Radiation

Fukushima Update # 85: April 11, 2013

by Nelle Maxey

Two more articles of interest this morning at Ex-SKF. The first discusses a leak at the pump connection which was moving water from one underground pond to another and makes the point of how contaminated this water is (a subject I didn’t broach in my email yesterday). The water is contaminated with strontium 90 and other beta wave radiation. This is very dangerous.

Building nuclear plants is a waste of time, money, and fossil fuels. It is not sustainable. Here’s why.

by Jim Harding 

I have been closely watching the controversy over the Energy Alberta-AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) proposal to build nuclear plants in the Peace River area to power the tar sands extraction. While some local politicians may think this presents great economic opportunities, I think the “golden egg” will again prove to be a myth. Without huge subsidies, nuclear power might not even survive in today’s energy market. It’s no coincidence that private investors avoid nuclear, and that the government must

US Navy test fires munitions in Canadian waters. These munitions contain depleted uranium (DU) which releases radiation into atmosphere, and can cause serious medical effects and disease.

by G. Turnbull

Saturday morning, April 15, 2006, I was listen­ing to a favourite radio station, Malaspina College radio CHLY-FM, from Nanaimo. They were inter­viewing Leuren Moret, a geophysicist from Berkeley CA, who had worked at US nuclear labs.

She went on for 40 minutes about the horrors of de­pleted uranium (DU) in munitions, which releases radia­tion into the atmosphere and its medical effects on, for in­stance, the first Gulf War veterans, where it was first used in quantity. Over 500,000 out of 700,000 vets are now on disability for something called “Gulf War Syndrome,” a ‘disease’ with many symptoms identical to radiation sick­ness.

Or the test range off Vieques, Puerto Rica, where the

by Susan MacVittie

As an incessant user of my cordless phone and a mother of a child growing up in the age of wireless technology, the potential harm from radiation of these devices has me fret­ting. I am not alone in my concern. Newsstands, talk shows and online journals are abuzz with the connection between cancer, cordless phones and cell phones.

Although cautious in their approach, public officials are issuing warnings about the possibility of harmful effects from radiation emissions transmitted from cell phones. In July, Toronto Public Health recommended parents limit their children’s cellphone use and US cancer special­ist Dr. Robert B. Herberman advised his staff to limit time on cellphones. Precautionary policies

Clearwater, BC residents seem prepared to trade off an increased cancer rate for a few more jobs provided by the Harper Pit Mine. Unlike the demonstrations that were held in the 1960's, opposition proves small in their current times of economic slump.

by Thaddeus Latarte

Five years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine an open pit mine being welcomed by the people of Clearwater, BC. In 2006, the resi­dents of Clearwater