From wmjwj at wmjwj.org Sat Aug 28 11:44:59 2010 From: wmjwj at wmjwj.org (WMass Jobs with Justice) Date: Sat Aug 28 11:45:02 2010 Subject: [Sage] 47 Years after King's March, We Still Need Full & Fair Employment Message-ID: <000301cb46c7$f936de70$eba49b50$@org> More info coming about September 15 March for Jobs in Downtown Springfield! From: Jobs with Justice jwjnational@jwj.org March on washington for Jobs & Freedom Dozens of protests planned for September 15 Reviving a core demand from the August 28, 1963 "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" Jobs with Justice is declaring a national "jobs emergency" and calling for Full and Fair Employment on September 15. It's time for corporate apologists in the Senate, who are blocking a recovery for the rest of us, to recognize what workers already know: we are in a jobs emergency that requires a bold, emergency response. With record long-term unemployment and communities losing vital public services, it is time to put Full and Fair Employment and a massive federal works program, core demands from the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom that Glenn Beck wants us to forget, back on the national agenda. The demands of the September 15 protests are full and fair employment - including passage of legislation like Local Jobs for America Act which would save or create 1 million jobs, extension of the emergency Temporary Assistance to Needy Families subsidized jobs program, and extension of emergency unemployment compensation - and passage of a Financial Speculation Tax that would rein in the more destabilizing aspects of Wall Street and generate $200-$500 billion annually. If Congress focuses on reducing the federal budget deficit rather than fixing the jobs deficit, millions of workers and communities will suffer. When Wall Street was in crisis, Congress found hundreds of billions of dollars to bail them out. We need to respond to the jobs crisis with the same urgency. Nationwide, the "jobs deficit" is about 11 million, with 5 job-seekers for every job opening. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the bailed out Wall Street banks are making 'bumper earnings" while non-financial US corporations are sitting on more than $8 Trillion in cash reserves. A mere 20% of those holdings could pay 5 million Americans $70,000/year for five years. In addition to the September 15 Day of Action, Jobs with Justice coalitions across the country are organizing to address the jobs emergency in multiple ways, including organizing local Unemployed Workers Councils, participating in a United Autoworkers and Rainbow Push march for "Jobs, Justice and Peace" in Detroit August 28, and building for the " One Nation Working Together" march on Washington on October 2. Sign up to join the day of action on Facebook! . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jon Weissman, Coordinator Western Mass Jobs with Justice 640 Page Blvd #101 Springfield MA 01104 (413) 827-0301 Founded in 1987, Jobs with Justice's mission is to improve working people's standard of living, fight for job security, and protect workers' right to organize. We believe workers' rights are human rights and to be successful, we have to be part of a larger campaign for economic and social justice. To that end, "J with J" has created a national coalition and a network of local coalitions that connect labor, community, student, and faith-based organizations and activists on workplace and community social justice campaigns. Western Mass JwJ ? founded June 5, 1993 ? is now a coalition of almost 70 organizations. Let?s keep in touch ? please check out our mailing lists at http://wmjwj.org/our-lists. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gaiahost.coop/pipermail/sage/attachments/20100828/6c4e22d3/attachment-0001.html From hattieshalom at verizon.net Sat Aug 28 07:41:35 2010 From: hattieshalom at verizon.net (Hattie Nestel) Date: Sat Aug 28 17:04:45 2010 Subject: [Sage] Fwd:Dangerous situation at Vermnt Yankee- Coalition files with NRC over wet cables at Vermont Yankee References: <002001cb45f5$2fceb0d0$8f6c1270$@lampert@comcast.net> Message-ID: <14AD9410-C888-4686-8096-1C1EEA2D19D9@verizon.net> Hi Agma, I would like to request that Congressman Olver write a letter to the NRC and the Governor of Vermont about the very serious dangers of allowing this nuclear facility to continue operating with these buried, below grade safety-related cables that are ONLY rated for dry service. Entergy's strategy of looking in manholes once in a while and pumping out some waters is an unacceptable and very dangerous solution to this problem. Please ask Congressman Olver to send me a copy of any letters that he does write. I do hope he will make this a high priority. Thank you, Hattie Nestel, August 28th, 2010 ____ Hattie Nestel hattieshalom@verizon.net > > > Exact same issue at Pilgrim, Seabrook, Indian Point etc?. > > > > Coalition files with NRC over wet cables at Vermont Yankee > > By BOB AUDETTE / Reformer Staff > > > Friday August 27, 2010 > BRATTLEBORO -- The New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution is > asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?s Atomic Safety and > Licensing Board to reopen its hearing into whether Entergy should > receive a license extension for its Vermont Yankee nuclear power > plant in Vernon. > > NEC is asking the ASLB to admit a new contention that contends > Entergy does not "have in place an adequate aging management program > to address the effects of moist or wet environments on buried, below > grade, underground, or hard-to-access safety-related electrical > cables ..." > > Thus, wrote Ray Shadis, NEC?s technical consultant, Yankee is not in > compliance with NRC regulations "and guidance and/or provide > adequate assurance of protection of public health and safety." > > "The problem is that these cables are rated only for dry service. > They are not for outdoor use," Shadis told Vermont Public Radio > earlier this week. "So what can result is that safety equipment, > when you need it, can short out and not function. We think this is a > very serious safety issue. We think that the company before it goes > into an extended period of operation - for another 20 years - really > needs to address it." > > Entergy has applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend > the operating license of Yankee for another 20 years, from 2012 to > 2032. Earlier this year, the Vermont Senate voted against the > continued operation of the plant. > > Vermont is the only state that has the authority to deny the > extended operation of a nuclear power plant, which was agreed to > when Entergy purchased the plant from the Vermont Yankee Nuclear > Power Corporation in 2002. > > In July 2009, NEC asked for a review of an ASLB decision regarding > the NEC?s contention that Entergy hasn?t taken adequate steps to > insure Yankee can be properly maintained in any period of extended > operation. > > In July 2010, the commission of the NRC sent the case back to the > ASLB left the door open for both NEC and the Vermont Department of > Public Service to file motions "should they seek to address any > genuinely new issues related to the license renewal application that > previously could not have been raised." > > "Vermont DPS has elected not to pursue the matter, but NEC, reacting > to a series of revelations, that began with a May 10, 2010 NRC > Inspection Report detailing flooded or submerged safety-related > electrical cables at Yankee, filed a new contention, essentially > asking the ASLB to review that portion of Entergy VY?s License > Renewal Application that deals with how the company proposes to > manage aging and deterioration of buried, below-grade, underground, > or hard to access safety-related cables," wrote Shadis. > > "Entergy?s plan," he stated, "does nothing to prevent wetting or > submergence of safety-related electrical cables that are rated for > dry service only. Their only strategy is to look into manholes once > in awhile and pump water out if they are flooded. This almost the > equivalent of standing in the bathtub with a toaster and saying you > pull the drain plug if the water gets too deep." > > The electrical cables could be those relied upon to remain > functional during and following design-basis events (accidents) to > ensure the following functions-- the integrity of the reactor > coolant pressure boundary; the capability to shut down the reactor > and maintain it in a safe shutdown condition; or the capability to > prevent or mitigate the consequences of accidents which could result > in potential offsite (radiation) exposures ?" stated NEC advisor > Paul Blanch, quoting from NRC regulations. > > Entergy and the NRC now have 25 days to respond to the latest filing > from NEC and NEC will then have seven days to answer. The ASLB then > has 45 days to decide if it is going to allow NEC?s new contention. > > "It?s now some 55 months since Entergy filed its (license renewal) > application," stated Shadis. "The process has been painful and > expensive for everyone and we sympathize, but at no time did Entergy > ever offer to meet and see if we could settle any of these issues." > > Larry Smith, director of communications for Yankee, said NEC?s > filing was under review by Entergy attorneys. > > But, he said, Entergy has a program for any electrical cable > submerged in water. We have been aggressively following that fleet > directive since last December." > > That month, said Smith, Yankee made an assessment of all of its > electrical cables that might have been submerged. > > "We have a dedicated engineer who inspected all of the 81 manholes > at Yankee which contain electrical cables," he said. > > Of those 81, said Smith, 21 were found to have "some amount of water > in them." > > Of those 21, 17 required pumping, he said. > > Sump pumps are being installed to keep water out of those manholes, > said Smith. > > Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or at > 802-254-2311, ext. 160. > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gaiahost.coop/pipermail/sage/attachments/20100828/1dc65867/attachment.htm From hattieshalom at verizon.net Sat Aug 28 08:12:40 2010 From: hattieshalom at verizon.net (Hattie Nestel) Date: Sat Aug 28 17:05:09 2010 Subject: [Sage] Vermont Yankee References: <4C78F649.4060306@nukebusters.org> Message-ID: <62E880E6-05C7-487C-B0ED-9821DF7B2C8E@verizon.net> We need to watch this closely. Hattie ____ Hattie Nestel hattieshalom@verizon.net > > >> >> >> the whole story.... >> >> >> >> Exelon, NRG Energy Eyeing Vermont Yankee-Sources >> BY JEFF BEATTIE >> Apparently fed up with the troublesome investment-and the difficult >> political environment it faces in the state--Entergy Corp. has begun >> shopping its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to potential buyers, >> with Exelon Corp. and NRG Energy Inc. having taken at least >> preliminary looks at the Vernon, Vt., plant, according to sources. >> Entergy declined to comment directly Thursday on its possible >> efforts to sell the 650-megawatt plant, citing company policy not to >> discuss "market rumors or speculation. >> "But we have said that as part of Entergy's ongoing point-of-view >> based strategy, we would consider buying or selling any asset or >> business depending on what option creates the most value," said >> Entergy spokesman Mike Burns. >> Knowledgeable sources say that Exelon-the country's largest nuclear >> operator-has performed at least a preliminary round of due diligence >> on Vermont Yankee, as has NRG Energy Inc. the Princeton-based >> merchant generator. >> Importantly, the sources said any talks underway are preliminary, >> and that it is not uncommon for the nation's small number of nuclear >> operators to look whenever a reactor is made available for sale. >> Entergy bought Vermont Yankee in 2002 for $180 million from a >> collection of New England investor-owned and municipal utilities. >> The impetus for Entergy to sell is obvious; Vermont Yankee has been >> among the least profitable of its 10-plant fleet, and the company's >> relationship with Vermont officials have soured badly in recent >> months. >> In February, the Vermont Senate voted overwhelmingly to deny the >> plant an extension of its operating license when it expires in March, >> 2012, although the House of Representatives has yet to vote and the >> state's jurisdiction over re-licensing could be subject to legal >> challenge. >> State officials have been angered by a series of recent operational >> problems at the plant-including the discovery of tritium leakage >> early this year-and by misleading information that plant officials >> supplied in 2009 about plant piping and the potential for tritium >> leaks. >> Although subsequent inquiries have cleared Entergy of deliberately >> providing misinformation, the incident has significantly ramped up >> anti-Yankee sentiment in green-leaning Vermont. >> With that background, the obvious question is what company would >> take a chance on buying a plant that may face shutdown in less than >> two years. >> One answer is a company banking on new ownership as a way to wipe >> the slate clean with disgruntled state officials and citizens, by >> portraying itself as willing to operate Vermont Yankee more to the >> state's liking. >> Although that would not mollify hard-core antinuclear groups and >> lawmakers in the state, a would-be purchaser might hope that new >> ownership would win back conflicted lawmakers who are worried about >> how Vermont would replace its largest energy source if Yankee closed. >> Interestingly, one leading investment firm, Jefferies& Co., >> predicted Wednesday that, for that very reason, Vermont will >> ultimately re-license the plant. >> "Despite current controversy in Vermont surrounding the plant, >> Jefferies believes it is more likely than not to continue operating >> post-2012," the firm said in a research note on Entergy. >> "Our view is based on the plant's strong economics, significant >> contribution to the state's power supply mix and overall track record >> of reliable performance (notwithstanding issues surrounding tritium >> leaks earlier this year and political fallout over underground piping >> disclosure)." >> On the buyer side, there are reasons why both Exelon and NRG might >> be interested in Vermont Yankee despite the problems with the state. >> As the country's largest nuclear operator, Chicago-based Exelon >> enjoys economies of scale across its reactor fleet and is credited >> with certain industry advances, such as continually shaving time off >> of costly refueling outages. Exelon Chairman, President and Chief >> Executive Officer John Rowe has seemed eager to make deals in recent >> months and has roots in the Northeast, as former CEO of Central Maine >> Power and New England Electric. >> Asked if Exelon was eyeing Vermont Yankee, spokesman Paul Elsberg >> declined to "comment on rumors related to specific mergers and >> acquisition activity." >> But more generally, he said that while Exelon is primarily focused >> on growing existing operations, "we continue to evaluate all >> opportunities to add value for Exelon shareholders, and that includes >> merger and acquisition opportunities." >> NRG officials did not return a phone call Thursday seeking comment. >> NRG is operator and majority owner of one nuclear plant-the South >> Texas Project in Bay City, Texas-but is working to expand the plant >> by 2,700 megawatts and recently bought a sizable chunk of >> low-emission generation in New England. >> One key official at the center of the Vermont Yankee debate is >> State Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin (D), who quarterbacked >> the February vote to shut Vermont Yankee down and now may be on the >> way to the governor's office. >> Shumlin narrowly won the state Democratic primary this week, and >> will oppose Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie (R), who is more >> Yankee-friendly, in the general election. >> Shumlin was not immediately available for comment Thursday on >> whether a change in ownership might change his view on re-licensing >> Vermont Yankee. >> Regardless, several sources said Thursday that the threat of >> state-imposed shutdown in 2012 means Entergy would have to cut the >> price it could otherwise charge for Vermont Yankee. >> It also means that any potential buyer would likely take a very >> close look at its odds in challenging a state's legal authority to >> close the plant, in preparation for that possibility. >> Several legal sources say the key to successfully challenging the >> state's shutdown would be to demonstrate that Vermont wants to shut >> the plant for reasons related to public health and safety, which are >> the jurisdiction of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not >> the state. >> To the extent that Vermont can argue it is closing the plant for >> other reasons, the state stands a better chance of legal victory, >> according to legal sources. >> > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gaiahost.coop/pipermail/sage/attachments/20100828/46c02412/attachment.html From martygjf at comcast.net Sat Aug 28 22:28:15 2010 From: martygjf at comcast.net (marty nathan) Date: Sat Aug 28 22:28:24 2010 Subject: [Sage] Fw from Maria Cuerda: Immigrant murder victim -- please forward widely Message-ID: <3C1F8ED3181A49D28576315FC6B5F293@DELLNEW> Hello all, On Thursday night, a 25 year old immigrant from Guatemala was murdered as he walked home from getting take-out food on Orange Street in Springfield. His cousin told us that he was shot in the stomach by some young men who they knew and who had been robbing immigrants in that neighborhood for some time. The cousin, himself, was a victim of a robbery by these same men. The two immigrant witnesses are afraid to cooperate with the police because the police asked them where they were from and how they got into the country. My partner, Luis, and I will be talking to them and hopefully helping them to cooperate in the investigation. For now, we would like to help his family who will bear enormous costs as a result of this tragedy. His other immediate relatives are in Florida. We don't yet know if he has a partner or any children here. We would like to help so that they can afford to have a service here in Springfield because this will important for them and for the community. And, there will be costs to send the body home. Tonight, an immigrant group at Blessed Sacrament Church in the North End did a collection from their immigrant members and raised $430.00. Please take this story to your churches, synagogues, or groups so we can raise the needed funds to help this family and help the community to try and come to terms with this terrible event. The immigrant community already feels so afraid and vulnerable and now is the time to reach out and build bridges so that they understand that they are not alone and so they know that their loss is our loss, too. Any donation can be made to the Pioneer Valley Project and will be tax-deductible. You can mail your donation to me at 90 McKinstry Avenue, #201, Chicopee, MA 01013. Thank you. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.gaiahost.coop/pipermail/sage/attachments/20100828/97fd7b83/attachment.html