ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER, UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR B.C. (short version, Oct 3/24)
- Excerpt from a posting on www.sandrafinley.ca
I love those people in San Clemente. They are my stars. (The San Onofre Nuclear Reactor)
PLEASE forward to people in B.C. They should not unwittingly give a mandate for nuclear development by keeping their mouths shut.
B.C. PROVINCIAL ELECTION
Advance polls Oct 10 to 13 and 15-16. Closed Oct 14 for Thanksgiving. Final voting day is Saturday, October 19.
I recommend: the recent video by the people of San Clemente, Calif. There is free streaming until Oct 13; the link is in the posting “I Love those people . . . “ (https://sandrafinley.ca/blog/?p=30148).
The San Onofre Nuclear site is on the beach of the Pacific Ocean not far from San Clemente, Calif.
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2. Excerpt from the posting 2024-09-28 Nuclear plan for B.C. Using the B.C. Election
The Premier of Japan during the Fukushima Disaster traveled to San Clemente to be able to participate in person at the Hearings. After Fukushima he understands that nuclear is an INTERNATIONAL issue, hence his travels. His experience as head-of-state convinced him that the only option is NO MORE nuclear plants. Which is what Canadians and others have been saying for decades: globally, we must STOP PRODUCING radioactive waste. There is no answer for it. There is nothing small about it.
The posting illustrates the corrupting nature of the industry. The ONLY way it is a viable industry is through access to mountains of Government (our) money. . . .
If I know the provinces that have fought against nuclear and won – – the extent of the dedicated “no to nuclear and nuclear waste“ across Canada, the Political Parties know, too. Below, I am using information that has ALREADY happened. It’s what THEY DID DO, not what THEY MIGHT DO.
“Nuclear . . will continue to play a key role in achieving Canada’s low-carbon future.”?. . Why would a political party in Canada promote the nuclear industry? The provinces, moving from the West going east:
- B.C.’s Clean Energy Act, passed in 2010, bans nuclear power from being used to meet the province’s energy needs. Dr. Bob Woollard played a significant role in the research that led to the moratorium; the risk and health impacts of nuclear power are too great. (Do a Cost – benefit analysis MINUS the propaganda.)
- Albertans fought down nuclear reactors on the Peace River. Four years of intense effort, from 2007 until 2011. Result: Bruce Power completely bailed out of efforts to build reactors in Alberta.
- Saskatchewanians fought down nuclear reactors planned for the North Saskatchewan River near Paradise Hill, 2009. They also fought down 3 separate attempts by the industry to build a deep geological Repository for high level radioactive waste disposal in northern Sask.
- Manitobans gained their experience at Pinawawa (“Whiteshell”) in 1978. “No.” And their High Level Radioactive Waste Act was assented to in 1987. It is illegal to import radioactive waste into Manitoba.
- The citizens of Ontario have had enough experience to know the high cost of nuclear energy. . . .
Mayors of Cities around the Great Lakes, on both the Canadian and American sides, banded together to stop the transport of radioactive waste through their water supply bound for disposal on the other side of the Atlantic. I don’t know the number of communities in Ontario that have said “No” to the disposal of radioactive waste anywhere in their vicinity. For fifty years the industry has been trying unsuccessfully to get rid of their waste. Meanwhile the old reactors in Ontario have to be dealt with, as they near (and are past) end-of-life.
- The Province of Quebec put an end to nuclear reactors. And
prohibited import of radioactive waste for storage in Quebec.
- Point LePreau has been a financial sinkhole for the people of New Brunswick.
WHY are Canadians so opposed to nuclear energy? . . . The ECONOMICS don’t make sense, among other reasons. Most Ontarians, Quebecers, and New Brunswickers, provinces that have had nuclear energy, understand that. And the rest of us learned from their experience. With uranium – nuclear, Citizens become paupers, in more ways than one.
Tell me what bona fide business could shoulder an existing liability for WASTE disposal of more than $24 billion?
(The nuke industry did it. The sleight-of-hand: REDEFINE the waste by using a legal document. Create the NWMO, (Nuclear Waste Management Organization). Transfer the industry’s liability to VOTERS to manage and pay for. My! But we have creative Government and Business “professionals”.
I’d say the industry is in desperate need of new customers to create a revenue stream. To pay for
- CONTINUANCE of the multi-million dollar salaries for the “1%” (Cameco website, 2016, CEO Tim Gitzel, remuneration is $6 million. Gotta keep the gravy train (Govt money) flowing.). From 2013 to 2014, Executive compensation, in total, rose from $10 to $15 million.
- Pay-offs for “the ol’ boys. Anne McLellan was brought onto the Cameco Board in 2006. You may recall Anne – – for years, the only federal Liberal elected in the West (Edmonton). Served 4 terms. Federal Minister of Justice, of Health, of Natural Resources, Deputy Prime Minister, under Paul Martin and Jean Chretien. A Liberal of Influence. After politics she went on corporate boards. Her position on the Cameco-Bruce Power Board alone is worth a million dollars. Some Provinces don’t have laws to prevent Corporate & Union contributions to Political Parties (the FEDERAL Govt does have such laws).
- the cost of new reactors (no investment fund or insurance fund will touch them. You have to be in on the scam.)
- disposal of 50 years of accumulated radioactive waste (no investment fund or insurance fund will touch that). The San Onofre Documentary is an excellent view into that existential dilemma.
- de-commissioning of the old reactors and disposal of the associated radioactive waste
In a Ponzi, the last man in, gets left holding the bag. Read the evidence. There is lots more. REASSURANCES and PROPAGANDA do not work. Democracy fails in the face of chronic corruption.
The only sane person who would invest in the Industry is one from whom information is withheld. Or one who is in on the game, in a sleaze to join the 1%.
It is all dependent on an UNinformed citizenry, propaganda, and serious corruption – – extinction – – of the public interest. It is dependent upon the impotency of Elected Representatives, the existence of a “not-democracy”.
A STARTING PLACE FOR STOPPING CORRUPTION IN CANADA?
- Stand up and Speak up. Don’t AGREE to be ignorant and stupid. Even if you like rich guys. Don’t vote for hands in the public purse, pigs at the trough. I don’t like to use those words. Sometimes plain-speaking is called for.
Sandra Finley 250-594-9898