An Exclusive Interview with Helen Caldicott

It’s been 40 years since If You Love This Planet won the 1982 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

The film is comprised of a lecture given to students by outspoken nuclear critic Dr. Helen Caldicott, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the USA. Her message is clear: disarmament cannot be postponed. Archival footage of the bombing of Hiroshima and images of its survivors seven months after the attack heighten the urgency of her message.

Since it was released, the film has only grown more relevant and authoritative and, on its anniversary, Dr. Caldicott has given an exclusive interview on its context and continued relevance.

... read more

Small Modular Reactors

By Helen Caldicott

In light of Peter Dutton’s enthusiastic endorsement of the latest nuclear reactors, it is pertinent to review this technology in depth.

There are three types of SMRs which generate less than 300 megawatts of electricity compared with current day 1000 megawatt reactors.

  1. Light water reactors designs – smaller versions of present-day pressurized water reactors using water as the moderator

These SMRs will be expensive because the cost per unit capacity increases with decrease in reactor size. To alleviate costs, it is suggested that safety rules be relaxed, including reducing security requirements and a reduction in the 10 mile emergency planning zone to 1000 feet.

Non-light water designs

  1. High-temperature gas cooled reactors HTGR or pebble bed reactors. Five billion tiny fuel kernels consisting of highly-enriched uranium... read more

Nuclear lobby manipulates ABC's 7.30

by Noel Wauchope, Independent Australia, 11 April 2024

7.30’s report on nuclear energy displayed an enormous amount of bias (Screenshot via YouTube)

 

ON 4 APRIL, on ABC’s 7.30, regional affairs reporter Jane Norman presented a sort of debate on nuclear power for Australia. An accompanying article was also published on 2 April as a debate about ‘a generational divide’.

The show was quite gripping, with excellent visual snippets of Australia’s history of nuclear issues and promotional visualisation of the industry’s proposed new small modular reactors (SMRs).

The essence of this debate seemed to be that old people are inclined to oppose nuclear power, but young people see it as a new and valuable way to reduce carbon emissions and counter... read more

If You Love This Planet - Screening & Webinar + JFK

 

Guest Speaker: Helen Caldicott, World Renowned Peace Activist & Author
Moderated by Martin Sheen, Actor & Peace Activist

Sponsored by the JFK Peace Speech Committee and the Community Church of Boston

Monday February 19, 2024 7pm-8.30pm EST

Register for Zoom Link

The first hour of our Program, moderated by Martin Sheen, will feature an award-winning film in which Dr. Caldicott discusses the danger of nuclear weapons.

We will view the screening of President Kennedy’s American University address followed by remarks from Dr. Caldicott on the relevance JFK’s speech has for us today.

During the final half hour of our Program Dr. Caldicott will take questions from the audience.

Dr. Caldicott is an Australian pediatrician and a founder of Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND). She has appeared in numerous documentaries and... read more

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