The Darlington Seventh Generation Monument, erected more than
decade ago to warn of the dangers of nuclear power, was
re-dedicated today following vandalism earlier this year.
The Seventh Generation Monument was originally erected in 1989
by the former citizens' group Nuclear Awareness Project to mark the
opening of the Darlington Nuclear Station. As a warning against the
production of radioactive waste which remains toxic for a million
years, the plaque on the monument cites the Great Law of the Six
Nations Iroquois Confederacy: "In our every deliberation, we must
consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors - we borrow it from
our children."
The Darlington Station proved to be both an economic disaster,
costing far more than originally estimated, and an environmental
threat from the production of radioactive waste.
"The McGuinty government's current plan to invest $40 billion in
nuclear energy repeats the disastrous energy mistakes of the past.
Our children will judge us harshly if we fail to leave them a
healthy planet," warns Dave Martin, energy coordinator for
Greenpeace Canada and a former member of Nuclear Awareness Project.
"Nuclear power is unclean, unsafe, unreliable, and unaffordable.
Ontario should invest in green energy. Conservation, renewables and
decentralized local generation can keep the lights on, while
protecting the environment."
Jeff Brackett, also formerly of Nuclear Awareness Project
described Durham Region as a "nuclear sacrifice area" with two huge
nuclear stations, a tritium plant, and a radioactive waste dump. He
urged, "Citizens should say no to nuclear and vote for clean energy
in the October 10th provincial election".
Ontario Power Generation proposes building a new nuclear plant
at the Darlington site ("Darlington B"), with a capacity of up to
4800 megawatts of power from four reactors, slated to begin
operation as early as 2016. The reactors would cost a minimum of $2
billion each. The McGuinty government has exempted the overall
nuclear-based plan from an environmental assessment.
The existing Darlington nuclear station, which consists of four
reactors each with a capacity of 881 megawatts, was first ordered
in 1973, but did not begin operation until 1990-1993. The station
was an economic disaster, with its cost escalating from an
estimated $4 billion in 1978 to a final cost of $14.3 billion in
1993. The four reactors will reach 25 years of age between 2015 and
2018, at which time they will likely have to be re-built.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups are calling for no new
nuclear construction and the shutdown of existing reactors after 25
years.
VVPR info: For more information: Dave Martin, Greenpeace Energy Co-ordinator, 416-627-5004
Exp. contact date: 2007-09-11 00:00:00