Noy hit for approval of use of nuclear power

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino was criticized yesterday for his professed approval of the use of nuclear power at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Nuclear energy is not renewable and the huge amount of waste created in using it entails problems of disposal and poses the threat of pollution to the environment, according to Gerry Arances, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) national coordinator.

The PMCJ has been calling for the government to shift to a more sustainable and safe source of energy, he added.

The government seemed to ignore them and instead was thinking of using nuclear energy as one of the proposed alternatives, Arances said.

During the two-day APEC summit, member economies have reaffirmed the need to explore the contribution of biofuels and civil nuclear power as a base load power source in transitioning to low-carbon economy.

However, Aaron Pedrosa, PMCJ’s energy working group head, said nuclear energy has over 200,000 megawatts (MW) of clean renewable energy at its disposal, which will endanger lives and livelihood.

“Instead of removing the threats to health and livelihood stemming from the continued use of dirty and harmful energy such as coal, the Aquino government and the APEC member economies will only put more lives and livelihood in danger of death and destruction in advocating nuclear energy,” he said. 

The PMCJ has repeatedly called on the administration to uphold the renewable energy track provided in the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

It has a  petition to cancel new coal-related projects and shift from dirty energy towards cleaner, more accessible and affordable alternatives for the people such as solar and wind.