We hold on to the hope inherent in socialism that even in the darkest moment of disaster, a better world is possible.
by Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton, co-chairs Socialist Party USA
March 15, 2011 - The Socialist Party USA extends its most sincere wishes of sympathy and solidarity to the people of Japan as they suffer from the greatest tragedy since World War II. We have watched in horror as the deadly Tsunami wiped out whole towns, killing tens of thousands of people. Even areas that were left untouched by the direct devastation are now suffering from shortages in the most basic and vital supplies to ensure people’s health and welfare.
We support the efforts of International relief organizations who are responding to the crisis. We also call for the substantial resources of the US government to be used in the initiative to relieve the suffering of the Japanese people. It is moments like this where we recognize, and others should realize, how important the
kind of global connectedness necessary to create an international system based on solidarity and mutual cooperation is most necessary.
Political statements seem out of order given the depth of human suffering. However, we are also quite concerned about the potential dangers facing the Japanese people and people around the world from the damaged nuclear reactors. Though the storm was a natural phenomenon, the dangers inherent in nuclear energy, not to mention nuclear arms, are not; they were created by human hands. 
We pledge and hope others will as well, to redouble efforts to end the “Nuclear Renaissance” currently underway in the US and hope other countries will do the same in ending the use of nuclear energy and the elimination of nuclear arms stockpiles worldwide. This is especially critical now as we see first hand the added devastation from the release of unknown amounts of radiation from the meltdown of possibly multiple nuclear power plants. We can only guess at the added cost of life, and fear the unknown effects on future generations.
Only a program of green renewable energy forms can meet the long-term demands for energy while ensuring the safety of the world’s population.
Today, we stand together with the Japanese people who are struggling to deal with this most terrible tragedy. There are no words that can effectively convey our sincerest sympathies to the people of Japan at this dark devastating time.
We hold on to the hope inherent in socialism that even in the darkest moment of disaster, a better world is possible. We hope that our simple message of solidarity to the people of Japan and to the family members here and around the world dealing with loss of loved ones may contribute in some small way, to raising the spirits of those in despair and to building greater links of friendship in the future.
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THE LESSON OF FUKUSHIMA: NUCLEAR MEANS CATASTROPHE This article of interest, and in the spirit of SPUSA declaration:
http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=3977
The debate about nuclear power is primarily political, a debate society must have that ultimately poses a choice of civilization.
The radical social democratic party DIE LINKE in Germany is also calling for a total end to nuclear energy there: "DIE LINKE fordert die dauerhafte Abschaltung der alten AKW sowie den schnellen Ausstieg aus der Atomtechnologie in Deutschland und in Europa. Wir brauchen einen Atomausstieg, der wirklich wasserdicht ist, einen Atomausstieg, den eine andere Regierungnicht einfach über Nacht kündigen kann."
Posted on March 21, 2011 2:03 PM
A thought-provoking article on profit over people: NUCLEAR IN JAPAN: SAFETY SACRIFICED ON THE ALTAR OF PROFIT
http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=3979
Since 2003, the big Japanese private group Tepco has focused on “reduction of costs of maintenance” in order to render profits
“secure.”
The radioactive rain from Chernobyl which fell on Bulgaria on May 1, 1986, when many in the population were outside celebrating the holiday (and the Bulgarian army was under strict secret orders to stay indoors in barracks for 36 hours), has had incalculable effects on the general population. Doctors are seeing this today.
Girls then 20 years old caught out in the rain without umbrellas are developing severe unexplainable polyarthritis (I know someone very well who was probably contaminated and is now nearly fully disabled from arthritis at age 45), thyroid problems in much higher incidence, cancers of various types and much more, including inexplicable collapse of the immune system. It is very difficult to determine such long-term effects of exposure to radioactive rain after 20-25 years. Nor is this much discussed in the media.
Another source of contamination in Bulgaria, many 100s of kilometers from Chernobyl, was contamination of crops, which experts here (and many in the general population) believe has also been a factor in rising rates of cancer and some other severe diseases. We will never know the full extent of Chernobyl impact, the Soviet Union's May Day gift from the sky to it western neighbors. The extreme radiation poisoning in
Kiev was also on May 1, during May Day celebrations, when heavy radioactive rain fell on an unsuspecting population, including many
school kids. A policy of secrecy kept the people in the dark. But the Warsaw pact military was informed and indoors, everywhere.
The recent book published by the New York Academy of Sciences >Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment< suggests the number of victims dead from Chernobyl is in the range of 1 million. "Chernobyl fallout covers the entire Northern Hemisphere." http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-26-01.html
Posted on March 21, 2011 2:32 PM
Physicians for Social Responsibility warn about radiation poisoning in Japan, and the risks even after small exposure:
http://www.countercurrents.org/psr230311.htm The effects can come years, even decades later in an individual's life.
Posted on March 24, 2011 2:52 AM
What PSR says is also reflected in this chilling interview with an expert on nuclear contamination and longtime anti-nuke campaigner: http://www.countercurrents.org/smith260311.htm
Posted on March 26, 2011 3:05 PM
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