Sunday 20th March, nobody knows exactly how many were those who trod the Alameda to protest in favor of clean energy. While Camila Moreno, who played on the stage erected in the square Brazil after the march, said they were "more than 10,000" , a policeman spoke of "between 1000 and 1200 people." If the call for Greenpeace date had not chosen randomly, using the media impact of Obama's visit, it acquired a dimension even stronger by the events that occurred recently in Japan.
For Marion Bastit
If the agreement signed between Piñera and Obama on Friday will not contain anything specific about the implementation of a nuclear plant in Chile, it is nevertheless a first step in this direction. In fact, the text, about three or four pages, well defined strategic lines, among which are national scholarships for students so they go to the U.S. to know the institutions linked to the nuclear sector. According to Samuel Lewis, campaign coordinator for Greenpeace in Chile, "missing at least 8 years before signing a contract which would the last step of the process. " However, it states that there was never as significant progress towards nuclear energy from Golborne nomination as Minister of Energy and Mining . In three months, and is the second international convention signed on this topic. The first established an industrial link between Chilean and French companies, among which is GDF Suez industrial conglomerate related to nuclear. "It was signed in four days during the minister's visit to France to learn about nuclear plants, but it is true that the decision had been taken long before," said Samuel Leiva. In addition, there is already geo-political agreement Argentina, a country with a nuclear plant in operation and another under construction, and that includes the development of joint capabilities.
But Juan Carlos Marín, the Green Party of the fourth region, "Chile does not have enough energy to meet future challenges is a myth." Samuel Lewis, "the new interest in nuclear energy is strictly related to mining, is not intended or to other sectors, or the interest of the people." While Luis Mura, of the Community Human Development estimates that the nuclear the energy of the future, remember that "it is still developing, and we still have much to learn." While it is favorable to its use in medicine or transportation, it recognizes that there are "other more sustainable energy sources be developed first." It also raises the problem of seismic risk, as evidenced recently in Japan. However, the central Fukushima was built in 1971 to resist an earthquake ... but 9 degrees. "They bet that in 40 years would not pass anything," says Samuel Lewis, "but are now using sea water for cooling, the last option which finally broke the ground, and must be buried. " "The problem until now not yet solved, and the accident will have economic and environmental consequences for Japan for at least 3 years." But while the nuclear threat is global, as seen in the case of Chernobyl, there are international standards that prevail over national law, leaving each country free to set up nuclear plants in their own territory.
This Sunday, it was not just nuclear power was questioned, but the Chilean energy policy as a whole. "It is not well defined, it is unknown to where you want to go," Samuel Leiva complaint, citing the development of power plants, "from Iquique to Arauco." According to Juan Carlos Marín, "in this field are the prevailing economic interests. Nuclear power is not cheaper, it is a myth. There are additional costs very high maintenance and processing of uranium, in addition to the social cost is infinitely great, because, as seen in Japan, nuclear is clearly dangerous. " Proposed alternative, which defend local candidates Green Party in the next election: a subsidy to each household to install renewable energy. Thus, the pair would no longer rely on large consortia not be necessary to build more nuclear plants. Further, the sale of the energy left to the industry will fund the installation of renewable energy. Says that in addition, Chile is a country with a geography conducive to the development of alternative energy. "We have a coastline of 6,000 km where tidal power could be installed, and the Atacama Desert could be filled with solar panels ..." imagine Juan Carlos Marín. "What we need is a strategic energy policy long term," he concludes.
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