help please - battling the anti-nukes.

["Lamothe, Emelie" <lamothee@aecl.ca>]

Hello fellow radsafers.  This message is mostly for my Canadian
colleagues in radsafe-land.  However, I am posting this here as a
heads-up - this is a new tool/group that the antis are starting to work
through.

Today, I am writing to ask for help and/or advice in dealing
with the Canadian Federation of University Women.  (their website is
 http://www.cfuw.ca)
 
 The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) are considering two
very
 comprehensive anti-nuclear motions which have been proposed by their
"Global
 Peace and Security Sub-Committee.  These two motions will be voted on
at
 their Aug. 1997AGM in Kelowna, B.C. Both these motions are horribly
anti-nuke
 in nature. 
 
 The first (Motion #9) calls for rejection of the permanent waste
disposal
 facility, phase-out of nuclear energy (as written it implies all things
 nuclear) and a review of AECL and the nuclear industry.  The second
(Motion
 #10) calls for rejection of the AECL/OH proposal for plutonium
disposition in
 MOX fuel for CANDU reactors.  (see below for the motion without the
whereas
 and background info)
 
 It is possible that the CFUW sub-committee has been fed this material
by the people from Energy Probe or the Nuclear Awareness Project or
other such groups.  It also appears that members of the CFUW are being
asked to adopt and identify with public positions on these important
issues after only a brief consideration of incomplete and misleading
background material.  
 
 Normally, I don't get that excited about these types of resolutions
except for the following reasons:
 
*	 CFWU has a very large membership with chapters across the country,
(you only need to have a university degree from a Canadian university to
join)
*	they are affiliated to the International Federation of University
Women (with many chapters across the US and Europe)
*	 CFWU is perceived by many women as being a creditable group of
well-educated women who know what nuclear/science is about, and
*	 the motions contain a lot of half-truths and misconceptions.
 
 Many are tempted to think "so big deal".  However, 33 % of women are
neutral w.r.t. to nuclear and most are anti-bomb and anti-war.  What
these  women are looking, for in order to make an "informed" decision on
the future role of nuclear, is quality information from credible
sources.  And in Canada,the CFWU is perceived as a credible source of
well-educated women.  

 The public has a significant impact on the government policy process
and the fate of all things nuclear in Canada.  Of the people who show up
at the polls to vote, 52% are women.  They have significant clout at the
polls.
 
 What I am asking you is that, if you are a member of CFWU, could you
provide some organized balance to the debate at the branch and possibly
at the national level.  Ideally, a group would attend the AGM and speak
against the motion or even present counter-motions.  If you are not
members, perhaps you know of others who could assist us in this. Every
little bit helps.
 
 If you wish to see a copy of the actual motions (with whereas' and
background and references), let me know.
 
You can reach me at 613-584-8811, ext. 3616 (days) 613-584-2880
(evenings).  Email addresses are as follows:

lamothee@aecl.ca (work)
djack@intranet.ca (home and home-based business)

And please, no flames, just help. Thanks
 
Emelie Lamothe
Chair
Canadian chapter of Women in Nuclear

 
 Motion #9
 Nuclear Waste Disposal and the Canadian Nuclear Industry
 
 RESOLVED, That the Canadian Federation of University Women urge the
Canadian
 Government to reject the proposal of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to
 establish a permanent nuclear waste disposal facility in Canada;
 
 RESOLVED, The CFUW urge the Government of Canada to increase efforts to
 promote and encourage the development of non-polluting, environmentally
 benign energy sources with a view to the earliest possible phase-out of
 nuclear energy and its product, long-term radioactive waste; and 
 
 RESOLVED, That the CFUW urge the Government of Canada to undertake
 immediately a comprehensive public review of Atomic Energy of Canada
Limited
 and the Canadian nuclear industry in order to provide Canadians an
 opportunity to influence the formulation of government policy on the
future
 of the Canadian nuclear industry in all its aspects.
 
 MOTION 10
 The MOX Fuel Proposal
 
 RESOLVED, That the Canadian Federation of University Women urge the
Canadian
 Government to reject the proposal by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
and
 Ontario Hydro to import plutonium from dismantled US or Russian nuclear
 weapons for burning in the form of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in Canadian
CANDU
 reactors.
 
 [as an aside, the reasons given are so incredibly wrong e.g.  burning
MOX  would not dispose of all Pu because CANDU produces more Pu even
when using ordinary fuel; the non-proliferation treaty would be heavily
undermined., etc.]