[Greens-Media] Long campaign of deception by nuclear industry exposed - Greens

[Torre, Giovanni (Sen S. Ludlam)]

Long campaign of deception by nuclear industry exposed - Greens
Media release: Senator Scott Ludlam, Monday October 3rd, 2011

The nuclear industry's long-term campaign of deception exposed by an
independent investigation in Japan is almost certainly not an isolated
case, the Australian Greens warned today. 

Greens spokesperson for nuclear affairs Senator Scott Ludlam said it
would be surprising if Japan was the only victim of corrupt and
dishonest tactics from the nuclear industry.

"The stacking of public meetings by nuclear sector stooges and collusion
with corrupt officials to suppress opposition to nuclear power in Japan
is a case study in the lengths to which this industry is prepared to go.
In the globalised economy, the idea that these kinds of practices would
only be occurring in Japan is an example of extreme optimism."

Senator Ludlam said the nuclear industry campaign went beyond stacking
public meetings with industry goons. 

"As though infiltrating community meetings with nuclear industry
employees pretending to be farmers and other local residents wasn't
nefarious enough, evidence shows officials as high up as the Governor of
Kyushu have been working with the industry to manipulate public opinion
and promote the nuclear sector.

"Worse still, another investigation has found that a number of nuclear
firms colluded with the Nuclear Safety Agency - the very body charged
with regulating the industry - to rig public forums on the issue. Japan
is one of the world's leading industrialised powers - what is the
nuclear industry getting away with in other countries?"

Senator Ludlam said vigilance was especially needed now that the nuclear
industry is in retreat. 

"The nuclear industry is dying but the company bosses are being dragged
kicking and screaming to the funeral. They will fight hard to promote
their business, and truth is often the first casualty."


Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302