[ RadSafe ] CBC program titled Port Hope A Question of Power

[Jaro]

FYI, here is a comment on the CBC program, from another listserv.....


Program 'subtracts from sum total' of nuclear knowledge

Port Hope Evening Guide
Mon 21 Nov 2005
Byline: John K. Sutherland, PhD

To the Editor:

Port Hope Families Against Radiation Exposure (FARE) and those who watched
the usual Suzuki agenda on CBC on Wednesday evening, sorely need a dose of
perspective.

One of the many misleading issues, that of radioactive emissions, was placed
in perspective by Lord Marshall of Goring in 1988, in his statement before
the British House of Lords:

"Earlier this year, British Nuclear Fuels released into the Irish Sea some
400 kilograms of uranium, with the full knowledge of the regulators.  This
attracted considerable media attention and, I believe, some 14 parliamentary
questions.  I have to inform you that yesterday the CEGB released about 300
kilograms of radioactive uranium, together with all of its radioactive decay
products, into the environment.  Furthermore, we released some 300 kilograms
of uranium the day before that.  We shall be releasing the same amount of
uranium today, and we plan to do the same tomorrow.  In fact we do it every
day of every year so long as we burn coal in our power stations.  And we do
not call that `radioactive waste'.  We call it coal ash."

Furthermore, and despite the misleading allegations freely paraded
concerning health studies in the area, the following was reported in 2002:
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission released a medical study on June 17
that found that overall cancer rates in Port Hope, Ontario were comparable
to cancer rates throughout the province of Ontario.  The study was subjected
to scientific and independent peer review before publication.

The study, carried out by Health Canada, reviewed the incidence of cancer,
particularly those types of cancer most prone to radiation propagation, for
the years 1956-1997.  Its finding of no excess of cancer in Port Hope was
consistent with earlier studies of the town.  Cancer studies have been of
interest in Port Hope and surrounding communities because of concerns
regarding the long-term presence of low-level waste from the radium and
uranium refineries dating back to the 1930s. CNSC, 06/17/02

The FARE group does not appear to voice an emotionally-loaded, deeply
ignorant opinion, but it subtracts from the sum total of worthwhile
knowledge and understanding in the Port Hope community.

John K. Sutherland, PhD,
Fredericton, NB

_______________________________________________
cdn-nucl-l mailing list
cdn-nucl-l at mailman.McMaster.CA
http://mailman.McMaster.CA/mailman/listinfo/cdn-nucl-l





-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On Behalf
Of Monica Oosting
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 4:48 PM
To: 'RADSAFE List'
Subject: [ RadSafe ] CBC program titled Port Hope A Question of Power


For the radsafers out there who have access to Canadian Broadcasting,
tomorrow night on CBC at 8:00 pm The Nature of Things is doing a special on
"Port Hope: A Question of Power".  The trailer on the CBC website states
(link provided below):

http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/


	"port hope: a question of power

	Port Hope has all the hallmarks of an ideal small Ontario town. But
it also has a big problem: thousands of tonnes 	of radioactive waste.

	For seven decades the community has been struggling with a serious
environmental hazard discovered 30 years ago in 	the heart of their
community. And now the industry that created the problem wants to introduce
a new potential risk 	in town: the proposed production of an enriched
uranium fuel, destined for the next generation of Ontario's nuclear
reactors.

	Port Hope: A Question of Power follows a community for more than a
year through twists and turns as it struggles to 	find answers to
questions concerning the health and safety implications of the proposed
project. Community groups go 	head-to-head with the industry, their own
town council and the federal regulators in a compelling story that comes
to a surprising and dramatic ending.

	At a time when the Canadian nuclear industry and governments are
gearing up to expand energy production for the 		growing needs of the
21st century, Port Hope: A Question of Power offers important insights and a
compelling story 	through the experience of Port Hope' people. Along
the way, it sheds light on some of the latest science and
controversies concerning the risks of radioactive exposure, radioactive
waste and ramifications for future 	generations.

	Port Hope: A Question of Power is directed and produced by Sheila
Petzold and Michael Fuller. It is produced by 	Telewerx Productions in
association with CBC Television. Executive producer for THE NATURE OF THINGS
WITH DAVID 	SUZUKI is Michael Allder."

I am expecting the show to focus on the historic low level radioactive waste
in the community as well as the proposed SEU project that was recently
cancelled by Cameco (which is the surprising and dramatic ending referred to
above. Sorry to ruin the ending for anyone who plans on watching)

Anyone interested in writing a letter to the editor in the local newspaper
the email address is: editor at northumberlandtoday.com and
northnews at northumberlandnews.com
The municipal council email address is:  clerk at porthope.ca

Monica Oosting
Health Physics Department
Zircatec Precision Industries
Port Hope, Ontario
monica.oosting at zircatec.ca

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.5/178 - Release Date: 11/22/2005