No Nukes News: too expensive, too risky

Fri Dec 11 15:49:06 EST 2009

No Nukes News

Dec. 11/09

If we made the commitment, all of our energy needs could be supplied by
renewable sources within ten years.

David Suzuki, Al Gore, Toronto, November 2009

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Nuclear Power: Too Expensive, Too Risky

Lofty claims about the benefits of nuclear power are coming from the Nuclear
Energy Institute and others. 

Meanwhile, news, financial and energy journals make clear that boiling water
with uranium is the costliest and dirtiest energy choice.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/12/09-2

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Tear down Hydro-Quebec nuclear reactor: PQ environment critic

The Parti Québécois, which once called for building a series of nuclear
reactors on the St. Lawrence as an alternative to Hydro-Québec’s massive
James Bay hydroelectrical development, now wants the province to turn its
back on nuclear. PQ energy critic Sylvain Gaudreault called Friday on the
Charest government to dismantle, rather than refurbish, Hydro-Québec’s only
reactor, Gentilly 2, near Trois-Rivières.

And PQ environment critic Scott McKay said plans to mine uranium in the Sept
Îles region, which led 24 Sept-Îles doctors to tender their resignations,
“clearly does not meet the test of social acceptability.”

The government says refurbishing Gentilly 2 would cost $1.9 billion, but
Gaudreault noted that New Brunswick has spent $20 billion – so far – to
refurbish its Pointe Lepreau reactor, which is identical to Gentilly 2.

The PQ critics pointed out that Quebec already has a surplus of electricity
and to meet future needs, Quebec should develop wind, solar and biomass
energy sources. “Who ever asked Quebecers if they want nuclear energy?”
McKay asked. 

http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Tear+down+nuke+reactor+environment
+critic/2330448/story.html

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Nuclear industry thinking smaller

The planning process can be lengthy and expensive and doesn't guarantee a
project will ever get to construction stage. Construction costs, meanwhile,
have shot up substantially. Citigroup estimates the cost of constructing a
1,600-megawatt reactor today would be nearly $9 billion. That's excluding
decommissioning and waste disposal, as well as expenses associated with
improvements to surrounding infrastructure. The planning process can be
lengthy and expensive and doesn't guarantee a project will ever get to
construction stage. Construction costs, meanwhile, have shot up
substantially. Citigroup estimates the cost of constructing a 1,
600-megawatt reactor today would be nearly $9 billion. That's excluding
decommissioning and waste disposal, as well as expenses associated with
improvements to surrounding infrastructure.

Citigroup goes on to warn against the financial risks of a nuclear plant
being hit with an unplanned outage, and how a six-month breakdown can cost a
utility hundreds of millions of dollars. Decommissioning and managing waste,
it adds, brings its own challenges in terms of cost uncertainty. And this
doesn't even consider the potential, however small, of a catastrophic
nuclear accident.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/735095--hamilton-nuclear-industry-th
inking-smaller 

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North Shore doctors threaten to resign en masse over uranium exploration

Quebec’s Liberal government must stop uranium exploration near Sept Îles and
declare a moratorium on uranium mining activities across the province to
avoid the mass resignation of 20 doctors in the North Shore town, a Sept
Îles doctor said Friday.

<http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/North+Shore+doctors+threaten+resign+ove
r+uranium+mine/2306289/story.html>
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/North+Shore+doctors+threaten+resign+over
+uranium+mine/2306289/story.html 

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Drastic changes needed for Ontario to meet its greenhouse reduction targets

Ontario will not be anywhere near its greenhouse gas emissions targets
unless drastic changes are made immediately to key industries, the
province's environmental commissioner warned Tuesday. 

"Premier (Dalton) McGuinty needs to direct Ontario Power Generation to phase
out coal plants now to send a message to Copenhagen," said Jack Gibbons,
Ontario Clean Air Alliance. "(Targets) are useless if we can't achieve them
but the good news is that we can achieve them with strong political
leadership."

Ontario has the second largest greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, behind
Alberta.

http://www.globaltoronto.com/Drastic+changes+needed+Ontario+meet+greenhouse+
reduction+targets/2316616/story.html 

After chiding Ottawa, Ontario's own emission deficiencies thrust into
spotlight 

Ontario Environment Commissioner Gord Miller said policies launched to date
in Ontario would result in a 23-per-cent shortfall of the (GHG reduction)
target by 2020, with emissions actually increasing between 2014 and 2020.

<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/after-chiding-ottawa-ontarios-
own-emission-deficiencies-thrust-into-spotlight/article1393664/>
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/after-chiding-ottawa-ontarios-o
wn-emission-deficiencies-thrust-into-spotlight/article1393664/

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Alberta to decide by January on allowing nuclear power

If go-ahead given, plant may be built north of Peace River

Albertans will finally find out next month whether their energy-rich
province will kick-start Canada's so-called nuclear renaissance. Even
without a decision, the topic has already prompted several anti-nuclear
demonstrations around Alberta.

Saskatchewan is also expected to issue a policy statement on nuclear power
generation within weeks, according to a government spokesman. In September,
the province released a report that found most residents opposed it.
Saskatchewan leads the world in uranium production, but doesn't currently
refine it. 

It's been 17 years since a new nuclear reactor went into service in this
country, and the Alberta project, if built, would be the first in Western
Canada. Nuclear power sites are currently operating in Ontario, Quebec and
New Brunswick.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-to-decide-by-january-on
-allowing-nuclear-power/article1396594/

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Nuke waste really does last forever... and so do the annual management
costs. -a

Hanford pulls down big stimulus dollars

It was ground zero for nuclear bomb production, then it became the nation's
biggest atomic waste headache. Now the old Hanford nuclear reservation
boasts a new distinction: It is the single biggest recipient of federal
stimulus contracts. 

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/12/hanford_pulls_down_b
ig_stimulu.html

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Uranium radiation threatens people of Niger

Greenpeace reports that high radiation levels have been found on the streets
of Akokan in Niger due to its proximity to uranium mines owned by Areva. 

1-minute video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn2JjavSuPc
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn2JjavSuPc&feature=player_embedded>
&feature=player_embedded 

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Q&A: ‘Nuclear Energy Is Not a Solution to Climate Change’

As the threat of nuclear weapons looms large over the very existence of life
on earth, Dr Sue Wareham, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons’
(ICAN), is calling for a speedy abolition of these weapons and the rejection
of nuclear power as a solution to climate change.

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49596

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California's Nuclear Nexus

A faux disarmament plan has roots in the Golden State's pro-nuclear lobby

"Regardless of whether the individual motivations of the four horsemen are
sincere, their institutional loyalties and larger political agendas reflect
a political economy that is not only fundamentally at odds with nuclear
abolition, but are anathema to peace and justice."

http://www.zmag.org/zmag/viewArticle/23269/

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Wind Power Realities: Putting wind power myths into perspective

The Pembina Institute has released a fact sheet that outlines many of the
benefits that wind power can deliver for Canada. 

http://www.pembina.org/pub/1943

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<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102862009165&s=999&e=001YA-Y9Hheu0yEdnXN60CkD61no
CVvcfK7gYseWD8nx4t2AnlHbQXeH6G_nQGtRPGSXISsQwd9ewijbYj9LKacDPSrg6VGmIEG9aP7D
3-MHbL7jcpKQ-XLnbvVJVQK2coKxRbzap5gku6-6zwu62AP4rHfOMCoa1v6yCiGG-dh_4cd7_Vra
t8F7Q==> Weekend of Climate Action:  11-14 December

The World Wants a Real Deal – and needs YOUR help!

Pay your MP a visit to demand real action! 
Friday December 11th and Monday December 14th

Visit your MP to demand that Canada support a fair, ambitious and binding
global climate agreement in Copenhagen.
Find out what’s going on in your town or register an event here:
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/action/events/real-deal.php

Tell your MP that you know that Canada has won more Fossil of the Day awards
than any other country – shame! http://www.fossiloftheday.com/ 

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<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102862009165&s=999&e=001YA-Y9Hheu0w7b1hjdRu9Elk9x
KM_Ii7xi4OjT2agqRf9rGOgIEfZ7EvOUvHnPemk69oSy7m1iar6MI88jLFVbnM478r1M-tHgEcYz
WNJsX9YLjoMPK3RIg==> 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102862009165&s=999&e=001YA-Y9Hheu0yEdnXN60CkD61no
CVvcfK7gYseWD8nx4t2AnlHbQXeH6G_nQGtRPGSXISsQwd9ewijbYj9LKacDPSrg6VGmIEG9aP7D
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t8F7Q==> Global Day of Action: Candlelight Vigils, Rallies, Marches, and
Protests
Saturday December 12th 

Toronto: "Sign The Real Deal" Wall and Vigil

 Location:  The University of Toronto, Earth Sciences Building, 33 Wilcocks
Street, Toronto, Ontario

 Time: 3pm - 7:30pm, Saturday December 12, 2009 

 Canadian Action Network is partnering with the Toronto Climate Campaign to
host an indoor rally from 3pm to 5:30pm.  The indoor rally will include
speakers, bands, face-painting, and live report-backs from representatives
attending the Copenhagen treaty negotiations. People will also have the
opportunity to write a personal message stating what they want the world's
leaders to agree to in Copenhagen on a massive 8-foot-high 10-foot-long
wall.  

 Following the event, from 6pm to 6:45pm we will march with candles to
Queens Park, University and Wellesley Avenues, Toronto, Ontario M5H2N2.

At 7pm we will hold a candlelight vigil at Queens Park, Toronto. 

For more information, contact:  Jess Bell, CAN 
(416) 937- 0076   <mailto:jbell at climateactionnetwork.ca>
jbell at climateactionnetwork.ca    <http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/>
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/

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To find out news and views in and around Copenhagen and Canada during the
climate negotiations, check out: 

http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/

Live Copenhagen webcast

http://www3.cop15.meta-fusion.com/kongresse/cop15/templ/live.php?id_kongress
main=1
<http://www3.cop15.meta-fusion.com/kongresse/cop15/templ/live.php?id_kongres
smain=1&theme=unfccc&id_kongresssession=2>
&theme=unfccc&id_kongresssession=2 

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Angela Bischoff

Outreach Director

Ontario Clean Air Alliance

Tel: 416 926 1907 x 246

625 Church Street, #402

Toronto, ON M4Y 2G1

angela at cleanairalliance.org

www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca <http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/> 

www.cleanairalliance.org <http://www.cleanairalliance.org/>  

 <http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48852021264&ref=ts> Our Facebook
Group

 <http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/petition.php> Sign Our Petition

 <http://www.ontariosgreenfuture.ca/nonukesnews.php> No Nukes News

  <http://cleanairalliance.org/get_involved_donate> 

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