Germany’s Renewable Path to a Nuke-Free Future – September 14, 2011

The US Could Follow — If Only There Were the Political Will

When Germany announced in June that it would phase out nuclear energy by the end of 2022, arguing that the shift would have not only environmental but also economic benefits, critics charged the goal was impossible.

Photo by benefit of hindsight Wind turbines in a field in eastern Friesland, Germany. The nation plans to phase out nuclear
energy by the end of 2022.

Germany, they argued, would need to import greater levels of nuclear energy from France, natural gas from Russia or coal from Poland. Germany’s four leading nuclear-producing energy firms — Eon, RWE, EnBw and Vattenfall — warned that Germany would face winter blackouts.

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by: Tina Gerhardt

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Tug-of-War over Nuclear Energy in France – July 12, 2011

Sarkozy Increases Funding as Safety Concerns Loom and Activists Protest

The nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant has upended the politics of atomic energy worldwide. Following the disaster, Germany announced a phase out of nuclear energy by 2022, Switzerland decided to decommission its last plant by 2034, and Italy’s voters decided to shut down their plants as well.

Photo by Gretchen Mahan A nuclear plant rises above a field of mustard flowers in the French countryside outside of Paris.

But France, which gets 74 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy — more than any other country, has made no move to phase out or reduce its investment in nuclear energy, even though it… more

by: Tina Gerhardt

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Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein Call for Civil Disobedience to Block Keystone XL Pipeline – June 27, 2011

If Approved, Keystone Would Increase US Oil Imports from Alberta Tar Sands

Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, James Hansen, Maude Barlow, Wendell Berry and others have circulated a letter calling for civil disobedience to stop the Keystone Pipeline. The 1600 mile proposed pipeline would run from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada to oil refineries in Texas.

Photo by Shannon RamosKeystone pipeline under construction.

Thursday, the House Energy committee approved legislation that requires President Obama to make a decision on the Keystone Pipeline by November. The bill passed in a 33-13 vote with the support of six Democrats. It will move to the House for a vote later this summer.

The direct action to… more

by: Tina Gerhardt

Italy’s Voters Scrap Nuclear Energy! – June 13, 2011

Crushing Political Blow for Already Beleaguered Berlusconi

Berlin, Germany – Voters in Italy turned out in droves on Monday to scrap nuclear energy and water privatization. As polls on referendums on four key pieces of government legislation closed on Monday afternoon, the 50 percent hurdle required for the voter turnout to count had been cleared. The latest count put the quorum at 57 percent.

Photo courtesy European People's Party"We shall say goodbye to nuclear energy," Italian
prime minister Silvo Berlusconi said, admitting defeat.

Nuclear energy was one of four items on the ballot. The others include water privatization (two questions) and whether or not government officials must appear in court when they… more

by: Tina Gerhardt

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The UN Climate Negotiations Kick Off — Sort Of – June 8, 2011

Bolivia Criticizes Market Mechanisms in the Cancún Agreement and REDD

Bonn, Germany – On Monday, a two-week long round of UN climate negotiations, lasting from June 6 to June 17, 2011, kicked off in Bonn, Germany. The talks will prepare for the way for the COP 17, which takes place November 28, 2011 to December 9, 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

Over 3000 participants from 183 countries, doing their best to avoid the E. Coli scare currently sweeping Germany, are in attendance.

Photo courtesy:
Robert vanWaarden/Oxfam Oxfam campaigners spelling out their message to UN delegates during the 2010 United Nations climate
talks in Bonn Germany

The work before the group is clear. Last week,… more

by: Tina Gerhardt

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