by Gordon Edwards, CCNR and Michel Duguay, MSQN
Three Mile Island taught the world that nuclear power is inherently dangerous. With Chernobyl the entire world witnessed the awesome power of a total meltdown. At Fukushima we have seen simultaneous partial meltdowns in three reactors and four spent fuel pools. Canada’s reactors have a different design, but the potential for catastrophe is ever present. It was not an earthquake and tsunami that caused Japan’s nuclear catastrophe, it was a total electrical blackout. Such a blackout can be caused in a variety of ways. Like other countries, Canada needs to take stock and reassess the risks and benefits of nuclear technology.
All federal political parties are being asked to support a non-partisan Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Nuclear Power in Canada. As part of that inquiry process, no new licenses for nuclear power plants in Canada, whether new build projects or refurbishment projects, or off-site transportation of nuclear wastes produced by nuclear reactors, would be granted until the Royal Commission has concluded its work.
Groups from across Canada have joined together in this appeal so that the people of Canada will be adequately consulted on the future of this inherently dangerous industry. The basic question is do Canadians wish nuclear power production to be expanded or to be phased out?
Before proceeding any further down the nuclear path, we ask the Canadian government to finally give all Canadians a chance to debate the risks and benefits of nuclear power in relation to its alternatives in a politically meaningful forum.
–
Further information at Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility,www.ccnr.org and Mouvement Sortons le Quebec du Nucleaire,www.sortonsquebecnucleaire.org
