Media Release
For release Monday, May 17, 1999
 

Ottawa -- As opposition to the federal governmentís weapons plutonium (MOX) plan continues to grow, environment groups in Canada and other countries are staging events to observe ìNix Moxî day. Nix Mox day was initiated in 1998 as an international day of action to oppose the use of plutonium in nuclear reactors.

In spite of concerns expressed by a broad spectrum of Canadian society, including a parliamentary committee, the Chrétien government continues to support plans for a ìtest burnî at Chalk River, Ontario of plutonium from U.S. and Russian warheads. The test burn is a precursor to the possible importation of up to 100 tonnes of weapons plutonium fuel over the next 25 years.

Kristen Ostling of the Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout states, ìThis nuclear industry-driven project is presented by the Prime Minister and other supporters as a disarmament initiative. In fact, the project will contribute to proliferation by commercializing the use of plutonium. The government should listen to the growing number of Canadians who are justifiably concerned about this issue, call off the test and scrap the full scale project.î

There is growing concern over the plutonium import plan and the governmentís handling of it. Project Ploughshares, a national disarmament group is opposed to the shipment of plutonium into Canada. In April, the International Association of Firefighters called for a moratorium on plutonium fuel imports because of uncertainty as to whether their members would be able to handle an accident involving plutonium. In late March, Mike Bradley, the Mayor of Sarnia (a possible transit point for plutonium shipments from the U.S.) expressed concern over the ìveil of secrecyî around the project and lack of public consultation by the federal government.

In December 1998, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT) found the federal governmentís plutonium import plan to be ìtotally unfeasibleî. In March 1999 it was disclosed that in spite of this finding, Jean Chrétien informed Bill Clinton that he still supported the plan. One month later (in April 1999) the Chrétien government publicly rejected the committeeís recommendation that the plan be scrapped. At the international level, 171 environmental, peace and medical organizations issued a statement in January of 1997 condemning the U.S. decision to allow the use of plutonium fuel in commercial nuclear reactors. In 1998, on the occasion of the first international ìNix Moxî day, 211 groups (of which 93 were Canadian) signed on to a statement opposing the use of plutonium fuel.

The document ìTen Reasons to Just Say No to Weapons Plutoniumî is included with this release.

Events taking place today in Canada are intended to highlight concerns about the weapons
plutonium plan and the federal governmentís support of it. Scheduled events include:
 

Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County, 1:00 p.m., Monday, May 17, 1999
Location: Intersection of Highway 17 and Plant Road in the Village of Chalk River, Ontario.
Gathering and Address/ Photo Opportunity. Includes special visit from ìAuntie Moxî.

Greenpeace Canada, 8:30 - 9:00 a.m, Monday, May 17, 1999
Location: Port Huron City Hall, 100 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, Michigan.
Protest outside ìInternational Water Meetingî where Canadian MP Roger Gallaway will be speaking.

Greenpeace Canada, 10:15 a.m., Monday, May 17, 1999
Location: Centennial Park (at the foot of London Street), Sarnia, Ontario
Press Conference and Photo Opportunity with Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.
Mayor Bradley will sign a large postcard to Prime Minister Chrétien expressing his concern about the tests.
 

For further information please contact:

Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout, 613-789-3634
Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County, 613-735-4876
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, 514-489-5118
Greenpeace, 416-597-8408

Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout
cnp@web.net