Are we about to witness the beginning of the end of nuclear power in Russia?

On December 8th, the people of Kostroma cast their votes in the first ever regional referendum on nuclear power in Russia. This could be the start of a series of similar referendums around the country which will destroy any future plans for this dangerous, polluting technology.

When communities in western Europe have been asked about nuclear power, many have said no to new reactors. National referenda have stopped nuclear power programmes in Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. While in Asia, Japanese and Taiwanese residents have also voted overwhelming against new reactors in regional referenda. Finally a Russian community is being given the opportunity to say no to a reactor being built on it's doorstep. On December 8th, the people of Kostroma will cast their votes in the first ever regional referendum on nuclear power in Russia. This could be the start of a series of similar referendums around the country which will destroy any future plans for this dangerous, polluting technology.

Historically, the nuclear industry in Russia, and throughout the rest of the world, has been shrouded in secrecy. The global population were expected to believe in the `atoms for peace' myth created at the birth of nuclear power in the 1950's. The technology, born out of the nuclear weapons programmes of certain countries, was not to be questioned. Even today military and civil nuclear programmes are inseparable. Viktor Mikhailov, once a developer of nuclear weapons and a guardian of their secrets, is now head of the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (MINATOM) with control over the country's entire nuclear power and plutonium production complexes.

The nuclear industry has had almost 50 years to prove that nuclear technology is safe, clean and cheap, but has failed to do so. Instead it has proven that the technology is dirty, dangerous and expensive, and poses a very real threat to human life. As the true environmental, health and economic costs of nuclear power have come to light there has been a steady decline in the fortunes of the nuclear industry around the world. This decline started in the United States in the 1970's and resulted in the cancellation of over 120 nuclear power plants! It was followed by moratoriums on the expansion of nuclear programmes and the cancellation of new reactor orders throughout western Europe. Today France is only western European country with any reactors under construction.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are the key to future sustainable development. Renewable energy technology already exists - it does not have to be invented - it is ready to use. This technology runs on natural resources which will not "run out", such as wind, sunlight, ocean waves and organic gas. It does not pollute the environment and will not pass on a legacy of radioactive contamination, nuclear waste and climate change to future generations.

In Russia the potential for energy saving measures to be adopted is huge. According to estimates developed by the Institute of Energy Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, energy conservation potential ranges as high as 40-45% of the country's present energy consumption. In addition to this, the `Innovation Investment Programme for Energy Conservation in Russia' has highlighted the fact that by implementing energy efficiency measures, up to 3 times the current nuclear power output could be saved.

Nuclear power is the technology of the past, energy efficiency and renewables have the future to look forward to. The people of Kostroma have helped to build a clean, bright future for their community by voting no to a nuclear power plant.