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Port Hope residents should sue govt over radioactive wastes

OSHAWA — The people of Port Hope should sue the federal government “to the tune of millions of dollars” for the exposure to radiation from Cameco, prominent anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott said during a public speech in Oshawa.

(Canada)  Anti-nuclear doctor advises Port Hope residents to sue over exposure northumberlandnews.com Dr. Helen Caldicott gives impassioned talk to standing-room-only crowd in Oshawa Nov 17, 2010

Jennifer O’Meara

OSHAWA — The people of Port Hope should sue the federal government “to the tune of millions of dollars” for the exposure to radiation from Cameco, prominent anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott said during a public speech in Oshawa.

“There has never been an independently reviewed study,” said Dr. Caldicott.

Dr. Caldicott spoke to approximately 350 people in a crowded banquet hall at the Best Western in Oshawa on Nov. 16. She was originally scheduled to speak at St. Mark’s Church in Port Hope but the event was considered too political and the Church cancelled the use of its space. Dr. Caldicott said she was “disappointed” not to be speaking in Port Hope.

“The fact that I was banned from Port Hope doesn’t bode well for the people of Port Hope,” said Dr. Caldicott. “I only come to tell you the medical facts.”……

Dr. Caldicott said people living in other nuclear host communities were exposed to radiation, but she was “aghast” about the nuclear situation in Port Hope.

“Radiation is cumulative, there is no safe dose,” said Dr. Caldicott. “People will call the radiation in Port Hope low dose, but when it gets into your body, the radon gives the surrounding cells a whopping dose.”

Dr. Caldicott also raised concerns about the impacts of radiation on children living near nuclear facilities. She said kids are 10 to 20 times more susceptible to radiation and fetuses are 100 times more sensitive. Dr. Caldicott mentioned a German study of 16 reactors and found children living within five kilometres of the facilities had a higher rate of childhood leukemia.

“No cancer identifies its origin. The only way to identify an increased exposed population, like Port Hope, is to follow all of them from birth to death,” said Dr. Caldicott……..

She encouraged the audience to read up on the health impacts of radiation and then make up their own minds about whether to move from Port Hope.¨ “If you want to move, I think you should be compensated by the government. You should not be out of pocket,” said Dr. Caldicott. “And I would bring a class action suit.”

northumberlandnews.com / indynews.ca | Anti-nuclear doctor advises Port Hope residents to sue over exposure

November 18, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, wastes | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive