Independent Nuclear Experts to Speak at Fukushima Forum Tuesday

Independent nuclear experts Tuesday will discuss lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan.

Two experts, assembled through the efforts of local environmental groups, will speak about the risks and problems associated with nuclear power. This is the second of two meetings organized by council in response to

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.

The following is from the text of a press release provided by

Presenters include Daniel Hirsch, lecturer in nuclear policy at UC  Santa Cruz and former director of the Stevenson Program on Nuclear Policy at the university. Hirsch is also president of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, a 40-year-old nonprofit organization working to reduce risks of nuclear accident and problems of radioactive waste disposal. He recently testified before the Select Committee of the California Senate on
earthquake and disaster preparedness, response and recovery on implications of the Fukushima disaster for California’s San Onofre and Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors. A question and answer session will follow Hirsch’s presentation.

In addition, the program will include a live video presentation and teleconference for public interaction with Arnold Gundersen, a former nuclear industry senior vice president and energy advisor with nearly 40 years of nuclear power engineering experience. He has managed and coordinated projects at 70 nuclear power plants around the country. An independent nuclear engineering and safety expert, Gundersen provides testimony on nuclear operations, reliability, safety and radiation issues to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, congressional and state legislatures and government agencies throughout the world.

Patch received the following update from Gary Headrick late Monday morning. Two more presenters will be appearing at Tuesday's meeting:

Added to the agenda is internationally known, Dr. Helen Caldicott. She will be making a live video conferencing presentation. Dr. Caldicott founded and headed Physicians for Social Responsibility. She has been awarded 20 honorary doctoral degrees and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling. The Smithsonian Institution has named Caldicott as one of the most influential women of the 20th century.

Also added and making a live presentation is Dr. William E. Perkins. Dr. Perkins is a retired pediatrician who served as member of the Board of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR-LA) for over 25 years and continues to serve as a Peace and Security Ambassador. PSR-LA is the local affiliate of the Nobel Peace Prize winning national organization, Physicians for Social Responsibility. Dr. Perkins came to realize that the gravest threat to children would be a nuclear accident or attack -- this became personal when his own daughter was born. He has dedicated his career as an advocate for prevention of nuclear war and accidents related to the use of nuclear power. Dr. Perkins has organized locally in Southern California, and has represented PSR-LA across the nation and world through International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.