Doin' the SHUT IT DOWN dance near Diablo Canyon Nuke Plant

On April 16th, over 300 people gathered for a protest at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County. They called for the closure of nearby Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant and insisted that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must halt PG&E's relicensing application process for the structure.

A total of 45 groups and individuals from across the nation are formally asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to immediately suspend all licensing and other activities until a thorough post-Fukushima reactor crisis examination is completed.

Many of the same folks rocking to the drum beat on Saturday were also at protests held during the 1970s and 80s. At that time the nuclear plant was first under consideration; subsequently it was under construction. Diablo Canyon became an unfortunate reality in 1984.

Mothers for Peace was behind the fight to stop the construction of the nuclear power plant in the 70's and were the organizers of Saturday's rally as well. They said the the plant should be shut down for many reasons not the least of which are uncertainty about nuclear waste and seismic dangers. Then there is the age of the plant, they pointed out.

Some participants at the Avila Beach rally were arrested in the 1980s for attempts to blockade the power plant gate. That was a time when young mothers were concerned for the safety of their children. Today many of those same people are concerned about the safety of their grandchildren and future generations.

Loud chants of “Shut it down!” led to drum beating and a dance dedicated to halting nuclear powers in San Luis Obispo County--and worldwide.