No Nukes News: Nuclear Gamble
Angela Bischoff
greenspi at web.ca
Sat Jun 12 09:23:42 EDT 2010
No Nukes News
June 11, 2010
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Greetings anti-nuke, anti-coal and green energy friends.
Can you help distribute these leaflets with postcards to prominent
politicians? Their free! Just send me your mailing address and how
many you’d like and I’ll mail them out pronto:
We Can Stop Burning Coal TODAY: http://www.cleanairalliance.org/files/active/0/CoalPhaseOut-web.pdf
No Need for COSTLY NUKES: http://ontariosgreenfuture.ca/CostlyNukes_12_09.pdf
Give them to friends, pop them in your work colleagues mail slots, or
drop them off in your neighbours’ mailboxes. Help us get the word out
that we CAN transition away from coal and nukes to clean, green energy
– now!
Thanks!
-angela at cleanairalliance.org
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Nuclear Power and Public Health
The full story on the health effects of nuclear energy
The public health implications for a resurgence of nuclear power
appear to have taken a subordinate position to the economic and global
warming arguments that the industry has advanced to justify its
expansion. The purpose of this essay therefore is several-fold: to
review the scientific evidence for public health impacts of nuclear
power, to assess occupational hazards faced by nuclear industry
workers involved in the nuclear fuel cycle, to assess the evidence for
nuclear reactor safety and critically challenge the underlying
assumptions which may be less than adequate. It will also examine the
public health risks of spent fuel from nuclear power reactors. The
common thread linking these safety issues is the risk posed to public
health by ionising radiation and in particular the cancer risk.
http://evatt.org.au/publications/papers/234.html
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Media watchdog finds CANDU reactor ads “inaccurate” and “unsupported”
Have you ever looked at advertisements for nuclear power and wondered
how organizations such as the Power Workers’ Union can call nuclear
reactors “emission free”? The problem is, it just isn’t accurate to
say that nuclear power is “emission free”. Nuclear reactors emit all
kinds of foul things into the environment, and industry and government
know it. In fact, CANDU reactors at nuclear plants such as the
Darlington Nuclear Generating Station emit many different
contaminants: 2-propenoic acid, ammonia, aromatic hydrocarbon resin,
benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrazine, morpholine,
nitrogen oxides, phosphoric acid, quarterly ammonium compounds,
sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, total hydrocarbons, as
well as tritium.
Advertising Standards Canada has just posted a decision to its website
declaring that it is inaccurate and unsupportable to call CANDU
reactors “emission free”.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/2010/06/09/media-watchdog-finds-candu-reactor-ads-inaccurate-and-unsupported/
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A Nuclear Gamble on the Not-So-Distant Horizon
Much like Captain Renault in Casablanca, the White House is suddenly
shocked, shocked to find that oil rigs can explode, destroying
ecosystems and livelihoods. The Obama administration has backed away
from its offshore oil expansion policy in the wake of the Deepwater
Horizon catastrophe as the long-term environmental and economic
consequences unfold in the Gulf States. Rather paradoxically,
President Obama is using the oil spill to call for more nuclear power.
Yet, with the exception of a handful of insightful political
cartoonists, the potential for an equally catastrophic accident in the
nuclear sector has not been drawn. As with the MMS debacle, the NRC is
gambling with inevitable disaster with the same spin of the wheel of
misfortune and with potentially even higher stakes.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/06/04-8
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Union plan to starve uranium industry of labour
A major union expects others to join its campaign to "starve"
Australia's uranium industry of workers.
The Electrical Trades Union has banned its members from working on
uranium mines, nuclear power stations or any other part of the nuclear
fuel cycle. The ETU says other unions have expressed strong support
for the campaign against uranium, which it has labelled the "new
asbestos" of the workplace.
"We're sick of hearing about nuclear power as the panacea of global
warming, we're sick of people sweeping safety issues under the
carpet," ETU secretary Peter Simpson said on Tuesday.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/union-plan-to-starve-industry-of-labour-20100601-wts3.html
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Our plan to stop the oil: 95% renewables by 2050
Want a way to stop the corruption and pollution that the fossil fuel
industry is wreaking on our planet? We've seen a better future, and
here's our plan to get there: the Energy [R]evolution.
Greenpeace teamed up with more than 30 scientists and engineers from
universities, institutes and the renewable energy industry to create
our Energy [R]evolution Scenario. Using only existing technologies, it
charts a course by which we can get from where we are now, to where we
need to be:decreasing CO2 emissions after 2015; 95% renewable
electricity by 2050; a phase out of nuclear power; 12 million jobs by
2030, with a third more jobs in the global power supply sector than in
a business as usual scenario.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Our-plan-to-stop-the-oil-95-renewables-by-2050/
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Weaning the world off oil - Can we really kick the habit?
- an interview with Tom Rand
Solar plants as big as coal plants can produce power 24 hours a day.
Untapped resources like enhanced geothermal can power our entire
civilization by themselves. It turns out that the amount of
(renewable) energy available is absolutely stupendous and that the
technology we have can mitigate the transfer of this energy.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/06/08/f-qa-environment--oil-tom-rand.html#ixzz0qXrBrcSA
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Activists take aim at coal-fired power plants
Ontario continues to put health and lives at risk by failing to lower
emission limits at its coal-fired electrical plants, environmentalists
and health officials said Monday.
"The most appalling part there is enough capacity without the coal
plants. It's hugely frustrating. It's creating a huge amount of smog
and greenhouse gases. Closing the plants now would be an enormous
improvement for human health."
http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Activist+take+coal+fired+power+plants/3124473/story.html
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McGuinty OKs 17% increase in dirty coal-fired electricity generation
The McGuinty Government has issued a shareholder directive giving
Ontario Power Generation permission to increase the output of its
dirty coal-fired power plants by 17%, in each year from 2011 to 2014
inclusive, relative to its actual level of coal-fired electricity
generation in 2009.
Despite the fact that Ontario can achieve a virtually 100% coal phase-
out today by simply ramping up the output of its newer and cleaner
natural gas-fired power plants, Premier McGuinty’s actions could lead
to up to 1,148 needless deaths and up to 575,000 needless asthma
attacks according to his Government’s own statistics.
To add insult to injury, Ontario’s coal-fired power plants are no
longer profitable. In 2009 the Ontario Electricity Financial
Corporation (an agency of the Government of Ontario) gave Ontario
Power Generation $412 million to subsidize the financial losses of its
Nanticoke and Lambton coal-fired power plants.
Premier McGuinty’s decision to permit Ontario Power Generation to
increase the output of its dirty coal-fired power plants by 17% is a
cynical betrayal of the public trust. To save lives, reduce asthma
attacks and to help prevent dangerous climate change, Premier McGuinty
should direct Ontario Power Generation to put its coal-fired power
plants on standby reserve and only operate them if they are absolutely
necessary to keep the lights on.
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, the Canadian
Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Cities of Hamilton,
Kitchener and Guelph and the Toronto Board of Health are also calling
for the Government of Ontario to direct Ontario Power Generation to
put its dirty coal plants on standby reserve and only operate them if
they are absolutely needed to keep the lights on.
Premier McGuinty’s decision to betray his 2003 election promise to
phase-out coal as soon as possible is testimony to the immense
political power of Ontario Power Generation and the Power Workers’
Union.
Please contact Premier McGuinty and ask him to phase-out our dirty
coal plants now.
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Waterloo Region embraces the power of the sun
Local politicians are mounting solar panels on 37 more roofs, to help
promote solar energy and earn provincial cash.
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/725178
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Green schools program money well spent
It’s well established that energy-efficiency retrofits offer the
biggest emissions-reduction bang for the scarce public buck. Energy
savings of between 15 per cent and 30 per cent can be achieved with
proven and widely available technologies. That being the case, why not
just loan the money to schools and other public institutions, and then
have these institutions pay back that loan – and maybe 2 or 3 per cent
interest – from the energy savings that result? What you end up with
is a revolving fund, which is essentially the gift that keeps on giving.
http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/819404
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Woe, Canada!
Everybody knows that Canada has walked away from its Kyoto targets,
but you may not have heard yet just how fast they’re sprinting in the
other direction.
In recent weeks, a chorus of leaders – including UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon, the EU’s Jose Manuel Barroso, and Mexican President
Felipe Calderon – have pointedly called on Canada to step up its
effort on climate, both at home and during the G8/G20 meetings it will
host later this month.
http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e/news/latest/index.php?WEBYEP_DI=3
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OPG and Moose Cree start new hydro development
Ontario Power Generation and the Moose Cree First Nation have kicked
off construction on Northern Ontario’s biggest hydro project in 40
years.
The Lower Mattagami project will nearly double the output of four
existing hydro stations on the river, which flows into James Bay.
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/821340--opg-and-moose-cree-start-new-hydro-development
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Success! COAT's antiCANSEC weapons bazaar campaign
This year's campaign against CANSEC -- spirited by the Coalition to
Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) -- was a lot of work, but it was well
worth it! We raised public awareness, strengthened our community of
opposition to Canada's war-industry, and held a festive peace rally
with 300 people outside this country's largest weapons bazaar.
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/Success.htm
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Let Green Power Grow: Stop New Reactors at Darlington
When: Sunday, June 13th – 12 – 4. Meeting begins at 1. Lunch
served at noon.
What: Information and Organizing meeting to stop approval of the new
Darlington reactors.
Where: Toronto Free Space Gallery, 1277 Bloor St West (Landsdown
Subway), Toronto
Why: Learn about environmental impacts of new reactors at Darlington
and find ways to stop them.
This is to invite you or a representative from your organization to
attend an information and organizing meeting on the federal review now
underway of the McGuinty government’s proposal to build new reactors
at the Darlington site east of Toronto. These proposed new reactors
are the biggest threat to building a renewable and sustainable energy
system in Ontario. While the McGuinty government has taken some steps
to develop green energy, its plan to build new reactors at Darlington
will effectively stop the growth of green energy. To build an Ontario
built on 100% green power, we must stop the approval of the Darlington
reactors. This is why we need your help.
An alliance of environmental organizations, including Northwatch,
Greenpeace, Safe and Green Energy (SAGE), has been working to stop
Harper government’s free pass for Dalton McGuinty’s reactors. Join us.
The session will present the environmental threats posed by new
reactors at Darlington and allow for a discussion on how groups can
get involved and help stop the approval of the Darlington reactors.
RSVP: shawn.patrick.stensil at greenpeace.org
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Peak Oil - The Road Ahead for Canadians
Speaker: the Rt. Hon. Ed Schreyer - former Premier of Manitoba, former
Governor General of Canada, and current head of ASPO Canada (Assoc.
for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas)
Tues. June 15, 7 p.m.
at Toronto City Hall Committee Room #2
Organized by Post Carbon Toronto
For more info: info at meetup.com
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G8/G20 happenings in Toronto
The 2010 People’s Summit: Building a Movement for a Just World
Fri. – Sun. June 18th-20th, Toronto
The 2010 People’s Summit is civil society’s alternative “counter
Summit” to the G8 and G20 Summits. Together we will create a space
where diverse local and international movements can democratically
organize to advocate and educate for global justice. Over 100 groups,
organizers, and activists from around Canada and the world will offer
workshops, skillshares, panels, plenaries, strategy sessions, art,
performance, and plenty more.
Registration, program, accommodations, billeting, posters and more can
be found here: http://peoplessummit2010.ca/section/2
.....
Week of Action
June 21-27
And after the People’s Summit, the Toronto Community Mobilization
Network is coordinating a Week of Action from June 21st to 27th. For
full details of actions and events planned that week, please visit www.g20.torontomobilize.org
.
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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
www.cleanairalliance.org
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