Comments: Thanks for the article, Dr. Edwards, it was great! No to nukes!
From G. Edwards:
Demonstration in Quebec City: Day 3
Greetings to everyone:
Here is a copy of the message sent out yesterday at the conclusion of
the demonstration of Wednesday August 18 at the National Assembly.
Beautiful day, great energy, wonderful demonstration.
Thanks to all the men and women who attended, as well as those who
were there in spirit. Let's continue to step up the pressure.
Scrap Gentilly-2 !
Hydro-Quebec recently announced its decision to postpone the
refurbishment of the Gentilly-2 reactor. Hydro-Quebec has also
delayed its report to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
that was supposed to take place on August 18 -- a report that is
needed in order to get regulatory approval for the refurbishment.
But Hydro-Quebec is still putting off the fundamental decision --
to end nuclear energy in Quebec and to implement safer policies
based on the decommissioning of our nuclear facilities and the
investment in renewable energy sources instead.
So what are the reasons behind Hydro-Quebec's delaying tactics?
Even as we celebrate the recent spate of good news, we men and
women from the Centre of Quebec and the Mauricie region are left
wondering why Hydro-Quebec and the Liberal Party of Quebec
are still messing around with the nuclear dossier.
As nuclear power fades into the shadows, the Quebec population
is waiting for someone to turn on the light.
Our group CMDN -- les CentricoisES et MauricienNEs pour le
déclassement nucléaire -- is here at the Quebec National Assembly
also to support the demands of the group SISUR -- Sept-Iles sans
uranium -- [for a moratorium on uranium mining in Quebec] joining
forces with them in today's "nuclear picnic".
Nuclear energy has to be seen as a totality: from the mining of the
uranium ore (causing pollution and carbon emissions) to the production
of electricity (routine radioactive emissions and dangers) to the long-term
management of nuclear wastes (no permanent solution) and finally to
the unsavory reputation of CANDU technology due to its links to nuclear
weapons.
This week, citizens from many regions of Quebec are standing side by
side and saying loudly and clearly: "No! to nuclear power in Quebec."
Representatives of the Parti Québécois, Québec Solidaire and the New
Democratic Party, as well as prominent personalities from the cultural,
professional and environmental sectors of our society have also come
to give their support: Nature Québec, doctors, engineers, artists, the
Coalition Pour que Québec ait meilleur mine, Greenpeace, Maîtres
chez nous (MCN21), and others.
We all want Hydro-Québec and the Liberal government to stop playing
games, swallow whatever pride they may have in the planned
refurbishment of Gentilly-2, and put an end to this crazy project.
Sébastien Bois, spokesperson for the group
Centricois et Mauriciens pour le déclassement nucléaire
