The Birch Bark Alliance

Publisher:  OPIRG - Peterborough, Peterborough, Canada
Year Published:  1979
Pages:  23pp   Resource Type:  Serial Publication (Periodical)
Cx Number:  CX1003

This issue of The Birch Bark Alliance highlights numerous anti-nuclear activities held in the spring and early summer of 1979. One major event featured was Canada's largest anti-nuclear demonstration to date -- Darlington.

Abstract: 
This issue of The Birch Bark Alliance highlights numerous anti-nuclear activities held in the spring and early summer of 1979. One major event featured was Canada's largest anti-nuclear demonstration to date -- Darlington.

Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is a $5 billion project situated on Lake Ontario near Newcastle. It is scheduled to be in operation by 1988. To date there has been no public participation in the decision to construct Darlington, and, in June 1977, this nuclear station was exempted from public hearings. The purpose of the hearings is to give the public a forum to examine the need for, possible alternatives to and the impact of such a nuclear plant on the enviornment and surrounding community. These hearings are called for under the Environmental Assessment Act; however, the minister of the environment does have the power to deem them unnecessary.

Sixteen hundred people demonstrated at the Darlington site in June to demand a halt to construction for six fundamental reasons:
1. Safety -- nuclear accidents can occur; there is still no safe method for disposing or radioactive waste
2. Secrecy -- Hydro and AECL will not release information to study CANDU safety
3. Need -- it is not clear that Ontario needs the power that Darlington will produce
4. Cost -- Hydro costs have soared over the past four years and consumers are already servicing a large Hydro debt.
5. Jobs and energy -- the building of generating stations does not create many jobs and it is far more efficient of spend money conserving energy rather than producing it
6. Public input -- the Darlington proposal was debated behind close doors

The Darlington demonstration coincided with many other anti-nuclear protests across Canada and around the world. This issue of "The Birch Bark Alliance" also features articles on other anti-nuclear events as well as suggestions for resources.

Periodical profile published 1979