Coalition Updates

Task force fights for clean power

Nuclear energy has had a long presence in the Great Lakes region, and citizens have been working hard to promote clean energy alternatives. Through the Great Lakes United Nuclear Free Green Energy Task Force, individuals and organizations have brought together a unified voice to advance energy alternatives that are clean and safe and to oppose plans for expanded and new nuclear power.

The Task Force serves as a critical forum for green energy/nuclear free activists throughout the Great Lakes to share knowledge, develop coordinated strategy, and discuss how green energy can become a viable source of power.

Read on for just a small sampling of the issues that a few active Task Force members are currently tackling.

Kay Cumbow represents the Michigan group, Citizens Against Chemical Contamination (CACC). Last fall, Cumbow coordinated a binational forum on nuclear dangers and green energy in southeast Michigan. CACC is participating in a Canadian review process to raise critical health and safety concerns regarding Ontario Power Generation’s proposed deep geological repository less than a mile from Lake Huron at Kincardine, for inaccurately termed “low” and “intermediate” level radioactive wastes from 20 Ontario nuclear plants. Contact her at kcumbow@greatlakes.net.

Gordon Edwards is president and co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. The coalition has been instrumental in bringing about a moratorium on new reactors in Quebec, moratoria on uranium mining in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and organizing the Green Energy Conference in Montreal. Currently, CCNR is fighting new reactors in Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario, and uranium exploration in many parts of Canada. Dr. Edwards is a leading critic on topics ranging from reactor hazards to uranium mining to nuclear weapons proliferation, and a proponent of alternative energy strategies. He is often summoned to give expert testimony on technical, health and environmental issues related to nuclear technology.

Kevin Kamps, of Beyond Nuclear, aims to educate and activate the public about the connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapons and the need to abandon both. Kamps has expertise on all aspects of the nuclear fuel chain. He is particularly concerned about government and industry efforts to establish a national nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada and the risks related to radioactive waste generation, storage, and transportation. He is a frequent speaker at community and governmental forums in the U.S. and overseas, has testified before numerous federal, state, and local government agencies and is regularly featured in the media.

Ziggy Kleinau is with the nonprofit organization, Citizens For Renewable Energy (CFRE). CFRE focuses on promoting effective government programs for increasing the use of solar and wind energy systems for homes, farms and businesses. The organization is also participating in two Canadian review processes associated with nuclear energy – one for the construction of a new reactor at the Bruce facility, another for the proposed deep geological repository, both situated at Kincardine.

Shawn Patrick Stensil is an energy and climate campaigner with Greenpeace Canada. His campaign work focuses on building sustainable, nuclear free and climate friendly energy systems in Ontario. At Great Lakes United’s annual general meeting in 2007, Stensil summarized the problems with nuclear energy: the potential for accidents and their catastrophic consequences; high cost of construction and cost overruns; and, the creation of high-level radioactive wastes that are dangerous for thousands of years. Read his blog on nuclear issues at: blogs.greenpeace.ca/nuclear.

Michael J. Keegan represents the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes based in Monroe, Michigan and Don’t Waste Michigan. The coalition is an association of Great Lakes groups and individuals that exchanges expertise and information across the basin regarding nuclear power while advocating for safe alternative energy sources. Don’t Waste Michigan was originally founded in 1987 to oppose the designation of the state of Michigan as a repository for what was wrongly termed “low-level” radioactive waste from eight states. Keegan has been actively involved in monitoring operations at many Great Lakes nuclear reactors. Reach him at mkeeganj@comcast.net.

John LaForge, represents Nukewatch, a Wisconsin-based environmental and peace action group dedicated to the abolition of nuclear power and weapons. A current focus of Nukewatch is addressing the potential for contamination from barrels of toxic chemicals and possibly radioactive materials, dumped decades ago in Lake Superior.

Pat Lawson and Faye More, representing the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee in Ontario. The group is urging a thorough and safe cleanup of radioactive contamination in the community from past and current uranium processing facilities and advocating for independent monitoring and health studies.

Victor McManemy, a long-time Traverse City, Michigan citizen activist/musician and member of Citizens Against Chemical Contamination. McManemy is working to resolve lingering concerns relating to the Big Rock Point nuclear power plant site near Charlevoix, Michigan, which was decommissioned in 1997. McManemy is advocating for an independent assessment of historical radioactive contamination at the site and opposing efforts to create either a state park or a real estate development surrounding the site.

© 2008 Great Lakes News.