Dr. Helen Caldicott
Decidedly (by me) one of the more important discussions about the Fukushima nuclear disaster which subsequently leaked a bunch of radioactive goo into the world (much like every other time nuclear power plans turned instantly into a darned disaster). Listen to this podcast (http://www.radio4all.net/files/jazzwilliams@gmail.com/3400-1-184IYLTP_20120508.mp3) if you wish to hear a veteran (well…two actually) of the anti-nuclear movement be disgusted at the horribly failed notions of “safe” and “clean” energy. Dr. Helen Caldicott is doing a tour for her updated and revised classic (in my own spiffy opinion) “If You Love This Planet”. She will be visiting Saskatoon on Thursday November 1st, 2012 at the United Church located at 304 3rd Ave North. Turning the Tide (r)evolutionary media will be hosting a table at the event and hopefully not looking too badly.
For those of you who might not know, nuclear energy is a very contemporary issue especially when dealing in Saskatchewan’s politics and economy. We mine a poop load of Uranium here (http://curriculum.cna.ca/curriculum/cna_can_nuc_hist/uranium_sask-eng.asp?bc=Uranium%2520Mining%2520in%2520Northern%2520Saskatchewan&pid=Uranium%2520Mining%2520in%2520Northern%2520Saskatchewan). As the Stephen Harper and Brad Wall governments sell Canada and Saskatchewan wholesale (and I’m pretty sure that’s not a stretch of terms) under no-holds barred contracts there is also very much investment put into nuclear energy in the province under their advisement. The University of Saskatchewan lies host to a nuclear reactor just shortly north of the main campus (securely protected and mostly off hands and eyes to the public) which most people in the city don’t know about (nor was it even discussed with most of the population). We, as a province, are suppliers of a decent proportion of the world’s uranium market. There are a large amount of resources on the matter (including this important one by John Warnock: http://www.johnwarnock.ca/Saskatchewan%20as%20a%20Resource%20Hinterland%20Economy.pdf). How’s that for rhetoric. Sorry for the jumble jamble. I hope you can make it if you are from Saskatoon. If not, then I hope you have a chance to check out Dr. Caldicott’s radio show and writings.
http://saskatoonpeace.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/dr-helen-caldicott-speaks-on-our-nuclear-legacy-lets-end-saskatchewans-growing-radioactive-footprint/
http://www.cleangreensask.ca/Home/upcoming-speaking-events-1/drhelencaldicottinsaskatoonnovember12012
http://www.soeea.sk.ca/event/other/2012-11-01/~760
Admittedly dated but still cool short film with the same title and same subject matter as the aforementioned book by Dr. Caldicott. Available on the National Film Board website (like a lot of cool things, they make their stuff available!) http://www.nfb.ca/film/if_you_love_this_planet/
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