Progressive Commentary Hour - A Look Back At Fukushima - 12/17/12

A look back at Fukushima, its continued threats, the extent of the catastrophic consequences both in Japan and elsewhere, and the future of nuclear power.

Dr. Helen Caldicott is perhaps the single most articulate and passionate advocate of citizen action to counter the nuclear and environmental crises. She has a  medical degree from the University of Adelaide Medical School and was an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School until 1980 when she resigned to work full time on the prevention of nuclear war. She co-founded the Physicians for Social Responsibility, an organization of 23,000 doctors committed to educating their colleagues about the dangers of nuclear power, nuclear weapons and nuclear war. Dr. Caldicott has received numerous awards, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Linus Pauling, and has  21 honorary doctoral degrees. The Smithsonian has named Dr Caldicott as one of the most influential women of the 20th Century.

Joseph Mangano is the Executive Director of the Radiation and Public Health Project – a nonprofit organization founded by scientists and physicians to understand the relationships between low level nuclear radiation and public health and the risks of diseases such as cancer and damage to newborns. Joe has published numerous articles and letters in medical and other journals in addition to books, including Low Level Radiation and Immune System Disorders: An Atomic Era Legacy.