US Nuclear Energy Foundation is a non-profit, independent information repository. We are dedicated to providing grassroots education of accurate, information on nuclear energy and other energy resources. Our goal is the betterment of mankind, the environment and future generations through safe, reliable and economical energy.
Our Mission is to educate grassroots citizens in Nevada, and across the U.S. to Drive Government, Media & Our nation’s business community to design build and construct new 4th generation Nuclear Power Reactors and spent fuel reprocessing technology throughout America.
Our grassroots launch in Nevada, estimated to be one of the most challenging states in the country in nuclear technology awareness . . . our mission logic is, if we can do it here we can do it NATIONWIDE!
US Nuclear Energy Foundation is a completely volunteer grassroots organization. The topics below are the main focus by which US Nuclear Energy operates.　This model is designed, to provide content to our website and produce and process the bulleted topics listed below. Our misson is designed to provide a complete operational model towards establishing other CHAPTERS with our directive of "Bringing Science to Citizens" about nuclear energy and waste repository development. Our primary focus is on education directly to citizens, directly from scientists in the nuclear science community.
• Symposiums after a decade of experience we have added developing and conducting Educational Symposiums about nuclear technology. Starting in 2013 we produced the (YES) Yucca Educational Symposium in Reno, bringing together the political, government, industry experts and the grassroots public for dialogues on science, engineering, public policy to provide practical information to the public.
After our presentation in 2016 to the Advanced Reactor Technical Summit III at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN we began developing a new program, (ARS) Advanced Reactors Symposiums. Again we recognize that the industry has a difficult task in messaging their science and engineering to the grassroots public. We are trying to help by overviewing these tasks faced by the next generation builders to the public mindset.
• Printed literature and flyer distribution of the information we produce is about the most inexpensive form of promotional activity available, either via actual handouts, direct mail, etc., a must for grassroots missions we review and edit our print materials on an ongoing basis. Our materials are as cost effective as possibly can be with in-house digital printing.
• Public presentations by scientists and specialists involved in the nuclear industry are held at various times to provide a one on one educational exposure to average citizens about the science of nuclear energy, its health hazards, its medical achievements and spent radioactive waste containment the industry has achieved. With these "presentations" we contact scientists seeking their expertise in providing public presentations covering their specialty. We setup the promotional flyers, facility and promote the meeting via press releases, direct mailings to the public, media, businesses, etc. (Presenters volunteer, we support travel expenses).
• Service Organizations: Local service organizations are a good method of bringing nuclear science education to Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, Chamber of Commerce meetings, etc. These organizations regularly have guest speakers talk about public policy, community issues, etc. At these meetings we can distribute our literature show one of our video presentations, etc. These opportunities are a win-win for both entities.
• Booth Space: When possible we acquire "booth space" at public gatherings, trade shows, farmers markets, craft shows, etc. Any event that supports concentrated groups of people is an ideal venue for the distribution of our nuclear educational materials. We are not scientists; we are average citizens with the interest in "promoting" scientific data about nuclear energy technology and spent fuel cycle nuclear waste storage facilities.
• Distribution: Literature / flyer distribution can also be extended by making arrangements with small companies of any venue, beauty shops, sub shops, computer stores, spas, etc., by asking" owner’s permission to place our free literature in their businesses. This type of promotion is good for precipitating discussions about the nuclear industry at the grassroots level and when "presentations" are held more citizens can be notified via these outlets.
• Databasing: In order to effectively promote a grassroots cause, information needs to be data based so that, once we acquire a supporting contact we can continue to develop that relationship in hopes that that citizen will help expand our cause with his contacts.
NOTE: Some say that this mission is the responsibility of the nuclear industry itself. We have found that world politics and media misrepresentation about nuclear science has been so extensive over the past 50 years that an outside entity such as ours is needed to champion this cause. We are disconnected from direct influence of the industry but focused to bring the science DIRECTLY to the public not filtered by the media and not filtered by political partisan politics. There is a great need for expansion of "scientific editors" throughout the entire "world media" to "report" science and engineering related to this industry not the sensationalisms of the past. We would challenge the media to assess the entire worldwide loss of life caused by the nuclear industry against the entire coal mining and fossil fuel industry loss of lives over the past 100 years, and then generate a "safest industry report" from those facts, applied logic and common sense.
Another factor in our observations is a gap between the scientific, university communities and the public. The nuclear industry and university systems involved in nuclear engineering are not well equipped to populate their technology advances to the public platform which results in a lack of understanding by the public. Companies make their attempts with public outreach programs which are produced by their public relations departments. Again, our mission is to bridge this gap as we feel that "knowledgeable" citizens in respect to nuclear technology will help drive the "public position" on nuclear to the media and our political representatives.
In respect to media and politics we feel that it is the right of citizens to demand the truth and facts when it comes to the scientific progress of our world societies. Science must be shared, protected, secure and applied for the overall benefit of mankind . . . and this is the only way we can begin to solve the environmental problems we face on a global basis.
We started this foundation as a grassroots citizen’s organization to provide nuclear energy advocacy to grassroots citizens, simple premise, simple, mission complex task. The complexity arose when we decided that in order to advocate the truth, our mission would have to retain its independence. Truth and independence do not collaborate well with political correctness so we chose truth.
The nuclear industry, its advocacy organizations, government agencies live within the guidelines of political correctness. The result being few will support any entity that is independent and does not comply with “establishment political correctness. Our understanding of this was covered in Dr. Bernard Cohen’s book The Nuclear Energy Option, 1990. He authored a scathing attack on the media for misrepresentation of facts and the industry residing behind political correctness instead of championing the truth. And then there are those who offer to join your mission to advance their own agenda.
For the most part our supporters are retired nuclear scientists and engineers and do not have to fear retaliation by any entity. Sad but everything and everybody are vetted by the establishment and this is a hindrance to individualism and independent progress. The most compelling testimony of encouragement of our mission has come from these people.
Ernest Tremmel: You are doing a great service for Nevada and for the nuclear industry. I am pleased to be supporting your cause. I am 93 years old and one of the few people living that worked for General Groves on the first atomic bomb, Keep up the good work. At least someone is telling the truth about Yucca. The Foundation seems to be free to say the scientific truth. Sounds to me they are on the right course for Nevada. I intend to try and help them.
Ted Rockwell: If we really get the nuclear enterprise going in America, as is happening all over the world, companies will be fighting to get the “nuclear waste” back to use the uranium, recover the rare earths, and dispose cheaply the tiny amount of actual “waste.” Ted is a nuclear engineer, a 60 year veteran of nuclear technology with publications posted on USNEF.
I have been doing research and teaching on the health and environmental impacts of nuclear power for the past 17 years and have been constantly dismayed by the vast gulf of misunderstanding by the public. The Media and Radiation, we now turn to the question of why the public became so irrationally fearful of radiation. Probably the most important reason is the gross over coverage of radiation stories by television, magazines, and newspapers. If TV producers took their role of educating the public seriously, they would have considered it their function to transmit scientific information from the scientific community to the public. But this they didn't do. They wanted to decide what to transmit, which means that they made judgments on scientific issues . . . The TV people are seldom willing to offer science. My strong impression was that they weren't really interested in what scientists had concluded. They were only after a story that would arouse viewer interest. Clearly, a scare story about the dangers of radiation serves this purpose best.
Joseph Fray: Principal Engineer General Electric Nuclear (retired) Gary you are right on! The public has been fed half-truth and misrepresentation about nuclear power for decades, Add to this a news media devoted to sensationalism rather than simple fact and it is little wonder the public has such an adverse perception of this energy source. I believe the nuclear industry has been far too lax in an effort to rectify this situation. An attitude of hoping the public will eventually see the merits of nuclear power is no match for the anti-nuclear propaganda. The grassroots approach you suggest is vital if the truth is to become known.
WHY WE ARE HERE: The truth is grassroots advocacy must come from the heart and soul of the advocate.