A quick note before the press release on nuclear green light in Alberta. Many thanks to our neighbours and friends in C.A.U.S.E. for the alert.
INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATOCRACY
My next email works on the definition and characteristics of corporatocracy, a word not found in standard dictionaries. Discussion is hampered for parts of reality that have no vocabulary. Corporatocracy is on Wikipedia but needs more work.
I propose corporatocracy as the form of government that holds sway in Canada. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s recent “public meetings” in Saskatoon are a prime example of the shortfalls of corporatocracy. The following news from Alberta repeats the point that democracy is more myth than reality.
For maybe 3 decades Canadians have been in the process of making a choice over the idea of democracy versus corporatocracy, each with its own distinct set of values. We should be mindful of outcomes.
/Sandra
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Elena Schacherl
Date: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Subject: Fw: nuclear given green light
MEDIA RELEASE December 14, 2009
Citizens Advocating the Use of Sustainable Energy (CAUSE)
P.O. Box 32007,
Calgary, Alberta, T2T 5X6
www.nuclearfreealberta.ca <http://www.nuclearfreealberta.ca>
NUCLEAR GREEN LIGHT BAD NEWS FOR ALBERTANS
December 14, 2009, Calgary, Alberta
Today the Alberta Government released the results from the public consultation on nuclear held earlier this year. At the same time, Mel Knight announced that nuclear power would be considered as an energy option in this province on a case-by-case basis.
Elena Schacherl, Chair of Citizens Advocating the Use of Sustainable Energy (CAUSE), says:
³We are extremely disappointed. The Stelmach government today not only released the consultation results, but clearly gave the go ahead to nuclear energy in Alberta.²
³The government has taken a pronuclear stance from the start. First they appointed a biased nuclear panel that included a board member with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. This was followed by a slanted and one-sided report, followed by a short consultation period and no public hearings.²
In releasing the consultation report, the government chose to focus on the response that gave them the answer they wanted. Both the questions and results are ambiguous. In particular, the question on considering nuclear on a case by case basis was clearly intended to get the government off the hook in taking a position on nuclear. In the online workbook, which saw the largest number of Albertans consulted (about 3600), 55% were opposed to nuclear. Moreover, the consultation report show that 75% of Albertans are concerned about the health impacts of nuclear and 77% do not want to leave a nuclear waste problem for future generations. Another 75% advocate looking to renewable energy to meet our future electricity needs.
Robbin Penney, CAUSE Secretary says, ³The provincial government has failed to hear the majority of Albertans who have clearly said they do not want nuclear power in Alberta. The Alberta government is misleading Albertans by saying they will not subsidize the nuclear industry. Clearly, Bill 50 – the controversial transmission line bill – will allow nuclear plants to export surplus electricity on the very same transmission line for which all Albertans are going to pay². We can also expect our electricity costs to skyrocket if nuclear reactors are built. And the taxpayer will continue to pay the billions in federal subsidies needed to support nuclear.
Elena Schacherl concludes, ³CAUSE will continue to do everything possible to oppose nuclear power in Alberta despite the government¹s decision.²
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For more information, please contact:
Elena Schacherl, CAUSE Co-chair
nuclearfreealberta@gmail.com
Calgary, 403-244-8001 or 403-860-3372 (cell) or
Robbin Penney, CAUSE Secretary
Calgary, 403-277-9551 robbin@veloemail.com