WASHINGTON, D.C. Between the output of existing commercial nuclear reactors and 21 proposed nuclear reactors covered by agreements quietly signed by the outgoing Bush Administration with more than a dozen electric utilities, the United States already has agreed to store enough spent (used) reactor fuel to fill the equivalent of not one, but two, Yucca Mountain high-level radioactive waste repositories, according to documents acquired under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Given that the U.S. is back to square one for the first repository, U.S. taxpayers would be on the hook for potentially tens of billions of dollars in penalties that would have to be paid to utilities if the 21 proposed reactor projects proceed.

The world is sliding into climate crisis and at the center is one of the world’s most destructive projects - The Alberta Tar Sands. As other sources of oil dry up, major oil companies, banks, investors and top US corporations are pouring billions of dollars into Tar Sands development.
Tar Sands oil, also known as ‘heavy crude’ actually produces more the twice the amount greenhouse gas emissions per barrel than regular crude oil. Front line communities on both sides of the US / Canada boarder are facing the direct impacts of this massive environmental injustice. Cancer rates are on the rise in both First Nations communities living near the Tar Sands extraction cite as well as in low-income communities, mostly communities of color in the U.S. who live next to oil refineries that are expanding to process the new Tar Sands oil.

‘We are seeing a terrifyingly high rate of cancer in Fort Chipewyan where I live. We are convinced that these cancers are linked to the Tar Sands development on our doorstep. It is shortening our lives. That’s why we no longer call it “dirty oil” but “bloody oil”.’ George Poitras, a former chief of Mikisew Cree First Nation

The political events and comments surrounding Joe Biden’s recent visit to Israel stand only to highlight the hypocrisy and arrogant ignorance of the United States command. There are two factors here: first is the avoidance - in spite of superficial appearances - of the UN security council; and secondly - again in spite of superficial appearances - that the U.S. military command is concerned about the welfare of their troops in the Middle East because of the Israeli situation.

As most followers of the news are aware, the Israelis announced plans to construct another 1600 settlement units in the Jerusalem area. They did this in the face of Biden who at the time was meeting with Netanyahu concerning the rebooting of the “peace process.” The main purpose of the “peace process” - at least for the Israelis - is to be able to establish communities - “facts” - on the ground so that if they ever did finally get to some form of settlement, imposed or negotiated, the inarguable facts would severely limit what could be negotiated as far as independent, sovereign, and contiguous territory for Palestine is concerned.

Nothing makes us feel more powerless than the corruption of our democracy by money. It undermines progress on every issue we face. If America is ever to deal with our critical problems, we're going to need to sever the links between wealth and politics, a task made more challenging by the recent Supreme Court decision that overturned a hundred years of precedent to increase still further the influence of companies like Exxon, United Health and Goldman Sachs. The Maine Clean Elections model offers a powerful alternative model, one achievable even within the parameters of the ghastly Supreme Court decision. The story of how activist Alison Smith helped it pass also exemplifies how individuals can proceed into social involvement step by step:

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You can listen to Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman weekly on WCRS-FM in Columbus at 4pm EST. 102.1 or 98.3. Or online at:
March 19 show
This week's show features author of “A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA's Secret Cold War Experiments.”