No Nukes News: Don't Nuke Green Energy

Wed Sep 8 14:22:07 EDT 2010

No Nukes News

Sept. 8, 2010

Pass this onto a friend! - a

“I believe in energy conservation. I believe in renewable energy. And I
believe in bicycles. So this all fits together.”

-          Graham Fowler, on the Ride for Renewables from Pickering to
Darlington, Ontario

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Don't Nuke Green Energy: Stop Darlington

2 min. video, Greenpeace

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDwvjARjK4>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDwvjARjK4

Ride for Renewables – from the Pickering nuke plant to the Darlington nuke
plant

Over thirty cyclists rode from Pickering to Darlington to demand the
government replace Pickering with green energy instead of new nukes at
Darlington.   

Check out photos of the trip here:
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace_canada/sets/72157624801464902/show/
>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeace_canada/sets/72157624801464902/show/

And watch the 4 min. video of the trip:
<http://www.youtube.com/greenpeacecanada?gl=CA&hl=en#p/a/u/1/o-scLOO98iw>
http://www.youtube.com/greenpeacecanada?gl=CA&hl=en#p/a/u/1/o-scLOO98iw 

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Chernobyl death toll: 985,000, mostly from cancer

Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment
was published by the New York Academy of Sciences. The book is solidly
based--on health data, radiological surveys and scientific reports--some
5,000 in all. It concludes that based on records now available, some 985,000
people died, mainly of cancer, as a result of the Chernobyl accident." An
important lesson from the Chernobyl experience is that experts and
organizations tied to the nuclear industry have dismissed and ignored the
consequences of the catastrophe," it states.

The consequences on public health are extensively analyzed. Medical records
involving children--the young, their cells more rapidly multiplying, are
especially affected by radioactivity--are considered. Before the accident,
more than 80% of the children in the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and
Russia extensively contaminated by Chernobyl "were healthy," the book
reports, based on health data. But "today fewer than 20% are well."

There is an examination of genetic impacts with records reflecting an
increase in "chromosomal aberrations" wherever there was fallout. This will
continue through the "children of irradiated parents for as many as seven
generations." So "the genetic consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe will
impact hundreds of millions of people."

"Every single system that was studied--whether human or wolves or livestock
or fish or trees or mushrooms or bacteria--all were changed, some of them
irreversibly. The scope of the damage is stunning."

And it is a clear call for no new nuclear power plants to be built and for
the closing of the dangerous atomic machines now running--and a switch to
safe energy technologies, now available, led by solar and wind energy, that
will not leave nearly a million people dead from one disaster.

<http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/New-Book-Concludes-Cherno-by-Karl-Grossm
an-100902-941.html>
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/New-Book-Concludes-Cherno-by-Karl-Grossma
n-100902-941.html

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September 29, 2010 Public Hearing - Shipment of Radioactive Steam Generators

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will hold a one-day public
hearing to consider the application by Bruce Power for a transport license
to ship 16 radioactive steam generators through the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence Seaway to Sweden for "recycling" in the fall of 2010, from Owen
Sound, Ontario.  Each steam generator weighs about 100 metric tonnes.

Concern has been expressed about two dangerous precedents (1) allowing the
transport of radioactive wastes through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
Seaway; and (2) allowing contaminated metal from CANDUs to be melted and
sold as scrap for unrestricted use. As recently as 2008, Bruce Power and CSC
said the decommissioned steam generators cannot be recycled and stated that
they will be stored on-site as radioactive waste.

Please consider intervening at the hearing. Deadline to file the outline of
your submission is Sept. 13. You can send in a written presentation, and/or
present in person in Ottawa or via teleconference. You can file your
submission via email to  <mailto:interventions at cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca>
interventions at cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca or by completing the online form available at:
<http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/commission/intervention/index.cfm.>
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/commission/intervention/index.cfm.

It is also important to have many spectators at the hearing, so please
attend even if you are not an intervenor. The hearing will be webcast live
on September 29. 

To find out more about the issue go to: 

<http://glu.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b50150b6b71e8dcf75816ab81&id=c
aa135bad4&e=58a4663c5a>
www.glu.org/en/campaigns/energy/nuclear/steam-generators

<http://www.cela.ca/newsevents/action-alert/action-alert-voice-your-concern-
canadian-nuclear-safety-commission-cnsc-rega>
http://www.cela.ca/newsevents/action-alert/action-alert-voice-your-concern-c
anadian-nuclear-safety-commission-cnsc-rega

<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=36
70>
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=367
0

<http://oen.ca/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=368&cnt
nt01dateformat=%25b%20%25d%2C%20%25Y&cntnt01returnid=75>
http://oen.ca/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=368&cntn
t01dateformat=%25b%20%25d%2C%20%25Y&cntnt01returnid=75 

<http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/publications/action-alert-stop-shipment-dangero
us-nuclear-waste>
http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/publications/action-alert-stop-shipment-dangerou
s-nuclear-waste 

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Aboriginal coalition joins anti-shipping protest

Aboriginal voices have joined the growing international chorus opposing
plans to ship radioactive nuclear generators along the Great Lakes.

 <http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/07/27/14847431.html>
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/07/27/14847431.html 

Nuclear regulator accused of prejudice

A high-profile environmental group says Canada's nuclear regulator has
"prejudiced" its public hearing by already concluding that Bruce Power's
plan to ship steam generators through the Great Lakes doesn't pose a
significant safety risk.  Derek Stack, executive director of the
Canadian-American group Great Lakes United, said the low-level radioactive
waste shipments should be halted until the plan is subjected to full
community consultation.  More than 60 non-governmental organizations have
signed a petition to oppose the shipments.

 <http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2718855>
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2718855

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Lepreau delays force Quebec to postpone work on its nuclear reactor 

Mounting delays to the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear reactor
have prompted a postponement of similar work at the Gentilly 2 station in
Quebec.

<http://www.energy.probeinternational.org/nuclear-power/new-brunswick-power/
lepreau-delays-force-quebec-postpone-work-its-nuclear-reactor>
http://www.energy.probeinternational.org/nuclear-power/new-brunswick-power/l
epreau-delays-force-quebec-postpone-work-its-nuclear-reactor 

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Mining opponents camp at Quebec's National Assembly

Sept-Îles residents set up a mock mining camp in Quebec City, near the
national assembly. 

<http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/08/17/quebec-uranium-mine.html?r
ef=rss#ixzz0wtYKJcAC>
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/08/17/quebec-uranium-mine.html?re
f=rss#ixzz0wtYKJcAC 

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<http://www.beyondnuclear.org/human-rights-whats-new/2010/8/31/international
-physicians-group-calls-for-ban-on-uranium-mini.html> International
physicians group calls for ban on uranium mining 

The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
adopted a resolution at its International Council meeting on Sunday in
Basel, Switzerland,
<http://www.nuclear-risks.org/en/news/artikel/ecc4386a2c/ippnw-calls-for-a-b
an-on-uranium-min.html> calling for a ban on uranium mining and the
production of yellowcake (uranium oxide). The resolution described both
processes as “irresponsible” and “a grave threat to health and to the
environment”.

<http://www.beyondnuclear.org/human-rights-whats-new/2010/8/31/international
-physicians-group-calls-for-ban-on-uranium-mini.html>
http://www.beyondnuclear.org/human-rights-whats-new/2010/8/31/international-
physicians-group-calls-for-ban-on-uranium-mini.html

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Report: Unsuccessful 'Fast Breeder' Is No Solution for Long-Term Reactor
Waste Disposal Issues 

After Over $50 Billion Spent by U.S., Japan, Russia, UK, India and France,
No Commercial Model Found

High Cost, Unreliability, Major Safety Problems and Proliferation Risks All
Seen as Major Barriers to Use

<http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report--unsuccessful-fast-breeder-i
s-no-solution-for-long-term-reactor-waste-disposal-issues-84610032.html>
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report--unsuccessful-fast-breeder-is
-no-solution-for-long-term-reactor-waste-disposal-issues-84610032.html

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Profit in sustainable energy

The legislation (Ontario's Green Energy and Green Economy Act) has been
hugely successful, motivating thousands of ordinary people to mount solar
panels on their roofs, spurring local manufacturing, and attracting
international investment. The overwhelming response to the opportunity to
profit from producing clean energy makes it possible to close the coal
plants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contradicting naysayers who
argue that renewable energy cannot meet demand. 

Gallant complains about the millions of dollars being spent on what he
characterizes as subsidies for green energy, but he fails to mention the
subsidies for coal or nuclear power. 

Instead, he blames recent rises in electricity prices on renewables, even
though the vast majority of clean electricity contracted under the Green
Energy Act is not even on line yet -- and when it is, it will make up only a
small portion of the province's energy. Gallant doesn't like what he sees
when he looks at his electricity bill but neglects mentioning the line items
for the never-ending debt we keep paying for our nuclear plants. He faults
renewables for the cost of upgrading Ontario's aging grid, although the
largest allocation is for a new transmission line to carry power from the
refurbished Bruce reactors. 

 <http://www.nationalpost.com/Profit+sustainable+energy/3482050/story.html>
http://www.nationalpost.com/Profit+sustainable+energy/3482050/story.html 

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Toronto household power use soars 18 per cent

Electricity use has soared in Toronto and across the province this summer,
driven by hot weather.

But the sharp increase underscores the need for the province to push energy
conservation more aggressively, says the chair of the Ontario Clean Air
Alliance. He said it’s a warning signal that the province needs to pay more
attention to curbing power use rather than increasing supply. But current
efforts are skewed toward producing more power rather than saving energy,
Gibbons said. “For every dollar the Ontario Power Authority has spent on
conservation and demand management, they’ve contracted for $40 of new
supply,” he said.

Gibbons said the power authority should be funding local utilities to hire
students to go door to door, selling conservation programs like Peaksaver,
just as energy retailers have sales staffs on the ground to sell their
products. “There’s no reason why the Peaksaver program can’t be as
successful as the Blue Box,” he said.

<http://www.thestar.com/business/article/853465--toronto-household-power-use
-soars-18-per-cent>
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/853465--toronto-household-power-use-
soars-18-per-cent

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<http://climateprogress.org/2010/08/31/creating-jobs-and-savings-with-energy
-efficiency/> Creating jobs and savings with energy efficiency

Upgrading just 40% of buildings would generate 625,000 jobs and cut U.S.
energy bills up to $64 billion a year

Energy efficiency is THE core climate solution:
<http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/23/energy-efficiency-is-the-core-climate
-solution-part-1-the-biggest-low-carbon-resource-by-far/>  The biggest
low-carbon resource by far. 

http://climateprogress.org/2010/08/31/creating-jobs-and-savings-with-energy-
efficiency/?utm_source=feedburner
<http://climateprogress.org/2010/08/31/creating-jobs-and-savings-with-energy
-efficiency/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cli
mateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29>
&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Pro
gress%29 

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As Quebec bathes in electricity, money goes down the drain

Quebec is by far Canada’s largest producer of electricity, largely due to
its abundance of hydroelectricity sources.

“We’ve got electricity through the wazoo,” says Daniel Breton, an energy
activist with a group called Maîtres Chez Nous – 21st Century, which seeks
independence from fossil fuels. “In a situation predicted to be in surplus
until at least 2023, to launch more is completely irresponsible,” Breton
says.

<http://www.thestar.com/news/quebec/article/850738--as-quebec-bathes-in-elec
tricity-money-goes-down-the-drain>
http://www.thestar.com/news/quebec/article/850738--as-quebec-bathes-in-elect
ricity-money-goes-down-the-drain

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We Waste How Much Water On Coal?!

We usually give coal the stink eye for the ways it harms the earth's surface
when it is extracted, and the way it harms the earth's systems when it is
burned. But we also need to hone in on the way coal harms our fresh water
supplies. Between 800 and 3,000 gallons of water are used to extract,
process and dispose each ton of coal. And with 1 billion tons of coal used
per year in the US, that equates to as much as 75 trillion gallons of water
wasted on dirty energy each year. Circle of Blue has put these stats and
many other jaw-dropping figures into a compelling infographic.

<http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/infographic-coal-and-water
-%E2%80%93-a-resource-mismatch/> Check out the Full Sized infographic on
Circle of Blue

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Wind farms making coal phase-out easier

New wind farms in Chatham-Kent-Essex are helping Ontario phase out coal
production while adding renewable hydro to the grid, says Chatham-Kent Essex
MPP Pat Hoy. 

"Ontario has sufficient electricity generation and transmission resources
available to maintain reliability over the next year-and-a-half, according
to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in its latest 18-month
outlook," Hoy says in a news release. 

 <http://ckdp.ca/2010/08/25/making-coal-phase-out-easier/>
http://ckdp.ca/2010/08/25/making-coal-phase-out-easier/ 

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Blowing in the wind; Planned wind turbines in South Cayuga causes debate

As the number of wind farms increases in Ontario, so does the controversy
that surrounds them. It seems people either love them or hate them.

"I'm for wind turbines because we have to go with the future. The future
means we have to go with different energies. Some are saying people get sick
with wind turbines, but this is not proven yet. What is proven is that
people who live close to nuclear power stations have gotten cancer. I don't
like to think about if we had nuclear power at Nanticoke and there was an
accident. It would run into Lake Erie where we have all our drinking water.

"Wind turbines do not pollute. They might kill the odd bird, but most birds
get used to them and fly around them. We're also killing birds with our
cars, but no one is saying we should quit driving our cars."  Seitz said
some neighbours have said the swooshing noise the turbine blades make can be
bothersome. He believes people will get used to the noise, just as they get
used to other noises, such as traffic.

 <http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2737672>
http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2737672

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France to Have 3,000 MW of Offshore Wind by 2015

·          

According to Agence France Presse (AFP), the French government will launch
next month a tender for contracts of 10 billion euros ($12.6 billion) to
build 3,000 MW of offshore wind capacity. This may be only the beginning as
the government wants to produce up to 6,000 MW via offshore wind by 2020.=

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS138434765620100830 

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Climate Reality: A Conversation with Dr. James Hansen, Naomi Klein & Clayton
Thomas-Muller

Science for Peace and The Centre for Global Change Science welcome to
Toronto the world’s foremost climate scientist and author of Storms of My
Grandchildren, Dr. James Hansen, for 2 days of public talks, meetings with
students and political lobbying.

Wednesday, September 15  

McMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Bldg (North), 80 Queens Park, Toronto

5:30 pm 6:30pm Science presentation by Dr. James Hansen
6:30 pm 7:00pm Intermission
7:00 pm to 8:45pm Climate Reality: A Conversation with Dr. James Hansen,
Naomi Klein & Clayton Thomas-Muller, moderated by Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux.

Admission free.

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Help us push the Ontario coal phase out this year!

1.      Visit  <http://coalmustgo.ca/> CoalMustGo.ca to send a letter to
Ontario’s political leaders. It will only take one minute of your time. Make
your voice heard on this critical health/enviro issue.

2.       <http://www.cleanairalliance.org/get_involved_order_pamphlets>
Order free pamphlets to distribute in your community (sponsored by the
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Canadian Association of
Physicians for the Environment, and Ontario Clean Air Alliance). They
contain postcards to Ontario’s political leaders.

Thanks for helping get the word out!

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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

 <mailto:angela at cleanairalliance.org> angela at cleanairalliance.org

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

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

Our Facebook Group

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

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

 <http://www.healthpower.ca/> Health Power

  <http://cleanairalliance.org/get_involved_donate> donate now

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