Whistleblower Protection Blog : Whistleblower Lawyer & Attorney : National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund : Whistleblower Protection, Fraud Claims : Washington DC

It's been two weeks since Japan was struck by a horrific earthquake, followed by a massive tsunami. Since then, workers have been struggling to prevent or contain radiation leaks, explosions, fires, and power outages at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This tragedy has thrust the issue of nuclear safety into the forefront of American consciousness and debate. With 104 operating nuclear power plants in the U.S., how safe are we?

This week the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Inspector General issued a startling report, stating that over 25% of the U.S. nuclear plants have failed to report "defects in basic components that could cause a substantial safety hazard," as required by law. The report, entitled "Reporting of Defects and Noncompliance" indicates that the types of defects which have gone unreported are those that "could cause the loss of a safety function" and/or cause an "individual component failure."

The Fukushima disaster and this OIG report provide a stark backdrop for America's so-called nuclear renaissance. For the first time in three decades, it appears that utility companies are serious about building new nuclear plants. Due to cost overruns, progress has been sluggish; however, the Obama Administration has pledged its full support, and tens of billions of dollars in subsidies.

If the recent OIG report tells us anything, it is that nuclear power, with its unparalleled potential for harm, is too dangerous to operate within our current corporate culture. The risks associated with nuclear power (including the safeguarding of nuclear waste, which poses a threat for decades after use) are magnified when companies betray the public trust time and time again by failing to adequately prioritize safety and compliance. 

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The Big Uneasy is a new feature documentary movie by Harry Shearer. It responds to those (including President Obama) who say that New Orleans was the victim of a terrible natural disaster. That response:  No. New Orleans could have handled Hurricane Katrina if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had not wasted billions of taxpayer dollars in projects that ruined wetlands, pushed salt water inland where it degraded the natural plant growth, and installed levies and pumps that it knew would fail. When Hurricane Katrina rolled over New Orleans in 2005, it was a category 3 hurricane -- the type one should expect every few decades. The 2005 flooding of New Orleans was a man-made disaster and the greatest failure of civil engineering in American history.

Last night, the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland, featured The Big Uneasy. Harry Shearer, USACE whistleblower Maria Garzino (left in photo) and Danielle Brian (center) of the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) were present to explain the context of the film and answer some questions. "I hope you enjoy being angry," Shearer said when introducing the film. Shearer explained that he felt compelled to make this film when he heard President Obama speak during his first trip to New Orleans as President. When Obama said that Hurricane Katrina was a "natural disaster," Shearer knew that his blogging (on the Huffington Post) and radio show (Le Show, available as a free podcast) were not enough to get the truth out. The public was unaware of USACE's role in causing this man-made disaster. This is why, in Shearer's view, the President could get away with "pandering to ignorance." To me, The Big Uneasy is an example of answering bad speech with more good speech. Harry Shearer uses his extensive knowledge of New Orleans, his show business connections, and his personal funds to present a clear picture of what really happened.

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