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Brantford Expositor – Ontario, CA

The ethics of energy
THE EXPOSITOR By KELLYGASCOIGNE (Canada) 2 Dec 08 “…………………The ethics behind a government’s energy policy can mean a huge change in the impact we are having on the environment and the economy………………………….Nuclear energy produces a large amount of electricity but, at every stage of production, has huge risks. The mining of radioactive materials to power nuclear plants causes waste products to pollute nearby communities. If problems strike — terrorism, natural disaster, a plant malfunction — nuclear power is very dangerous. Look at the effects of Chernobyl.

Even if a nuclear plant functions perfectly during its 30 to 40 year life-span, the radioactive materials being processed must be disposed of as radioactive waste. Eventually, the plant itself becomes radioactive waste. So although nuclear power provides a huge amount of energy while a plant is running, it is prohibitively expensive to build and then dispose of and is environmentally dangerous. Economically nuclear power is very costly……………we are still paying for the debt created by Ontario’s nuclear power plants built years ago. Check out your electricity bill. The “debt retirement charge” on your bill, refers to our repayment of the $35-million overrun……………………… the current plan for the Ontario government is to commit $40 billion to new and expanded nuclear plants.

What would our province’s energy mix look like if instead that $40 billion was spent on alternative, “green” energy production and on conservation? This ethical decision seems clear. For our health now and for many future generations to come alternative energy sources need to be taken seriously.

When the Ontario government is considering buy-outs to help Ontario’s manufacturing sector, maybe ethics should be a part of their decision making and the jobs created should be green jobs. Short-sighted planning is not ethical leadership.

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Brantford Expositor – Ontario, CA

December 1, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, uranium