Poison Fire, Sacred Earth,
TESTIMONIES, LECTURES, CONCLUSIONS,
THE WORLD URANIUM HEARING, SALZBURG 1992
pages 5-6
We were promised unlimited energy. The promise was a delusion. What was given to us is a restriction of our freedom as inhabitants of this planet: We can no longer drink just any water and we may no longer step out onto any ground. For many people it has become dangerous to breathe deeply. There is no such thing as the so-called peaceful use of nuclear energy. We owe it to ourselves and to those who will come after us to put an end to the use of nuclear technologies forever. May The World Uranium Hearing in Salzburg contribute to that end.
Claus Biegert
Opening Speech on the Eve of the Hearing
Claus Biegert, Fed. Rep. of Germany. Journalist,
founder of The World Uranium Hearing.
(This speech was held originally in German)
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends from all over the world! Welcome to Salzburg!
This is a city with a long history: A fort in the 11th century -- a cultural and economic center since the 13th century -- a Baroque bishop's see in the 17th century -- birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- for Americans, the home of "The Sound of Music". But the city on the Salzach, where nearby salt is still extracted, has another history which has its place in this coming week. On September 21, 1909, Albert Einstein delivered a lecture to the Society of German Naturalists and Physicians which was to represent his entrance into the community of scientists of the time. The lecture was entitled "On the Development of our Conception of the Essence and the Constitution of Radioactivity".
Since the 1970's, the Salzburg regional government has held a negative
position towards atomic energy. This led scientists and critics of
nuclear power from around the world to hold their first "World
Conference for a Nuclear-Free Future" in 1977 in Salzburg. At the end
of the 1980's, in resistance to the reprocessing plant in Wackersdorf
situated outside the Austrian borders, it was made clear that the
refusal to accept atomic power has a history in this city. It is no
wonder then, that, following the advice of Robert Jungk, we chose
Salzburg as the location for this Hearing. The support we have
received in the last twelve months from this city and this
state has confirmed our decision.
At this time, I would also like to thank those who supported us when
all this was merely an idea and investing money in this idea
represented quite a risky venture. I'd like to say a few words
about this venture called "The World Uranium Hearing":
Two central experiences shaped the last five years of preparation,
one good and one bad. First, the bad one: I'd like to quote here
the Iroquois philosopher John Sotsisowah Mohawk. He says: "Everybody
wants to save the world, but nobody wants to pay for it." We who have
worked for The World Uranium Hearing have received a worldwide pat on
the back, fantastic promises were made to us, but we nevertheless felt
as if we were at a tennis game: Two people work themselves to death
while thousands look on. But then there is the other experience: It
gives one strength to see how much can be accomplished through the
efforts of a few. A handful of people decided to give voice to the
unheard people of the atomic age and did not allow themselves to be
dissuaded from achieving their goal. I thank everyone here in this
room for their endurance, their loyalty and their recognition of
priorities.
Why are we here? Because the nuclear age threatens our future. During
our work on this project, we agonized over the wording of this or
that. We wanted to call for the end of the nuclear age and suddenly
realized that we will not be able to rid ourselves of this radioactive
inheritance of 50 years. Even if there does come an end to the use of
nuclear technology someday, the earth will remain contaminated -- for
millennia.
What is the goal of our meeting in Salzburg? An image is kept alive
for the public which is wrong: Atomically generated electricity is
cheap and safe. On the contrary: It is expensive and dangerous. In
the next four days, those affected from all over the world will present
the evidence for this. From 27 countries and 25 indigenous nations,
testimonies will be delivered about the daily destruction. Even if no
reactor explodes, all is not right in the world: Uranium mining and
the storage of radioactive waste result in making this so-called cheap
power the most expensive in that its cost includes the daily death of
human beings.
We were promised unlimited energy. The promise was a delusion. What
was given to us is a restriction of our freedom as inhabitants of this
planet: We can no longer drink just any water and we may no longer
step out onto any ground. For many people it has become dangerous to
breathe deeply. There is no such thing as the so-called peaceful use
of nuclear energy. We owe it to ourselves and to those who will come
after us to put an end to the use of nuclear technologies
forever. May The World Uranium Hearing in Salzburg contribute to that
end.