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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 16:32:37 -0300 (ADT)
From: Antoni Wysocki <au120@chebucto.ns.ca>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 20:58:25 -0700
From: Betty Brightwell <bbright@pinc.com> (by way of Helen Lofgren
<as112@chebucto.ns.ca>)
To: Betty Brightwell <bbright@pinc.com> Subject: NN: Gov't slammed for
pushing PU
From: Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout <cnp@web.net>
MEDIA RELEASE
For release Thursday, April 22, 1999
ENVIRONMENT GROUPS SLAM GOVERNMENT FOR PUSHING PLUTONIUM IMPORTS UNDER
GUISE OF DISARMAMENT
Ottawa -- Environment groups are condemning the federal government's
decision to push forward with a nuclear industry scheme to import weapons
plutonium for use as a fuel in CANDU reactors. An all-party recommendation
of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(SCFAIT) advised the government to scrap the project on the grounds that
it is "unfeasible". This week the government announced that it will allow
plutonium fuel tests to go forward as part of the project. Bringing
plutonium into Canada will add to proliferation risks according to critics
of scheme. They say that the government is using the disarmament issue as
a smoke screen.
"This project is not about nuclear disarmament. It's about bailing out
AECL," says Steve Shallhorn, Campaign Director of Greenpeace. He points
out that warheads are being dismantled regardless of whether Canada takes
the weapons plutonium and notes Canadians will be stuck with the waste
from the project for thousands of years.
Elizabeth May, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada states that
"Jean Chretien is showing complete disregard for the environment and
democracy by going forward with the plutonium import scheme. Canadians
have had no say as to whether they want our country to become a dumping
ground for the superpowers cold war leftovers."
Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
rejects the government's justification for the project pointing out that
the Government of Canada is not against plutonium, but seeks to
commercialize it. "Nothing could be more dangerous for world peace than
making plutonium a commodity," he says. "The government of Canada talks
about the tests of plutonium fuel, but what is really being tested is the
will of the Canadian population. They want to see how docile Canadians
will be in the face of this wrong-headed prospect of importing 100 tonnes
of weapons plutonium into this country."
"Proceeding with the tests is a make work project for AECL at taxpayers
risk and expense," states Kristen Ostling of the Campaign for Nuclear
Phaseout. "The government is being manipulated by the nuclear industry.
Depending on the nuclear industry to judge the safety of this proposal is
like asking tobacco executives about the risks of second hand smoke. If
Canada wants to help it should assist with securing the plutonium and
immobilizing it." She adds that "the federal government owes it to
Canadians to accept arms-length advice on this issue through open and
accountable processes."
- 30 -
For further information please contact:
Kristen Ostling, National Coordinator, Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout
613-789-3634 (Ottawa)
Steve Shallhorn, Campaign Director , Greenpeace 416-533-5177 (cell)
(Toronto)
Gordon Edwards, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear
Responsibility,
514-489-5118 (Montréal)
Elizabeth May, Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada, 613-241-4611
(Ottawa)
web sites: www.ccnr.org/index.html#import and www.cnp.ca.
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