were exhibited.
Recent nuclear emergency in Japan leaves no doubt that this world needs to renounce nuclear power for military and civil/ energy purposes, as soon as possible, to put an end to any further catastrophe in the name of 'energy', 'security' or 'technology'. Nuclear power is clearly the most dangerous options for civil or military use. Countries that have been using nuclear power such as Germany and Japan have resolved to abandon nuclear energy by 2022.
"We promote the use of indigenous energy resources such as coal, gas, hydro (small, micro dams or run of the river categories), solar, wind energy, biogas etc., and ensuring our future energy supplies from Iran and other countries in West and Central Asia. Although we realize that fossil fuel based method of energy production is also harmful contributing to global warming and ideally like European Union and Japan we should aim for a low-carbon energy production system. India’s future energy policy should be low carbon and no nuclear" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, a visiting faculty at IIT-BHU and Magsaysay Awardee.
"We also strongly condemn the undemocratic manner in which nuclear energy is forced upon us. Indian government has used a strong hand to snub the people’s movement against nuclear energy (PMANE) in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. It is the people in Europe and America that have forced their governments by coming out in large numbers to abandon nuclear energy. But Indian government is trying to stifle such people's initiatives to have their say" added Dr Sandeep Pandey whose book on a "Towards a Nuclear Free World" in Hindi language published by Vani Prakashan was released in Delhi last month.
The nuclear power industry accounts for 2-3 % of India's electricity generation with about 4,800 MW in installed capacity. Even if opposition magically evaporates and the 2,000 MW Koodankulam project goes ahead, it will not make a material difference to power shortages, for the next three years.There are many lower-hanging fruit visible to meet India’s energy needs. For example, national transmission and distribution (T and D) losses are close to 30%. China has a gross 8% T and D loss; and the European Union 7%. If India cut T and D losses even by 10-15 %, it would be the equivalent of instantly adding 5-6 times nuclear capacity, while incurring zero environmental costs and risks. There would be no protests about implementing improved T and D practices.
We believe that India should adopt the futuristic energy policy like Japan and the European Union (EU) relying on renewable sources of energy which are non-polluting. Like EU and Japan, India too should aim for a low-carbon energy production system. India’s future energy policy should be low carbon and no nuclear. We appeal to the Indian government to support dialogue on nuclear energy in a democratic way.
Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service - CNS
August 2013
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