Koodnkulam Could be Another Bhopal Disaster In Waiting: Noam
Chomsky
Internationally acclaimed
academician Noam Chomsky of Massachussets Institute of Technology of the United
States has said that Koodankulam could be another Bhopal disaster in Waiting.
In a solidarity letter to the struggling people he said `Nuclear energy is a
very dangerous initiative, particularly in countries like India, which has had
more than its share of industrial disasters, Bhopal being the most
famous,’ said Noam Chomsky. ` I would like to express my support for the
courageous people’s movement protesting the opening of the
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant.’
Avram Noam Chomsky is internationally famous linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, historian, political critic and activist. He has worked as a professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT. In addition to his work in linguistics, he has written on war, politics, mass media and a many other areas. Chomsky was cited more often than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992 and he was voted the "world's top public intellectual" in a 2005 poll.Described as the "father of modern linguistics, he is most well known for his book called `Manufacturing Consent’
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant.’
Avram Noam Chomsky is internationally famous linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, historian, political critic and activist. He has worked as a professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT. In addition to his work in linguistics, he has written on war, politics, mass media and a many other areas. Chomsky was cited more often than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992 and he was voted the "world's top public intellectual" in a 2005 poll.Described as the "father of modern linguistics, he is most well known for his book called `Manufacturing Consent’
`The support of Noam Chomsky is a
major blessing to the fishing community of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka,
who are unfortunately the first victims of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power
Plant,’ said T.Peter, Secretary,
National Fish Workers’ Forum. `We hope more and more groups and individuals
will flow now to support the struggle.’
`Chomsky is one of the most leading
existing internationally reknowned left intellectuals today. It is surprising
that while such a great personality has expressed support to the Koodankulam
struggle, the left in India is still confused about their stand on the hazards
of nuclear energy,’ said Civic Chandran, activist writer.
Chomsky’s response came as a part of the efforts
of the anti-nuclear activists to campaign on Koodankulam issue through the net
in a unique manner through a well known website called www.countercurrents org The site has been
publishing posters using statements in support of the the Koodankulam struggle
from well known national and
international personalities every day along with their photographs from October
11, onwards.
Mairead Maguire, the 1976 nobel peace prize winner and Irish peace activist also
expressed her solidarity to the
koodankulam struggle. She said the struggle is an inspiration to the world. She
also said "I offer my solidarity with the brave people of Koodankulam, as
they nonviolently resist the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in their
community. The courageous villagers-men and women- who are risking their lives
do so to safeguard the lives of their children, the livelihood of all their
fishermen,and their environment.We support you all, continue to be brave, refuse to be silent, and you will overcome... your actions are in inspiration
to many of us around the world and we join you in spirit...Shanti"
The campaign through posters on the
net began with former Chief Minister of
Kerala, V.S.Achuthanandan who said: `We do not need this nuclear
bomb. The Central Govt. must immediately stop all activities regarding this
plant. The Kerala Govt. must wake up with an understanding on the threat from
this on the people and act immediately.’
While the stand of Achuthanandan on
nuclear energy was being debated, some of the others who expressed their stand
on the campaign are the following:
`What the poor people of Koodankulam
is doing is what anyone would struggle for the protection of one’s own life and
future. It is not surprising that the
Government which has become a part of the nuclear lobby could not understand
this. Let them learn from the widespread lessons of Chernobyl and Fukushima’ - Binoy
Viswarm, Former Minster of Kerala & CPI leader.
`We fully support the courageous struggle against the nuclear
power station in Koodankulam. In Denmark the resistance against nuclear
power was strong and well organized and today Denmark is free of nuclear
energy. Our resistance was able to close the nuclear power station Barsebäck in
Sweden close to Denmark’ - Christian Juhl, Member of Parliament and spokesman,
The Red-Green Alliance, Denmark.
`Koodankulam
nuclear plant is a Fukushima in the making. It will be another
genocide of the Tamils, Sinhalese and Indians waiting to happen. Sri
Lanka is just a stone's throw away from Koodankulam. We the Sri Lankan people,
Tamil, Sinhalese and Tamil speaking Muslims oppose it tooth and
nail, along side our brothers and sisters of Idinthakarai and Koodankulam - Siritunga Jayasuria, Former
Presidential candidate, General Secretary, United Socialist Party, Sri Lanka
`We agree that electricity is needed
for development. But the main question is whether we have used all safer
options for the production of energy before we think of nuclear option. This
question is leading to a lot of suspicions’ – Annie Raja, National Council
Member, CPI.
`Public
pressure is needed to break the power of the greedy nuclear lobby. Koodankulam
struggle is vital and I will do my utmost to spread the word about your
struggle within the trade union and anti nuclear movement in Europe’ - Reknowned politician Paul Murphy,
Member of the European Parliament for the Socialist Party of Ireland.
`Socialist
Alternative (SAV) Germany condemn the state terror unleashed on the peaceful
protesters of Koodankulam. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the police
force. We demand that the government heed to the sane voice of the anti-nuclear
movement and immediately stop the killer project which is bound to put the
people, flora and fauna, the fragile environment and the other species in
irrevocable danger’ - Lucy Redler, Spokesperson of Socialist Alternative
(SAV) Germany
`The government must immediately stop the brutal
treatment of protesters and shut down the plant without further delay. The
investment should be channeled to renewable energy production. All development
should be people centric and not for the profits of the few. Tamil Solidarity
campaign will continue to support the Koodankulam anti-nuclear struggle and
will continue to build support internationally’ - TU Senan, International coordinator
for Tamil Solidarity Campaign.
`I am totally in solidarity with
people in Koodankulam and elsewhere protesting against nuclear reactors. This
we do not need in the world. We do not understand the long term dangers and
must ban all new installations’ - Mallika
Sarabhai, Indian classical dancer and social activist
`Atomic power is against
Humanity. Human beings have not evolved enough to handle atomic power. At
source level atomic energy is no different from atomic weapon. Every Nation has
a hidden agenda of producing atomic Weapon. Say NO TO ATOMIC POWER!’ -
KAVIGNAR Thamarai.
`The Koodankulam Nuclear Power
Project will have serious health consequences, not only for the local people,
but also for the people of the entire region. This will be accompanied by large
scale loss of livelihood for the fisher folk communities of the entire area.
The long term risks of a nuclear accident are unpredictable’ – Dr. Binayak
Sen, Member, Planning Commission’s Steering Committee on Health.
`Without a fully worked out
disaster management plan, Koodankulam or any other nuclear reactor is a sure
passport to disaster. This is an unwarranted risk. A nuclear reactor is
potentially more dangerous than an ato bomb, because each 1000 MW reactor
contains radio active materials equivilant to 200 nagasaki bombs’ – Dr. M.P.
Parameswaran, Nuclear Engineer, KSSP.
`Stop Nuclear Menace in
Koodankulam. Defend the Planet!’ - Anand Patwardhan, Film Maker.
`I stand in complete solidarity
with the villagers of Idinthikkarai who are resisting Koodankulam reactor. I
happened to be in Japan in March 2011 when the earthquake damaged the Fukushima
reactor. After the disaster, almost every country that used nuclear energy
declared that it would change its policy. Every country, except India’ – Arundhati
Roy, Writer.
The campaign through
Counter Currents is generating more and more national and international support
through face book, twitter, e-groups, websites and many other ways of internet
sharing.` The anti-nuclear activists have always used creative ways of
campaigning and this poster campaign through the net is certainly a new step,’
said Subramanian, State Convenor of the Koodankulam Solidarity Group.`
What
is most important is that we motivated Noam Chomsky himself to respond to this
struggle which is situated in the other part of the planet. We are sure it will
inspire many significant personalities and organizations to come out strongly
against the nuclear power plant to defend life and environment’
Contact: N. Subramanyan :09497881489. nsubrahmanyan@gmail.com
K. Sajeed: 09496827652. sajeedacl@gmail.com
K. Sajeed: 09496827652. sajeedacl@gmail.com
Geo Jose: 09446000701. geojoselily@gmail.com
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