We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Monday, November 18, 2013

TEPCO risks all at Fukushima

Click here to access article by Victor Kotsev from Asia Times Online.
On Monday [11/18/2013], by far the most dangerous nuclear operation attempted in human history was set to begin in the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan, the removal of more than 1,300 spent fuel rods and some 200 unused rods from a reservoir on top of Unit 4.
Given the ongoing nuclear disasters at Fukushima, it is a wonder that nations still want nuclear power. But then, given the fact that the climate is now obviously destabilizing due to the use of fossil fuels, some form of energy is required that doesn't contribute to global warming. Besides, the voracious appetite of capitalist economic engines require ever greater amounts of energy to produce products and services to provide profits demanded by the ruling global capitalist class. Thus, nuclear energy is the only alternative source that can provide the amount of energy required to feed the capitalist monster.

This begs a question: why should the rest of humanity, the vast majority, allow this tiny class to wreck havoc on their planet?
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