FYI: Duke Energy’s contributions to SC by party
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Monthly Archives: July 2008
SC & NC commissions urged to revoke Duke nuclear cost approvals
Feds tell Westinghouse its design is off track; doubts over new nukes grow
Federal regulators now say a nuclear plant design touted as “certified” in 2004 remains years from completion, more delays in the design approval process are likely, and problems involving major components and plant systems persist. In response, public interest groups in North and South Carolina today filed legal motions calling for revocation of $230 million in preconstruction costs approved by both states’ electricity regulatory commissions in May and June for two new Duke Energy reactors.
Friends of the Earth and NC WARN told utilities commissioners in both states today that escalating design problems threaten Duke Energy’s chances of ever completing two new Westinghouse AP1000 reactors it wants to build near Gaffney, SC. They also say the delays mean Duke cannot provide a firm project cost estimate for the Lee Nuclear Station by year-end, a commitment the company made to both commissions during hearings over the preconstruction costs.
“The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has served notice that the ‘nuclear revival’ is in trouble,” Tom Clements, of Friends of the Earth’s Columbia, SC, office said today. “Duke Energy’s customers should not be stuck holding the bag if the company keeps pouring millions into that risky project. The state regulatory agencies must now reverse their earlier decisions to approve Duke’s reactor project and require that the company not come back for reconsideration until the reactor design is finalized.”
Faith matters
Check out Publishers Weekly’s review of Candace Chellew-Hodge’s forthcoming book, Bulletproof Faith. Rev. Chellew-Hodge serves as a pastor at the Garden of Grace United Church of Christ (a member of the SC Progressive Network) in Columbia and edits the online publication Whosoever.
Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge (right) joins Rev. Tom Summers (center) and Rev. Bennie Colclough in facilitating a group discussion at a Network retreat at Penn Center.
Freshman senator goes sophomoric
Last week, Anderson County Republican Sen. Kevin Bryant posted a “funny” picture on his blog comparing Barack Obama to Osama Bin Laden, saying the only difference between them is a little BS.
Yes, really.
After realizing not everyone saw the humor in it, he removed the picture. The comments are still up — at least the ones he hasn’t purged — but he is now trying to change the subject.
State Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler issued the following statement:
“This degrading blog post is a desperate and juvenile attempt by Kevin Bryant to get attention for his troubled reelection effort. South Carolina voters, both Democratic and Republican, hate to see this type of ugly campaign tactics from our candidates,” said Fowler. “Of course, this is just the latest in a string of John McCain’s supporters and surrogates whose remarks have to be denounced by the GOP nominee. Kevin Bryant was an early McCain backer, but it’s time Senator McCain pitched him off the campaign bus. Senator Bryant’s actions are inexcusable and Republican Party leaders like Katon Dawson and Mark Sanford should join me in saying so. The residents of District 3 deserve to be represented by a leader who will campaign and serve with integrity, maturity, and honor. They should elect Dr. Marshall Meadors in the fall.”
The GOP has remained strangely silent on the matter.
SC ACLU: up from the ashes
By Becci Robbins and Brett Bursey
SC Progressive Network
About 25 activists met yesterday in Columbia to talk about the future and direction of the South Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which in April was taken over by the national after years of poor management and in-fighting. While the national organization has twice before taken over a state chapter, this is the first time in the ACLU’s nearly 90-year history that it has done so without the affiliate’s blessing.
It’s too bad that it has come to this, but it appears it was the only way the SC ACLU was ever going to get out of the ditch it has been mired in for more than a decade. Under the leadership of libertarian David Kennison, the chapter has been at ideological odds with the national organization and has alienated longtime SC ACLU supporters and board members.
It didn’t help that the SC ACLU hired a series of executive directors who ranged from inept to corrupt. The last director was fired after it was discovered that her law license had been suspended and that she was stealing money from the chapter.
Tension deepened two years ago, when the chapter became the only state affiliate to sign onto a Web site criticising the ACLU’s national director, Anthony Romero. Kennison has argued that the chapter take-over is tied to his past criticism of Romero. (You can read more about this dispute in The Nation.)
All this drama has not come without a price. While the SC ACLU has been battling with itself, abuses of civil liberties have gone unchallenged. Absent, too, has been a clear and consistent voice in the South Carolina media addressing privacy concerns, chronic problems regarding the separation of church and state, and a host of other legal and legislative matters.
Yesterday’s meeting in Columbia was the first in a series that the ACLU will hold across the state in an effort to gather input and chart a new course. If you want to add your two cents, the organization is soliciting feedback through an online survey.
We wish the new SC ACLU well.
Al Gore issues important challenge
When John F. Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon in 10 years, many called it impossible.
Now, Al Gore has given a major speech with another visionary call: “Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.”
G8 to poor women: let them eat dirt
By Yifat Susskind
Communications Director, MADRE: Rights, Resources and Results for Women Worldwide
Last week, leaders of the world’s richest countries, the Group of Eight (G8), met to chart the course of the global economy at the luxurious Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa in Toyako, Japan. While President Bush and his colleagues discussed world hunger over a six-course lunch, women in Haiti were preparing cakes of dirt for their children’s dinner.
Eating dirt, mixed with salt and vegetable shortening, is the latest coping strategy of Haitian mothers trying to quiet hungry children in a year when the cost of rice (Haiti’s staple food) has risen nearly 150 percent.
Ironically, many of these women were once rice farmers themselves. But in the 1980s, U.S.-grown rice began pouring into Haiti. Thanks to federal subsidies, the imported rice was sold for less than what it cost to grow it. Haitian farmers just couldn’t compete.
Neither could millions of other farmers around the world, who have been bankrupted by the influx of rice, corn, and wheat from the U.S., Europe and Japan. These farmers have gone from growing their own food and feeding their countries to having to buy food that’s priced on a global market. Now that these commodity markets have spiked, millions of more families cannot afford to eat.
Even here in the U.S., still the world’s richest country, more and more families are struggling to afford food these days. Thankfully, we are not forced to feed our children mud cakes. But ultimately, all working families and small farmers, whether in Haiti or Iowa, are hurt by farm policies that are designed for the benefit of giant food corporations.
Bush set to fund anti-choice centers
By Cecile Richards
President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
We have just received news that President Bush is trying to
sell-out women’s health in the most unbelievable way. Here’s
how:
The Bush administration is about to release a rule that will
make it possible for federal funding that is specifically
designed to prevent unintended pregnancy and promote
reproductive health to now be used for anything but that.
If it happens, it will be a massive betrayal of women and
families, and we must stop it. We need you to
speak out. Please let President Bush know that this change is
very wrong by clicking here.
A little background on this outrageous situation…
We’ve known for some time that anti-choice extremists have
wanted President Bush to deliver them some sort of “gift” before
he leaves office. This rule change is just that gift. And here’s
what one of the most egregious results could be:
Right now, anti-choice groups run so-called “crisis pregnancy
centers” in communities all around the country — often a block
or two away from Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers.
These facilities look like health centers, but in reality are
run by anti-choice zealots who deliver only the reproductive
health care options that fit their agenda. No birth control, no
abortion — and no choice for women and families who need it.
Sean’s Last Wish fundraiser
Sean’s Last Wish is trying to raise money by writing reviews for businesses at palmettobizbuzz.com.
This will only take a few minutes of your time. All you have to do is go to palmettobizbuzz.com and write reviews about businesses in South Carolina. For every review, you can select Sean’s Last Wish in the Upstate (Greenville) to receive a $1 contribution.
The opportunity will last until the end of this month.
I got a Taliban, bro
Harper’s
August 2008
Once again, South Carolina looks foolish in the national press. (To enlarge pages enough to read, keep clicking on the image.) This is the story behind the story of the two Egyptian students arrested in Goose Creek last August.
