2008:03PU NUCLEAR POWER PHASE-OUT
Whereas 1 in 2004, NCWC adopted as policy:
a. the rejection of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s concept for burial of nuclear waste
b. the need for a broad-based public debate on the energy future of Canada, with a specific focus on the need for alternative sources of energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation
c. the need for significant expenditures on the search for safe technology to treat nuclear waste, upgrading of nuclear site storage and safety; development of alternative sources of energy, energy efficiencies and energy conservation; improvements for international radiation standards, to reflect gender, age, health, long-term low level radiation exposure by workers and the public and environmental impacts e.g. air, water and soil
d. the need for a Federal/Territorial/Provincial Environmental Assessment of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recommendations
e. opposition to the expansion of the nuclear industry in Canada, and the need for a phase-out of nuclear plants at the end of their life cycle and
f. the need for a ban on the importation of high-level radioactive waste for any purpose;
Whereas 2 NCWC’s 2004 policy did not include the health and environmental impacts of the mining of uranium, the key component of the nuclear industry; and
Whereas 3 uranium mining and milling operations release radionuclides, volatile organic compounds, smog, acid rain precursors and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and causes pollution of surface and groundwater; and
Whereas 4 Environment Canada and Health Canada have determined that the effluent from uranium mines and mills is a toxic substance as defined by the Environmental Protection Act and fish, wildlife and plants in the vicinity of uranium mines have been contaminated by radioactive materials posing a risk to consumers of food grown nearby; and
Whereas 5 large quantities of radioactive and “conventionally” hazardous waste rock and tailings from mines and milling operations will require care virtually forever; and
Whereas 6 mining impacts will increase with the use of lower grade ores as supplies of high-grade uranium are depleted; therefore be it
Resolved 1 that the National Council of Women of Canada add to its current policy, that
a. the mining of high-grade uranium be phased out, in tandem with the phase-out of nuclear plants at the end of their life-cycle;
b. the mining of low-grade uranium not be allowed as a replacement for high-grade uranium; and
c. in the interim, active mines and mills be made safe, and abandoned mines be cleaned up and secured; and be it further
Resolved 2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to legislate that
a. the mining of high-grade uranium be phased out, in tandem with the phase-out of nuclear plants at the end of their life-cycle;
b. the mining of low-grade uranium not be allowed as a replacement for high-grade uranium; and
c. in the interim, active mines and mills be made safe, and abandoned mines be cleaned up and secured.