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B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
Statement
Canadians express concern over proposed nuclear power plant project: Philippines bid to re-open Bataan Nuclear Power Plant a potential disaster
March 14 , 2009
As concerned Filipinos and Canadians in solidarity with the Filipino people’s struggle for genuine human rights, the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP) cautions against the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration’s plans to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). This is a potential disaster in the making for the people of the Philippines. The BNPP was mothballed in 1986 after the original $600 million U.S. deal ballooned to an expenditure of 2.3 billion (US). After the Three Mile Island disaster in the US, an inspection revealed over 4000 defects in the BNPP facility. It is also built at the foot of an active volcano and near major fault lines.
The debt from the mothballed nuclear power plant became the largest debt obligation of the Philippine government and was finally paid off in 2007. Ordinary Filipinos living on poverty wages and supported by remittances from family members abroad were the ones burdened by having to pay for this debt through taxes.
Reasons given for the renewed spending of at least $800 million (US) are to fight green house gas emissions and to provide cheap power to help industrialize the country. With the potential of a nuclear disaster and the cost of disposal of nuclear waste the argument that nuclear power is cheap can be easily rejected. Cheaper and safer green energy alternatives to nuclear are abundant in the Philippines. The country ranks second in the production of geo-thermal power after the U.S. In the Philippines low safety standards and corruption in addition to the geological instability of the terrain, greatly increase the chances of a nuclear accident.
Arroyo’s government and private interests are pushing for the re-opening of the BNPP, but resistance is growing in numbers and in strength. A network of organizations and individuals led by the Nuclear –Free Bataan Movement and KPD (Movement for National Democracy) have been organizing to revive the massive opposition that once was responsible for shutting down the nuclear plant in the mid-80s. Recently, the network and Japanese supporters led a peace cycle to bring awareness to this issue. On the way to the nuclear site, cyclists were cheered on by hundreds of school children and teachers. With displays of resistance like this combined with international solidarity the anti-BNPP movement will succeed.
As Canadians concerned about the environment and the people of the Philippines, we strongly urge the Philippine government to look for a more rational energy policy that does not include nuclear power. The people of the Philippines deserve safe and sustainable energy for the people, not for the benefit of foreign corporations and a few local elites.
We call on all Canadians committed to upholding human rights and dignity to support the Filipino people in their legitimate fight against Arroyo’s plans to reopen the nuclear power plant. We urge all progressive and peace-loving Canadians to learn more about the human rights situation in the Philippines and to get involved in building people-to-people solidarity with the Filipino people struggling for genuine human rights and democracy.
To sign onto to the “Stop the Revived Bataan Nuclear Power Plant!” petition, please visit: http://www.gopetition.com/online/25654.html
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