No Way Day

Why we must Stop PFS Now

Had the Industry been allowed to develop new reactor technology and recycling of spent fuel rods like what is done in France and other European Countries, we would not be having this discussion.

So why must we not allow PFS to start temporary storage of thousands of casks of spent fuel rods on a concrete slab just a few miles upwind of the major metropolitan center of Utah. Because if this is allowed to start, #1 temporary will become permanent, but more importantly Congress will again skirt the real tough issue of energy independence.

If the President of the United States were to direct the Congress to remove the roadblocks to new technology development for Nuclear Energy, and stipulate that we need to build these plants on the coasts so they can convert Seawater into hydrogen, we could within the next decade have both coasts using 100 percent hydrogen/electric automobiles.

The reprocessing of spent fuel rods by Energy Solutions would be the fuel for these new reactors, making the PFS storage unnecessary.

We must now apply the pressure on our elected officials and turn up the heat on the BLM and get this project stopped. To help make this happen please click on the following link http://www.deq.utah.gov/Issues/no_high_level_waste/index.htm and follow thru by emails, faxes, or letters.

Let’s stop this now, and obtain energy independence.

Other Blogs Today on this issue:The Senate Site blog, SLCSpin, Part of the Plan, Utahnia, Jen's Green Journal, The Utah Amicus, JuniperWest, Reach Upward, Dee's 'Dotes, Media Relations,
Obiter Dicta by Steve, Eric Hamilton's Reality Check, Josh Ewing, Wilf Sommerkorn, Rural Blogging, Utah Conservative, This Divided State, and Charley Foster

Mark E. Towner

We Must Never Forget The Sacrifice for Freedom

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the famil y gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process: "See the people in the windows? They'll sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. " I think that's what he would have wanted."

Interview with U President Young

I spent part of the day up at the Hinckley Institute taking advantage of the Hinckley Forum “Religious Freedom and Human Rights in U.S. Foreign Policy", The Guest was President Michael Young, President, University of Utah. He was talking about the problems with Religious restrictions and human rights problems in countries that the United States and other Western countries have monetary, strategic, or energy trade agreements. This was the first time I had any interaction with President Young and I came away very impressed. The University of Utah was truly blessed to snatch this find from GW Law School. The mp3 stream should be available on KUER FM90 podcast later this week at http://www.kuer.org/2005Hinckley.html .

After speaking on the subject for nearly 30 minutes he opened up the session which was filled with Political Science students and members of the media including myself. One of the first questions asked was “What can the US and the other Western countries do to stop this” and President Young’s response was very non political, and straight from the hip “nothing really”. He said trade sanctions don’t work, and the UN is a mess that need’s total reorganization, and for all practical purposes most of these countries would simply sell their goods to other middle man countries that would simply repackage and resell to those countries that were embargoing in the first place. How refreshing to get an honest answer for a change. I wish our elected Federal officials could be more forthright when asked direct questions on issues of Immigration, national security, and the war against terror in Iraq and elsewhere in the world.

After his talk I spoke with him privately for about 20-30 minutes. I asked him about such subjects as the accreditation inquiry at BYU, and the involvement of Law School Professors in the Legacy Lawsuit. He indicated that BYU has nothing to worry about as this issue is settled Law. Concerning the Law School Professors, he supported their actions in as much as any citizen can become active in an issue that concerns them. He said as long as University staff or equipment is not used, any Professor should be able to be involved outside of the classroom. He also mentioned that there have been about 65 briefs submitted from the U Law Professors to assist the State in Legal battles.

I asked if he was concerned that the Law School had fallen out of the top tier of School’s in the US and now currently ranks 57th. He indicated that the rankings will be one of new dean, Hiram Chodosh’s top priorities.

In conclusion I found President Young to be very engaging and without puffery. His credentials speak for themselves, and his knowledge of Asian culture is remarkable. But the best thing I can say about him is character. Never did I get that feeling during his presentation, or when taking questions from the students, or even from this reporter that he felt superior in intellect.

I will conclude by saying the U got the deal of a lifetime, I just hope he can patch some of the animosity with the Legislature, and move the University forward to great things.