The province of Alberta has begun its nuclear consultation process. Sadly Albertans’ input will only be considered until June 1 via a workbook and survey found at 310-0000 then 780-427-0265 or www.energy.alberta.ca.
The skewed, manipulated content found in the Nuclear ‘expert’ Panel Report and the workbook show a clear agenda as to where our elected officials intend for this phoney consultation process to end.
The panel was created to answer questions on environmental, health, safety and waste management issues surrounding nuclear energy. The report released by Energy Minister Mel Knight recently, after the public waited a year, did not answer any of these questions.
The report was nothing more than a nuclear industry advertisement on reactors and the merits of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. Considering its mandate, the Nuclear Panel Report is incomplete and incompetent. It is missing essential information that those who have studied nuclear energy’s impacts would expect to see in such a report.
No mention was made of any of the negative aspects of nuclear energy. These negative aspects include liability for accidents and cost over-runs (borne by taxpayers). Long-term storage for radioactive wastes. Nuclear weapons proliferation connected to nuclear power production. Disposal plans for decommissioned reactors. Health studies showing increases in cancers and leukemias around reactors (German KiKK Report). Reprocessing, enrichment and uranium-mining contamination. Radioactive Tritium releases common with CANDU technology and the regulatory statutes that are lacking within the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to determine if the reactors are safe.
The panel was composed of two business professors from Alberta universities and a former spokesman for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). AECL promotes CANDU reactors, an obvious conflict of interest. The panel was advised on nuclear issues by the Idaho National Nuclear Laboratory from the United States (another biased inclusion). Harvie Andre was chair to the committee despite having no expertise in environmental, health, safety or radioactive waste related issues. There were no environmental experts, medical doctors, nuclear opponents or health experts on the panel.
The panel had the opportunity to consult with Nobel Prize nominee and leading health and radiation expert Dr. Helen Caldicott after a citizen-led initiative brought her from Australia. Despite pleas from Albertans, the panel refused to meet with this world-renowned nuclear expert despite her credentials, stating it would be biased to do so.
How ridiculous! This was from a panel that included AECL and Idaho Nuclear Laboratory advisors! I suspect that official legislation will be railroaded through in the fall session if Albertans don’t speak out now and demand transparent, credible information from Bruce Power and our MLAs. This process must not be further hampered, manipulated or rushed through the legislative process.
A grassroots movement is building to keep Alberta nuclear-free. I encourage Albertans to research the true risks and impacts of a toxic nuclear legacy for our future generations and then get involved. Safer, truly sustainable solutions exist. We don’t need nuclear.
Melissa Brade, Gunn, Alta.
