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Leaked EU nuclear stress tests reveal hundreds of defects By Nikolaj Nielsen for EUobserver Hundreds of defects have been found throughout Europe’s nuclear reactors and mostly in France, according to an EU stress test report. The stress tests assess whether any of Europe’s 143 licensed nuclear power plants can withstand extreme events such as earthquakes and terrorists attacks. The tests were introduced after the nuclear accident in Japan's Fukushima some 18 months ago. EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger is to present the final report and recommendations in the upcoming EU summit on 18 and 19 October. “ We have reassessed all the nuclear power plants in Europe in the light of Fukushima ,” said commission energy spokesperson Marlene Holzner on Monday (1 October). Oettinger is also scheduled to present his findings to his fellow EU commissioners on Wednesday. The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (Ensreg), a group of senior officials from the national nuc...

Dear friends, We hope this letter finds you all well, and wish you all the best for new year. As you are of course aware, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, have both had a dramatic impact around the world. In response to this massive disaster and its tragic consequences to people's lives and environment, the people of Japan are trying to take steps towards recovery. Meanwhile, the nuclear power plant is still unstable and workers are forced to continue working in life-threatening conditions. As the radioactive contamination spreads, many people including children are forced to suffer from prolonged radiation exposure, unable to evacuate due to lack of support from the government. It is vital that we do not continue to make the same mistakes. It is now time for humanity to put an end to the nuclear age that started with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Japan, well over half the population now supports the goal of br...

The Russell Foundation has received the following appeal from our friends in the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo). Dear friends, Thank you very much for your warm messages and support to us. Your messages are of great encouragement to us and all victims of the disaster. We have translated your messages into Japanese and passed them on to the victims and all Japanese people. The damage caused by earthquakes and subsequent tsunami is so horrible. All buildings were swept away. Thousands of bodies are found every day. The number of those dead and are missing is expected to be more than 11,500. The evacuees have increased more than 450,000. They are forced to stay at shelters with not enough food, water, cloths, oil for heaters and gas for cars, etc. In addition to that, the frightening accident of Fukushima power plants is threatening the safety of people and their uneasiness is growing. The municipalities and citizens of the damage struck areas have so far given strong sup...