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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| NOVEMBER 9, 1998 8:33 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ozone Action Kymberly Escobar (202) 265-6738 kescobar@ozone.org |
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| Administration Pressured to Retract Negotiator's Endorsement of Nuclear Power; Organizations Insist Global Warming Cannot Be Solved with Nuclear Power | ||||||||||||
| WASHINGTON - November 9 - Today,
eleven of the most influential environmental, health and anti-nuclear public interest
organizations sent a joint letter to President Clinton (see attached) demanding a
retraction of remarks made last week by the lead U.S. climate negotiator who touted the
need for nuclear power to address global warming. In a speech on October 28 before the Center for National Policy, Stuart Eizenstat, Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, expressed his "firm belief" that nuclear power must "be a significant part of our energy future and a large part of the western world (sic), if we're going to meet these (emission reduction) targets [of the Kyoto Protocol] (Reuters 10-28-98)." The letter contrasted Secretary Eizenstat's comments with past comments by President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, stating that "it is highly inappropriate for our lead delegate on global warming to be making statements that are apparently contrary to Administration policy." In his 1993 State of the Union address, President Clinton called for the elimination of "programs that are no longer needed, such as nuclear power research and development." In addition, in Earth in the Balance, Vice President Gore stated "it is a mistake to argue that nuclear power holds the key to solving global warming." There is no mention of nuclear power in the plan the U.S. has released in Buenos Aires. Even so, the International Nuclear Forum has over 100 representatives attending the current round of climate negotiations to provide information about how nuclear power can help solve global warming. Eizenstat's comments are of particular concern given nuclear power's dismal safety, environmental and economic record. Signers emphasized that "it would be morally irresponsible to trade reduced greenhouse gas emissions today for an increased legacy of risk and radioactive waste that will plague generations to come." The organizations that signed the letter include: 20/20 Vision, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, National Environmental Trust, Nuclear Information Resource Service, Ozone Action, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project, Rainforest Action Network, Safe Energy Communication Council, and United States Public Interest Research Group.
### 20/20 Vision · Friends of the Earth · Greenpeace · National Environmental Trust Nuclear Information Resource Service · Ozone Action Physicians for Social Responsibility · Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project Rainforest Action Network · Safe Energy Communication Council United States Public Interest Research Group November 6, 1998 The Honorable William Clinton Dear President Clinton: We, the undersigned, respectfully call for an immediate retraction of recent public comments by Under Secretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, lead U.S. delegate to the global warming negotiations. Last week, Under Secretary Eizenstat publicly expressed his "firm belief" that nuclear power must "be a significant part of our energy future and a large part of the western world, if we are going to meet these (emission reduction) targets [of the Kyoto Protocol]." (Reuters 10-28-98) Under Secretary Eizenstat's statement is deeply troubling
for various reasons: Vice President Gore's opinions on the subject are apparently at odds with Under Secretary Eizenstat's. In Earth In The Balance, then Senator Gore stated that "it is a mistake to argue that nuclear power holds the key to solving global warming." (page 329) Under Secretary Eizenstat's remarks are out of synch with the Administration's public and budget commitments to increasing investment in energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy projects, while decreasing the historic appropriations bias for nuclear power. Finally, the overwhelming weight of economic reality and public opinion make nuclear power an untenable solution for global warming and the future energy needs of our country. It is highly inappropriate for our lead delegate on global warming to be making statements that are apparently contrary to Administration policy. Such statements will only serve to disrupt the global warming negotiations and undermine efforts to create clean and affordable solutions to global warming by developing renewable and environmentally benign solutions to this global threat. Once again, we respectfully request that Under Secretary Eizenstat's statements be publicly retracted by the Administration. In addition, Under Secretary Eizenstat should be immediately instructed, as lead U.S delegate, to no longer advance policies that are contrary to the Administration's support for sustainable energy development. The long-term economic, environmental and social costs of nuclear power are historically evident and well documented. Touting nuclear power as an economically viable solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions contradicts nuclear power's dismal marketplace performance. In just eleven states, utility companies are seeking more than $112 billion to bail out their failed investments, which include nuclear power plants that cannot compete in the deregulated energy market. Furthermore, it would be morally irresponsible to trade reduced greenhouse gas emissions today for an increased legacy of risk and radioactive waste that will plague generations to come. Respectfully,
Cc: Vice President Albert Gore |
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