Disaster Preparedness: In the Wake of Fukushima

Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Location: Hinsdale United Methodist Church, 945 South Garfield (corner of 55th Street & Garfield/parking available)

Free and open to the public. Reservations recommended: contact H.OB.aauw.reservations@gmail.com

More than 120 million Americans live within 50 miles of an aging nuclear power reactor. History has shown – most recently with the Fukushima disaster in Japan – that accidents happen. We have 23 reactors of the same design in this country – the GE Mark I boiling water reactor. Four of them are in Illinois: two at Quad Cities and two at Dresden in Morris.

Dr. Jeffrey Patterson, Past President of Physicians for Social Responsibility, will address potential impacts on public health and safety of a nuclear Illinois, in the wake of Fukushima.

• Illinois has more nuclear power reactors than any other state.
• Three of Exelon’s seven nuclear power plants in Illinois have a history of leaking millions of gallons of radioactive tritium, often without notice to the public.
• Illinois has a high-level radioactive waste storage dump – the GE Morris Operation, which holds 772 tons of high level nuclear waste.
• In 2007, Illinois made the ‘short list’ for siting a reprocessing facility, intended to accept highly radioactive “spent” plutonium fuel rods from the nation’s 104 reactors and waste from foreign countries.

What are the risks of nuclear waste transport and storage in our communities? It is important to note that women and children are at greater risk. If you are interested in an in-depth discussion of this subject by an outstanding authority, join us for an AAUW Public Policy Program.

Dr. Patterson is a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI, where he maintains an active family practice. He is an expert on the medical effects of radiation.