Jewish Leaders Call for Solution to America’s Energy Crisis

“The American people have been living in an energy fantasy land for the past 30 years. It is obvious that a greater commitment to the solution of our energy crisis by the American populace is both necessary and vital.” This view was expressed by Ivan Novick, president of the Zionist Organization of America, upon his return from a five-day on-the-spot examination of U.S. energy facilities.

Through the efforts of Dr. Zalman Shapiro, a nationally know scientist and chairman of the ZOA Energy Committee, the ZOA sponsored and coordinated an in-depth energy study four from April 20-25 for 20 leaders of major American Jewish organizations. According to Novick, “A great deal of conflicting information regarding U.S. energy policy has been disseminated to the public at large.”

In a statement on behalf of the 20 leaders who represent a constituency of four million Americans, according to Novick and Shapiro, the two ZOA leaders said: “The American Jewish leaders had the opportunity to observe and evaluate, first-hand, our country’s energy options, and to reinforce their beliefs in the crucial need to inform the American people of the true status of our country’s current methods of large-scale energy production, mainly cool and nuclear.

“In addition, valuable insight was gained in the area of research and development of alternative sources of energy, including the actual availability of wind, color-electric and synthetic fuel, as well as a wide range of potential long-term solutions. The leaders acknowledged the need for a balanced view regarding immediate and cumulative social and environmental effects and also became aware of the necessary made-offs that are part of the use of each alternative energy source.”

NEED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

A consensus was reached within the leader ship group that “it is imperative that our national efforts be directed toward the utilization of energy technology now readily available to us, as well as toward an ongoing program of research and development of new and alternate sources for the future,” Novick and Shapiro said.

Shapiro, who played a major role in developing the generator for the first nuclear submarine, and played a major role in developing the nuclear pacemaker, noted “the need for public education concerning our nation’s energy crisis is paramount, and the ZOA will continue to be in the fore front of the national educational effort in the energy area. The American Jewish community, as affected citizens, has every reason to be vocal and active on this complex and all-important national issue.”

Novick stressed, “This is not a time for silence. In view of the shrinking time frame, this is a time for citizen action and involvement to mobilize our country toward freedom from dependence from foreign energy supplies.”

Major organizations represented in the four included the National Council of Jewish Women, B’nai B’rith, American Jewish Congress, United Synagogue of America, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Hadassah, Jewish War Veterans of America, National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, American Jewish Press Association, North American Jewish Students Network, National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, American Zionist Federation, American Technion Society and the Synagogue Council of America.

The itinerary for the five-day tour included visits to a coal-fired plant and a synfuel facility in Pittsburgh, Pa.; the National Aeronautic Space Agency in Cleveland, Ohio; a nuclear power plant and operator training center in Zion, Illinois; the a Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho Falls, Idaho.