No Nukes Please

Sunday's LA Times (May 6, 2012) posted an article and picture of a Japanese anti-nuclear activist who attended a rally in Tokyo on Saturday.  The rally was initiated to celebrate the successful anti-nuclear campaign that resulted in the shutting down of all 50 Japanese nuclear reactors.  Since the earthquake and tsunami that led to the meltdown of the nuclear reactor in Fukushima activists have vigilantly campaigned for the closing of the reactors.  Now the reactors cannot become active again until (or perhaps if ever) it can be proved that the reactor can withstand earthquakes and tsunamis and local residents must also approve the restarting.  The campaign, rallies with a recognizable symbol, numbers, worthiness, unity and a committed effort in a country that allows peaceful protests all worked together to achieve their anti-nuclear goal.
Much closer to home we have the San Onofre nuclear reactors.  In February of this year these reactors were completely shut down after it was discovered that there was "extensive wear in brand new generators" (Hiltzik, LA Times 4/29/12) and a radioactive leak that resulted.  The Edison utility company has a lot of say-so with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which is unfortunate.  We are left in the dark about the problems that exist and are potentially dangerous close to our own homes.  When businesses have too much clout and the over-sight commission does the bidding of these institutions, instead of protecting the general welfare, the result is always unfortunate. 
The climate and energy director of the Friends of the Earth (we read about this activist group) has been studying the nuclear reactor policy and problems and believes that the oversight NRC has not proved to be doing an effective job protecting us.  Great!
The NRC did create a task force to study the reactors after the Fukushima tragedy.  They discovered that the San Onofre and Diablo Canyon plants are "similarly situated in coastal earthquake zones with limited options for large-scale emergency evacuations." (Hiltzik)  Yikes!
There are 104 nuclear reactors in our nation.  We are energy hogs and just don't seem to care as much about our safety and health until a tragedy occurs at which time we are completely amazed that problems exist that should have been addressed by those we pay to protect us.  Edison has stock holders who are interested in the bottom line and are profit motivated.  This proved to be the case when it was just discovered in February that the generators at San Onofre were not up to grade and should have been inspected and approved by the NRC .  Instead, when they were installed, the NRC took the word of Edison who maintained that their work did not require prior approval and re-licensing by the NRC.  Unfortunately, this commission, that is supposed to look out for us, trusted Edison and did not do the necessary oversight. 
With so much at stake, social activist organizations like the Friends of the EArth are needed to keep us aware and informed so we can weigh the consequences and rally or vote (yes people VOTE) to make people do the right thing as stewards of the people.
The activists that demonstrated to have the 50 reactors shut down in Japan were successful because of their nation's awareness created as a result of a crisis.  I hope we pay attention and rally for better oversight before we are forced to because of a meltdown.