( – promoted by Sue Prent)

People Pedal Independence From Entergy During July 1st Rally & Action

On July 1 the people of the tri-state community will show their resolve and a commitment to a clean energy future.  This is a commitment to rid ourselves of a corporation that holds itself above the laws of the state of Vermont.   “We will gain our independence from this untrustworthy corporation.  Citizens will return again and again until Entergy shuts down and safely decommissions Vermont Yankee,” said Deb Katz, Executive Director of the Citizens Awareness Network.

People from across Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will declare independence from the Entergy Corporation (ENR) during a July 1st rally and non-violent act of civil disobedience.  Organizers plan a 10:00 AM rally with short speeches and performance taking place at the Brattleboro Common, Brattleboro, VT.  This will be followed by a bicycle procession to Vernon, VT and nonviolent direct action at the gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. Those unable to bike from Brattleboro will be taken by bus to Vernon. Participants risking arrest will be trained in nonviolence and part of an affinity group.

“Citizens are declaring their independence from Entergy and its systemically mismanaged reactor.  The state of Vermont has already replaced the power that Vermont Yankee provided,” said  Debra Stoleroff of the Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance  “We must aggressively move away from polluting forms of energy use and towards efficiency, conservation and renewable solutions.   We must hold this corporation accountable for its leaks, lies, arrogance and waste.”

As the Entergy vs. the State of Vermont case winds its way through the courts and the Public Service Board opens a new hearing on whether Entergy can receive a CPG from the state, Vermont Yankee continues to operate at reduced power due to reliability and deferred maintenance issues.  “While Entergy wields its temporary power in court, citizens will continue to demonstrate our actual power on the streets. We are not going away until Entergy closes up and cleans up,” said Bob Bady of the Safe & Green Campaign.

We intend to provide Entergy with a going away present at the gates of Vermont Yankee. This will include an elaborate presentation of a 14′ x 8′ Trojan Cow weighing 600 lbs, designed by Vermont sculptor Ria Blaas.

“As a declaration of our independence from Entergy Corp, a ‘gift’ will be given to signify our moving on.  Entergy Vermont Yankee is no longer relevant,” said Katz.

Organized by the SAGE Alliance. For details and updates, go to www.sagealliance.net or www.facebook/shutdownvermontyankee

 

People from across Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will declare independence from the Entergy Corporation (ENR) during a July 1st rally and non-violent act of civil disobedience

Contact: Chad Simmons, 262.215.0259 (cell), cbtossin@yahoo.com

Deb Katz, 413.339.5781, deb@nukebusters.org

Debra Stollerof, 802.476.3154, debra@vtlink.net

What:   The People Declare Independence From Entergy Vermont Yankee

When:   Sunday, July 1st

Where: 10:00 AM rally at the Brattleboro Common (Park Pl. between Hwy 5/Putney Rd and Hwy 30/Linden St)

12:00 PM nonviolent direct action at the gates of Vermont Yankee (546 Governor Hunt Rd. in Vernon, VT)

The People Declare Independence From Entergy Vermont Yankee

People from across Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will declare independence from the Entergy Corporation (ENR) during a July 1st rally and non-violent act of civil disobedience. Organizers plan a 10:00 AM rally with short speeches and performances taking place at the Brattleboro Common, Brattleboro, VT. This will be followed by a bicycle procession to Vernon, VT and nonviolent direct action at the gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. The action will involve an elaborate entrance and “gift” presented to the corporation, a sight surely not to be missed. Participants risking arrest will be trained in nonviolence and part of an affinity group. Organized by the SAGE Alliance. For details and updates, go to www.sagealliance.net or www.facebook/shutdownvermontyankee

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GOVERNOR PETER SHUMLIN, U.S. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS

(I-VT) AND

ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM SORRELL TO SPEAK AT

RALLY TO SUPPORT VERMONT AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY

An unprecedented number of groups and citizens from Vermont and surrounding states will gather on Saturday, April 14, from noon to 2:00 pm on the Brattleboro Vermont Town Common to show support for the democratic will of the people and elected officials of Vermont to retire and decommission the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor as planned rather than extend its original 40-year license.  Organizers say the fight to hold a rogue corporation accountable and support the will of the people is an important exercise in democracy.

 

Vermont has asserted its authority to close the aging, problematic reactor, owned and operated by the Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), on the basis of economic and environmental considerations. Other states are following suit.

“If Vermont wants to move to energy efficiency and sustainable energy,” Senator Sanders has stated, “no corporation should have the right to force our state to stay tethered to an aging, problem-ridden nuclear plant.”  

Statements by former Vermont Governor Madeline Kunin, Ralph Nader, and elected officials from around the region will also be issued and available on the website.

“People coming to the rally will learn how important it is to support the right of Vermont — and of all states — to uphold existing laws and the democratic will of their people against “big nuclear’s” abuse of corporate power,” event cosponsor Ned Childs, President of the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution (NEC), based in Brattleboro but representing several states, said.

“The Sierra Club supports Vermont’s efforts and its citizens’ desire to protect our precious natural resources, specifically preventing further radioactive contamination of the soil, air, and water surrounding the Vermont Yankee reactor,” event cosponsor Denis Rydjeski, local Sierra Club leader, said.

“It is in Vermont’s best interest to hold Entergy accountable to begin decommissioning the reactor immediately since so many jobs will be retained in the process and plans for productive reuse of the site can move ahead,” cosponsor Daniel Barlow, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), representing 1180 Vermont companies, said.

“The fight to retire Vermont Yankee is a symbol of the growing national momentum to close all 23 antiquated and faulty Fukushima-type reactors like Vermont Yankee that are still operating in the U.S. today,” cosponsor Jim Riccio, Greenpeace, said.

The rousing, twelve-piece, afro-beat orchestra Fenibo will provide music at the rally, which will also include other family-friendly entertainment.  Co-sponsoring organizations will have information tables with representatives available to answer questions. Plenty of ice cream will be on hand for all to enjoy.

The Saturday, April 14 rally follows a successful March 22 midweek march of over 1,200 people from the Brattleboro Common to local Entergy offices, with related actions that same day at Entergy offices in White Plains, New York (near Indian Point reactors) and Entergy corporate headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The rain location for the rally will be Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd, Brattleboro, Vermont.

April 14 rally sponsors include: Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), Safe & Green Campaign, Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Nuclear Free Vermont, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance (VYDA), New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution (NEC), Beyond Nuclear, Greenpeace, SAGE Alliance, Vermont Citizen Action Network, Vermont Toxics Action Center, The Enviro Show, Clamshell Alliance, Sierra Club, Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), Connecticut River Watershed Council, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).

See updates at:

www.safeandgreencampaign.org and www.Facebook.com/shutdownVermontYankee

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