[JoFerg]

Hey All
I’ve discovered some astounding news at the following site, and I think that we are all proud enough of our Canadian ingenuity and resourcefulness to show our short-term politicians that we are indeed paying attention to their actions, and that we will hold them accountable for any short-sighted blunders. You can learn here why nuclear is the cleanest choice for a greener future, or if you already agree, please read on below.

http://WWW.PICKCANDU.COM

The Ontario Government is deliberating between three bidders for its new nuclear energy installations. 2 of these are foreign owned technologies, while the third is our own excellent, safe, secure, and world-renowned CANDU technology.

While bureaucrats might want to only see the cheapest, short-term vision for nuclear energy, we need to show these politicians that in fact we expect them to see the bigger picture, and roll our tax-dollars back into the technology that we’ve all payed to develop here in Canada, and that has proven itself to be a world leader in safe, secure, clean energy.

Tell the Government (below) that you expect them to do what’s best for Canada, the taxpayers, and our own nuclear industry in the long run…Not just save a few bucks while they’re still in office today, and erode the future of CANDU technology and our homegrown nuclear industry.

If you believe that Canada can build a clean bright future right here at home, then voice your support here:

http://bit.ly/CanDoIt

Thanks

[ridenrain]

spam.

[JoFerg]

Spam? How so ?
I'm sharing some research, and looking for feedback for an article I'm writing on a very contentious subject. Is it because I'm offering an actual course of action for readers to take as well (rather than just a dead-end debate)?
There is no commercial/spam message here whatsoever!
Cheers
Jo

[ridenrain]

You have one post in the "welcome" section and your other 2 threads all point to this one topic. You might not be getting paid but you're definately trying to sell us on your opinion.
I don't really have a horse in the Ontario Nuke race but I'd just like to hear from the other side too.

[saturn_656]

I see no good reason why we would line the pockets of the French or the Americans at the expense of our own industry.

That just seems, well, fucking stupid.

[JoFerg]

Well, let me fill things in abit since my "Welcome/Intro" post might not have covered it...

I just found this site this week, and was interested in the strong opinions and somewhat nationalistic spin around here. I'm obviously quite partisan and biased (on this subject and many others), which is why I'm here to gather more alternate perspectives from others (whether they have vested interests or otherwise)in order to balance and/or support my own views abit better...and hopefully produce a more evenly representative view of things.

I'll try not to sound so preachy/salesy in the future tho...Regardless of how enthused I am with the subject - or the opportunity for others to raise their voice on the subject (either Pro or Con) and make abit of a difference. Thanks for the headsup on the inadvertantly salesy tone tho

Anyhow, since my current projects revolve around Energy related ideas(esp Nuclear, Renewable, and other "Green" views), my postings would currently be focused on that type site/subject. Sorry for not expressing my wider interests, or if it sounds like a "sell", but I'm just rather slanted right now I guess, and I'm VERY curious to know what others think about these particular subjects as well....especcially if their slant is different than mine!

peace
Jo

[Proculation]

I don't see the problem. The CANDU is in the race. If it's the best, it will be picked. If they have a better offer, then Ontario will take it.

[Bruce_the_vii]

What's the status now? The CANDU was the only reactor to met the 1000 page reguirement statement but AECL priced it high so the entire program was put on hold. AECL priced it high, something like $26 billion, since McGunity said they had to pay for any cost over runs. So they just factored in cost over runs. McGunity is trying to get Harper to pay for any cost over runs.

It's interesting, the former head of Ontario Power Generation was in the newspaper some years ago saying that Ontario Power Generation couldn't afford the new CANDU, the development costs of the new design. That was his caution.

I favour atomic energy but the foreign light water reactors are less safe than the Candu and we've already had one melt down, Three Mile Island. The Darlington site is close to Toronto and not well chosen.

It was pointed out on this forum before that nuclear energy will take a long time to mature. The fuel cycle, reprocessing and waste disposal may take another 100 years to become commercial.

[Lemmy]

Why would I, as a Canadian, care whether my reactor is Canadian made? Thinly veiled protectionist bullshit.

[Bruce_the_vii]

It's actually Ontario made. Should Ontario buy the local reactor or the foreign reactor, given that they are worth rather a lot of jobs.

[Lemmy]

Canada should use its labour where best. If that's making reactors, fine. But if some other country is better at reactor-building than us, then we should let their workforce do that and use our's to do the tasks we do better.

edited for Tarzan-talk.

[Proculation]

What's funny on the website (pickcandu.ca) is that they are all WOW about exporting the CANDU reactor but they do not want to import other technologies. That's plain and old protectionism: buy our stuff but we won't buy yours.

[Bruce_the_vii]

The decision isn't simply Economics 101, buy the cheapest. The CANDU design has been subsidized for 50 years and is part of the world energy security going forward this century. The heavy water moderated design is actual disaster resistant and we don't want any disasters.

[Lemmy]

Bruce_the_vii wrote:

The decision isn't simply Economics 101, buy the cheapest. The CANDU design has been subsidized for 50 years and is part of the world energy security going forward this century. The heavy water moderated design is actual disaster resistant and we don't want any disasters.

I never suggested the decision was 'Economics 101'; it's more like 'Economics 301'. The decision ought to be one of cost-benefit, not nationality of origin.

[Bruce_the_vii]

If I recall correctly it was you that said that atomic energy was in it's infancy and will take decades to mature. So the issue just isn't cost-benefit, it's a long term energy strategy.