HARDING: Piecing together the nuclear puzzle
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:44 pmPiecing together the nuclear puzzle
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/drink ... lear_p.php
Dr. Jim Harding at the Port Hope High School. March 29, 2008.
On Saturday, March 29, 2008, an engaged crowd gathered at the Port Hope High School for a lecture and fund raising event co-sponsored by the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. The keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Harding, presented "Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green," drawing from his most recent book Canada's Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan uranium and the Global Nuclear System as well as years of experience and activism in the socio-health, environment, and public policy fields. It was a lively, informative, and inspiring event.
Dr. Harding's personal and political roots are firmly planted in Saskatchewan - the front-end of the world's nuclear system as he describes it. The province is the world's largest exporter of uranium, feeding nuclear refineries and the nuclear weapon industry around the globe. Dr. Harding could easily focus all of his written and oratory energy towards describing the effects of uranium mining in his home province: the continual violation of Aboriginal rights, devastated tracts of land and water, and the long-term dangers to human health of the uranium miners and those who live near the mines. However, Saturday's event demonstrated that Dr. Harding is committed to going beyond these issues and drawing connections between every step in the nuclear fuel cycle. And rightfully so.
Wherever nuclear production takes place, environmental injustices are the norm. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Port Hope where nearly every stage in the nuclear fuel cycle converges. Since the 1930s, Port Hope has been host to first uranium extraction then processing, refining, and fuel rod production. Uranium has brought jobs and needed income to many in Port Hope but, it also has ushered in harmful pollution, including 3.5 million cubic metres of radioactive and heavy metal waste that resides in the town.
In order to resolve questions that remain unanswered by industry and government, concerned invididuals in Port Hope have mobilized around what Dr. Harding refers to as "citizen science." Last November, PHCHCC and the Uranium Medical Research Centre released the results of a citizen-funded, independent and peer reviewed study of uranium measured in the 24-hour urine specimens of nine residents and former nuclear workers in Port Hope. Unlike government funded risk assessments, the study began to shed light on the actual human health impacts of the nuclear industry on the people of Port Hope. The results: all of the subjects in Port Hope contained industrial (non-natural) uranium in their bodies. The startling evidence from the study should prompt further questioning and independent health studies.
Bringing Dr. Harding to town is an effective continuation of PHCHCC's tireless work piecing together the nuclear puzzle. The rise of citizen action to demand access to information and protection of rights means that we must support each other. The stories of people in Saskatchewan link to the challenges faced in Port Hope, and so on. Dr. Harding could not have drawn these connections more astutely. After Dr. Harding's one hour talk, the Port Hope High School gymnasium was radiating a new kind of glow - one of support and compassion for everyone involved in the nuclear fuel cycle, including the uranium miners and Cameco workers. Follow the link below to listen Dr. Harding's presentation and draw strength from the knowledge that others are cutting through the myths of a "green" nuclear industry and fighting for access to clean air and water.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/drink ... rch_26.php
---------------------------
Listen to Dr. Harding's presentation, "Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green"
http://waterkeeper.ca/podcasts/Dr.Hardi ... _29_08.mp3
Listen to an interview with Dr. Harding on this week's Living At the Barricades Podcast at:
ahttp://waterkeeper.ca/podcasts/2008-03 ... arding.mp3
Stay tuned to Living At the Barricades for Mark Mattson's interview with Dr. Helen Caldicott - President of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and world renowned nuclear activist.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/podcasts/index.php
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http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/drink ... lear_p.php
Dr. Jim Harding at the Port Hope High School. March 29, 2008.
On Saturday, March 29, 2008, an engaged crowd gathered at the Port Hope High School for a lecture and fund raising event co-sponsored by the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. The keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Harding, presented "Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green," drawing from his most recent book Canada's Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan uranium and the Global Nuclear System as well as years of experience and activism in the socio-health, environment, and public policy fields. It was a lively, informative, and inspiring event.
Dr. Harding's personal and political roots are firmly planted in Saskatchewan - the front-end of the world's nuclear system as he describes it. The province is the world's largest exporter of uranium, feeding nuclear refineries and the nuclear weapon industry around the globe. Dr. Harding could easily focus all of his written and oratory energy towards describing the effects of uranium mining in his home province: the continual violation of Aboriginal rights, devastated tracts of land and water, and the long-term dangers to human health of the uranium miners and those who live near the mines. However, Saturday's event demonstrated that Dr. Harding is committed to going beyond these issues and drawing connections between every step in the nuclear fuel cycle. And rightfully so.
Wherever nuclear production takes place, environmental injustices are the norm. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Port Hope where nearly every stage in the nuclear fuel cycle converges. Since the 1930s, Port Hope has been host to first uranium extraction then processing, refining, and fuel rod production. Uranium has brought jobs and needed income to many in Port Hope but, it also has ushered in harmful pollution, including 3.5 million cubic metres of radioactive and heavy metal waste that resides in the town.
In order to resolve questions that remain unanswered by industry and government, concerned invididuals in Port Hope have mobilized around what Dr. Harding refers to as "citizen science." Last November, PHCHCC and the Uranium Medical Research Centre released the results of a citizen-funded, independent and peer reviewed study of uranium measured in the 24-hour urine specimens of nine residents and former nuclear workers in Port Hope. Unlike government funded risk assessments, the study began to shed light on the actual human health impacts of the nuclear industry on the people of Port Hope. The results: all of the subjects in Port Hope contained industrial (non-natural) uranium in their bodies. The startling evidence from the study should prompt further questioning and independent health studies.
Bringing Dr. Harding to town is an effective continuation of PHCHCC's tireless work piecing together the nuclear puzzle. The rise of citizen action to demand access to information and protection of rights means that we must support each other. The stories of people in Saskatchewan link to the challenges faced in Port Hope, and so on. Dr. Harding could not have drawn these connections more astutely. After Dr. Harding's one hour talk, the Port Hope High School gymnasium was radiating a new kind of glow - one of support and compassion for everyone involved in the nuclear fuel cycle, including the uranium miners and Cameco workers. Follow the link below to listen Dr. Harding's presentation and draw strength from the knowledge that others are cutting through the myths of a "green" nuclear industry and fighting for access to clean air and water.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/drink ... rch_26.php
---------------------------
Listen to Dr. Harding's presentation, "Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green"
http://waterkeeper.ca/podcasts/Dr.Hardi ... _29_08.mp3
Listen to an interview with Dr. Harding on this week's Living At the Barricades Podcast at:
ahttp://waterkeeper.ca/podcasts/2008-03 ... arding.mp3
Stay tuned to Living At the Barricades for Mark Mattson's interview with Dr. Helen Caldicott - President of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and world renowned nuclear activist.
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/content/podcasts/index.php
Recent News
Listen up, lake lovers
Piecing together the nuclear puzzle
Imperial oil sands plans dealt blow
CEC Secretariat provides Council with the final factual record on Montreal Technoparc submissio
Drive on with tire fee
IJC releases new water regulations proposal
Growing corn for ethanol benefits farms
Uranium Cycle Info Session
Sailing far from clear for new lake-level plan
Lawmakers to have say on IJC's water plan
Water levels proposal unveiled
Plan to improve lake levels falls short
Critics say Lake Ontario management plan fails the environment
Plan for Lake Ontario water level draws fire
Strategic implications of water availability
Global nuclear firms eye province
The disappearance of the freshwater giants
Bruce Power Restarts Ontario Nuclear Reactor After Maintenance
Hour of Lack of Power
Plan would change outflows from Lake Ontario
Between two worlds; A strong sense of heritage and belonging compels Robert Lovelace to stand up for his beliefs
Nuclear expert Jim Harding to present at Port Hope Event
Shoreline property owners look to benefit from new water level proposal
Green groups hammer plan for water levels
Environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking at Trent University
Coup for Trent U.; Coming soon: 500 scientists and one famous Kennedy
Kennedy speech to bring together 500 researchers
Wall seeks diversified nuclear industry
Nuclear project dwarfs Northern river power
Communities Accept 2 Possible Sites Of New Ontario Nuclear Plant
Ministry probes diesel fuel spill
Let's keep our eye on the incinerator problem
Tire fee to fund recycling
City gets big bucks for infrastructure
Wind farm raises health concerns; No long-term effect, says Kingston doctor
Water testing urged for rural wells
City mulling over its pursuit of Red Hill lawsuit
Pitch in to clean up Cootes
Invista files $800M lawsuit; Company alleges numerous 'violations' committed by DuPont
Lawmakers warn CDC not to terminate whistleblower
Energy future must be nuclear
Local public consultation on Darlington proposal set for April 24
Role in reactor bid questioned
RFK Jr. speaks in city May 22
Culbertson Tract has never been surrendered to Canada
Land claim process moves ahead
Sludge should not be spread on any dairy farm: McBride
Again, offshore/onshore wind siting guidelines needed
Clarington gets $200,000 more for incineration review
Canada's deadly secret (March 26, 2007 with Dr. Jim Harding)
Red Hill Parkway legal fight still on, says council
Turning sewage into 'Perrier'
Bush all wet on Great Lakes issues, funding
Sludge spreading concerns valid, doctor says
Study: Great Lakes 'salties' ban may create jobs
Modest increase targets polluters
Our lawns don't need pesticides
Environmental enforcement beefed up
Schumer wants fed funding for Great Lakes invasive species, toxic sediment and industrial pollution
Safety status of Ginna will be addressed
NIMBY battle rages on
New hazardous waste plan recommended for Ontario
Our Drugged Drinking Water: 3 Solutions
Citizen input needed on power plant
Experts unfazed by drugs in water
Local businesses still concerned after big stink at Miller
Nuclear power plant project referred to review panel