Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Jan 24, 2020 17:58:28 GMT 2
(.#B.022).- Canada can counter the nuclear threat.
Canada can counter the nuclear threat, organizers of the World Social Forum say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Washington Nuclear Security Summit
PHOTO: THE CANADIAN PRESS / SEAN KILPATRICK
CBC
Posted on 2 August 2016
By ceasing to produce and export uranium, Canada can play a leading role in countering the nuclear threat, World Social Forum organizers say, a week away from an event on this issue in Montreal.
A text by Daniel Blanchette Pelletier.
Canada does not own a nuclear weapon, but it remains the world's second largest producer of its key ingredient: uranium. "It is believed that Canada can play a decisive political role because of [its refusal to have the nuclear weapon] and because of its friendships with NATO countries", argues Pierre Jasmin, in particular member of the Canadian Network for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The Canadian government could go even further, adds the co-organizer of the Social Forum, Raphaël Canet. "If we put a moratorium on uranium mining and we set an example, there may be an interesting global dynamic. "
The 5 main uranium producing countries :
1. kazakhstan
2. Canada
3. Australia
4. Niger
5. Namibia
A national moratorium
British Columbia and Nova Scotia already prohibit uranium mining. A temporary moratorium is also in effect in Quebec. Nevertheless, Saskatchewan alone continues to produce about 10 tonnes annually. Northern mines in the Athabasca Basin contain the majority of Canada's uranium reserves.
Once mined, they are refined in Ontario and exported 85% overseas, mainly to the United States, Europe and Asia.
However, the Canadian government has committed to exporting uranium only for peaceful purposes. It is also a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. These two guarantees, however, do not allay the fears of nuclear organizations, who would prefer to see Canada put a definitive end to uranium production.
"Canada has an important role to play," says Raphaël Canet. So that's what the groups want to focus on by organizing the forum in Montreal next week.
The first edition of the thematic World Social Forum for a world free of civilian and military nuclear power was held in Tokyo and Fukushima, Japan, last March (2016), more than five years after the nuclear disaster.
Nuclear energy and electricity generation
Uranium produced in Canada, which is not exported, supplies the twenty or so nuclear reactors still operating in Canada.
Four generating stations still generate electricity, mainly in Ontario. Although several reactors have been shut down, others are in the process of being shut down, and some plants, such as Gentilly-2 in Quebec, will be decommissioned, Gordon Edwards, chairman of the Nuclear Monitoring Group, believes that you must not let go of the pressure.
"There is so much pressure for building new plants and modernizing older ones," he says. And even the reactors that have been shut down are a risk for years to come. The nuclear fission process creates toxic radioactive elements that remain active after the fact.
From left to right: Gordon Edwards, Pierre Jasmin and Raphaël Canet
PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / DANIEL BLANCHETTE PELLETIER
A lot of will, few gestures
The Canadian Network for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons is no more than a "global denuclearization". "Everyone recognizes that the nuclear weapon is a deadly machine," said Gordon Edwards, who feared a terrorist use.
Although a consensus seems to be reached today, few countries have actually acted against nuclear power.
It is a very big challenge to eliminate nuclear weapons, but also the power plants, but it is necessary for the survival of the species. It is necessary for the survival of the planet.
Gordon Edwards, Chairman of the Nuclear Monitoring Cluster.
Few countries, for example, have followed Germany's lead, where the use of nuclear energy in electricity generation will be abolished by 2022.
Gordon Edwards believes, however, that people have a role to play in convincing world governments to act. The World Social Forum wants to initiate a balance of power in the civil community to this end.
The Thematic World Social Forum for a world free of civilian nuclear energy and military will take place from August 8 to 14, 2016 in Montreal.
F I N .
Canada can counter the nuclear threat, organizers of the World Social Forum say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Washington Nuclear Security Summit
PHOTO: THE CANADIAN PRESS / SEAN KILPATRICK
CBC
Posted on 2 August 2016
By ceasing to produce and export uranium, Canada can play a leading role in countering the nuclear threat, World Social Forum organizers say, a week away from an event on this issue in Montreal.
A text by Daniel Blanchette Pelletier.
Canada does not own a nuclear weapon, but it remains the world's second largest producer of its key ingredient: uranium. "It is believed that Canada can play a decisive political role because of [its refusal to have the nuclear weapon] and because of its friendships with NATO countries", argues Pierre Jasmin, in particular member of the Canadian Network for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The Canadian government could go even further, adds the co-organizer of the Social Forum, Raphaël Canet. "If we put a moratorium on uranium mining and we set an example, there may be an interesting global dynamic. "
The 5 main uranium producing countries :
1. kazakhstan
2. Canada
3. Australia
4. Niger
5. Namibia
A national moratorium
British Columbia and Nova Scotia already prohibit uranium mining. A temporary moratorium is also in effect in Quebec. Nevertheless, Saskatchewan alone continues to produce about 10 tonnes annually. Northern mines in the Athabasca Basin contain the majority of Canada's uranium reserves.
Once mined, they are refined in Ontario and exported 85% overseas, mainly to the United States, Europe and Asia.
However, the Canadian government has committed to exporting uranium only for peaceful purposes. It is also a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. These two guarantees, however, do not allay the fears of nuclear organizations, who would prefer to see Canada put a definitive end to uranium production.
"Canada has an important role to play," says Raphaël Canet. So that's what the groups want to focus on by organizing the forum in Montreal next week.
The first edition of the thematic World Social Forum for a world free of civilian and military nuclear power was held in Tokyo and Fukushima, Japan, last March (2016), more than five years after the nuclear disaster.
Nuclear energy and electricity generation
Uranium produced in Canada, which is not exported, supplies the twenty or so nuclear reactors still operating in Canada.
Four generating stations still generate electricity, mainly in Ontario. Although several reactors have been shut down, others are in the process of being shut down, and some plants, such as Gentilly-2 in Quebec, will be decommissioned, Gordon Edwards, chairman of the Nuclear Monitoring Group, believes that you must not let go of the pressure.
"There is so much pressure for building new plants and modernizing older ones," he says. And even the reactors that have been shut down are a risk for years to come. The nuclear fission process creates toxic radioactive elements that remain active after the fact.
From left to right: Gordon Edwards, Pierre Jasmin and Raphaël Canet
PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / DANIEL BLANCHETTE PELLETIER
A lot of will, few gestures
The Canadian Network for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons is no more than a "global denuclearization". "Everyone recognizes that the nuclear weapon is a deadly machine," said Gordon Edwards, who feared a terrorist use.
Although a consensus seems to be reached today, few countries have actually acted against nuclear power.
It is a very big challenge to eliminate nuclear weapons, but also the power plants, but it is necessary for the survival of the species. It is necessary for the survival of the planet.
Gordon Edwards, Chairman of the Nuclear Monitoring Cluster.
Few countries, for example, have followed Germany's lead, where the use of nuclear energy in electricity generation will be abolished by 2022.
Gordon Edwards believes, however, that people have a role to play in convincing world governments to act. The World Social Forum wants to initiate a balance of power in the civil community to this end.
The Thematic World Social Forum for a world free of civilian nuclear energy and military will take place from August 8 to 14, 2016 in Montreal.
F I N .
