Don’t Worry About Radiation in Canadian Seawater

by Franke James

As I read the morning news about the evolving Nuclear crisis in Japan — And radiation reaching our Canadian shores — I was reminded of this image from my 2010 Earth Day visual essay: Our Disposable World:

We Know Some Things Are Toxic…

Dilution Will Save Us in North America, Too Bad About the Japanese:
“The spread of radiation has raised concerns about the safety of Japan’s seafood, even though experts say the low levels suggest radiation won’t accumulate in fish at unsafe levels… Experts say the Pacific is so vast that any radiation will be quickly diluted before it becomes problematic. Citing dilution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has played down the risks of seafood contamination…”

How comforting!

How safe do you think Canadian Nuclear reactors are?
Here are a few items I’m reading…

1. CBC News reported that Pickering had a leak of radioactive water this month.
2. In 2008, the Harper Government fired the Nuclear Safety Watchdog, Linda Keen, who was concerned about sufficient backups. (The Fukushima plant did not have sufficient back-ups.)
3. See The Toronto Star: “Nuclear Question Marks” which effectively says that the Hearings on the Darlington $30 Billion Dollar Nuclear Plant project are moving ahead without adequate environmental assessments.
4. Maybe you don’t believe a nuclear accident could happen in Canada? Read this Q & A by Greenpeace and ask yourself if their concerns are valid.
5. If you’re wondering how many Nuclear Power Plants there are in the USA, see this Map. (Hope there will be a Canadian map soon.)

Without adequate environmental protections, our economy will be ruined.

Before you shrug your shoulders, and pray for dilution, ask yourself how close you live to a nuclear plant, and how quickly an evacuation of millions could take place.

We’re in a Federal Election. What I want to know is…

Why the Harper Government is using taxpayer dollars to give the Nuclear Industry $405 million dollars a year. With the nuclear crisis in Japan, why isn’t nuclear safety even mentioned in our Federal Election? And when will our “Leaders” shift to renewable and safe, Solar and Wind Power?

Angela Merkel in Germany recently lost to the anti-nuclear Greens. “Voters were touched by the terrible events in Japan, those images still haunt people today.”

I think shifting to green energy should be an election issue in Canada …. What about you?

How are you going to vote on May 2nd? Ask your local candidate what their position is on nuclear safety (and also green energy and the environment).

Further thoughts: Why Aren’t Canadian Politicians Talking About What’s Real?

CBC Vote Compass: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

My Earth Day 2010 talk:Our Disposable World

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“Don’t Worry About Radiation in Canadian Seawater” copyright 2011 Franke James