This is a tentative list of speakers and topics. Information about each presentation will be provided on this page soon.

Radiation 101
Bonnie Urfer, Nukewatch
John LaForge, Nukewatch
This workshop will explain radiation and the pathways to environmental and human contamination.

Bonnie Urfer has worked with Nukewatch, the Wisconsin peace and justice organization, for 18 years. She helped organize Nukewatch's Missile Silo Mapping Project, Track Watch and Truck Watch (secret train and truck shipments of irradiated fuel rods and H-bombs) and nonviolent resistance at numerous military installations and commercial reactor locations. She conducts nonviolence trainings. Urfer is a plowshares activist who has spent 4 1/2 years in jail and prison. She is an artist and creates a good deal of her artwork while imprisoned.

John LaForge is a disarmament activist and co-director of Nukewatch, a peace and environmental action group. He edits Nukewatch's quarterly newsletter The Pathfinder, and his articles on nuclear weapons and radioactive pollution have appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Progressive, Earth Island Journal, Z Magazine, the Miami Herald, the Nonviolent Activist and elsewhere. He is a member of Anathoth Community Farm near Luck, Wisconsin.

Nuclear Illinois -- How We Got Here; Where We're Heading
Dave Kraft, Nuclear Energy Information Service
This is a "backdrop," a context for what is happening right now, with Exelon's plans for both a second Clinton nuclear reactor, and license extensions on aging reactors like those at Dresden and Quad Cities. It also will deal with what we can and must do about it as a grassroots movement.

With seven other activists, David Kraft founded the Nuclear Energy Information Service ­ NEIS ­ in 1981 to provide the public with reliable information about nuclear power and radiation hazards, and energy alternatives to nuclear power. He is currently the director of the organization. Mr. Kraft has given presentations about nuclear and environmental issues to a wide range of audiences. For five years he was one of the lead organizers for the Nuclear Free Great Lakes Action Camps, training the next generation of anti-nuclear activists.

He is an experienced organizer with many high profile events under his belt. His articles, op-ed pieces, and interviews have served as an information resource for many in the Chicago-land area. He has contributed to and edited the energy section of the Illinois Environmental Council’s “Green Papers: An Environmental Agenda for Illinois in the ‘90’s”, and the 1995 rewrite. Mr. Kraft has served on numerous advisory groups, task forces, and commissions for which his expertise on nuclear safety, waste, and alternative energy was utilized.

Busting the Mythology of Nuclear Power
Paul Gunter, Nuclear Information & Resource Service
Nuclear power was never safe, clean, cheap, nor was it the "Peaceful Atom." The workshop will explore and expose these myths along with the new mythology being advanced by the nuclear industry as it looks to stage a "renaissance" with "inherently safe" designs as a solution to global warming. In fact, the workshop will reveal this new mythology as nothing more than a relapse into the same failed and evermore dangerous energy policy of the 1960's and 70's.

Paul Gunter is the Director of the Reactor Watchdog Project for NIRS since 1991. In 1976, Paul Gunter was a cofounder of Clamshell Alliance, a New England-based antinuclear movement formed to oppose the construction and operation of the Seabrook nuclear power station in New Hampshire through public education, political action and nonviolent direct action. The April 30, 1977 civil disobedience action resulted in the construction site being occupied by 2,000 people organized by affinity groups for three days and eventually leading to the arrest of 1,414 activists in five National Guard armories for up to two weeks before release on our solidarity condition. The armory experience directly influenced activists to go back home and develop other nonviolent civil disobedience actions at nuclear construction sites across the country spawning the antinuclear movement in the United States.

Reactor & Dry Cask Storage Design Flaws
Oscar Shirani
Oscar Shirani will expose falsification of many quality assurance documents by Exelon in response to his stop work order and his audits against GE Nuclear Energy and Holtec/US Tool & Die with exact copies from his court hearing. He will expose the shoddy work and regulatory handshake by the NRC and its reduction in commitment to and avoidance of the enforcement of the applicable regulations. He will also highlight the regulations that should prompt the criminal prosecution of Exelon officers for falsification of the audit and quality assurance records. Additionally, Oscar will show how the NRC is ignoring the need to implement important safety regulations.

Oscar Shirani is a professional engineer and quality assurance lead auditor as well as a whistle-blower against Exelon, GE Nuclear Energy, Holtec International, US Tool & Die, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission who are partners of utilities and not guardians of the public or of nuclear safety.

Nuclear Power = Radioactive Waste
Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Information & Resource Service

"Electricity is but the fleeting byproduct from nuclear power. The actual product is forever deadly radioactive waste." -- Michael Keegan, Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes

Currently operating commercial reactors in the U.S., under their original 40 year licenses, would already make more high-level radioactive waste than the proposed Yucca Mountain, Nevada national dumpsite could legally hold even if it were to ever open (which is a big if that groups across the continent are fighting to make sure never happens). Now with 20 year license extensions for old reactors, and a new generation of reactors proposed, the elephant in the living room is: "Where would the waste go?!" Another national dump, this time in the Great Lakes region?! This workshop will focus on: the scientific unsuitability and environmental racism of the proposed dumps targeted at Western Shoshone Indian land (Yucca) and the Skull Valley Goshutes Indian Reservation in Utah; the dangers of the 30,000+ high-level radioactive waste trucks, trains, and barges that would roll through Illinois (and tens of thousands more through 45 other states) under these proposals; and what needs to be done right now (nuclear abolition, stop making the waste, and "safeguards" for the inherently dangerous waste stored at reactors across the country).

Radioactive Scrap Metal Recycling and Food Irradiation
Bonnie Urfer, Nukewatch
John LaForge, Nukewatch
This workshop presents an overview of government projects intending to use radioactive waste in consumer goods, in the irradiation of food, for use in the space program, and in depleted uranium weapons.

Nuclear Weapons and War Policy
John LaForge, Nukewatch
Presenters will discuss the current nuclear arsenal and its expansion. We'll also explore the present day threats of nuclear weapons use in war and the use of uranium weapons on the battlefield.

Nukes in a Post-9/11 World
Dave Kraft, Nuclear Energy Information Service
This workshop will address nuclear reactors in the aftermath of the 9/11 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. It will review the deficiencies at reactors, their "design-basis" vulnerability, and makes the case for the NRC to either change their regulations, or shut them down. If nuclear plants cannot survive in a post-9/11 world, they should not be permitted to operate.

Tooth Fairy Project
Cindy Sauer

The Local Story on Clinton Reactors #1 and #2
Sandra Lindberg, No New Nukes
Sandra Lindberg and Sam Galewsky will provide details of Clinton #1's construction and operational history, as well as information about recent health problems connected with its operation. We will also outline our efforts with N3 to keep Reactor #2 from being built. There will be opportunity at the workshop for participants to write postcards to local representatives about this issue.

Sandra Lindberg is the founding member of No New Nukes (N3), a grassroots activist organization begun in April of 2003. Its aim is to prevent construction of Exelon's proposed Clinton Reactor #2. N3 is part of a larger national coalition that includes NEIS, NIRS, Public Citizen, ELPC, and other activist groups that are also determined to keep new nuclear reactors from being constructed in the United States.

Samuel Galewsky is an Associate Professor of Biology at Millikin University. He teaches Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. His research area is in Developmental Embryology and Molecular Biology. Most recently, Dr. Galewsky has been working on health effects of Nuclear Power stations in surrounding counties. In conjunction with the Radiation and Public Health Project, he has been studying infant mortality rates and cancer rates in the counties surrounding the Clinton Power Station.

Yucca Mountain & Nuclear Weapons Testing
Kalynda Tilges, Shundahai Network
Katherine Blossom, Western Shoshone Traditional Elder

Kalynda Tilges will be presenting a brief history of nuclear weapons testing in Nevada and the Department of Energy's proposed nuclear waste storage site at Yucca Mountain. The proposed Yucca Mountain repository would be the nation's first permanent high-level nuclear waste storage facility. Most citizens of Nevada vehemently oppose construction of the repository in their state. Kalynda will discuss why it is not an adequate location for "deep" and virtually permanent geological isolation of deadly nuclear waste. She will talk about what impact the nuclear era has had on our country and what it means for the future. She will talk about fighting against nukes over the long haul.

Katherine Blossom will talk about how the Western Shoshone people have been negatively impacted by nuclear weapons testing. She will also talk about what the siting of the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste repository on their territory means for her people. As a Tribal Elder, Katherine will be able to present the long term struggle the Western Shoshone have faced. Issues of tribal rights, human rights, environmental justice and public health will be discussed as a part of this presentation.

Kalynda Tilges has lived in Nevada for about 30 years and has been working on nuclear issues on a volunteer basis since 1988. She worked from 2000 - 2002 for Citizen Alert as a nuclear issues coordinator and was Executive Director for the Shundahai Network for one year. She gives a "People's Tour of Yucca Mountain" and the surrounding area to balance the Department of Energy's lies and misinformation. Kalynda has taught non-violence for mass demonstrations and has organized and been arrested in them. She has also given "Non-Violence as a Way of Life" workshops. She is a mother of 3 and has one grandchild.

Katherine Blossom is a Western Shoshone Traditional Elder, a mother of four, grandmother of nine and a great-grand mother of five children. She has worked for thirty years as a counselor in the Elko County School District where she retired in the Spring of 2002. She has been an Assistant Manager of the Future Business Leaders of America where she assisted students to prepare for their upcoming events of competition, and traveled with them to the Western Regional Conferences.

She has also been active in the National Indian Education Conference for over ten years, which led her to locations such as Arizona, Georgia, Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, California and other states, including Alaska. It gave Katherine an opportunity to expand her knowledge in the education field and to exchange material and ideas for a better working relationship with the students and her co-workers. She was the recipient of the “Elder of the Year” award in 2001, for dedication to the youth and parents and setting an example by living a healthy life.

Katherine is currently the Operational Manager during the Winter months for Poo-Ha-Bah, a healing and prayer center in Tecopa, California. Poo-Ha-Bah is a Newe (Western Shoshone) word that means “Doctor Water” and was founded by Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader and Elder, Corbin Harney in 1998 as a place where all people could receive traditional Native American healing. According to Corbin’s traditional beliefs, the hot, mineral waters at Poo-Ha-Bah and his doctoring services must never be charged for because water and all of nature’s gifts have never asked for payment.

Energy Efficiency Makes $ense
Julie Elzanati, Ecology Action Center
Energy efficiency means using less energy to do the same things you are already doing. Attend this seminar to learn helpful information about low-cost improvements that will reduce your energy use and cut your monthly energy costs, giving you the most for your energy dollars. We will use interactive demonstrations to see how much you know about energy and how to teach others. We will briefly go over how to do a home or business energy use survey. This seminar is sponsored by the Ecology Action Center, the Town of Normal’s Community Energy Program, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

In 2002, Julie Elzanati completed her Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology at Illinois State University. In April of 2003, she began working for the Ecology Action Center, a not-for-profit environmental education organization located in downtown Normal. Her jobs are Assistant Director and Community Energy Coordinator. In this capacity, she administers the Town of Normal's Community Energy Program, funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about energy issues and energy-efficiency among residents, small- to medium-sized businesses, and K-12 school children.

Repowering the Midwest
Ann Alexander, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Polluting fossil fuels are not the alternative to nuclear energy. Alternatives include clean energy resources that the Midwest has in abundance. We will discuss the types of clean energy that are available and affordable now; and learn why they call the Midwest the "Saudi Arabia of wind." We will look at the positive economic impact of moving toward alternative energy sources, and discuss legislative and other means for encouraging alternative energy development. We will also evaluate the arguments that have been made in opposition to alternative energy sources, and learn how to address them.

Ann Alexander is a Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago. She works on a wide range of litigation and policy issues, including clean energy, clean water, and forest conservation. She was previously the Acting Director of the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic in Newark, New Jersey, leading her students and staff in environmental enforcement matters and policy campaigns; prior to which she worked at a New York City law firm and as a federal judicial clerk. Ann has also done extensive environmental organizing in faith communities. J.D. Columbia Law School, 1987; B.A. Yale University, 1984.

What You Can Do
Stanley Campbell, Blackhawk Sierra Club
Stanley Campbell opposed the operation of ComEd's Byron Nuclear Power Station and won the first denial of a Nuke license ever in 1984. Of course the Nuclear Regulator commission came back in 1985 and gave ComEd permission to turn it on, but now it is the safest nuke in the industry. Mr. Campbell, conservation Chair of the Blackhawk Sierra Club, will give a short but enlightening tour of a nuke (with photos), list some ways of organizing, and lead a discussion about the basics of nukebusting.

Recruiting, Motivating, and Maintaining Members
Andy Borbely, Illinois Student Environmental Network

Strategic Campaign Planning
Chris Lempa, Illinois Student Environmental Network