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PETITION ADDRESSED TO GE, WESTINGHOUSE, HITACHI, TOSHIBA, MITSUBISHI, BNFL, SIEMENS, JNF, COGEMA AND ALL NUCLEAR RELATED COMPANIES

We the undersigned organizations and individuals express our extreme concern that nuclear power related technologies and products are being manufactured and exported to countries in Asia, South America, and Africa. This, in spite of the fact that the trend in most advanced nations, which are also manufacturers of nuclear power, is to phase out this energy resource within their own boundaries.

Even without mentioning Chernobyl, which was an unacceptable catastrophe under any circumstances, accidents happen. In fact, the number of accidents is increasing as more nuclear power plants are constructed all over the world and as older reactors age. We have to prevent future nuclear catastrophes by any and all means and this requires prompt and dramatic action.

Moreover, it is contrary to the interests of nuclear related companies to continue with their current practices. Selling products might bring profits for a short-term period if no large accident happens in the near future, but considering the problems of waste, maintaining aging power plants, the constant release of deadly "low-level" radiation, decommissioning plants, and the possible occurrence of major accidents, this industry cannot bring benefits in the future. We believe that related companies are already well aware of this fact.Before it is too late, you should seriously address the problems immediately.

It is also contrary to the interests of countries that require sustainable, clean mostly decentralized, low-cost energy systems, adapted both to their needs and their use of capital, resources and labor.Also it is feared that all the importing countries, due to limitations of structural and technical capabilities that exist to various degrees, cannot handle nuclear facilities in a proper manner. This is also the case of advanced nations.

Nuclear power is also contrary toglobal environmental issues such as global warming and pollution problems.The vast amount of waste hot water from nuclear power plants are raising the temperature of rivers, lakes and seas in areas near nuclear facilities.Radioactive emissions from facilities, even under permissible levels, have and will continue to accumulate in the environment world wide. There is no safe level of any ionizing radiation. Dr. John Gofman, world reknown nuclear health expert states that there is no safe level of ionizing radiation: http://www.geocities.com/mothersalert/gofman.html Dr. Gofman has testified in court in the USA that "acceptable" radiation levels constitute "planned deaths" by the nuclear industry. There are a number of cases of nuclear facility workers exposed to radiation, and some experts even state that the rate of children who develop leukemia went up around some of these facilities. In particular Joseph Mangano of "The Radiation and Public Health Project" has discovered a sharp decrease in infant mortality around 5 reactors shortly after these reactors ceased operating. See:
 http://www.geocities.com/mothersalert/infant.html

At the same time, there is no concrete measure established for controlling high-level nuclear waste in any country in the world.Geological disposal is a possible option right now but many geologists have great doubts whether highly toxic radioactive material could be contained for more than tens of thousands of years.Even if they can the radioactivity of much of this nuclear waste will be lethal for more than one million years. Additionally, earthquake prone countries and their neighboring area might see an irreversible catastrophe caused either by the geological disposal/storeage of nuclear waste, transportation of fuels/waste ornormal operation of nuclear power plants in conjunction with violent seismic activity.

 The impact of radiation contamination goes beyond generational and national boundaries, and can bring eternal suffering and damage to all living creatures and the environment. Shortsighted economic interests or business aspirations should not supercede the chain of life on Earth, which is unrecoverable once damaged by a radioactive catastrophe or catastrophes.

Therefore, we the undersigned organizations and individuals call upon all nuclear related industries and companies to immediately stop operating and manufacturing their products and halt exporting these technologies and products to other nations.

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