Local community joins in court action against extending life of nuclear plants
Greenpeace’s 73-page case file, which was handed in to the Karlsruhe court on Thursday in cooperation with residents’ groups living near the nuclear plants, argues that the nuclear sites were inadequately protected against plane crashes and that safe nuclear waste disposal was not yet possible.
Greenpeace brings nuclear plant lifespan law to Germany’s highest court , Deutsche Welle, Darren Mara (dpa, AP), 3 Feb 2011, Residents living near a handful of Germany’s nuclear plants, along with environmental group Greenpeace, have filed a case with the constitutional court over a new law extending the lifespan of the nuclear plants.
Environmentalist group Greenpeace has filed a case with Germany’s Constitutional Court against moves by the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel to extend the life of the country’s seven oldest nuclear power plants.
“Everyone has the right to life and physical inviolability,” Greenpeace said in a statement on its website, adding that these fundamental rights were “bound by legislation, executive authority and jurisprudence.”
The group said the government had taken the decision to extend the lifespan of Germany’s nuclear plants to serve commercial interests, but had inadvertently jeopardized the safety of citizens living near the plants.
Greenpeace’s 73-page case file, which was handed in to the Karlsruhe court on Thursday in cooperation with residents’ groups living near the nuclear plants, argues that the nuclear sites were inadequately protected against plane crashes and that safe nuclear waste disposal was not yet possible.
“The continued operation of the old reactors is highly dangerous, and the safe disposal of nuclear waste is not in sight,” said Greenpeace nuclear expert Heinz Smital.
Widespread opposition
Opposition parties from five German states also plan to complain to the constitutional court on the grounds that the lifespan extension of the country’s nuclear plants did not have the approval of parliament’s upper chamber, the Bundesrat.
The governing coalition lost its majority in the Bundesrat mid last year, though it still has a majority in the Bundestag, or lower house……..Merkel’s center-right coalition intended to revoke a law passed under former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s center-left coalition that foresaw shutting down all nuclear power plants in Germany by 2020.
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1.This month.
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
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