Greenpeace dares solons: Declare PHL nuclear energy-free

Alarmed by the nuclear catastrophe now engulfing Japan in the aftermath of Friday’s magnitude 9.0 temblor and ensuing tidal wave, environment watchdog Greenpeace on Wednesday challenged legislators not only to shelve their support for nuclear energy, but declare the Philippines a nuclear-free nation. Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Amalie Obusan referred to solons who, in reaction to the nuclear crisis in Japan, have withdrawn their support for reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). In a statement, Obusan said it is “unfortunate" that advocates of nuclear energy in the Philippines need a tragedy like that in Japan to reconsider their “dangerous" propositions. “But they should go beyond [mere] statements that they are reconsidering their position on nuclear energy, or are putting a moratorium on their nuclear proposals," Obusan said. “Nuclear power should be removed from the country’s current and future energy plans: it should be deleted from the energy agenda, and there should be legislation to block all future nuclear proposals," the environmentalist said. Greenpeace blasted the claims that nuclear power is a “safe" and “cheap" source of electricity, explaining that these statements “are more rhetoric than reality." The group cited the experience of Japan, which it says has 54 nuclear reactors but continues to charge one of the highest electricity rates in Asia. Greenpeace also said France, which it describes as the world’s largest user of nuclear energy, continues to lack an edge that it can attribute to nuclear power. In a comment posted on GMA News Online, Internet user SunZi also questioned the government’s capability to manage “a worst-case scenario" should a nuclear disaster happen in the Philippines. “Eh kung ‘yung airport lang baboy na, nuclear plant pa (Just the airport alone is such a pig sty already, what more if it’s a nuclear plant)?" 'Good for the environment' A party-list representative, in another statement, said the government should continue to explore the possibility of tapping nuclear power because the radiation threat from Japan “remains dwarfed" compared to the environmental and economic benefits of nuclear energy. Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham) party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said, "Nuclear energy is environment friendly, and thus helps cut on greenhouse gas emissions. We can no longer separate the issue of climate change from our energy options." The Palace meanwhile said the disaster in Japan has pushed to the backburner the discussions on whether to use nuclear energy in the country. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, "It is the policy of the President to consider other energy sources that do not have safety issues." But the President is giving the use of nuclear power a "low, low" priority, Lacierda said. — With a report by Amita Legaspi/VS, GMA News