Proposing an SOS Nuclear Responsibility Paradigm

By Heddle & Brangan - EON

We advocate for the adoption by informed democratic process of a universal paradigm of perpetual, responsible radioactive waste containment that spans future generations, and combines the best elements of the Denuclearization and Peace Agendas, and the Rolling Stewardship (& here) Hardened Onsite Sorage (HOSS), and Swiss models of nuclear waste containment. Denuclearization is the only RATIONAL ‘nuclear option’.

1. Acknowledge the inextricable connection between nuclear energy, nuclear weapons and radioactive waste production, and the continuance of the perpetual global war economy.

2. Acknowledge and own human responsibility for irreversibly altering our planetary ecosystem and the genetic integrity of all biological entities from the use of nuclear technologies.

3. Acknowledge and affirm perpetual human transgenerational ecological responsibility for the radioactive waste, both short lived and long lasting - up to millions of years.

4. In this ethical context, establish robust regulatory laws, policies, and funding mechanisms with a commitment to long-term radioactive waste containment in perpetuity. Trillions of dollars in funding to make more nuclear weapons and radioactive waste must be instead allocated to containing the radioactive waste already produced and protecting the global genetic integrity and environment.

5. Mandate keeping facilities for radioactive waste containment as close as safely possible to the site of generation to minimize transport risks as well as to avoid spreading radioactive contamination. Strictly limit transport of any radioactive substances.

6. Adequate compensation for extra risk and health needs must be given to host communities as well as thorough education about the radioactivity. No community may be forced to take radioactive waste not generated in their community.

7. Mandate state-of-the-art, thick-walled, repairable, maintainable, and transportable (to handling facility) containment casks for radioactive waste to be stored and maintained in a reinforced, climate controlled, passively cooled building as the standard universal bottom line.

8. Mandate the construction of dry transfer system (hot cell) facilities at each source of radioactive waste generation to maintain and repackage casks.

9. Maintain thoroughly trained, well compensated, labor and management forces, working in maximally safe conditions at each containment facility.

10. Continually upgrade containment structures, technologies, methods and refinement of the skills and shared knowledge base passed on to succeeding generations of the onsite workers.

11. Commit as a society to the abolition of dual-use nuclear energy and weapons technologies. Commit to the termination of all radioactive substances’ generation and use.

12. Commit to develop the truly ecologically benign, renewable sources of energy generation that are now available and their advantages proven in practice.

Mary Beth Brangan and James Heddle co-direct EON, the Ecological Options Network.

The multi-award winning EON feature documentary SOS – The San Onofre Syndrome: Nuclear Power’s Legacy, was chosen as the opening film in the 13^th annual Global Nonviolent Film Festival, where it also received the Organizers’ Award for ‘BEST ACTUALITY SUBJECT – Feature Documentary’.

SOS has won awards in several other international festivals, and is available for viewing worldwide. The film was produced by Mary Beth Brangan and directed by Brangan, Heddle, and Morgan Peterson, who also served as editor. SOS is a trans-generational family co-creation of two senior filmmakers and a millennial mom with two young daughters.

For information, please visit the SOS website.

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